General Updates and News

[JustinMacD]

Originally Posted by DigitalNinja

I am currently in Shanghai, and by god this city is amazing, after seeing what the Chinese can do with a city which was decrepit, and turning it into a vibrant living neighborhood with high technology and infrastructure where it counts is something that it seems like Halifax will never be able to do.

The Chinese will surpass everyone in no time. Beijing has a horrible rep for pollution but they've introduced some of the most environmentally friendly transit systems in the world.

They are innovative and DON'T JUST SIT AROUND SMELLING THE ROSES. They plan for the future and understand how important it is to have a leg up on your competition.

If the councillors of Halifax actually cared, this city could be a power house. Beautiful natural scenery, a good port, great universities.. All of this business going to Moncton and other cities would probably be coming here if they actually made an effort to cater to business people.

I look at a place like Membertou, the native reserve outside of Sydney. That place was a SHITHOLE. An absolute DUMP 10 years ago... And then they brought in a few smart business leaders (Terry Paul, Bern Christmas) and the place took off. Honest to god, you want to see development in NS.. go to Membertou. Beautiful new buildings popping up every month. Lots of jobs for the natives. It's incredible. All it took was leadership from a few guys with BUSINESS connections and BUSINESS smarts. They have private financing from all kinds of large investment firms.. they're ISO certfied.. It's incredible.

STOP ELECTING LAWYERS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJORS. ELECT BUSINESSMEN.

[sdm]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

Maybe once Halifax is a decrepit, hollowed out city then the people preventing development will finally realize the problem with their strategy. The heritage buildings will be crumbling also since there won't be any money to renovate them.

Well with the recent news of the offshore development coming to a halt this province better get its act together because if there is no new development then 1 royalities paid will decline, 2) jobs will suffer, 3) these organizations will not be required to have large offices here and therefore shed lots of space, and therefore compromise new developments.

Its time for some leadership around here.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by JustinMacD

STOP ELECTING LAWYERS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJORS. ELECT BUSINESSMEN.

EXACTLY, that is what Halifax needs! I hope in the coming elections there will be that option of electing businessmen and technical people.

Halifax has lost another CAO in Dan English because the councillors wouldn't vote to extend his contract. So now they don't know who they will get (they have forced 3 CAO's out in the past 14 years - that certainly hasn't helped the city).

I wonder if Halifax could get the CAO that they ousted 10 years ago who said that dealing with the city councillors was "like herding seagulls" (I like his style). If the council could be reduced to 15 councillors then there would only be 15 to herd (and a few of them are probably intelligent enough to make rational decisions without an inteligent CAO).

[sdm]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

EXACTLY, that is what Halifax needs! I hope in the coming elections there will be that option of electing businessmen and technical people.

Halifax has lost another CAO in Dan English because the councillors wouldn't vote to extend his contract. So now they don't know who they will get (they have forced 3 CAO's out in the past 14 years - that certainly hasn't helped the city).

I wonder if Halifax could get the CAO that they ousted 10 years ago who said that dealing with the city councillors was "like herding seagulls" (I like his style). If the council could be reduced to 15 councillors then there would only be 15 to herd (and a few of them are probably intelligent enough to make rational decisions without an inteligent CAO).

The individual you speak of is George McLellan who now runs Medavie EMS and is likely never to return to public service. He was by far one of the best at what he did during his turn at the helm.

George did leave early for the what i believe will be the same reasons we will eventually become known as to why Mr. English left early.

[DigitalNinja]

That's what I don't understand, they want to protect the heritage, and by protecting it seems the city means "Lets leave it until they all fall down instead of putting something nice up that would bring money to halifax."

