[Halifax] Nova Centre | 65-58-58 m | 16-15-14 fl | Completed - Page 291

someone123 · #**5801** Posted **Apr 11, 2018, 6:09 PM**

There is still only a tenuous link between office vacancy rates and assessments. Assessments are based on the market value of property and this might not even have anything to do with its use as office space. For example an abandoned office building contributing to a higher overall vacancy rate might sit on land with a rising market value because of its redevelopment potential for some other use like residential.

It is also important to distinguish between total assesments and assessment per square foot of office space. If some other developer builds a giant office complex and steals tenants from the Nova Centre, and this translates into a lower value for that property, HRM may still be no worse off. It is really hard to believe that the construction boom downtown has been bad for the city's finances.

My understanding is that the city and province funded and took on liabilities only for the convention centre portion, not the office portion. Talking about office space sitting empty without explaining that detail is misleading. It's possible I'm wrong about this but the articles don't help clarify that

My complaint about these articles is that they don't seem to explain what is happening. Maybe the HRM report they cite is vague too, but that isn't really an excuse.

Keith P. · #**5802** Posted **Apr 11, 2018, 7:06 PM**

A few points:

- where is all this new-construction office space downtown that the HRM report refers to? I only see residential development happening.
- as @someone123 says, even if there was lots of new office development, that is additional tax revenue for HRM. The fact that it isn't coming from Nova Centre is irrelevant.
- who approves new developments? That would be HRM Council. So why is this (if it is in fact true) a surprise?

ILoveHalifax · #**5803** Posted **Apr 11, 2018, 8:47 PM**

Interesting CBC says the office tower is 70% vacant and yet I believe I read recently where Ramia said it was 70% leased.

We all know there is the usual crowd who will jump on any negative report to say it was all a big mistake, and of course fight so we cannot do any other projects

A new CFL team would be great promotion for the city and certainly raise its profile.

My take on Halifax is it is the NICEST SMALL CITY in NORTH AMERICA and punches well above any city of its size

RangerNS · #**5804** Posted **Apr 11, 2018, 9:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

It is really hard to believe that the construction boom downtown has been bad for the city's finances.

In an absolute sense, absolutely not. But if the budget was for "amazing" and they only got "OK", or in this case "shitty", then its bad for the finances.

OldDartmouthMark · #**5805** Posted **Apr 11, 2018, 9:16 PM**

The quotes and figures I posted were from the city's report, not the articles.

If you guys would like to pick apart the city's report to show where they are being untruthful or disingenuous, have at it. Or, perhaps the city report needs additional context... either way it would be interesting to see.

Finances/accounting are not something that I have a great enthusiasm for, so I'd be happy if you folks could parse out the report and show all where the city is falling short.

Remember, too, that the city is only paying 50% of the bill, the province is paying the other 50%. In many cases money is being taken from the same people, just from different sectors of the government. I'd also be interested on your take from the provincial side of things... how does the province fit into this?

All in all, I don't mind paying taxes, as we all benefit from it one way or another. If a tax base that I pay into provides benefits for someone else but not necessarily myself, that's OK too. However, it shouldn't be considered unreasonable for any of us to want to know how it is being spent.

Keith P. · #**5806** Posted **Apr 12, 2018, 2:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

All in all, I don't mind paying taxes, as we all benefit from it one way or another. If a tax base that I pay into provides benefits for someone else but not necessarily myself, that's OK too. However, it shouldn't be considered unreasonable for any of us to want to know how it is being spent.

OTOH I believe it is every citizen's duty to pay as little in taxes as legally possible since we know where to spend our hard-earned money better than any govt can. I am not a charity.

OldDartmouthMark · #**5807** Posted **Apr 12, 2018, 10:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith P.

OTOH I believe it is every citizen's duty to pay as little in taxes as legally possible since we know where to spend our hard-earned money better than any govt can. I am not a charity.

There's a balance. Without a tax base you don't get all the infrastructure and facilities that the majority need/want.

Of those things, there will be some that I don't need or want, but somebody else will. Hence my statement.

