Salter Street Block | 41 m | 12 fl | Cancelled

[halifaxboyns]

There was a story on this development on the CBC news at 6 tonight. Was a good story.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

Fantastic! I have to agree with a comment Dawne Sloane made (I think in the coast) that this is a good start to getting downtown back on track. I seem to recall she mentioned people were getting development agreements, but then not proceeding. I have to agree with her - although for different reasons.

Umm... I'm pretty sure she voted against this saying something like "we don't need buildings that look like they are from Dubai"

Anyway, the fact is that it will be built!!

[David1gray]

cbc article,
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/04/20/ns-halifax-salter-waterfront.html
if sloane did vote against it, she seems to be supporting it now

[someone123]

Wow, some of those comments are brutal. I'm always amazed at how the strength of an average person's opinion on an issue and their level of knowledge are basically uncorrelated.

I don't remember how Dawn Sloane voted, but she tends to be semi-random with a tendency to be against development. Unfortunately the HRM does not have a good way to look up voting records, and council in the past has defeated motions to record votes. They should all be available on a page on the HRM website.

[halifaxboyns]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

Umm... I'm pretty sure she voted against this saying something like "we don't need buildings that look like they are from Dubai"

Anyway, the fact is that it will be built!!

I don't recall how she voted, but it seems to me that many councillors that who vote against projects - eventually they seem to come around to the project, or reluctantly accept them.

I think in this case, she's realized the value and has come around. That's my thought at least.

[Keith P.]

I remember she ranted and raved against the observation tower -- I think that was the "not Dubai" nonsense. Likely voted against it.

Too bad the tower isn't part of it.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by someone123

Wow, some of those comments are brutal. I'm always amazed at how the strength of an average person's opinion on an issue and their level of knowledge are basically uncorrelated.

I don't remember how Dawn Sloane voted, but she tends to be semi-random with a tendency to be against development. Unfortunately the HRM does not have a good way to look up voting records, and council in the past has defeated motions to record votes. They should all be available on a page on the HRM website.

Funny that you mentioned it. HRM does record the votes and I have started making a compilation of who voted for and against each project. That will give a clearer indication of where councillors stand. Sometimes councillors who say that they want development don't vote that way. Some like well designed high rise buildings; as long as they are under 7 storeys tall (LOL).

[downtowndawn]

Originally Posted by someone123

Wow, some of those comments are brutal. I'm always amazed at how the strength of an average person's opinion on an issue and their level of knowledge are basically uncorrelated.

I don't remember how Dawn Sloane voted, but she tends to be semi-random with a tendency to be against development. Unfortunately the HRM does not have a good way to look up voting records, and council in the past has defeated motions to record votes. They should all be available on a page on the HRM website.

Voted for the Salter Street

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by downtowndawn

Voted for the Salter Street

What are your opinions on the new convention centre proposal (need I ask?). I am willing to bet that you want the height to be reduced. Please don't say that this is what the majority wants. Most people could care a less about the citadel view. There is a far better view from George's Island and the waterfront! The citadel should be a benefit to Haligonians, not a stone around their necks.

PS: People are far safer on the 30th floor of a modern highrise than people were on the 5th floor of a building 100 years ago because of modern fire codes.

[sdm]

Halifax waterfront group gives go-ahead for $75-million project

By BRUCE ERSKINE Business Reporter
Tue. Apr 20 - 4:36 PM
The Salter Block development has a toehold on the Halifax waterfront.

“After nine years of shuffling papers, we’re excited to get going,” Frank Medjuck, of Centennial Group Ltd., said in an interview Tuesday.
The Waterfront Development Corporation Ltd. announced Tuesday that the Halifax development company will take custody of 1.4 hectares of land between Salter Street and Bishop's Landing that will house the $75-million development in June.

“We’re finally getting on the site,” said Medjuck. “We’re very happy.”

Footings for the project, which will include a 142-unit apartment building, a 98-unit boutique hotel, 75,000 square feet of retail space and a half-hectare public park, are scheduled to be in place by June 2011.

Construction is estimated to take three to five years to complete all aspects of the project.

[downtowndawn]

I'm for the new convention centre, just worried about the funding from the prov.

Originally Posted by fenwick16

What are your opinions on the new convention centre proposal (need I ask?). I am willing to bet that you want the height to be reduced. Please don't say that this is what the majority wants. Most people could care a less about the citadel view. There is a far better view from George's Island and the waterfront! The citadel should be a benefit to Haligonians, not a stone around their necks.

