General Updates and News

[-Harlington-]

This parcel of land is a good thing for spring garden as it will add more retail space to an already and maybe even only good downtown area left in the city.
this the new library, city center and the new chickenburger, the area is going to be getting better and better.

[someone123]

I saw that too. It's been talked about for a while, which makes one wonder even more why the city still hasn't sold off the land. The whole process has moved at a glacial pace - perhaps the reason why it's actually happening now is that they've already spent the money that's supposed to come from the land sales. The Spring Garden Road improvements were delayed too. It feels like things are sort of adrift and people do the bare minimum of work rather than pushing things along.

All that aside, it makes a lot of sense to look at major retail down Queen Street as an extension to Spring Garden Road.

Another possibility is improvements to buildings from South Park to Summer Street along Spring Garden Road. There are a number of sites that could accommodate medium-sized buildings with storefronts. Past development along that stretch really was not designed properly.

[Barrington south]

I live in the greystones, so any devlopment on the clyde street lots will directly impeade my veiw, yet I am excited about the potential this will have for the area... so I am definiatly looking forward to this moving ahead.......finally

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Barrington south

I live in the greystones, so any devlopment on the clyde street lots will directly impeade my veiw, yet I am excited about the potential this will have for the area... so I am definiatly looking forward to this moving ahead.......finally

Yes, that majestic view of the parking lots must be absolutely breathtaking on a summer's day...

[someone123]

The NFB Building development was reviewed by the HAC today. Unfortunately, the document links are not working, but I would guess that we'll see some renderings soon.

[beyeas]

Originally Posted by someone123

It feels like things are sort of adrift and people do the bare minimum of work rather than pushing things along.

In Halifax? Surely not!

[someone123]

The links have been fixed. The NFB development report is available here: http://www.halifax.ca/boardscom/hac/documents/BarringtonStreetHeritageNFB.pdf

The scans are very poor, but they show that the developer intends to build apartments behind the facade, put in retail at ground level, and restore the original tower on the building. There are to be 4 levels of apartments above what's now the Argyle - presumably they intend to demolish the bottom storey. Not sure what the style of the Argyle facade will be since there's no elevation provided.

Really hope this one moves forward quickly because even though it's a small development it would have a huge difference in terms of the appearance of Barrington Street. The facade right now looks like something out of a run-down part of Detroit.

The Green Lantern Building is similar and they talk about how the city is providing incentives for work there as well. Has anything been done yet?

[Keith P.]

I remain convinced that the best thing that could happen to the NFB site is an extended encounter with a Cat D10 bulldozer.

[hfx_chris]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I remain convinced that the best thing that could happen to the NFB site is an extended encounter with a Cat D10 bulldozer.

But it already had that encounter, after the fire when they demolished everything but the facade. That's the harm in cleaning up and maintaining the facade, with a new building behind?

[Jonovision]

That's awesome that they are restoring the tower on top. I didn't even know it originally had one.
Is that a light well in the middle or just the elevator lobbies?

[Barrington south]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Yes, that majestic view of the parking lots must be absolutely breathtaking on a summer's day...

i like my lots.....
i'm in the top floor so my veiw goes beyond the lots ... .....even a small water veiw

[JET]

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I remain convinced that the best thing that could happen to the NFB site is an extended encounter with a Cat D10 bulldozer.

It's good that we don't all agree. It will look great with the facade fixed up and the tower restored. If they plan to replace the tower it gives hope that they will do the whole restoration well. JET

[spaustin]

The city would be wise to give them the max incentives outlined in the report. If they're going to rebuild the tower, that's better than I think anyone could have hoped for or expected. From the little info there is available, this looks like it'll be a good project!

[macgregor]

The balcony concrete "railings" on the back side of Park Victoria are being removed. I hope they are replaced with something better looking.