[Jonovision]

TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2010
Barrington Street poised for major makeover
Property owners take advantage of $1.2 million in historic preservation funding
POSTED BY TIM BOUSQUET ON TUE, JUL 6, 2010 AT 9:19 AM



So much for Barrington Street as urban wasteland: Fully nine properties on the street have applied for funding to help rebuild building facades. And city staff is recommending that Halifax council provide the building owners with $200,000 in grant money and just over a million dollars in tax credits to make the renovations become reality. Council will vote on that recommendation today.
The projects recommended for funding are as follows:

Former National Film Board building (1572 Barrington): This is part of Costa Elles' and Chris Tzaneteas' project for the block stretching up to The Argyle on Argyle Street. Plans for the entire block have not been finalized, but the NFB portion of it will include commercial use on the ground floor and residential on the upper floors. The existing NFB facade will be restored (the building behind the facade was destroyed in a fire some years ago). Staff is recommending that this project receive a $100,000 grant and $376,625 in tax credits.

Sam The Record Man (the "red" Harrison building portion of it, 1652 Barrington): Owned by Louis Reznick's Starfish Properties, this project has the first approved by the new HRM By Design planning rules. There will be a one-storey addition set back from the street, with retail on street level and office space above. Staff is recommending a $90,602 and $114,079 in tax credits.

Same The Record Man (the "grey" Canada Permanent Trust portion of it, 1656 Barrington. Same project as the red portion. Staff recommends a $9,398 grant and $130,338 in tax credits.

The Farquahar building (with Venus Pizza at ground level, 1558 Barrington): This will be incorporated into the NFB/Argyle project above. Staff recommends $204,778 in tax credits.

Granite Brewery building (1662 Barrington): part of the Starfish project with Sam The Record Man. Staff recommends $157,273 in tax credits.

Nova Scotia Furnishings/Telus building (1668 Barrington): another Starfish property. Staff recommends $25,493 in tax credits for facade restoration.

Barnder Morris/Attica building (1566 Barrington): Also a Starfish property, staff recommends a $4,585 tax credit for facade restoration.

GM Smith/Girly Boutique building (1717 Barrington): Yet another Starfish property. Staff recommends $3,991 in tax credits.

The Tramway building (1598 Barrington). This is the former Frozen Ocean site. Brother and sister Christian and Heather Rankin are renting the ground floor and will soon open the Obladee Wine Bar (I'll have more on this in Shoptalk next week). They've been recommended for $1,524 in tax credits for constructing a wooden entry into the space.

See a bigger version of the map
http://www.thecoast.ca/general/pdfs/Barrington%20Map.pdf


The investment by both building owners and the city underscores a new positive attitude about Barrington. The grant money comes straight out of the city budget, and the tax credits are recorded as a loss for budget purposes, but clearly the projects will result in higher assessments, both for the particular projects and on the street generally, so they'll likely result in an increase, not a decrease, in tax revenue over time.

The heritage incentive program that makes the funds available is part of HRM By Design, which created a Barrington Historic District in part for the purpose of funding facade restoration.

There's no guarantee that the projects will actually get built. (Grants and tax credits are to be awarded after completion) and council today may change the formula for funding. If so, I'll update this post.

[coolmillion]

^ great news about Barrington. It's about time the city ponied up some funding. I really hope Starfish properties can get its act together upgrade and renovate in a timely fashion.
Regarding the previous mentions of the wonders of development in Chinese cities: I would hesitate to look to Chinese cities as examplars of planning and development for several reasons, but chiefly because of authoritarian political regime. Entire neighbourhoods are decimated (yes, they may be "decrepit", but are vibrant communities) and residents rehoused in faceless towers, often far from the places they frequent and transit options, without proper compensation. The worst is that they have absolutely no say in the matter and would be arrested if they tried to organize or speak out. Another reminder - the people driving development in China are the hundreds of millions of workers who make ipod parts and plastic toys for a pittance. Also around half of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are in China and this isn't going to change any time soon, in spite of green transit options.
I'm in Hong Kong right now where, interestingly and in contrast to the mainland, there is an amazingly vibrant social movement focused on, among other things, slowing down development, making better planning and design decisions and preserving older areas of the city.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by coolmillion

I would hesitate to look to Chinese cities as examplars of planning and development for several reasons, but chiefly because of authoritarian political regime. Entire neighbourhoods are decimated (yes, they may be "decrepit", but are vibrant communities) and residents rehoused in faceless towers, often far from the places they frequent and transit options, without proper compensation. The worst is that they have absolutely no say in the matter and would be arrested if they tried to organize or speak out.

