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

[IanWatson]

Originally Posted by RoshanMcG

How does one get on the roofs of some of these buildings? I've always thought it would be pretty cool to get a rooftop view in downtown Halifax, or even go to the top floor of one of our office towers, is this typically allowed by just anyone?

One of my friends lived above Star Anise. You could go out her back window into this really awesome roof-top courtyard, and from there you could climb up onto the roof of Fireworks (the decoration on top of their building is really impressive up close) and then onto the Argyle Fine Art building. The Argyle Fine Art building actually has a proper deck, and if I recall it was properly accessed through a stairwell in the building. Sadly, my friend doesn't live there anymore.

[Ziobrop]

Originally Posted by RoshanMcG

How does one get on the roofs of some of these buildings? I've always thought it would be pretty cool to get a rooftop view in downtown Halifax, or even go to the top floor of one of our office towers, is this typically allowed by just anyone?

well, you can sneak...
most buildings probably wont let you up on the roof unless they can be sure you wont fall off, which usually means fall protection is required.

Easter seals does their repel off 1801 Hollis. you could do that, or join the sackville photography club, who provide photos of the event every year...

[TheGreenBastard]

Originally Posted by RoshanMcG

How does one get on the roofs of some of these buildings? I've always thought it would be pretty cool to get a rooftop view in downtown Halifax, or even go to the top floor of one of our office towers, is this typically allowed by just anyone?

The top of metro parking garage has a pretty good view. in fact, thats where a lot of the NC photos are taken from.

[Jonovision]

Speaking of the top of Metro Park....

20160802_153748 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

[ns_kid]

AllNovaScotia is reporting that George Armoyan will be the new owner of the old World Trade and Convention Centre building.

According to the Brian Flinn story, Internal Services Minister Labi Kousoulis confirmed the deal, with the final details now being hammered out.

Halifax council earlier passed on its first option to purchase the property for its book value. That gave the province the right to sell it, though the city still had an option to match the best private sector offer. ANS reports council voted in camera this week 11-2 to forgo that option.

The Armoyan offer, to pay the full appraised value of $13.5 million, was unsolicited. Neither he nor the Minister are saying what the developer’s plans are for the property, which of course is heavily integrated with the Scotiabank Centre next door.

Flinn says Kousoulis is miffed that the MOU, signed by the previous government, didn’t give government the right to hold onto the building, in which the province is a major tenant.

[Keith P.]

I don't understand that. The province owns/owned the WTCC. Why would they be forced to sell it if they didn't want to?

[ns_kid]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I don't understand that. The province owns/owned the WTCC. Why would they be forced to sell it if they didn't want to?

I guess that's what Kousoulis was complaining about: under the December 2010 MOU, the previous government committed to sell the facility, presumably to mitigate the cost of the investment in Nova Centre. I didn't find a copy of the original MOU on a quick search but this is from last year's progress report to council:

WTCC Building
Under the MOU with the Province, there is a process for determining the eventual disposition of the WTCC.

The Province will advertise it for sale. If a buyer is found, Halifax can match the price and acquire the building. If Halifax does not choose to acquire the building at that time, the purchaser would need to enter into an agreement regarding the infrastructure shared between WTCC and SBC.

If no buyer is found, Halifax will purchase the WTCC on the date the HCC opens for the book value on that date. The book value is expected to be below $1 million.

From: https://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/150526cai06.pdf

[RangerNS]

Originally Posted by ns_kid

Flinn says Kousoulis is miffed that the MOU, signed by the previous government, didn’t give government the right to hold onto the building, in which the province is a major tenant.

Really? Who from the province is in that building who aren't TCL themselves?

[Ziobrop]

public service commission
Internal Services.
a couple of boards and agencies.

the office space is nice - the problem is what do you do with the convention facilities.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by ns_kid

I guess that's what Kousoulis was complaining about: under the December 2010 MOU, the previous government committed to sell the facility, presumably to mitigate the cost of the investment in Nova Centre. I didn't find a copy of the original MOU on a quick search but this is from last year's progress report to council:

WTCC Building
Under the MOU with the Province, there is a process for determining the eventual disposition of the WTCC.

The Province will advertise it for sale. If a buyer is found, Halifax can match the price and acquire the building. If Halifax does not choose to acquire the building at that time, the purchaser would need to enter into an agreement regarding the infrastructure shared between WTCC and SBC.

If no buyer is found, Halifax will purchase the WTCC on the date the HCC opens for the book value on that date. The book value is expected to be below $1 million.

From: https://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/150526cai06.pdf

But if there was a reason for the Province to not want to sell, they wouldn't have to. Heck, they could pass a piece of legislation if they wanted to, to override the MOU or anything else. I don't understand why Kousoulis would be grousing.

[planarchy]

Originally Posted by Ziobrop

public service commission
Internal Services.
a couple of boards and agencies.

the office space is nice - the problem is what do you do with the convention facilities.

You move the municipal archives there and get it out of burnside!! And get some regular hours. It would be an ideal place for a city archive.

[Duff]

from tonight

[Keith P.]

It's hard to understand why HRM would not want the WTCC building. Directly across from City Hall so a lot of staff could have offices there. Walkway already exists under Duke St. to connect it to Scotia Square; probably would not be a big job to do the same across Argyle to City Hall. The somewhat useless lower level could probably be made into parking for senior staff and Council if need be. Since HRM seems to be made of money the $13.5 mil is merely pocket change for them. Inexplicable.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by Duff

from tonight

A "human scale" development would clearly have been better. This thing will ruin downtown and nobody attends conferences anymore.

^ Imagine if these people were making the decisions. What would this picture look like?

[TheGreenBastard]

[teddifax]

a picture I took today! https://www.flickr.com/photos/58373450@N07/28618227420/in/dateposted-public/

The skyline, especially from this vantage point is really going to change!! It has already.

[portapetey]

Thanks you everyone for your continued efforts to document the Destruction of the Once-Great Halifax as We Know It™.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by planarchy

You move the municipal archives there and get it out of burnside!! And get some regular hours. It would be an ideal place for a city archive.

Not a bad idea. (That the archives are in an out-of-the-way industrial park is ridiculous, and ensures that I will never really find the time to get there, though I do have things I'd like to look up.)

I'm sure the old WTCC also has room enough to accommodate that and the city-museum idea that's been kicked around forever and ever.

[RoshanMcG]

Thanks for letting me know about the top of MetroPark everyone! Made it up there the other day and was not disappointed.

[counterfactual]

Originally Posted by planarchy

You move the municipal archives there and get it out of burnside!! And get some regular hours. It would be an ideal place for a city archive.

Originally Posted by Drybrain

Not a bad idea. (That the archives are in an out-of-the-way industrial park is ridiculous, and ensures that I will never really find the time to get there, though I do have things I'd like to look up.)

I'm sure the old WTCC also has room enough to accommodate that and the city-museum idea that's been kicked around forever and ever.

I agree. I can't believe the archives are in Burnside. Ludicrous.