General Updates and News

[Dmajackson]

^Not quite. Benjamin Weir is not owned by the brewery so it is not included in their redevelopment plans. There will be a small alley separating this building from the Alexander.


Source: Urban_Halifax on flickr.com (originally from 2008 Development Agreement)

[hokus83]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

^Not quite. Benjamin Weir is not owned by the brewery so it is not included in their redevelopment plans. There will be a small alley separating this building from the Alexander.


Source: Urban_Halifax on flickr.com (originally from 2008 Development Agreement)

Oh its a lot different than I thought it would be, a lot smaller land area. Whats the Phase III CIVIC 1451 part and the Phase II small building I can't make out the name of. Are those part of the same development plans as the Alexander? smaller building proposals?

[someone123]

Here's a new article about the Dennis Building: http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1237690-government-looking-for-dennis-building-partner

I really hope the facade remains in its current location and is well-incorporated into whatever development happens there. It seems unlikely that anything good could come from redeveloping the whole site with a new building and tossing the facade into a warehouse. They might exist, but I don't think I've ever personally seen good examples of partly-reused heritage facades and building elements that were moved to a new location. Usually the relocated stone wall or cupola in a park somewhere just being useless and strange.

The good news is that it sounds like they are still considering a larger overhaul of the area. It would be great to move the parking underground, clean up the northern Province House grounds, fill in that parking lot, and add some improvements to the nearby streets and sidewalks.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by someone123

Here's a new article about the Dennis Building: http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1237690-government-looking-for-dennis-building-partner

I really hope the facade remains in its current location and is well-incorporated into whatever development happens there. It seems unlikely that anything good could come from redeveloping the whole site with a new building and tossing the facade into a warehouse. They might exist, but I don't think I've ever personally seen good examples of partly-reused heritage facades and building elements that were moved to a new location. Usually the relocated stone wall or cupola in a park somewhere just being useless and strange.

The good news is that it sounds like they are still considering a larger overhaul of the area. It would be great to move the parking underground, clean up the northern Province House grounds, fill in that parking lot, and add some improvements to the nearby streets and sidewalks.

I hope that basically this happens, only I hope it happens right away, not three decades later, as in this example.

[hokus83]

Originally Posted by someone123

Here's a new article about the Dennis Building: http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1237690-government-looking-for-dennis-building-partner

I really hope the facade remains in its current location and is well-incorporated into whatever development happens there. It seems unlikely that anything good could come from redeveloping the whole site with a new building and tossing the facade into a warehouse. They might exist, but I don't think I've ever personally seen good examples of partly-reused heritage facades and building elements that were moved to a new location. Usually the relocated stone wall or cupola in a park somewhere just being useless and strange.

The good news is that it sounds like they are still considering a larger overhaul of the area. It would be great to move the parking underground, clean up the northern Province House grounds, fill in that parking lot, and add some improvements to the nearby streets and sidewalks.

I just hope they put some good looking retail space along the barrington st side

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by hokus83

I just hope they put some good looking retail space along the barrington st side

If it's a govt building, not gonna happen.

[hokus83]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

If it's a govt building, not gonna happen.

They are talking about doing it for the J.W. Johnston Building on the barrington st side, its a govt building. Pretty sure its something thats being talked about coming down the pipe soon

[Ziobrop]

Originally Posted by hokus83

They are talking about doing it for the J.W. Johnston Building on the barrington st side, its a govt building. Pretty sure its something thats being talked about coming down the pipe soon

Nope not likely. Since Dennis closed the big boardroom along barrington has been repurposed for legislative committee use. There will be public access from barrington but only for that committee room.

[hokus83]

Originally Posted by Ziobrop

Nope not likely. Since Dennis closed the big boardroom along barrington has been repurposed for legislative committee use. There will be public access from barrington but only for that committee room.

I could quote Wayne Mason a number of times in regards to this, hes made a number of posts saying its something being discussed for this building. I've seen tweets from Labi Kousoulis saying he strongly supports the idea of J.W. Johnston Building on the barrington being retail and something that needs to happen.

[hokus83]

Originally Posted by Waye Mason

Oh so many things to say!

4 - Labi has said Prov will build something that conforms with HRM by D and have some storefronts or storefront like space (which he and I also both want to see restored to the Johnson building at Prince/Barrington)
.

This is back from May.

[Ziobrop]

Originally Posted by hokus83

I could quote Wayne Mason a number of times in regards to this, hes made a number of posts saying its something being discussed for this building. I've seen tweets from Labi Kousoulis saying he strongly supports the idea of J.W. Johnston Building on the barrington being retail and something that needs to happen.

I heard that too- but that was before the space was re-purposed as a committee room. Given the fit up that was done I doubt it it will happen now.

[hokus83]

Originally Posted by Ziobrop

I heard that too- but that was before the space was re-purposed as a committee room. Given the fit up that was done I doubt it it will happen now.

Originally Posted by Waye Mason

Oh so many things to say!

4 - Labi has said Prov will build something that conforms with HRM by D and have some storefronts or storefront like space (which he and I also both want to see restored to the Johnson building at Prince/Barrington)
.

