Not sure where to put this so please move it if there is a better thread for it;
Sprucing up downtown
Facade Improvement project gets underway in Dartmouth
By Melanie Furlong
Fri. Jan 30 - 4:47 AM
Downtown Dartmouth is expected to see a facelift this year as its Facade Improvement project gets underway. Tim Olive, executive director of the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission, says the program aims to improve the sidewalk facing fronts of all of commercial properties in the downtown core starting with Portland Street.
"That’s physical upgrades: paint, doors, canopies, windows, signage, anything that will improve the pedestrian environment and encourage pedestrians to further explore the street," says Olive. "We began preliminary work on this project three years ago and it’s taken an awful long time."
ACOA helped in the initial phases with the design proposal and the province helped subsequently, but it’s taken three years to get the package launched.
"Since then," says Olive, "we’ve had seven independent applications for the paperwork from business and property owners. We have two applications back so far and both, interestingly enough, are looking at spending in excess of $10,000 when we pay 50 per cent, up to $3,000."
Property owners doing $6,000 worth of work or more that is approved by the project’s municipal planning expert and architect will be paid back $3,000.
"We have an independent panel so we can get an independent review of the application. We hope we’ll have some response back from them in the next two weeks saying these applicants have met the standards for what needs to be done so it can be approved and we can give them the go-ahead to move forward with their project. It’s quite exciting because the first two or three projects are going to set the tone for the rest."
Similar programs have been implemented across the country, including in North Sydney, Sydney Mines and Glace Bay. In Glace Bay, a number of business owners said they wouldn’t participate, but the downtown ended up having a 95 per cent participation rate.
"Those participants’ buildings were looking so good, they made the others look even worse," Olive explains.
"The whole idea is to encourage businesses to spend the money to improve the facade of their building and hopefully make a better pedestrian environment and also to encourage those pedestrians to enter the store and want to see a little bit more."
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Downtown development
Housing being created fits the needs of the area
By Carol Dobson
Fri. Jan 30 - 4:47 AM
When District 12 Councillor Dawn Sloane draws an imaginary box around the area enclosed by Inglis, Robie and North Streets in Halifax, and the harbour, she’s excited about the amount of development that is occurring within those parameters.
She points out the new building at the corner of North and Agricola Streets that is designed for non-profit housing, new condominium developments on Gottingen Street including the Theatre Lofts project, people moving into Armoury Square, and the newly-broken ground for the Trillium project on South Park Street.
"When I was driving down Barrington Street, I saw them taking core samples next to the Delta Barrington for the new International Place," she says.
"So that means they’re doing the due diligence on the site that needs to be done before construction starts."
"It’s really nice to see the faith people have in our downtown," Sloane adds.
"Especially in the Gottingen and Agricola areas. We’ve been working hard to make sure that it’s a viable community and I call it Halifax’s best kept secret."
In that neighbourhood, the Brickyard Condominium project was entering its final stages in late December of 2008. She also points to the Glube Lots condominiums on Cornwallis Street.
Two have been completed and on the market.
Sloane anticipates there will be some activity in the Spring Garden Road area in 2009. She expects to see a request for proposals (RFP) for the lands at the corner of Spring Garden and Queen Streets where the new library is to be located.
The RFP, she says, will ask for ideas for the library and also for commercial and residential development on the property.
Sloane also expects to see the two Clyde Street parking lots being looked at in terms of development.
"The broken teeth in our downtown are beginning to be filled," she says.
She’s pleased to see the new housing being built in this area is a mixture, ranging from high end to affordable.
"The housing being created fits the needs of the area. People are purchasing at the Brickyard because it’s medium-priced housing and the new low-income housing at Buddy Daye and Creighton Streets is filled.
"I’m hearing that vacancy rates in Halifax are down and they’re up in Dartmouth. That says to me that people are moving closer to the core."
She says when you look at the demographics of this area, you’re seeing empty nesters moving closer to the city centre.
