General Updates and News

[halifaxboyns]

Originally Posted by counterfactual

I think the Mary Ann site is case in point. They're trying to develop a parking lot, and you have the "Friends of Schmidtville" trying to stop this modest low-rise proposal with the usual NIMBY concerns. Heritage designation will just give them a new tool to batter legitimate development on parking lots and other barren sites in and around SGR.

How about those clowns implement one of the hundred "plans" HRM has approved to improve downtown? Like beautifying the rest of Spring Garden (including tree planting, wider sidewalks, buried power lines)? The Grand Parade and Province House and streetscape redesign? How about the Duke/George Street streetscape corridor plans specified within HRMxDesign? Where's the Regional Plan? Where the hell is the Central Plan?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

I disagree - heritage status should have no impact on the parking lot sites or anywhere along Clyde since it will fall into HbD. Once that was approved - it has it's own process, you follow it and get your approval in 90 days.

I am concerned though with the resources HRM's policy planning group has to get the centre plan and regional plan done. I heard through a number of 3rd parties (I do not take this as fact) that a number of other visioning projects had to be shelved simply to get the Regional Plan update done. The hope was to finish, get back to the other plans and get them done - then the Centre Plan, but because the Centre area is taking on such a heavy pressure for redevelopment those other plans may have to stay on the shelf to get the Centre Plan done.

That's simply not viable in terms of getting ahead of the game. Surely, HRM could provide a few more bodies (even 5 new FTE planning positions would be more than enough to get the Centre Plan going and likely do a couple of the shelved plans). But apparently the budget is tight...makes me glad that most of Calgary's planning department is funding by the fees we charge (since there is so much development, we don't have as much of a problem growing when we need too).

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

That's not exactly correct - given that I've been working in the Planning Department here in Calgary for over 6 years. Calgary's DT is quite well defined, there is the typical office core (which is 9 St on the West Side, 3 Avenue on the north; 3rd Street (SE) on the East side and CPR tracks behind 9 avenue as the south defining line). But just to the north east (up to the river) is also the communities of Chinatown and in the north west side (to the river) is Eau Claire. Then there is the Downtown West End Community and the East Village.

.

True, but a lot of the development you mention there (East Village, etc.) is neighbourhood-y rather than office uses. Plus, the East Village is a big exciting blank slate, but so is the Cogswell and all the waterfront space in Dartmouth.

Eau Claire I'd consider to be more along the lines of under-used space within Calgary's downtown, similar to the waterfront properties along Lower Water. I hope it's finally coming along--it was a dead zone when I last lived in Calgary.

But really, what I meant was just that most Canadian cities, even the fast-growing ones, aren't rapidly expanding the boundaries of their downtown business districts so much as building and re-building within them, and near-downtown residential neighbourhoods aren't being removed to make way for new towers, for the most part. In Calgary's case, I'd wager that all those single family houses in Sunnyside and Mission and Bridgeland and Ramsay--built to a noticeably lower density than the South End and North End--will be there for a long time to come.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

But really, what I meant was just that most Canadian cities, even the fast-growing ones, aren't rapidly expanding the boundaries of their downtown business districts so much as building and re-building within them, and near-downtown residential neighbourhoods aren't being removed to make way for new towers, for the most part.

I think a big reason for this is that just about every North American city had a huge surplus of empty lots after 1940-1990 era demolition. This will change over the next few years (except I guess in the really unfortunate places). It has already happened in Vancouver -- the biggest area for new construction is south of False Creek, outside of the boundaries of the traditional downtown.

Presumably Halifax has 20 or 30 years worth of development land once you start talking about the waterfront and Cogswell, but that will eventually run out if the city keeps growing. I don't think the right solution will be to mow over all of the houses on the peninsula, but there is going to be more tension between new construction and existing neighbourhoods.

If you look at Halifax there's also been a slow but steady expansion in the downtown. In the 1960's, Spring Garden Road was not really "downtown" but today it is busier than Barrington. It only looks static over a 5 or 10 year time frame, and because the city today is growing back in to previously semi-derelict areas like Gottingen and the waterfront. Once you start considering a 20 or 30 year time frame the changes are noticeable. I bet the changes in Calgary over this type of time frame have been pretty enormous.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by counterfactual

Schmidtville ... Rottenburg

Well, one thing's for sure: they have a history of picking great names.

