General Updates and News

[kph06]

One of the cranes on Larry Uteck is now down, but I noticed a new one somewhere near the Circ. when I was driving down the Bedford Highway today. So the count stays the same (although this is a different type, more like the one that built Spice).

[Wishblade]

Originally Posted by kph06

One of the cranes on Larry Uteck is now down, but I noticed a new one somewhere near the Circ. when I was driving down the Bedford Highway today. So the count stays the same (although this is a different type, more like the one that built Spice).

Where abouts on the Circ is the new crane? Do you mean the one for the new coast guard building?

[kph06]

Originally Posted by Wishblade

Where abouts on the Circ is the new crane? Do you mean the one for the new coast guard building?

Not sure, I saw it from quite a distance, definately not the coast guard building though. I'd say its on the fringes of Burnside or Mic Mac Mall area. Definitely a new crane, possibly today.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by kph06

Not sure, I saw it from quite a distance, definately not the coast guard building though. I'd say its on the fringes of Burnside or Mic Mac Mall area. Definitely a new crane, possibly today.

It's a mobile crane in front of Lockheed Martin.

[Jonovision]

I saw the crane from the bridge yesterday. It does look very much like the one that put up Spice. A bit more substantial than a mobile crane.

[Dmajackson]

A new building, plenty of prospects
Web designer’s workload requires new digs
By BRUCE ERSKINE Business Reporter
Wed, Oct 20 - 4:53 AM

THE CHECKERED PAST of the site of his information technology company’s new headquarters doesn’t faze the president of ISL Web Marketing and Development of Halifax.

"The (old) building’s past is not an issue," Malcolm Fraser said in an interview Tuesday. "We’re putting something new in there."

ISL, which has 28 workers, is building a three-storey, 8,000-square-foot complex on Agricola Street at West Street, a neighbourhood that has experienced something of an urban renaissance in recent years with funky cafes and stores popping up along the once-rundown north-end streetscape.

The location previously housed One World Cafe, a showcase for indie and punk bands that made headlines in 2007 when a man jumped out of a second-storey apartment window after being shot.

The site was also the scene of the 1996 stabbing murder of a convenience store owner.

Fraser said "all sorts of bad things" have happened in the neighbourhood.

But he said it has been transformed by a vibrant artistic community that is an excellent fit for his 15-year-old high-tech company.

"It’s a creative community. We felt we could add value."

ISL designs and develops websites and related assets for medium and large businesses.

"We also provide a suite of Internet marketing services, including search engine optimization, social media strategy and email marketing," said Fraser.

ISL is a Google Analytics Certified Partner, which enables it to provide clients with feedback on how their websites and web marketing initiatives are performing.

The company’s clients include Empire Co., the city of Saint John, N.B., and Doctors Nova Scotia.

Fraser, one of Atlantic Canada’s top 50 chief executive officers, said the new ISL building will include some street-level retail space.

"A coffee shop, ideally, or an arts organization," he said.

The building is scheduled to be completed next spring.

ISL is based in the CIBC building on Barrington Street, but Fraser said the business has outgrown that space.

"That prompted us to look at building."

The new building, being constructed by B. D. Stevens Ltd. of Dartmouth, is being designed to give ISL staff the space and flexibility required to do their jobs right, Fraser said.

"We’re building an environment suited to the people who work here. It’s a perfect location."

( [email protected] )

And the photo that was included with the article;

[Jstaleness]

New crane at Regency Park and Bently.




Taken from my cell.

[Dmajackson]

^ That is the mixed-use lot #2 (4 total for that corner). No word on height but it's supposed to have 90 units so I'd guess more than five floors but less than 10 (maybe 8?).

Originally Posted by Jonovision

I saw the crane from the bridge yesterday. It does look very much like the one that put up Spice. A bit more substantial than a mobile crane.

Is this crane still up? Or was it just for some work on Leechead Martin?

[Jonovision]

The crane in Burnside is still up.

[Jstaleness]

Yep, still up. Its been loading what looks like steel beams onto the roof.

[someone123]

It is really nice to see mixed smaller-scale infill in the North End to go along with some of the larger apartments and condos.

[Keith P.]

For a while a year or so back I had a dream about that lot on the corner of Agricola and West. I checked it out before it went on the market and found that the owners were the people who own Gus' Grill up the street. I had visions of tearing down the slums that were there and building me a nice little residential compound or maybe a pair of condos. Too much money, though.

[Dmajackson]

Halifax Regional Municipality Media Release

Councillor Jennifer Watts invites residents of District 14 to attend a meeting to discuss district and HRM issues and concerns

(Wednesday, October 20, 2010) - Residents are invited to join Jennifer Watts, Councillor for District 14, to talk about district and HRM issues. Councillor Watts is pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to residents.

