[Halifax] Nova Centre | 65-58-58 m | 16-15-14 fl | Completed

[Hali87]

Kind of reminds me of Ottawa's CC. Post-earthquake Christchurch could probably teach us a thing or two about creative use of vacant and underused lots.

[Ziobrop]

The herald reported the trust dropped their suit on this as well..
Interesting..

[q12]

Originally Posted by Ziobrop

The herald reported the trust dropped their suit on this as well..
Interesting..

HT had no business interfering with the Nova Centre, now they can... eat it.

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[ILoveHalifax]

I hope Joe continues with his suit against the ht.

[halifaxboyns]

Originally Posted by Ziobrop

The herald reported the trust dropped their suit on this as well..
Interesting..

The article on it is now posted here.

[fenwick16]

I would like to think that they came to their senses and realized that they can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. In this case, I think they can save more heritage buildings with the cooperation of developers and the general public than by antagonizing almost everyone.

[portapetey]

Interesting. The article has been revised since it was originally published. The earlier version referenced the Trust's news release about its Statement of Purpose, and included a line something to the effect of Ramia being "satisfied with the release of the Statement of Purpose to this newspaper earlier this week". (That's not a direct quote - I forget the exact wording.)

I wrote a comment that that sentence spoke volumes about the Trust being way out of its jurisdiction as well as out of its depth. My comment was not published, and that sentence was removed from the article (along with other changes.)

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

I would like to think that they came to their senses and realized that they can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. In this case, I think they can save more heritage buildings with the cooperation of developers and the general public than by antagonizing almost everyone.

I'm not sure. The only thing that seems to have changed, is I started calling them the "Nova Scotia Anti-Development Trust" on SSP.

Perhaps that provoked a long needed change of heart?

I'm joking, of course. I don't think they're giving up. I think something else is going on. The Anti-Development Trust is very connected, with plenty lawyers, politicians, and, HRM staffers in their corner. Maybe they realize the futility of these court battles and, instead, are lobbying politically? Aiming to get the Nova Scotia Government to make some heritage designations, change some of the relative rules?

The story itself reads as if they "settled" all the relating lawsuits between Ramia and the rest. I would be surprised that they would have withdrawn simply because Ramia had himself sued them...

[Colin May]

The Thiel challenge remains in effect and HT steps aside to let the big boys have at it ?

[portapetey]

Originally Posted by portapetey

Interesting. The article has been revised since it was originally published. The earlier version referenced the Trust's news release about its Statement of Purpose, and included a line something to the effect of Ramia being "satisfied with the release of the Statement of Purpose to this newspaper earlier this week". (That's not a direct quote - I forget the exact wording.)

I wrote a comment that that sentence spoke volumes about the Trust being way out of its jurisdiction as well as out of its depth. My comment was not published, and that sentence was removed from the article (along with other changes.)

OK, now my comment has been published, but it is quoting a sentence that has been removed from the article

It must have hinted at what the settlement involved, which apparently they aren't supposed to be talking about.

Anyway, it clearly hasn't made everyone happy. Some commenters actually seem to be disappointed with this development.

[Keith P.]

Meanwhile the absolutely out-of-his-mind-when-it-comes-to-Nova-Center Tim Bousquet in a comment on the suits being dropped described the HT this morning as being made up mostly of "pensioners on a fixed income" and implied that the deep pockets of the big bad developers forced these poor impoverished pensioners to give this up.

Well, Tim, maybe they are pensioners on a fixed income and maybe they ought to not oppose every new development proposal for the downtown if that's the case. Or alternatively, maybe you are putting some very strained spin on this frivolous action.

[halifaxboyns]

Originally Posted by portapetey

OK, now my comment has been published, but it is quoting a sentence that has been removed from the article

It must have hinted at what the settlement involved, which apparently they aren't supposed to be talking about.

Anyway, it clearly hasn't made everyone happy. Some commenters actually seem to be disappointed with this development.

Well people aren't happy in NS unless they can complain about something! People are still unwilling to accept that in some circumstances; economic development requires various levels of government to contribute. The main thing is that one of the two law suits is gone - now hopefully the other one will go away.

Originally Posted by Colin May

The Thiel challenge remains in effect and HT steps aside to let the big boys have at it ?

