[Halifax] Nova Centre | 65-58-58 m | 16-15-14 fl | Completed - Page 140

Halifax Hillbilly · #**2781** Posted **Feb 14, 2012, 7:53 PM**

Looks like a zombie apocalypse. Or an art installation that got really beat up by wind, rain and snow. Creepy indeed.

Wouldn't the approval of TD Centre and the resumption of Waterside Centre hurt this project? I would assume they are all going after the same type of tenants, and the first two projects are a go. If I needed office space I'd rather sign with a sure thing. The office vacancy rate downtown is quite high and there are two developments first in line. Doesn't look promising.

How long will the developer drag this out before going to his plan b, which is apparently mid-rise residential, with some retail and office? I really hope the government doesn't hop in and directly subsidize the office towers or hotel. I don't think it would happen, but it would be a horrible precedent.

halifaxboyns · #**2782** Posted **Feb 14, 2012, 8:52 PM**

I thought Kelly did like the italians do and make them part of bridge abutments.

Northend Nerd · #**2783** Posted **Feb 15, 2012, 3:24 PM**

Here is a Mini Documentary I saw on Twitter about the artwork and the development.

http://vimeo.com/36788017

spaustin · #**2784** Posted **Feb 16, 2012, 3:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halifax Hillbilly

Looks like a zombie apocalypse. Or an art installation that got really beat up by wind, rain and snow. Creepy indeed.

Wouldn't the approval of TD Centre and the resumption of Waterside Centre hurt this project? I would assume they are all going after the same type of tenants, and the first two projects are a go. If I needed office space I'd rather sign with a sure thing. The office vacancy rate downtown is quite high and there are two developments first in line. Doesn't look promising.

How long will the developer drag this out before going to his plan b, which is apparently mid-rise residential, with some retail and office? I really hope the government doesn't hop in and directly subsidize the office towers or hotel. I don't think it would happen, but it would be a horrible precedent.

The sad part is if Rank had gone with Plan B there would probably be a crane onsite right now.

Wishblade · #**2785** Posted **Feb 16, 2012, 2:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaustin

The sad part is if Rank had gone with Plan B there would probably be a crane onsite right now.

We shouldn't have to settle for less. Even if the process takes longer, it'll be worth the wait for the end result. Besides, The developer should be stating whether this is going through or not anytime.

RyeJay · #**2786** Posted **Feb 17, 2012, 10:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wishblade

We shouldn't have to settle for less. Even if the process takes longer, it'll be worth the wait for the end result. Besides, The developer should be stating whether this is going through or not anytime.

Aside from the relatively quickly approved expansion of the TD Tower, the resumption of the Waterside Centre has been very long in-waiting. Although office vacancy rates are high, this will undoubtedly fall in several years even with Halifax's horrible downtown tax rates. The forecasted demand due to the shipbuilding contract combined with the city's recent proposal and construction activity has helped with developer confidence. This bodes well for the private sector.

I'm also worried about the Nova Centre breaking ground -- but not as worried if this development were not so supported by all three levels of government. Hopefully when spring arrives that art mess will be gone, along with part of the ground

kph06 · #**2787** Posted **Mar 15, 2012, 11:56 PM**

We must be pretty close to this deadline now?

RyeJay · #**2788** Posted **Mar 16, 2012, 12:19 AM**

March 19th.

I'm fervently wishful they begin construction this year. The delays have already extended a likely opening of the Nova Centre to sometime in 2016. Having this project as part of Halifax's skyline would greatly lift the esteem of the city, especially for the 2017 centennial.

someone123 · #**2789** Posted **Mar 16, 2012, 12:49 AM**

It will be interesting to see what happens. The developer has a huge incentive to make this work because of the government money.

If they do start this up this year there will be a ton of construction underway downtown on some really key sites.

fenwick16 · #**2790** Posted **Mar 17, 2012, 5:43 PM**

I am disappointed that Rank Inc. hasn't put more effort into their website. It has been a one page "Website Under Construction" with a few images and three paragraphs of text for the past few years. Here is a link to their website - http://www.rankinc.ca/

For such a major development, I would expect something more like the King's Wharf website which had a wealth of information before construction even began. There is so much information that could be posted about the new convention centre such as floor plans that were previously presented and specifications on the number of meeting rooms, convention hall size, ballroom size, etc.

RyeJay · #**2791** Posted **Mar 17, 2012, 11:02 PM**

I agree, Fenwick. It does strike me as odd, especially since the material you're mentioning was released quite some time ago.

The website, or webpage rather, simply looks lazy.
But I won't take this as a bad omen.

worldlyhaligonian · #**2792** Posted **Mar 18, 2012, 3:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyeJay

I agree, Fenwick. It does strike me as odd, especially since the material you're mentioning was released quite some time ago.

The website, or webpage rather, simply looks lazy.
But I won't take this as a bad omen.

Yeah, I wouldn't worry about it... the quality of the website is not even relevant to what's happening (or not) with this development.

kph06 · #**2793** Posted **Mar 18, 2012, 6:50 PM**

I find a lot of developers are behind the times when it comes to websites, if they even have one. Slowly it seems like they are starting to realize the value.

resetcbu1 · #**2794** Posted **Mar 18, 2012, 6:53 PM**

I just can't belive how little we have heard on this development. After all the exitement leading up, I feel diaspointed at this point. Guess it's just wait and see.

RyeJay · #**2795** Posted **Mar 18, 2012, 10:21 PM**

Tomorrow, we should know more

If the developer is still having trouble with commercial tenants, as has been previously reported, perhaps mostly everything can be residential? Renovating to commercial is always an option in the future. If parts of the Nova Centre were to remain commercial, however, securing tenants before the completion of construction is likely, given the city's growth.

Since so much time has elapsed, I wonder if this will mean any design changes, again?

someone123 · #**2796** Posted **Mar 20, 2012, 4:45 AM**

Hmm.. still no news.

This may have been posted a while ago but I found an interesting PDF of a Rank presentation that was given to council: http://halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/101109cow3rank.pdf

About mid-way through the documents are some renderings I haven't seen before. The one that shows the Nova Centre along with 3D models for the surrounding blocks is quite impressive. If built it will totally transform a 12 block area.

I look forward to the day when Prince Street from the Citadel to the waterfront is an uninterrupted 9 block stretch of interesting buildings. For that to happen both the Nova Centre and Queen's Landing would have to be built.

RyeJay · #**2797** Posted **Mar 20, 2012, 11:54 PM**

No news yet. Throw us a freakin bone already!

kph06 · #**2798** Posted **Mar 21, 2012, 12:59 AM**

Councillor Harvey is speaking about the YMCA proposal and mentioned the Nova Centre and how it was allowed under rule 89 allotting a height increase with added community value. He noted how there has been no news about the project and that he thinks council should set a "sunset date" with council's involvement with the convention centre.

RyeJay · #**2799** Posted **Mar 21, 2012, 1:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kph06

Councillor Harvey is speaking about the YMCA proposal and mentioned the Nova Centre and how it was allowed under rule 89 allotting a height increase with added community value. He noted how there has been no news about the project and that he thinks council should set a "sunset date" with council's involvement with the convention centre.

After so much waiting, I'm actually glad this was mentioned. I'm not expecting anything drastic by council, but this at least may help press the developer and governmental bodies to release more information.

If the Nova Centre doesn't have tenants yet, then simply say so. There are other options.

someone123 · #**2800** Posted **Mar 21, 2012, 1:38 AM**

It would be nice to hear more news, but I'm not sure there's a lot about tenant negotiations that could be said publicly and hasn't been said already.

Something else to keep in mind is that a lot of the delay with the Nova Centre was related to the provincial and federal governments. It isn't really fair to fault a developer for a few months of planning after a shaky period of two or three years of uncertainty.