[Halifax] The Maple | 72 m | 21 fl | Completed - Page 6

fenwick16 · #**101** Posted **Dec 20, 2012, 12:14 AM**

There is no news in this post; sorry if I raised any false hopes.

Does anyone know what the status is? Are they being asked to change the design or has it been smooth sailing?

someone123 · #**102** Posted **Apr 26, 2013, 4:54 AM**

The developer is planning to start demolition in October. Presumably they'll go right into construction since these are apartments.

They still need HbD approval.

RyeJay · #**103** Posted **Apr 26, 2013, 8:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

The developer is planning to start demolition in October. Presumably they'll go right into construction since these are apartments.

They still need HbD approval.

Good to know this is still progressing. I would actually quite enjoy living in this location. The upper floors, facing north, will have a great view of the towers around Cogswell, with the bridge in the background.

Wishblade · #**104** Posted **Jun 6, 2013, 11:30 PM**

Looks like this one is going ahead this year. Its hard to believe but this one development has the potential to raise the downtown core's population by about 10%!

Quote:

Downtown mixed project to start in fall

Work on a downtown residential project is on track to begin this fall, almost exactly a year after it was first announced.

Southwest Properties Ltd. is planning to construct a 21-storey mixed-use building at 1583 Hollis St. that will accommodate nearly 300 apartment units and 450 to 500 people.

If the timeline holds, demolition of the existing five-storey Bank of Canada building will begin in the fall, shortly after the expiration of leases for the remaining tenants.

“We’re just proceeding along, planning on a start at the beginning of October with our development there,” said chief executive officer Jim Spatz.

“I think we’re on schedule. We’re hoping we’re on schedule for that to start.”

http://thechronicleherald.ca/busines...-start-in-fall

Haligonian88 · #**105** Posted **Jun 7, 2013, 12:30 AM**

The above link didn't work for me, here's a fixed one: http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1134206-downtown-mixed-project-to-start-in-fall

And here's a rendering (from last year) to refresh your memory as to what this building will look like, provided it hasn't changed significantly.

Looks like there will actually be some decent, and hopefully not ridiculously expensive, places to live in downtown Halifax pretty soon. I might have to reconsider moving out west after graduation.

Empire · #**106** Posted **Jun 7, 2013, 2:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haligonian88

The above link didn't work for me, here's a fixed one: http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1134206-downtown-mixed-project-to-start-in-fall

And here's a rendering (from last year) to refresh your memory as to what this building will look like, provided it hasn't changed significantly.

Looks like there will actually be some decent, and hopefully not ridiculously expensive, places to live in downtown Halifax pretty soon. I might have to reconsider moving out west after graduation.

Hopefully the south facing wall isn't blank.....

someone123 · #**107** Posted **Jun 7, 2013, 6:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wishblade

Looks like this one is going ahead this year. Its hard to believe but this one development has the potential to raise the downtown core's population by about 10%!

I think this one and the Cunard block will be pretty impactful if and when they're completed. Bishop's Landing similarly is in the 200 unit range and it made a big difference when it was completed.

The smaller projects can be nice too but it takes a lot of residential units to generate a significant amount of pedestrian traffic and drive demand for retail and office space. The Gottingen Street area had on the order of 5,000 more people when it was successful in the 50's and early 60's.

I can't find it now, but I vaguely recall a study from Boston that suggested that, all else equal, it takes an increase of about 3,000 residents to sustain one new block worth of retail shops.

Nilan8888 · #**108** Posted **Jun 7, 2013, 1:27 PM**

That said, the downtown is turning a corner. It's been a very LONG corner, but if you consider what inherent problems the downtown would have had in the late 70s or mid-80s versus where it was going to have to go, things are definitely looking better. Maybe it was Bishop's Landing that started it all, I dunno, and it would have done to have started sooner and avoided the current glut (which was underway some time ago but we have yet to see it properly bounce back, I guess), but there's definitely improvement in the air.

