General Updates and News

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by alps

Nice to see this place, for the first time in my lifetime, fully renovated and with a real tenant (Oak and Oxford St.):

That came out really nice!

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Damn it was wishful thinking I guess then!

A gas station is really a slap in the face for the urban renewal that's going on in the neighbourhood. This site would be best suited for a large scale retail space that does not deter from the walk-ability of the neighbourhood.

Do you know what is happening to the Sunnyside and Mill Cove locations?

I don't really see it as a slap in the face. They've been there for decades and are just renewing an old facility. You can't expect them to shut down the business just because the residents might like something different there. Besides, the locals need to buy gas somewhere, and the residents will benefit from the corner store as well.

I'm hoping that the ones on the Bedford Highway are similarly updated and not sold off to build yet another condo or whatever. There have been a lot of sketchy developments in that area, IMHO, especially what they are doing with the old Traveler's Motel - it's an eyesore.

Regarding large scale retail in the North end, one would think that if there's a market for it somebody will want to make money by building it. There are still lots of decrepit properties in the area that would be perfect for such a development. Such as this, if it were ever to come available.

But it has to make financial sense or it isn't going to happen.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

That came out really nice!

I am more interested in the town homes behind. I must drive by for a look-see.

[Keith P.]

Reading in the publication that must not be named that Obladee, the wine bar on the ground floor of the Tramway Bldg on Barrington, is at risk of eviction soon because of a rent dispute with the new landlord, Urban Spaces, who bought the building a few years ago from old Morris Strug. Apparently because of a dispute over some supplementary charges that U.S. claims are owed, they are refusing to renew Obladee's lease when it expires later this year.

That would be a real loss for the street. Obladee is a cool place.

[beyeas]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Reading in the publication that must not be named that Obladee, the wine bar on the ground floor of the Tramway Bldg on Barrington, is at risk of eviction soon because of a rent dispute with the new landlord, Urban Spaces, who bought the building a few years ago from old Morris Strug. Apparently because of a dispute over some supplementary charges that U.S. claims are owed, they are refusing to renew Obladee's lease when it expires later this year.

That would be a real loss for the street. Obladee is a cool place.

Indeed! That would be a huge loss for the street, and is one of those "different" places (rather than just typical chain stuff) that can actually attract people to the area.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by beyeas

Indeed! That would be a huge loss for the street, and is one of those "different" places (rather than just typical chain stuff) that can actually attract people to the area.

Agreed. I hope they can work it out.

[Dmajackson]

An initiation report for 6345 Coburg is going before Regional Council on Tuesday. No renderings are provided and the only specific mention in the report of the project is from W.M. Fares which states that the building will likely be 5 storeys high with a rear stepback to 3 storeys abutting the lower density neighbourhood in behind.

Case 19858 - Initiation Report for Regional Council

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Reading in the publication that must not be named that Obladee, the wine bar on the ground floor of the Tramway Bldg on Barrington, is at risk of eviction soon because of a rent dispute with the new landlord, Urban Spaces, who bought the building a few years ago from old Morris Strug. Apparently because of a dispute over some supplementary charges that U.S. claims are owed, they are refusing to renew Obladee's lease when it expires later this year.

That would be a real loss for the street. Obladee is a cool place.

I can't help but think it's extremely stupid of a landlord to evict a successful and popular commercial tenant on a street filled with vacancies. People love Obladee, and it's exactly the kind of place that will probably get nothing but more popular as the under-construction condos nearby get occupied. But the landlords' demands sound extreme--like they're trying to evict Obladee.

I love the way the interior is too; a great space. Hope it gets settled, but the story makes it sounds like there's some real hostility between landlord and tenant.

[Jstaleness]

Originally Posted by alps

Nice to see this place, for the first time in my lifetime, fully renovated and with a real tenant (Oak and Oxford St.):

Simple and modern at the same time. I like!

[halifaxboyns]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I am more interested in the town homes behind. I must drive by for a look-see.

Good catch - I didn't even notice those until you mentioned them. Will be in Halifax in late July - will have to check them out too.

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

I can't help but think it's extremely stupid of a landlord to evict a successful and popular commercial tenant on a street filled with vacancies. People love Obladee, and it's exactly the kind of place that will probably get nothing but more popular as the under-construction condos nearby get occupied. But the landlords' demands sound extreme--like they're trying to evict Obladee.

I love the way the interior is too; a great space. Hope it gets settled, but the story makes it sounds like there's some real hostility between landlord and tenant.

It's incredibly dumb and stupid.

