General Updates and News

[HalifaxRetales]

It's great piece of property, even as it it could make a cool retail/hospitality conversion

[kph06]

Originally Posted by coolmillion

So funny... I was at a coffee shop last week and there were 3 developers (I think) meeting at the table next to me. I was working away on my laptop but I couldn't help but overhead snippets of their conversation and I think they may have discussed the Raceway property. Could also be a case of broken telephone...

I am pretty sure the owner of Raceway and the building razed by the fire are the same. Big block of land.

[JET]

Originally Posted by kph06

I am pretty sure the owner of Raceway and the building razed by the fire are the same. Big block of land.

too bad the Marquee/Seahorse is there.

[JET]

does anyone know what's up with 2157 Gottingen. Looks like they are gutting the inside and increasing the height on the second floor by a little.

[ns_kid]

Originally Posted by someone123

Wow, what a difference between the original building and the present version. I've always kind of liked the Pacific Building but it used to be great. I wonder if the columns are still there and what the changes are that the cornice might be restored?

AllNovaScotia reports today that owner Dongdu International is working to restore the white terracotta tiles on the upper floors of the Pacific Building. This is good news. If you've examined the building recently you'll know that many of the tiles are cracked and chipped. However there's no direct reference to the horrid plywood cladding on the ground floor, covering what was once an impressive columned facade. The company did repaint the rear of the building (on Granville Street) this summer, replacing the flaking ugly grey with a pleasing cream colour.

Without knowing the shape of what's under the plywood it's hard to offer much of an opinion. But surely the owner can do better than to maintain that sad facade.

Project manager Bill Hunt is quoted as saying that, with all the work on Barrington these days, Dongdu wants to make sure the century-old Pacific Building stands out.

[JET]

"Dongdu wants to make sure the century-old Pacific Building stands out. " It does do that, but not in a good way. A good ground floor facade will draw the eyes up to the higher floors. I just want to pass by this building, not at all inviting.

[ns_kid]

Originally Posted by HalifaxRetales

Anyone know what's up at 2019 Gottingen (was Raceway Auto)
they moved out about 6 weeks ago and this week a dumpster showed up and they are gutting it

According to a piece in today's AllNovaScotia, 2019 Gottingen has been leased by Montreal's de la Plante family who plan to open a climbing gym modelled on their original Allez Up gym in Montreal.

Their website describes Allez Up as an "elite rock climbing gym in the heart of Montreal for passionate climbers as well as for those who are just starting out."

While putting a climbing gym in a Gottingen Street garage may seem like an unconventional approach, the Montreal facility, which has been in business 18 years, is in an old sugar silo and features a 125 foot outdoor climbing wall. The Halifax climbing wall won't be as tall, under 20 feet, so harnesses won't be needed.

The ANS piece quotes GM Genevieve de la Plant as saying Halifax is "an amazing and vibrant city" with "a culture of climbing".

Ed and Ezra Edelstein have been hired to manage the renovation and the gym is expected to open by early spring 2015.

This is certainly an interesting addition to that neighbourhood.

[ns_kid]

AllNovaScotia is reporting today that Bell Aliant is prepared to announce as early as Thursday that it will vacate the Maritime Centre. ANS reporter Janet Whitman says the company's head office will relocate to the former Blackberry Building in Bedford, a coup for Armour Group.

The article notes that Bell occupies other downtown space, including at Scotia Square, but doesn't speculate on the future of those leases.

Needless to say, another loss of hundreds of jobs from the core will do nothing to advance the effort to revitalize downtown. It also does no favours for Maritime Centre owner Fortis, which reportedly had been looking for a buyer for the complex.

Of course the telecom company, originally Maritime Tel & Tel, was the original major tenant at Maritime Centre.

[Hali87]

Originally Posted by ns_kid

According to a piece in today's AllNovaScotia, 2019 Gottingen has been leased by Montreal's de la Plante family who plan to open a climbing gym modelled on their original Allez Up gym in Montreal.

Their website describes Allez Up as an "elite rock climbing gym in the heart of Montreal for passionate climbers as well as for those who are just starting out."

