General Updates and News - Page 123

mcmcclassic · #**2441** Posted **Jun 20, 2011, 8:54 PM**

[/QUOTE] The HRM should be looking at turning Inglis into a more commercial street, with a mix of old heritage houses and some mid-scale (3-6 storey) buildings with ground floor businesses.[/QUOTE]

I agree completely. I live on Inglis St. and it would be nice to see a continuation of the commercial strip currently at the most easterly end of the street and make it more than just food establishments. Seeing some commercial closer to SMU would be great and I imagine many people from SMU (and surrounding community) could keep them in business.

worldlyhaligonian · #**2442** Posted **Jun 20, 2011, 9:03 PM**

The HRM should be looking at turning Inglis into a more commercial street, with a mix of old heritage houses and some mid-scale (3-6 storey) buildings with ground floor businesses.[/QUOTE]

I agree completely. I live on Inglis St. and it would be nice to see a continuation of the commercial strip currently at the most easterly end of the street and make it more than just food establishments. Seeing some commercial closer to SMU would be great and I imagine many people from SMU (and surrounding community) could keep them in business.[/QUOTE]

That is definitely a good idea... I would like something HQ in the 8-10 story range to replace that "Christian Science" building on the corner of SP and Inglis.

Dmajackson · #**2443** Posted **Jun 21, 2011, 1:53 PM**

Office vacancy rates improving downtown
By BILL POWER Business Reporter
Tue, Jun 21 - 4:54 AM

The office vacancy rate in Halifax’s central business district has landed at a healthy level of 8.7 per cent after more than a year of stress, commercial real estate adviser Michael Brown reported Monday.

Brown, with Cushman & Wakefield Atlantic, released the first-quarter 2011 office market update for the Halifax regional market.

...

( [email protected])

Click HERE for the full article and more importantly to read the last sentence which has some good news for the 2011 Construction Season in Halifax.

halifaxboyns · #**2444** Posted **Jun 21, 2011, 2:21 PM**

Oh thank god - finally some good downtown news. If only DD had this when he went to Ottawa, he could've talked up how the downtown is strengthening and the Nova Centre would continue that trend!

halifaxboyns · #**2445** Posted **Jun 21, 2011, 5:29 PM**

I thought I would add something to my comment about the downtown office vacancy rate that didn't dawn on me until now. I was in Edmonton last weekend, as I was meeting with some of their planning staff (we're both doing a similar project and since I was going up anyway, I figured might be a good idea to exchange info).

One thing I noticed that Edmonton seems to be really good at; is having old office buildings convert to residential development. The building next to the hotel I stayed at is a great example. This clearly was an old office building, but it's now apartments. So is this. I did a quick count and saw about 8 or 9 examples of this all through the downtown. It's very similar in thought to what happened to the Raddison on Hollis - it was a former office building.

By converting these buildings, you get rid of older buildings from the mix and reuse them for other purposes. I have friends who live in the second example I gave - it's pretty swanky. But that also drives up rents, because the cheap space disappears and decreases vacancy rates too. I wonder if we'll see that happen over the next few years if a few new buildings (like Nova Centre, Twisted or International Place) are built? Would be interesting...

Northend Guy · #**2446** Posted **Jun 21, 2011, 6:38 PM**

I recently got wind that there is going to be a new residential building at 5 corners in Dartmouth. I don't think that's been on here yet - I'm a little shy on the details, but it will be in the range of 50-60 units. I believe that Michael Napier's office is working on it.

someone123 · #**2447** Posted **Jun 21, 2011, 7:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

Oh thank god - finally some good downtown news. If only DD had this when he went to Ottawa, he could've talked up how the downtown is strengthening and the Nova Centre would continue that trend!

I find that these articles exaggerate the situation both ways to make it sound more dramatic. Vacancy rates haven't changed much compared to other cities. The focus on rental space is also misleading, since it means that new construction of company-owned buildings like NSP's new HQ are "negative absorption". Basically it's all described from the perspective of renters, not the overall health of the downtown. I don't feel too bad for the company that's rented out Scotia Square for 30+ years. I'm sure they've made plenty of money.

worldlyhaligonian · #**2448** Posted **Jun 21, 2011, 9:26 PM**

I think the anti-development people have been trying to over state the vacancy rates as well. They just make up numbers. This disproves that that there isn't ANY demand.

Under 10% must be close to the natural level of vacancy.

halifaxboyns · #**2449** Posted **Jun 21, 2011, 10:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

I think the anti-development people have been trying to over state the vacancy rates as well. They just make up numbers. This disproves that that there isn't ANY demand.

Under 10% must be close to the natural level of vacancy.

That is certainly better than what Calgary is doing right now; downtown Vacancy is around 13%. But despite that, 8th Avenue Place is already talking about going ahead with it's second tower since the first tower is now completely full.

I suspect my number maybe wrong as I haven't heard a recent update on the vacancy rates, but I've been seen many buildings that were new (and mostly empty) getting tenants. Even the bow has 5 floors below the 15th floor occupied and it's still under construction. I can see it from my balcony since I'm less than a block from it.

spaustin · #**2450** Posted **Jun 22, 2011, 12:20 AM**

If vacancy rates have stabilized, maybe McCrea will be able to find some tenants and proceed with Waterside Centre. Would be great to see that underway as the site looks really terrible right now.

