General Updates and News

[mleblanc]

Originally Posted by stevencourchene

What buliding is the bell buliding on wentworth street in down town Dartmouth?

This building here

[Keith P.]

I happened to be downtown today and was struck by the awful state of Barrington St. For all the talk and supposed effort to resuscitate it over the last few years it is probably as dead as I've ever seen it.

Starting at Scotia Square and heading south, you have construction on the right (which may eventually have some storefronts), the Delta/Barrington Place on the left which offers a restaurant and not much else. The CIBC in the next block is now dead, and beyond that the Foreign Affair, ex-Freak Lunchbox, ex-jeweler, and Menchies storefronts are also vacant now.

Further south the ex-Doull bookstore is vacant and of course the Roy is under construction. Further along the ex-Discovery Center is gone, the storefront at 1592 is still empty next to the dead zone of the Khyber & NFB, and across the street the Green Lantern is ready to come down as well.

Yes, there are a few brave new businesses like the Highwayman and Barrington Steakhouse restos, but one wonders how much longer they can survive on such a barren street. It is really quite depressing given all the attention and talk devoted to it in recent years.

[Colin May]

Originally Posted by stevencourchene

What buliding is the bell buliding on wentworth street in down town Dartmouth?

The red brick building which has been empty for well over a decade. Bruno also bought adjacent lots on Queen and North. And the Nieforth store.
I hope they are also the purchasers of the old city hall, a deal that is supposed to close by April 30; two previous offers soon vanished.

Downtown Dartmouth is best served by sensitive small projects which don't require large amounts of capital and have low financial risk.

[stevencourchene]

Thanks

Originally Posted by mleblanc

This building here

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Yes, there are a few brave new businesses like the Highwayman and Barrington Steakhouse restos, but one wonders how much longer they can survive on such a barren street. It is really quite depressing given all the attention and talk devoted to it in recent years.

I went to Stillwell a few months ago when I was in town. I left around 11 pm and it was quite busy. It was probably a Tuesday or Wednesday. I don't know about those others but I don't think every business on Barrington is struggling.

There's not much that can be done about the construction unfortunately. It's badly needed and was effectively deferred for years as the city implemented new planning rules. We won't know what the true positive impact will be until more of the construction is wrapped up. If the Roy attracts a major retail tenant or two (like Urban Outfitters in Espace) that will be a big deal, for example.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by someone123

I went to Stillwell a few months ago when I was in town. I left around 11 pm and it was quite busy. It was probably a Tuesday or Wednesday. I don't know about those others but I don't think every business on Barrington is struggling.

There's not much that can be done about the construction unfortunately. It's badly needed and was effectively deferred for years as the city implemented new planning rules. We won't know what the true positive impact will be until more of the construction is wrapped up. If the Roy attracts a major retail tenant or two (like Urban Outfitters in Espace) that will be a big deal, for example.

I have to agree.

The construction, while temporarily inconvenient, will result in big improvements in the long run. Not to mention the increased number of residents in the area which will bolster local businesses even more.

Places like the Delta Barrington, the CIBC building and TD building have not changed in many years, so I can't see that as a downturn. The bank buildings have never offered any life to the area other than being a workplace or a place to do banking - no change, nor can we expect change.

Other small businesses come and go, as usual, but I expect that to improve when some of the larger residential projects are complete - the Roy, the Maple, the Green Lantern, the Zellers bldg, all will breathe life into the street with the increased number of residents.

Meanwhile, other businesses continue to thrive along Barrington. Stillwells, as you mentioned, is always busy. Had brunch at Elles Bistro a couple of weeks ago and it was so busy the staff had trouble keeping up. Likewise Urban Outfitters seems to be doing fine, Obladee wine bar seems to get good crowds, The Middle Spoon is a busy spot (along with Noble), The Olde Apothocary, Mezza, Chives, 2 Doors Down all seem to be thriving. This will only improve as construction is completed.

I think if Barrington St. could talk, it would say "the report of my death was an exaggeration"...

[Drybrain]

1592 isn't empty; a spa and salon moved into 1592 about three months ago. Unless it's closed since when I was on the street a few days ago, that space is filled. Lots of other good daytime businesses too: the Weird Harbour cafe (which is awesome and really filled a hole in downtown's coffee offerings), Apothecary, Canook, etc. It's also starting to feel like a legit nighttime destination with the new bars and restaurants.

As for Green Lantern and Roy and Discovery Centre, well, yeah, they're empty, but being developed/renovated for new uses, so I'd certainly say that speaks to a positive trend.

I haven't heard people say much about the death of Barrington in a while. I think it's pretty obviously off of life support and on the recovery path.

[someone123]

I liked some of the old business like J. W. Doull but I think many of them were outdated. Even if Barrington had been busier it would not save those shops because rents would have gone up and they were probably just not generating much money.

There's a general trend in storefront retail toward higher end boutiques (with stuff you don't get on Amazon or at Walmart) plus food and services. That shift has created a lot of turnover that has nothing to do with Barrington per se.

The failure of Barrington has traditionally been that it hasn't attracted the top stores in the city. These are the places that end up in the HSC, e.g. Apple. That problem was never going to be fixed without a major overhaul of the street.

[Duff]

Interesting news story about the Salesforce Tower in San Fran and how they had issues with height limits in the 70s/80s and a tabletop/ flat-top skyline.

• Video Link

[Keith P.]

Lots of parallels with Halifax - some development downtown occurs, people complain about views, planners and politicians respond with restrictive policies, development stops and you end up with a tabletop. The difference there is that the planners realized the error of their ways and began encouraging height whereas here they are still restricting development unnecessarily by mandating short, stubby, buildings.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

I haven't heard people say much about the death of Barrington in a while. I think it's pretty obviously off of life support and on the recovery path.

What I saw yesterday looked about as shabby, empty and desolate as I've ever seen it. Some of that is due to construction which in the end should be a good thing. But right now there is little there to draw people to those businesses that are hanging on.

[Jonovision]

Nice renovation on Agricola.

20170411_191839 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

[Jonovision]

I thought this was supposed to be a boutique hotel or something but the sign says it will be a distillery.

20170411_192714 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

[Dmajackson]

^It's a boutique motel and distillery. The ground floor and rear will be for the distillery and the boutique motel will be in the "tower".

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

^It's a boutique motel and distillery. The ground floor and rear will be for the distillery and the boutique motel will be in the "tower".

What is boutique MOtel?

[eastcoastal]

Originally Posted by Jonovision

Nice renovation on Agricola.

20170411_191839 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

Not a fan of all the different lights... some gooseneck... some up/down canisters... some centred on windows... some between... The dark and consistent colours help cover some of those sins. for now.

[Keith P.]

What is the passageway in the middle? Looks too narrow to be a driveway. I concur with the comment re the window differences and light fixture choices.

The boutique motel bit still makes me laugh. Where is their motel parking lot? The car repair shop next door?

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

What is the passageway in the middle? Looks too narrow to be a driveway. I concur with the comment re the window differences and light fixture choices.

If you look at streetview you can see it dates from an earlier renovation. It looks like there were doors leading into apartments inside the passageway. It is weird, though.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Drybrain

If you look at streetview you can see it dates from an earlier renovation. It looks like there were doors leading into apartments inside the passageway. It is weird, though.

Not sure about the history of this particular building but some of those were entryways for horses and carriages.

[Ziobrop]

Originally Posted by eastcoastal

Not a fan of all the different lights... some gooseneck... some up/down canisters... some centred on windows... some between... The dark and consistent colours help cover some of those sins. for now.

i suspect the goose necks will light a commercial sign.