General Updates and News

[Citizen_Bane]

By-laws in this city prevent me from razing my house and leaving my neighbours with an ugly gaping hole or a parking lot or a beer garden etc. next door. I understand why and I respect the rigid restrictions placed upon me through my / our elected government. Giving credit where credit is due, the many developers we are lucky to have in our great city work hard and often do wonderful things to contribute to our city. But there should be no free pass to be a bully because of doing something wonderful. And the message to the city (we citizens and our duly elected government who created a heritage zone) from this developer seems pretty clear in that they chose to ignore the wishes of the citizens in favour of their own individual desires.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I can think of a few (thankfully) Communist totalitarian states that might be a better home for those who believe govt should control property owners to such an extent, too.

What if this lot becomes a landscaped pocket park? Or a beer garden? Or some other thing in the absence of new construction? Maybe even HRM, with its deep pockets of taxpayer gold to spend waste, could be convinced to pitch in and aid the cause. The millions they spent to turn Argyle into a haven for the bar-going students and under-30s, and unwelcome to anyone else, offends me. Just so you know.

Overstated on both parts, IMHO.

1) Placing some constraints or limitations on how a developer can treat his property in the downtown city core is far from being a communist totalitarian state. In fact, in most democratic countries, it is considered normal and reasonable.

2) I haven't been under 30 in over 2 decades, but still enjoy (or did before Covid) Argyle Street in its current configuration, as did many others I've observed who are even older than I. Have never felt unwelcome, so I can't say that I share your opinion even remotely.

Just my 2¢.

[spaustin]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

The hand-wringing about this Blowers building is noteworthy because it is far from your own district and the building is in no way noteworthy. One suspects a personal connection to it for you in one of its past lives, just like Mason with the Khyber. Imagine if the millions of dollars that HRM has/will be sinking into that dump were spread around for preservation of actual heritage. One must also question the property valuation process if a largely derelict old building with little prospect of reuse is valued more than a cleared lot ready for development.

One can suspect anything they want. I suspect you're five cats and a goat in a Keith suit, but that doesn't make it true. I have no personal connection to this whatsoever although I do find the continual loss of our old streetscapes concerning and as a member of the Heritage Advisory Committee that would have considered this building, I resent seeing the process short-circuited by strategic demolitions.

[Keith P.]

I can certainly understand your resentment at seeing an evil developer escape the clutches of HRM bureaucracy that would tie their hands and make an asset they bought with their own hard-earned money largely worthless. It must be frustrating for you, first the developer in Dartmouth slipped through your hands by building a hotel instead of the sawed-off condos you wanted, now this.

Just so you know, I am thinking of purchasing the lot and creating a new private park called Chebucto Square with a monument of Eddie Cornwallis just to drive you and your fellow progressives at City Hall over the edge. As for your suspicions, for the record I have never owned a goat.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by spaustin

One can suspect anything they want. I suspect you're five cats and a goat in a Keith suit, but that doesn't make it true. I have no personal connection to this whatsoever although I do find the continual loss of our old streetscapes concerning and as a member of the Heritage Advisory Committee that would have considered this building, I resent seeing the process short-circuited by strategic demolitions.

I am 100% in agreement with this (the streetscapes, not the cat and goat thing).

This does not make one anti-development or against developers, but there simply has to be some direction given by the city. Nobody argues that zoning laws shouldn't exist, so therefore it's logical that there be some kind of heritage protection as well.

Yet we still hear that a developer should be able to do whatever they want with no interference from anybody. It's perplexing, and makes one wonder if some posters have a vested interest in the business, as the level of protest and superlative wording can border on the extreme.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

I am 100% in agreement with this (the streetscapes, not the cat and goat thing).

This does not make one anti-development or against developers, but there simply has to be some direction given by the city. Nobody argues that zoning laws shouldn't exist, so therefore it's logical that there be some kind of heritage protection as well.

Yet we still hear that a developer should be able to do whatever they want with no interference from anybody. It's perplexing, and makes one wonder if some posters have a vested interest in the business, as the level of protest and superlative wording can border on the extreme.

Well, it could have been destroyed in a mysterious fire, like the old building (Hell Hotel, popular among a gang of youthful squatters back in the day) previously adjacent to this site, or the NFB Building, which has been a blight on Barrington St for 3 decades when HRM decided it could not be demolished as it should have been. At least this property owner was up-front about it.

