Development Rumours

[someone123]

Originally Posted by coolmillion

I think that's the building where Eye Level Gallery was located for a couple of years. Some time last year construction started. There was a sign out front saying "support provided by BMO". I think the owner of the building has a few small properties around the north end. Possibly an expansion to add space for apartments?
The big thing is what is planned for the ground floor. I've been sworn to secrecy so I can't say, but it's supposed to open later this year.

Interesting, thanks. I figured it was this building.

It's great to see all of the little incremental improvements happening in the North End. This is much better than ripping everything out for large condo developments. In a few years I'm hoping Gottingen will be even more eclectic than it is now, but also much busier.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by someone123

Interesting, thanks. I figured it was this building.

It's great to see all of the little incremental improvements happening in the North End. This is much better than ripping everything out for large condo developments. In a few years I'm hoping Gottingen will be even more eclectic than it is now, but also much busier.

There were a few evenings this summer, especially when the hipster brigade was doing something at Squiggle Park, when the streets were really full of people, the recently-opened shops, bars and restaurants were doing brisk business, and all this lasted well into the evening. It felt like a real neighbourhood main street, fundamentally different and more...used, than I've experienced it in the past. It's certainly not like that all or even much of the time, but it happened a few times.

I hope/suspect this is a harbinger of things to come, and will become more and more the case in future. Gottingen has much further to go to revitalize than Barrington. Its buildings aren't just in need of renovation; in many places they don't exist. The street is full of gaps and the area needs a population influx. But the trend is in the right direction and results on the ground are starting to become noticeable.

And yeah, this building at 2157 is pretty snazzy in person.

[Jonovision]

Originally Posted by someone123

It is a little hard to see, but does anybody know what the plans are for the building under construction in the background of this photo (it looks like 1-2 wooden upper storeys being built in behind the bus)? I think it might be 2157/2159 Gottingen:


Source

I heard this was being done by the same people that did the renovation and addition a few doors down. So we should expect something interesting and of good quality.

[coolmillion]

Originally Posted by haligonia

I'm excited to see what will be on the ground floor! Can you say if it'll be retail?

All I can say is that it will be food-related and amazing. I'm pretty sure that it will be announced fairly soon.

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by IanWatson

Except just yesterday Tim Bousquet reported that Halifax has released the RFP to have the park redeveloped.

This is nice, but are you saying that an RFP, or even a development agreement in place, guarantees that actually something gets done?

Let me know when the Keith Brewery gets around to doing anything with The Alexander. Or something happens with TexPark...

[someone123]

A mysterious source has reported that we might head news about Jono's development on the empty lot at Cogswell and Brunswick. This project is partly driven by plans to tear down the Cogswell interchange.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by someone123

A mysterious source has reported that we might head news about Jono's development on the empty lot at Cogswell and Brunswick. This project is partly driven by plans to tear down the Cogswell interchange.

You mean the Trinity site? Its 22 stories AOR?

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

You mean the Trinity site? Its 22 stories AOR?

Yes this is the one but it depends on the Cogswell Interchange demolition proceeding. The source is the MacDonald Report - http://www.themacdonaldreport.com/# , however a subscription is required in order to read the story dated weekend, February 28, 2015.

[hokus83]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

Yes this is the one but it depends on the Cogswell Interchange demolition proceeding. The source is the MacDonald Report - http://www.themacdonaldreport.com/# , however a subscription is required in order to read the story dated weekend, February 28, 2015.

Why does this have anything to do with the Cogswell Interchange demolition. We're talking about the empty lot behind staples on Brunswick St

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by hokus83

Why does this have anything to do with the Cogswell Interchange demolition. We're talking about the empty lot behind staples on Brunswick St

You would have to ask the developer that.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Weird, because as hokus indicates... its not really in direct proximity to the interchange itself?

Are there any renderings? I feel like a residential tower on this lot will effectively connect the north end and downtown.

Then, all we need is a grocery store in the area!

[fenwick16]

I was just looking through the Trinity site thread (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=145447&page=4) and noticed a post by someone123 on March 9, 2010 that stated "Canpark now has a five-year contract to operate a parking lot on this site". So it appears as though that five year contract will expired soon. It will be interesting to see if the parking contract is renewed and for how long.

This is the Trinity site on Google Maps (it looks like the church is still there?) - https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Halifax...!1s0x4b5a211407dbfac1:0x666be3a6438b2ddc.

[hokus83]

Church? There is no church on that site

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

I was just looking through the Trinity site thread (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=145447&page=4) and noticed a post by someone123 on March 9, 2010 that stated "Canpark now has a five-year contract to operate a parking lot on this site". So it appears as though that five year contract will expired soon. It will be interesting to see if the parking contract is renewed and for how long.

This is the Trinity site on Google Maps (it looks like the church is still there?) - https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Halifax...!1s0x4b5a211407dbfac1:0x666be3a6438b2ddc.

