General Updates and News

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by terrynorthend

Interesting. I don't think there is a Tim Horton's there anymore... but I get the picture. Its a pretty lengthy stretch of houses there up to the former Tim's, so 150 units may not be much taller than 5 or 6 stories if it replaces all of them.

That is possible, however it doesn't include that many properties - one acre according to the allnovascotia.com which would be approximately 208 feet x 208 feet. There are other highrises in the area. Even if it is a low rise, this will get more people on the peninsula close to public transportation.

[miesh111]

This area of spring garden leading up to the Public Garden's is a great candidate for another urban canyon. We should encourage higher rise developments along this strech. Imagine looking down SGR and seeing a great urban canyon with the Maritime Centre at the end. Even with setbacks this effect can be accompolished.

[Dmajackson]

Originally Posted by someone123

Allnovascotia is reporting that the Lawen Group are planning to replace a stretch of buildings from Carlton Street to the Tim Horton's along the western end of Spring Garden Road with a 150 unit rental building.

That's quite a significant chunk of SGR. The Tim's shut down last year I believe. I wonder if they can incorporate the facades into the development, they might not be interesting store fronts but they provide a good step between the towers around the parks to the low-rise west-end.

[JET]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

That's quite a significant chunk of SGR. The Tim's shut down last year I believe. I wonder if they can incorporate the facades into the development, they might not be interesting store fronts but they provide a good step between the towers around the parks to the low-rise west-end.

Probably difficult to incorporate the facades. The buildings are quite different, and have spaces between. The one on the corner is shorter and was renovated into a dental lab. One building reminds me of one of the Hollis buildings that was taken down for the new building; two floors with dormer attic. There is also a three floor (plus attic) apt building, that's faily large.
Google street also shows a large lot in behind, parking no doubt. Some of the buildings along that strip are non descript, but i like the ones closer to Carlton. I had a basement apt on Carlton years ago. The entire street is a registered 'Victorian Streetscape'. JET

[fenwick16]

I assume that there are no viewplanes in this area and the HRM by Design height restrictions don't apply.

[kph06]

Something else that will be interesting to watch is Mitchell Street by the grain elevators, I think Louis Lawen owns all but one building there. Ace towing has recently vacated their location and moved all their impounded cars. It's quite a big site, I figured it was up for redevelopment after the City Centre project, but maybe its after this one now.

[someone123]

Interesting. I wonder if that site would require remediation? That's the big problem with all the empty gas station sites around town.

[halifaxboyns]

Car impound lots would typically require an environmental impact assessment to determine if remediation was warrented. I would guess probably to a certain extent some would.

SGR section could use some sprucing up - although I don't think the dental lab building is part of the heritage streetscape - I think that was exempted. I will check into it.

The issue for this block is that there is a height precinct of 50' (regardless of zoning rules); which overides the maximum height. I believe this area is C-2 (which allows R-3 uses - so the angle controls would apply to the residential component).

That will make it pretty difficult to get all those units onto the site without requesting a height precinct change. I suspect we might see a 5 to 10 storey building there to get the units in. Yes, the lot in the back is parking.

[beyeas]

There is some interesting stuff buried in this report:
http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/100622cow4.pdf

Here's a quote from the introductory section:
"EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A healthy urban core is the most powerful tool available for addressing the financial and environmental challenges facing all cities. A vital urban core creates the financial strength necessary to provide amenities and services to all communities within a city region. Simply put, strategic urban investment creates regional prosperity. HRM is a “community of communities” in which the diversity of choice of communities, from urban to suburban to rural, from seaside to forest to farm, is one of our primary and most enviable assets. However that asset must be nurtured through the provision of community services, and that demands a thriving urban core that is given every opportunity to succeed and excel. Today HRM’s urban core (the Regional Centre) is not positioned as a strategic economic asset by the municipal, provincial, or federal levels of government. As a result it has missed out on economic development opportunities that would have benefitted all residents. Because its population is either stagnant or in decline, because businesses are struggling, and because several major approved developments have not proceeded, the Regional Centre is at risk of “hollowing out.” If we want it
to be more like downtown Boston (dense, livable and prosperous) rather than like downtown Detroit (hollowed-out, in decline) then expedient action is required."