One concludes certain elected members are anti-development from their actions, and the council member in question, like several others, has demonstrated that trait. In this specific case it is due to what seems to be a slavish devotion to planning policies and bylaws regardless of whether they make sense, unlike his mentor from the south end of Halifax who is far more blatant in his pandering to influential voters in his district. We mock the public hearings where we constantly hear "I'm not anti-development, I'm just against this development!" yet that is what has happened too often at Council.

Listening to the tripe being spewed at Council today one can only hope voters have had enough of this bunch and clean house this fall.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Well, opinions on council notwithstanding, I think this one should at least have been given the opportunity to go through the heritage evaluation process, and then if it was deemed worthy of demolition, so be it. The optics of this, whether it be the case or not, are that the developer hurriedly tore it down to avoid being required to include the building facade or whatever in the new development. It reeks of a sleazy act, if only because it's been done time and time again. If it turns into yet another lot that remains vacant for a decade or two, then it's just a slap in the face of citizens and council alike.

And, FWIW, we've conversed enough over the years on this board that we both know very well that we share opposite views on the NFB site (I believe that is what prompted you to adopt your 'wrecking ball' avatar), but for my 2¢ I'm happy that they saved it and are now turning it into a decent development that continues the theme of the heritage conservation district (though I wish they'd work a little faster...).

[Querce]

Looking forward to you declaring your candidacy, Keith

[Colin May]

Listening to the tripe being spewed at Council today one can only hope voters have had enough of this bunch and clean house this fall.[/QUOTE]

Everyone re-offering will be elected. If Linda Mosher runs against Cleary it will be tight, he won by 89 votes when she was busy with her dying husband.
Money will be tight next year and many businesses will be unable to pay rent and property taxes.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Colin May

Everyone re-offering will be elected. If Linda Mosher runs against Cleary it will be tight, he won by 89 votes when she was busy with her dying husband.
Money will be tight next year and many businesses will be unable to pay rent and property taxes.

Sadly you are probably right. Mason, Cleary, Blackburn, Mancini, Austin, Smith and Zurawski all need to go. If Karsten is reoffering he needs to go too. I am disappointed in the recent change in Steve Streatch who used to be sensible but now seems to have been brainwashed by the "progressives" on numerous issues.

[IanWatson]

Karsten is not re-offering. Neither is Steve Adams or Lorelei Nichol. Matt Whitman is running for mayor, so his district is open. Russel Walker hasn't announced his intentions, as far as I'm aware.

[Dmajackson]

Originally Posted by IanWatson

Karsten is not re-offering. Neither is Steve Adams or Lorelei Nichol. Matt Whitman is running for mayor, so his district is open. Russel Walker hasn't announced his intentions, as far as I'm aware.

According to the news today Walker is NOT re-offering after 26 years at the table.

[teddifax]

I think new blood will be good!!!

[Colin May]

Originally Posted by teddifax

I think new blood will be good!!!

The names I see have no experience for the position and will soon discover they have entered public life at a very difficult time. Quite amazing that Savage has such an easy time, almost never quoted in the media and has never been to a BOPC meeting other than when the FN member was sworn in and he had a few selfies taken and then left the room. He also made sure he was out of town when Chief Kinsella gave the apology to the Black community.

[IanWatson]

Originally Posted by Colin May

The names I see have no experience for the position

Does anyone really have experience for the position? Usually municipal councillors come from other walks of life; it's not like there's a training program or degree you can get in municipal politics.

[Colin May]

Originally Posted by IanWatson

Does anyone really have experience for the position? Usually municipal councillors come from other walks of life; it's not like there's a training program or degree you can get in municipal politics.

I attended all Dartmouth council meetings for 3 years prior to being elected in 1991 and also attended many many meetings prior to 1988. I read all the financial statements from when Dartmouth became a city in 1961. My wife was
a member of Dartmouth School Board from 1985-91.
The Municipal Accounting Manual was amended after I raised questions regarding the improper investments by the city of Dartmouth.
Any prospective candidate needs to understand how the money flows and how the power of council of is exercised. And also needs to know how to read financial statements.

[Querce]

3411 Joseph Howe has received a building permit for a 100 unit, 8 story building (HR-1)

[Colin May]

A 'must read' account of life as a construction worker : https://quillette.com/2020/08/02/my-life-pouring-concrete/

[someone123]

East West Street




Source

The site:

[HalifaxRetales]

Sounds like tenants were told it's the last weekend for the Harbourview Market on Canal St

Mosaik bought the property in 2012
makes sense to redevelop now that the streets are being realigned