[Halifax] Nova Centre | 65-58-58 m | 16-15-14 fl | Completed - Page 183

eastcoastal · #**3641** Posted **Oct 25, 2013, 5:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ns_kid

...
Roger Taylor's piece in today's Herald restates what has already been known for some time: the original concept for the structure has been changed considerably, in large part due to the extensive public consultation. Taylor also restates earlier assertions that securing HRM approvals will take up to eight months, which is why the city asked the province to allow subgrade work to proceed by way of interim planning area order.
...

It is possible that the sub-grade work progress could be used to pressure the Design Review Committee to pass a development that otherwise might not be passed. I don't have a huge hate-on for this building, but I do have to say that closing a public street is counter to what is generally accepted as good practice in urban design. The current planning and development bylaws expressly prohibit that... even the old MPS and bylaws recognized that was one of the massive failures of mid-century attempts at urban revitalization.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ns_kid

...One commenter on Taylor's piece, a jwchisholm, who claims to have attended last night's session, dismisses what he sees as "three soul-destroying blankly-inhuman mega blocks where nothing will ever happen". Like many critics, including the Coast's Tim Bousquet, he seems to dismiss the results of the public consultation as invalid. Which is consistent with development sceptics generally, who demand public engagement but then dismiss the results of that engagement if it doesn't reflect their own narrow vision.
...

I don't know that the blocks will be soul destroying - but they have the potential to be street-level-urban-life killers. I haven't read his comments, but if they are about the poor decision to close off Grafton St., I have to say that I don't think the point of public input was to say that the street should no longer be open, but that the convention components be moved out of the basement. I can't believe that it's either/or.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ns_kid

...

As to whether Nova Centre will be successful I do not know. I have optimism that this project will succeed. Like chisholm I find it disquieting that Mr. Ramia is still unwilling or unable to identify a single major tenant or hotel brand. Unlike some critics, Pacey, Bousquet and Kimber included, I will not celebrate a failure.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1162752-taylor-nova-centre-deserves-fair-start#disqus_thread

I hope it succeeds too. I'm not very optimistic about some of the basic urban design moves, but I think anyone who complains about it being too tall is out-to-lunch.

RyeJay · #**3642** Posted **Oct 25, 2013, 6:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

Is it really significant that they haven't announced a hotel chain given that they still don't have approval to build the hotel?

And even if a hotel isn't in the cards, the tower may be developed as residential.

bluenoser · #**3643** Posted **Oct 25, 2013, 6:25 PM**

The aforementioned article has a shot from the Prince St. side that I don't think we (I) have seen.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1162752-taylor-nova-centre-deserves-fair-start

ns_kid · #**3644** Posted **Oct 25, 2013, 7:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastcoastal

I do have to say that closing a public street is counter to what is generally accepted as good practice in urban design.

I think it is worth noting, when the issue of closing Grafton Street is raised, that is to be closed to vehicular traffic, not pedestrian traffic. Pedestrians will still be able to walk from Sackville to Prince Street on the Grafton Street corridor. Personally I have no problem with closing one city block to cars; in fact, I'd say lets close a few more.

Ziobrop · #**3645** Posted **Oct 25, 2013, 7:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ns_kid

I think it is worth noting, when the issue of closing Grafton Street is raised, that is to be closed to vehicular traffic, not pedestrian traffic. Pedestrians will still be able to walk from Sackville to Prince Street on the Grafton Street corridor. Personally I have no problem with closing one city block to cars; in fact, I'd say lets close a few more.

Grafton will be pedestrian accessible - so i think it might be a workable space. the problem of Grafton becomes greater with the blankmess of market street. that will kill any hope of business on the west side of the block, and relegate it to be a big alleyway. that much nothing ness may kill all of downtown between argyle and brunswick, from duke to blowers.

pedestrians and cyclists do spend more then drivers - but they need a reason to go there, and blank blocks wont do it.

I generally like the approaches to argyle- Closing it at times, and stilling entertainment onto the street is a good thing. but if grafton is closed and so is argyle, then the downtown becomes too confusing to traverse, and people wont.

to save argyle, Grafton should be open to traffic. the plans make it an awkward public space - Fantastic for office and hotel (and Parking ) entrances, but not much else.

Keith P. · #**3646** Posted **Oct 25, 2013, 9:02 PM**

Important to keep in mind that those blocks of Grafton and Market have nothing at all in the way of businesses on them now, and have not for some time. Market has some rear entrances for apartments and class C office space, while Grafton only ever had the old Midtown, with the rest being parking lots. So it's not as if there was a vibrant set of streets there before. Saying something might kill parts of the downtown as a result of this development is a bit much. It seems to me it can only help.

fenwick16 · #**3647** Posted **Oct 26, 2013, 4:09 AM**

Roger Taylor has another new rendering in the a story that he wrote today - http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/1163061-taylor-no-benefit-in-rejecting-nova-centre

There are now floor plans for the Exhibition Hall and Ballroom levels on the halifax2016.ca website - http://www.halifax2016.ca/

fenwick16 · #**3648** Posted **Oct 26, 2013, 12:55 PM**

It would be interesting to have more detailed technical information on the Exhibition Hall.

