General Updates and News - Page 349

Colin May · #**6961** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 4:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by planarchy

Street View

Lowen Group looking for 30 storeys here. 4 level podium and 26 levels of residential. Apparently an informal open house was held with the neighbours last week.

He had illustrations on display a few years ago at the Carmichael lecture held at the CN lobby.

JET · #**6962** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 4:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin May

He had illustrations on display a few years ago at the Carmichael lecture held at the CN lobby.

is that only for 5994, or are other addresses involved?

teddifax · #**6963** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 5:42 PM**

Are there any other details on this one?

Drybrain · #**6964** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 7:39 PM**

I recall seeing something about this previously--I think it basically involves tearing down everything from 5950 and 5954, and the large townhouse structure west of those.

Which would be a bit of a shame, since those are the best old buildings on the block, even if they're a bit rundown. We'd lose the better buildings and retain the uglier buildings further west standing. A bit backwards.

The entire middle of the block is a big parking lot, so it'd be great to see something like the excellent way this developer salvaged a row of run-down historic storefronts on Yonge Street in Toronto, and fit a skyscraper behind them rather than knocking down or simply facading.

Unless, and this just occurred to me, this is a whole other project for the west end of the block?

planarchy · #**6965** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 10:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drybrain

I recall seeing something about this previously--I think it basically involves tearing down everything from 5950 and 5954, and the large townhouse structure west of those.

Which would be a bit of a shame, since those are the best old buildings on the block, even if they're a bit rundown. We'd lose the better buildings and retain the uglier buildings further west standing. A bit backwards.

The entire middle of the block is a big parking lot, so it'd be great to see something like the excellent way this developer salvaged a row of run-down historic storefronts on Yonge Street in Toronto, and fit a skyscraper behind them rather than knocking down or simply facading.

Unless, and this just occurred to me, this is a whole other project for the west end of the block?

It is the entire west end of the block. Just over an acre I think. That would include the multiunit residential in the middle of the block that is in rough shape, the old Tim Horton's, Kara's Day Spa, etc. I don't know if it goes all the way to Subway on Robie or not. No doubt that it will be decent with the Lawen Group behind it. Ekistics is doing the planning. They often use Michael Napier for the architecture, but I hope it is someone else. His latest work is mediocre at best. I think Dexel are starting to do some of their architecture in-house, but 30 storeys is a big building to do without an experienced firm... look forward to seeing this one unveiled.

Colin May · #**6966** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 11:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JET

is that only for 5994, or are other addresses involved?

Can't remember. He owns a number of properties on the block.
If I was a councillor I would keep a close watch on on who was buying up certain properties, and find out the ownership of every slummy looking property used as a rooming house.

counterfactual · #**6967** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 11:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by planarchy

It is the entire west end of the block. Just over an acre I think. That would include the multiunit residential in the middle of the block that is in rough shape, the old Tim Horton's, Kara's Day Spa, etc. I don't know if it goes all the way to Subway on Robie or not. No doubt that it will be decent with the Lawen Group behind it. Ekistics is doing the planning. They often use Michael Napier for the architecture, but I hope it is someone else. His latest work is mediocre at best. I think Dexel are starting to do some of their architecture in-house, but 30 storeys is a big building to do without an experienced firm... look forward to seeing this one unveiled.

Seems to me to be a natural place and intersection for some density development.

And I've always felt those wooden shops looking dreary and run down. I do like Mary's Place and the Istanbul Cafe here; I hope they would stick around.

Drybrain · #**6968** Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 11:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by planarchy

It is the entire west end of the block. Just over an acre I think. That would include the multiunit residential in the middle of the block that is in rough shape, the old Tim Horton's, Kara's Day Spa, etc. I don't know if it goes all the way to Subway on Robie or not.

I do think the multiunit building in the middle has restoration potential, and the rundown apartment building on the corner (Coburg Apartments) has huge restoration potential. It's got almost a mini-San Francisco vibe going on. We have very few Victorian apartment buildings in town, and this has some nice character and texture. Would be foolish to destroy it, IMO.

The rest of the block is pretty much disposable, though for sure—everything from Extreme Pita to the eye clinic.

fenwick16 · #**6969** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 2:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by planarchy

Street View

Lowen Group looking for 30 storeys here. 4 level podium and 26 levels of residential. Apparently an informal open house was held with the neighbours last week.

I wonder if there are any plans to maintain the current streetscape? I must be getting old, since I would be disappointed to see those building replaced with a nondescript highrise (I think it would have to be a spectacular proposal to be considered).

Keith P. · #**6970** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 11:24 AM**

Wonderful. Knock it all down!

hokus83 · #**6971** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 5:52 PM**

more density would hopefully add to more retail to the other side of the street in a similar way to brunswick street

JET · #**6972** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 6:59 PM**

more density, less history. Who am I to blow against the wind?

OldDartmouthMark · #**6973** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 7:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JET

more density, less history. Who am I to blow against the wind?

Nothing wrong with holding your ground and believing in what you believe in.

Your point of view is as valid as any other, and in fact I concur. We are still ripping down Victorian and early industrial era buildings to build glass towers while in the meantime empty lots abound. One would think we had learned something from the sixties but apparently not...

Of course we have to expect some losses - it's business after all and in the world of business there is little room for sentimentality, but that said somebody has to speak up and present the other side, the one "closer to the heart" (to quote Rush).

JET · #**6974** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 7:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Nothing wrong with holding your ground and believing in what you believe in.

Your point of view is as valid as any other, and in fact I concur. We are still ripping down Victorian and early industrial era buildings to build glass towers while in the meantime empty lots abound. One would think we had learned something from the sixties but apparently not...

Of course we have to expect some losses - it's business after all and in the world of business there is little room for sentimentality, but that said somebody has to speak up and present the other side, the one "closer to the heart" (to quote Rush).

One of the other posters had suggested why not use one of the houses on the block as an entry point and leave the rest and build a tower in the empty lot in the middle of the block. Soon there will be no old residences on Spring Garden Road.

OldDartmouthMark · #**6975** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 7:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

I wonder if there are any plans to maintain the current streetscape? I must be getting old, since I would be disappointed to see those building replaced with a nondescript highrise (I think it would have to be a spectacular proposal to be considered).

This would be my preference, if I had a vote in the deal.

OldDartmouthMark · #**6976** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 7:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JET

One of the other posters had suggested why not use one of the houses on the block as an entry point and leave the rest and build a tower in the empty lot in the middle of the block. Soon there will be no old residences on Spring Garden Road.

Agree.

halifaxboyns · #**6977** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 7:55 PM**

The building with Kara's salon in it is cute - I'd keep it just because I like it, but that's just me. Giver - 30 stories in this spot would be fine but given the heritage streetscape on the adjacent street, there will be push back.

ILoveHalifax · #**6978** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 7:57 PM**

Dozers the sooner the better - one of the nastiest looking sites in the city

OldDartmouthMark · #**6979** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 8:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILoveHalifax

Dozers the sooner the better - one of the nastiest looking sites in the city

Right on cue!

Hali87 · #**6980** Posted **Jun 9, 2015, 9:17 PM**

I'd be for preserving the two bluish-grey apartment buildings/townhouses, I don't really care either way for the rest of that site. I've been in the ones mid-block recently and I wouldn't call them slummy (or rooming houses). They were divided into relatively nice ("old" in both the good and the bad ways) flats like most of the houses in the area. They were basically higher-end student housing (or equivalent).