[skyscraper_1]

(picture by Haliguy)
http://www.armourysquare.com/images/tower.jpg

As of September 22, 2007
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j260/a_gallant/IMG_1188.jpg

http://www.armourysquare.com/
I can't wait to see it all come together!

[worldlyhaligonian]

Any updated pics???... I want to see if this thing is looking ok.

[phrenic]

FYI, this project is scheduled for completion in May 08' http://www.armourysquare.com/

Rear of building:
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z152/phrenical/100_0601.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z152/phrenical/100_0602.jpg

Foundations for June St. Townhomes:

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z152/phrenical/100_0603.jpg

Front of building:

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z152/phrenical/100_0604.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z152/phrenical/100_0605.jpg

[skyscraper_1]

Thanks phrenic! Welcome to SSP :)

[phrenic]

Thanks, I'm a long-time lurker, first-time poster.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Thanks for posting, everybody starts off as a lurker.

[phrenic]

For a while I was wondering how they were going to fit everything from this project on this site(i.e. a set of townhomes on each side of the main building), but it does look like it is coming along nicely and with few delays as far as I know.

[Keith P.]

It's unfortunate they are using the concrete-block faux stone on the facade of the lower floors. A very unattractive material.

Interesting how buildings like this go together these days. To fill in the gaps between the reinforced concrete structure they use steel studs and styrofoam panels sandwiched between the exterior finishing material and the interior drywall. Not a whole lot of robustness there, but everyone does it this way now.

[someone123]

It is very similar to the one on South Street.

I like the fact that they're building townhouses on the sidestreets. The building's scale is also pretty good for that area.

[Haliguy]

Here's some pics I took today on the way home from work.



You can see Gladstone Ridge in the background.
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j260/a_gallant/IMG_1189.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j260/a_gallant/IMG_1190.jpg

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j260/a_gallant/IMG_1192.jpg

[terrynorthend]

Nice pics, thanks! I love that view from the Citadel. Its really starting to look filled in with some nice density to the northwest.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Those two projects alone should add alot of the right type of people to the area as well. Definitely a good neighborhood to buy a house right now.

[worldlyhaligonian]

http://www.theingeniumgroup.com/img/armoury_square.jpg

Bigger tower pic from the Giffels website that I hadn't seen. Hopefully the finishing touches on this make the development seem of a higher quality.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Any new pics? If this project is slated to be finished in the spring and they still have the townhouses to build, I imagine the tower will be completed voer the winter?

[phrenic]

I'll try and get some more pics this evening after work if i have the time.

They have begun working on the brick facade and have a small section finished. (the area circled in yellow). I think they are finished pouring concrete.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z152/phrenical/armoury_square.jpg

As well, when I went by this morning they were excavating the area where the princess place townhomes will be, so I can only assume the foundations will follow shortly.

[phrenic]

Front:
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z152/phrenical/3.jpg

Completed brick facade:
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z152/phrenical/2.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z152/phrenical/5.jpg

Location of Princess Place Town homes:
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z152/phrenical/4.jpg

Rear:
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z152/phrenical/1.jpg

[Jonovision]

A view from the ferry showing it's tiny impact on the skyline.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/jonovision/P1010051.jpg?t=1195696615

[skyscraper_1]

God...Halifax looks incredibly dreary this time of year....

[worldlyhaligonian]

How is the facade coming along, any pics?

[phrenic]

The brick work on the left-hand side (head on perspective) of the building is complete. I'll see if I can get home from work in time before it gets dark to take pictures tomorrow.

Also he foundations for the Princess Pl. town homes have been plotted and it looks like they will start puring concrete there soon.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Cheers.

I'm looking forward to seeing it in person upon my return to Canada.

[someone123]

Here's a Flickr photo of Armoury Square posted on December 7 on Flickr by dgbadillo:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2013/2097921622_94d8c73b50_o.jpg
(Ugh.. snow)

I'll be back in Halifax soon. I intend to do some photo threads.

[phrenic]

Close-up. Taken today.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z152/phrenical/DSC00213.jpg

[Keith P.]

That cladding on the lower floors is really unfortunate. It looks unfinished.

[phrenic]

Agreed.

From a distance it doesn't look any different than the bare concrete on the side of the building.

[worldlyhaligonian]

How is this project progressing? Any pics?

[phrenic]

There has been little change to the exterior since my last pic, but regardless I'll try and get another one soon.

[phrenic]

Here we go. Pictures taken today.

Front:
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z152/phrenical/DSC03865.jpg

Close-up to brickwork:
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z152/phrenical/DSC03866.jpg

Left side of building, June St.:
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z152/phrenical/DSC03867.jpg

Rear:
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z152/phrenical/DSC03868.jpg

Townhouse foundations, June St. side:
http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z152/phrenical/DSC03869.jpg

[someone123]

I think it looks pretty good. It's unfortunate how the base part resembles cinder block but it still looks better than many examples of pre-cast cladding around the city (e.g. Letson Court). The brick part is nice, the windows are well-proportioned, etc. The rendering suggests that the balconies will eventually match the brick and the railings will be metal and glass.

