Development Rumours - Page 83

counterfactual · #**1641** Posted **Apr 6, 2014, 3:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by xanaxanax

I'm going to assume this is going to be years away, it effects half dozen or so retail and residential tenants, Taz records, paper chase, red arrow digital, a few others. I think they'll be a lot of opposition to knock down the paper chase building for a ugly parking garage entrance when there is room beside it for one.

I think it's a great development overall.

I'm sure NIMBYs will hate it, but what can you do? NIMBYs gonna hate...

Now, I do agree, I think the car entrance makes more sense on the Spring Garden or even the Grafton Street side, but I don't think the development requires taking down the Paper Chase building. But even if it does, that's not the biggest loss.

As for Taz... I love the place. So, give Taz one of the spaces directly on Spring Garden.

someone123 · #**1642** Posted **Apr 6, 2014, 5:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

I haven't seen anything in the local media. As far as I know, the renderings on the Ekistics website have been the only evidence of this project. Hopefully it will be announced in the near future.

I think the Herald and others have had articles on this project, but they gave the impression that it was something for sometime in the future rather than a specific development proposal. Not sure if that has changed.

fenwick16 · #**1643** Posted **Apr 6, 2014, 6:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

I think the Herald and others have had articles on this project, but they gave the impression that it was something for sometime in the future rather than a specific development proposal. Not sure if that has changed.

I do faintly recall mention of a possible Saint Mary's Cathedral development on the vacant land around the cathedral. Wasn't Francis Fares mentioned as giving the Cathedral advice (wasn't there a story in the allnovascotia.com?). That would have been at least a couple of years ago.

counterfactual · #**1644** Posted **Apr 6, 2014, 6:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

I do faintly recall mention of a possible Saint Mary's Cathedral development on the vacant land around the cathedral. Wasn't Francis Fares mentioned as giving the Cathedral advice (wasn't there a story in the allnovascotia.com?). That would have been at least a couple of years ago.

So maybe they're the in the process of making things more concrete?

Interestingly, the images that offer a view of the development from Blowers St (ie of the parking garage entrance off Blowers) have been removed from the site. May have been sensitive to criticism for that, at this point.

I think, as I said, Grafton is the more natural choice for a parking garage entrance...

counterfactual · #**1645** Posted **Apr 6, 2014, 6:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

I think the Herald and others have had articles on this project, but they gave the impression that it was something for sometime in the future rather than a specific development proposal. Not sure if that has changed.

Is this what you and Fenwick are talking about?

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/10...-in-halifax?from=slidebox&slidebox=title

counterfactual · #**1646** Posted **Apr 6, 2014, 7:30 PM**

[moved to other thread]

counterfactual · #**1647** Posted **Apr 6, 2014, 7:53 PM**

Here's a story I found today, wonder if anyone has heard anything about it.

Just another project that is announced, and never gets done in Halifax:

"Halifax Harbour's historic Georges Island to be developed"
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scoti...-georges-island-to-be-developed-1.807498

fenwick16 · #**1648** Posted **Apr 6, 2014, 8:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by counterfactual

Is this what you and Fenwick are talking about?

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/10...-in-halifax?from=slidebox&slidebox=title

Nice find. I got the developers name wrong, in that I said Francis Fares instead of Joe Ramia. It is great to see developers get recognition for the positive things that they do in a city.

fenwick16 · #**1649** Posted **Apr 6, 2014, 8:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by counterfactual

Here's a story I found today, wonder if anyone has heard anything about it.

Just another project that is announced, and never gets done in Halifax:

"Halifax Harbour's historic Georges Island to be developed"
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scoti...-georges-island-to-be-developed-1.807498

I started a thread on that back in 2010 when there was a projected opening date of 2012. Here is a link to the thread - http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=178117

It is sad that it hasn't opened yet. It seems like a treasure of a tourist attraction. I remember reading about some work being done but I am not sure of where. I think one of the holdups is in how to link it to the city sewage system. PS: I just found the story - http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/104530-concert-on-georges-island-ok-but-rules-prevail

counterfactual · #**1650** Posted **Apr 6, 2014, 9:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

Nice find. I got the developers name wrong, in that I said Francis Fares instead of Joe Ramia. It is great to see developers get recognition for the positive things that they do in a city.

Good memory, regardless! Totally agree with need for recognition for good developer work.

counterfactual · #**1651** Posted **Apr 6, 2014, 10:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

I started a thread on that back in 2010 when there was a projected opening date of 2012. Here is a link to the thread - http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=178117

It is sad that it hasn't opened yet. It seems like a treasure of a tourist attraction. I remember reading about some work being done but I am not sure of where. I think one of the holdups is in how to link it to the city sewage system. PS: I just found the story - http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/104530-concert-on-georges-island-ok-but-rules-prevail

I completely agree-- i think George's Island being closed to the public is travesty. It would be a bigger tourist attract, I think, than Citadel Hill. Easy.

But, as usual, here is an announcement of a plan, and it never happens. I mean, whose job is it to follow up on this? I'm going to email Parks Canada about it. I mean, come on. They are pretty useless these days.

fenwick16 · #**1652** Posted **Apr 6, 2014, 11:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by counterfactual

I completely agree-- i think George's Island being closed to the public is travesty. It would be a bigger tourist attract, I think, than Citadel Hill. Easy.

But, as usual, here is an announcement of a plan, and it never happens. I mean, whose job is it to follow up on this? I'm going to email Parks Canada about it. I mean, come on. They are pretty useless these days.

