[Halifax] RBC Waterside Centre | 37 m | 9 fl | Completed

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by someone123

What you are seeing on the side is the original roofline of the Morse's Teas building (a.k.a. Jerusalem Warehouse because that was formerly the site of the Jerusalem Coffee House). The lower stone floors were built around 1840 and then the brick addition was built around 1900.

You can see something similar on the side of the Dennis Building. The lower floors were constructed around 1860. There was a fire circa 1910. The building was gutted at that time but then rebuilt with three extra floors.

Thank you for that explanation! Looking at the other 3 sides of the building, it now all makes sense to me.

I remember the Jerusalem Coffee House being mentioned in some reading I had done in the past but I never realized that this was its location.

Thanks again... amazing history here.

[SekishikiMeikaiHa]

Weekly updates:









Looking tall :


Making its presence known in the skyline:

[RyeJay]

I love your picture updates!!

[gm_scott]

Love that last shot. One we don't see very often, but one that will have more and more impact.

[visualman57]

Originally Posted by SekishikiMeikaiHa

Weekly updates:









Looking tall :


Making its presence known in the skyline:

Great picture and impressive view....but OMG!!! soon you won't be able to see the Town Clock from the harbour. Somebody call Heritage Trust!!!

[Empire]

Originally Posted by SekishikiMeikaiHa

Weekly updates:





Looking tall :

Great pics SekishikMeikaHa! These are my favs. #1 or 3:24 is a great shot at 7:30 a.m. on a sunny day.

[Empire]

Bad PR for Reznick:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/156579-morse-s-teas-sign-painted-over

[scooby074]

Originally Posted by Empire

Bad PR for Reznick:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/156579-morse-s-teas-sign-painted-over

A thread was created to discuss this boneheaded move regarding the Morse's sign http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=202209

It's been mentioned that he intends on restoring the sign, but im not so sure, particularly with the whole "rebranded" wording in the article. There has been no official confirmation of his intentions, not to mention being done over the weekend which is a bit sneaky.

If he has any sense he'd restore it regardless of what his actual plans for the sign may or may not be. Pretty much everyone is outraged by this move which is surprising in its own right.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by scooby074

A thread was created to discuss this boneheaded move regarding the Morse's sign http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=202209

It's been mentioned that he intends on restoring the sign, but im not so sure, particularly with the whole "rebranded" wording in the article. There has been no official confirmation of his intentions, not to mention being done over the weekend which is a bit sneaky.

If he has any sense he'd restore it regardless of what his actual plans for the sign may or may not be. Pretty much everyone is outraged by this move which is surprising in its own right.

Very minor league. The white paint is a mess and an icon in the downtown has been destroyed. The building was much more valuable with Morse's Teas visible. If the sign is being restored the wrong approach was taken as the developer would have to know the negative press this would bring. The irony is that the sign didn't need restoring. The authentic original look is what made it iconic.

[scooby074]

Originally Posted by Empire

The irony is that the sign didn't need restoring. The authentic original look is what made it iconic.

Exactly. The sign was perfect in its authenticity as a reminder of a by-gone age for Halifax's waterfront. Starfish did such an amazing job on restoring the interior of the building without destroying it's character that I find it hard to believe they would overlook the significance of the Morse's sign... unless it was deliberate.

The plan in my eyes was a renaming of the building pure and simple, it's the only thing that makes sense.


Even if they do restore the sign, a faux "new" historic "Morse's Tea" sign on a faux New Orleans style eatery kind of turns my stomach a bit.

[eastcoastal]

Originally Posted by scooby074

... Even if they do restore the sign, a faux "new" historic "Morse's Tea" sign on a faux New Orleans style eatery kind of turns my stomach a bit.

I don't think it's a New Orleans style restaurant. Someone told me that Baton Rouge is a reference to the red sticks that were used for curing meat. I can't find any reference to that on the company's website, but having eaten there, I'd say that I did not find the menu to be New Orleans inspired. It's a steak and ribs joint - a variant of The Keg.

[scooby074]

Originally Posted by eastcoastal

I don't think it's a New Orleans style restaurant. Someone told me that Baton Rouge is a reference to the red sticks that were used for curing meat. I can't find any reference to that on the company's website, but having eaten there, I'd say that I did not find the menu to be New Orleans inspired. It's a steak and ribs joint - a variant of The Keg.