[DirtyHarrie]

Originally Posted by beyeas

There is some interesting stuff buried in this report:
http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/100622cow4.pdf

Here's a quote from the introductory section:
"EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A healthy urban core is the most powerful tool available for addressing the financial and environmental challenges facing all cities. A vital urban core creates the financial strength necessary to provide amenities and services to all communities within a city region. Simply put, strategic urban investment creates regional prosperity. HRM is a “community of communities” in which the diversity of choice of communities, from urban to suburban to rural, from seaside to forest to farm, is one of our primary and most enviable assets. However that asset must be nurtured through the provision of community services, and that demands a thriving urban core that is given every opportunity to succeed and excel. Today HRM’s urban core (the Regional Centre) is not positioned as a strategic economic asset by the municipal, provincial, or federal levels of government. As a result it has missed out on economic development opportunities that would have benefitted all residents. Because its population is either stagnant or in decline, because businesses are struggling, and because several major approved developments have not proceeded, the Regional Centre is at risk of “hollowing out.” If we want it
to be more like downtown Boston (dense, livable and prosperous) rather than like downtown Detroit (hollowed-out, in decline) then expedient action is required."

Yeahh.. lets not end up like Detroit. Council, start pushin through those developments!

[sdm]

Originally Posted by DirtyHarrie

Yeahh.. lets not end up like Detroit. Council, start pushin through those developments!

Council HAS caused the issue.

[someone123]

Well, this is just another report. HRM has produced hundreds of them and the reality is that there's no great mystery when it comes to what should be done to help the core. The problem is that nobody ever follows through. Councillors want preferential spending in their districts and there is no leadership so any project without consensus gets delayed for years, even if it is perfectly reasonable.

HRM follows the "when in doubt, do nothing" mantra, which has resulted in a slowly crumbling downtown core.

[Canadian_Bacon]

^ Well said someone123.

Sadly that is how it is in Halifax. Councillors want improvements, and money for their area (district,) and don't think as a collective team and what's best for the whole area.

Halifax has so much potential, but it's being held back. There is too much red tape that nothing gets done. When something is proposed, it has to go through dozens of reports and assessments, and if the outcome is not to the councillors desire, those assessments have to be redone. It's sad that a small group of people have pretty much all of the power, and those people all have their own interest's in mind.

[Jonovision]

Dartmouth Sportsplex to be bigger, better
Public invited to see plans
Last Updated: Thursday, June 24, 2010 | 5:40 PM AT Comments6Recommend4
CBC News
The future look of the Dartmouth Sportsplex will be unveiled at a public meeting Thursday night.

The 30-year-old fitness centre is in need of a major overhaul, Brad Smith, chairman of the Sportsplex voluntary board, said Thursday.

"The demographics have changed, the needs have changed and people are pretty clear around some of the activities and things that they are looking for," he said.

"So, it includes what we call a free play area — a place you can go and shoot basketball with your kid in the evenings, maybe include climbing walls. It would be a free play space that would look sort of like a gymnasium."

Smith said they want to transform the Sportsplex on Wyse Road into a bigger and better facility.

"It would be revitalization, refurbishing and changing some of the existing floor space. It might also include expanding out certain areas of the building to accommodate newer space — maybe moving some roofs, or adding some areas," he said.

"But, fundamentally really opening up the building so it's a much more bright, open, more glass, and more inviting as a facility overall."

Smith said that an earlier proposal to build a parking garage on Sportsplex property has been shelved because it would have cost too much.

The facility will just try to better manage the existing parking space.

The proposal is expected to go to Halifax regional council in the fall, Smith said.

But even if the project is approved, work won't begin until next spring -- after Halifax hosts the 2011 Canada Winter Games in February.

The Sportsplex now features a large arena and ice surface, an eight-lane, 25-metre competitive pool and warm water training pool, weight room, cardio theatre, racquetball court and a squash court.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/sto...public.html#socialcomments#ixzz0rtQ2E600

[Jonovision]

I was able to pop into the meeting for five minutes last night. Seems like an interesting plan. From what I understood they are planning on pushing the buildings footprint out to Wyse Rd and Thistle Street. Two basketball courts will be built and the gym will be moved to the Wyse Rd area and will be housed in a two storey glass structure overlooking the road and harbour.

[bluenoser]

Looks like this might work out for the best after all?

-----

Wanderer's Club may face wrecking ball
HRM staff recommends demolition

Halifax Regional Municipality staff is recommending the demolition of the Halifax Wanderer's Grounds dilapidated field house on Sackville Street.

The small building once served as the Navy League's Dry Canteen.

In May, the group dedicated to the building's restoration said construction work on the building would go to tender sometime this summer.

