[Halifax] Seton Ridge (Motherhouse Redevelopment) | Approved

[someone123]

This thread is for Southwest Properties' proposed redevelopment of the Motherhouse lands in Rockingham.

Looks like this has the potential to be much better than an average suburban development. This will also be up to 1700 units on about 0.25 square kilometres, which works out to pretty high densities. There's another development of similar scale planned for a nearby wooded site off of Dunbrack, so this area could eventually have the population to sustain more mixed uses and better transit services.

An article and some conceptual renderings are here: http://www.schalifax.ca/?p=1554







The eventual development may not look like this, but I hope this sort of design becomes more common. Given that a large percentage of suburban development in Halifax is already multi-unit (often with some underground parking), there isn't much of a reason why this sort of environment can't be built. You could take the existing buildings along an area like Parkland Drive, Regency Park, or Mount Royale and cluster them around smaller scale commercial buildings to create a dramatically better neighbourhood.

[fenwick16]

Originally Posted by someone123

This thread is for Southwest Properties' proposed redevelopment of the Motherhouse lands in Rockingham.

Looks like this has the potential to be much better than an average suburban development. This will also be up to 1700 units on about 0.25 square kilometres, which works out to pretty high densities. There's another development of similar scale planned for a nearby wooded site off of Dunbrack, so this area could eventually have the population to sustain more mixed uses and better transit services.

An article and some conceptual renderings are here: http://www.schalifax.ca/?p=1554
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.
.

The eventual development may not look like this, but I hope this sort of design becomes more common. Given that a large percentage of suburban development in Halifax is already multi-unit (often with some underground parking), there isn't much of a reason why this sort of environment can't be built. You could take the existing buildings along an area like Parkland Drive, Regency Park, or Mount Royale and cluster them around smaller scale commercial buildings to create a dramatically better neighbourhood.

Hopefully it will look like the renderings.

This would add about 4,000 people (~ 2 - 2.5 people per unit) and it is only about 1 Km from the peninsula.

[haligonia]

Originally Posted by someone123

The eventual development may not look like this, but I hope this sort of design becomes more common. Given that a large percentage of suburban development in Halifax is already multi-unit (often with some underground parking), there isn't much of a reason why this sort of environment can't be built. You could take the existing buildings along an area like Parkland Drive, Regency Park, or Mount Royale and cluster them around smaller scale commercial buildings to create a dramatically better neighbourhood.

I agree. The problem with most of the multi unit buildings in Clayton Park and Bedford is that they are still car dependant. I'm sure that the residents of those buildings would enjoy being able to walk around their community and to local stores rather than having to hop in their car for everything. This looks to be a good example of a suburban development that isn't sprawl-based.

[halifaxboyns]

It typically comes from the curvilinear roadway design - suburban subdivisions love them because they can cram in more lots but they will be a total disaster to redevelop in 20 years. I'm guessing that this proposal might be more of a grid style from the renderings or a fused-grid which would be good because it creates easier pedestrian connections and opportunities for them.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by halifaxboyns

It typically comes from the curvilinear roadway design - suburban subdivisions love them because they can cram in more lots but they will be a total disaster to redevelop in 20 years.

It's particularly sad because this is an area that has a huge impact but would probably be pretty easy to fix. Some developers would complain of course, but at the end of the day there would still be new suburbs.

A big part of the problem now is just that many aren't even aware of the problem. They've grown accustomed to this type of layout, they drive everywhere, and they don't see the connection with traffic problems. A lot of people still think the solution is lower density subdivisions.

[Dmajackson]

According to an article in the Chronicle Herald work will start to move this project forward now that Spatz's other projects are done (The Grainery Lofts).

[teddifax]

Top Halifax developer: Going green good for business
17 hours ago
By BRETT BUNDALE Business Reporter
Jim Spatz, CEO of Southwest Properties, stands in the water collection room of the Grainery Lofts on South Bland Street in Halifax on Wednesday. (INGRID BULMER / Staff)

















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One of Nova Scotia’s top real estate developers says going green isn’t just good for the environment. It’s good for business.

Jim Spatz, chairman and chief executive officer of Southwest Properties Ltd., said all the company’s developments from now on will be environmentally sustainable given the success of the Grainery Lofts.

The $15-million, 113-unit, six-storey Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified project on South Bland Street is the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada.

Designed by Breakhouse Inc., Kassner Goodspeed Architects Ltd. and Solterre Design, the building’s carbon footprint will be about 40 per cent less than other apartment buildings.