The unfortunate reality, is that now that Urban Outfitters has moved in, now all the greedy and money grubbing landlords on Barrington are going to be clamoring to raise rents and have empty shopfronts out of the small, small, hope that a big time corporate retailer comes along to rent the space.

You need places like Obladee and Stillwells to make the area attractive for people to live nearby; and with people nearby is the only way retailers come.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by counterfactual

It's incredibly dumb and stupid.

The unfortunate reality, is that now that Urban Outfitters has moved in, now all the greedy and money grubbing landlords on Barrington are going to be clamoring to raise rents and have empty shopfronts out of the small, small, hope that a big time corporate retailer comes along to rent the space.

You need places like Obladee and Stillwells to make the area attractive for people to live nearby; and with people nearby is the only way retailers come.

Yeah. I think there's definitely room for chains on Barrington, but a healthy retail mix will include unique, indie, local places too. I hope this isn't a case of a landlord just thinking they can get more money from a chain tenant, but I wouldn't be surprised. I think they're miscalculating, if that's the case. They may get more money from a chain, but there are no guarantees they'll be able to lease to anyone in the short term, and they've got a very successful and dependable tenant that wants to sign a long-term commercial lease, and fits with the area's current demographic trajectory. So, yeah, dumb. If Onladee closes or moves, it won't help the already negative reputation of Barrington.

I can understand the landlord looking for a reasonable rent increase, given that the old rent was set five years ago, and the situation on Barrington is very different now. Doubling the rent all in on shot is basically extortion, though.

[planarchy]

Not sure if this has been posted, but Privacy Law Guru David Fraser has been making aerial videos with his drone around Halifax over the past view months.

They are high quality and very cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFMuc69soY0&list=PLFgopbjgzsAGlZhNB_mRf3VCgXAUPoZgO&index=12

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by planarchy

Not sure if this has been posted, but Privacy Law Guru David Fraser has been making aerial videos with his drone around Halifax over the past view months.

They are high quality and very cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFMuc69soY0&list=PLFgopbjgzsAGlZhNB_mRf3VCgXAUPoZgO&index=12

Nice pictures, but isn't that basically the exact opposite thing a privacy advocate should be doing?

[terrynorthend]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

Good catch - I didn't even notice those until you mentioned them. Will be in Halifax in late July - will have to check them out too.

That's just a duplex, and has been there a couple of years. Very upscale looking though. My only complaint would be of the garage doors and concrete driveways that dominate the front. Pretty standard for this style of build though, and I don't have a great alternative suggestion given the lot size. Just never liked houses that look like cars live there, and people are an after thought.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by terrynorthend

That's just a duplex, and has been there a couple of years. Very upscale looking though. My only complaint would be of the garage doors and concrete driveways that dominate the front. Pretty standard for this style of build though, and I don't have a great alternative suggestion given the lot size. Just never liked houses that look like cars live there, and people are an after thought.

They aren't very attractive in person... I have seen them during a visit. Suburban stuff.

I like the way that Noble Grape turned out... although isn't that stone like a west-coast thing that has recently been used more in the maritimes?

[Hali87]

I'm not sure, it's definitely surged in popularity lately but it looks like ironstone/slate (or something similar) which is what many of the old buildings at Dal are built of, for example.

[OldDartmouthMark]

From the Herald:

Plan to replace Art Gallery of Nova Scotia building set to begin in fall

http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/12949...ova-scotia-building-set-to-begin-in-fall

The article isn't very clear, but it sounds like they are either searching for a new venue or planning to tear the old one down (?!). Particularly troubling to me is:

Shaw said the gallery’s current location on Hollis Street is “deteriorating.”

Leaks, humidity and an inability to control temperature are all serious issues, and he said “the existing building cannot be renovated at a reasonable cost.”

It seems to me that this is one of the finer examples of this type of building remaining in Halifax, and it cannot be renovated at reasonable cost? What is "reasonable cost"?

Would be a shame and embarrassment to lose this building IMHO.

Art Gallery on Google Streetview

[Keith P.]

Of course it was renovated into a gallery 20 years ago at considerable cost. If it leaks and floods and has uncontrolled humidity, that is an indictment of the Public Works people who approved the renovations. I doubt they will tear it down though, they will just turn it into govt offices to hold the ever-expanding bureaucracy. Meanwhile we will spend another $50-$100 million for a new gallery for the intelligentsia. I would much rather have that sum of money spent on a replacement for the unusable parts of the VG Hospital. Why do we even have a provincial art gallery? We are broke.

[ILoveHalifax]

Can't we sell all the art to Alberta or Ottawa?