HomeDiagramsDatabaseMapsForum About
     

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Regional Sections > Canada > Atlantic Provinces > Halifax > Halifax Peninsula & Downtown Dartmouth


Reply

 
Thread Tools Display Modes
     
     
  #41  
Old Posted Mar 7, 2012, 5:03 PM
Waye Mason's Avatar
Waye Mason Waye Mason is offline
opinionated so and so
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Halifax, NS
Posts: 721
Quote:
Originally Posted by halifaxboyns View Post
Like I mentioned in one of the other threads, the beltline here in Calgary had a bunch of projects announce they were coming off the shelf and then they ran into financing problems.

I suspect this might be the same thing - from what I'm hearing, lenders are now tripple checking things to make sure that loans they guarenteed are worth it (and in some cases making developers start the process all over again). I don't know if the last part is the case out here, but I've heard that happened to a couple developers here in Calgary.
This is global, has been since 2008. International finance markets are weak and lack confidence, making it harder and harder to build...
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #42  
Old Posted Mar 7, 2012, 5:30 PM
worldlyhaligonian worldlyhaligonian is offline
we built this city
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,799
We aren't talking about a major skyscraper here, this redevelopment could only be a few million bucks.

I bet this is held up by red tape somewhere along the line.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #43  
Old Posted Mar 7, 2012, 6:23 PM
Waye Mason's Avatar
Waye Mason Waye Mason is offline
opinionated so and so
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Halifax, NS
Posts: 721
Quote:
Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian View Post
We aren't talking about a major skyscraper here, this redevelopment could only be a few million bucks.

I bet this is held up by red tape somewhere along the line.
Did you ever watch "Flip This House" back in 2007 or so? Ever wonder why a 25 year old working at Starbucks was able to get a $1 million mortgage with no money down? Then the economy collapsed and that went way.

Things are tighter at all level of risk, not just subprime. My understanding is that these guys are not big time developers, and I suspect that it is just a lot harder for them to get financing now than when they conceived of their plan.

So even for a small development, tighter rules around having leases signed, cash in the bank could slow them down.

That said, Halifax is all over red tape. I don't think the approval process is our problem as much as the post-approval process of getting 18 different HRM departments to sign off on your project.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #44  
Old Posted Mar 7, 2012, 6:56 PM
beyeas beyeas is offline
Fizzix geek
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: South End, Hali
Posts: 1,303
Quote:
Originally Posted by Waye Mason View Post
Did you ever watch "Flip This House" back in 2007 or so? Ever wonder why a 25 year old working at Starbucks was able to get a $1 million mortgage with no money down? Then the economy collapsed and that went way.

Things are tighter at all level of risk, not just subprime. My understanding is that these guys are not big time developers, and I suspect that it is just a lot harder for them to get financing now than when they conceived of their plan.

So even for a small development, tighter rules around having leases signed, cash in the bank could slow them down.

That said, Halifax is all over red tape. I don't think the approval process is our problem as much as the post-approval process of getting 18 different HRM departments to sign off on your project.
Yeah I went back and re-read the article from the property owners that started this thread. The had at the time stated that the project would start last fall or at the latest this spring, and at the time the identified that their biggest challenge was securing financing.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #45  
Old Posted Mar 7, 2012, 7:07 PM
someone123's Avatar
someone123 someone123 is offline
hähnchenbrüstfiletstüc
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 33,673
Yeah, not surprised about financing, but either way it's unfortunate that this hasn't gotten off the ground.

They had problems for a couple of years because they applied for a federal heritage grant and then the program was cut. After that they went to the city and it took some time for the Barrington heritage district stuff to be sorted out.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #46  
Old Posted Mar 7, 2012, 10:36 PM
Keith P.'s Avatar
Keith P. Keith P. is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,964
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith P. View Post
Yep. Ugly old thing. Should have had a date with a bulldozer a decade ago. Another waste of tax dollars, both to preserve the facade after it burned down and now to incorporate that undistinguished facade into a new red-brick faux-Victorian.
Still my view.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #47  
Old Posted Jan 3, 2013, 3:13 AM
fenwick16 fenwick16 is offline
Honored Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Toronto area (ex-Nova Scotian)
Posts: 5,558
According to the allnovascotia.com, the NFB redevelopment will be going ahead. The proposal is for 16 residential units contained within 5 storeys and 3,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor. (source: Caryi Buys More Barrington, allnovascotia.com, Wed, Jan 2nd, 2013 edition).