"They’re coming to the Spring Garden area, because it’s close to shops, theatre, restaurants, and the hospitals. This is exactly what HRM By Design is talking about — having a city where, no matter where your neighbourhood is located, you’re only a few minutes away from your bank, from a grocery store, or the store where you buy your slippers.
"If we can maintain those things that people hold dear, then people will continue to move into this area and so far, that seems to be working."
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Urban, rural development remains strong
By Special Features Staff Special Features Writer
Fri. Jan 30 - 4:47 AM
Rumours of slow downs in the real estate sector may apply to the rest of Canada, but one has to question their relevance when it comes to the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Let’s face it — communities are both popping up and expanding all over this part of the province.
Armco Developments is currently increasing the size of three of their subdivisions as Phase II of Twin Brooks and Phase I and II of Governors Brook are underway. Silver Estates will offer 44 more lots from which home builders may choose.
Armco’s Twin Brooks is Sackville’s newest residential community, located at the former site of the Sackville Golf Course. Phase I includes 26 serviced lots that are conveniently located and reached by taking Sackville Drive or Beaverbank Road to Millwood and then Jackladder.
Governor’s Brook is a strategically-planned community perfect for the active family. A wide mix of single family, semi-detached and multiple-family homes are located among parks and green space that provide ample outdoor activity opportunities for all residents.
Located off Herring Cove Road in Halifax, Governor’s Brook is just minutes to downtown Halifax on public transit routes, near shopping and medical centres as well as schools, recreation and community centres.
The new Silver Estates is a quiet cul-de-sac community in the neighbourhood of Pine Grove and Theakston, bordering on the nature preserve and trails of Macintosh Run. This new development offers city-serviced lots that are within walking distance of schools, retail services, churches and a community centre.
Ridgewood Park, another new community from Armco, is located in Brookside, offering acre plus country-style home sites. Only minutes from Halifax, this country-style community has designated parkland and is surrounded by Moosehorn Lake, McGrath Lake and Loon Lake.
"It is important to Armco that we diversify across product lines as well as geographically," says Kathleen O’Donovan of Armco. "We are optimistic about the coming year, especially because we offer a product to suit all areas of the market — with high, medium and entry-level home lots. Nova Scotia is in a great position to ride out these questionable economic times."
Clayton Developments Limited also feels positive about the current climate.
"Clayton Developments have had an exceptional year in 2008 with anticipated strong activity into 2009," says Peter Greenwood, vice-president, real estate, with Clayton.
"The old adage that quality is always good value holds true, even in tougher economic times."
The Ravines of Bedford South is a Clayton community that will, upon completion in five years’ time, cover 500 acres of lands nestled between the Bicentennial and Bedford Highways.
The project was started just five years ago and is already home to nearly 500 families.
Two new streets will be opening early this year in The Ravines, Stockton Ridge and Windridge Place, offering a selection of Cresco built homes and townhomes.
Also, the Larry Uteck / Highway 102 Interchange has been announced for a 2009 start. Completion of this major piece of infrastructure will enable Clayton open up the western end of The Ravines in 2010.
The Parks of West Bedford is a brand new, joint venture from developer Clayton and builder Cresco. The two companies have acquired 1,300 acres for the design and development of five or six smaller communities. It will take approximately 20 years to complete.
The developer recently received approval for the first phase of the overall community plan which entails about 200 acres bounded by Hammonds Plains Road, Highway 102 and Bluewater Road. The main entrance to this first area will be from the Hammonds Plains Road.
The first major development in The Parks is now under construction as Northwood is building a new 160,000 sq. ft. long-term care facility anticipated to open early in 2010.
The first single-family lots are anticipated to be delivered to the market before the end of the year.
"This project will supply metro’s new home market for 20 to 25 years," says Greenwood. "It’s beautifully located in Bedford with easy access form the Hammonds Plains Road and eventually from Kearney Lake Road. We believe West Bedford will prove to be as successful as our other communities like Clayton Park, The Ravines, Portland Hills and Russell Lake West."