Duff · #**109** Posted **Jun 7, 2013, 2:17 PM**

I am very excited to see this begin. Hopefully by the time this is finishing up, the Tex Park site across the street will have some activity as well.

halifaxboyns · #**110** Posted **Jun 7, 2013, 6:17 PM**

I'm really looking forward to this one - should be a great site. Hopefully now that a coworker of mine was hired with HRM, she can help them speed up reviewing applications and get things moving quicker.

hoser111 · #**111** Posted **Jun 7, 2013, 6:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duff

I am very excited to see this begin. Hopefully by the time this is finishing up, the Tex Park site across the street will have some activity as well.

It may happen, as long as this one isn't in the flight path of the flying pigs!

RyeJay · #**112** Posted **Jun 7, 2013, 10:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duff

I am very excited to see this begin. Hopefully by the time this is finishing up, the Tex Park site across the street will have some activity as well.

Has anyone checked United Gulf's pulse lately? They may need a defibrillator.

kph06 · #**113** Posted **Jun 8, 2013, 12:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyeJay

Has anyone checked United Gulf's pulse lately? They may need a defibrillator.

Websites shutdown.

someone123 · #**114** Posted **Jun 8, 2013, 1:36 AM**

I wouldn't hold my breath for the UG site. Maybe the city will buy it back.

In any case, neighbourhoods seem to have a "tipping point" with parking lots. If they have too many they feel very sparse and disconnected, but if they're mostly buildings then a couple of empty lots are OK. Maybe Sackville Street will feel like this once the Nova Centre and this one go in. Lower Water Street will still have lots of holes though.

pblaauw · #**115** Posted **Jun 8, 2013, 4:45 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyeJay

Has anyone checked United Gulf's pulse lately? They may need a defibrillator.

Or euthanasia. But, should we hold a funeral?

IanWatson · #**116** Posted **Jun 9, 2013, 12:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyeJay

Has anyone checked United Gulf's pulse lately? They may need a defibrillator.

A couple of weeks back HRM was running their tax sale ad in the CH and I would say five or six of the properties were United Gulf properties. They were all suburban properties. I don't know enough about the development world to know if this is significant or not. Is it typical for a developer to ignore taxes on speculation properties, or does it signify trouble at UG?

Empire · #**117** Posted **Jun 10, 2013, 8:55 PM**

This has all the trappings for a 21 storey blank wall facing out the harbour. Has anyone seen a rendering for the south side? Looks as though it is designed to the property line which means "blank wall". This would really be a shame, if it is indeed the case, as this would be the best view.

halifaxboyns · #**118** Posted **Jun 10, 2013, 9:02 PM**

That is a good point - but I don't think that would occur. I would expect that it would be similar to the other side facade, except flat (unlike the one shown which is 'rounded').

Haligonian88 · #**119** Posted **Jun 11, 2013, 1:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Empire

This has all the trappings for a 21 storey blank wall facing out the harbour. Has anyone seen a rendering for the south side? Looks as though it is designed to the property line which means "blank wall". This would really be a shame, if it is indeed the case, as this would be the best view.

According to the DRC document (http://www.halifax.ca/boardscom/drc/documents/121108drc000.PDF) :

The building is set back from the south property line to create a mid-block...
...the east, west and south faces take advantage of spectacular views with generous projecting balconies associated with every apartment.

Also, this:

I think it should be free of blank walls!

someone123 · #**120** Posted **Jun 11, 2013, 3:02 AM**

I like some of the design features in the first rendering, but I prefer towers that have some setbacks like in the DRC "prescribed built form" version. It gives them a less stubby/massive appearance. In any case it's clear that this is a huge improvement over what's on the corner right now, and it will add a lot to the Hollis Street canyon effect.

I hope it won't be too long before the lower part of the block gets developed as well, ideally with something a little shorter that creates a layering effect. When you think of all the residential units that could go in around these blocks, the potential is enormous.

Quote:

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

That is a good point - but I don't think that would occur. I would expect that it would be similar to the other side facade, except flat (unlike the one shown which is 'rounded').

It seems to me like it would be in the developer's best interest to build in as many harbour views as possible in order to get higher rents.