I really don't know what they expect to achieve by their law suit? Regardless of the selection process; government made a decision. Plus it was made a site of provincial interest; through Provincial powers...thus exempting it from Municipal Planning Approval to get underway. In all my years as a planner; I've never seen (in any Province where such powers are used) that power and a decision overturned by a court.

[halifaxboyns]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Meanwhile the absolutely out-of-his-mind-when-it-comes-to-Nova-Center Tim Bousquet in a comment on the suits being dropped described the HT this morning as being made up mostly of "pensioners on a fixed income" and implied that the deep pockets of the big bad developers forced these poor impoverished pensioners to give this up.

Well, Tim, maybe they are pensioners on a fixed income and maybe they ought to not oppose every new development proposal for the downtown if that's the case. Or alternatively, maybe you are putting some very strained spin on this frivolous action.

Is he still writing for the coast? Can you provide a link - I need a good laugh for today.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

Is he still writing for the coast? Can you provide a link - I need a good laugh for today.

No he is no longer with the Coast, having either quit or been let go, and he is now trying his luck with a subscription news service, the Halifax Examiner. Most stuff is behind a paywall. But he does do a free daily roundup and that's where this was found.

http://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/featured/slapped-silly-morning-file-thursday-august-14-2014/

[halifaxboyns]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

No he is no longer with the Coast, having either quit or been let go, and he is now trying his luck with a subscription news service, the Halifax Examiner. Most stuff is behind a paywall. But he does do a free daily roundup and that's where this was found.

http://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/featured/slapped-silly-morning-file-thursday-august-14-2014/

I should have updated my post to say I found it; but that's okay. Still...for someone who is doing journalism - his bias is showing.

[ns_kid]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

For someone who is doing journalism - his bias is showing.

I've heard Mr. Bousquet speak on the subject and, in fact, he explicitly rejects the notion that good journalism should be objective. In fact he suggests that objectivity in journalism is impossible and, in truth, he may be right. Impartiality is in the eye of the beholder which, I suppose makes objectivity quite subjective.

Say what you will about Tim, you cannot accuse him of any false objectivity. But he must feel a bit lonely as the Nova Centre naysayers seem to be deserting him.

[Nilan8888]

Just because 100% objectivity may be impossible doesn't mean it's not a goal to strive for.

[halifaxboyns]

Originally Posted by ns_kid

Say what you will about Tim, you cannot accuse him of any false objectivity. But he must feel a bit lonely as the Nova Centre naysayers seem to be deserting him.

I think that's the most telling comment that you made about the whole situation and it's the most telling for the heritage trust folk. Whatever they do; they keep burning bridges with various people and eventually - it's going to come back and cause problems.

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by ns_kid

I've heard Mr. Bousquet speak on the subject and, in fact, he explicitly rejects the notion that good journalism should be objective. In fact he suggests that objectivity in journalism is impossible and, in truth, he may be right. Impartiality is in the eye of the beholder which, I suppose makes objectivity quite subjective.

Say what you will about Tim, you cannot accuse him of any false objectivity. But he must feel a bit lonely as the Nova Centre naysayers seem to be deserting him.

Bousquet is wrong. I've heard his/this justification before for biased journalism and it's a complete non-sequitor. Just because perfect objectivity is not possible, it does not logically follow that partisan journalism is justified.

That's like saying because being a perfect parent is impossible, we shouldn't bother trying to be a good parent.

Perfection *isn't* possible when it comes to objectivity in journalism; but that doesn't mean they should still strive to be as objective as possible.

[ns_kid]

I don't know that I'd say Bousquet is entirely wrong. I was a working journalist myself for a dozen years or so and always strived for objectivity. But if I am being completely honest I could not say my own values didn't make their way into my stories, however unconsciously. The very stories I chose to cover, the sources I consulted, the way I framed the story would all reflect my worldview to some extent.

There is also a view, which I get, that trying to be agressively objective in a story can lead to perverse results. Examples of this include coverage of the evolution debate in the US or coverage of climate change, where disproporitonate value is attached to arguably fringe views. A similar argument has been made from time to time in this forum: why is the media giving equal time to a few anti-development crackpots? It's this notion that to be objective a story has to give opposing views equal weight.

All that to say, the concept of objectivity is not as black-and-white as it may first appear.

Which doesn't change the original point, that Mr. Bousquet is not, and would not himself claim to be, objective on the matter of development or most other subjects.