I think this is great news. I think the NFB building is a great old building and the shell will be restored.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #48  
Old Posted Jan 3, 2013, 4:49 AM
someone123's Avatar
someone123 someone123 is offline
hähnchenbrüstfiletstüc
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 33,673
Yeah, it is wonderful news, and it explains some delay in the development. The former owners had plans but I'm not sure they are used to developing properties like this and they seemed to have trouble getting financing. The new owner was behind the Freemasons Building restoration and has experience managing many heritage properties on Barrington. In some ways this might even be easier than a restoration project since it is pretty much a new build.

The streetscape along the west side of Barrington is going to be pretty nice with the new NFB, 1592, and Barrington Espace. I think the new TD building will also have a positive impact on the feel of the street. Aside from the NFB building the only big remaining problem on Barrington is the empty lot at George Street; that probably only still exists at this point because it is government-owned. Hopefully the province will develop it soon. It would also be nice to see restoration work on the Green Lantern Building and the Pacific Building.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #49  
Old Posted Jan 3, 2013, 2:15 PM
Keith P.'s Avatar
Keith P. Keith P. is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,964
While it will be good to have the ugly facade of the NFB used for something, that streetscape will remain unattractive and foreboding until its neighbors are all either knocked down or redeveloped. That is a scar on Barrington that should have been fixed long ago.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #50  
Old Posted Jan 3, 2013, 3:27 PM
Drybrain Drybrain is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,101
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith P. View Post
While it will be good to have the ugly facade of the NFB used for something, that streetscape will remain unattractive and foreboding until its neighbors are all either knocked down or redeveloped.
Well, the building next door at 1566 has been quite beautifully fixed up, the redevelopment at 1592/Cd Plus is going ahead, and the Tramway building as well seems to be in some intermediate stage of repair. Things actually look pretty good to me—vastly better than a couple of years ago.

And no, neither the Khyber or the building immediately south of it (which could use a good cleaning, to be fair) are going anywhere, so that's just sort of that.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #51  
Old Posted Jan 3, 2013, 6:54 PM
someone123's Avatar
someone123 someone123 is offline
hähnchenbrüstfiletstüc
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 33,673
The middle (Neptune/"Ford") building is interesting. It does not have a storefront because it was built as a house in 1821, back before Barrington was a major commercial street. In some ways I think it would have been better if these had been replaced by a larger building, like the former Eaton's building for example, but they are still interesting architecturally.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Drybrain View Post
Things actually look pretty good to me—vastly better than a couple of years ago.
I think we'll see a "night and day" difference along this stretch of Barrington over the next couple of years, partly because of what's happening on the street but also partly because of what's happening a couple of blocks away. The Nova Centre will be about 100 paces from Barrington and Sackville, and the Southwest apartment building will have hundreds of residents who would be well-served by businesses along Barrington.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #52  
Old Posted Jan 3, 2013, 7:11 PM
halifaxboyns halifaxboyns is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Planet earth
Posts: 3,883
Quote:
Originally Posted by someone123 View Post
The middle (Neptune/"Ford") building is interesting. It does not have a storefront because it was built as a house in 1821, back before Barrington was a major commercial street. In some ways I think it would have been better if these had been replaced by a larger building, like the former Eaton's building for example, but they are still interesting architecturally.

I think we'll see a "night and day" difference along this stretch of Barrington over the next couple of years, partly because of what's happening on the street but also partly because of what's happening a couple of blocks away. The Nova Centre will be about 100 paces from Barrington and Sackville, and the Southwest apartment building will have hundreds of residents who would be well-served by businesses along Barrington.
It will really be interesting to see this stretch in the next 5-10 years. I think Someone123 is right and more so, this may become one of the best examples of change (Spring Garden Road, IMO being the best example).

