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Originally Posted by Dmajackson
According to an article in the AllNovaScotia tonight there are redevelopment plans for 6100 Younge Street (West-End Halifax). This site is currently owned by the municipality and it houses a strip mall housing, among others, Pizza Hut. The site is 2.5 acres and is part of the former Forum lands. It used to house a horse racing track.
Plans for the site are vague but the article states low-rise residential housing ground-floor commercial with some high-rise residential. Since the site is municipally owned the development would have to be approved by Regional Council along with a purchase agreement. The developer is Webcom Inc. and the architect is Paul Skerry & Associates (Halifax-based). This team is behind the approved building for 249 Windmill Road.
Of course as with any vague development there is a divide among councilors. Being the most vocal of all twenty-three Sloane has stated she is opposed because the land could be used for a future Forum expansion. Interestingly (but not suprising if you know her) Watts has some hesitance but thinks getting more residential in this area is a good idea.
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I think this is good news; regardless of the debate. The fact its going forward is perfect because this will help with the Hydrostone. This is one of the areas that I've suggested an HbD exercise should be done on. We could easily see the Young Street Superstore redeveloped if there is enough demand for residential in the area. With Danny Chedrawe's towers on the opposite side of Young, good context for tall buildings here. The design will be telling though.
As for the Forum expansion - I think the comments we've made about the stadium possibility here using the DND lands is the best they will get to expand the forum. That or eventually when HRM outgrows the sorting station; I'm sure the government of Canada would dispose of the land in some way. It's only a matter of time before that sorting station will be out grown, as I understand it now they are pretty much to the limit now.