General Updates and News - Page 249

RyeJay · #**4961** Posted **Nov 19, 2013, 4:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JET

"in a price range that are affordable to many"

my wife and I have been working for 30 years, and have fairly good jobs; we could not afford one of the lower priced units. It's all perspective, I guess

I cannot afford these condos either. Compared to what's been built in the downtown lately, though, they are cheaper.

Drybrain · #**4962** Posted **Nov 19, 2013, 4:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JET

"in a price range that are affordable to many"

my wife and I have been working for 30 years, and have fairly good jobs; we could not afford one of the lower priced units. It's all perspective, I guess

I couldn't afford it either, at this point in my life, but $204,000 is definitely not an especially pricey condo. The average cost of a Halifax condo is $214,000; nationwide it's $246,000. (In certain cities it approaches half a million).

The prices to me seem entirely reasonable, and it's the kind of middle-class housing needed in the core.

Antigonish · #**4963** Posted **Nov 19, 2013, 4:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

According to a story in the allnovascotia.com, 80% of the condo units in the Southport have been pre-sold (1/2 of the units are condo units). Prices range from $204,000 for 500 square feet to $399,000 for 700 square feet.

I think this building has units in a price range that are affordable to many, and the building is in a good location.

$400,000 for 700 Sq Feet? Get the fuck out of here! The cost of living in this country is ridiculous.

Dmajackson · #**4964** Posted **Nov 19, 2013, 9:27 PM**

Case 18848 - Brunswick Street Development

"An Open House will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 4th from 7-9 pm in the Lobby of the Plaza building, 1881 Brunswick Street. The public is encouraged to attend and ask questions about the Site Plan Application. The comment period will close on Dec. 19th."

http://www.brunswickstreetredevelopment.ca/

fenwick16 · #**4965** Posted **Nov 19, 2013, 10:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antigonish

$400,000 for 700 Sq Feet? ...

That one seemed to be on the high side.

teddifax · #**4966** Posted **Nov 19, 2013, 10:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Case 18848 - Brunswick Street Development

"An Open House will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 4th from 7-9 pm in the Lobby of the Plaza building, 1881 Brunswick Street. The public is encouraged to attend and ask questions about the Site Plan Application. The comment period will close on Dec. 19th."

http://www.brunswickstreetredevelopment.ca/

This will make a fantastic and good change to Brunswick St. It will go extremely well with the new hotels and apartment building across the street.

resetcbu1 · #**4967** Posted **Nov 19, 2013, 10:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

That one seemed to be on the high side.

You'd be better off buying side by side units and knocking the walls down, lol .

Living in Calgary I find that pricey and I just moved from a garrison green condo 700 sq.ft valued at 225 000 and tht is a high end inner city neighbourhood to bankview roughly the same and 10min walk to 17Ave , Calgary's version of SGR.

counterfactual · #**4968** Posted **Nov 20, 2013, 5:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Case 18848 - Brunswick Street Development

"An Open House will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 4th from 7-9 pm in the Lobby of the Plaza building, 1881 Brunswick Street. The public is encouraged to attend and ask questions about the Site Plan Application. The comment period will close on Dec. 19th."

http://www.brunswickstreetredevelopment.ca/

These changes are great.

resetcbu1 · #**4969** Posted **Nov 20, 2013, 5:54 AM**

Not very encouraging news but news none the less....

Quote:

Landlords fight for renters in Halifax's apartment glut
Average rent is still expected to climb

New apartments are popping up in Bedford, but landlords say there aren't enough people to fill them, so they’re relying on creative tactics to compete for renters.

Killam Properties landlord Jeremy Jackson recently opened a new apartment building in Bedford. It has a full-sized gym and an in-house movie theatre, but he says it’s tough to attract renters.

Full story on cbc http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scoti...rs-in-halifax-s-apartment-glut-1.2431769

counterfactual · #**4970** Posted **Nov 20, 2013, 7:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by resetcbu1

Not very encouraging news but news none the less....

Full story on cbc http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scoti...rs-in-halifax-s-apartment-glut-1.2431769

Yeah, because it's Bedford.

xanaxanax · #**4971** Posted **Nov 20, 2013, 8:18 PM**

I'm new to this group and would like to have a conversation about turning over the Royal Artillery land over to public use for some sort of development, its over 5 acres or 250,000 of feet² in the heart of downtown that isn't accessible to the public. The military takes up too much land on the peninsula and I think this one is ridiculousness. I thought I heard rumors in the past about it abandoned by the military.

Personally I feel like it would be the ideal spot for a observation tower to overlook the city and harbour but its also a large enough area of land to host a aquarium, Stadium or a potential for the new AGNS

macgregor · #**4972** Posted **Nov 20, 2013, 9:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by xanaxanax

I'm new to this group and would like to have a conversation about turning over the Royal Artillery land over to public use for some sort of development, its over 5 acres or 250,000 of feet² in the heart of downtown that isn't accessible to the public. The military takes up too much land on the peninsula and I think this one is ridiculousness. I thought I heard rumors in the past about it abandoned by the military.

