[Halifax] 2032 Robie & 2033 Parker | 76 m | 23 & 5 fl | Approved

Dmajackson · #1 Posted **Jun 6, 2014, 6:06 PM**

Westwood Developments has applied for LUB amendments to allow for the redevelopment of the former funeral home on Robie Street near Quinpool Road. The proposal is for a 59m/18fl residential building (including 4fl podium) consisting of 120 residential units, 81 hotel units, and 106 parking spaces (93 below grade, 13 at-grade).

Initiation Report - Case 19281

worldlyhaligonian · #2 Posted **Jun 6, 2014, 7:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Westwood Developments has applied for LUB amendments to allow for the redevelopment of the former funeral home on Robie Street near Quinpool Road. The proposal is for a 59m/18fl residential building (including 4fl podium) consisting of 120 residential units, 81 hotel units, and 106 parking spaces (93 below grade, 13 at-grade).

Initiation Report - Case 19281

Exactly what this site needs! Excited!

Now... let the opposition begin, hahaha!

counterfactual · #3 Posted **Jun 6, 2014, 8:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

Exactly what this site needs! Excited!

Now... let the opposition begin, hahaha!

Yes, now we're talking!

worldlyhaligonian · #4 Posted **Jun 7, 2014, 8:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by counterfactual

Yes, now we're talking!

Its the summer though... maybe this one will slide through. Let's hope so... this lot is perfect to help with urban density around the commons and close to downtown. Plus Quinpool will get a boost from it.

The only people who complain about things in Halifax are the people who have too much free time on their hands.

counterfactual · #5 Posted **Jun 7, 2014, 8:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

Its the summer though... maybe this one will slide through. Let's hope so... this lot is perfect to help with urban density around the commons and close to downtown. Plus Quinpool will get a boost from it.

The only people who complain about things in Halifax are the people who have too much free time on their hands.

Yes, I actually think there's going to be some strong *local* support.

I'm betting these guys will be right on board:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/busines...ife-says-group

counterfactual · #6 Posted **Jun 6, 2014, 8:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Westwood Developments has applied for LUB amendments to allow for the redevelopment of the former funeral home on Robie Street near Quinpool Road. The proposal is for a 59m/18fl residential building (including 4fl podium) consisting of 120 residential units, 81 hotel units, and 106 parking spaces (93 below grade, 13 at-grade).

Initiation Report - Case 19281

Right on!!

curnhalio · #7 Posted **Jun 8, 2014, 1:56 PM**

The report seems to be contradictory:

"While a second large scale residential building (Welsford Apartments) is located to the north of this site on the west side of Robie Street, this particular development has been identified as being out of scale with the existing neighbourhood and not of a desirable height and form for that section of Robie Street."

Then the very next paragraph...

"Furthermore, given that the Quinpool Road site is already designated as commercial within the SMPS, a taller development could be expected. A general urban design principle is that the wider the street, the taller that a building can be without appearing imposing. Given the substantial width of Robie Street, in addition to the presence of open space on its eastern side, it would be appropriate to consider this site as an opportunity for increased heights relative to the shorter buildings further west on Quinpool Road."

So can we build a tall building there or can't we? Precedent has already been set, considering the Atlantica and Welsford neatly bracket this site. Not to mention the buildings on Cunard. I'm sure the NIMBY's will be out, but what can they really say this time?

ILoveHalifax · #8 Posted **Jun 8, 2014, 3:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by curnhalio

the report seems to be contradictory:

I'm sure the nimby's will be out, but what can they really say this time?

'it's too tall'

curnhalio · #9 Posted **Jun 8, 2014, 4:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILoveHalifax

'it's too tall'

It's only a few metres taller than the Welsford. Oh, and I forgot the Quingate Place building for precedent setting buildings. Heightophobes are going to lose this one, I think (hope). I don't like the idea that you can't build taller than the existing in the area. How else will you ever grow? For heavens sake, even Philly finally relaxed its requirement that you can't build taller than the top of the William Penn statue at City Hall.

ILoveHalifax · #10 Posted **Jun 8, 2014, 6:38 PM**

I expect we have certain councillors already rallying the troops to lead the charge against the height of these buildings.
I would say the likelihood of these buildings being built at the height proposed is less than 5 percent.

mcmcclassic · #11 Posted **Jun 8, 2014, 11:14 PM**

First of all, 18 stories is WAY TOO TALL! There will be too much traffic generated, children will be deprived of precious vitamin D, and overall it won't suit the area.

The following is a more appropriate proposal for this site:

- 4 stories tall (max)
- Vinyl Siding exterior
- At least 50% of available units are affordable housing

We need to protect the future of our fair city and not allow developers to build monstrous eyesores that are detrimental to our lives.

hokus83 · #12 Posted **Jun 9, 2014, 3:42 AM**

I hear they are building hobbit huts on the urban farm

counterfactual · #13 Posted **Jun 9, 2014, 9:39 AM**

Well this thread went hilariously off the rails pretty quickly.

JET · #14 Posted **Jun 9, 2014, 5:37 PM**

http://www.housingtrust.ca/htns/
look at who is on their Board; they seem to be people who can make things work. HTNS is not meant to make a profit, they provide quality housing that is meant to be affordable and sustainable, the two things are not mutually exclusive.

dtown · #15 Posted **Jun 9, 2014, 8:41 PM**

There was just a piece on this on CBC. The story began with "there are already concerns about shadows on the commons" .....SHADOWS?! Come onnnn

counterfactual · #16 Posted **Jun 9, 2014, 10:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtown

There was just a piece on this on CBC. The story began with "there are already concerns about shadows on the commons" .....SHADOWS?! Come onnnn

You didn't know? The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms includes the right to be free from shadows (s. 6) and wind (s. 8)).

Both fundamental human rights are commonly invoked by NIMBYs in Halifax,

Keith P. · #17 Posted **Jun 9, 2014, 10:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtown

There was just a piece on this on CBC. The story began with "there are already concerns about shadows on the commons" .....SHADOWS?! Come onnnn

I swear to god, the CBC must have a red phone direct line to the anti-development HQ in this town. Just another reason for it to be blown up and privatized.

OldDartmouthMark · #18 Posted **Jun 10, 2014, 5:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith P.

I swear to god, the CBC must have a red phone direct line to the anti-development HQ in this town. Just another reason for it to be blown up and privatized.

Oh God, and replace it with yet another version of FOX news... gimme a break. The CBC is the last decent station left in the country. Sorry, off topic, but tired of the folks who want to turn Canada into USA junior...

curnhalio · #19 Posted **Jun 10, 2014, 1:14 PM**

Why is the demo of St. Pats being mentioned along with this? Is this some sort of package deal - "You let us build these buildings and we'll knock down St. Pats for you"? Anyway, glad to see Watts not come out railing against it.

Slightly off topic. I just noticed last night that the north-facing side of the building that would be knocked down doesn't have any windows.

counterfactual · #20 Posted **Jun 10, 2014, 1:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by curnhalio

Why is the demo of St. Pats being mentioned along with this? Is this some sort of package deal - "You let us build these buildings and we'll knock down St. Pats for you"? Anyway, glad to see Watts not come out railing against it.

Slightly off topic. I just noticed last night that the north-facing side of the building that would be knocked down doesn't have any windows.

Quinpool/Robie is a natural spot for some very high density (yes, height too) development. Everything you need is there, for a walkable neighbourhood.

Halifax commons with Oval in winter, Quinpool cafes, restaurants and shopping, Canadian tire, Atlantic Superstore.