From May. Ive seen the same discussions throughout July. Its not hard to move a committee room.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

If it's a govt building, not gonna happen.

The complaints about the Dennis Building make me wonder if it would be better to try to find an alternate use for it. Maybe it wouldn't be suitable for government offices, but maybe it would be a great incubator type space for startups willing to deal with a quirkier building (as they do in many other cities). The province could build offices around the rest of the site.

[Colin May]

Originally Posted by Ziobrop

I heard that too- but that was before the space was re-purposed as a committee room. Given the fit up that was done I doubt it it will happen now.

I have the impression it is a temporary committee room. I was at a meeting in the room late June and again in late August and it is quite utilitarian.
Security is tighter than the White House. Outside door is locked and you have to wait until one of several security commissionaires opens the door to ask your business. Then sign in with picture ID, date and time and take the tag. Keep your shoes on and no magic terrorist detector wand. Coffee is free. No agenda available until just before the meeting starts.
Both visits were a waste of my time, apart from learning that the members are given ZERO information about the individuals they are appointing to various ABCs.

Dale Godsoe is now the Chair of the WDC as of August 27 2014.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by someone123

The complaints about the Dennis Building make me wonder if it would be better to try to find an alternate use for it. Maybe it wouldn't be suitable for government offices, but maybe it would be a great incubator type space for startups willing to deal with a quirkier building (as they do in many other cities). The province could build offices around the rest of the site.

There are so many options for the building, and much evidence that it is fixable, but the gov is totally committed to demolishing it. That was really apparent on meeting with the minister,

Maybe it's that they really believe it's the only way, but the vagueness around the plans and announcements so far makes me think there's some other driver at play. I believe they're genuine about the intent to reuse the facade (and I'd be okay with it if they just wrap the original facade around a modern frame, making it basically a rebuild of the original--after all, that's kinda what happened in 1912 after the fire gutted the building then). But they haven't even committed to that level of detail. Just vague talk about "incorporating" the facade, eventually, maybe/probably...

[Keith P.]

Even if it was fixable (and I don't believe it is) you are left with a very poorly-designed building for today's needs. It is simply not a functional building even if the mold, asbestos, etc is removed, new interior finishes were provided, and the water leakage is fixed.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by someone123

The complaints about the Dennis Building make me wonder if it would be better to try to find an alternate use for it. Maybe it wouldn't be suitable for government offices, but maybe it would be a great incubator type space for startups willing to deal with a quirkier building (as they do in many other cities). The province could build offices around the rest of the site.

This is the best option in my mind, but there doesn't appear to be enough ability to think in the provincial government around here to even imagine that there may be possibilities as such.

They are concerned, however with preserving the view of the town clock from the waterfront...

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

There are so many options for the building, and much evidence that it is fixable, but the gov is totally committed to demolishing it. That was really apparent on meeting with the minister,

Maybe it's that they really believe it's the only way, but the vagueness around the plans and announcements so far makes me think there's some other driver at play. I believe they're genuine about the intent to reuse the facade (and I'd be okay with it if they just wrap the original facade around a modern frame, making it basically a rebuild of the original--after all, that's kinda what happened in 1912 after the fire gutted the building then). But they haven't even committed to that level of detail. Just vague talk about "incorporating" the facade, eventually, maybe/probably...

Really disappointing. Sounds like there is a hidden agenda in place, and that they really have no respect for our built heritage.

Too bad. Small-minded thinking like this really makes me kind of embarrassed to be from here at times. I'm sure that people from other parts of the world think we're a bunch of idiots for slowly decimating our historic buildings because it "costs too much" to preserve them. We as a whole don't seem to realize the cultural and historical costs of demolishing them.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Really disappointing. Sounds like there is a hidden agenda in place, and that they really have no respect for our built heritage.

Too bad. Small-minded thinking like this really makes me kind of embarrassed to be from here at times. I'm sure that people from other parts of the world think we're a bunch of idiots for slowly decimating our historic buildings because it "costs too much" to preserve them. We as a whole don't seem to realize the cultural and historical costs of demolishing them.

Well, the weird thing is, initial estimates are that it'll costs a few million to catalogue and save the facade, plus the cost of demolition. And the minister's comments in the press (and in person, to me) do indicate a genuine recognition of the heritage element, though it remains to be seen how that translates into action.

So it's not like they're going with the most dirt-cheap option—it's frustrating, because while penny pinching might well be at play, I don't think it's the whole story. It could simply be that provincial staff have said "The building is finished" and minister is loathe to express a contrary opinion. I dunno.

As an aside, I guarantee people from other parts of the world think we're dumbasses for destroying our historic fabric. But we're not the worst culture for it. There's been an interesting pro-heritage movement in Japan recently, spearheaded by an urban-planning professor who wrote a paper/screed called "Ugly Japan" against the aggressive modernism and wholesale urban destruction/rebuilding there in the 20th century. A couple of interesting articles.

[JET]

The Heritage Trust, at both the Provincial and National level have offered to have heritage experts assess the building and give recommendations; the province refuses, they've made up their mind, and stubbornly refuse to listen to alternatives. Nice leadership.