Ah, but the planning professionals must be so pleased... there is still a place where East Germany's planning principles as taught in planning school can be applied, and commie blocks can still be built.

With apologies to Shakespeare, "First thing we do, let's kill all the planners."

[planarchy]

Originally Posted by DigitalNinja

I am currently in Shanghai, and by god this city is amazing, after seeing what the Chinese can do with a city which was decrepit, and turning it into a vibrant living neighborhood with high technology and infrastructure where it counts is something that it seems like Halifax will never be able to do.

Comparing the development of Shanghai to any North American city is ridiculous. Shanghai is built on the backs of millions of poor people who are not even permitted to move into the city. Shanghai is novelty city built to convey an image of China as a county of power and progress, and direct attention away from all their other problems.

Don't get me wrong, Shanghai is a great place to visit for the spectacle alone, but its development is anything but normal - it's actually completely artificial. If we want to look to other cities for examples of what CAN be done in regards to public transit, service infrastructure, high-quality building practices and urban design standards, we should probably avoid looking anywhere is Asia! I'd start with west coast of NA, Scandinavian countries, and parts of western Europe - France, Netherlands, Belgium in particular - where we share common challenges, similar climates and cultural norms.

Edit: Didn't see Coolmillion's post - similar thoughts. These aren't the urban utopia's that they are often shown to be.

[planarchy]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Ah, but the planning professionals must be so pleased... there is still a place where East Germany's planning principles as taught in planning school can be applied, and commie blocks can still be built.

Vietnam is no different. First year courses in university in any degree program still include Communist Theory and Ideology. Foreign universities with satellite campuses there are also required to include it in their curriculum.

Master Plans for all cities in Vietnam are handed down from a central planning authority in Hanoi.

[DigitalNinja]

Kicking people off land is the same thing that Canada did in our stages of development, in the 50's and 60's (Maybe before that I dunno) People got moved off for development, my great grandfather was out in sackville, his house was where the cloverleaf is for bedford sackville, and he got pennies for his place but was forced to move.
Anyway my point was that they have their act together over here, if your going to kick 5000 people out of their homes for a better area for everyone else, it's best for the greatest number of people.
The place I'm staying at right now is one of those areas talked about as being older and "vibrant" It is the dirtiest part of the city. (Location is great though around all the places to go)
I dunno different thought processes I guess, business drives the Chinese cities, apparently failed lawyers and poli-sci majors rule ours with their own agenda for the few people who want to protect the not so magnificent buildings.

Just a side note about pollution, it might be bad other parts of the year, but I don't really notice much of a difference breathing between here and Halifax, I have bad asthma as well so I thought the pollution would bring that up but nothing.

I'm heading to Pudong tomorrow I'll get some pics for you guys to see the development here.

[JustinMacD]

So when will this Barrington fix-up begin? 2015?

[DigitalNinja]

Did it pass council? I kinda expect it not to, someone will bring up something like "Our old buildings should not be used as new store fronts"

[sdm]

Originally Posted by JustinMacD

So when will this Barrington fix-up begin? 2015?

If not later.

The biggest mistake council has done is not putting a reasonable expiry time on these grants. Whats the sense of giving a grant if it doesn't spur construction.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

Wait for it - the save the Halifax Common's people will be on this one like White on Rice. They've already been upset with it everytime the Common's Master Plan comes up.

Good call. To what should be the surprise of absolutely nobody, the loonies are calling for exactly what you predicted:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Letters/1191464.html

In 2008, HRM swapped 269,000 square feet for 131,330 square feet of provincial land and agreed to pay $1.9 million to the province. This gave the Queen Elizabeth High School, located on Halifax Common land, to the provincial government for Capital Health’s new hospital development. The deal contravened the 1994 Halifax Common Plan whereby the city is to retain existing Common land and seek opportunities to recapture Common land.

The plan is specific about city-owned land in the Common being preserved largely as public open space and mentions the high school as a property to be returned to the city when declared surplus by the school board. At 5.5 acres, it is the largest parcel of land that could have reverted to the Common.

