[Halifax] Skye Halifax (1565 Granville) | 66 m | 2 x 21 fl | U/C - Page 42

q12 · #**821** Posted **May 25, 2012, 10:08 PM**

Read this: http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/94177-halifax-couple-want-fix-for-dream-house-difficulty

Quote:

According to the Registry of Joint Stock Companies, Greater Homes Inc., which lists Saeid Saberi as president and director, has the same 380 Bedford Hwy. address as Greater Homes Realty Inc., whose president and director is Saeid’s brother, Navid.

Navid Saberi is the president and director of United Gulf Developments Ltd., which is also located at 380 Bedford Hwy.

RyeJay · #**822** Posted **May 25, 2012, 10:16 PM**

Is it possible this could implicate new ownership for the Skye Halifax site, at the very least?

Assuming Skye is dead -- what now?

Haliobserver · #**823** Posted **May 25, 2012, 11:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by q12

Read this: http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/94177-halifax-couple-want-fix-for-dream-house-difficulty

Yea these guys can make all the independent corporations they like. Everyone knows now that it's all the same thing with most of them being registered at the same address. Guess where United Gulf Developments is registered? Yep, 380 Bedford Highway.

Anyone who buys into Skye and United Gulf not being related to Greater Homes is covering their eyes. The pie may be sliced up, but it's still all the same pie.

Haliobserver · #**824** Posted **May 25, 2012, 11:15 PM**

Here is the real question. What councilor is going to vote for Skye after reading about what these guys just did with Greater Homes.

someone123 · #**825** Posted **May 25, 2012, 11:57 PM**

Councillors are supposed to make decisions based on the planning documents, and I don't think the MPS mentions a company's financial ability to see a project through to completion. If they torpedo a development for an invalid reason then their decision can be overturned at the NSUARB.

Legally I don't think the registered address makes any difference as far as the bankruptcy is concerned. I am not a legal expert but it seems unlikely to me that one company becomes liable for the other's debts if it shares the same address or if the owners are related. It's fine to speculate about what might happen to Skye, but speculation is all it is.

If Skye is cancelled then it won't necessarily be bad news for the downtown. We might actually see a building sooner if the site is sold off and developed under HbD rules. I'd be happy to see a 20 storey apartment building or mixed use building on that site with some storefronts.

spaustin · #**826** Posted **May 26, 2012, 1:15 AM**

Well that doesn't look good. Technically different companies with different individuals, but even with that technicalilty, Halifax is a small town. I imagine they'll find it more difficult to get financing for Skye now, if they can manage at all.

Haliobserver · #**827** Posted **May 26, 2012, 12:28 PM**

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/100299-halifax-assets-faces-bankruptcy-order

Haliobserver · #**828** Posted **May 26, 2012, 2:35 PM**

From Nova Scotia Joint Stock Companies Registry:

Greater Homes Inc. - Saeid Saberi - 380 Bedford Highway
Greater Homes Realty - Navid Saberi - 380 Bedford Highway
United Gulf Developments - Navid Saberi - 380 Bedford Highway
Waterton Condominiums Inc. - Navid Saberi - 380 Bedford Highway
GNF Investments Ltd - Navid Saberi - 380 Bedford Highway
3105062 NS Ltd (Dream Home) - Navid Saberi - 380 Bedford Highway

But these are all independent companies right?

essaysmith · #**829** Posted **May 26, 2012, 8:50 PM**

I don't think if Skye is cancelled it necessarily means the lot will be sold. I would like to see something finally happen there, but they have been sitting on that lot for years. Twisted Sisters, Skye, there'll be something else to get my hopes up next I'm sure.

fenwick16 · #**830** Posted **May 26, 2012, 9:00 PM**

I think that the quicker that this lot is sold the sooner a project will be proposed that will go forward. Maybe someone like Wadih Fares would be interested in buying it and developing the site.

Waye Mason · #**831** Posted **May 26, 2012, 9:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

I think that the quicker that this lot is sold the sooner a project will be proposed that will go forward. Maybe someone like Wadih Fares would be interested in buying it and developing the site.