The church was torn down years ago for the parking lot. Don't trust the aerial views.

Streetview shows what it looks like. If you turn around in street view, you see the new development at the old Citadel Hotel site.
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Brunswi...!1s0x4b5a23d386e9b567:0x97d1d2c026d0ef45

[worldlyhaligonian]

Even though there is no church in that aerial view either...

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

Even though there is no church in that aerial view either...

What I saw in Street View was the roof of a commercial building in behind the former Trinity Church site. It was at 5426 Portland Place and was also adjacent to Staples in behind the Trinity site. The site in behind the Trinity site burned down in September, 2014 - http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/portland-place-fire-deemed-suspicious-1.2771600 .

I wasn't sure how much of the land Juno Developments owned and whether the property at 5426 Portland PL was also part of the Trinity Church site (I now know that it was just an adjacent commercial building). In any case, there is now a much larger vacant area between Cogswell Street and Portland Place that could be developed.

[Dmajackson]

Apparently there is a proposal for a 10-storey residential building at the former Petro Canada site at 3664 Joseph Howe Drive. I have no more details at this time.

[Waye Mason]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

As I recall, it was Mason's underhanded attempt at renaming it to some aboriginal title and losing the Cornwallis name.

Once again KP spreading falsehoods for whatever reason. My meeting about renewing the playground and doing the resign got hijacked by activists around the name and statue.

Originally Posted by IanWatson

Except just yesterday Tim Bousquet reported that Halifax has released the RFP to have the park redeveloped.

This is happening. Work starts on the south end of the park (playground, performance area) in the spring, then the rest happens the next 2 years.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Waye Mason

Once again KP spreading falsehoods for whatever reason. My meeting about renewing the playground and doing the resign got hijacked by activists around the name and statue.

Hmm. Perhaps this will refresh your memory:

http://wayemason.ca/2014/05/28/statement-on-cornwallis-park-and-cornwallis-statue/

Kwe’ my friends. I am Councillor Waye Mason.

I wish to begin by acknowledging that Halifax Regional Municipality is on Eskikewa’kik territory in Mi’kma’ki. The municipality and all the people here are beneficiaries of the peace and friendship treaties with the Mi’kmaq. I extend to the Mi’kmaw people my respect and desire to build stronger relationships in the spirit and intent of these treaties.

The discussion leading up to today’s public open house about rejuvenating Cornwallis Park shows that park name and the statue of Edward Cornwallis continues to be an important issue that needs to be acknowledged, discussed and acted on.

To put it in planning speak “What do we do as a society with commemorative landscapes that are unrepresentative of present values?” Possible responses could include renaming the park, keeping the statue with appropriate new context, adding new artwork to the park to tell a contemporary story of our view of history, or removing the statue and replacing it with something that does the same.

This is not simply a matter of renaming the park and removing the statue. We as a community may not be best served by erasing all mention of Cornwallis from the park.

As one person wrote on Facebook “Rather than removing [the statue], let’s invite proposals for a contemporary response and historical corrective to the established narrative. Removing it is a one-time act that does not continue to teach people. A permanent response would continue to generate awareness over time.”

All of these options need to be carefully considered and discussed.

As Councillor I commit to meeting with representatives of the Mi’kmaq community, the Acadian community, other concerned groups and concerned citizens to help determine possible courses of action that in turn will lead to a wide-ranging public discussion and ultimately action. These will not be easy discussions, but hard talk about tough issues cannot fail to make our community a stronger, better place.

Let’s talk about tonight. Our open house will include a brief opportunity for participants to identify what brought them here, and to allow these concerns to be recognized and recorded.

I am confident that people will be respectful of the other issues that are bringing us together tonight and will participate in the full discussion about all the plans and opportunities this public space represents.

wela’lioq (wel-all-ee-oh) and thank you all for coming out today to help make our community a better place.

Don't know how I could have misread that to think there was no agenda involved.

[spaustin]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Hmm. Perhaps this will refresh your memory:

http://wayemason.ca/2014/05/28/statement-on-cornwallis-park-and-cornwallis-statue/





Don't know how I could have misread that to think there was no agenda involved.

It seems like a thoughtful response to a very controversial issue. Mason suggests several possibilities in his post for how we could go forward. If I were to read anything into his words, they seem, to me, favour updating some of the interpretation, not renaming the park and tearing down the statue. Personally, I think that would be the best response. Have you read the plaques there lately? They say nothing about the uglier parts of the time period. Something a bit more comprehensive would go a long way.

The city really should have a historical interpretation program (interpretative panels don't even cost all that much). WDCL seems to get it right on the waterfront, but they are the exception. We have colourful stories, but we don't do a great job of sharing them. I was really impressed last year when I visited Savannah, Georgia. Now that's a city that knows how to tell its story. Hard to walk down any street without coming across a well-researched and colourful panel. It really brought the place to life.