Personally I feel like it would be the ideal spot for a observation tower to overlook the city and harbour but its also a large enough area of land to host a aquarium, Stadium or a potential for the new AGNS

It would be nice to straighten out Queen street / Birmingham Street / Artillery Place mess. It's not pedestrian friendly or even automobile friendly at all.

xanaxanax · #**4973** Posted **Nov 20, 2013, 10:14 PM**

This is what I would have in mind for a aquarium in this area 120,000 feet² comparable in size to the new Toronto aquarium, just my own fantasy for the area that will probably never happen. The parking lot and surroundings area park would make for a nice spot for picnics

Nifta · #**4974** Posted **Nov 20, 2013, 11:16 PM**

I find it's a nice compliment to the Citadel fort. It adds to the military feel to see the guns there. Making it public-access would be cool though.

I really want an aquarium too in Halifax. Perhaps somewhere on the boardwalk would be better though? I remember the plans for the new Discovery Centre seemed to have an aquatic/sea-life section in the internal renderings I saw. Fingers crossed.

MeEtc · #**4975** Posted **Nov 20, 2013, 11:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

That one seemed to be on the high side.

Also note that these are interior only sizes. Many of the units also come with a 100+ sq ft balcony

IanWatson · #**4976** Posted **Nov 21, 2013, 1:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by xanaxanax

its also a large enough area of land to host a aquarium

Someone really needs to explain to me this desire to have an aquarium in Halifax. Don't get me wrong, I love aquariums. Visiting the Boston aquarium is a very fond memory. But do we really foresee Halifax being able to support an aquarium that's worth going to more than once? I'm not being cynical and defeatist about Halifax, I'm just trying to look at this rationally. Of all the needs for public investment in Halifax, is an aquarium a top priority?

Nifta · #**4977** Posted **Nov 21, 2013, 3:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanWatson

Someone really needs to explain to me this desire to have an aquarium in Halifax. Don't get me wrong, I love aquariums. Visiting the Boston aquarium is a very fond memory. But do we really foresee Halifax being able to support an aquarium that's worth going to more than once? I'm not being cynical and defeatist about Halifax, I'm just trying to look at this rationally. Of all the needs for public investment in Halifax, is an aquarium a top priority?

Top priority? No.
Cool to have? Absolutely yes!

As with most Aquariums, this would be primarily an educational facility and a tourist attraction. We're a maritime (lower case M) city. The majority of the Canadian population don't live anywhere near to the coast. Those visiting Halifax look to gain a maritime experience. It's an experience that sits squarely with the Museum of the Atlantic that we already have.

I have a toddler daughter. Most Saturday mornings I take her to the Natural History Museum, the Discovery Centre or Maritime Museum. Week after week, she still loves them all. Even a modest aquarium, I know she'd be blown away.
Where can our kids get close up to some fish in this province?

OldDartmouthMark · #**4978** Posted **Nov 21, 2013, 4:54 PM**

I agree that it would be a great addition to Halifax. A lot of cities have zoos, well, an aquarium is just another version of a zoo for seafaring creatures, which would be a fitting focus for a coastal city such as Halifax.

I see a dual purpose as both a tourist attraction and an educational/research facility for locals. As a bonus, an aquarium would allow our children to appreciate sea life for more than what we see on our dinnerplate, and thus encourages an enlightened view of our oceans and the associated environmental struggles within (you can't put a price on that).

Last time I was in Monterey, I had to go to to the aquarium 2 days in a row as I couldn't get enough of it. If we could have anything close to this in Halifax I think it would be an attraction that people would come for miles to see.

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/

RyeJay · #**4979** Posted **Nov 21, 2013, 6:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

I agree that it would be a great addition to Halifax. A lot of cities have zoos, well, an aquarium is just another version of a zoo for seafaring creatures, which would be a fitting focus for a coastal city such as Halifax.

I would say, only if the exhibited seafaring animals were native to the Halifax region. If not, then we run the risk of investing in an aquarium that basically looks like a glorified pet store.

Schools of Cardinal Tetras and Angelfish Cichlids would look nice in a 5,000+gallon aquarium -- but, not enough to encourage frequent visitations from the public, unless this was part of another attraction... like a mall?

I'm not even sure what people mean when they propose an " aquarium". Are we talking sharks?...Seals?...

Do we want a focus on tropical sea animals?

OldDartmouthMark · #**4980** Posted **Nov 21, 2013, 7:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyeJay

I would say, only if the exhibited seafaring animals were native to the Halifax region.

Absolutely that's what I'm referring to, but not just the Halifax region (i.e. harbour and surroundings) but including the general the north Atlantic area, as far south as Georges Bank and as far north as the Davis Strait. Also the St. Lawrence Seaway should be included IMHO.

Perhaps my zoo analogy was a little misleading as zoos tend to feature non-native species as a drawing point. I should have used the Shubenacadie Wildlife Park as an example but I thought most out-of-provincers would not know what I was talking about.

http://wildlifepark.novascotia.ca/index.html

Species of sea (and lake, for that matter) life native to east coast Canada would be interesting and educational for all, IMHO, as most of us never get to see it in our day-to-day lives.

Exotic "bling" animals would just cheapen the value, IMHO.