Energy conservation measures include the use of reflective materials to reduce the heat island effect on the roof and other spaces, low-flow water fixtures, solar chimneys in the mechanical penthouse to preheat air entering the ventilation system, and motion sensors will activate common-area lights.

While the building cost roughly five per cent more to build in an environmentally sustainable fashion, Spatz said it is expected to save 40 per cent in energy costs.

“It’s an incremental investment to do all these things, but there is good return on investment,” Spatz said in an interview Wednesday.

“So it’s not just a green thing; it also makes good business sense. Everything we do going forward will be green.”

After opening less than two months ago, the Grainery Lofts is more than 80 per cent leased, with all the one-bedroom lofts rented out and fewer than 30 two-bedroom lofts still available for lease.

“For the majority of our tenants, the building’s environmental reputation is what attracted them initially,” said Kelly McGuire, leasing consultant for the Grainery Lofts.

“After viewing the lofts, what resonated most was the level of design and quality of the lofts: the floor-to-ceiling windows, private balconies, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. These features are typically unheard of in apartments in Halifax.”

Southwest Properties is now turning its attention to new developments, with green certification in mind.

“In an era of greenwashing, you have to differentiate yourself,” Spatz said, noting that being certified by a third party confirms that the building is environmentally sustainable.

And it is also good branding as consumers are drawn to greener building practices, he said.

Indeed, Spatz said the fact that Southwest Properties’ portfolio contains the first LEED-designed residential apartment building in Atlantic Canada could give the developer an edge over its competitors.

The company is gearing up to begin work on its 10-year, $500-million redevelopment of the Sisters of Charity motherhouse in Rockingham.

Spatz said the company wants the redevelopment to be a sustainable community.

(bbundale@herald.ca)

[someone123]

Here's one of the newer renderings for this development. It looks much better than typical mixed subdivisions and apartment developments:


Source

[teddifax]

Originally Posted by someone123

Here's one of the newer renderings for this development. It looks much better than typical mixed subdivisions and apartment developments:


Source

Wow, any details on this... it looks amazing!!!

[halifaxboyns]

Wow that is impressive. I particularly like that the apartment buildings are kept away from the low density so that there are no interface issues. I'm guessing (since it's hard to tell) that the tallest buildings may be in the 10-12 storey range?

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Definitely a step up for suburban projects in Halifax, but how are they going to deal with the slopes? That rendering makes the site appear flat, but it has a huge hill to deal with, which I think would be where the middle park is, although the whole site is steep in that area. How the buildings sit on the site will make or break the project IMO. Consider the mess of huge retaining walls on Larry Uteck Southwest generally does good work though, so I bet they have a good plan in place.

[Jonovision]

This was also shown at VivaCity last week. I spoke to the planners and this rendering is accurate to the building designs.

[RyeJay]

Oh!

[someone123]

The scale and designs are similar to buildings at UniverCity at Simon Fraser University.

[Wishblade]

Originally Posted by Jonovision

This was also shown at VivaCity last week. I spoke to the planners and this rendering is accurate to the building designs.

That looks better than just about every downtown in the maritimes outside of Halifax, and even that is debatable. and its in the suburbs at that!

[cormiermax]

Originally Posted by Jonovision

This was also shown at VivaCity last week. I spoke to the planners and this rendering is accurate to the building designs.

So we're getting a 3rd downtown!

[someone123]

It's interesting to think of how similar this is to some of the other suburban developments in the area. The scale of the individual multi-unit buildings is identical to the Panorama buildings. Part of the difference here is building design, but the more important part is the coordination of the higher density buildings. There's enough of a cluster to support some commercial uses right in the middle of the neighbourhood and the main streets are practical for pedestrians. Many people will still have cars but hopefully they won't have to use them as much.

I think this type of site planning should be the norm for suburban development, not the exception. It is already fairly common in some North American cities, and people like it. Neighbourhoods like this command a premium compared to cookie-cutter sprawl. Few people are going to give up their car and bike everywhere, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to walk to the park or a cafe.

[gm_scott]

^ If there was great transit in this area, there wouldn't be a need for a car at all.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Originally Posted by Jonovision

This was also shown at VivaCity last week. I spoke to the planners and this rendering is accurate to the building designs.

This is the european model... it works very well. They better have a grocery store tennant.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

This is the european model... it works very well. They better have a grocery store tennant.

I imagine Superstore or Sobeys are both unlikely since they have stores on Joe Howe and Lacewood respectively. Shame though. Is there anyone else in the local market other than No Frills?

I think that will be a significant step as Halifax becomes more urban and vibrant: the return of small and medium scale grocery stores instead of only huge stores catering to big catchment areas and people driving.