[Halifax] 5515 Cogswell (at Gottingen) | ? m | 10 fl | U/C

[bluenoser]

Here's what's going up at Cogswell & Gottingen. 10-storey (+ penthouse amenity space?) residential with 3,000 ft2 ground floor commercial.





Source & additional renderings: https://www.principaldevelopments.com/

[Drybrain]

Not bad, and a big improvement over what this site has looked like for decades now, but I do have to wonder why it meets the corner with that blank space. Seems like an obvious design miscue.

[Citizen_Bane]

If I understood what I read on the developer's site correctly, that blank bullnose on the corner will become a engraved bit of public art...currently in design. The building looks better in the website pics. Still, it's a heavy looking building and appears to be a bit of a knock-off of The Pavilion.

[Good Baklava]

Originally Posted by Citizen_Bane

If I understood what I read on the developer's site correctly, that blank bullnose on the corner will become a engraved bit of public art...currently in design. The building looks better in the website pics. Still, it's a heavy looking building and appears to be a bit of a knock-off of The Pavilion.

I agree, it looks pretty thick.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by Citizen_Bane

If I understood what I read on the developer's site correctly, that blank bullnose on the corner will become a engraved bit of public art...currently in design.

It could look much better than the renderings with an art installation like that (actual high quality detailing applied to building, not random sculpture next to building) and signs/displays in the commercial spaces.

This is better quality than I expected. One thing that is a bit unfortunate is the apparent garage entrance on Gottingen. I wonder if the city should go a bit farther and ban curb cuts along these storefront corridors. Maybe the Centre Plan does and this is an old development agreement.

[mleblanc]

Originally Posted by someone123

It could look much better than the renderings with an art installation like that (actual high quality detailing applied to building, not random sculpture next to building) and signs/displays in the commercial spaces.

This is better quality than I expected. One thing that is a bit unfortunate is the apparent garage entrance on Gottingen. I wonder if the city should go a bit farther and ban curb cuts along these storefront corridors. Maybe the Centre Plan does and this is an old development agreement.

Not sure why they decided go Gottingen vs. Cogswell on the parking garage. Seems like an obvious choice for me.

I'm not sure on this one though quite yet. The massing just seems pretty huge for the lot? It almost looks like a cheap knockoff of Pavillion.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by mleblanc

I'm not sure on this one though quite yet. The massing just seems pretty huge for the lot? It almost looks like a cheap knockoff of Pavillion.

It also closely resembles The Bloom which is by the same developer.

It's probably just a reality of this site that it won't have the same budget as Pavilion. I don't know what the prices will be like, but I think it's good that the Gottingen area offers relatively affordable urban (including car-free) living. The alternative is for people to get pushed out into the suburbs unless they have money, which is not so great for those who can't drive or don't have a car.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by someone123

It also closely resembles The Bloom which is by the same developer.

It's probably just a reality of this site that it won't have the same budget as Pavilion. I don't know what the prices will be like, but I think it's good that the Gottingen area offers relatively affordable urban (including car-free) living. The alternative is for people to get pushed out into the suburbs unless they have money, which is not so great for those who can't drive or don't have a car.

There's an interesting push-pull with this site regarding eventual pricing. It's in a good location especially for people who work in Scotia Square and not too far from the upper parts of downtown and SGR. On the other hand it is next door to the Sally Ann and across the street from the cop shop, and is on a pretty busy corner for traffic and noise.

[someone123]

Source

[IanWatson]

Originally Posted by mleblanc

Not sure why they decided go Gottingen vs. Cogswell on the parking garage. Seems like an obvious choice for me.

Probably because of the grade on the site. Having the garage entrance at the lowest point reduces the need for interior ramps, which eat up a tonnnnn of space in underground parking.

[bluenoser]

The U/C classification may have been a bit hasty; my apologies. I'm not sure if there are any permits beyond demolition just yet.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by bluenoser

The U/C classification may have been a bit hasty; my apologies. I'm not sure if there are any permits beyond demolition just yet.

We sometimes set the status to U/C during demolition or site prep, and definitely during excavation even if there is no permit yet. I think of it as an indication that there is some kind of work being done on the site. If it gets cancelled the status can always be changed.

[mleblanc]

Originally Posted by IanWatson

Probably because of the grade on the site. Having the garage entrance at the lowest point reduces the need for interior ramps, which eat up a tonnnnn of space in underground parking.

That does make sense, thinking of the site.

I do think the Bloom turned out nice, so I have good hopes for this site; but still... the massing is feeling off for me. That 10 storey corner looks awful on the Cogswell side IMO.

I think I'm pretty far from a NIMBY, but I would absolutely hate to own that house next door seeing these plans. From the renders perspective it almost looks like you can reach out and touch the house from the balconies.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by mleblanc

I think I'm pretty far from a NIMBY, but I would absolutely hate to own that house next door seeing these plans. From the renders perspective it almost looks like you can reach out and touch the house from the balconies.

I raised that issue about a different project on this forum before, and the answer is apparently that the people living in the house should be accepting of the situation as they were never guaranteed privacy in the first place, and the construction will be good for the city overall. So, not a problem.

I agree with those who don't like the solid part of the corner, but will say I do like the way the building conforms to and fills the corner lot. So, overall for me it's a .

[Dmajackson]

*This project is not approved yet*

Site prep is underway. The western sidewalk has been closed and replaced with a mid-block crossing. Cogswell has a on-street sidewalk. For those who follow my blog the link below is the quick access for this project. This is on my walking route so I'll provide regular updates.


Halifax Developments Blog (Photo by David Jackson)

[Dmajackson]

Halifax Developments Blog (Photo by David Jackson)

[hoser111]

Committee Approves ‘Uninspired’ Tower On Prominent Gottingen Corner In Halifax


https://huddle.today/committee-appro...EMAIL_CAMPAIGN)

[DigitalNinja]

"Municipal committee wants a taller building. Plan passed by the city government restricts tall buildings." - Essentially the issue. Kind of funny that this is the case. Shows how big of a mistake it was to arbitrarily restrict height.

[Dmajackson]

Halifax Developments Blog (Photo by David Jackson)

[SouthPawLaw]

Originally Posted by DigitalNinja

"Municipal committee wants a taller building. Plan passed by the city government restricts tall buildings." - Essentially the issue. Kind of funny that this is the case. Shows how big of a mistake it was to arbitrarily restrict height.

I feel this will be the heart of most of the problems with the center plan, for all the good it is doing.