[Halifax] The Governor (1451 Hollis) | 26 m | 7 fl | Completed

[someone123]

Hoarding visible here:


Source

[someone123]

New rendering:



Project page: https://killamreit.com/new-developme...ax-ns/governor

[IanWatson]

Killam is putting the brakes on new construction due to COVID. Unfortunately that means this one is going to sit for a while longer.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by IanWatson

Killam is putting the brakes on new construction due to COVID. Unfortunately that means this one is going to sit for a while longer.

Hopefully this doesn't have an effect on the quality of the building long-term. It was looking like it was going to be one of the nicer developments in the area.

[Jonovision]

This one apparently has to be approved again. Something to the effect that permits were not filed for construction before the Old South Suburb Heritage Conservation District was approved. And that approval nullified the existing approval for this development.

https://killamreit.com/new-developme...ax-ns/governor

[Dmajackson]

So this is one is going before Design Review Committee next week for re-approval. The proposal is essentially the same as before but Killam is now proposing few units (larger units) and ground-floor commercial facing Hollis Street (two units on either side of residential entrance).

https://www.halifax.ca/sites/default...3021Report.pdf

[someone123]

One of the updated renderings:

[alps]

From 48 residential units (2018) to 13 units... that's disappointing.

[atbw]

Originally Posted by alps

From 48 residential units (2018) to 13 units... that's disappointing.

I cannot imagine what those will rent for. They may be filling demand for larger-than-2br units. I think the largest unit in the Alexander is a 2br/2bath, but they start at $1925.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by atbw

I cannot imagine what those will rent for. They may be filling demand for larger-than-2br units. I think the largest unit in the Alexander is a 2br/2bath, but they start at $1925.

The application to the DRC linked to above shows nine 2-beds and three 3-beds. And they range from nearly 2,000 sq. ft to about 3,700--very spacious, mansion-y apartments. I imagine they'll be very $$$.

I suppose there's a market for that, and this feels like the right location and type of building. Still, it also feels like you could double the number of units in here and they'd still be pretty sizable.

[someone123]

Source

[alps]

Very cool shot, with the cranes looming in the background.

[bluenoser]

This article might belong in the housing market thread, but as it pertains to this project: sounds like they are planning to break ground early next month.

ROGER TAYLOR: Killam Apartment REIT CEO concerned about opposition to property development


The Governor, a Killam Apartment REIT six-storey development at the corner of Hollis and Bishop streets in Halifax, will have 13 residential units and ground-floor commercial space. Amenities include a common entertaining kitchen, lounge, library and rooftop terrace. Killam is finalizing permits with the municipality and expects to break ground in early December, with units available by mid-to-late 2022.
https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/bu...opment-517341/

[atbw]

Originally Posted by bluenoser

This article might belong in the housing market thread, but as it pertains to this project: sounds like they are planning to break ground early next month.

ROGER TAYLOR: Killam Apartment REIT CEO concerned about opposition to property development


The Governor, a Killam Apartment REIT six-storey development at the corner of Hollis and Bishop streets in Halifax, will have 13 residential units and ground-floor commercial space. Amenities include a common entertaining kitchen, lounge, library and rooftop terrace. Killam is finalizing permits with the municipality and expects to break ground in early December, with units available by mid-to-late 2022.
https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/bu...opment-517341/

Using affordable housing as an excuse to push for less regulation on objectively luxury developments is quite the argument.

HRM has shown they’re interested in reducing costs for apartments that actually meet that need. The money will be there if they want it.

[someone123]

I didn't get the sense that Killam was asking for special treatment or subsidies. It sounds like they want timely buildings permits, which seems like a reasonable request.

If you don't build luxury housing then the people who would have lived in it end up bidding up and moving into the next best thing. You get a game of musical chairs that ultimately can affect people trying to rent the humblest apartment. Here in Vancouver it's to the point where lots of well-paid professionals live in what would be considered low-end apartments in Halifax, including basement apartments.

[Keith P.]

Certainly there can be no serious argument that the planning processes in Halifax are overly bureaucratic, slow, pedantic, ponderous and very expensive to navigate. Major reform is needed.

[Good Baklava]

Article seems to dramatize the issue into a struggle against some great conspiracy...

No personal objections to the proposal though, the recent render is very nice!

[kzt79]

Originally Posted by someone123

I didn't get the sense that Killam was asking for special treatment or subsidies. It sounds like they want timely buildings permits, which seems like a reasonable request.

If you don't build luxury housing then the people who would have lived in it end up bidding up and moving into the next best thing. You get a game of musical chairs that ultimately can affect people trying to rent the humblest apartment. Here in Vancouver it's to the point where lots of well-paid professionals live in what would be considered low-end apartments in Halifax, including basement apartments.

Basic supply and demand. It seems hardly anyone has any grasp of this concept, unfortunately.

[Good Baklava]

Originally Posted by kzt79

Basic supply and demand. It seems hardly anyone has any grasp of this concept, unfortunately.

If you’ve read the earlier posts you can see the supply was recently decreased on this project.

Even then, while this valid point has repeatedly been stated I would shy away from calling it a simple concept. An earlier landlord poster gave his view that supply stops housing from getting too expensive, but doesn’t substitute for true affordable housing. Let me raise just one problem with restricting our lens to supply: what about those who purchase a second or third property in speculation and exhaust that supply? This scenario isn’t novel and has played out across multiple cities around the world.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Good Baklava

Even then, while this valid point has repeatedly been stated I would shy away from calling it a simple concept. An earlier landlord poster gave his view that supply stops housing from getting too expensive, but doesn’t substitute for true affordable housing. Let me raise just one problem with restricting our lens to supply: what about those who purchase a second or third property in speculation and exhaust that supply? This scenario isn’t novel and has played out across multiple cities around the world.

Well, it's unlikely that a "speculative" purchase sits empty. Unless it was purchased to be redeveloped, it remains part of the supply of housing stock and would be expected to be offered on the rental market at whatever rental price the market would support. It may be useful for those in planning schools to have a mandatory course on economics and in particular how the housing market works, if they are going to be recommending regimes that can have a great impact on the housing market in a community.