I am starting this thread as a venue to bring attention to odd architectural, civic, or design-related blunders that are never really acknowledged despite seeming glaringly obvious. I don't really know how else to explain it so I'll just post my first few WTFs:
Missing statues and windows, part 1
One of our most important civic landmarks. A very important symbol of democracy in North America. Apparently one of the best Palladian-style buildings on the continent. So why does it seem perpetually incomplete? More specifically, does anyone know if there were ever statues in those alcoves, and why they were removed? Or if not, why the alcoves were built into the building like that in the first place? And what's up with those bricked-over windows? Seems like a huge waste of sandstone to me.
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Missing statues and windows, part 2
Ok, so no statues this time. But the two "what used to be windows" in the Aliant building make it look a lot worse than it would if all of the windows were, well, windows. Also, does anyone know how they decide which random 5 nights of the year to project ads onto the blank wall facing Blowers? It sure looks cool when they do, but they sure don't do it very often for some reason.
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Welcome to Historic Properties
Not much to say here, except has anyone noticed the very poor condition of the sign and its lighting fixtures? I'm assuming this is maybe a victim of Hurricane Juan that just never got fixed. In any case, it's in much worse shape than whenever this photo was taken.
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Street view of the site in a
more current state
York Redoubt
A National Historic Site, and a fort on a similar scale (and of similar strategic importance) to the Citadel. While the Citadel is obviously kept in very, very good condition, York Redoubt was essentially left to ruin. In many ways, this was an interesting approach, as the alternative would have been essentially a second Citadel Hill National Historic Site located in a less convenient place for almost anyone who wanted to visit it. Leaving it to ruin allowed the landscape to change over time, and it has the LOOK of a fort that was abandoned generations ago. People go there for hikes or to pick blueberries or to watch yachts race in the harbour, not to see the noon gun being fired or be given history lessons by an undergrad in a kilt.
However, it is still a historic fort and being able to go and check out all the old defence instalments is part of the fun. There are many technologies that were installed at York Redoubt that either weren't installed at the Citadel or aren't there now. My point here, I guess, is that after a certain point, at least
some maintenance is required. I'll let the pictures do the talking:
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I guess a little bit of context is necessary for that last one. You know the Martello Tower in Point Pleasant Park, which is considered a civic landmark and has all kinds of things named after it? Little known fact: Halifax has two martello towers... that was the other one in its current state. I'm not asking for a restoration to mint condition, but why did they patch it up with concrete and plywood??
For sake of comparison, here is the better-known one:
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Back to YR. A couple of years ago, a chain-link fence was put up around a large area with some unique watchtowers and bunkers, because they are in such bad repair that they're a legitimate safety liability. The fact that this area is essentially condemned is what I mean when I say that this park needs
at least minimal upkeep. You can't really go in there at all now, and if you manage to get past the fence, you risk being crushed to death by falling concrete, for which the Government of Canada would assume no responsibility. There's a huge sign (like, 4'x5' or so) attached to the fence explaining this in great detail. The sign is not visible in this photo, but the fence is:
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