Development Rumours - Page 47

JET · #**921** Posted **Nov 19, 2010, 4:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northend Guy

Another Church biting the dust? Recently heard that the Fort Massey United Church on the Corner of Queen & Tobin is closing...presumably this will become apartments? The only tidbit I heard is that is closing. Maybe someone else has heard somthing?

http://www.fortmasseychurch.com/news.htm
Their Fall newsletter does not indicate any changes; sounds like a vibrant community. Nice church.

Northend Guy · #**922** Posted **Nov 19, 2010, 5:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JET

http://www.fortmasseychurch.com/news.htm
Their Fall newsletter does not indicate any changes; sounds like a vibrant community. Nice church.

Perhaps my source was not quite on the money...it was not a particularly 'involved' source, so there may have been some crossed wires. Just thought someone else may have heard something a little more substantial.

Jonovision · #**923** Posted **Nov 20, 2010, 2:13 AM**

That would be a shame to lose that church. It is quite nice.

someone123 · #**924** Posted **Nov 23, 2010, 9:31 AM**

Allnovascotia reported tonight that the CD Plus building on Barrington has been sold and will soon be torn down, possibly to be replaced by a five or six storey building.

Northend Guy · #**925** Posted **Nov 23, 2010, 1:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

Allnovascotia reported tonight that the CD Plus building on Barrington has been sold and will soon be torn down, possibly to be replaced by a five or six storey building.

Or become another victim of the Ghosts of downtown past...

That said I confident and hopeful that the downtown will soon be revitalized. I'd even be happy with smaller scale projects - so long as the street front looks fresh - Right now Barrington street is starting to feel like the Ghetto.

JET · #**926** Posted **Nov 23, 2010, 2:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northend Guy

Or become another victim of the Ghosts of downtown past...

That said I confident and hopeful that the downtown will soon be revitalized. I'd even be happy with smaller scale projects - so long as the street front looks fresh - Right now Barrington street is starting to feel like the Ghetto.

There's a piece in the Metro today about shopping downtown, and a nice shot of the old buildings across from the parade square.

Waye Mason · #**927** Posted **Nov 23, 2010, 5:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northend Guy

Or become another victim of the Ghosts of downtown past...

That said I confident and hopeful that the downtown will soon be revitalized. I'd even be happy with smaller scale projects - so long as the street front looks fresh - Right now Barrington street is starting to feel like the Ghetto.

Having worked in that building for 3 years, I hope they do tear it down, it was filthy and the air exchanger on the top had pigeons living in it, so dirty, the air was foul. Pretty much nothing good about that building, and the land lord was not big on repairs and maintenance, for example, the basement was partially flooded for years, leading to mold and seepage into the Khyber basement.

DigitalNinja · #**928** Posted **Nov 23, 2010, 5:51 PM**

I've always thought of that building being the most ugly in Halifax.

beyeas · #**929** Posted **Nov 23, 2010, 7:33 PM**

I just hope that it doesn't have the fate of most "proposed developments" in Halifax... which is to say that they tear it down to avoid the taxes, propose a development, say you can't do it any time soon though, and leave another hole in the streetscape for years to come.

Given the location, I would rather a butt ugly building than a hole at this point.

someone123 · #**930** Posted **Nov 23, 2010, 8:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by beyeas

I just hope that it doesn't have the fate of most "proposed developments" in Halifax... which is to say that they tear it down to avoid the taxes, propose a development, say you can't do it any time soon though, and leave another hole in the streetscape for years to come.

It's very hard for me to believe that it isn't possible to make money off of this site by tearing down the building then putting up four floors of apartments along with a storefront. There's a market for 100 expensive apartments at Hollis and Morris or hundreds of condos in Dartmouth but not 12 apartments on Barrington?

I think part of the issue is that we've mostly seen elaborate office proposals for the downtown area when most of the demand is for residential. Dozens and dozens of routine residential developments have quietly been completed all over the peninsula during the past decade. The sad irony is that residential would be a more effective way to improve the downtown.

I am hoping that we'll see some of the small Barrington projects move forward soon but it's been a while. Very little has changed - after 20 years the street is still basically treading water.

The city also needs to change the tax structure so that there is no advantage to tearing down buildings.

JET · #**931** Posted **Nov 23, 2010, 8:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by beyeas

I just hope that it doesn't have the fate of most "proposed developments" in Halifax... which is to say that they tear it down to avoid the taxes, propose a development, say you can't do it any time soon though, and leave another hole in the streetscape for years to come.

Given the location, I would rather a butt ugly building than a hole at this point.

Some areas of the world have higher taxes for undeveloped property; which results in owners developing the property or selling it to someone who will develop it. There is a disincentive to tearing down bldgs without a plan to soon do something with it

someone123 · #**932** Posted **Nov 23, 2010, 8:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JET

Some areas of the world have higher taxes for undeveloped property; which results in owners developing the property or selling it to someone who will develop it. There is a disincentive to tearing down bldgs without a plan to soon do something with it

The city could do something like effectively tax properties at whatever amount would be assessed for an as-of-right development for the property.

I believe Vancouver also has a parking tax per space and possibly a gas tax.

someone123 · #**933** Posted **Dec 8, 2010, 9:35 PM**

Somebody posted this in the Canada section proposals thread. An ALT hotel planned for somewhere in Halifax:

Source

Not sure how serious this proposal is and I'm not sure what the site is. Maybe around the seawall area?

beyeas · #**934** Posted **Dec 8, 2010, 10:01 PM**

only place that I can think of that resembles that at all is the seawall area in the corner by the Cunard Centre.

Dmajackson · #**935** Posted **Dec 8, 2010, 10:10 PM**

What is up with the random bridge structure across the road?

kph06 · #**936** Posted **Dec 8, 2010, 10:13 PM**

That's the airport. Parking garage in back, large pedway across the road.

hoser111 · #**937** Posted **Dec 8, 2010, 10:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kph06

That's the airport. Parking garage in back, large pedway across the road.

Yep...Sheraton is out, ALT is in.

fenwick16 · #**938** Posted **Dec 8, 2010, 11:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

Somebody posted this in the Canada section proposals thread. An ALT hotel planned for somewhere in Halifax:

Source

Not sure how serious this proposal is and I'm not sure what the site is. Maybe around the seawall area?

I hope that isn't the final design.

sdm · #**939** Posted **Dec 9, 2010, 12:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

I hope that isn't the final design.

agreed, not very attractive.

someone123 · #**940** Posted **Dec 9, 2010, 12:36 AM**

That is a cookie cutter design that they either have built or are planning to build in a few different cities.