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by someone123

Well, one thing's for sure: they have a history of picking great names.

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

I disagree - heritage status should have no impact on the parking lot sites or anywhere along Clyde since it will fall into HbD. Once that was approved - it has it's own process, you follow it and get your approval in 90 days.

I am concerned though with the resources HRM's policy planning group has to get the centre plan and regional plan done. I heard through a number of 3rd parties (I do not take this as fact) that a number of other visioning projects had to be shelved simply to get the Regional Plan update done. The hope was to finish, get back to the other plans and get them done - then the Centre Plan, but because the Centre area is taking on such a heavy pressure for redevelopment those other plans may have to stay on the shelf to get the Centre Plan done.

That's simply not viable in terms of getting ahead of the game. Surely, HRM could provide a few more bodies (even 5 new FTE planning positions would be more than enough to get the Centre Plan going and likely do a couple of the shelved plans). But apparently the budget is tight...makes me glad that most of Calgary's planning department is funding by the fees we charge (since there is so much development, we don't have as much of a problem growing when we need too).

Definitely agree that HRM is lacking on planning capacity.

I mean, they haven't even re-hired a chief planner to replace Andy Filmore, who left a big gaping hole (Halifax owes him a great debt of gratitude for HRMxD):

http://www.halifax.ca/hr/jobs/ChiefPlanner.html

Any idea on why they haven't hired a chief planner? Just unable to attract talent? Low salary offer? Thankless job working for an unwieldy government bureaucracy deeply opposed to change?

Or, more likely, the HRM bureaucracy just not keen to hire another chief planner and risk having another Filmore, because he actually kicked the bureaucracy in the a** to change and move and get things done...

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

That's not exactly correct - given that I've been working in the Planning Department here in Calgary for over 6 years. Calgary's DT is quite well defined, there is the typical office core (which is 9 St on the West Side, 3 Avenue on the north; 3rd Street (SE) on the East side and CPR tracks behind 9 avenue as the south defining line). But just to the north east (up to the river) is also the communities of Chinatown and in the north west side (to the river) is Eau Claire. Then there is the Downtown West End Community and the East Village.

Eau Claire was mostly industrial, while Chinatown was commercial/industrial. When the industrial moved out and residential moved in. Eau Claire has all high density residential and migrating to be more mixed use (including office). Shaw Court is in the community of Eau Claire and that is resoundingly office, as is Centennial Place, the Canterra Tower and the soon to be 3EC place (hotel, residential and office).

The office core has changed over time, it hasn't been the same. The Suncore Tower was done in the last 10 years, as was the second Bankers Hall. The recent addition of the Bow, with the Brookfield Centre site, Telus Sky and a few other new office towers under review will change the office core dramatically. Also, the recent addition of Eight Avenue Place also increased the amount of office space in the 'office core'. But a good number of small office buildings are starting to crop up in the Beltline (South of the CPR Tracks) and are going up along 10 Avenue - so where office is going, is not sticking to just the 'office core'. The policies for Eau Claire and the Beltline (along 10 Avenue) actually encouraged this - where we are starting to see more desire for mixed use in the 'office core'. So that clear definition is starting to change (Telus Sky and Brookfield being two applications I can name off the top of my head).

Of course the East Village is going through a complete redevelopment with new mixed use buildings, a new hotel and our new library will all be located there (in addition to the Cantos Music Centre). The West Village hasn't had much uptake yet, but there are applications in and with the new LRT station because of the West Leg, I suspect it will take off soon.

Halifaxboyns, you've been working in the Calgary city planning department for 6 years? Why don't you come back home and takeover as Chief Planner here in Halifax?

http://www.halifax.ca/hr/jobs/ChiefPlanner.html

Now, I'm sure you get paid well in Calgary. In fact, you'll likely be taking a pay cut. Lots more work. Lots more responsibility. Probably less pay.

But your city needs you, friend. It is time to do the honourable thing...

