General Updates and News

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by Phalanx

That reminds me... Wasn't there some discussion of new renders with some significant changes for the YMCA redevelopment a few months back? Were those ever made available?

This is what is listed on the YMCA website (below). It sounds like the design is still in progress.

(source: http://www.newhalifaxymca.ca/the-new-ymca/renderings.html )

Architect Renderings of New YMCA

Our design work is continuing to evolve based on ongoing consultations. We look forward to providing updated concepts in the near future, so stay tuned!

[dmac26]

These are the details I have for this site. The Glebe house on the corner of Barrington and Spring Garden is being restored as a residence for priests and the Bishop. There will be a courtyard for parking but also a memorial with the remains of people buried under the church parking lot beside the basilica. That lot (to the west of the basilica) will be available for development but from what I understand the other buildings to the north of the parking lot (hobbie shop and church offices will not be touched). I think the church wants to hold onto the land and still own it after being developed. They also own the land on Barrington next to the church currently an apartment building.

[halifaxboyns]

HRM may be in the hole; but I suspect that if there is any attempt to sale the old library for any redevelopment, we'll be seeing the heritage groups go up in arms. Now that being said; the sale of the property could include conditions that the building be maintained as part of any redevelopment but that's speculation.

But this whole defecit issue goes back to the conversation that's been had a few times about intensity of use in the downtown. The 7 storey pacey model doesn't work if we want to have a diversity of tax base so that we can improve things all over HRM. You can see if you look at the assessed value of office towers in a viewplane, versus outside (same with hotels). But I'm starting to rant...

[sdm]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

HRM may be in the hole; but I suspect that if there is any attempt to sale the old library for any redevelopment, we'll be seeing the heritage groups go up in arms. Now that being said; the sale of the property could include conditions that the building be maintained as part of any redevelopment but that's speculation.

But this whole defecit issue goes back to the conversation that's been had a few times about intensity of use in the downtown. The 7 storey pacey model doesn't work if we want to have a diversity of tax base so that we can improve things all over HRM. You can see if you look at the assessed value of office towers in a viewplane, versus outside (same with hotels). But I'm starting to rant...

I'll stand to be corrected, but the old library (current one) cannot be sold as there provinical requirement that it be maintain for civic use or something like that.
Sad really as its prime land.

[dmac26]

There are many bodies buried under the current library site on SPG. It was used as a burring grounds back in the day for the homeless, the sick, and anyone that did not have family to take them to private cemeteries. Any development here will require extensive archeological excavations (the same goes for the basilica parking lot across the road).

The facade of the library is interesting but I wonder if it worth saving? The rest of the building is a mess if you walk around. Nothing very interesting about the rest of it. The position and set back of the building on the corner is very stately. If it stays a civic building the front park area could be re-worked into a more impressive and designed plaza or public space.

[Jonovision]

Originally Posted by Phalanx

That reminds me... Wasn't there some discussion of new renders with some significant changes for the YMCA redevelopment a few months back? Were those ever made available?

I just checked their website and they do not have any renderings posted.

[Dmajackson]

Agricola @ West - 2010/12/04:

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3150 Barrington St - 2010/12/04:

[halifaxboyns]

The amendments to the Irishtown Road MPS for some high density towers are going forward to Regional Council this Tuesday.
Here is the link to the staff report, which I think was very well written and deals with the issue very nicely.

There is also a staff presentation for the project as well.

I'm hopeful this will be accepted considering how much the MPS for Dartmouth has failed to add dwelling units into the downtown - this and King's Wharf will certainly help with that and will be a great way to leverage private money for public realm improvements.

[someone123]

There's been a moderate amount of construction in downtown Dartmouth over the past 10 years but some of it has been a disaster, particularly in the old canal area (suburban style apartments with vinyl siding).

I really like the idea of "daylighting" the canal and having a decent quality public park around it. Quality improvements are only going to happen with a larger scale of development -- people in the area can't expect developers to fund elaborate public projects with small apartment buildings, and HRM's ability to fund these projects is limited.

King's Wharf is also going to add some interesting public space to the area.

[Dmajackson]

I know I have stated this for the Downtown MPs (HRM by Design) before but according to a staff report I am reading the Gottigen Street commercial corridor also has no upper limit on population density.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

HRM may be in the hole; but I suspect that if there is any attempt to sale the old library for any redevelopment, we'll be seeing the heritage groups go up in arms. Now that being said; the sale of the property could include conditions that the building be maintained as part of any redevelopment but that's speculation.

