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

[sdm]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

What's your problem sdm? If you don't believe in it you're part of the problem in Halifax.

Progress is possible... no place would ever get ahead with your mentality.

Ease up. I am sharing my opinion, and if you care to read i say "if he believes its a worthwhile investement then whats the risk of an independent study?" meaning why not go ahead with the study in order to settle this once and for all. By his stance he actually hurts the public opinion on the project.

And please be careful on me being part of the problem statement.

[Hali87]

Good news in today's Herald:

And, on Wednesday, developer Joe Ramia said the parking garage entrance could be moved from Argyle Street to another location.

Source

[Hali87]

Also, was anyone at the public meeting last night?

[someone123]

Ramia also talked about the garage entrance relocation in the video from the last consultation that is up on the website. Apparently they brought in a consultant who thinks they can manage to put the entrance elsewhere and they will present the new plans on December 5.

It is really nice to see that some tangible improvements have been made to the design as a result of the consultations. It is good for everybody -- the city gets better buildings and the public's impression of developers improves so there is less knee-jerk negative sentiment and obstructionism.

The interior renderings are again pretty rough but I think they look good. In particular it seems like the building will be quite open along Argyle and provides an easy path up to Grafton. I am looking forward to the next set of renderings.

[Duff]

I'm really happy to hear they found a way to get the parking entrance away from Argyle Street. I believe a lot of people have a vision for Argyle to be pedestrian only one day, and that would have been ruined forever if they didn't find this solution.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Duff

I'm really happy to hear they found a way to get the parking entrance away from Argyle Street. I believe a lot of people have a vision for Argyle to be pedestrian only one day, and that would have been ruined forever if they didn't find this solution.

I am not a big fan of pedestrian-only streets (unless there is a lot of pedestrian activity for most of the day and night) but I do like streets with limited vehicle lanes and wider sidewalks. Granville Street in Vancouver now has this sort of hybrid approach and the part before Robson is similar to Argyle.


Source

One big advantage Argyle has is that it's not an important traffic artery and it's not used for transit. Some traffic still needs to get through but it could easily be accommodated in 2 small lanes plus some places to pull over.

[Hali87]

That has to be one of my favourite streets in Canada. I'm a huge fan of that neon clock.

[Waye Mason]

This is exactly what is proposed for Argyle - pedestrian priority rather than pedestrian only, and easily converted for closed street events (sunken bollards in the road type thing).

Great renderings here (no where near final, more conceptual)

http://ceu.architectureandplanning.dal.ca/pro-argylestreetscape.php

[eastcoastal]

Originally Posted by Waye Mason

This is exactly what is proposed for Argyle - pedestrian priority rather than pedestrian only, and easily converted for closed street events (sunken bollards in the road type thing).

Great renderings here (no where near final, more conceptual)

http://ceu.architectureandplanning.dal.ca/pro-argylestreetscape.php

I am somewhat skeptical that this city can approach the vision expressed in that planning and design exercise for Argyle. I'd love to be proven wrong... I like that the proposal to enhance street-use is not founded on banning (vehicular) use of the street.

[someone123]

I guess this will be a test for regional council: will they follow through or will this just be another plan that gathers dust somewhere?

I hope the city also implements the Barrington and Spring Garden improvements.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by sdm

Ease up. I am sharing my opinion, and if you care to read i say "if he believes its a worthwhile investement then whats the risk of an independent study?" meaning why not go ahead with the study in order to settle this once and for all. By his stance he actually hurts the public opinion on the project.

And please be careful on me being part of the problem statement.

Mostly because Halifax is all "studies", I don't encourage that thinking. If we took half the money we put into these studies we'd have been able to do a high end streetscape project on every street in the city. Cripes.

The convention centre is a facilitation method... regardless of the numbers we get its something we need to have. It really doesn't matter that a proportionally small amount of money is going toward this... people seem to think that public money is theirs, but its everybody's. That's why people who are single pay taxes for other people's kids to go to these newly developed schools, etc. Its a public good, and isn't Ramia taking on the risk of the private side anyway?

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by eastcoastal

I am somewhat skeptical that this city can approach the vision expressed in that planning and design exercise for Argyle. I'd love to be proven wrong... I like that the proposal to enhance street-use is not founded on banning (vehicular) use of the street.

Uhh, yeah... where are all the "what about parking" people right now? I think the plan is great, but they should go more along the lines of just making it a permanently narrower street like in Europe.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

Uhh, yeah... where are all the "what about parking" people right now? I think the plan is great, but they should go more along the lines of just making it a permanently narrower street like in Europe.

Europeans don't drive F-150s.

[cormiermax]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Europeans don't drive F-150s.

Who living in an urban centre in their right mind drives around in an F-150?

[Dmajackson]

Originally Posted by cormiermax

Who living in an urban centre in their right mind drives around in an F-150?

Never been to Calgary I'm guessing! 1/2 the cars here are pickup trucks, Another 1/4 is Hummers and FJ's, and the remainders are the Smartcars that Car2Go owns.

EDIT: Since Grafton is two way there should be no parking IMO.

[Jonovision]

Went by the site today, didn't think to grab a pic but Market st is now closed off and they were working on taking down the retaining wall holding the street up on the Argyle side.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Never been to Calgary I'm guessing! 1/2 the cars here are pickup trucks, Another 1/4 is Hummers and FJ's, and the remainders are the Smartcars that Car2Go owns.

EDIT: Since Grafton is two way there should be no parking IMO.

Hahaha, yeah... Calgary and the west is crazy with the trucks. Its not really an issue in Halifax as much. I wonder how much parking Nova Centre will be adding? It would be a good venue to leave a vehicle and walk to any restaurant in that part of downtown.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

I wonder how much parking Nova Centre will be adding? It would be a good venue to leave a vehicle and walk to any restaurant in that part of downtown.

That probably guarantees there will be zero public parking.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

I wonder how much parking Nova Centre will be adding? It would be a good venue to leave a vehicle and walk to any restaurant in that part of downtown.

I think the original proposal from a couple of years ago was for 500 - 600 parking spaces.

[SekishikiMeikaiHa]

Originally Posted by Jonovision

Went by the site today, didn't think to grab a pic but Market st is now closed off and they were working on taking down the retaining wall holding the street up on the Argyle side.