It will be interesting to see how the townhouses turn out and how they fit in with the older ones in the area.

[FRANKEE]

This bldg just looks like a hospital.

[xxFamilyGuyxx]

This Building and the bigger one next to it remind me alot of the appartment buildings in Quebec city.

[Jonovision]

The crane finally fame down on site today.

[Takeo]

It's much better than the crap they built in the 70's... and much better than that new and hideous brick faux-castle thing on the corner of Robie and Cunard.

[Keith P.]

It's much better than the crap they built in the 70's... and much better than that new and hideous brick faux-castle thing on the corner of Robie and Cunard.

Funny you bring this up. I drove by there today and was struck by how much better the late-60s design of the adjacent MacDonald apartments looks as compared to this. The cement block and red brick cladding looks terribly severe and uninteresting as compared to the MacDonald.

[phrenic]

Isn't it sad when a building with a look that screams "I was built in the 70s" looks significantly better than one built in 2007/08?

[Takeo]

Funny you bring this up. I drove by there today and was struck by how much better the late-60s design of the adjacent MacDonald apartments looks as compared to this. The cement block and red brick cladding looks terribly severe and uninteresting as compared to the MacDonald.

Haha :) Maybe you're right. Hey... I actually like a lot of 70's architecture! I won't give in inch on that newer building on the corner or Robie and Cunard though. The brick detailing is so gaudy.

[Amanita]

I was by the site yesterday, the lovely white crane there is no more. She's come down sometime this past week.

[phrenic]

Originally people were supposed to start moving into this building in May, but looking out my window now at the building, I don't think that is going to happen.

[someone123]

Here's a recent Flickr picture that shows the building: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57163570@N00/2489589705/

[worldlyhaligonian]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2359/2489589705_e9740e3342_b.jpg

(Credit: xman12)

Great image from Flickr, shows the position over the commons.

[worldlyhaligonian]

my bad on the same post, lol.

[someone123]

Here's an even better photo of it by ve1nsx:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3184/2489580611_034df69026_o.jpg

He has a great gallery here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ve1nsx/

[worldlyhaligonian]

Excellent Someone123, that ve1nsx guy is posting great pics daily on Flickr!

Its great when you don't live in Halifax 99% of the time.

[Jonovision]

A shot I just took from my window in Dartmouth. I'll try and get another one when it clears up a little.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/jonovision/IMG_0910.jpg?t=1211909566

[worldlyhaligonian]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2256/2530985815_15c1aae388_o.jpg

[worldlyhaligonian]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3069/2528512974_ac697978ee_b.jpg

[worldlyhaligonian]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/2596081754_0202a563b9_o.jpg

(Credit: Ve1NSX on Flickr)

The brickwork is taking these guys forever. I don't like the brown box on top of the tower.

[someone123]

I recently took this photo of Armoury Square:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2785656604_1fc2766c8e_o.png

It looks okay. It will be a bit better when it is finished. I agree that it's nothing special architecturally but I prefer the brick to precast and I like seeing infill in this part of the city. It also goes well with the Lexington:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/2784131277_1c649d0514_o.png

I hope neighbourhoods like these continue to get decent mid-sized infill projects. Some more of these (of whatever architectural style) would be great for Robie Street and I would like to see a couple on Agricola (the McCully Worklofts will be one such project.. Armoury Villa would be more palatable if it were a simpler brick building).

[Jonovision]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/jonovision/IMG_1618.jpg?t=1220121081

[Dmajackson]

I've been by this project a few times recently and I think I can say with confidence that this is completed. I've already had it listed as complete for awhile on the compilation thread.

Can someone change the title to "completed"

[worldlyhaligonian]

that beige box on top should be bricked, it looks terrible. otherwise, its a decent development overall.

[worldlyhaligonian]

that beige box on top should be bricked, it looks terrible. otherwise, its a decent development overall.

[lawsond]

i am actually pleasantly surprised by how this turned out. it has the massing and shape of a taller building. with a quick glance, you might think it was more like 14 or 15 storeys. It sure beats that dismal st. james place.
when i was a kid, i dreamed of the commmons being ringed by high rises like central park. but come to think of it, the upper east side of manhattan has tons of ten storey building not much different in shape to this.
still hope they keep infilling though. and bump it up to 15ish.

[someone123]

Anybody know how the townhouses have turned out? They were just putting in the common walls when I saw it last so it was impossible to tell.

I agree that it would be nice to see a row of medium-scaled buildings around the Commons. I wonder how long the houses next to Armoury Square (on Cunard St) will last?

Another "opportunity site" would be that car repair place south of the Armouries. I'd also love to see those hideous blue vinyl-clad houses taken out. There are some other stretches of houses that are quite nice, however. I noticed this house being renovated last summer:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/2784969728_973eed6ed8.jpg

[gm_scott]

That car repair place has been bothering me for some time. A nice residential building would be great there.

