General Updates and News

[JET]

Originally Posted by kph06

This lot

Thanks, that is a waste of space.

[JET]

"Originally Posted by Keith P.
Ask the person on social assistance or one whose kids are going hungry how the arts benefits them."

Do my eyes deceive me, or is Keith expressing concern for people on Income Assistance? It's a Christmas miracle.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by JET

"Originally Posted by Keith P.
Ask the person on social assistance or one whose kids are going hungry how the arts benefits them."

There are kids going hungry in the world but is that really a common situation within HRM's mandate. Are there kids in the city whose parents would give them enough food but somehow can't obtain it through government assistance or the food bank?

My personal experience is that the poor kids are rarely on this level, but can be lacking social and cultural programs (or daycare-like stuff so the parents can work, or a way to get the kids to and from extracurricular activities), a step or two up the hierarchy of needs.

[JET]

Originally Posted by someone123

There are kids going hungry in the world but is that really a common situation within HRM's mandate. Are there kids in the city whose parents would give them enough food but somehow can't obtain it through government assistance or the food bank?

My personal experience is that the poor kids are rarely on this level, but can be lacking social and cultural programs (or daycare-like stuff so the parents can work, or a way to get the kids to and from extracurricular activities), a step or two up the hierarchy of needs.

https://proof.utoronto.ca/food-insecurity/


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/food-insecurity-unemployment-1.3262622

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by someone123

There are kids going hungry in the world but is that really a common situation within HRM's mandate. Are there kids in the city whose parents would give them enough food but somehow can't obtain it through government assistance or the food bank?

My personal experience is that the poor kids are rarely on this level, but can be lacking social and cultural programs (or daycare-like stuff so the parents can work, or a way to get the kids to and from extracurricular activities), a step or two up the hierarchy of needs.

Doesn't matter that it isn't a municipal level responsibility. If it was, HRM could afford to spend 10s of millions of dollars on it given how they are flush with cash. The issue is the millions the province - laundered through two different organizations, one of which (Invest NS) I never even heard of before - is doling out to the artsy types. With a provincial budget that is badly overcommitted, it is an issue of priorities. This would be far, far down that list.

@Jet, believe it or not, I am very sympathetic to the plight of the poor. I have seen kids who go hungry and have very little chance in this world and it is heartbreaking. I have great issue with how the province manages doling out what it provides - that bureaucracy is hopeless and needs to be blown up - and there would undoubtedly be much in the way of savings that can be redirected to those in true need. I have no sympathy for layabouts who prefer to sit at home and smoke weed or even worse drugs all day long while on the dole, but for those whose circumstances are beyond their control I do indeed think govt needs to do much better. Diverting funds from them to things like this grates on me.

[JET]

"..I have no sympathy for layabouts who prefer to sit at home and smoke weed or even worse drugs all day long while on the dole,.."
Good to see things back to normal

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by JET

"..I have no sympathy for layabouts who prefer to sit at home and smoke weed or even worse drugs all day long while on the dole,.."
Good to see things back to normal

So that is something you support?

[someone123]

Looks like the scaffolding just came down from the St. Paul's Building:


Source

[pblaauw]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

You wouldn't be able to use this new place. The performance hall is only for standees, no seats. Therefore unless it is some raver indie band with an audience of sub-25 year-olds most people would not want to attend. Most of the rest is for artsy types to use in their creative endeavors - think of a Khyber clubhouse on steroids.

It is not something with broad appeal and few members of the public will ever set foot inside.

Constantly wasting money on things like this is why govt never has enough money to spend on services and facilities for people like you who really could use those things to improve their lives.

A) I'm in a wheelchair. Standing-room-only isn't an issue. (Yes, it would be an issue for people who can't stand for long periods of time, but that's part of why I'm in a chair.)

B) Patronage and lining the pockets of people who already have too much money is why we can't afford nice things. End handouts to businesses who have no intention of sticking around after the handouts are gone, and stop giving money to people who can easily afford to pay for something on their own. ( https://www.thecoast.ca/RealityBites/arc...ley-profits-off-of-private-student-loans )

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by pblaauw

B) Patronage and lining the pockets of people who already have too much money is why we can't afford nice things. End handouts to businesses who have no intention of sticking around after the handouts are gone, and stop giving money to people who can easily afford to pay for something on their own. ( https://www.thecoast.ca/RealityBites/arc...ley-profits-off-of-private-student-loans )

While using articles from the Coast is never something that would credibly back up any argument one chooses to make, you are quite right on business handouts. That is what this is. I fully expect that the proponents have set this up to ensure they will pocket nice 6-figure salaries for a few years until the money runs out, then vanish into the ether.

[Spire]

Fantastic news! Glad to see this project going forward...now the pressure's on them to actually deliver on everyone's expectations.

Originally Posted by Keith P.