That would be a good idea. I hope that you will post any feedback that you receive.

someone123 · #**1653** Posted **Apr 6, 2014, 11:28 PM**

I think all of the harbour islands are underused. McNabs could be connected to the mainland with a bridge and there could be ferries to Georges.

There's always the argument that things should be left in their natural state but I feel like, of all the thousands of islands in the province, the ones right next to the city are the ones where this makes the least sense. The province is full of isolated, undeveloped islands, but it has nothing like what McNabs or Georges could be if they were developed in a thoughtful way.

counterfactual · #**1654** Posted **Apr 6, 2014, 11:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

I think all of the harbour islands are underused. McNabs could be connected to the mainland with a bridge and there could be ferries to Georges.

There's always the argument that things should be left in their natural state but I feel like, of all the thousands of islands in the province, the ones right next to the city are the ones where this makes the least sense. The province is full of isolated, undeveloped islands, but it has nothing like what McNabs or Georges could be if they were developed in a thoughtful way.

All of this would have happened by now (think Granville Island in Vancouver by contrast), if we had a modicum of investment in the City of Halifax by either HRM or the Provincial Government over the years.

None. Nada. Just hundreds of millions sent off to dying 19th Century industries (or buying trees to give away to those dying industries) elsewhere.

One day we'll have a real provincial government that gives a crap about Halifax; that will be the day when Halifax forms more than half the population. That day is not far off.

Hali87 · #**1655** Posted **Apr 7, 2014, 4:00 AM**

Neither of these are really anything like Granville Island though, which is actually very similar to the Seaport area in Halifax. In terms of proximity to shore, it's like Melville Island in the Northwest Arm.

McNabs and Georges are probably more comparable to the Toronto Islands or Bowen Island in the Vancouver area - it's not really feasible to provide people with an easy way of getting there unless it's very well planned out. I think Parks Canada also has some degree of jurisdiction over them (total?) so that could also be the reason they're not really integrated into the city. Parks tends to err on the side of trying to leave sites as undisturbed as possible versus trying to increase traffic to them.

counterfactual · #**1656** Posted **Apr 7, 2014, 4:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hali87

Neither of these are really anything like Granville Island though, which is actually very similar to the Seaport area in Halifax. In terms of proximity to shore, it's like Melville Island in the Northwest Arm.

McNabs and Georges are probably more comparable to the Toronto Islands or Bowen Island in the Vancouver area - it's not really feasible to provide people with an easy way of getting there unless it's very well planned out. I think Parks Canada also has some degree of jurisdiction over them (total?) so that could also be the reason they're not really integrated into the city. Parks tends to err on the side of trying to leave sites as undisturbed as possible versus trying to increase traffic to them.

I'm happy to accept the Toronto island comparison. People live there, and it's densely populated-- there's actually a long list of people waiting to purchase properties there-- and there is a regular ferry from the mainland.

We have none of those in Halifax, for either McNab's or George's Island.

IanWatson · #**1657** Posted **Apr 7, 2014, 3:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by counterfactual

Here's a story I found today, wonder if anyone has heard anything about it.

Just another project that is announced, and never gets done in Halifax:

"Halifax Harbour's historic Georges Island to be developed"
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scoti...-georges-island-to-be-developed-1.807498

The Atlantic Planners Institute organized a trip for us planners to Georges Island in either the fall of 2010 or the spring of 2011 (can't remember which). It was really interesting and the site is definitely very cool.

As far as I know there are still plans to open it to the public, but there are some big hurdles to overcome first. Number one is that there are a lot of repairs to the site that need to be done before you can just let the public roam freely (and meet disability standards, etc.). This becomes extra challenging (and expensive) when you realize you need to somehow get building materials and equipment out there.

Another issue I recall is how to handle enough visitors to make the site a worthwhile investment. One side of this issue was washrooms. It's not like you can have a septic bed there, and you can't discharge into the harbour any more, so maybe you have to pump and ship to the mainland. This obviously becomes more and more of a challenge as you get more visitors. The other side of the visitor volume issue was how you transport them there and back. You need boats going frequently enough that they meets visitor needs, but not so frequently that they run empty and cost a fortune.

Over the past couple of years Parks Canada has dipped its toes in the water by opening the island for Father's Day and also hosting a couple of concerts. So like I said, I think a full public opening is still in the works. It's just that it's not easy to do, so it's going to take time.

Jonovision · #**1658** Posted **Apr 8, 2014, 3:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

Nice find. I got the developers name wrong, in that I said Francis Fares instead of Joe Ramia. It is great to see developers get recognition for the positive things that they do in a city.

I believe Joe Ramia already owns some of that land. He is currently using the building next to the Paper Chase (that would theoretically be torn down) as the site office for the Nova Centre.

xanaxanax · #**1659** Posted **Apr 17, 2014, 10:05 PM**

I noticed the for sale signs are gone on the vacant lot of land on SpringGarend between the Bookmark and Eastlink , hopefully something gets built there soon

counterfactual · #**1660** Posted **Apr 18, 2014, 1:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by xanaxanax

I noticed the for sale signs are gone on the vacant lot of land on SpringGarend between the Bookmark and Eastlink , hopefully something gets built there soon

True.

Also, does anyone have any news about the old HMV space?

By this fall, that place will be empty for TWO YEARS.

TWO YEARS. A central street front property on the busiest street east of Montreal. That is insane. How is it not rented?

Someone should start picketing outside Colliers International's office, to reduce the rent or lift a finger, to get the goddamned thing rented.

Greedy landlords.