JET · #**2451** Posted **Jun 22, 2011, 11:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northend Guy

I recently got wind that there is going to be a new residential building at 5 corners in Dartmouth. I don't think that's been on here yet - I'm a little shy on the details, but it will be in the range of 50-60 units. I believe that Michael Napier's office is working on it.

Someone had posted that recently, but can't remember when or what thread. The site is on Portland, below five corners, across from the Tim's. Sounds good

-Harlington- · #**2452** Posted **Jun 22, 2011, 2:46 PM**

Halifax Harbour Solutions project declared complete

The $333-million Halifax Harbour Solutions project was declared successfully complete on Tuesday.
the city's largest-ever infrastructure project was declared successfully completed by city officials on Tuesday.

"This project has reached total completion, and with it come achievements that have been long asked for and delivered," said Carl Yates, the general manager of the Halifax Regional Water Commission.

Yates told regional council members on Tuesday the $333-million project had come in approximately $3 million under budget. The water in Halifax harbour is so clean, he said, that it meets guidelines for shellfish harvesting set out by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

"There are other elements that DFO considers when they look at shellfish harvesting but from a water quality point of view, excellent right throughout the inner, middle and outer harbour," Yates told council members.

The three water treatment plants in Halifax, Dartmouth and Herring Cove are now fully functioning.

The all-clear comes after the failure of the Halifax sewage treatment plant in early 2009, after a power failure set off a sequence of events that eventually caused the station to overflow with raw sewage.

It took 18 months and $11 million to bring the plant back online.

On Tuesday, Yates revealed that insurance had covered all but $500,000 of the repair bill. The builders — Degremont Technologies of France and Dexter Construction of Bedford — also gave the city money in a settlement agreement reached several months ago.

"We did reach a settlement agreement with D&D water solutions, which was concurrent with total completion for all the waste water treatment facilities," said Yates.

"As a result of that settlement, Halifax Water did receive $3 million as an all-inclusive settlement for all outstanding contractual matters."

The Halifax Regional Water Commission said all other deficiencies in the plants have been repaired.

"Now we can truly say mission accomplished," said Coun. David Hendsbee.

Mayor Peter Kelly said he was also happy to see the work done.

"We want to thank you and your team and certainly all the stakeholders involved for a job well done to come under budget with all the challenges that have been endured," Kelly told Yates.

"It has been a challenging and rewarding project that will leave an environmental and economic legacy for generations to come."

JustinMacD · #**2453** Posted **Jun 22, 2011, 3:32 PM**

I saw several condoms in the water the other day. It obviously hasn't worked that well.

Keith P. · #**2454** Posted **Jun 22, 2011, 3:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustinMacD

I saw several condoms in the water the other day. It obviously hasn't worked that well.

Either that, or someone had a hot date on a boat...

Phalanx · #**2455** Posted **Jun 22, 2011, 5:08 PM**

Yeah, the system seems quite flawed... given that it seems to back up just about any time there's a storm. And the fact that one of the collection stations occupies a chunk of prime real estate downtown will always annoy me. Surely there could have been other locations?

gm_scott · #**2456** Posted **Jun 22, 2011, 8:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalanx

Yeah, the system seems quite flawed... given that it seems to back up just about any time there's a storm. And the fact that one of the collection stations occupies a chunk of prime real estate downtown will always annoy me. Surely there could have been other locations?

I still wish they would just build a building on top.

pblaauw · #**2457** Posted **Jun 22, 2011, 11:41 PM**

A post by SkyscraperPage.com on FB brought this to my attention. Could this work in DT Halifax and Dartmouth?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouverism

Empire · #**2458** Posted **Jun 23, 2011, 12:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalanx

Yeah, the system seems quite flawed... given that it seems to back up just about any time there's a storm. And the fact that one of the collection stations occupies a chunk of prime real estate downtown will always annoy me. Surely there could have been other locations?

There sure could have been a better location. Not only is the location brainless, it is the most brainless looking building in existance. Everything about the sewage treatment plant is a boondoggle and very typical Halifax. I was shocked when they built this disaster and no one spoke out against it. I go by the STP on the bus and on a warm day people in the bus have to cover their nose. The Cogswell Interchange lands are tainted with the stench of poor HRM planning.

Brainless ugly typical HRM building:
http://maps.google.it/maps?q=halifax+ns&...DOca-Ej2YSc2o8wxYkRhsw&cbp=12,70.78,,0,0

Another ugly angle:
http://maps.google.it/maps?q=halifax+ns&...b4LP9S2tIAxucvaA&cbp=12,337.79,,1,0&z=18

Dmajackson · #**2459** Posted **Jun 23, 2011, 4:50 AM**

So a couple of things I noticed today:

According to an article in the Chronicle Herald the St Patrick's - Alexandra School on Maitland St is closing this month. It's in the Square so don't expect to see a good reuse of the land but more residential might be helpful for the area.

There is an excavator and the site has been fenced off at the corner of Gottingen and Cunard St. There is a four storey as-or-right building proposed for the site.

The former Diamond's Bar across the street is now pay public parking (surprise!)

Dmajackson · #**2460** Posted **Jun 23, 2011, 5:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustinMacD

I saw several condoms in the water the other day. It obviously hasn't worked that well.

It's been working in the Basin for quite awhile now. I've been wading in the water for a couple of summers now and so far this year I have seen no floatables. I snapped a couple of photos today in an attempt to show just how clear the water is now and at the bottom is Save the Reefs video that shows the wildlife returning to the area.

• Video Link