General Updates and News

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by terrynorthend

I don't believe the plans for this Commons amphitheater is nearly as ambitious as it sounds. They are just going to turn the ball diamond closest the Citadel into a plaza, with mains services too for events I believe. This could look and be quite nice. No chance of a "football amphitheater" here and honestly, I wouldn't want CFL right on the Commons.

Yes, you are right. I actually sent Councillor Sloane an email about this and she stated that it was very small scale. I edited my post at the same time that you posted this reply.

I have to give Councillor Sloane credit for answering her emails. I have sent a few and she has responded right away to my questions even though she must have lots of others to reply to.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by terrynorthend

I don't believe the plans for this Commons amphitheater is nearly as ambitious as it sounds. They are just going to turn the ball diamond closest the Citadel into a plaza, with mains services too for events I believe. This could look and be quite nice. No chance of a "football amphitheater" here and honestly, I wouldn't want CFL right on the Commons.

Maybe a grass football field could be built on the north common. Then construct 20,000 temporary seats. This would stay in place for three years until a permanent stadium is funded and built. Once the new permanent stadium is built remove the temporary seating and leave the football field. At present the commons is consumed by baseball diamonds used by beer leagues. A football field would mix it up a bit.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by Empire

Maybe a grass football field could be built on the north common. Then construct 20,000 temporary seats. This would stay in place for three years until a permanent stadium is funded and built. Once the new permanent stadium is built remove the temporary seating and leave the football field. At present the commons is consumed by baseball diamonds used by beer leagues. A football field would mix it up a bit.

I often wonder why this can't be done. There is the issue of washroom facilities but the HRM could use portable toilets like at the concerts.

[Wishblade]

Originally Posted by Empire

Maybe a grass football field could be built on the north common. Then construct 20,000 temporary seats. This would stay in place for three years until a permanent stadium is funded and built. Once the new permanent stadium is built remove the temporary seating and leave the football field. At present the commons is consumed by baseball diamonds used by beer leagues. A football field would mix it up a bit.

As good of an idea as this sounds, and even though the stand are temporary, I honestly think people would totally freak if this were offered. I really don't see anything of any scale ever being built on the commons other than for rock shows in the summer.

[sdm]

Originally Posted by Wishblade

As good of an idea as this sounds, and even though the stand are temporary, I honestly think people would totally freak if this were offered. I really don't see anything of any scale ever being built on the commons other than for rock shows in the summer.

agree.

rather see upgrades like benches and lighting, although there would be concerns over security. I rather it stay open and clear of structures.

[kph06]

Source

CBC site up for grabs in YMCA plan
Agencies team up for $22m proposal to build new Y

By BILL POWER Staff Reporter
Sun. Jan 10 - 4:46 AM

Demolition of the downtown CBC Radio building is on the table as part of a proposed $22-million replacement of the South Park YMCA, opposite the Halifax Public Gardens.

The YMCA and CBC/Radio-Canada have teamed up to prepare a development proposal for their properties. They are hunting for a third participant — a private developer — to get involved.

"Our plan (is) to bring in a third party interested in commercial, retail and hotel possibilities of the properties, and to use some of the income from this aspect of the project to reduce our capital costs," Bette Watson-Borg, YMCA president and CEO, said in an interview Saturday.

The YMCA has studied options for the 60-year-old South Park location for about four years. They have concluded the best move is to demolish it and start again, with something more suitable for the Halifax peninsula.

Halifax has been lucky that the area’s universities have opened up their recreational facilities to the public at large, but "there is a huge need for a facility focused on the requirements of the non-university community," said Ms. Watson-Borg.

Details are far from final, but the project involves a significant re-development of the area south of the Citadel National Historic Park, at the convergence of South Park and Sackville streets and Bell Road.

The future of the CBC/Radio-Canada broadcasting operation is unclear. The broadcaster has talked of departing the location in the past, but last year a CBC official said there was no rush to consolidate radio operations with the CBC-TV building a short distance away on Bell Road.

CBC has about 200 television, radio and French services staff at the two locations.

A website put up by the YMCA clearly indicates its new complex will be where the CBC Radio building now sits.

Officials with the CBC were unavailable Saturday for comment.

A new South Street YMCA would cost about $22 million. It would include features such as a rooftop atrium, new aquatics complex and upwards of 375 underground parking spaces.

And if the YMCA has dawdled about in the past with talk of replacing the South Street complex, things are happening quickly this time.

"We have entered into a partnership with the CBC and fully expect to have a joint development submission before Halifax Regional Municipality this summer," Ms. Watson-Borg said.

The president and CEO said the submission would have been submitted a year ago, except the YMCA was waiting for the completion of the HRMbyDesign plan, which was approved by the city in June 2009.