While putting a climbing gym in a Gottingen Street garage may seem like an unconventional approach, the Montreal facility, which has been in business 18 years, is in an old sugar silo and features a 125 foot outdoor climbing wall. The Halifax climbing wall won't be as tall, under 20 feet, so harnesses won't be needed.

The ANS piece quotes GM Genevieve de la Plant as saying Halifax is "an amazing and vibrant city" with "a culture of climbing".

Ed and Ezra Edelstein have been hired to manage the renovation and the gym is expected to open by early spring 2015.

This is certainly an interesting addition to that neighbourhood.

I heard about this the other day and I'm excited for it. A few of my friends have been to Allez Up in Mtl and I've heard it's great (too bad something similar couldn't be done with the grain elevator here, but I guess it's still operational). Currently the only bouldering (harness-free climbing) gym in Halifax is at Dalplex, and it's not really available to non-students/non-members. There's another climbing gym out in Burnside, but well, it's out in Burnside.

[hokus83]

I'd rather see this site developed than a 20 foot rock wall to climb

[Hali87]

Originally Posted by hokus83

I'd rather see this site developed than a 20 foot rock wall to climb

Then I guess we'll have to agree to disagree!

[JET]

Originally Posted by Hali87

Then I guess we'll have to agree to disagree!

Hopefully they will have a facade that doesn't look like a garage.

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by ns_kid

AllNovaScotia is reporting today that Bell Aliant is prepared to announce as early as Thursday that it will vacate the Maritime Centre. ANS reporter Janet Whitman says the company's head office will relocate to the former Blackberry Building in Bedford, a coup for Armour Group.

The article notes that Bell occupies other downtown space, including at Scotia Square, but doesn't speculate on the future of those leases.

Needless to say, another loss of hundreds of jobs from the core will do nothing to advance the effort to revitalize downtown. It also does no favours for Maritime Centre owner Fortis, which reportedly had been looking for a buyer for the complex.

Of course the telecom company, originally Maritime Tel & Tel, was the original major tenant at Maritime Centre.

Depressing. And screw Armour Group, sucking more jobs from downtown. They've lured CRA from downtown, and now Bell.

Seriously, time to restrict any further office development in the suburbs and business parks. Re-zone all the land surrounding existing structures as land bank "green belting" (HRM staff's lame Orwellian name for a greenbelt).

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

[JET]

A public open house will be held on Monday December 1, 2014 6 pm in the Alderney Landing Market, located at 2 Ochterloney Street in Dartmouth, to discuss the ongoing process that will lead to changes to the Downtown Dartmouth Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS). The purpose of the open house is for planning staff to provide an overview of work that has taken place since a public meeting held on January 20, 2014, and to obtain community feedback....
http://www.halifax.ca/planning/applications/Case18783Details.php

[JET]

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/travel/featured...ings-that-were-never-finished/ar-BBfXK0A

The 10 Tallest Buildings That Were Never Finished

[coolmillion]

Originally Posted by JET

Hopefully they will have a facade that doesn't look like a garage.

It looks like they're already working on changing it. Construction has started.

[HalifaxRetales]

Originally Posted by coolmillion

It looks like they're already working on changing it. Construction has started.

Yes, framing went up in front a couple of the bay door yesterday

[bluenoser]

Originally Posted by counterfactual

Seriously, time to restrict any further office development in the suburbs and business parks.

Armour Group unveils $200M-plan to redevelop former BlackBerry property in Bedford

...Halifax-based Armour said construction of a second building at the campus is getting away now. The seven-storey structure, which will have 120,000 square feet, is slated to be finished by the end of 2015.

The developer said EON Square will eventually have six or seven new office buildings at the site, as well as a hotel, restaurant and retail space. The project will be the largest campus of its kind east of Toronto, Armour said.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/12...op-former-blackberry-property-in-bedford

I don't know if this should go in 'Parks of West Bedford' or a new thread or what. I do remember this more or less being the plan for the area right from when the Blackberry building went in.

[Dmajackson]

Please direct all future discussion on EON Square to its dedicated thread;

[Bedford] EON Square | U/C

[hokus83]

Gross, I would hate to work in this environment. I have a masters degree in Information Technology with many certifications and there is no way in hell I would chose to work in this location. I know many of my colleagues feel the same way. I would rather clean dishes downtown for a living than work in a place like "Eon Squar"