General Updates and News - Page 371

Drybrain · #**7401** Posted **Nov 5, 2015, 1:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin May

Send him your comments/suggestions. He is very approachable and I have known him for over 20 years.

My suggestion is probably not likely to find a sympathetic ear: I'm not bothered by this design so much as by what it's replacing. My suggestion is to scrap this and do something more imaginative. Leave the Victorian townhouses intact and tear down the addition behind them, rebuilding there. Leaeve the art-deco BMO building mostly intact and restore it to use as the anchor for the block. Tear down the building in between the two, using that space to create something all new that will link the east and west sides of the block.

Colin May · #**7402** Posted **Nov 5, 2015, 1:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drybrain

My suggestion is probably not likely to find a sympathetic ear: I'm not bothered by this design so much as by what it's replacing. My suggestion is to scrap this and do something more imaginative. Leave the Victorian townhouses intact and tear down the addition behind them, rebuilding there. Leaeve the art-deco BMO building mostly intact and restore it to use as the anchor for the block. Tear down the building in between the two, using that space to create something all new that will link the east and west sides of the block.

Send him an email. He values public opinion. Nothing to to lose with an informed polite expression of your opinion.

coolmillion · #**7403** Posted **Nov 5, 2015, 2:24 AM**

.

Hali87 · #**7404** Posted **Nov 5, 2015, 2:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin May

Send him an email. He values public opinion. Nothing to to lose with an informed polite expression of your opinion.

How would we contact him? His email address is not publicly available as far as I know.

Colin May · #**7405** Posted **Nov 5, 2015, 2:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hali87

How would we contact him? His email address is not publicly available as far as I know.

Email him at Westwood Developments Limited or contact through LinkedIn.
I talked with him at Vivacity last week and he asked my opinion of the project and I told him there were people who didn't like the design and that I thought it wasn't bold enough. I also told him to design a talking point aka the library is a talking point. I like designs that cause people to argue pro and con and make residents think more about what can be built for today and remain relevant in 50 or more years.
He's easy to get along with and includes his family in the public part of his projects.

http://www.westwoodgroup.ca/contact.php

beyeas · #**7406** Posted **Nov 5, 2015, 11:59 AM**

I don't have a fundamental problem with the design. In fact, there are some aspects I quite like. I also don't bemoan the loss of the back-side of the current, as it is pretty unfriendly from the perspective of interacting with the street.

Like many, my biggest issue is with the loss of that BMO facade. We talk all the time on here, when it comes to knocking down older wooden structures to make way for new development, that the trade-off is acceptable because of the fact that we have a large number of such structures.

However, we do not have many stone commercial buildings with interesting/unique features. Full stop. This is where a bloody heritage protection SHOULD be making a fuss. This isn't arguing height or protecting an empty parking lot, this is the loss of an unquestionably architecturally interesting stone facade that has dominated that corner for many years. Protecting that built heritage is a given "by definition" (to use a KeithP turn of phrase).

OldDartmouthMark · #**7407** Posted **Nov 5, 2015, 1:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drybrain

My suggestion is probably not likely to find a sympathetic ear: I'm not bothered by this design so much as by what it's replacing. My suggestion is to scrap this and do something more imaginative. Leave the Victorian townhouses intact and tear down the addition behind them, rebuilding there. Leaeve the art-deco BMO building mostly intact and restore it to use as the anchor for the block. Tear down the building in between the two, using that space to create something all new that will link the east and west sides of the block.

I would be happy with this suggestion. I really think that ripping down and replacing it with a generic-looking block is a missed opportunity to do something truly spectacular in one of the busiest parts of town. If he wants to get his name out there as a truly capable developer, then this is his opportunity to do it. At least keep the BMO structure - as has been pointed out here several times before, it is a very unique structure in our city and even includes nods to our local history.

Colin, perhaps you could direct him to this thread? Just a thought.

counterfactual · #**7408** Posted **Nov 5, 2015, 8:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drybrain

My suggestion is probably not likely to find a sympathetic ear: I'm not bothered by this design so much as by what it's replacing. My suggestion is to scrap this and do something more imaginative. Leave the Victorian townhouses intact and tear down the addition behind them, rebuilding there. Leaeve the art-deco BMO building mostly intact and restore it to use as the anchor for the block. Tear down the building in between the two, using that space to create something all new that will link the east and west sides of the block.

If you're going to contact him, I think the key is to offer a design that gets him what he wants (a certain number of units and flexibility), but retains some of what is there. I could see a great design that incorporates, at the very least, the BMO art-deco and is built up and around it. That could be great. I'm no fan of the crappier buildings like the old TD / Sleep Country building. The old Second Cup building isn't very nice either.

Drybrain · #**7409** Posted **Nov 5, 2015, 8:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by counterfactual

If you're going to contact him, I think the key is to offer a design that gets him what he wants (a certain number of units and flexibility), but retains some of what is there. I could see a great design that incorporates, at the very least, the BMO art-deco and is built up and around it. That could be great. I'm no fan of the crappier buildings like the old TD / Sleep Country building. The old Second Cup building isn't very nice either.

The Second Cup building WAS the BMO building, it was just in that awful addition stuck to the side of it.

