Development Rumours

[pblaauw]

The stone cladding should be removed before it falls apart and causes real damage....and replaced with foam replica.

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by Empire

Here's what they did in Portland OR: They do almost everything right in Portland.
http://www.visitahc.org/content/gerding-theater-armory-case-study

Actually, I think this would be perfect. Would be great to have a high end theatre in the core, given that the Rebecca Cohn is a little bit past it's prime.

However, our Armoury is so massive, that you could certainly also build a stage in there for performing arts, and still have room left over for some other amenities.

The problem, unfortunately, is that such a development would require some significant public investment, likely from both the city and provincial government. Wonder how much of an appetite there is in the province to invest more in downtown Halifax. Presumably, the Liberals would be keen to make inroads within the Halifax core, a traditional NDP base (NDP, I think, really neglected urban Halifax during its time, and the last election showed).

[Phalanx]

A theatre/arts centre would be great. Or something like a museum (though I'm not sure we have anything that would require quite that much space). I'd like to see it remain public space, at any rate. It's a unique building in a central location.

[beyeas]

Yeah I have seen in Europe where these old armouries have been converted to stunning performing arts halls. Parking would be an issue, and it is outside of the core, but regardless that is a use to be explored (although I don't see the city taking on another large scale public infrastructure any time soon, since one assumes both a stadium and replacement art gallery are ahead in the queue).

[Empire]

Originally Posted by beyeas

Yeah I have seen in Europe where these old armouries have been converted to stunning performing arts halls. Parking would be an issue, and it is outside of the core, but regardless that is a use to be explored (although I don't see the city taking on another large scale public infrastructure any time soon, since one assumes both a stadium and replacement art gallery are ahead in the queue).

Performing Arts Centre it is! Build a 1000 car U/G parking garage across the stree under the Commons which would be great for the oval as well.

Parking:
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=halifax&hl...charK_ndvx-NX0PjNHXvA&cbp=12,184.76,,0,0

Great Bones:
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=halifax&hl...ncharK_ndvx-NX0PjNHXvA&cbp=12,35.44,,0,0

Portland success story:
http://www.visitahc.org/content/gerding-theater-armory-case-study

[Drybrain]

Halifax does lack good mid-sized performance venues. Rebecca Cohn is good, but that's about it. I don't know if this is a problem for people in the arts community, in terms of scheduling events, etc., but it seems noticeable to me.

[beyeas]

Originally Posted by Empire

Performing Arts Centre it is! Build a 1000 car U/G parking garage across the stree under the Commons which would be great for the oval as well.

Parking:
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=halifax&hl...charK_ndvx-NX0PjNHXvA&cbp=12,184.76,,0,0

Great Bones:
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=halifax&hl...ncharK_ndvx-NX0PjNHXvA&cbp=12,35.44,,0,0

Portland success story:
http://www.visitahc.org/content/gerding-theater-armory-case-study

That is exactly what was done in Millennium Park in Chicago... there is a carpark under the park, and a Frank Gehry designed amphitheatre on top!

[teddifax]

Since the Armouries needs major work, why not take all the stonework down and re-incorporate it into a new development like others in Halifax. We could redo the foundation, putting in underground parking and modernize it and redesign the interior into something more user friendly.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by beyeas

That is exactly what was done in Millennium Park in Chicago... there is a carpark under the park, and a Frank Gehry designed amphitheatre on top!

Not to mention U/G Boston Common parking for 1300 cars:
http://massconvention.com/about-us/boston-common-garage

https://plus.google.com/1082196345364851...=web%3Alu%3Akp%3Aplacepageimage&socpid=1

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by teddifax

Since the Armouries needs major work, why not take all the stonework down and re-incorporate it into a new development like others in Halifax. We could redo the foundation, putting in underground parking and modernize it and redesign the interior into something more user friendly.

I think that might be more work, no? I do like the idea of taking useful, attractive parts from demolished buildings--like stonework--and incorporating them into new developments to accent modern designs.

But in this case, I think just sucking it up and fixing the thing is the only really appropriate course of action.

[TheNovaScotian]

I agree with Drybrain, that the only recourse is restoration.
You guys are crazy calling for its demolition, there is enough brown fields to build on that it shouldn't even be discussed for awhile.
The biggest thing is finding a use for it, that fits in with the community

[teddifax]

I didn't mean just reusing the stonework, but re-building it completely new inside to whatever the new use was. The site is quite large, so it could be used for many purposes.

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by Empire

Performing Arts Centre it is! Build a 1000 car U/G parking garage across the stree under the Commons which would be great for the oval as well.

Parking:
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=halifax&hl...charK_ndvx-NX0PjNHXvA&cbp=12,184.76,,0,0

Great Bones:
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=halifax&hl...ncharK_ndvx-NX0PjNHXvA&cbp=12,35.44,,0,0

Portland success story:
http://www.visitahc.org/content/gerding-theater-armory-case-study

Love this idea.

But do you think that in a city-- where Council is so cowardly that it continually defers any kind of decision that would negatively impact on particular community or constituency (ie thinking waste management)-- that Council would dare make the "Friends of Commons" mad by allowing someone to build a parking garage under the commons?

[Empire]

Originally Posted by counterfactual

Love this idea.

But do you think that in a city-- where Council is so cowardly that it continually defers any kind of decision that would negatively impact on particular community or constituency (ie thinking waste management)-- that Council would dare make the "Friends of Commons" mad by allowing someone to build a parking garage under the commons?

No, I don't think the current Council will make any bold decisions.

Here is a clip from an article on the history of the Halifax Armory. Hopefully federal money can be obtained to fully restore this gem of Canadian history.

http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~af380/Armory.html

Plans for the celebration:

There was a ceremony held in October 1996 at which time there was an official presentation of a placque designating the Halifax Armory as a building of "national significance". It received no advance publicity and the only sign it had taken place is a new stone on the ground at the corner of the building with a placque on it. Following that event, there were plans for a major restoration of the outside of the Armory to start later in October. The restoration, required to combat the damage done over the years by acid rain and pigeons (the sandstone is soft enough for them to peck holes in it), was estimeted to take about three years.

Other than the placque and the building af a covered walkway over the sidewalk to protect pedestrians from falling rock during the facelift, nothing else has been done. The facelift operation has apparently been stalled for some reason and no repair work has been started to date. A dreadful pity

[TheNovaScotian]

There has been repair work done about a year ago, they dug out the foundation and reinforced it and dealt with some drainage issues.

[HalifaxRetales]

I kid

[fenwick16]

This is such a great looking old building. I think it would make a fine performing arts centre.

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

This is such a great looking old building. I think it would make a fine performing arts centre.

but thar is no parking. Parking downtownn is horribul. I cant stand it.

Put teh performance centered in dartmouth crossing or bayers somewhere i can park. Lol! Thx u.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by counterfactual

but thar is no parking. Parking downtownn is horribul. I cant stand it.

Put teh performance centered in dartmouth crossing or bayers somewhere i can park. Lol! Thx u.

You need to turn your spell checker back on

So the Citadel Hill and Commons can be set up for concerts of 20,000 - 30,000 spectators but the Armoury in the same area can't accommodate a couple of thousand spectators? But I am sure that you realize this .

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

You need to turn your spell checker back on

So the Citadel Hill and Commons can be set up for concerts of 20,000 - 30,000 spectators but the Armoury in the same area can't accommodate a couple of thousand spectators? But I am sure that you realize this .

Oh come on, fenwick. That post was a joke. My (maybe not so) humorous attempt to pre-empt parking complaints with an absurdly annoying fake one.