Development Rumours

[someone123]

Doesn't City Centre Atlantic already have a residential component at its northern end? I guess this is another similar addition along the centre or something?

I kind of wish the ugly CIBC, that old empty house, etc. would be demolished. More retail space could be created and the mall could be opened up.

[kph06]

Originally Posted by someone123

Doesn't City Centre Atlantic already have a residential component at its northern end? I guess this is another similar addition along the centre or something?

There is a condo building to the north of the mall, maybe 5-6 floors and tan coloured brick. This building is self standing and is connected to the back of the mall for a few floors, so this addition must be built just to the south of this, but on the top of the mall itself? It will be interesting to see how it looks, but I would imagine there'll be "issues" with the views from the existing building being blocked, could be a long one...

[sdm]

Discovery Centre could have towering neighbour
Apartment building or office complex proposed on Barrington St.
By BRUCE ERSKINE Business Reporter
Wed. Jan 28 - 4:46 AM
The former site of the Misty Moon cabaret in Halifax could be home to a new 20-storey apartment building or a 15-storey office tower.

"It depends on the market," Frank Medjuck, president of 1595 Investments Ltd., the company that owns the building at 1595 Barrington St., said in an interview on Tuesday.

Mr. Medjuck said plans to enter into a development agreement to allow for a 200-foot mixed-use commercial-residential building on the downtown site were sent to Halifax Regional Municipality staff in December.

"There’s a big demand by government for downtown development," he said. "We’ve put it on the table and we’ll see what happens."

Mr. Medjuck said the project would cost $15 million to $20 million. He expected it would be four years before anything new is built on the site, a former Zellers department store that his company bought 25 years ago.

The building is now home to the Discovery Centre, a hands-on science centre that Mr. Medjuck said could be part of the proposed new development.

"They’ve been good for Barrington Street," he said of the centre.

"They’re safe and sound for the time being."

Mr. Medjuck said the proposal complies with all municipal bylaws and harbour view-plane requirements.

While the art-deco building, which was built in the 1930s, doesn’t have a heritage designation, he said the plans include retaining its carved facade "in a gesture to the street."

Mr. Medjuck acknowledged that the current economic climate makes large-scale development a risky proposition these days, but he said the economy should be in recovery by the time the project, which would include underground parking, gets underway.

[Jonovision]

You beat me to it! lol

Sounds like it could be a nice development. I've always wanted to see a nice modern tower addition on top of that building. My one concern however is the potential loss of Reflections Cabaret. It's the best dance bar in town, and if it were to be shut down I don't know if I could support this development.

[Jonovision]

I think the redevelopment of the old Sam the Record Man had been mentioned before, but it's nice to hear it from someone like Paul MacKinnon.

Downtown Halifax experiencing growth
Barrington Streets the ‘real sign of economic vitality’ downtown
By Melanie Furlong
Wed. Jan 28 - 4:46 AM




Some very good things happened for downtown Halifax in 2008, says Paul MacKinnon, executive director of Downtown Halifax Business Commission.

"I think there’s been a real focus on the downtown in the last 12 months," he says.

"A lot of this has stemmed from the Halifax Regional Municipality undertaking a new development plan. There’s been a lot of talk about development, why it’s not happening downtown and how we can improve."

MacKinnon is looking forward to seeing a new downtown development plan, which should allow for an expedited development process, come before council early in the New Year.

He says the focus on the downtown this year has engaged the community in creating the vision they want for the city.

"Over the past 12 months we’ve had the mayor talking about the importance of downtown, Nova Scotia Business Inc. saying the downtown is key to attracting the type of clients they’re looking to bring in, and even the premier looking at the importance of downtown Halifax.

"That’s not something often said at the provincial level. Now there’s a feeling of what’s good for the downtown will be beneficial for the rest of the province."

The last census shows that more residents are moving back downtown.

"Most of the development that we have seen taking place has been residential," says MacKinnon.

"One of the challenges we have is to make sure it’s a mixed, vibrant, residential area; we don’t just want seniors and students. We want to bring families back to the downtown core and creating a real mix of housing throughout the entire peninsula is one of the plans."

He says Barrington Street, long considered the bell weather for downtown Halifax, will soon see the former Sam the Record Man and the Roy Buildings redeveloped by new owners. This limits the amount of retail space available on Barrington at the moment, but the new blood will be good for downtown.

"Barrington Street is also going to be designated as a heritage district with the new plan and with it brings new marketing initiatives and financial incentives for the great historic buildings.

"Barrington is the real sign of economic vitality downtown. We’re doing a whole new advertising campaign with a new look. The focus of it will be really reminding people of what the downtown is — the heart and soul of the city."

Downtown Halifax, he says, offers the best dining experience in the province, the most unique shopping experience in the province and is well-positioned to weather any economic storms.

Barrington [Street] is the real sign of economic vitality downtown."