I think the way the BMO building meets the corner is a neighbourhood landmark and it surprises me that it seems so easy to do away with. The interior lobby is in shabby repair, but it has all kinds of cool deco tiling and architectural detailing. Irreplaceable, and rare for this city. (Like, so rare that there won't be anything like it if this is torn down.)

someone123 · #**7410** Posted **Nov 5, 2015, 8:53 PM**

If the design is more or less set in stone now it would also be an improvement to save the BMO facade and then reuse it somewhere else in the future. I think it would work well as a podium for a highrise.

Nouvellecosse · #**7411** Posted **Nov 5, 2015, 10:41 PM**

Are the current buildings condemned and in need of demolition? Or are they just being demoed for the sake of this development? If it's the latter, I don't care how spectacular it is, I'm not interested. Enough of the city's architectural heritage has been lost as is and there's plenty of places to build new things elsewhere. Modern buildings are nice as additions to a city in places that are vacant or under-developed and that's it. Not to replace vital and character-filled parts that we already have.

Ok now I'm mad.

counterfactual · #**7412** Posted **Nov 6, 2015, 12:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drybrain

The Second Cup building WAS the BMO building, it was just in that awful addition stuck to the side of it.

I think the way the BMO building meets the corner is a neighbourhood landmark and it surprises me that it seems so easy to do away with. The interior lobby is in shabby repair, but it has all kinds of cool deco tiling and architectural detailing. Irreplaceable, and rare for this city. (Like, so rare that there won't be anything like it if this is torn down.)

I would seriously pitch to him an idea of preserving the BMO, and building up around it. I think it could actually be an iconic building, if they did that. Kind of like how Armour group incorporated/retained historic portions of existing buildings in the Waterside.

Colin May · #**7413** Posted **Nov 6, 2015, 12:24 AM**

Any comments should be sent forthwith. The demolition may be done by the end of this year and thus ensure a reduced valuation on the assessment roll.

Drybrain · #**7414** Posted **Nov 6, 2015, 2:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

Are the current buildings condemned and in need of demolition? Or are they just being demoed for the sake of this development? If it's the latter, I don't care how spectacular it is, I'm not interested.

The latter; Westwood has been planning this for years. I'm fairly sure there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the buildings.

I'm skeptical that Chedrawe would be receptive to some last-minute input from random internet folks, but hey, if Colin thinks some politely worded community input would be well received, I'm all for it.

Colin May · #**7415** Posted **Nov 6, 2015, 4:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drybrain

The latter; Westwood has been planning this for years. I'm fairly sure there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the buildings.

I'm skeptical that Chedrawe would be receptive to some last-minute input from random internet folks, but hey, if Colin thinks some politely worded community input would be well received, I'm all for it.

Make an attempt to talk to him, ask for a meeting no matter how brief. Use my name if you are so inclined. At Vivacity he introduced me to an architect who attended school with one of my children.
To me Mr Chedrawe is 'Danny' and I always speak highly of him.
Well expressed and well thought out opinions presented in a respectful manner will be well received. I don't believe posters on this forum are the ranters & ravers type, more the ones who want a more attractive and well planned community.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Bon chance.

Colin May · #**7416** Posted **Nov 6, 2015, 4:31 PM**

http://www.halifax.ca/boardscom/drc/documents/6.3.1Presentation.pdf
New drawings as of this week

OldDartmouthMark · #**7417** Posted **Nov 6, 2015, 5:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colin May

http://www.halifax.ca/boardscom/drc/documents/6.3.1Presentation.pdf
New drawings as of this week

Still underwhelmed.

Interesting that the lobby entrance for both the hotel and residential areas are off Queen street, in approximately the same location as the existing BMO entrance. There's a little more setback on the existing building than the renderings (which is better for aesthetics, IMHO) but it strikes me what a grand entrance this façade would make for a hotel (presumably he's aiming for a boutique hotel experience, given the relatively small size of the hotel portion).

Details:

From Google Maps...
https://www.google.ca/maps/@44.6433403,-...b_Btx-gDunwnF-1MGPrvg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Like I said, a missed opportunity....

Drybrain · #**7418** Posted **Nov 6, 2015, 8:59 PM**

The lessons to be learned from Toronto's Drake and Gladstone hotels are unavoidable here: http://www.thedrakehotel.ca/history/

Beautiful but decrepit Victorian buildings painstakingly and profitably restored to become lynchpins of neighbourhood revitalization. Their heritage is part of their appeal and success, though neither were designated heritage. A similar rundown old building in the city's east end, currently a strip club, has been purchased recently for a similar restoration. "Demolition" isn't so much as whispered. It would be unequivocally rejected.

Keith P. · #**7419** Posted **Nov 6, 2015, 9:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Still underwhelmed.
Like I said, a missed opportunity....

Looking at the renderings. I do think there seems to be an opportunity here to reuse at least the existing stone cladding from the entry on whatever new gets built. The stated use of aluminum and wood exterior finishes does not thrill me, nor does the use of "limestone finish" precast concrete panels. I remain unimpressed with Kassner Goodspeed proposals.

I wonder too about the viability of the hotel. "Boutique" is one thing, but 45 rooms seems a bit small to be able to deliver much.

Drybrain · #**7420** Posted **Nov 13, 2015, 3:57 AM**

AllNS published a funny story about the Doyle Block in which it was pretty obvious that Danny Chedrawe thinks the city should just back off and let him, a developer who has not erected a single half-decent building in his entire career, do whatever he wants without interference in the design and planning of his properties. It's rather extraordinary that he would complain, given how little resistance he's faced to this profoundly bad proposal.

He really came off as flabbergasted that he was subject to an approvals process rather than being given carte blanche.