Development Rumours

[ILoveHalifax]

Originally Posted by someone123

I'd say that Vancouver is definitely the milder of the two, particularly when it comes to storms (there are almost none here), and particularly in the late winter/spring (Feb-Apr), but that the overall difference is smaller than people normally think. For example, the normal high in Halifax in December is about 3 degrees and in Vancouver it is 6. From now until November the temperature in both cities is basically the same.

One big advantage Halifax climate-wise is that it's significantly sunnier during the winter. We get very few sunny days from about November-March and the days are shorter. This year was pretty good but some years feel like weeks or months of perpetual gloom during the winter.

Vancouver is definitely warmer than Halifax in the winter and snow is quite rare, but let's not pretend that it doesn't snow in Vancouver. Halifax could possibly grow some flowers (pansies) in the winter as does Vancouver but they could/would also be killed by a cold spell.
Spring is very early in Vancouver but also late in Halifax. Summer is generally a degree or so warmer in Halifax, not a big difference.
I hate the relentless rain/lack of sunshine in Vancouver. Spring starts at a higher temperature but seems to take forever to rise to summer temperatures.

[ILoveHalifax]

Many Canadians think that Maritime weather is Halifax weather. Many winter storms that hit the Maritimes and Canadians hear about on the news, do not hit Halifax. Frequently Canadians hear that the Maritimes is hit by a vicious storm (great headlines) but it is rain in Halifax, or it starts as snow and turns to rain.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by ILoveHalifax

Many Canadians think that Maritime weather is Halifax weather. Many winter storms that hit the Maritimes and Canadians hear about on the news, do not hit Halifax. Frequently Canadians hear that the Maritimes is hit by a vicious storm (great headlines) but it is rain in Halifax, or it starts as snow and turns to rain.

It all depends on the storm track. It's typically up the Bay of Fundy which means rain in Halifax and snow in Moncton, but sometimes the track is up the Atlantic coastline which means snow in Halifax and sunny skies in Moncton.

Central Canadians often forget that Atlantic Canada is actually quite large. Peter Mansbridge might announce a viscious blizzard for Atlantic Canada, but the only area hit is St. John's and the Avalon, while for everyone else it is a non event. Meanwhile Buddy from Calgary will think thant we are all buried under three metres of snow........

[someone123]

The range of annual snowfall in Atlantic Canada is enormous. Parts of NS are down around 90-100 cm annually (places right along the coast like Sambro, Barrington, Baccaro), which compares to about 40-50 cm here in Vancouver or 120 cm in Toronto. Meanwhile, central/northern NB and Newfoundland can be up into the 300+ cm range.

The temperature range in the Maritimes is also large. Halifax winter temperatures are closer to Vancouver than they are to Edmundston.

[JET]

I came looking for a development discussion and stumbled over the weather channel.

[xanaxanax]

Originally Posted by JET

I came looking for a development discussion and stumbled over the weather channel.

haha I was thinking of posting a weather report or something.

I haven't read through this yet but the city is going to have a discussion thrusday about a new performing arts centre, stadium fire training facility and police headquarters proposed four-pad arenas part of discussion on Thursday

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scoti...to-be-mulled-by-city-committee-1.2663049

[resetcbu1]

Somewhat recent news involving DDI:

http://www.freep.com/article/20140313/BU...troit-Free-Press-David-Stott-Clark-Lofts

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by someone123

I'd say that Vancouver is definitely the milder of the two, particularly when it comes to storms (there are almost none here), and particularly in the late winter/spring (Feb-Apr), but that the overall difference is smaller than people normally think. For example, the normal high in Halifax in December is about 3 degrees and in Vancouver it is 6. From now until November the temperature in both cities is basically the same.

One big advantage Halifax climate-wise is that it's significantly sunnier during the winter. We get very few sunny days from about November-March and the days are shorter. This year was pretty good but some years feel like weeks or months of perpetual gloom during the winter.

Thanks for adding the Vancouver perspective.

One thing to be cautious of is getting too hung up on data. Average temperatures and such are a great way to quantify weather but do not always describe the human experience.

For example, even though the Halifax average December temp is only 3 °C below Vancouver, a significant difference is that our low temps go below freezing more often and stay there longer. The result in human terms is that we experience more icing conditions which can make getting around a bit of a pain, and even dangerous in some cases.

A good illustration of this point is vehicle corrosion - even though Vancouver and Halifax both have humid, ocean-influenced weather, Halifax vehicles can rust to the point of being unusable in 7 - 10 years (a little longer now with the usage of modern anti-corrosion technologies) whereas in Vancouver you could drive your vehicle for decades if maintained well since the bodies do not corrode anywhere near as quickly. The difference between the two places? Road salt, which is spread in vast quantities in a typical Maritime winter to attempt to keep the roads ice-free, and acts as a catalyst in the corrosion process.

In human terms, this small difference in temperature normals can make for a very different tourist experience. More ice, more frequent snowfalls, longer periods of time for the ground to remain frozen and retain ice/snow, etc. These can reduce the number of "nice" winter conditions for the tourist to enjoy outside. Not to mention the major storms from oceanside, many of which would be classified as Tropical Storms or Hurricanes if they happened in the summer/fall.

Also, anecdotally, in wintertime Halifax's sunny days also tend to be its coldest days.

There, that's enough for the weather report...

[JET]

I was just on the weather network, and there is a discussion about highrises in Halifax, how weird is that?