Agreed. Fares or Joe Metledge or someone I am sure is salivating at the idea of buying the property... if there is some "public good" component and it fits HRMbD criteria that is 20 stories approved in two months... this is a great property to build on.

sdm · #**832** Posted **May 26, 2012, 11:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waye Mason

Agreed. Fares or Joe Metledge or someone I am sure is salivating at the idea of buying the property... if there is some "public good" component and it fits HRMbD criteria that is 20 stories approved in two months... this is a great property to build on.

there is a lot of other developers who would take this on.

Nouvellecosse · #**833** Posted **May 27, 2012, 2:26 AM**

I'm all for more residential downtown, but I personally think it would be fun for this lot to get a 90m-110m office tower.

Haliobserver · #**834** Posted **May 27, 2012, 1:39 PM**

I saw over the last week or so at least 2 new lawsuits against the Waterton. I know there are still others ongoing. Saberi won't be able to keep doing this as eventually he will be backed up against a wall with judgements against his companies.

RyeJay · #**835** Posted **May 27, 2012, 9:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

I'm all for more residential downtown, but I personally think it would be fun for this lot to get a 90m-110m office tower.

For whatever the demand is -- I would be happy with that development.

I want density for the downtown so badly.
If and when markets shift, existing buildings can always be modified and renovated -- but for now I simply want to see the extinction of vacant downtown sites and surface parking lots.

someone123 · #**836** Posted **May 27, 2012, 11:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyeJay

I want density for the downtown so badly.
If and when markets shift, existing buildings can always be modified and renovated -- but for now I simply want to see the extinction of vacant downtown sites and surface parking lots.

It is interesting how the old downtown area has seen much less development lately than just about everywhere else nearby (Spring Garden, North End, South End, Dartmouth).

Part of the issue is I guess it's just not that big, so if you get a couple stalled projects like United Gulf or the Nova Centre it looks like it is half parking lot. On top of that there are some very prominent publicly-owned lots that seem to be totally neglected. Land prices are high too because it seems everything is priced for an office tower, so there's a bias toward bigger projects that happen more slowly than the little projects in other parts of town.

The library site was a pretty prime lot that sat empty for 50+ years. Hopefully the positive change there indicates that we'll see some more changes in the future. Waterside and Barrington Espace are also important and a sign of improvement.

Nouvellecosse · #**837** Posted **May 27, 2012, 11:39 PM**

It was vacant for over 50 years???

Good lord...

pblaauw · #**838** Posted **May 27, 2012, 11:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

...so if you get a couple stalled projects like United Gulf or the Nova Centre it looks like it is half parking lot...

Not sure about anyone else, but I'd rather half parking lot than half looks-like-a-bombed-out-hole. (cf. Herald site, TexPark site, and until recently, the Waterside site.)

someone123 · #**839** Posted **May 27, 2012, 11:48 PM**

That site had some sort of historic navy-related house (built for an admiral or something?) from the 1700's. It was torn down in the 1950's and as far as I know that is how it remained until the library was built. I always figured something had been built more recently but I don't believe that is the case.

I wouldn't be surprised if the empty lot next to St. Mary's Basilica is similarly quite old. The lot by the Dominion Public Building dates to the 1950's as well.

The 1950-2000 era was not really a great time for old downtown districts.

Waye Mason · #**840** Posted **May 28, 2012, 12:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

That site had some sort of historic navy-related house (built for an admiral or something?) from the 1700's. It was torn down in the 1950's and as far as I know that is how it remained until the library was built. I always figured something had been built more recently but I don't believe that is the case.

I wouldn't be surprised if the empty lot next to St. Mary's Basilica is similarly quite old. The lot by the Dominion Public Building dates to the 1950's as well.

The 1950-2000 era was not really a great time for old downtown districts.

Well, empty but in use. The lot at Queen and SGR was a parking lot for TUNS (on one half) and SGR (on the other) and a summer event space for Jazzfest and that craft show among others. What enabled it to be developed was tearing down the Infirmary and Dal taking over Gerrard Hall and the parking around that space.

The lot next to Dominion Building was the loading bay for the post office sorting station until the 1980s, so it was in use. Ideal site for a AGNS expansion, IMO.

St Mary's lot was probably play area for the old St Mary's Boys School. This old picture shows the lot undeveloped.