[ns_kid]

Originally Posted by ns_kid

One aspect of the Westhill project that perplexes me is that, based on my review of the site plans, the project does not appear to incorporate the crumbling exterior courtyard/stairway that now separates the Albemarle office structure from the Scotia Square parkade. (...) I have sent a note to Crombie asking if they can shed any light on this question.

Joseph Driscoll, Manager of Real Estate and Planning for Crombie REIT, kindly and promptly responded to my enquiry. He wrote:

Although that area is not within the scope of the Westhill project, we plan to revitalize the breezeway area that leads down into Scotia Square after construction of the Westhill expansion is complete. The area will most likely serve as a construction staging area during the construction of Westhill. As a result, the area will not be worked on until after construction of Westhill is completed.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

The ones closest to Morris look a bit rundown, but not in a major way. Some are already designated, and the one at 1354 is pretty gorgeous in and out.

Seriously, these kinds of restore-able heritage properties are exactly what a large crop of young professionals are looking for. Some people want a spacey modern condo, but (yet again, from my TO perspective), the ultimate goal for a huge chunk of that demographic is a detached or semi-detached urban house--the "forever house", if you will. These buildings are SUPER desirable from a real-estate perspective, even if some are rundown.

All that said, I think the more likely route for Queen Street to take is for these properties to be slowly converted to commercial uses. It's already a traffic thoroughfare, and as an extension of SGR, I bet these will eventually be turned into storefronts, like the old houses on south Barrington. (I wouldn't really want to live facing Queen Street right around there.)

I agree with the rest of your post, however. The Schmidtville opposition to the Mary Ann condo is absurd. Their neighbourhood is way too central to be home to that kind of NIMBYism. As usual, the loudest heritage advocates tend to be less focused on conserving worthy buildings and more concerned with thwarting development, for God knows what reason.

If the proponents of Schmidtville (I would guess 95% live there) really want their community to have a historical and visual impact then they can start by removing the cheap vinyl siding from these "historic buildings".

Clyde St. vinyl
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Halifax,+N...MqtSi23Ot6K3Vdbvw&cbp=12,100.96,,0,17.62

Birmingham St. vinyl
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Halifax,+N...E8JmLrCFoYn4Pj4dg&cbp=12,66.93,,0,-11.09

Morris St. vinyl & Mickey Mouse balconies
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Halifax,+N...0wuZBTE7xwBs2vMDnSGQwg&cbp=12,29.07,,0,0

[Jonovision]

Sorry, posted this in the wrong thread.

Another reminder of the public meeting coming up this Monday, January 13th regarding the changes to downtown Dartmouth and the allowable building heights. It's at 7pm in the Helen Creighton room at Alderney Landing.

I see downtown Dartmouth combined with Kings Wharf and Dartmouth Cove becoming our own little Vancouver style downtown.

[JET]

Originally Posted by Jonovision

Sorry, posted this in the wrong thread.

Another reminder of the public meeting coming up this Monday, January 13th regarding the changes to downtown Dartmouth and the allowable building heights. It's at 7pm in the Helen Creighton room at Alderney Landing.

I see downtown Dartmouth combined with Kings Wharf and Dartmouth Cove becoming our own little Vancouver style downtown.

with the rumour of the possible mico brewery (maybe brew pub?) where the Tims was on Ochterloney, I think you may be right. The DDT is looking up!

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by Empire

If the proponents of Schmidtville (I would guess 95% live there) really want their community to have a historical and visual impact then they can start by removing the cheap vinyl siding from these "historic buildings".

Clyde St. vinyl
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Halifax,+N...MqtSi23Ot6K3Vdbvw&cbp=12,100.96,,0,17.62

Birmingham St. vinyl
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Halifax,+N...E8JmLrCFoYn4Pj4dg&cbp=12,66.93,,0,-11.09

Morris St. vinyl & Mickey Mouse balconies
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=Halifax,+N...0wuZBTE7xwBs2vMDnSGQwg&cbp=12,29.07,,0,0

Thank-you for posting, this just proves my point entirely.

Maybe a ban on vinyl downtown would be a good policy? Its environmentally unfriendly, ugly and if you own a property downtown you can afford to clad it properly or you shouldn't own it.

