General Updates and News - Page 251

Dmajackson · #**5001** Posted **Dec 10, 2013, 10:17 PM**

I don't know exactly what the proposed changes are but this could have a major impact on the development appeal of Downtown Dartmouth.

Public Information Meeting - Case 18783
Mon, January 13, 2014, 7pm – 9pm
Alderney Gate Public Library, 60 Alderney Drive, Dartmouth, NS, Canada (Helen Creighton Room)

Case 18783 HRM initiated review of the Downtown Dartmouth MPS and LUB to consider amendments to policies and standards regarding building height, form and design within the Downtown Business and Waterfront Designations.

MeEtc · #**5002** Posted **Dec 11, 2013, 1:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hali87

Is it gonna be like this forever?

Until the federal government has some spare money to invest in theor own property, or the stones start falling to the street again, its going to stay like this indefinitely.

mcmcclassic · #**5003** Posted **Dec 11, 2013, 4:11 PM**

There is a sign up at the intersection of Windmill and Victoria Rd. for this (sorry about the large image):

I assume this would replace the lighting place that is currently there.

TheOldskoo · #**5004** Posted **Dec 11, 2013, 9:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcmcclassic

There is a sign up at the intersection of Windmill and Victoria Rd. for this (sorry about the large image):

I assume this would replace the lighting place that is currently there.

Long time lurker, when I saw this, I figured now is better than any time to register.

This is actually a rebranding of the lighting store and the kitchen showroom within it, and expansion of the already existing building.

Dmajackson · #**5005** Posted **Dec 11, 2013, 10:46 PM**

^Welcome to the forum TheOldSkoo.

For anyone unfamiliar with the site it's on Windmill Road directly across from the iron manufacturing site (at Victoria Road). It's former Fire Station #12 (now on Highfield Dr).

Not much can be expected in this area so simply having a modern building is great in my mind.

Hopefully HRM gets off it's lazy bum and extends the sidewalk up to the intersection, and widens Windmill Road.

Jstaleness · #**5006** Posted **Dec 12, 2013, 12:40 AM**

wrong thread

halifaxboyns · #**5007** Posted **Dec 12, 2013, 5:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

I don't know exactly what the proposed changes are but this could have a major impact on the development appeal of Downtown Dartmouth.

Public Information Meeting - Case 18783
Mon, January 13, 2014, 7pm – 9pm
Alderney Gate Public Library, 60 Alderney Drive, Dartmouth, NS, Canada (Helen Creighton Room)

Case 18783 HRM initiated review of the Downtown Dartmouth MPS and LUB to consider amendments to policies and standards regarding building height, form and design within the Downtown Business and Waterfront Designations.

I would guess that this is the next stage of the height rules for Downtown Dartmouth until the Regional Centre Plan is done. If everyone recalls, the first step came with the changes to the downtown viewplanes. Since most of Dartmouth was impacted by the brightwood viewplane; there wasn't much of a height concern. Now that the viewplane is gone and the other viewplanes have been updated/amended - there needs to be some rules for height.

JET · #**5008** Posted **Dec 12, 2013, 1:21 PM**

glad to hear the lighting store is staying, it's a great store

ns_kid · #**5009** Posted **Dec 12, 2013, 2:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hali87

Is it gonna be like this forever?

"Forever" for the 60-year old Ralston Building is probably something like two to three years. The current tenant has already called tenders for a new building for occupancy in 2015. I've been told by an official within Public Works that the land at 1557 Hollis is likely worth more with the Ralston demolished than with the building still standing. The structure's concrete cladding and the anchoring system that holds it in place needs to be completely replaced at a cost of several millions of dollars.

The Ralston is hardly a beauty, though it does have a certain 1950's early Soviet aesthetic that's kind of interesting. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a "good example of early modern design", by architect A.F. Duffus.

mcmcclassic · #**5010** Posted **Dec 12, 2013, 2:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ns_kid

"Forever" for the 60-year old Ralston Building is probably something like two to three years. The current tenant has already called tenders for a new building for occupancy in 2015. I've been told by an official within Public Works that the land at 1557 Hollis is likely worth more with the Ralston demolished than with the building still standing. The structure's concrete cladding and the anchoring system that holds it in place needs to be completely replaced at a cost of several millions of dollars.

