[Halifax] The Sister Sites | 2X29 m | 2X9 floors | Completed

[Keith P.]

This seems to be proceeding at a snail's pace.

[someone123]

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[teddifax]

Is this area under the Viewplanes restriction... just wondering why it and its sister weren't built higher.

[mleblanc]

Originally Posted by teddifax

Is this area under the Viewplanes restriction... just wondering why it and its sister weren't built higher.

Yes, they both are unfortunately. They would have been perfect sites to build tall residential towers with large podiums for shopping.

(https://www.halifax.ca/sites/default/fil...ssions/Map7-HalifaxCitadelViewPlains.pdf)

[teddifax]

I HATE the viewplanes legislation. It constricts building too much and the tabletop in the skyline is boring.

[Nouvellecosse]

I think the ramparts rules is more responsible for the tabletop than the view planes. If it was just view planes alone, it theoretically could have pushed buildings not within a view plane to be higher.

[atbw]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

I think the ramparts rules is more responsible for the tabletop than the view planes. If it was just view planes alone, it theoretically could have pushed buildings not within a view plane to be higher.

I agree with this. I think there is value in seeing the harbour from the Citadel, but the ramparts rule is just archaic.

[someone123]

Source

[someone123]

A clearer view of the cladding going up on the Margaretta:


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[someone123]

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[someone123]

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[isaidso]

Retail at grade is great but has Halifax got the density right? I realize Halifax is a much smaller metro than Toronto but you still need enough of a residential population above to support the retail below. Are these condo buildings tall enough? Even 5-7 more floors might make the difference between viable retail at grade and commercial space at grade that sits empty. Not everything needs to be 30+ floors but 9 floors probably isn't enough.

[atbw]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Retail at grade is great but has Halifax got the density right? I realize Halifax is a much smaller metro than Toronto but you still need enough of a residential population above to support the retail below. Are these condo buildings tall enough? Even 5-7 more floors might make the difference between viable retail at grade and commercial space at grade that sits empty. Not everything needs to be 30+ floors but 9 floors probably isn't enough.

I think it depends on the area. This is more units than was on the lot previously, in a high-demand retail area. The sister building is full of ground floor retail, and even buildings like the Alexander that sat empty for a while have filled in with high quality retail/dining through the pandemic.

[DigitalNinja]

Originally Posted by isaidso

Retail at grade is great but has Halifax got the density right? I realize Halifax is a much smaller metro than Toronto but you still need enough of a residential population above to support the retail below. Are these condo buildings tall enough? Even 5-7 more floors might make the difference between viable retail at grade and commercial space at grade that sits empty. Not everything needs to be 30+ floors but 9 floors probably isn't enough.

These also feed commercial for all the people who live south and west of the building too in single family/bording/apartments without ground floor retail. Also downtown is still a place that a lot of people from Bedford/Sackville/Dartmouth go to for eating out and other things so there is quite a large market beyond the few additional units.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by atbw

I think it depends on the area. This is more units than was on the lot previously, in a high-demand retail area. The sister building is full of ground floor retail, and even buildings like the Alexander that sat empty for a while have filled in with high quality retail/dining through the pandemic.

As another example, Gorsebrook Park is a new highrise on a residential street with no ground floor retail. The neighbourhood around Wellington/South/Inglis/Barrington always seemed to me to be a bit light on commercial space for how many people live there.

[atbw]

Originally Posted by someone123

As another example, Gorsebrook Park is a new highrise on a residential street with no ground floor retail. The neighbourhood around Wellington/South/Inglis/Barrington always seemed to me to be a bit light on commercial space for how many people live there.

I’m surprised there’s no commercial space worked into South Village/Vuze. The bottom of Queen and that end of Fenwick are a good commercial hub. I’m surprised the vacant lot across from the Sobeys has not been filled in since the Blockbuster was taken down.

[RoshanMcG]

[Keith P.]

Thankfully no evidence of porthole windows on this one.

[eastcoastal]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Thankfully no evidence of porthole windows on this one.

Amen!

[Jonovision]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Thankfully no evidence of porthole windows on this one.

No portholes but they decided to change the colours from black and grey to blue and white.

Can't get the pic to link directly but you can see the new rendering here:
http://themargaretta.ca/

Original design: