Salter Street Block | 41 m | 12 fl | Cancelled - Page 16

fenwick16 · #**301** Posted **Nov 2, 2010, 10:56 PM**

Looks like a very interesting event. Thanks for posting Wishblade. I posted the image from the story below:

(source: http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/sports/a...volleyball-championships-come-to-halifax )

someone123 · #**302** Posted **Nov 10, 2010, 4:47 AM**

Still no news on this project? If construction were as imminent as suggested last summer you'd think there would be a website for this project or something.

hoser111 · #**303** Posted **Nov 10, 2010, 5:47 AM**

According to "Daily Commercial News":

Design work is still underway at the office of the Architect. Construction schedules will be announced Jan/Feb 2011.

someone123 · #**304** Posted **Feb 16, 2011, 3:52 AM**

Allnovascotia had an article about David Chisholm being appointed to the WDCL. He gave the usual talk about aggressively developing the waterfront.

They also mentioned that Centennial Group is in talks with the WDCL about the upcoming construction deadline. I hope this doesn't mean putting construction off for another year or more -- it's shameful that no significant lots have been developed since Bishop's Landing while dozens of projects have been successfully completed in other areas.

beyeas · #**305** Posted **Feb 16, 2011, 12:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

Allnovascotia had an article about David Chisholm being appointed to the WDCL. He gave the usual talk about aggressively developing the waterfront.

They also mentioned that Centennial Group is in talks with the WDCL about the upcoming construction deadline. I hope this doesn't mean putting construction off for another year or more -- it's shameful that no significant lots have been developed since Bishop's Landing while dozens of projects have been successfully completed in other areas.

Yeah I had the exact same worry. The line about "we are in discussions related to that milestone" is extremely worrying.

someone123 · #**306** Posted **Feb 16, 2011, 6:49 PM**

I wonder which part of this process is broken. Is it the WDCL dragging their heels or is it the developer? If the developer can't move forward then they should look at new proposals better-suited to current economic conditions. The fact is that there is demand for more than one project every ten years. Recently we've seen private lots developed at a good pace. Most of the empty lots are being held by some level of government.

kph06 · #**307** Posted **Feb 16, 2011, 6:58 PM**

I have a feeling the developer might be out of practice on this one. An Allnovascotia article a little while back mentioned that Medjuk (centennial group) hasn't built a building since Summit Place. Other articles make it seem like he is in the process of handing things over to his son-in-law who owns Universal Properties, so maybe there is more going on behind the scenes. I do know a structural engineering firm is currently working on this project -so things are rolling.

halifaxboyns · #**308** Posted **Feb 16, 2011, 11:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kph06

I have a feeling the developer might be out of practice on this one. An Allnovascotia article a little while back mentioned that Medjuk (centennial group) hasn't built a building since Summit Place. Other articles make it seem like he is in the process of handing things over to his son-in-law who owns Universal Properties, so maybe there is more going on behind the scenes. I do know a structural engineering firm is currently working on this project -so things are rolling.

Isn't Medjuk doing other projects too? I know his son is doing Fenwick but if he's doing other projects - then not only am I concerned for the waterfront but anything else!

kph06 · #**309** Posted **Feb 17, 2011, 1:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

Isn't Medjuk doing other projects too? I know his son is doing Fenwick but if he's doing other projects - then not only am I concerned for the waterfront but anything else!

That's the Metlege's doing Fenwick, they have Templeton. Medjuck's son in law is last named Suissa.

someone123 · #**310** Posted **Mar 11, 2011, 3:36 AM**

There was an article about this in ANS tonight. No real news aside from the WDCL president saying he's worried about the June 1 deadline and Ralph Medjuck saying they're "working conscientiously".

June is only 3 months away.

Really unfortunate that this waterfront lot has sat empty for 7 years and now it might be even longer.

Dmajackson · #**311** Posted **Mar 12, 2011, 2:41 PM**

Buyers back for Bedford condos
Developer: Markets now allow for home purchases
By CHRIS LAMBIE Business Editor
Sat, Mar 12 - 4:54 AM

Quote:

...