Some details about what the YMCA has in mind for its South Park property are available at: www.NewHalifaxYMCA.ca.

[spaustin]

hmm could be interesting. I have always really liked the CBC Radio Building though. It's street level on the corner is complete garbage what with the dark dingy inset parking and garage, but it's something that could be fixed. I have always liked the overall feel of the place. The gentle curve, windows and massing. Somehow, and I'm no architect so I could be way offbase, it makes me think of art deco and we don't have much from that era in Halifax (Dominion Public Building and the Vogue Building are all that come to mind). I would be sad to see it go. Then again, we don't know what would replace it so it's tough to judge with nothing to compare to. One things for sure, I won't shed any tears for the Y. The stone is nice, but the brick portion is unremarkable. Knocking it down and starting again seems like a good plan.

[sdm]

they have to keep the existing building.

the design possibilites are endless, and if done right could be one of Halifax's finest

[Dmajackson]

Originally Posted by sdm

they have to keep the existing building.

the design possibilites are endless, and if done right could be one of Halifax's finest

Why would they have to keep the existing building? They aren't registered heritage buildings.

[City_of_Lakes]

I work out at the current South Park Y. @spaustin I agree that the CBC building has a certain quality that I like, but there have been some great looking proposals in recent times, and if it goes it could be well worth it

[Takeo]

I don't really like anything about the CBC building. Looks like a warehouse to me. To each his own I suppose.

[-Harlington-]

i kind of like the cbc building the arch it has is pretty cool, and theres never enough things that tell you the date and time and temp. i always want to know for some reason
but if it had to go for something better i wouldnt be heart broken.

[Phalanx]

Re: the CBC building
At a distance I can see some of the appeal - particularly with the upper two floors - but up close, and at ground level it looks old, tired, industrial, and doesn't make good use of street level space. If they were going to keep the current building, then I'd like to see it get a makeover (get rid of the driveway alcove, more glass etc.) I think a better alternative in this case would be to incorporate the lines and positive aspects of the aesthetics into a new building and expand it onto the YMCA portion of the lot, and use that as a podium for a tower (well, relatively speaking - height restrictions and all) above. Have the entrance at the curved South Park/Sackville/Bell corner, move parking access to Sackville, and have Y access and more commercial space along South Park. ...If any of that is possible. Just a few quick thoughts.

[beyeas]

Crap... Cafe Chianti and the Taj Mahal are on fire.
That may change the dynamic surrounding whether that site gets redeveloped!

Sucks because I actually really liked that little stretch of buildings.

[Phalanx]

Any idea how bad it is yet? The radio hasn't said much beyond 'it's on fire'. Is it a complete write-off, or something repairable?

[beyeas]

Originally Posted by Phalanx

Any idea how bad it is yet? The radio hasn't said much beyond 'it's on fire'. Is it a complete write-off, or something repairable?

Not 100% sure... but the pics I have seen on the web look pretty bad (flames shooting out the windows of the Chianti building). The firefighters had to bust the windows out to ventilate it and the fire was apparently spreading through the floor joists into the Taj.

Anyone else on here who works down there who can give more comment?

[sdm]

Originally Posted by beyeas

Not 100% sure... but the pics I have seen on the web look pretty bad (flames shooting out the windows of the Chianti building). The firefighters had to bust the windows out to ventilate it and the fire was apparently spreading through the floor joists into the Taj.

Anyone else on here who works down there who can give more comment?

From some of the reports i've heard the fire is out. However damage is extensive,but no indication of a total loss yet.

I am sure Chianti has suffered extensive damage being located in the basement. A true shame as it is one of the best resturants in the city.

[spaustin]

Just on my lunch break (I live next door). The fire is indeed out. I ran into Dawn Sloane in Cornwallis Park and the building's aren't a total loss. They stopped it halfway along the row. All the restaurants have damage with Tomasino's taking the brunt of it. Chianti seems to have gotten off lightly. Thankfully no one was hurt. Will be interesting to see if this creates some kind of project here since they're going to have to rebuild at least part of the building.

Just some pictures from this morning from between 8:00 and 9:00






The aftermath

[beyeas]

Originally Posted by spaustin

Just on my lunch break (I live next door). The fire is indeed out. I ran into Dawn Sloane in Cornwallis Park and the building's aren't a total loss. They stopped it halfway along the row. All the restaurants have damage with Tomasino's taking the brunt of it. Chianti seems to have gotten off lightly. Will be interesting to see if this creates some kind of project here since they're going to have to rebuild at least part of the building.

Yeah the same thing ran through my head too (wrt to the development project that we had heard rumours about).

[kph06]

I was just talking to a friend who lives around the corner and the fire has started up again and the trucks are returning.