The Halifax Regional Municipality and the federal government had promised $700,000 toward refurbishment of the building constructed in 1942. The Wanderer's Amateur Athletic Club had also raised $200,000 towards the project.

But, the staff report says that recent findings of asbestos and mold in the building mean the project will cost considerably more to fix up.

Downtown Coun. Dawn Sloane, who was an advocate for saving the structure before the new problems were discovered, said that too often council puts off necessary upgrades to its own infrastructure.

"Deferred maintenance is not the way to go. You know, we've seen it with the Khyber [Building], we've seen it with Bloomfield [Centre], we've seen it even with the Bengal Lancers which is owned by HRM," she said Sunday.

"So, again with this building, it's the same thing. We need to get things up to a standard in which deferred maintenance is no longer an option, and it shouldn't be an option anymore because it's costing us more money in the long run."

As for the possible demolition of the building, council will also have to de-register the building's heritage status. It was designated a municipal heritage building in 2009. The field house sits on the site of the original Wanderer's Amateur Athletic Club, which was built in 1896.

Sloane said she's hopeful a new structure will be built with the money that was supposed to be used for the renovation.

The dilapidated building was slated for demolition in 2006, but the Halifax Rugby Club — which has leased a portion of the building since 2001 — approached the municipality with a plan to save it.

In 2009, the Halifax Rugby Football Club and the Halifax Tars Football Club created a registered non-profit society to save the building, and reverted to its original name, the Wanderer's Amateur Athletic Club.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/07/05/ns-wanders-club-demolition.html#ixzz0sovmCXvz

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/07/05/ns-wanders-club-demolition.html

[sdm]

Originally Posted by bluenoser

Looks like this might work out for the best after all?

-----

Wanderer's Club may face wrecking ball
HRM staff recommends demolition

Halifax Regional Municipality staff is recommending the demolition of the Halifax Wanderer's Grounds dilapidated field house on Sackville Street.

The small building once served as the Navy League's Dry Canteen.

In May, the group dedicated to the building's restoration said construction work on the building would go to tender sometime this summer.

The Halifax Regional Municipality and the federal government had promised $700,000 toward refurbishment of the building constructed in 1942. The Wanderer's Amateur Athletic Club had also raised $200,000 towards the project.

But, the staff report says that recent findings of asbestos and mold in the building mean the project will cost considerably more to fix up.

Downtown Coun. Dawn Sloane, who was an advocate for saving the structure before the new problems were discovered, said that too often council puts off necessary upgrades to its own infrastructure.

"Deferred maintenance is not the way to go. You know, we've seen it with the Khyber [Building], we've seen it with Bloomfield [Centre], we've seen it even with the Bengal Lancers which is owned by HRM," she said Sunday.

"So, again with this building, it's the same thing. We need to get things up to a standard in which deferred maintenance is no longer an option, and it shouldn't be an option anymore because it's costing us more money in the long run."

As for the possible demolition of the building, council will also have to de-register the building's heritage status. It was designated a municipal heritage building in 2009. The field house sits on the site of the original Wanderer's Amateur Athletic Club, which was built in 1896.

Sloane said she's hopeful a new structure will be built with the money that was supposed to be used for the renovation.

The dilapidated building was slated for demolition in 2006, but the Halifax Rugby Club — which has leased a portion of the building since 2001 — approached the municipality with a plan to save it.

In 2009, the Halifax Rugby Football Club and the Halifax Tars Football Club created a registered non-profit society to save the building, and reverted to its original name, the Wanderer's Amateur Athletic Club.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/07/05/ns-wanders-club-demolition.html#ixzz0sovmCXvz

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/07/05/ns-wanders-club-demolition.html

Well since its a heritage building now they will need to file for demolition, have a public hearing, and then wait 12 months before it meets its fate.

Curious to see if council follows its own rules,

[Dmajackson]

Originally Posted by sdm

Well since its a heritage building now they will need to file for demolition, have a public hearing, and then wait 12 months before it meets its fate.

Curious to see if council follows its own rules,

5755 Sackville Street

It looks like they will have the public feedback process (meeting and hearing) but they are going to waive the one-year waiting period.

[sdm]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

5755 Sackville Street

It looks like they will have the public feedback process (meeting and hearing) but they are going to waive the one-year waiting period.

No surprise there.

[Keith P.]

So after years of dithering and wrangling to save this totally unremarkable structure, including a totally bogus heritage designation, it is now going to cost us $244,000 to be rid of it?

Just burn the thing down, somebody. Please.