Paul MacKinnonExecutive director, Downtown Halifax Business Commission

[Dmajackson]

^That Discovery Centre tower sound really good. I've always thought that spot could do with something on top since its so close to Maritime Centre and a few other high-rises further down the hill.

I forget what block is the Sam the Record Man building on?

[Empire]

Originally Posted by Jonovision

You beat me to it! lol

Sounds like it could be a nice development. I've always wanted to see a nice modern tower addition on top of that building. My one concern however is the potential loss of Reflections Cabaret. It's the best dance bar in town, and if it were to be shut down I don't know if I could support this development.

It would be shut down because it would be torn down.

[sdm]

Originally Posted by Empire

It would be shut down because it would be torn down.

Don't get your nickers in a knot empire, it isn't a heritage building.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by sdm

Don't get your nickers in a knot empire, it isn't a heritage building.

There's a spot where they can save the sandstone facade and put up a 20fl glass tower behind it.

[someone123]

I've always thought that building would be a great candidate for a tower.

That corner now has three proposals: there is also the Roy Building tower and United Gulf. The fourth corner is the Centennial Building (or something similar) so Granville and Sackville would be very built up. One block down on the west side of Hollis, the site next to the Bank of Canada Building is also ideal for a large development.

It is certainly an area where it makes sense for a lot of development to take place. My main concern, of course, is that there are more and more proposals. Where's the construction? When will Frank Medjuck be building his current proposal for the waterfront? Is the four year time-frame so the he wraps up the waterfront project first?

If the Sam space is spoken for then that's great. Sam the Record Man was in a couple of three storey heritage buildings in the block just south of St. Paul's.

[sdm]

[QUOTE=someone123;4054042] Is the four year time-frame so the he wraps up the waterfront project first?

QUOTE]

nope, just how long he believes it will take to get the proposal through the system, coupled with economic conditions. That is the reason there is two proposals, office or residential. If office construction starts with say waterside and another then he will switch to residential. Or so its says in allnovascotia.com

[Keith P.]

Reflections is a dump. If that building gets redeveloped I hope they gut that space and put something of quality there.

I fail to see why Paul MacKinnon sounds so optimistic. There is a reasonable expectation that the Roy Bldg proposal will be rejected thanks to the heritage loons. The Zellers bldg proposal will surely cause a similar battle. I drove down Barrington today and it is depressing. The vacant Sams and Roy building spaces across from each other, followed by a stretch of very sketchy bottom-tier retail that could be gone on a moments notice, does not provide much optimism. Barrington needs something big to happen and designating it a heritage district with a max building height of 6 floors is not it.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by Empire

There's spot where they can save the sandstone facade and put up a 20fl glass tower behind it.

I've always thought that building would look great with a tower. I can't tell if you are against this project or not, but I hope you agree that this is a more appropriate project than Waterside Centre. There would be no roofline issues.

It would be kind of like a B-A project for Halifax, I'm really excited to see a rendering.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Reflections is a dump. If that building gets redeveloped I hope they gut that space and put something of quality there.

I fail to see why Paul MacKinnon sounds so optimistic. There is a reasonable expectation that the Roy Bldg proposal will be rejected thanks to the heritage loons. The Zellers bldg proposal will surely cause a similar battle. I drove down Barrington today and it is depressing. The vacant Sams and Roy building spaces across from each other, followed by a stretch of very sketchy bottom-tier retail that could be gone on a moments notice, does not provide much optimism. Barrington needs something big to happen and designating it a heritage district with a max building height of 6 floors is not it.

Yeah. What I find most ironic is that there are many examples of heritage buildings in Halifax that are taller than 6 stories. Where do these people get the idea that things can't be taller than that? They obviously know little about the actual issues they blindly support.

[phrenic]

Despite the aesthetics of the place, Reflections is immensely popular and a valuable part of the bar scene. I'd rather go there over the Dome or the Palace any day. But as far as I am aware, they are considering relocating regardless to what happens with the building they're in.

[spaustin]

With a tastefully done addition this one could work out well. The street level has been pretty gutted anyway. As long as they keep the stone facade and setback the new top it could be quite something. Barrington may not be looking great these days but there is a lot of speculation going on and at least some work (the Free Mason Hall). I almost hope that the office market isn't there and they go for residential. I think moving more people onto Barrington would be worth more than a few more 9-5 office workers.

[Empire]

One of the biggest obstacles for the Zellers building is that a tower there will block George's Island so you can expect an enormous HT outcry.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Empire

One of the biggest obstacles for the Zellers building is that a tower there will block George's Island so you can expect an enormous HT outcry.

What view? Remember, there us an adjacent approved project by United Gulf that is taller and wider than that proposed for immediately down the hill.

[Barrington south]

Originally Posted by sdm

Don't get your nickers in a knot empire, it isn't a heritage building.

hehehe

[sdm]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

What view? Remember, there us an adjacent approved project by United Gulf that is taller and wider than that proposed for immediately down the hill.

besides, with the news of the new convention centre i doubt you will see either of those building from the hill. No worries.