I've also noticed that the recent CH article on the businesses closing down on Barrington wasn't the typical doom and gloom of downtown. It was more along the lines of - this is the cycle of business, but new businesses will open up and more people are coming. That to me, shows a sign of shifting attitudes.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #53  
Old Posted Jan 7, 2013, 7:24 PM
spaustin's Avatar
spaustin spaustin is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Downtown Dartmouth
Posts: 705
They interviewed the new owner of the property on CBC this afternoon (sale is closing today). Apparently it's going to be 5 storeys with a mix of studio and 3 bedroom apartments on the top four floors. If everything lines up, he's hoping to get started in May. My guess is that deadline will slip as there are bound to be complications in figuring out how to build a new building behind the old NFB facade. The whole development is contingent on the engineers not finding that, after 22 years, the facade is too far gone to save. If that turns out to be the case, than Keith may still get his wish.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #54  
Old Posted Jan 7, 2013, 7:50 PM
JET JET is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,811
Quote:
Originally Posted by spaustin View Post
They interviewed the new owner of the property on CBC this afternoon (sale is closing today). Apparently it's going to be 5 storeys with a mix of studio and 3 bedroom apartments on the top four floors. If everything lines up, he's hoping to get started in May. My guess is that deadline will slip as there are bound to be complications in figuring out how to build a new building behind the old NFB facade. The whole development is contingent on the engineers not finding that, after 22 years, the facade is too far gone to save. If that turns out to be the case, than Keith may still get his wish.
given what they have been able to do with other old brick and stone facades in Halifax, I expect that they should be able to keep the facade. It is too bad that the sandblasting that was done decades ago messed up the detailing on the building
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #55  
Old Posted Jan 7, 2013, 8:30 PM
Drybrain Drybrain is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,101
Quote:
Originally Posted by spaustin View Post
They interviewed the new owner of the property on CBC this afternoon (sale is closing today). Apparently it's going to be 5 storeys with a mix of studio and 3 bedroom apartments on the top four floors. If everything lines up, he's hoping to get started in May. My guess is that deadline will slip as there are bound to be complications in figuring out how to build a new building behind the old NFB facade. The whole development is contingent on the engineers not finding that, after 22 years, the facade is too far gone to save. If that turns out to be the case, than Keith may still get his wish.
According to this heritage committee doc from a few years ago, the plan was then also to restore the mansard roof. http://www.halifax.ca/council/agenda...0420ca1131.pdf

I imagine that given that, and the overall terrible shape of the facade, the project will include not only restoration, but some reconstruction as well.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #56  
Old Posted Jan 7, 2013, 10:55 PM
Keith P.'s Avatar
Keith P. Keith P. is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,964
Faux-heritage. Just wonderful.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #57  
Old Posted Jan 7, 2013, 11:00 PM
fenwick16 fenwick16 is offline
Honored Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Toronto area (ex-Nova Scotian)
Posts: 5,558
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drybrain View Post
According to this heritage committee doc from a few years ago, the plan was then also to restore the mansard roof. http://www.halifax.ca/council/agenda...0420ca1131.pdf

I imagine that given that, and the overall terrible shape of the facade, the project will include not only restoration, but some reconstruction as well.
I think the latest proposal is a scaled down version with fewer units (only 16). So it might have changed significantly.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #58  
Old Posted Jan 7, 2013, 11:03 PM
worldlyhaligonian worldlyhaligonian is offline
we built this city
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,799
Vinyl siding mansard roof?

I hope they restore the facad and use the space in front of the building more effectively:

http://goo.gl/maps/cbs1i
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #59  
Old Posted Jan 8, 2013, 12:23 AM
Keith P.'s Avatar
Keith P. Keith P. is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,964
But think about the panhandlers and layabouts! What of them?!?

Funny how Google felt they needed to blur out one of the pictures filling in the broken windows...
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #60  
Old Posted Jan 8, 2013, 1:30 AM
Drybrain Drybrain is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,101
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith P. View Post
Faux-heritage. Just wonderful.
Not if the materials used are actually high quality and equivalent to the original, which I anticipate for a project like this they would be. This kind of thing has been done all over the world to repair damaged buildings. On a small scale, we have Forbes Restoration, re-Victorianizing houses in the north end (Check out their before-and-after photos.)

You could argue that what they're doing is faux, but presumably they're basing these restorations on what the buildings were likely to look like when originally constructed, before bad renos removed detailing, etc. And even if it's just fanciful, I'd rather the north end look like that than see the structures left looking like vinyl-clad shacks.

I've posted this before, as well, but it's a pretty stunning project that proves few buildings are too far gone to save if one has the inclination. Involved lots of reconstruction of ruined brickwork and trim. And the developers weren't even required to do it--it wasn't a heritage structure and there was no mobilization to save the building. They just WANTED to do it.
Reply With Quote
     
     
This discussion thread continues

Use the page links to the lower-right to go to the next page for additional posts
 
 
Reply

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Regional Sections > Canada > Atlantic Provinces > Halifax > Halifax Peninsula & Downtown Dartmouth
Forum Jump


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 6:38 AM.

     
SkyscraperPage.com - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.