General Updates and News

[someone123]

Originally Posted by ns_kid

We're looking at the rear of the Green Lantern building on Granville Street in that view. I don 't believe this has gotten beyond the concept stage. The owner of the building was tied up in a dispute with his insurer and not willing to make a move on redevelopment until that was resolved.

I'm pretty sure that rendering has been around since 2007 or so.

[Colin May]

Quiz: can you identify these world cities from their logos?

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/quiz/2014/may/08/quiz-world-city-logos-brands-tourism

Have fun

[scooby074]

Originally Posted by Colin May

Quiz: can you identify these world cities from their logos?

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/quiz/2014/may/08/quiz-world-city-logos-brands-tourism

Have fun

Got 4. If I went with my gut instead of my head I would have had 6

[Jonovision]

Originally Posted by someone123

I can't remember if this has been posted before, but does anybody know what this is? http://www.geoffkeddy.com/Commercial/album/slides/Portland-Street.jpg

The picture is also labeled as being Portland Street. Not sure what I think about it. Would need to see more.

[Ziobrop]

Originally Posted by Colin May

Quiz: can you identify these world cities from their logos?

http://www.theguardian.com/cities/quiz/2014/may/08/quiz-world-city-logos-brands-tourism

Have fun

I got 5/10

[Ziobrop]

CTV News is doing a story tonight on the Deplorable condition of the Ralston Building... they stopped me on the street to ask what I thought.

[HalifaxRetales]

Open City is this weekend

easy guide http://opencity.retales.ca

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by Ziobrop

CTV News is doing a story tonight on the Deplorable condition of the Ralston Building... they stopped me on the street to ask what I thought.

Maybe they'll throw in the Dennis and do a piece on the generally shabby state of several provincial properties downtown. That'd be good--raise public awareness of the fact that as downtown revitalizes, the provincial government is at risk of becoming downtown's worst landlord.

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

Maybe they'll throw in the Dennis and do a piece on the generally shabby state of several provincial properties downtown. That'd be good--raise public awareness of the fact that as downtown revitalizes, the provincial government is at risk of becoming downtown's worst landlord.

Great idea.

Would be a great angle to take on downtown.

And quite possibly is true. Provincial Government has been pretty horrible and still remains so. So many parking lots empty sites rotting buildings can be laid at that government's feet.

[Dmajackson]

Demolition fencing is up around the north-west corner of Agricola & Bilby. There is no known redevelopment plan for this site.


Photo by Dmajackson a.k.a. Urban_Halifax on flickr.com

[xanaxanax]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Demolition fencing is up around the north-west corner of Agricola & Bilby. There is no known redevelopment plan for this site.

Some ship building contract group has been trying to buy friends of mines homes along Agricola to build office space so maybe its that.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by xanaxanax

Some ship building contract group has been trying to buy friends of mines homes along Agricola to build office space so maybe its that.

Really? Around which cross-street/address, if you don't mind my asking?

That's kind've a weird thing to be located on Agricola, and not very in keeping with the retail turn the street is taking.

[xanaxanax]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

Really? Around which cross-street/address, if you don't mind my asking?

That's kind've a weird thing to be located on Agricola, and not very in keeping with the retail turn the street is taking.

They wanted to buy my friends places directly across from the Olands brewery and the deal didnt go through, I thought it was weird as well with the amount of vacant parking lots in the area. Word of mouth from him was that they were asking other home owners along the street.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

Maybe they'll throw in the Dennis and do a piece on the generally shabby state of several provincial properties downtown. That'd be good--raise public awareness of the fact that as downtown revitalizes, the provincial government is at risk of becoming downtown's worst landlord.

The Ralston is federal though.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

The Ralston is federal though.

Oh yeah. Oh well, governments of all sorts then. (Yeah, Dominion Building got a good makeover not long ago...)

[spaustin]

Originally Posted by Jonovision

The picture is also labeled as being Portland Street. Not sure what I think about it. Would need to see more.

Indeed. Hard to say much from one rendering. It looks like it's the corner of Dundas and Portland where May Garden and that yellow house are now. Would be great to get more people Downtown, but I'm not really a fan of the wide storefront out front and the unbroken street wall. Its better than Seacoast Tower on the other side (now there is a dead streetfront), but it could be way better. Portland is a traditional main street made up of narrow lots. New development is great to see, but it should reflect that character. I like the approach of the Vic or Founders Corner: A diverse podium with a tower above to add density. Anyway, it's barely out of the gate so lots can change yet.

[Colin May]

HRM staff recommending sale of St Pat's Alexandra and rejection of community bid.

" It is recommended that Halifax Regional Council:

1. Decline the proposal from the North Central Community Council Association, as per the
Evaluation of Submissions for the Disposal of St. Pat’s Alexandra (Attachment B); and
2. Conditional upon the satisfactory resolution of any remaining appeals of the Supreme
Court decision of September 24, 2012, direct HRM staff to proceed to sell the property at
market value, as per the “Special Procedure for Disposal of St. Pat’s Alexandra” (see
Attachment A for “Appendix A” from the October 30, 2012 Regional Council motion) "

http://halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/140513ca1113.pdf

[Ziobrop]

I would have liked to see the community bid.

From the staff report, it sounds as though it is well thought out, that staff acknowledge the need exists, and the proponents are capable of delivering.

The issue is financing. There seems to be alot of borrowed money in this proposal, and Im not sure how confident their revenue projections could be. I also question the wisdom of a community group essentially offering 100% financing on 30% to be available for first- time home buyers, who would be eligible for a 20% down payment repayable loan

EDIT:
The proposal is available online
http://ournorthend.ca/img/nccc-spas-submission.pdf

[xanaxanax]

Maybe a bit of calcification on something about the community bid but why is the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre fighting for space for the St. Pat’s Alexandra site when they were given the Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library, its theirs if they want it according to the City and Province to use. Its more than enough space for the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq to use as a cultural museum and fit any rolls the Friendship Centre had. http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/873653-mi-kmaq-association-offered-library-building

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by xanaxanax

Maybe a bit of calcification on something about the community bid but why is the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre fighting for space for the St. Pat’s Alexandra site when they were given the Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library, its theirs if they want it according to the City and Province to use. Its more than enough space for the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq to use as a cultural museum and fit any rolls the Friendship Centre had. http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/873653-mi-kmaq-association-offered-library-building

Because these groups are like their clientele. They always have their hand out to govt for anything they can take.

I'm glad the reco is to sell the property. That's what should have happened in the first place if the good Rev. Britten hadn't had a tantrum way back when. I hope Joe Metledge is awarded many millions of dollars and the city then goes after those responsible for this debacle. Or maybe Mr. Butts figures the only way to offset the inevitable court award is to sell it.