[phrenic]

There is also the funeral home, parking lot and family home in between the welsford and the office building on the corner of quinpool/robie. That space would be perfect for another mid/high-rise residential development. Although in the case of the funeral home at least, I don't see anything changing there for quite some time.

[Haliguy]

Here's picture I got today of Armoury Square but you can also see the improved density in that area over the past few years with Gladstone Ridge in the background.


http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j260/a_gallant/IMG_0375.jpg

[Dmajackson]

Thats a nice picture Haliguy :)

The North-End is really starting to come together.

[Dmajackson]

Taken today by me;

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3047/3354225610_40f4ef3e8f_b.jpg

[someone123]

Nice picture.

I think this is actually one of the better looking developments in the city, ugly mechanical box notwithstanding. Still wondering how the townhouses turned out.

I agree that the North End feels like it's "coming together" and the city in general feels much bigger than it used to, especially in the central neighbourhoods. There haven't been many large new buildings but countless holes have been filled in. It's hard to get more than a block or so away from a new building (last 5-10 years) in the city.

[Keith P.]

This building looks better the farther away you are. Standing in front of it, the sidewalk view and street level elevations are actually shockingly shabby looking.

[Dmajackson]

Since there are many photos of this taken far away I won't bother posting the ones I have here. Instead I'll post them in the Tour Thread and I'll post these two from June Street I snapped today;

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3419/3360346167_cec571d15c_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3593/3361165398_f50beb59fd_b.jpg

[someone123]

Is there any particular reason for the recessed doorways? They've done that for a few other projects as well.

[Keith P.]

Is there any particular reason for the recessed doorways? They've done that for a few other projects as well.

Shelter from the elements while you're unlocking/locking the door I suppose. My house lacks that feature and I wish it didn't.

[someone123]

Shelter from the elements while you're unlocking/locking the door I suppose. My house lacks that feature and I wish it didn't.

That is a good thing, but there are alternatives: porches or those little glassed in entry rooms that you see on older buildings. I guess they are more expensive to add, but they don't sacrifice interior space.

Part of what I'm wondering is whether or not there are new (70s or later) planning regulations (e.g. setback requirements) somehow responsible for this design.

[Dmajackson]

Is there any particular reason for the recessed doorways? They've done that for a few other projects as well.

This might help explain that. Apparently the stairs are on the HRM right-of-way so I imagine they had to recess the doorways to intrude less.

10.1.2 Proposed Administrative Order SC-56, Respecting Closure of a Portion of Princess Place, Halifax (465 Kb) (http://halifax.ca/council/agendasc/documents/090331ca1012.pdf)

[Barrington south]

Ummmm, I read an add in some paper that said this piece of SH*T is only 62% sold.... that doesn't bold well for the condo market in HRM.....even thought this is a major piece of crap

[phrenic]

Yeah there's been 30 or so units listed on mls.ca for quite a while now.

[phrenic]

This place still has at least 18 condos, 5 June st. townhouses and 4 (of 5) Princess pl. townhouses for sale.

[Keith P.]

The June St. townhomes seem pricey -- $380K + $400 a month in fees. Rooms are small, the street has not yet been fully "gentrified", and I think they are a hard sell.

[phrenic]

Well based on my rough count there are 7 Townhouses on June St and 5 on Princess, meaning they've only offloaded 1/4 of the total.

Seems like they're all a tough sell.

[gmanupnorth]

Went through one of the units on Princess Pl last night and was not impressed with the quality of the interior finish. With an asking price close to 500K, it was a real let down.


G

[Wishblade]

Went through one of the units on Princess Pl last night and was not impressed with the quality of the interior finish. With an asking price close to 500K, it was a real let down.


G

Your totally paying for location, not quality. the price tag comes from the fact that its right on the commons.

[Empire]

Your totally paying for location, not quality. the price tag comes from the fact that its right on the commons.

This is where developers sell out. Counting on location to bail out cheap construction. Quality design/construction will bring a higher selling price but most developers want in and out fast so quality gets ditched it the process.

[gmanupnorth]

I agree...location, location, location.......but the interior finish quality was what I would expect in properties priced below 200k not 400+. My wife and I both said we would likely want to spend an additional 50K just to get the finish work up to acceptable standards and finish the basement.

Also, the floor plans and room sizes were note great either. At least I know why only one townhouse house has been sold since early 2009. So all in all, very disappointed and the search continues.

Gordon

P.S. - They are still only 65% sold according to the agent.

[someone123]

It's nice to be by the Commons but it's a stretch to call it a premium location. It's not as nice as downtown, the South End, or even Quinpool Rd area.

[halifaxboyns]

It's nice to be by the Commons but it's a stretch to call it a premium location. It's not as nice as downtown, the South End, or even Quinpool Rd area.

I'd call it a Inner City location - not central core, but in the inner city neighbourhoods around it. Here in Calgary, it's many of these neighbourhoods where the most valuable condos and houses are located.

Bridgeland for example and Victoria Park have some of the most expensive condos I've seen in Calgary!