General Updates and News - Page 419

IanWatson · #**8361** Posted **Feb 21, 2017, 1:26 PM**

2 Crows is pretty impressive. Definitely a lot of money poured into it. It's got to be one of the bigger craft breweries in the province.

My coworkers and I stopped in for a Friday beer. They have a nice little taproom that opens onto the brewery, so you can watch the brewing process. For now, they let you bring in your own food, so we took out a platter from the new sushi place across the street. I think this will prove to be a great location (with the hotel), and even moreso when Cogswell gets done.

Drybrain · #**8362** Posted **Feb 21, 2017, 1:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastcoastal

Very happy to see this area filling in.

I do wonder, as Keith puts it, if we've hit peak brewery yet. I must say though, visiting Copenhagen, Berlin and Prague this summer, that our craft brewery scene is pretty healthy, by comparison, and provides stellar product in general.

Agreed. In terms of raw numbers, I think we have the most breweries per capita in Canada. It does beg the question of where the saturation point hits, but so far no one seems to have been forced out of business.

In terms of quality, the brew scenes in B.C. and Ontario have been the national leaders for a while, but we've really caught up in the past couple of years. Our best (IMO: Unfiltered, Boxing Rock, Garrison, North, Tatamagouche, Big Spruce, Bad Apple) are easily on par with the best of those provinces, and there's a pretty solid second string beneath those.

The U.S. still outshines us, of course (the Northeast and New England are ridiculous) but we're catching up.

OldDartmouthMark · #**8363** Posted **Feb 21, 2017, 2:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drybrain

Agreed. In terms of raw numbers, I think we have the most breweries per capita in Canada. It does beg the question of where the saturation point hits, but so far no one seems to have been forced out of business.

In terms of quality, the brew scenes in B.C. and Ontario have been the national leaders for a while, but we've really caught up in the past couple of years. Our best (IMO: Unfiltered, Boxing Rock, Garrison, North, Tatamagouche, Big Spruce, Bad Apple) are easily on par with the best of those provinces, and there's a pretty solid second string beneath those.

The U.S. still outshines us, of course (the Northeast and New England are ridiculous) but we're catching up.

The market will likely adjust once the newness wears off, but who knows when that will be?

I think that in general peoples' tastes are changing and they now demand more variety and stronger flavours than products like Coors Light can deliver. NS has long had a healthy beer market, so we have no idea where the saturation point is yet, IMHO.

For now, I'm happy to see new ones get into the market. The competition has definitely driven up the quality.

Jonovision · #**8364** Posted **Feb 21, 2017, 4:46 PM**

I live just up the road from all the new retail on Brunswick and it is so refreshing to see it slowly filling in. I've yet to get a chance to check out 2 Crows though.
Inkwell is also moving up from their Grafton St location to one of the smaller retail units close to Cogswell St.

On another note. This steel structure has been built in behind the hold Halifax club.

20170220_134232_HDR by Jonovision23, on Flickr

someone123 · #**8365** Posted **Feb 21, 2017, 7:13 PM**

Has anyone gotten a good look at or, better yet, been able to take a clear photo of the restored facade of the Phinney Building, 1678 Barrington? You can see part of it here: http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1435899-labour-dept.-investigating-roy-condo-fallout

someone123 · #**8366** Posted **Feb 27, 2017, 2:03 AM**

Here's a picture from early January:

Source

someone123 · #**8367** Posted **Mar 9, 2017, 6:26 PM**

There's some news about the Housing Trust of NS developments on Gottingen Street (http://www.housingtrust.ca/projects/). They have been asking the city to waive development fees and provide other tax relief: http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/170307ca1451.pdf

So it seems this project is still active, but may take a while. I hope construction will start soon because those empty sites plus the 2300 Gottingen development account for most of the holes along the street.

someone123 · #**8368** Posted **Mar 11, 2017, 7:48 PM**

Source

kph06 · #**8369** Posted **Mar 13, 2017, 7:42 PM**

I don't think this has a thread yet (and may not require one), but the building Emera purchased across from their new HQ appears to have begun it's renovation. Ellis Don has fencing up on the east side and the building looks generally empty.

Emera 5151 Terminal Road

Keith P. · #**8370** Posted **Mar 13, 2017, 8:26 PM**

The building sure needs a major update. 40 years of low-bid provincial government renos did it no favors inside. Just a depressing place but one with huge potential if the interiors are reworked thoughtfully.

Metalsales · #**8371** Posted **Mar 14, 2017, 8:14 PM**

That building will be getting an overhaul as well as a pedestrian pedway that will connect it to the Office on Lower Water Street.

Plans should surface in the next week

fenwick16 · #**8372** Posted **Mar 14, 2017, 11:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metalsales

That building will be getting an overhaul as well as a pedestrian pedway that will connect it to the Office on Lower Water Street.

Plans should surface in the next week

Some drawings are available from at Design Review Committee meeting on November 12, 2015 - http://www.halifax.ca/boardscom/drc/documents/712case20134drcstaffreportemera.pdf. The Design Review Committee seems to have approved it at that time - http://www.halifax.ca/boardscom/drc/documents/151112DRC.pdf, so it seems that it is approved and ready to proceed.

These might have been posted before, but here are a couple renderings from the report:

Jonovision · #**8373** Posted **Mar 15, 2017, 3:45 PM**

I didn't know this one had been approved. I thought there had been some hesitation with regards to the pedway but I see that the DRC had asked for a public benefit of increased landscaping or public art as a trade off for the pedway.

20170314_131627 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

OldDartmouthMark · #**8374** Posted **Mar 15, 2017, 3:58 PM**

Definitely will be an improvement!

IanWatson · #**8375** Posted **Mar 16, 2017, 11:58 AM**

The Ralston building has hoarding up all around it. The sidewalks are completely blocked. Anyone know what's happening? Repairs to the facade? Demo?

kph06 · #**8376** Posted **Mar 16, 2017, 12:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanWatson

The Ralston building has hoarding up all around it. The sidewalks are completely blocked. Anyone know what's happening? Repairs to the facade? Demo?

I've been wondering the same, I assume they are removing the panels. They are a liability - I'd hate to see the tally of facade related costs over the years. I suspect it will be sold or demolished within a couple years.

musicman · #**8377** Posted **Mar 16, 2017, 9:22 PM**

The Raltson building is actually a federal national historic site..... http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=9515
Now if that isn't a depressing read i have no clue what is....

IanWatson · #**8378** Posted **Mar 17, 2017, 11:37 AM**

AllNS reports that they're removing the stone to prep the building for sale.

fenwick16 · #**8379** Posted **Mar 17, 2017, 12:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanWatson

AllNS reports that they're removing the stone to prep the building for sale.

It sounds like a prime site for redevelopment because of its large site area and 66 m height limit. Can this building be torn down, being as it is on the Federal Heritage register? I like the appearance of the Ralston building, but unless the exterior cladding is replaced, then it won't have much heritage value.

IanWatson · #**8380** Posted **Mar 17, 2017, 6:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

It sounds like a prime site for redevelopment because of its large site area and 66 m height limit. Can this building be torn down, being as it is on the Federal Heritage register? I like the appearance of the Ralston building, but unless the exterior cladding is replaced, then it won't have much heritage value.

I wonder if the feds will deregister before selling. I imagine in this case that the site is worth much more as a redevelopment site than as a heritage building with lots of deferred maintenance.

Not to say that the site couldn't be restored, and even have new development integrated with the existing building (I quite like the building). But yeah, if they're looking for top dollar I can see the heritage designation getting in the way.