[Halifax] Nova Centre | 65-58-58 m | 16-15-14 fl | Completed - Page 257

OldDartmouthMark · #**5121** Posted **Jun 1, 2016, 5:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

You can see the rear part of the NFB Building, now the Argyle, in that last photo. Originally it was 3 storeys tall on the Argyle side.

Overall it seems like the neighbourhood is nicer these days (something to keep in mind is that the city is much larger now than it was back then). One piece that's still missing is that the 2-storey bunker next to Maxwell's Plum needs to be replaced with something better that has some street-level interest.

I had forgotten how deep the NFB building went. Thanks for pointing that out. I recall seeing a film in there in the early 1980s but didn't remember that it had a presence on Argyle as well.

It is interesting to look back in photos and realize how the downtown has transformed somewhat organically over the decades/centuries (urban renewal/Harbour Drive notwithstanding). As mentioned, there was so much more industrial activity downtown that started to fade away in the sixties and seventies, as the city's suburban areas started to expand. Not to mention the gradual disappearance of the numerous waterfront wharf areas that had been busy servicing the various marine interests of the past.

In the late 1960s - 1970s, industrial parks and outlying suburban areas started to become more attractive to industrial-based businesses, plus more and more manufacturing was shifted overseas, so the downtown environment started to change to a more stark business office-oriented atmosphere. Of course the bars never went away, keeping the downtown busy at night, especially later in the week.

With the advent of more tourist/recreational areas downtown in the 1980s, the shift started back to where we are today with the metamorphosis of the area becoming more residential again.

Also of note in some of those photos is the old Moir's Chocolate factory, on the site currently occupied by the World Trade and Convention Centre (I always thought the name seemed a little too ambitious for what actually resides there). Moir's moved to a more modern facility in Woodside in the 1970s and was closed sometime after Moir's was bought out by Hershey's in the 1980s. The whole idea of a large factory smack in the middle of downtown would seem a little strange today, but it wasn't really all that long ago that it was a reality.

And yes, that bunker next to Maxwell's can't go away quickly enough for me. Talk about a development opportunity - that one is it!

OldDartmouthMark · #**5122** Posted **Jun 1, 2016, 7:28 PM**

Sorry, don't want to make anybody tired of seeing old pics of the Nova Centre site, but just came across one more.

In the photo I had posted previously, the circled building on the south west corner of the Nova Centre lot has a great photo on the Noticed In Nova Scotia Blog, presumably taken in the 1970s.

http://halifaxbloggers.ca/noticedinnovascotia/2016/01/fire-build/

OldDartmouthMark · #**5123** Posted **Jun 1, 2016, 7:41 PM**

To bring it full circle:
2009:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@44.6457329,-...fBgb4wZcKWcmuY28nzP-g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Today:

http://www.novascotiawebcams.com/en/webcams/nova-centre/

PeterAKer · #**5124** Posted **Jun 2, 2016, 4:17 AM**

The Conservative Party of Canada may be holding it's next Biennial Policy Convention at the Halifax Convention Centre in 2018/2019.

someone123 · #**5125** Posted **Jun 2, 2016, 5:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

To bring it full circle:

Back around 2001 I started taking pictures of the downtown area (and scanning them in). In the first set I took shots of 3 ugly parking lots; all are gone now. One was the lot that is now the Marriott on Argyle Street, one was the lot behind the Herald Building, and the last one was the empty lot where the Alexander is being built now.

Actually in about 1998 the Keith brewery was surrounded by parking. There was nothing where the hotel is at the foot of the Maritime Centre, there was nothing on either side of the brewery, and Bishop's Landing was a parking lot.

I also had a shot of the Lord Nelson when there was no Paramount next door, just another parking lot.

teddifax · #**5126** Posted **Jun 2, 2016, 4:14 PM**

In a downtown area and its environs, land is far too valuable and scarce to have parking lots. All developments should be built over any parking required.

OldDartmouthMark · #**5127** Posted **Jun 2, 2016, 4:42 PM**

Yeah, it's nice to see some of the blank lots getting new buildings with underground parking. When I look at the 2009 pic I posted above, I find it so bleak and depressing. Always felt that way every time I walked or drove by it over the past 20 years or so.

Regardless on how anybody feels about how the Nova Centre was done, it's still 1000% better than what was there (though I think they should have built around the old Midtown, out of respect

).

Jonovision · #**5128** Posted **Jun 2, 2016, 9:21 PM**

I've noticed the brick laying equipment is being set up around the hotel tower. Still no approval from DRC as far as I know though, and this months meeting was cancelled.

RangerNS · #**5129** Posted **Jun 5, 2016, 12:01 PM**

From Thursday

And the bricklaying staging?

Jonovision · #**5130** Posted **Jun 8, 2016, 8:55 PM**

The rigs usually used to lay bricks have been installed on the hotel tower.

20160608_155940_HDR by Jonovision23, on Flickr

20160608_140507_HDR by Jonovision23, on Flickr

teddifax · #**5131** Posted **Jun 9, 2016, 12:32 AM**

I didn't think they have approved the final exterior design yet, so how can they start?

Jonovision · #**5132** Posted **Jun 9, 2016, 12:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by teddifax

I didn't think they have approved the final exterior design yet, so how can they start?

I'm not entirely sure. I was under the impression that the Design Review Committee would make their decision at this months meeting, but it was cancelled meaning they would have to wait at least another month for a decision.

RangerNS · #**5133** Posted **Jun 9, 2016, 3:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonovision

I'm not entirely sure. I was under the impression that the Design Review Committee would make their decision at this months meeting, but it was cancelled meaning they would have to wait at least another month for a decision.

Waye on the twitterverse tells me there has not been an actionable proposal presented; there isn't anything to vote on.

I suspect what will happen is that poor planning on the NC part will be presented as an emergency, council will go in camera, and vote to do anything.

TheGreenBastard · #**5134** Posted **Jun 16, 2016, 2:03 AM**

GENERAL UPDATE:

A mobile crane will be on site as the glass installation for the hotel section begins.
Staging is being built for the process of brick installation.
Interior mechanical and electrical work is still ongoing.
Dry wall installation has begun in some areas of the interior.
The aluminum framing and glazing on the lower levels and through Argyle street is still progressing.
The freight elevators are underway in the interior.
There is an average of 190 workers per day on site.
WHAT’S COMING UP:

Work to close in the front of the Convention Centre will begin shortly, this will allow the hoarding to be pulled backed and turn a portion of the street back to the HRM.
Landscaping plans are near finalization and will be sent out to tender soon.

teddifax · #**5135** Posted **Jun 16, 2016, 2:20 PM**

So what is going to be the final exterior design of the hotel? I didn't hear that the new design was actually approved! Are they going with the changes presented or with the original ones?

TheGreenBastard · #**5136** Posted **Jun 16, 2016, 2:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by teddifax

So what is going to be the final exterior design of the hotel? I didn't hear that the new design was actually approved! Are they going with the changes presented or with the original ones?

I think they're going with this design