Ive eaten there myself

Food wasnt particularly great, but palatable, just "chain" food; certainly not as good as The Keg's "chain" food.

They do take some inspiration from New Orleans and Louisiana as a whole, particularly Louisiana BBQ. Its even in the names of some:


BÂTON ROUGE CAJUN CHICKEN SALAD
Louisiana Chicken Sandwich
Louisiana BBQ Chicken

http://www.batonrougerestaurants.com/1-7-menus/dinner/fish-chicken-and-pasta.html

Frankly I expected better from the people behind Pizza Delight... their pizza is the best!

[SekishikiMeikaiHa]

Weekly updates:

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

Just out of interest I looked up the "Jerusalem Warehouse" on the NS Archives and found the photo below. Here is the NS Archives link - http://gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual/Rogers/album.asp?ID=74. Based on the description it is the building on the left, with the horse carriage in front (although the address seems to be different than it is today - the description on the NS Archives website states that the address was 261 and 263 Hollis Street).

(source: Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management, Halifax, NS)

Excuse me for quoting myself (from a different thread) but I have a question about the building to the right of the Jerusalem Warehouse (aka Morse's Teas Building). This is the building with the J.E. Wilson sign. Does anyone know when it was torn down? I checked the historical imagery on Google earth and it appears to have been gone 10 years ago.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

Excuse me for quoting myself (from a different thread) but I have a question about the building to the right of the Jerusalem Warehouse (aka Morse's Teas Building). This is the building with the J.E. Wilson sign. Does anyone know when it was torn down? I checked the historical imagery on Google earth and it appears to have been gone 10 years ago.

The J.E. Wilson building is a great looking building. The sandstone appears to be in good shape in that photo. All of that ornamental detail is likely harbour fill.

Look at the sandstone chalice on the roof.....if it is sandstone? Real shame to lose buildings like this. I think that building has been gone for over 30 years.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by Empire

The J.E. Wilson building is a great looking building. The sandstone appears to be in good shape in that photo. All of that ornamental detail is likely harbour fill.

Look at the sandstone chalice on the roof.....if it is sandstone? Real shame to lose buildings like this. I think that building has been goe for over 30 years.

Thanks for the information Empire. Yes, it is a shame that it is gone.

Do you know why it was demolished?

[Waye Mason]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

Thanks for the information Empire. Yes, it is a shame that it is gone.

Do you know why it was demolished?

Dunno. Would have been late 1960s early 70s, that is the space between the Morse and the one stone facade being saved for the Waterside development, I always remember the walkway from the ferry through historic properties then crossing there, between the buildings.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by SekishikiMeikaiHa

Weekly updates:

Thank you for the pictorial updates SekishikiMeikaiHa. It is interesting to compare the picture above with the RBC Waterside video link - http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=393313706885&set=vb.108681372508949&type=3&theater. I think that Armour Group is doing a decent job of replacing the J.E. Wilson Building gap by a stone facade (instead of creating a fake heritage facade). The J.E. Wilson building is this one - http://gov.ns.ca/nsarm/virtual/Rogers/album.asp?ID=74 . Also the smaller stone facade that reportedly fell down some time ago is shown in the video animation.

Thanks for the information on when the J.E. Wilson Building was demolished Waye Mason.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Waye Mason

Dunno. Would have been late 1960s early 70s, that is the space between the Morse and the one stone facade being saved for the Waterside development, I always remember the walkway from the ferry through historic properties then crossing there, between the buildings.

You are assuming it was demolished for the purpose of that walkway. However I believe that is incorrect. That walkway was not nearly as wide as that building appeared to be. I do not remember that building t all, although that is hardly definitive. I believe, though, that it was gone long before that time.

[Hali87]

Having re-watched the rendering video, the one thing that looks like it will be a disappointment is the large section on the Hollis side that seems to be clad in precast or anodized aluminum. It would create a lot more visual interest if the boxes were different colours, either randomly arranged or forming some sort of basic tartan pattern. The uniform dull beige doesn't do this project any favours..