General Updates and News

[maxchristie]

Looks like a facelift is coming for Quinpool tower.
Windows are already being installed on the east side.

[IMG]https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5910a08fcd0f684a29658158/5a144602652deae1b1367a0d//1513100390861/4-QTE.png?format=750w[/IMG]

[teddifax]

So glad as that has to be one of, if not the ugliest, buildings in Halifax...

[Jstaleness]

This could turn out really bad. Not to be a typical negative thinker but I'm just not sure of the material and contrast of color.

[someone123]

One thing I wonder about is whether or not Halifax will be left with much in the way of 60's/70's concrete highrises in a decade or two. Going back 10 or 20 years they were one of if not the most common styles (a lot of highrises had brick too).

Is exposed concrete just bad in terms of maintenance? If you have some kind of cladding you can swap it out every 30 years when it wears out.

[Keith P.]

If memory serves, Quinpool was clad with dark brown corrugated metal so it's not like there is much good to lose.

I think most concrete cladding is pretty long-lived. But I do recall The Welsford on Robie had a problem with theirs. The decorative vertical ribs on the concrete panels began cracking and pieces falling to the ground. They eventually went though a long process of inspecting and chipping off all the suspect bits, which left quite an interesting-looking finish afterwards.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by someone123

One thing I wonder about is whether or not Halifax will be left with much in the way of 60's/70's concrete highrises in a decade or two. Going back 10 or 20 years they were one of if not the most common styles (a lot of highrises had brick too).

Is exposed concrete just bad in terms of maintenance? If you have some kind of cladding you can swap it out every 30 years when it wears out.

Just from my personal observations, it seems to stain and look dirty after a few years, not unlike sandstone which also starts to look dirty and gritty if left untouched. IMHO, if concrete buildings had regular maintenance for appearance (like pressure washing, etc.), some of them could look quite good, yet still 'dated'.

The cladding thing is probably a bid to make them look more 'modern' and to cut down on maintenance costs (a guess). I don't see it as being much different from the Victorians that were sided over to save having to paint them and replace shingles over time. Probably in 50 years time there will be a move to remove 2000's siding and restore that 1970s concrete look...

[sk8tr]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I think most concrete cladding is pretty long-lived. But I do recall The Welsford on Robie had a problem with theirs. The decorative vertical ribs on the concrete panels began cracking and pieces falling to the ground. They eventually went though a long process of inspecting and chipping off all the suspect bits, which left quite an interesting-looking finish afterwards.

I agree with Keith that the irregular vertical pattern on The Welsford is rather interesting. Actually, I quite like it, and I thought they did it on purpose until I learned differently on this forum.

[beyeas]

The work on that irregular pattern cladding has already begun (in fact it started a while ago). I actually think it looks pretty good... or maybe at least in juxtaposition to the old cladding!

[terrynorthend]

Originally Posted by beyeas

The work on that irregular pattern cladding has already begun (in fact it started a while ago). I actually think it looks pretty good... or maybe at least in juxtaposition to the old cladding!

It has. I think it is done on the west side already. Noticed it a couple of weeks ago heading into Canadian Tire. Looks decent.

[bluenoser]

Nothing new to anyone here, but this is always an interesting exercise anyway. Also, it's nice (and possible) for CBC to take a more positive look at development in the city.

Halifax, you've changed: 10 years of Google Street View
Images collected over the past decade reveal the city's transformation
Blair Sanderson · CBC News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-google-street-view-10-years-decade-1.4998429







I had forgotten that only 10 years ago this area (as well as Larry Uteck at the 102) was basically just woods.

[pblaauw]

I don't feel like underpass-replacing-forest should count.

[OldDartmouthMark]

A couple of interesting news stories this morning:

Nova Scotia wants to make Halifax's harbour islands visitor-friendly

They are among the most viewed but least visited islands in the Halifax region — and the provincial government wants to change that.

It is blowing the dust off a 13½-year-old management plan for McNabs Island and working with Parks Canada to ensure a 2009 management plan for Georges Island meshes with Nova Scotia's desire to make it easier to visit and enjoy both spots.

