[St. John's] The Official Project Thread

[Townie709]

About the TD building, I never realized that the scaffolding was gone until then! I agree, it is a huge improvement over the pre-reclad. But, I am indeed slowly going insane every time I see that red brick on the top of the building. For the love of god, just take it down already!

[SignalHillHiker]

I am, however, not opposed to getting rid of those dilapidated wooden slum buildings by the stone ones:


Fortis from the Slum by Signal Hill Hiker Photos, on Flickr


Slumming It by Signal Hill Hiker Photos, on Flickr

[Copes]

Yes, something must be done with those three gross buildings. I could see something being done with the stone facade of the other two buildings in question. I would actually really like the sort of project you see in other places, where they incorporate aspects of the heritage facade into a more modern, taller, glass structure. That would look great in that location, I think.

[Townie709]

I like that idea for the Salvation Army building, But for the Harbour Light building I would rather just see it demolished. The other wooden, boarded up rotting buildings in that area desperately need to be demolished. I looks forward to the day that that land is bought by a developer and flattened. At the pace we're going, I hope that won't be too long.

[Architype]

Originally Posted by A325

The west end of DT is really starting to take off.

I hear that the abandoned Harbour Light building is going to be torn down in the new year. The plan is to keep it as a parking lot until the Salvation Army build a new headquarters and then demolish the New Hope Community Center (bldg next to Harbor Light). I think they are planning a mid rise for that area too.

I wouldn't be surprised if 430 water street proposal included an additional 4th floor to the original building. It use to be only a 2 storey building but sometime in the 90's it was designed and upgraded for an additional two storeys but only one extra storey was built. If they build a six storey adjacent to it they will have to upgrade the roof to accomodate the extra snow drift loads. With existing tenants on the third floor it will be difficult to upgrade the roof from the inside so it might make more sense to just build another storey over the building.

The Salvation Army site is obviously a good location to redevelop, however I think these buildings might be worth preserving, or incorporating into a new development if possible. Do you know what they are planning?

Wouldn't parking be an issue for 430 Water Street? It seems like they would have to provide a lot more for that size of building than what is there now.

[AllBlack]

Originally Posted by Architype

Wouldn't parking be an issue for 430 Water Street? It seems like they would have to provide a lot more for that size of building than what is there now.

I mentioned that a few pages back. There isn't much parking as it is, with just 20 spaces or so, and that's being taken by the extension. I thought the plan might be to incorporate parking into the extension, but I doubt the footprint is even large enough to accommodate a multi-level garage.

[Architype]

It seems that way to me, but I'm sure the city would be quick to point that out if it is the case. My understanding is lack of adequate parking was the reason for not approving the Compusullt building proposal next to 351 Water Street.

[A325]

I'm not sure if the Harbour Light building is even all that old. The exterior is not stone but some sort of cheap type of brick or even just cement parging. There are many places where the "brick" surface is just peeling off. If someone wanted to "restore" it they would have to demolish the exterior and rebuild the facade. I like the look of the building from a distance but I wouldn't be too heart broken to see it removed.

[A325]

The plan for 430 Water Street initially was to use the whole first floor of the building as a parking lot. But they must have moved away from that because Technip just spent the last year renovating half of the first floor and there was no mention of it in the proposal. The lack of additional parking in the proposal makes me wonder if there is a parking requirement for this type of development downtown and in close proximity to several parking lots. I guess we'll find out more at the LUAR stage.

[Architype]

^ Good points A325.

[SignalHillHiker]

Originally Posted by A325

I'm not sure if the Harbour Light building is even all that old. The exterior is not stone but some sort of cheap type of brick or even just cement parging. There are many places where the "brick" surface is just peeling off. If someone wanted to "restore" it they would have to demolish the exterior and rebuild the facade. I like the look of the building from a distance but I wouldn't be too heart broken to see it removed.

Then good riddance.

[Townie709]

I think what we need is a large parking garage, or even another building similar to 351 built in the west end. Many of the lots that could be built up on in the west end aren't big enough to put a parking garage on. And since we can't build down, we must have an above ground parking garage. I think a large above ground parking garage. would open the doors for a lot more dense development in the west end.

And it doesn't have to be unattractive. All of our parking garages seem to be easily distinguishable as parking structures and are rather unattractive. But there are many parking garages around the world that are attractive

Anyway, just a thought!

[AllBlack]

Originally Posted by Townie709

I think what we need is a large parking garage, or even another building similar to 351 built in the west end. Many of the lots that could be built up on in the west end aren't big enough to put a parking garage on. And since we can't build down, we must have an above ground parking garage. I think a large above ground parking garage. would open the doors for a lot more dense development in the west end.

And it doesn't have to be unattractive. All of our parking garages seem to be easily distinguishable as parking structures and are rather unattractive. But there are many parking garages around the world that are attractive

Anyway, just a thought!

Funny thing Townie, I spent a while this evening flying over the west end of downtown on Bing birds eye view, looking for the best place to put such a garage.

I think it's a great idea.

[Architype]

Originally Posted by AllBlack

Funny thing Townie, I spent a while this evening flying over the west end of downtown on Bing birds eye view, looking for the best place to put such a garage.

I think it's a great idea.

How about on the Delta parking lot, with a hotel extension above it.

[SignalHillHiker]

Originally Posted by AllBlack

Funny thing Townie, I spent a while this evening flying over the west end of downtown on Bing birds eye view, looking for the best place to put such a garage.

I think it's a great idea.

I want your life.

EDIT: And I want to have read "Bing" first and realized you weren't actually in a plane before posting that.

[AllBlack]

Originally Posted by Newfoundlander

I want your life.

EDIT: And I want to have read "Bing" first and realized you weren't actually in a plane before posting that.

Too funny. I wish my life was that glamorous..!! "Alfred, fuel the plane... I was on SSP and had a thought."

[jeddy1989]

ohh .. i actually like those buildings .. oh well i guess im out voted in this one .. It thought they looked nice oh well (all the same they best be havin an awesome plan to replace them!! I could be persuaded)

the buildings in question
http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=st.+john's+...xGMsa1D2lUWzOOhNy1A&cbp=12,8.2,,0,-12.46

http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=st.+john's+...Qi1znuHTtKK98WmsQ&cbp=12,29.42,,0,-11.95

[SignalHillHiker]

I love the Salvation Army one. I'm indifferent to the rest.

[Horsell]

A separate West End parking garage is a good idea. If we insist on each development having its own parking component we are going to end up with nothing but towers on top of parking..ie 351 Water, Deacon, even 430 Water to a certain extent. The current Delta lot would be a great place for three or four levels of parking, if it isn't too difficult to go down.
I'll throw this out as an "outside the box" thought for a large stand-alone garage, what about trying to convince Oceanex to give up some of its container space along Water St by the Magic Wok. You could put a huge garage there to service the whole three or four block area...maybe even a pedway over Water St, connecting to the "financial district".

[SignalHillHiker]

I like that idea.