You wouldn't be able to use this new place. The performance hall is only for standees, no seats. Therefore unless it is some raver indie band with an audience of sub-25 year-olds most people would not want to attend. Most of the rest is for artsy types to use in their creative endeavors - think of a Khyber clubhouse on steroids.

As far as I can tell from the plans, the performance hall will have seats in the round, in a stadium seating configuration that can fold into the wall, a la Alderney Landing. The space can also be sub-divided in half for smaller performances. Way less than 1800 seats, for sure, but it's meant to be a space for all kinds of performances, not just Pop Explosion-type concerts. It certainly seems like the media have latched on to this 1800-seat figure, and it could create unrealistic expectations when the place opens...this is definitely no Rebecca Cohn replacement.

I don't often care much for the Chronicle Herald, but they had a good editorial the other day about this project:

https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/opinio...-fledgling-arts-centre-promising-268165/

That is what this is. I fully expect that the proponents have set this up to ensure they will pocket nice 6-figure salaries for a few years until the money runs out, then vanish into the ether.

Rob Power and Marc Almon are two pretty highly regarded figures in the local industry scene, and have been for years. They're not some fly-by-night operation. I mean, sure, I suppose they could take off to Cuba and never be heard from again, same as any of us, but the arts community is close-knit, and word travels fast...

But the proof will be in the execution, and I have questions, for sure. Will the spaces actually work as well as they're intended to, or will the end result in too many compromises? But it's following a model that has worked for similar venues in other cities, and has brought opportunities for aspiring performers and yes, economic activity to those places.

[spaustin]

Originally Posted by JET

Thanks, that is a waste of space.

It's going to be a 5 storey apartment building. An as-of-right development by Urching Properties.

[eastcoastal]

Originally Posted by Spire

Fantastic news! Glad to see this project going forward...now the pressure's on them to actually deliver on everyone's expectations.... But the proof will be in the execution, and I have questions, for sure. Will the spaces actually work as well as they're intended to, or will the end result in too many compromises? But it's following a model that has worked for similar venues in other cities, and has brought opportunities for aspiring performers and yes, economic activity to those places.

There are some good animation studios and other tv film production companies here, no? If I understand the business incubator part of this, the plan is to provide space to start-ups, where they can co-locate and hopefully benefit from some synergies, while having some established businesses pay market rate rent in order to co-locate and access some of the same synergies, while providing some form of mentorship.

I think it's a cool idea.

I'm hopeful.

And, good lord this edge of Grand Parade needs a bit of help - hopefully this will result in a more lively street and a better companion to what should be a significant civic space.

[Jonovision]

Originally Posted by spaustin

It's going to be a 5 storey apartment building. An as-of-right development by Urching Properties.

Any renderings or design detail for the project?

[someone123]

Here's a rendering for some more modifications to the former WTCC:



There's more information about this proposal here: https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/boards-.../january-10-2019-design-review-committee

It will include 6 new commercial spaces along Argyle.

[Keith P.]

Something along the lines of polishing a t*rd, but a small improvement.

I wonder what spaces are being used to provide 127 parking spaces? The nether regions of that building are a bit of a mystery. I suppose there were large areas there for the old convention center kitchens, storage, etc.

They do not mention how the existing internal walkway along Argyle that connects the pedways will be relocated.

[IanWatson]

That's a way better improvement than what I was expecting. That existing building is complicated and the street grades are all over the place. It's impressive that the architects were able to work with that and add a full wall of commercial frontages on Argyle. The Duke Street frontage is definitely improved too.

It looks like the new parking spaces are on the second and third floor and are accessed with a new door on Carmichael. I'm not familiar with the inside of that building though so I don't know what those spaces were before.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Something along the lines of polishing a t*rd, but a small improvement.

I wonder what spaces are being used to provide 127 parking spaces? The nether regions of that building are a bit of a mystery. I suppose there were large areas there for the old convention center kitchens, storage, etc.

They do not mention how the existing internal walkway along Argyle that connects the pedways will be relocated.

Drawing A-100 shows a public corridor in behind the retail spaces. On the drawing you can follow it along from the escalator that comes up from the SS tunnel to the "lobby", where there is access to an exit or the elevators.

I'm assuming there will still be access to the Prince George tunnel, but it's unclear to me whether the corridor will still exist that allows you to access the Scotiabank Centre from the elevators.

[Keith P.]

I never understood why they made access to the arena so difficult from the pedway. It was something that cried out for a set of escalators up to the arena entry gates.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I never understood why they made access to the arena so difficult from the pedway. It was something that cried out for a set of escalators up to the arena entry gates.

Yes, I agree with that. It was never really well marked either. I pretty much found it by accident attending the "Briar Patch" (or similar) during some curling events. I finally figured out I could get from the Purdy's wharf parking complex right up into the Metro... errrr... Scotiabank Centre through the tunnels and pedways without ever stepping a foot outside - this came in handy during some really bad weather.

There were escalators inside the building, but I believe this was closed off to the public and only available to people attending events in the convention centre.