[Halifax] The Maple | 72 m | 21 fl | Completed

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

More angles available on the blog. The barricade on Hollis Street is down and the sidewalks have reopened.


Halifax Developments Blog (Photo by David Jackson)

It is good to hear that the sidewalks have reopened. As much as all this construction is changing the city for the good (IMO), it must also be causing disruption for pedestrians.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

It is good to hear that the sidewalks have reopened. As much as all this construction is changing the city for the good (IMO), it must also be causing disruption for pedestrians.

In the end, it will be short term pain for long term gain. This building will be here for many years, and it offers quite a bit more for pedestrians than what was on this site before. Sackville Street used to be half parking lots.

The only big disappointment is that the United Gulf lot is still sitting empty across the street. Hopefully soon it will be developed into another residential building similar to the Maple.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by someone123

The only big disappointment is that the United Gulf lot is still sitting empty across the street. Hopefully soon it will be developed into another residential building similar to the Maple.

Yes it certainly is a disappointment.

How quickly the Maple and Roy sell out will likely determine how quickly the Texpark site gets developed, either by United Gulf or another developer who might pay a good price for the site.

[stevencourchene]

I hope once something is being planed for the space across from the maple they bulid higher then the maple and Roy as it's a great spot for something with nice height and I hope for a unique design but I am sure I'll be sadly disappointed but anything is better then the empty lot that's there now.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by stevencourchene

I hope once something is being planed for the space across from the maple they bulid higher then the maple and Roy as it's a great spot for something with nice height and I hope for a unique design but I am sure I'll be sadly disappointed but anything is better then the empty lot that's there now.

The development agreement was discharged on September 20th, 2016 - http://www.halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/c160920.pdf (item 14.1.7). So any new development will have to meet Downtown Halifax Land Use By-Law (aka Halifax by Design), which is 51 meters pre-bonus and 66 meters post-bonus - https://www.halifax.ca/planning/documents/DowntownHalifax_LUB.pdf

As much as I would like to see a ramparts maximum height tower, the maximum will be Maples height.

[Jonovision]

20170417_132300 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

20170417_131635 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

20170417_131802 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

[Jonovision]

2017-04-17_05-44-35 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

[OldDartmouthMark]

For the sake of interest, below are photos of the building (the Bryant Building) that used to reside on this corner before it was the empty lot that The Maple is built on. Timeline - late 1970s/early 1980s.











Source - search for "1599 Hollis St."

[Keith P.]

Interesting. I have no recollection of any of those buildings. They were not particularly distinguished but neither do they look particularly awful. I believe the parking lot was owned by the province? I am trying to figure out if the province bought (or already owned) the buildings and decided to tear them down because they needed a parking lot more?

[Aya_Akai]

Photo by Me/ Google Huawei Nexus 6P & edited in Photoshop

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Interesting. I have no recollection of any of those buildings. They were not particularly distinguished but neither do they look particularly awful. I believe the parking lot was owned by the province? I am trying to figure out if the province bought (or already owned) the buildings and decided to tear them down because they needed a parking lot more?

I recall them being torn down sometime in the 1980s but don't have any information over and above that. It does seem odd and wasteful to remove buildings like this just to leave an empty lot for three decades, even if parking was needed. I'm glad that it has been developed now.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by HaliStreaks

Photo by Me/ Google Huawei Nexus 6P & edited in Photoshop

Great photo! The Maple actually looks quite nice from this angle!

[Keith P.]

Once the lot at 1595 Barrington is completely cleared over the next week or so and before construction starts on that development, photographers should take as many pics of the Maple from this angle as they can to capture the view before it disappears.

[teddifax]

I just wish that the signature end cap on the building was on the southern end. It would be much more visible there.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

I recall them being torn down sometime in the 1980s but don't have any information over and above that. It does seem odd and wasteful to remove buildings like this just to leave an empty lot for three decades, even if parking was needed. I'm glad that it has been developed now.

Imagine an alternate universe downtown that still had these buildings, the Bank of Canada building, and then the Maple on the United Gulf lot. That would have been significantly better than what the city ended up with.

It probably could have been possible had the municipality done a better job of planning and coordinating development.

[Dmajackson]

Halifax Developments Blog (Photo by David Jackson)


Halifax Developments Blog (Photo by David Jackson)

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Halifax Developments Blog (Photo by David Jackson)


Halifax Developments Blog (Photo by David Jackson)

Interesting picture of the Hollis Street sidewalk. I wonder if the canopy over the sidewalk is for safety, in order to protect pedestrians from possible falling objects from balconies.

[IanWatson]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

I recall them being torn down sometime in the 1980s but don't have any information over and above that. It does seem odd and wasteful to remove buildings like this just to leave an empty lot for three decades, even if parking was needed. I'm glad that it has been developed now.

I distinctly remember a time when I was very young (maybe 4 or 5?) going to see the musical "Cats" with my mum in downtown Halifax. We stopped on the way to watch a wrecking ball take down a building. I wonder if it was this one. It would have been 1991 or 1992.

[Jonovision]

The sidewalk is now open.

20170421_202051 by Jonovision23, on Flickr

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by someone123

Imagine an alternate universe downtown that still had these buildings, the Bank of Canada building, and then the Maple on the United Gulf lot. That would have been significantly better than what the city ended up with.

It probably could have been possible had the municipality done a better job of planning and coordinating development.

I think that would have been a good scenario as the Bank Of Canada building would have been a good example of mid 20th century architecture to keep around. The old masonry buildings on the corner seemed to be in reasonable condition and would not have detracted from the block had they been kept, IMHO.

However, if something really spectacular ends up on the old Texpark lot, then perhaps this will be the better scenario in the long run - I guess we'll see eventually...