Date: Monday, October 25th
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: Citadel High School (entrance off Trollope Street)

If you have suggestions for Regional Council, ideas for the district, or questions you would like answered, Councillor Watts encourages you to attend.

Any bets on how long it will take before someone says proposals like Saint John United (Spirit Place) is too tall for a main road?

- DJ

[beyeas]

"Quiet residential streets are no place for a tall building. And busy main roads are no place for a tall building. So tall buildings should go... oh right, no-where, because we actually just don't like tall buildings"

(aka a synopsis of the Watts meeting)

[someone123]

Originally Posted by beyeas

"Quiet residential streets are no place for a tall building. And busy main roads are no place for a tall building. So tall buildings should go... oh right, no-where, because we actually just don't like tall buildings"

Keep in mind that they also tend to want "open space", low-income housing, space for artists and nonprofits, amenities like daycares, maybe some free yoga space for the community, public artwork, and a few other things. On top of this of course there must be an elementary school every 5 blocks to service the 12 children who live in the few housing units actually permitted...

Seems totally reasonable..? After all, the world exists only to please upper-middle class soccer mom homeowners, right??

[q12]

Dalhousie University mulls campus redesign
Last Updated: Thursday, October 21, 2010 | 8:19 PM AT
CBC News

An aerial shot of Dalhousie University in Halifax. (Dalhousie University)


The board of governors for Nova Scotia's largest university is preparing to vote on an expensive and extensive new master plan for the school.

Dalhousie University is considering tearing down old buildings, adding new ones and overhauling a major thoroughfare as part of its plan.

The board of governors is expected to vote on the plan on Monday.

"There's about $600-million worth of work proposed over roughly a 10-year timeframe," said Jeff Lamb, assistant vice-president of facilities management for the university.

The 46-page proposal was developed over the course of two years in consultation with those inside and outside the university.

There are 12 major capital projects including new academic buildings, residences, sports facilities and altered streetscapes. Each of Dalhousie University's three campuses — Studley, Carleton and Sexton — will be affected.

Lamb said over the last decade, the student population at Dalhousie has grown by up to 7,000 students.

"We'd realize we needed more space and then there'd be a scramble to find it," Lamb said, adding that the university felt a more planned approach was needed.

New buildings planned



One of the biggest changes would be on University Avenue, which is currently divided by tree-lined islands.

The redesign would transform the north side of the street into a pedestrian zone and bikeway, stretching the length of the street. The south side would be expanded to include traffic going in both directions, as well as parking on either side.

"The traffic capacity should be the same as it is now, but it's all on one carriageway instead of two and the north side becomes pedestrian friendly," said Lamb.

"I think it's a great idea," said Emma Drudge, a Dalhousie student. "There's always problems with pedestrians and cars in this area."

On the Carleton Campus, at Robie and South streets, the plan calls for two 16-storey towers to be added to the Tupper medical building for nurse training and research.

On the Sexton Campus in downtown Halifax, there is a plan for a five-storey innovative design, engineering and architecture building — dubbed the IDEA building.

Lamb said the plan is both a way for Dalhousie University to remain competitive, and to survive.

"We have to attract students from outside the province in order to meet the demographic challenges and you can't do that offering crumbling buildings and cramped classrooms," he said.

"If we're going to recruit the students … we need to do this work."

At this point, Lamb said, it's not clear how the university would cover the costs of the plan.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/sto...niversity-master-plan.html#ixzz132gCdM1K

http://campusplan.dal.ca/Files/Dalhousie%2520Framework%2520Report%25209-14-10.pdf

[planarchy]

Originally Posted by q12

"There's about $600-million worth of work proposed over roughly a 10-year timeframe," said Jeff Lamb, assistant vice-president of facilities management for the university.

600 million in construction over 10 years! Thats impressive. All this sounds great. If it wasn't for Dal, little would be built on the peninsula!

[DigitalNinja]

SMU has been spending a lot of money as well on campus... It's kinda odd that nothing has been built really in many years on the universities and the last couple years has seen a lot.
SMU built the Atrium, Re did the roofs on 2 buildings, renovating the big McNally building on the inside, re organizing the walking paths by Loyola, and the just started construction today on the new sports facility (Homburg Center).

Good to see some money being spent on the universities!

[sdm]

Without seeing the street redesign I doubt it would ever pass with being so close to a fire station and hospital. Anyone got the design?

Wonder how Phil Pacey feels about his employer building 20 storey buildings....... hehehe

[Northend Guy]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

^ That is the mixed-use lot #2 (4 total for that corner). No word on height but it's supposed to have 90 units so I'd guess more than five floors but less than 10 (maybe 8?).

This is 7 residential floors, and 2 parking levels. The main building entrance is on the lower parking level, so will have basically 8-9 storeys of height.