[someone123]

[deleted due to copyright complaint]

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by someone123

[deleted due to copyright complaint]

Great news. That building-- the one with the beige paint, right? Ugly.

Fix it up.

[Dmajackson]

Good to hear. Espace is wrapping up construction on the same row of buildings and The Roy should be started soon. This appears to be the last building with a run-down exterior on the block.

In 2016 this entire block should be in great shape especially if the Urban Outfitters rumour is true. If HRM throws in a few benches, garbage cans, and bike racks the entire street will be about as good as it can get.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

If HRM throws in a few benches, garbage cans, and bike racks the entire street will be about as good as it can get.

I think the city also needs to deal with all the diesel bus traffic, as well as the truck traffic in other parts of the downtown. They have a big impact on the livability of the area.

This isn't very far-fetched. Metro Transit could build some streetcar or electric bus lines to work into the new system. The trucks I guess would go into the rail cut.

Cogswell of course needs to go too, and it can tie in with the transit improvements. There's no decent downtown terminal at the moment.

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by someone123

I think the city also needs to deal with all the diesel bus traffic, as well as the truck traffic in other parts of the downtown. They have a big impact on the livability of the area.

This isn't very far-fetched. Metro Transit could build some streetcar or electric bus lines to work into the new system. The trucks I guess would go into the rail cut.

Cogswell of course needs to go too, and it can tie in with the transit improvements. There's no decent downtown terminal at the moment.

With some more height in these new developments, hopefully in the near term, the loud trucks and buses will be come less of an issue for liveability.

But it needs to be fixed for the long term, for sure.

You could have hybrid buses. I believe Boston has something like this. Within chunks of downtown, the buses run on electricity. But once they go beyond that area, the bus will stop, and the driver gets out to switch back over to diesel, and continues on.

Would that be so hard? Of course not. But any kind of change is hard in Halifax.

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Good to hear. Espace is wrapping up construction on the same row of buildings and The Roy should be started soon. This appears to be the last building with a run-down exterior on the block.

In 2016 this entire block should be in great shape especially if the Urban Outfitters rumour is true. If HRM throws in a few benches, garbage cans, and bike racks the entire street will be about as good as it can get.

where is the Urban Outfitters rumour coming from? ANS?

And where is the suggestion it might end up? On Barrington in the Roy retail space? Spring Garden?

I think Bloor street, with a few really nice high end developments like the Roy, plus major facelifts for many of these buildings, has the potential to have a bit of a mini-Bloor St thing going on (the area from Bloor to Bay) where you get a nice combo of residential + nicer/high end retail shops that become destinations for younger shoppers.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by someone123

I think the city also needs to deal with all the diesel bus traffic, as well as the truck traffic in other parts of the downtown. They have a big impact on the livability of the area.

This isn't very far-fetched. Metro Transit could build some streetcar or electric bus lines to work into the new system. The trucks I guess would go into the rail cut.

Cogswell of course needs to go too, and it can tie in with the transit improvements. There's no decent downtown terminal at the moment.

Are they still running the hydrogen fuel cell buses in Vancouver? Any word on whether they will continue to use/develop that technology? I think if they can keep the costs in line as well as the logistics of using hydrogen as a fuel source, this could be a good option for downtown Halifax.

Otherwise, San Francisco (and likely other places) has a great working electric bus line similar in concept to the bus-based trolleys they ran in Halifax up to the early seventies, with overhead wires used as a power source. Although Halifax's old trolleys could be somewhat troublesome with them skipping off the wires every now and then, the system in SF seemed to run trouble-free when I was there. There has been 40 years of development since we had them so it would be a good time to try again, IMHO. On second thought it occurred to me that Halifax has eliminated overhead wires in much of the downtown since then so this idea wouldn't work anymore...

The hybrid bus idea could work well also, as long as those buses had sufficient route time running on diesel outside of the downtown core to recharge their batteries. If the bus spends most of its time in the core, the power gained by regenerative braking would not be enough to achieve a sufficient level of battery charge without diesel operation, in my opinion.

[Dmajackson]

Staff is recommending that Regional Council approve the sale of the former Rockingham Community Centre (199 Bedford Highway) to Stockbridge Investors Group.

Staff Report - Sale of 199 Bedford Highway