Quote:
Originally Posted by Drybrain
Also pertinent to the Mirvish/Gehry thing is the demolition of three listed heritaage structures, which is raising a lot of hackles in Toronto, and Jennifer Keesmaat (chief planner)'s contention that the density may be TOO much to handle there. The King streetcar can only take so much, after all.
As far as Halifax condos, I didn't know about that Commons project, but I know projects like the Grainery have sold well, and didn't Southport hit a pre-sales record? So demand is there...
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Exactly about the M/G project there is a lot more to the situation than meets the eye. The Ontario Planning Act has section 37 which I've heard planners like Paul Bedford call the 'let's make a deal' section. It's all about getting public benefits for increased density - hence why many of the high rise buildings exist. The Planner works with the applicant to obtain a public plaza or park or whatever. I don't know of any other Provinces that have such an open policy for public benefit - HRM uses some component of it through HbD but nothing near is broad.
I don't think Halifax has hit the condo sales levels seen in the big markets, but it's improving. But many bankers (like nimby residents) focus on the anecdotal rather than the fact. You may recall I've said before, as humans we tend to see something much worse than it is. Traffic is bad on every street - well of course it is during
rush hour because everyone else is trying to use the street too (I think you get my drift). If they start hearing more about condos selling out fast in Halifax, their opinions will change. It will just take time...University City here in Calgary the second building sold out in 15 minutes (which, to my knowledge, was the first time that ever happened in Calgary). Something like that - tends to be quite surprising and opinion changing.