General Updates and News - Page 321

JET · #**6401** Posted **Jan 20, 2015, 2:23 PM**

micro lofts for in-fill

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/12...he-new-big-with-halifax-micro-loft-trend

counterfactual · #**6402** Posted **Jan 30, 2015, 5:16 AM**

Seems like the rumor really was true:

http://halifax.retales.ca/?p=2418

Quote:

Now that Urban Outfitters has confirmed that they are opening at 1652 Barrington St. in May via job listings at URBN.com.
I ask the question, Is Urban Outfitters on Barrington a Good Idea?

There are detractors that are going to say we don’t need big american chains, I’d like to agree but I can’t. A large chain like UO in our downtown will only spur on others to come in. Like any shopping centre a downtown needs anchors and UO will make a great anchor for downtown. The university/high school crowd right now who are more likely to hop on a bus and head to the mall will now start coming downtown to shop and discover other great little businesses I can only imagine this will be a great thing for a shop like Biscuit.

Really, really, great score for Starfish. Looks like they're taking Barrington seriously. Malls like HSC and MicMac and Dartmouth Crossing would've loved to land UO. So this is a big win for Barrington/downtown.

hokus83 · #**6403** Posted **Jan 30, 2015, 6:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by counterfactual

Seems like the rumor really was true:

http://halifax.retales.ca/?p=2418

Really, really, great score for Starfish. Looks like they're taking Barrington seriously. Malls like HSC and MicMac and Dartmouth Crossing would've loved to land UO. So this is a big win for Barrington/downtown.

Downtown was at its best when it had big retail stores like Eatons on Price and Barrington, ect... The debate if big corporate stores are good for small businesses downtown is idiotic.

coolmillion · #**6404** Posted **Jan 30, 2015, 11:57 PM**

I don't think there was ever much of a chance of UO going to a suburban mall. They only have a couple of mall locations in Canada (I think Edmonton, Calgary and maybe one other) and their brand is, of course, very urban.
I just think it's strange that the rumours started so long ago and they're only now getting ready to open. What was the hold up? They were obviously looking at the space over a year ago.

It's such an interesting moment for downtown and it's kind of bittersweet. I've talked to independent store owners on Barrington who have really been struggling through all the construction. Quite a few stores have closed - some no longer viable, most locally owned. It's great that big chains are starting to come back and hopefully others won't be priced out, but it's been such a long time coming and the Roy site and others are going to be a mess for a while yet.

counterfactual · #**6405** Posted **Jan 31, 2015, 12:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolmillion

I don't think there was ever much of a chance of UO going to a suburban mall. They only have a couple of mall locations in Canada (I think Edmonton, Calgary and maybe one other) and their brand is, of course, very urban.
I just think it's strange that the rumours started so long ago and they're only now getting ready to open. What was the hold up? They were obviously looking at the space over a year ago.

It's such an interesting moment for downtown and it's kind of bittersweet. I've talked to independent store owners on Barrington who have really been struggling through all the construction. Quite a few stores have closed - some no longer viable, most locally owned. It's great that big chains are starting to come back and hopefully others won't be priced out, but it's been such a long time coming and the Roy site and others are going to be a mess for a while yet.

Suspect it's about the timing of construction on Barrington. If Reznick willing to hold you a space, I'd hold off too, and aim to get started so you can build up capacity and be ready for when The Roy and The Maple are coming online.

someone123 · #**6406** Posted **Jan 31, 2015, 12:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolmillion

It's such an interesting moment for downtown and it's kind of bittersweet. I've talked to independent store owners on Barrington who have really been struggling through all the construction. Quite a few stores have closed - some no longer viable, most locally owned. It's great that big chains are starting to come back and hopefully others won't be priced out, but it's been such a long time coming and the Roy site and others are going to be a mess for a while yet.

It's hard because there's so much new stuff happening but the actual improvements in the mix of stores, local population, foot traffic, general appearance of the street, etc. doesn't happen until the construction is done. The construction itself is worse than nothing happening for small retailers that don't have the money to ride it out and see the eventual payoff, or for retailers that won't be viable if and when the local market changes or rents go up.

I think the Barrington Street full of quirky independent stores is more a result of the sketchy economic underpinnings of the area during the 1980-2010 period than something for the city to aim for. Nobody gets upset that Fifth Ave in NYC or Union Square aren't full of little locally-owned boutique shops; other places offer that. There are other areas like Agricola Street that could serve the same purpose, and Halifax would be way better off having urban chains plus independents rather than just the independents.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hokus83

Downtown was at its best when it had big retail stores like Eatons on Price and Barrington, ect... The debate if big corporate stores are good for small businesses downtown is idiotic.