I'm well aware that there are many who legally find ways to pay very little taxes, less than others of the same income level. Good for them, I guess, but all it means is that the government will find ways to increase taxation for the rest of us to meet their budget goals. So... enjoy - I'm happy to subsidize your contribution so you get to enjoy the infrastructure and public facilities that we all are paying for.

q12 · #**5808** Posted **Apr 17, 2018, 10:47 AM**

Halifax Nova Center South Corner by Rodney Hickey, on Flickr

Halifax Nova Center Colorful Morning by Rodney Hickey, on Flickr

Nova Center Looking Down Sackville Street by Rodney Hickey, on Flickr

Keith P. · #**5809** Posted **Apr 17, 2018, 12:34 PM**

Is the parking garage open to the public yet?

OldDartmouthMark · #**5810** Posted **Apr 17, 2018, 12:53 PM**

Wow... great pics! Thanks for sharing!

eastcoastal · #**5811** Posted **Apr 17, 2018, 2:57 PM**

That glow on the sidewalks is unpleasant. I do like how they've outlined the building edges with light though.

OldDartmouthMark · #**5812** Posted **Apr 17, 2018, 4:09 PM**

I don't mind the glow on the sidewalk, but I have noticed the blue LEDs to be a little harsh on the eyes if you happen to look up at them.

That said, I'm a fan of accent lighting, so I can't really complain.

Keith P. · #**5813** Posted **Apr 17, 2018, 4:18 PM**

It's the House of Blue Lights!

• Video Link

Jonovision · #**5814** Posted **May 7, 2018, 10:01 PM**

Argyle was shoulder to shoulder this weekend with all the activities and spill out from the ECMAs.

Mid morning:

20180505_112158 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

20180505_112027 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

Mid afternoon:

20180505_132159 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

20180505_133228 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

q12 · #**5815** Posted **May 8, 2018, 10:54 AM**

Here's another:

https://twitter.com/AndyFillmoreHFX/status/992811681041412097

beyeas · #**5816** Posted **May 8, 2018, 2:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonovision

20180505_133228 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

Oh the humanity. Downtown must have been total gridlock, with people having to walk metres and metres from their parking spaces all because of these elite intelligentsia beer sippers and so-called "music" lovers occupying perfectly good parking spaces. Why won't somebody think of the children!! ? ?

OldDartmouthMark · #**5817** Posted **May 8, 2018, 3:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonovision

Argyle was shoulder to shoulder this weekend with all the activities and spill out from the ECMAs.

20180505_133228 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

Mmmm... looks good. Was that a stout?

Thanks for posting the pics. We were there early evening after the ECMA event was over, and it was still quite busy with many people out and about enjoying the area. The widened sidewalks have improved the atmosphere very much and car traffic was minimal along both of those sections of Argyle. There didn't seem to be anybody inconvenienced by this new configuration - I think that motorists have realized there is no available parking and have adjusted their habits accordingly - no harm no foul.

I feel I can now judge this layout as definitely a plus - a huge improvement over the street being lined with parked cars and a steady stream of traffic driving along it as had been the situation in the past. A 'win' for the city for sure.

I did notice that it was quite windier near the Carleton than anywhere else downtown, but maybe it was just the prevailing winds that day.

Keith P. · #**5818** Posted **May 8, 2018, 4:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

I did notice that it was quite windier near the Carleton than anywhere else downtown, but maybe it was just the prevailing winds that day.

Cars block the wind. The design is therefore a failure.

OldDartmouthMark · #**5819** Posted **May 8, 2018, 7:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Cars block the wind. The design is therefore a failure.

Keith's sense of humour is intact.

eastcoastal · #**5820** Posted **May 8, 2018, 8:12 PM**

I think the streetscaping looks nice. I'm not convinced the convention centre is an asset to the activity though - strikes me as a glossy behemoth at street level in those photos, somehow more apparent with lots of people in the foreground. I guess the evidence of human activity removes some of the abstraction - I'm used to thinking of the building more in terms of a sculptural form in the skyline or from a distance.