Meanwhile, MacLean said he’s paying "strict attention" to whether Centennial Group Ltd., led by prominent local developer Ralph Medjuck, gets the footings in place by June for its Salter Street block project on Halifax’s waterfront project. That would fulfil Centennial’s construction milestone requirement in its 99-year lease with Waterfront Development. The $75-million project is slated to include a 142-unit apartment building, a 98-unit boutique hotel, 75,000 square feet of retail space and a half-hectare public park.

...

Read More

sdm · #**312** Posted **Mar 24, 2011, 1:50 PM**

WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT CORP.--Salter Block Returning to WDCL
----------------------------------------------------------------
In an effort to move development forward on the Halifax
waterfront, Waterfront Development Corporation Ltd. (WDCL)
announced today, March 24, it has taken back possession of the
Salter Block lot from developer Centennial Group Ltd.(CGL).
The developer recently informed WDCL it cannot meet the agreed
upon milestone for the multi-use development project at the end
of Salter Street. A one-year extension was already issued and
there has been no progress on site since CGL took ownership June
1, 2010.
The milestone meant site excavation and the placement of
footings were to be complete on the one-acre site by the end of
May.
"It is disappointing the project is not proceeding," said Colin
MacLean, president and CEO, WDCL. "This decision was not one we
took lightly. Our goal is creating great waterfronts for the
public and they deserve to see progress."
Current commercial development projects include Dockside in
Bedford, Cunard and Queen's Landing in Halifax, and WDC-1, near
King Street in Dartmouth.
Mr. MacLean said these are early days, but WDCL will reassess
options for interim use of the Salter space, focusing on open
public space integral to the waterfront vision. WDCL will also
prepare to re-tender the site for development with the goal of
creating a large public gathering space on the waterfront.
The Salter Block agreements were originally signed in 2009. The
developer agreed to the milestones and chose the transfer date
of June 1, 2010.
WDCL is a provincial Crown corporation developing the strategic
potential of the waterfronts in Bedford, Dartmouth, Halifax and
Lunenburg. Revenues are directly reinvested in the waterfronts
to drive economic opportunity, enhance tourism and provide
experiences for the public along the water's edge.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Jonovision · #**313** Posted **Mar 24, 2011, 2:17 PM**

Not entirely unexpected, but still sad. It was a very nice looking proposal. Hopefully all the new submissions will be just as nice and will actually get built!

sdm · #**314** Posted **Mar 24, 2011, 2:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonovision

Not entirely unexpected, but still sad. It was a very nice looking proposal. Hopefully all the new submissions will be just as nice and will actually get built!

Yeah, hopeful in that. However the the developers failure to proceed may have people questioning if "they can't make it work then how can we"

macgregor · #**315** Posted **Mar 24, 2011, 3:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdm

Yeah, hopeful in that. However the the developers failure to proceed may have people questioning if "they can't make it work then how can we"

Or alternately, we can hope this is an opportunity that pushes one of the other nearby developers off the fence and into construction (Brewery phase 2).

someone123 · #**316** Posted **Mar 24, 2011, 3:57 PM**

This is unfortunate but in a way is a good sign -- it seems like the WDCL is pushing much harder to develop its empty lots these days. Arguably the extension never should have been granted. One of the keys in business is to fail quickly and cheaply. They certainly did not do that here.

The Salter proposal seemed somewhat badly-suited to current economics. It's not hard to imagine an alternate plan that could be more viable (no hotel for example).

beyeas · #**317** Posted **Mar 24, 2011, 4:25 PM**

I totally agree.
It is frustrating to see that the developer couldn't do this, but I am VERY happy to see that WDCL is actually trying to push things rather than letting it stagnate (which is a big change from before!).

worldlyhaligonian · #**318** Posted **Mar 24, 2011, 4:40 PM**

Well, this is terrible news. How can anything be built on this site in less than 2--5 years now?

I loved the design

someone123 · #**319** Posted **Mar 25, 2011, 4:04 AM**

Interesting article tonight in Allnovascotia with Ralph Medjuck talking about how he had financing in place and how they were about to begin construction relatively soon.

It seems a little weird -- was there communication and negotiation beforehand, or just a request for a 12 month extension? Is the claim about imminent construction true? You'd think that the WDCL would agree to some lesser requirement by the June deadline, some kind of work that would be quicker than having footings in place.

Empire · #**320** Posted **Mar 25, 2011, 10:01 AM**

Perfect site for the convention centre.