The Ralston is hardly a beauty, though it does have a certain 1950's early Soviet aesthetic that's kind of interesting. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a "good example of early modern design", by architect A.F. Duffus.

I don't know how many thousands of dollars of material I have sold contractors that work on the Ralston over the years...

The contractors all say the building is hell to work on and should just be demolished.

teddifax · #**5011** Posted **Dec 12, 2013, 3:19 PM**

I think this building has been under renovation for at least 10 years, at least it feels like it!

Drybrain · #**5012** Posted **Dec 12, 2013, 4:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcmcclassic

I don't know how many thousands of dollars of material I have sold contractors that work on the Ralston over the years...

The contractors all say the building is hell to work on and should just be demolished.

I've heard people on construction/contracting say similar things about the Dennis Building. But just because a structure has been badly maintained doesn't mean it isn't worth saving--what both of these buildings need is a proper, full overhaul. Unfortunately, that would cost more than the measly patchwork renovations governments tend to spend on their non-marquee buildings.

Dmajackson · #**5013** Posted **Dec 17, 2013, 4:10 AM**

Today's been a mixed day of good and bad so hopefully this will turn the attitudes back towards optimism.

BIRD CONSTRUCTION will be constructing the Armoury Expansion on North Park Street. The new armoury will be 2 floors / 118'000 sq ft and fill in the southern portion of the property. Construction will start next fall with construction wrapping up in 2016.

Source : "Bird Construction Wins Big Armoury Job" (December 17th, 2013) - AllNovaScotia.com

RevenueRealty · #**5014** Posted **Dec 17, 2013, 11:55 AM**

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 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/

It's easy to have a great aquarium like Monterey when you have HP hollers behind you.

OldDartmouthMark · #**5015** Posted **Dec 17, 2013, 6:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RevenueRealty

It's easy to have a great aquarium like Monterey when you have HP hollers behind you.

HP hollers?

TheNovaScotian · #**5016** Posted **Dec 18, 2013, 9:16 PM**

I agree, an aquarium would fit in nicely near BIO. Considering the clout it has in the oceanographic community it could be something special.

Years ago someone had a thread about it, i think it was hijacked or just full of holes.

kph06 · #**5017** Posted **Dec 19, 2013, 3:09 PM**

Halifax Regional School Board maintenance building at Bayers and Connaught came down today. I wonder if development would be limited by the widening project and it's proximity to such a busy intersection, current design standards would probably greatly limit driveway access to that site.

counterfactual · #**5018** Posted **Dec 19, 2013, 9:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kph06

Halifax Regional School Board maintenance building at Bayers and Connaught came down today. I wonder if development would be limited by the widening project and it's proximity to such a busy intersection, current design standards would probably greatly limit driveway access to that site.

When you say "came down" what do you mean? As in, literally, the building was demolished?

kph06 · #**5019** Posted **Dec 19, 2013, 11:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by counterfactual

When you say "came down" what do you mean? As in, literally, the building was demolished?

Yes, a couple excavators demolished the section closest to the intersection, another part looked to be still intact, not sure if that's next or not. I should have been clearer, but I was trying to post that from a waiting room down in Bridgewater on my phone, every time I went to post I lost my connection. So each re-write got shorter and vaguer.

counterfactual · #**5020** Posted **Dec 19, 2013, 11:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kph06

Yes, a couple excavators demolished the section closest to the intersection, another part looked to be still intact, not sure if that's next or not. I should have been clearer, but I was trying to post that from a waiting room down in Bridgewater on my phone, every time I went to post I lost my connection. So each re-write got shorter and vaguer.

No problem. What is the demolition for? Bayers expansion? I thought that had yet to be decided by Council...