Well the Herald has printed the first article about height concerns. They could save time by having a generic template for these articles, its always the same complaints. I feel now a proposal isn't official until the Herald prints one of these.
Source:
The Chronical Herald
Concern over height of Halifax condo project
By CHRIS LAMBIE Business Editor
Thu. Oct 29 - 4:46 AM
An 11-storey condo building proposed for north-end Halifax is raising concerns about the height of the project and whether it will create a wind tunnel in the neighbourhood.
Council gave city planners the go-ahead this week to examine the plan in detail for the property bounded by Kaye, Russell and Gottingen streets.
Sobeys-owned ECL General Partnership IV Ltd. wants to erect the mixed-use commercial and residential building surrounded by townhouses on the site of the former St. Joseph’s Church, which was torn down last summer.
"I’m worried about the height because the highest building in the area is going up right now and it’s seven storeys," Coun. Jerry Blumenthal (Halifax North End) said Wednesday.
"It’s massive. That’s why we recommend that we get a lot of public consultation. It’s going to be a success or failure, depending on what the people in the area have to say about it."
Mr. Blumenthal wants to know if the wind that blows off Bedford Basin will be magnified by the project.
"I fear there’s going to be a lot of wind. If you go up Fort Needham hill, . . . you get blown away."
The land is now zoned for park and institutional use. ECL wants council to change that to allow for the residential project.
"If my residents don’t want it, you’re going to see me fight like hell against it," Mr. Blumenthal said.
Russell Street resident Wanda Bianco doesn’t like the idea of such a large building going up in her neighbourhood.
"I don’t think it’s very appropriate," said Ms. Bianco, who has lived in the neighbourhood more than half a century.
"Oh my heavens to Betsy, I think it will look like a sore stump sticking out around the area because there’s nothing that high around here."
She’s also worried the tall building may create a wind tunnel.
"The wind around here is quite high. It would present, I think, a problem."
Steve Mustain, director of the nearby Shambhala School, also has questions about whether the building will blend into the area. But he likes the idea of adding high-density housing to the neighbourhood.
"I think it’s a positive thing, in general, in the sense that the vitality of the Hydrostone area is really on the increase," Mr. Mustain said.
Public consultation on the proposal will take place within the next few months, said Richard Harvey, the city’s senior planner.
"We think there’s sufficient merit in which to engage the public."
He wants to see if elements of the building’s design will mitigate people’s height concerns.
"You just look at it with regards to compatibility and the effects upon its surroundings."
He doesn’t anticipate the building will cause wind problems.
"The preliminary indications that we have are that it won’t," said Mr. Harvey, noting that it has varied shapes that will break down the wind.
ECL did not return repeated calls for comment.
In the company’s application letter to the city, development manager Virginia Bonn said the project, dubbed St. Joseph’s Square, will have two floors of underground parking.
"It is our intention to attract a diverse target market, including families with children to first-time home buyers," Ms. Bonn writes.
"The town homes are intended for the families, but also allow for a consistent, human-scaled street wall above which the building steps back. The windows and doors of the townhouses create visual interest, and a separate, low-rise identity from the highrise tower. We are also proposing to dedicate a small area for neighbourhood commercial uses that support family living."
She notes the property is close to Hydrostone shops, transit service, schools and nearby parks.
"It is a fully sustainable redevelopment site that will utilize existing infrastructure and is located in an area that will make walking and transit appealing."