General Updates and News

[someone123]

I think this article was mentioned previously. A summary of developments in the Dutch Village Road area (need to scroll past some other material): https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/featured/a-fair-view-of-the-future-of-dutch-village-road/

Dramatic difference particularly once you imagine the new stuff beyond what's covered there as well as the street improvements.

I wonder if the St. Lawrence Place street frontage will be redone anytime soon. The Shoppers also seems out of place here now, not unlike the one on Robie.

[someone123]

Source

[OldDartmouthMark]

Looks like somebody called in the crane cavalry to solve the housing shortage!

[Keith P.]

^^^ Are the buildings mid-frame CFB Stadacona?

[Bone]

We almost need to split this forum into different sections now haha, there are so many on the go in both the urban and suburban pages.

[NS Bayman]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

^^^ Are the buildings mid-frame CFB Stadacona?

Yes it is. The newer and uglier building is the Jr. Ranks mess and accommodations (Fleet Club). Interesting POV with the narrows not really in view.

[Dartguard]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

^^^ Are the buildings mid-frame CFB Stadacona?

I know this may set you off Keith but the older red brick building to the right in the photo are the Wellington Barracks. The Barracks used to house one of the two regiments that used to Garrison the Halifax defense complex. The other Regiment would occupy the Citadel and there are stories of the residents of Wellington coming up with interesting excuses to NOT go to the Citadel. Wellington was considered leading edge accommodations for its time . The Citadel a dungeon.

Wellington also had the distinction of being the first Buildings made of N.S. red brick clay that had the mortar survive Nova Scotia Winters. It is presently condemned but there are close copies of this structure still housing elements of U.K. forces.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Dartguard

Wellington also had the distinction of being the first Buildings made of N.S. red brick clay that had the mortar survive Nova Scotia Winters. It is presently condemned but there are close copies of this structure still housing elements of U.K. forces.

Originally I believe there were two structures and only one remains. There are lots of old photos of these barracks; each looked a bit different and maps show the footprint of both. It is too bad they didn't both survive. I hope the remaining portion is preserved.

I understand that this is still a military base but Halifax is kind of odd for having such historic areas treated in a utilitarian fashion. I'm happy at least that the North Park armoury seems to be getting a good restoration job. I wonder how long it will be before the scaffolding comes off the main facade, if it's still up.

I doubt it'll happen but I wish something better would be built for the old naval clock too. Maybe it could be moved back closer to where it was around the Cogswell lands, with a reconstruction that gives an impression of what the ordnance yard was like (https://hmhps.ca/sites/halifax-ordnance-yard).

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Dartguard

I know this may set you off Keith but the older red brick building to the right in the photo are the Wellington Barracks. The Barracks used to house one of the two regiments that used to Garrison the Halifax defense complex. The other Regiment would occupy the Citadel and there are stories of the residents of Wellington coming up with interesting excuses to NOT go to the Citadel. Wellington was considered leading edge accommodations for its time . The Citadel a dungeon.

Wellington also had the distinction of being the first Buildings made of N.S. red brick clay that had the mortar survive Nova Scotia Winters. It is presently condemned but there are close copies of this structure still housing elements of U.K. forces.

Interesting... what year was it built?

You say it's condemned - is its demolition imminent?

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by someone123

I understand that this is still a military base but Halifax is kind of odd for having such historic areas treated in a utilitarian fashion.

Is this any different than how DND treats other military properties in the rest of Canada?

You're right, though, in that most historic buildings in Halifax are not treated any differently than a Burnside tilt-up that has outlived its usefulness. Thankfully some still exist, but I would consider very few to be safe against some future demolition if there happened to be a good business case for redevelopment of the property that it's on.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Interesting... what year was it built?

You say it's condemned - is its demolition imminent?

Yeah, I’d like to learn more about that. I’ve never heard anything about it being condemned, and it’s a federal heritage building, which should accord it maximum protection.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Dartguard

I know this may set you off Keith but the older red brick building to the right in the photo are the Wellington Barracks.

I have no issues with legitimately old red brick buildings. Its overuse to attempt to mimic those old buildings in new faux-Victorian structures (esp in the relatively recent past when such gestures were a necessity, along with styroforam cornice appliques), to get approval for development is what sets me off.

[mleblanc]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Interesting... what year was it built?

You say it's condemned - is its demolition imminent?

This link has some interesting pictures from back in the day and a bit of history surrounding the Wellington Barracks. The building that is left is the Officers Quarters, and the larger building had been torn down some time ago, that is where the drill hall stands today. Interestingly, the RCR gate is still visible on Gottingen.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by mleblanc

This link has some interesting pictures from back in the day and a bit of history surrounding the Wellington Barracks. The building that is left is the Officers Quarters, and the larger building had been torn down some time ago, that is where the drill hall stands today. Interestingly, the RCR gate is still visible on Gottingen.

Thanks for that - it's very interesting.

After seeing those photos, I was reminded of a related blog post I had read some time ago:
https://halifaxbloggers.ca/noticedinnova...dinary-new-building-on-gottingen-street/

[Dmajackson]

2050 Gottingen Street


Halifax Developments Blog (Photo by David Jackson)

[Good Baklava]

Interesting, is that a small gap for light in the rear of the building?

[MeEtc]

All buildings now gone and crane base was installed yesterday on the lot of former 6438-6463 Bayers Rd (area between Dr Piano and catholic church)

[someone123]

Looks like the dark brown lowrise building mid-block between Grafton and Market (former bank cheque processing facility?) is coming down: https://www.facebook.com/Developments-HFX-1613177012119225/photos/3208088642628046

Could this mean that the days are numbered for visibility of the ugly blank red wall?

[kph06]

Originally Posted by someone123

Looks like the dark brown lowrise building mid-block between Grafton and Market (former bank cheque processing facility?) is coming down: https://www.facebook.com/Developments-HFX-1613177012119225/photos/3208088642628046

Could this mean that the days are numbered for visibility of the ugly blank red wall?

That’s positive to see. Dexel bought the building a few years ago and recently got Maxwell’s. I had heard it will likely be parking in the interim, maybe a beer garden for some of the space. They have a few projects in the queue at the moment.

[Dmajackson]

^New surface parking lots are banned in Downtown. It's the same in the Centre Plan area and is why when Steele demolished the houses on May Street the area was barricaded and left as an empty lot. The beer garden idea as an interim solution could be interesting though.