Since it's still on the drawing board, I guess I'll put it here:
Quote:
Big plans in store for historic corvette
January 5, 2013 - 4:17am By IAN FAIRCLOUGH Staff Reporter
Much has been done to commemorate and preserve HMCS Sackville, the Second World War navy corvette that is berthed on the Halifax waterfront and is Canada’s naval memorial.
Now the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust, the group that restored the ship after saving it from the scrapyard, is embarking on a much bigger project: a complete naval heritage centre built around the vessel...
Yes, read this article. I'm a bit confused by this. Wasn't HMCS Sackville part of the Maritime Museum redevelopment plans? It seems odd that they are now putting forth a plan of their own. Was there a falling out between the two groups over vision or other issues I wonder...
The Human Rights museum in Winnipeg will cost around $350M. They managed to get around $150M in private donations from across the country. It is probably not unreasonable to expect the HMCS Sackville group to come up with 1/3-1/2 of the cost, which means that the cost to the city and province would be manageable.
It will be interesting to see what sort of architectural concepts they come up with. I liked the cable wharf area conceptual designs from the WDC, but it's clear that they will be implemented (and sadly the Cunard lot seems like it might not happen in 2012 -- we have a building boom happening downtown, but apparently no construction on the waterfront).
I can think of some higher priorities, but I'm not sure that's the correct way to look at projects like this, at least if the goal is to have the nicest city and strongest local economy possible.
I don't want the federal government to waste money, but the fact is that they like to fund "sexy" projects, and if Halifax doesn't come up with compelling projects money will instead be forked out to build other projects like the CMHR (which is arguably even more dubious). The federal government also tends to fund different projects from different pots, so you have to go after different types of funding to maximize the dollars received. A museum might not really take funding away from a road or transit project.
For a long time Halifax was on the wrong side of this equation. It didn't come up with any substantial projects. As a result it received less federal money than other cities across the country and ended up with poorer than average infrastructure. I don't think the city ended up ahead financially or economically either. The same money seems to be frittered away whether or not it goes to real projects that make a lasting impact. I almost think it might be good for council to make aggressive capital investments and then put themselves in "cutback" mode when it comes to operating expenses.
Museums enhance communities in which they are located. They are an attraction for visitors and an attraction for people considering moving to that community. All of Halifax's museums are very basic. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic has a lot of potential but even with a claim to Titanic artifacts it remains small town.
Here are a few museums in Ottawa that we pay for:
Canadian War Museum (could be in Halifax)
Canadian Museum of Nature
Canadian Science & Technology Museum
Canadian Agriculture Museum
Canadian Aviation Museum (could be in Halifax with the Silver Dart on Display)
Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography
Currency Museum
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Suggestions for Halifax:
Ocean Sciences Museum (located at BIO)
Fisheries Museum (in addition to the one in Lunenburg)
Marine Industry Museum (Shipbuilding - offshore oil/gas)
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Battle of Atlantic Place (proposed)
I'm down with Halifax building something like this.
The downtown would be more filled out with a variety of things to attract people.
I doubt the cons would actually throw too much money down on this unless they have an unallocated "museums" budget if there is such a thing and it hasn't been completed axed.
It has to be done tastefully though. Who funded the museum in Winnipeg, the human rights one with the crazy (good) design?
Just another minor update on the Sackville/Market corner redevelopment - a newsletter from Strange Adventures said that intent was to convert the building to condos.
I can think of some higher priorities, but I'm not sure that's the correct way to look at projects like this, at least if the goal is to have the nicest city and strongest local economy possible.
If we are talking theoreticals, then I can see the same amount of fed money being used to fund a stadium or concert hall long before something like this. This kind of "hey presto, I've got an idea!" thinking is worthy of the likes of a Dawn Sloane and is how we ended up with a $20 million skating oval that serves a very small number of people for a very few weeks a year - or, as a worst-case scenario, an out-of-control, over budget, imported designer library.
If we are talking theoreticals, then I can see the same amount of fed money being used to fund a stadium or concert hall long before something like this. This kind of "hey presto, I've got an idea!" thinking is worthy of the likes of a Dawn Sloane and is how we ended up with a $20 million skating oval that serves a very small number of people for a very few weeks a year - or, as a worst-case scenario, an out-of-control, over budget, imported designer library.
as a proponent of any venue that encourages exercise in the winter, and of an establishment that encourages reading, exploration and growth of the mind and of gathering places for all ages, I think the Oval AND the new library are a tremendous addition to this community. and, oh yes, as a local taxpayer, those dollars are happily coming out of my chequebook.
They have been working on this proposal for a while, and it complements the existing Maritime Museum. I don't think this is as random as the oval.
The waterfront is a great tourism asset in Halifax, and Pier 21 is already known nationally. It would be nice if the Maritime Museum could be brought up to a more national level as well.
Random tidbit of (not very useful ) information about the Maritime Museum I had heard.. On Mythbusters, recently, they did a Titanic episode, and they gave the Museum a shoutout because they needed plans, and other documents/diagrams, and they said the only place they could get it "was from the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia"
Not directly development-related, but Andy Fillmore has left his new position at Dal and moved on to VP of planning and development at the WDC.
In my opinion the level of development along the waterfront over the past 10 years has been pretty disappointing considering the positive changes in the rest of the city. I hope we're into a new, more ambitious period for the waterfront. It's already a nice area, but it could be great. That won't happen however until most of the parking lots are gone.
I found this on the Ekistics Website. It says its a Young Avenue development, but I can't see it being Young Avenue. I think it is more likely to be for the Young Street site at Windsor, recently bought by the Ramia's (I think). Anyways, not a bad proposal:
This looks like it would fit the curved site at the corner of Windsor and Young Sts. in Halifax. This site has been available to be developed for a number of years now! It is in close proximity to Windsor Park and not far from Hfx Shipyards.
If it is for Windsor and Young it will be a great addition, particularly given the office space component. A few years ago a gas station was planned for the site. That would have been a big mistake.
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) information about the Maritime Museum I had heard.. On Mythbusters, recently, they did a Titanic episode, and they gave the Museum a shoutout because they needed plans, and other documents/diagrams, and they said the only place they could get it "was from the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia" 
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