Development Rumours - Page 140

IanWatson · #**2781** Posted **Dec 7, 2021, 2:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JET

any news on the Dartmouth Post Office? Seems to be renovations on the 2nd floor.

They seem to be doing environmental work right now. They closed the parking lot last week. It was good while it lasted...

OldDartmouthMark · #**2782** Posted **Dec 7, 2021, 4:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JET

any news on the Dartmouth Post Office? Seems to be renovations on the 2nd floor.

The only mention I could find of it was in this article, which mentions as an aside that a developer bought it for $6 million.

If there's more info about the plans for this building I'd be very interested to read about it.

FWIW, previous discussion of this property was in this thread. I don't know if it would be best to continue the discussion about it there, or maybe it deserves its own thread?

JET · #**2783** Posted **Dec 7, 2021, 11:51 PM**

thanks Mark, I thought that it would be a good spot for a brew pub, like the Church in Wolfville.

OldDartmouthMark · #**2784** Posted **Dec 8, 2021, 4:27 AM**

I like the way you're thinking!

IanWatson · #**2785** Posted **Dec 10, 2021, 1:48 PM**

I've been tangentially involved in this one so am cautious not to spill beans that aren't mine to spill. But if you look at publicly-available info, the purchaser is a numbered company with James (Jim) Lawley listed as director. He was involved in advancing Keith Hall and The Alexander through his company Halkirk Properties before selling out in full to Killam.

Centre Plan has an as-of-right max height of 90 metres and an FAR here of 2.25. Realistically, the FAR will cap the building height earlier than 90 metres if you're doing generous floor plates.

However, because it's a heritage property Centre Plan also has a development agreement option that is pretty wide open in what it allows as long as it's promoting and respecting the heritage element of the site and otherwise fulfills the general goals of Centre Plan. The heritage registration recognizes both the old post office and the "annex".

It'll be interesting to see what option they go with.

Also, can confirm that it is indeed environmental work going on right now. There are some dumpsters filled with the yellow bags for asbestos remediation.

OldDartmouthMark · #**2786** Posted **Dec 10, 2021, 4:10 PM**

Thanks for the info... sounds like something really interesting is going to happen with the site while respecting the heritage elements of the post office building.

I can appreciate your holding back on info as I have lived an entire career under the veil of robust confidentiality agreements, and therefore am happy with the info that's already in the public realm which you've brought to our attention.

I'm sure it won't be too long until more is available publicly.

Jonovision · #**2787** Posted **Dec 11, 2021, 9:39 AM**

Give them all the height they want as long as they restore that beautiful old clock tower!?

IanWatson · #**2788** Posted **Jan 5, 2022, 3:24 PM**

The latest staff report on the Regional Plan update includes a whole bunch of preliminary proposals that people have submitted as Regional Plan amendment requests:

https://www.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/city-hall/regional-council/211214rc1519.pdf

mleblanc · #**2789** Posted **Jan 5, 2022, 7:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanWatson

The latest staff report on the Regional Plan update includes a whole bunch of preliminary proposals that people have submitted as Regional Plan amendment requests:

https://www.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/city-hall/regional-council/211214rc1519.pdf

Nice find. One that stood out was this redevelopment of the Exhibition Park grounds:

atbw · #**2790** Posted **Feb 27, 2022, 7:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mleblanc

Nice find. One that stood out was this redevelopment of the Exhibition Park grounds:

Now THIS looks like Keith's oft-quoted 'Highfield Park Special'

Empire · #**2791** Posted **Mar 1, 2022, 12:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by atbw

Now THIS looks like Keith's oft-quoted 'Highfield Park Special'

This site is prime for additional height. Given the footprint, the density is far too thin.

Corker · #**2792** Posted **Mar 1, 2022, 3:53 AM**

I wonder where the children of the families that may move here would go to school - it must be 5+ km to the nearest one. That's probably not unusual for a rural area but there can't be many areas 'in the city' that would be farther from a school.

JonHiseler · #**2793** Posted **Mar 1, 2022, 4:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corker

I wonder where the children of the families that may move here would go to school - it must be 5+ km to the nearest one. That's probably not unusual for a rural area but there can't be many areas 'in the city' that would be farther from a school.

Prospect Road Elementary, Brookside Junior High and Halifax West are all within under 10 km of the exhibition grounds.

Arrdeeharharharbour · #**2794** Posted **Mar 1, 2022, 2:40 PM**

I'm a hard pass on this one. I struggle to see anything good about how this development would look...starting with that ugly barn of an exibition centre and it's perpetually potholed parking lot. It's windy barrens at this site. I can picture builder grade ashphalt shingle bits blowing about and mismatched roof repairs. Pitched roof vernacular is a no go here. This site needs a proper architect with strong design acumen. Picture Bedrock North circa 8000 bc.

Jstaleness · #**2795** Posted **Mar 3, 2022, 1:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Empire

This site is prime for additional height. Given the footprint, the density is far too thin.

My thoughts exactly. Unless my eyes deceived me, the highest was 6 floors??

Yeah, no

atbw · #**2796** Posted **Mar 8, 2022, 10:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Empire

This site is prime for additional height. Given the footprint, the density is far too thin.

I'd honestly like to see height restrictions at least on par with the tallest parts of the peninsula, if not taller, outside of downtown. Lacewood & Dunbrack, Joe Howe/DVR, Bedford Waterfront, and built up areas of Main and Portland in Dartmouth should be more like downtown.

kph06 · #**2797** Posted **Mar 24, 2022, 1:41 AM**

Roughly half the Robie Street facing homes heading north from Bliss Street are fenced off for demolition. I don't think I've heard of a proposal for this site.

IanWatson · #**2798** Posted **Mar 24, 2022, 11:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kph06

Roughly half the Robie Street facing homes heading north from Bliss Street are fenced off for demolition. I don't think I've heard of a proposal for this site.

Huh, that's kind of surprising. That stretch is zoned Corridor but the max height is 11 metres (3 storeys). You could certainly squeeze some extra density in by using the full depth of the lots and the 3rd floor, but I'm kind of surprised that there's enough extra density there to make the economics work.

OldDartmouthMark · #**2799** Posted **Mar 24, 2022, 3:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kph06

Roughly half the Robie Street facing homes heading north from Bliss Street are fenced off for demolition. I don't think I've heard of a proposal for this site.

Wow... some of those appear to be well-kept (from the outside) Victorians. Seems like the continual depletion of our old homes isn't letting up. One has to wonder at what point do we, as a city, try to keep what we have left of our older buildings.

At this rate, in another 20 years or so there will not be much left for the young people to see how homes used to be built. Maybe if nobody cares it doesn't really matter?

Keith P. · #**2800** Posted **Mar 24, 2022, 3:30 PM**

One of the things that may be in play here is that Robie is the main N-S artery in the city and so has very heavy traffic, not to mention all the fire engines, ambulances and police cars that go roaring past with full lights and sirens wailing. That cannot make it a very pleasant street upon which to live. How much that affects the values of these properties I cannot say.