Friends of the Halifax Common (FHC) didn’t object to the Infirmary Emergency expansion, but wanted the balance of the QEHS lands to be retained. FHC presented scientifically validated evidence as to the importance of public open space for mental and physical health. FHC congratulates Capital Health on its first proposed use of the QEHS land — an urban farm. Not using any former QEHS lands for parking and dissuading HRM from the proposed widening of Bell Road by 38 feet would be important next steps.

Peggy Cameron, Co-chair,
Friends of Halifax Common

Where do these people come from? Why are they genetically opposed to any change?

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Where do these people come from? Why are they genetically opposed to any change?

They think that they are saving the planet by trying to convert Halifax into parkland. They can't comprehend that Haligonians will then have to move elsewhere. So all they are doing is shifting the problem elsewhere (in my opinion, it isn't a problem). Why can't these people understand that the best place for people to live is in a scenic areas instead of trying to preserve scenic areas and have people move elsewhere? All of Nova Scotia is a very scenic area, so it makes sense to me to have 1/3 of the county of Halifax as a urban area and preserve the rest of the province. Such an urban area could probably hold 2 million people, at least, without being too crowded.

[kinkydawg]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

They think that they are saving the planet by trying to convert Halifax into parkland. They can't comprehend that Haligonians will then have to move elsewhere. So all they are doing is shifting the problem elsewhere (in my opinion, it isn't a problem). Why can't these people understand that the best place for people to live is in a scenic areas instead of trying to preserve scenic areas and have people move elsewhere? All of Nova Scotia is a very scenic area, so it makes sense to me to have 1/3 of the county of Halifax as a urban area and preserve the rest of the province. Such an urban area could probably hold 2 million people, at least, without being too crowded.

I don't think converting Halifax into parkland is anyone's goal. I'd love to see Halifax become a bustling metropolis but I would hate to have to buy a car and drive or spend 2 hours on a bus to find some trees and fresh air. There can be something for everyone right downtown, a mix of urban density and parkland. Who gets displaced by turning the old QEH back into Commons?

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by kinkydawg

I don't think converting Halifax into parkland is anyone's goal. I'd love to see Halifax become a bustling metropolis but I would hate to have to buy a car and drive or spend 2 hours on a bus to find some trees and fresh air. There can be something for everyone right downtown, a mix of urban density and parkland. Who gets displaced by turning the old QEH back into Commons?

The Province likely has intentions of developing it into an expanded health care facility which is just as important as more green space. I agree that there should be a good mix of parkland and urban land that can be developed. But restrictive height controls and excessive parkland does lead to a more spread out city that means more commuting for the residents. I think that there is a great deal of parkland in the HRM that is not well utilized. How about having easier access to McNab's Island and George's Island (hopefully George's Island will be ready in the next couple of years). Also having better access to Point Pleasant Park would be a plus (I don't think that there is a direct route from downtown).

[DigitalNinja]

The number 9 goes close to PPP

And using the argument about traveling to find parkland, when they want to just extend existing parkland is not a very good argument, what they need is more small parks not lots of big ones.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by kinkydawg

I don't think converting Halifax into parkland is anyone's goal. I'd love to see Halifax become a bustling metropolis but I would hate to have to buy a car and drive or spend 2 hours on a bus to find some trees and fresh air. There can be something for everyone right downtown, a mix of urban density and parkland. Who gets displaced by turning the old QEH back into Commons?

What's usually forgotten is that there is an opportunity cost to parkland - money used to buy the land could have been used for other things (the QEH property is worth millions) and the land itself could have been used for other development.

The problem with the current situation is that this area is already fully of underused and underdeveloped parkland. The Public Gardens are great but are closed for half the year. The Commons are very poorly organized and do not have good modern amenities. The Grand Parade was a parking lot until recently and is still poorly planned. Point Pleasant Park hasn't been improved much post-Juan. The list goes on...

It makes far more sense to improve what the city has than it does to acquire more land without any particular goal in mind, further stretching maintenance budgets.