I for one would not want to see any significant changes to the old library property. This is a classic corner lot and provides some very welcome open space on SGR as well as a neat shortcut to "pizza corner"

[someone123]

I like the diagonal path across the old library property but that's about all that I feel is actually important to preserve or would be difficult to somehow otherwise make up for.

People are too averse to change in Halifax. There's a bizarre feeling that nothing can be touched without "ruining" it when in reality the actual quality of different parts of the downtown is very mixed. Most of the good parts have been steadily improved upon and modified over the years while retaining some degree of old character. The worst parts remain trapped in 1971 and are slowly falling apart.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I for one would not want to see any significant changes to the old library property. This is a classic corner lot and provides some very welcome open space on SGR as well as a neat shortcut to "pizza corner"

I hope the site stays the way it is. Original buildings in Halifax are diminishing and I don`t trust the current development climate to do the building justice with a makeover.

[alps]

I'm not sure I would mind seeing the park developed. I think the plaza/park in front of the new library and the architecture building will fill the same role. I'd rather see the retail strip extended down the street some more. It'd be nice to have a prominent store built on the underused lawn at the corner of Brunswick, and smaller shops and eateries in another building fronting on both the street and the pedestrian path in behind, with a little bit of residential above.

I'm not 100% on the green building, but I'd definitely like to see something like the blue one built. I think the path to Pizza Corner should be preserved as a pedestrian-only street.



(of course, this all depends on the old library sticking around. Not sure if it should or not...it's an awkward space and I don't think it's anything too special architecturally.)

[Empire]

Originally Posted by alps

I'm not sure I would mind seeing the park developed. I think the plaza/park in front of the new library and the architecture building will fill the same role. I'd rather see the retail strip extended down the street some more. It'd be nice to have a prominent store built on the underused lawn at the corner of Brunswick, and smaller shops and eateries in another building fronting on both the street and the pedestrian path in behind, with a little bit of residential above.

I'm not 100% on the green building, but I'd definitely like to see something like the blue one built. I think the path to Pizza Corner should be preserved as a pedestrian-only street.



(of course, this all depends on the old library sticking around. Not sure if it should or not...it's an awkward space and I don't think it's anything too special architecturally.)

Wow, if it is one thing that Halifax lacks it's green space. Pocket parks just don't exist in Halifax. Victoria park is the closest we have and this library comes in a moderate second. This is a great urban green space and to put retail there is very little gain for a huge loss. Where would you put Winnie?

[Jonovision]

The green space should remain. Empire is right. We lack pocket parks in the city and they are such a great tool for creating pedestrian density. Think of what this park looks like at lunch time when the temperature is above 15C. The park is full of people.

I also think there is an issue with it being an old burial ground from the original Halifax settlement.

[JustinMacD]

Originally Posted by Jonovision

The green space should remain. Empire is right. We lack pocket parks in the city and they are such a great tool for creating pedestrian density. Think of what this park looks like at lunch time when the temperature is above 15C. The park is full of people.

I also think there is an issue with it being an old burial ground from the original Halifax settlement.

This park is notorious for being a haven for homeless people and crazy people though.

It's a nice piece of space, but IMO it's not that special. I'm also assuming some type of green space will be opened up directly across the street with the new library.

[beyeas]

this green space probably gets more use than the commons!
Cities need spaces like this for people just to hang out, congregate etc... even if they are crazies. Not that it is the same scale at all, but one of my favourite places in NYC is Union Square and partly because it is FULL of crazies, people protesting issues, people dressed as clowns, people just laying around reading etc. It may not be a big space, but I think that Halifax is better for it, and it certainly does get used by the public (and far more than some other public spaces).

[-Harlington-]

yeah, it is a good space and its used by many
where will people eat there fries and such, aha
i use it as a shortcut downtown all the time and i dont think ive ever went all the way around

[eastcoastal]

Originally Posted by JustinMacD

This park is notorious for being a haven for homeless people and crazy people though.

It's a nice piece of space, but IMO it's not that special. I'm also assuming some type of green space will be opened up directly across the street with the new library.

Except that this space faces south and is nice and sunny... if there is a new space across the street - the library would block the sunlight from any greenspace on the Spring Garden side

I like the current library's relationship with the space in front of it and think it works well in the city. It would be a shame to lose it