I think there's a bit of knee-jerk anti-capitalism sentiment in Halifax sometimes. People don't necessarily think that business or retail options downtown would be worse if there were big chains, they just don't like what the big chains stand for. I guess that's fine, but it's a personal ideology, not an economic strategy for the city. If those people don't like the chains they don't have to spend their money at those places.

someone123 · #**6407** Posted **Feb 1, 2015, 5:41 AM**

Small change but it's nice to see something other than just grey here:

From https://twitter.com/haligoniaphotos/

Jonovision · #**6408** Posted **Feb 1, 2015, 4:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

Small change but it's nice to see something other than just grey here:

From https://twitter.com/haligoniaphotos/

Thanks for posting my pic. I forgot about this one.

Dmajackson · #**6409** Posted **Feb 2, 2015, 9:00 AM**

The former Farmer Clem's site on the Bedford Highway is getting a major revamp;

Halifax Developments Blog (Photo by David Jackson)

ILoveHalifax · #**6410** Posted **Feb 2, 2015, 1:07 PM**

What a waste of a great piece of land. I would much prefer a smaller foot print but much taller. Taller and slimmer would block less views.

enjoy*responsibly · #**6411** Posted **Feb 2, 2015, 3:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILoveHalifax

What a waste of a great piece of land. I would much prefer a smaller foot print but much taller. Taller and slimmer would block less views.

Really going to complain about this?

Hali87 · #**6412** Posted **Feb 2, 2015, 7:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILoveHalifax

What a waste of a great piece of land. I would much prefer a smaller foot print but much taller. Taller and slimmer would block less views.

Consider the purpose though. A tall, narrow farmer's market doesn't make much sense, logistically.

OldDartmouthMark · #**6413** Posted **Feb 2, 2015, 9:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hali87

Consider the purpose though. A tall, narrow farmer's market doesn't make much sense, logistically.

LOL!

Tomatoes... they are on the 26th floor. Now if you're looking for apples they are on the 23rd. Butcher shops on the 12th.

Be careful of the Killer Stairs™ though...

ILoveHalifax · #**6414** Posted **Feb 2, 2015, 11:52 PM**

From the picture I see 7 units along the front 5 for market and 2 for office.
I would be in favor of a building 5 units long and 1 story tall with about 8 stories of office space 2 units per floor above.
Results same amount of space and the Bedford Hwy would be much more visible.
No need for tomatoes on floor 23, LOL

enjoy*responsibly · #**6415** Posted **Feb 3, 2015, 12:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILoveHalifax

From the picture I see 7 units along the front 5 for market and 2 for office.
I would be in favor of a building 5 units long and 1 story tall with about 8 stories of office space 2 units per floor above.
Results same amount of space and the Bedford Hwy would be much more visible.
No need for tomatoes on floor 23, LOL

That is a very specific vision to have.. And because it doesn't match that you are not in favour of it.

I'm not a huge fan of it, but as we are not the owners/developers that is simply not our choice and as such we should have little say in the issue. I understand it was just commenting on a message board about buildings and design and stuff, but that general attitude is not productive at all.

ILoveHalifax · #**6416** Posted **Feb 3, 2015, 1:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by enjoy*responsibly

That is a very specific vision to have.. And because it doesn't match that you are not in favour of it.

I'm not a huge fan of it, but as we are not the owners/developers that is simply not our choice and as such we should have little say in the issue. I understand it was just commenting on a message board about buildings and design and stuff, but that general attitude is not productive at all.

And now we have another non productive comment. If you followed the thread you would see that I was responding to some comments about tomatoes on floor 26.

I do think that the Bedford Highway is one of the prettiest roads into any city. I also would prefer to see some controls on development. Seems to me if the trend to low rise boxy strip building the road will soon look like any other road in any other city.

I am also aware that I do not own the property and have no say into what is done with it, however this forum is mainly about people commenting on developments for property they have no say in as well.

worldlyhaligonian · #**6417** Posted **Feb 4, 2015, 2:34 AM**

Colin will no doubt comment that the farmers market-market is saturated and these will be hollow shells with no tenants (the developers have sold the units to themselves... Halifax has more empty buildings than China)

j/k

counterfactual · #**6418** Posted **Feb 5, 2015, 12:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

Colin will no doubt comment that the farmers market-market is saturated and these will be hollow shells with no tenants (the developers have sold the units to themselves... Halifax has more empty buildings than China)

j/k

In fact, its just a bunch of farmers renting their produce to other farmers, as they expand the market.

Empire · #**6419** Posted **Feb 7, 2015, 5:59 PM**

I wish we had more of an appreciation in Halifax for buildings like the Dennis Building. Winnipeg is very proud of their Exchange District and is something worthy of preservation. We should take note.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/morrismulvey/11617369196/

counterfactual · #**6420** Posted **Feb 7, 2015, 7:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Empire

I wish we had more of an appreciation in Halifax for buildings like the Dennis Building. Winnipeg is very proud of their Exchange District and is something worthy of preservation. We should take note.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/morrismulvey/11617369196/

Although in fairness to Halifax, Winnipeg's downtown blows.

Though yes, they've been doing much better at investing in the downtown lately. They've figured it out.