The Capreit website shows a picture of the building with glass railings. I'm not sure if these were already replaced on the front, but google street view shows the concrete ones on the front. I would assume that the picture below was rendered.

http://www.capreit.net/Properties/Proper...opertyTitle=Park%20Victoria%20Apartments

[someone123]

It looks like it's a combined atrium and elevator shaft between the two parts of the NFB development. They have a roof above the first level in the rendering plus the elevator entrance and exits on floors above and below.

I wish there were better renderings, but I get the sense that this could actually become a handsome building. The plan is to significantly improve the ground floor by opening up all of the windows and bringing the front door down to street level.

Here's a shot of the present ground floor. Terrible:


Source

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by macgregor

The balcony concrete "railings" on the back side of Park Victoria are being removed. I hope they are replaced with something better looking.

The Capreit website shows a picture of the building with glass railings. I'm not sure if these were already replaced on the front, but google street view shows the concrete ones on the front. I would assume that the picture below was rendered.

http://www.capreit.net/Properties/Proper...opertyTitle=Park%20Victoria%20Apartments

This will make a big difference. I wish that they would replace the panels below the windows with something more modern.

Is there opposition from Heritage Trust - surely Park Victoria Tower must be a heritage building by now? Although I am not serious about Park Victoria Apartments being a heritage building, I wonder how long it will be before it is on the protected list (another 30 - 40 years)? How about the Dominion Public Building (built in 1936)? Is this considered to be a heritage building (I think that it should be).

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by someone123

It looks like it's a combined atrium and elevator shaft between the two parts of the NFB development. They have a roof above the first level in the rendering plus the elevator entrance and exits on floors above and below.

I wish there were better renderings, but I get the sense that this could actually become a handsome building. The plan is to significantly improve the ground floor by opening up all of the windows and bringing the front door down to street level.

Here's a shot of the present ground floor. Terrible:

This building certainly is worth restoring. I really like the exterior especially the pictures in the windows. Too bad that the interior was gutted by fire.

Modern building codes have greatly decreased the threat of fire in cities - something that is never mentioned by heritage people who are against tall buildings (very seldom does one burn down). In the olden days (long before I was born), major fires would often burn several blocks of cities that were primarily built of wood or wood and brick.

[Dmajackson]

Just a shot I took today of the new boardwalk section being built;

[Empire]

Originally Posted by fenwick16

This will make a big difference. I wish that they would replace the panels below the windows with something more modern.

Is there opposition from Heritage Trust - surely Park Victoria Tower must be a heritage building by now? Although I am not serious about Park Victoria Apartments being a heritage building, I wonder how long it will be before it is on the protected list (another 30 - 40 years)? How about the Dominion Public Building (built in 1936)? Is this considered to be a heritage building (I think that it should be).

I think the Dominion Public Building is the best highrise in Halifax in its category. This is a result of quality design and quality materials. If developers were to design buildings with a similar style, especially on Barrington St. or in close proximity to hertiage buildings I think they would get a better reception from HT.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by Empire

I think the Dominion Public Building is the best highrise in Halifax in it's category. This is a result of quality design and quality materials. If developers were to design buildings with a similar style, especially on Barrington St. or in close proximity to hertiage buildings I think they would get a better reception from HT.

I think that the Dominion Public Building is a quality building from the 1930's era and I hope that it will be a heritage building (if it isn't already). I believe that maintaining a historic theme along Barrington Street is important.

The Heritage Trust would have a much better reception if they could change their way of thinking which, in my opinion, is that anything tall and modern is bad. This is not going to win the Heritage Trust any support from groups (I believe to be the majority) that desire modern buildings like the United Gulf towers.

The Heritage Trust could fight to save heritage buildings and embrace modern buildings and development that will make Halifax a better place to live. By taking their own one-sided path of opposing anything tall and modern, they have alienated the majority of people. They have lost touch with reality in thinking that their opinions reflect the opinions of the majority. A good example of this is their fight to save the view from the Citadel - something that most people don't really care about.

I am fed-up with the Heritage Trust and their views. I would like to see them supplanted by another group with a more modern way of thinking (perhaps the Fusion group) that will strive to maintain important heritage buildings while allowing modern buildings - in other words be open to the opinions of the majority.