"There are cities around the world [that] would look at these assets and drool," said Peter Bigalow, Develop Nova Scotia's director of planning and development and one of the key players in this latest attempt to properly exploit the potential of McNabs and Georges.

"They are fantastic and there is a real desire of the public to get out to them."

As an initial investment, the province has promised $1.5 million to build the necessary docks or wharves and for facilities such as washrooms, water stations and shelters.

And...

Coming soon to the Oxford: A craft beer taproom, brewery

Garrison Brewing plans to open a taproom and small brewery this spring in part of the complex that housed the beloved Oxford Theatre on Quinpool Road in Halifax.

Fittingly, the taproom will be called The Oxford and it will feature 16 taps of suds and cider, a retail store, backyard terrace and community space.

Nahas thinks The Oxford will be a fitting addition for the community.

"There's a void for this type of business on Quinpool Road," said Nahas. "Quinpool Road is one of the most eclectic and diverse business streets in the entire province, and this kind of this element wasn't there and I think he's going to fill that void.

"And I think it will be embraced by local Haligonians and it's going to help complement other businesses in the area as well."

Nahas said he expects to make an announcement before the end of the month about the plans for the space that formerly housed the theatre.

Design work for the Garrison space is ongoing and construction work is expected to begin shortly.

The taproom will serve suds brewed at Garrison's downtown location, as well as experimental, small batches of beer crafted at the Quinpool Road space.

[Keith P.]

I thought there was some sort of bizarre spot zoning on Quinpool that prohibited drinking establishments?

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I thought there was some sort of bizarre spot zoning on Quinpool that prohibited drinking establishments?

I haven't heard of this. I recall there used to be a lounge at the old Hogie's restaurant (the Kickapoo lounge? Or something like that...) on Quinpool, though.

[terrynorthend]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

I haven't heard of this. I recall there used to be a lounge at the old Hogie's restaurant (the Kickapoo lounge? Or something like that...) on Quinpool, though.

Yes, Keith is correct. Freeman's and Hogies (now ATHENS) were grandfathered in and allowed to dedicate a portion of their spaces to lounge/bar use. Hence the odd curtains and rules about having to order food on the one side of Freeman's.

Not sure how this figures with the Garrison proposal. Maybe the rules changed recently?

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by terrynorthend

Yes, Keith is correct. Freeman's and Hogies (now ATHENS) were grandfathered in and allowed to dedicate a portion of their spaces to lounge/bar use. Hence the odd curtains and rules about having to order food on the one side of Freeman's.

Not sure how this figures with the Garrison proposal. Maybe the rules changed recently?

Interesting. Thanks guys. Was Quinpool the only part of Halifax inflicted with such rules?

I seem to recall other establishments requiring you to order food to be able to buy a beer, but my impression was that this was a byproduct of the antiquated NS liquor laws dictating what establishments could sell booze and how they could do it (i.e. restaurants couldn't sell booze without food).

Or are you saying that the only way they could have a lounge/bar on Quinpool was to fall under the same rule set as a restaurant?

[sk8tr]

I wonder if the spot zoning on Quinpool ended at Oxford Street.

[terrynorthend]

It was specific to Quinpool, not sure who was driving the rules but no "bars" where patrons could order only booze were allowed, only restaurants where food was required with drinks. Three establishments that already had lounge licenses (along with their restaurants) were grandfathered in. Freeman's, what is now Athens, and what is now Atlantica Hotel. Council relaxed the rules 2 years ago, allowing all restaurants on Quinpool to serve up to two drinks per patron without food.

Interesting take on Oxford maybe demarking the district. This possibility just came up in conversation with friends last night. You could well be correct.

[teddifax]

Just looking at the Google aerial shots and it is amazing the new building in Halifax and it really shows that it needs to be updated again.... One thing that amazes me is the wasted space on the Sackville St. end of the Nova Centre. The rooftop would have had so much potential as a green space or outdoor/rooftop patio/bar area....

[Dmajackson]

I've moved the hotel posts to their proper thread "1874 Brunswick Street".