PS: People are far safer on the 30th floor of a modern highrise than people were on the 5th floor of a building 100 years ago because of modern fire codes.

[halifaxboyns]

Originally Posted by downtowndawn

Voted for the Salter Street

That's what I figured.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by downtowndawn

I'm for the new convention centre, just worried about the funding from the prov.

This is why proposals such as the new trade centre need people such as yourself coming out publicly in favour so that the provincial leaders know that there is support for it. Your opinions seem to end up in various publications so it seems that your opinions have quite a bit of influence. However, I have not seen you mention anything about the new trade centre in any publication that I have read. I did notice your name on the Save the View facebook site, and that group is fighting the new convention centre. How do you explain this?

[Jonovision]

Great news! That means at least two cranes in that neighbourhood! Probably even 3 since this development I would imagine will need at least 2.

I can't wait to walk the boardwalk in front of this. It's going to have such a large positive impact on the waterfront.

[alps]

Really excited about this one, although I do think it's a shame the observation tower was nixed.

Anyone heard of any plans for the warehouse restaurant lot? I absolutely can't wait until we're rid of the whole slew of parking lots down there.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by downtowndawn

Voted for the Salter Street

Thanks for the clarification. Was I correct in thinking that you were opposed to the observation tower? Would you still be opposed today? How has your opinion of downtown development changed since 2005 or so? What about the United Gulf development?

I ask because I remember a lot of talk in the media about the tower that seemed very closed-minded - it felt like an idea that was shot down before it was even entertained. It's possible that it would be visible from within the parade square inside the Citadel or whatever, but it would also be an interesting amenity for the waterfront that lots of people would have taken advantage of.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by someone123

Thanks for the clarification. Was I correct in thinking that you were opposed to the observation tower? Would you still be opposed today? How has your opinion of downtown development changed since 2005 or so? What about the United Gulf development?

I ask because I remember a lot of talk in the media about the tower that seemed very closed-minded - it felt like an idea that was shot down before it was even entertained. It's possible that it would be visible from within the parade square inside the Citadel or whatever, but it would also be an interesting amenity for the waterfront that lots of people would have taken advantage of.

I remember seeing a model of the observation tower. It actually looked good to me. It was very similar to Seattle's Space Needle. It would have provided a great view of the Halifax area. Maybe in the future one will be built in Dartmouth (except hopefully it will be taller).

PS: In defense of Councillor Sloane, she has done a great deal to save heritage in the Halifax area. Since this is a skyscraper forum most of us want modern highrises and I think that we are in the majority of the population; most urban dwellers like tall modern buildings. I for example, have been to the observation deck of the Empire State building in NY, the Sears Tower (it has a different name now) in Chicago and the CN Tower in Toronto (a few times). I have also been to other engineering wonders such as the Rogers Centre (aka Skydome) and Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco. I like Halifax area buildings such as the Maritime Centre, 1801 Hollis, Purdy's Wharf ... I would like to see a lot more new engineering wonders in the Halifax area.

[halifaxboyns]

I'm quite excited to see what they come up with for the other parking lot they keep talking about - I think this will fill in quite nicely.

I wonder if an observation deck type of thing could be incorporated into the tallest part of the building - as a replacement to the 'space needle' proposal that had been removed?

I just want to throw in my 2 cents about the question that was asked earlier about Councillor Sloane. I think any politician in a downtown core (where there is the combination of development pressure and heritage preservation) has got a tough road to deal with. One thing I will give her cudos for is trying to represent her constituants, which I think she's done well over the years. But what really counts (in my mind) when it comes down to it, is the vote at the public hearing. You can sign up for various groups on facebook that are pro or con to development - but what really counts is the vote.

From my perspective, if I were in any of these councillors shoes I'd probably take the middle ground, signing up for both groups to be fair. But I'd make my decision based on an informed discussion about the issue; researching the issue, talking to staff and both sides of the debate. That's just me - god, sounds like I have an election platform lol.

[Barrington south]

Originally Posted by someone123

Actually I think their selection process also took years and was fairly secretive. It's possible this development effectively started around 2002 or so.

I wonder if we'll have to wait until 2020 for the next one...

if only they could get moving like they did on those new Kioscs they where musin' about few months back....saw yesterday they are now in place inbeteen Bishop's and NSP development..

[Barrington south]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I remember she ranted and raved against the observation tower -- I think that was the "not Dubai" nonsense. Likely voted against it.

Too bad the tower isn't part of it.

no the "not Dubia" comment was in referance to the buildings being white in color


as if Dubia invented white buildings