[reddog794]

This spike in Chinese investment here leaves me with a "wait and see" feeling. I'm happy for investment to land here, i'm just going to be patient and see how many eggs make it to the pudding. This is ambitious and we may only see half of what they propose, even if it's a windfall investment in Atlantic Playland so we can get some real roller-coasters, and a fresher image to sell.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by JET

I was just on the weather network, and there is a discussion about highrises in Halifax, how weird is that?

Can you post a link?

[Colin May]

Originally Posted by xanaxanax

haha I was thinking of posting a weather report or something.

I haven't read through this yet but the city is going to have a discussion thrusday about a new performing arts centre, stadium fire training facility and police headquarters proposed four-pad arenas part of discussion on Thursday

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scoti...to-be-mulled-by-city-committee-1.2663049

A performing arts centre for $60,000,000.
Not possible, The new Neptune Theatre was $12,000,000 almost 20 years ago
You won't find any 2,500 - 3,000 seat performing arts centre for $60 million

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by Colin May

A performing arts centre for $60,000,000.
Not possible, The new Neptune Theatre was $12,000,000 almost 20 years ago
You won't find any 2,500 - 3,000 seat performing arts centre for $60 million

What if you don't have to build the thing?

As I suggested a while back, we should convert the Armoury into a Center for the Performing Arts.



http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/24/arts/music/stockhausens-gruppen-at-park-avenue-armory.html

[xanaxanax]

Originally Posted by counterfactual

What if you don't have to build the thing?

As I suggested a while back, we should convert the Armoury into a Center for the Performing Arts.



http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/24/arts/music/stockhausens-gruppen-at-park-avenue-armory.html

Or the old world trade centre could be converted into for less

[Colin May]

Originally Posted by counterfactual

What if you don't have to build the thing?

As I suggested a while back, we should convert the Armoury into a Center for the Performing Arts.



http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/24/arts/music/stockhausens-gruppen-at-park-avenue-armory.html

The acoustics are terrible now and would be terrible at the Armouries. Stockhausen seems quite appropriate for the Armoury in New York and with a bit of Henze the evening would be a success - if you like that kind of noise.
The acoustics at the Cohen have been a problem from day one.
A hall fit for an orchestra is expensive. What is good for a rock concert is useless for an orchestra. And the dance community want a proper space. Melding the diverse uses results in significant compromise and that compromises the enjoyment of the performance. One Hall doesn't fit all.

$60,000,000 is a number pulled out of a hat with ZERO thought, an attempt to fool taxpayers into thinking some rinky dink building can be called a performing arts centre. It is the same cost estimate as put forward for a stadium. A stadium can be designed for expansion and improvement but a concert hall has to be properly designed and built for immediate use.

Copenhagen concert hall in 2009 : $650 million
Los Angeles Disney Hall : $300 million

[xanaxanax]

Originally Posted by Colin May

The acoustics are terrible now and would be terrible at the Armouries. Stockhausen seems quite appropriate for the Armoury in New York and with a bit of Henze the evening would be a success - if you like that kind of noise.
The acoustics at the Cohen have been a problem from day one.
A hall fit for an orchestra is expensive. What is good for a rock concert is useless for an orchestra. And the dance community want a proper space. Melding the diverse uses results in significant compromise and that compromises the enjoyment of the performance. One Hall doesn't fit all.

$60,000,000 is a number pulled out of a hat with ZERO thought, an attempt to fool taxpayers into thinking some rinky dink building can be called a performing arts centre. It is the same cost estimate as put forward for a stadium. A stadium can be designed for expansion and improvement but a concert hall has to be properly designed and built for immediate use.

Copenhagen concert hall in 2009 : $650 million
Los Angeles Disney Hall : $300 million

You seem to pull numbers and info out of your 🞵🞵🞵🞵 a lot as well with zero thought. Those numbers aren't accurate, the Los Angeles Hall cost 130 million in 2003 and thats a fact. The Copenhagen concert didn't cost half of 650 million, it reached close to 300 million but it wasn't over that.

[JET]

getting a bit personal there; time for an alprazolam, or maybe a Snickers?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by JET

getting a bit personal there; time for an alprazolam, or maybe a Snickers?

Cute, but instead of using the generic name, you could instead have suggested that xanaxanax take a xanax.....

[Ziobrop]

the Disney Hall, according to Wikipedia cost "in 2003, the project cost an estimated $274 million" 110 of that was the parking garage under it paid by the city. Add Construction Inflation, and 300m in 2014 dollars sounds reasonable. its also a Ghery, Went over budget, and with the exception of the 100million parking garage, built with private money.

I do question why Halifax needs a Concert hall. the existing venues may not be ideal, but dropping that money on a 2500 seat specialized venue is questionable.

Its my same issue with the Stadium, find a way to fill it more then the 12 home games you get with a CFL team, and ill agree its worth the spend. I have no issue with a stadium (or a concert hall) but both are substantial buildings and investments if they sit empty most days of the year.

The concert hall however could be an excellent density bonus for the Cogswell lands. - Build one in the podium/basement and we give you more units, and reduced fees.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by Ziobrop

I do question why Halifax needs a Concert hall. the existing venues may not be ideal, but dropping that money on a 2500 seat specialized venue is questionable.

If it could also be used by touring artists attracting 1,5000 to 3,000 person concerts, I'd be very supportive. Metro Centre is abysmal for music (concerts shouldn't be held in hockey arenas) and Cohn has issues.

There's no lack of performance venues here, but there's a lack of GOOD venues, built for acoustics and sightlines. It's a bit embarassing for a city this size, and with an arts community like we have here.

Having said that, we don't need a $300-million starchitect-designed building. I would really be curious to see if the Armoury could be outfitted with sound baffling or something else to improve acoustics--right on the Commons, downtown. Brilliant location and adaptive reuse if possible.