Some question I have regarding the exhibition hall are:
1) Is it possible to remove partitions in order to connect Exhibition Hall A and B?
2) What is the ceiling height of Exhibition Hall A (I think initially it was planned to be 30 feet?). Exhibition Hall B has a lower ceiling height since it has meeting rooms on a mezzanine above it, I wonder what its height will be?
3) I believe that the Metro Centre has the ability to exhibit large equipment and car shows since there are ground level off-loading areas. Will the Nova Centre Exhibit Hall be able to host similar events? It would be necessary to have vehicle ramps or very high capacity cargo elevators (from Market Street); also, the floor would have to have a high load bearing capacity (it would have to be well supported in the lower car levels).

someone123 · #**3649** Posted **Oct 26, 2013, 8:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Important to keep in mind that those blocks of Grafton and Market have nothing at all in the way of businesses on them now, and have not for some time. Market has some rear entrances for apartments and class C office space, while Grafton only ever had the old Midtown, with the rest being parking lots.

Here's an interview with Andy Fillmore where he talks mostly about the Nova Centre: http://www.news957.com/2013/10/25/friday-october-25-830am/

I like his take on the development. The only thing he flags at this point is the question of ownership and access to Grafton Street. If it's successful it be like a covered public street/space, which could be a great things since Halifax doesn't have any of those right now. Something like that would not be comparable to the Scotia Square type developments where one building footprint covers multiple blocks and former streets and where, most significantly, the design is meant to limit interaction with surrounding blocks and draw pedestrians into an interior mall-like environment.

It's important to try to do a good job of developing the Market Street side but the reality is that the loading bays have to go somewhere and Market Street is the logical spot.

overboard · #**3650** Posted **Oct 26, 2013, 11:12 PM**

Those are some sloppy-assed plans. It really doesn't support the "we know what we're doing" line when some of your rooms don't have doors.

someone123 · #**3651** Posted **Oct 27, 2013, 7:03 PM**

Aerial view of the construction site:

Source

RyeJay · #**3652** Posted **Oct 27, 2013, 8:02 PM**

An astounding picture.

teddifax · #**3653** Posted **Oct 27, 2013, 10:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

Aerial view of the construction site:

Source

Wow!!! Take another shot when it is finished to compare. There should be a webcam from this angle!

RyeJay · #**3654** Posted **Oct 28, 2013, 5:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by teddifax

There should be a webcam from this angle!

That would require an awful lot of helicopter fuel.

teddifax · #**3655** Posted **Oct 28, 2013, 4:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyeJay

That would require an awful lot of helicopter fuel.

I didn't realize it was a helicopter shot....

Wishblade · #**3656** Posted **Oct 28, 2013, 6:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by teddifax

I didn't realize it was a helicopter shot....

How did you not realize that was a helicopter shot? last time I checked there weren't any buildings downtown anywhere near that height lol.

fenwick16 · #**3657** Posted **Oct 28, 2013, 9:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wishblade

How did you not realize that was a helicopter shot? last time I checked there weren't any buildings downtown anywhere near that height lol.

Wouldn't it be great if there was a 500 - 600 foot tower in that area. It would give a terrific view of the city.

On another note, it appears as though the second level will be starting soon. I hope that Ziobrop won't mind me posting his image below.

( source: Ziobrop - http://fillingtheholehfx.tumblr.com/ )

Ziobrop · #**3658** Posted **Oct 29, 2013, 12:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

I hope that Ziobrop won't mind me posting his image below.

Nope, no issues you gave Credit with Link, that's how i like it!

A High, Publicly available perch would be handy, the site might get boring once above ground level - though that said, it is called filling the hole, so i guess I have an out once the hole is filled..

kph06 · #**3659** Posted **Oct 29, 2013, 8:29 PM**

Looks like concrete was poured in a hole that looks perfect for a crane base on the south end of the site by the access ramp.

worldlyhaligonian · #**3660** Posted **Oct 29, 2013, 11:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Important to keep in mind that those blocks of Grafton and Market have nothing at all in the way of businesses on them now, and have not for some time. Market has some rear entrances for apartments and class C office space, while Grafton only ever had the old Midtown, with the rest being parking lots. So it's not as if there was a vibrant set of streets there before. Saying something might kill parts of the downtown as a result of this development is a bit much. It seems to me it can only help.

Pulling this forward because Keith is right. My entire life this area has been "dead" because of the herald building and the pit next to it.

Anything is better and obviously downtown won't die if that section has had nothing going on for so long, period.