[sdm]

News out about a new $50 million development for the ex trinity chruch site. Claims to be an as of right development and will be going 18 stories and future rental appartments. However the article discusses possibilities of some hotel or office.

Proposed by Jono developments, which has little development history to put off such a large project, so not sure if it will actually get built

[Wishblade]

Where did you read about this? Sounds like a fairly significant projects in a fairly significant area.

[Haliguy]

Where did you read about this? Sounds like a fairly significant projects in a fairly significant area.

Where is this at?

[Jonovision]

It's where the trinity church is on the corner of Brunswick and Cogswell. Just below the staples.

Jono developments. That's metledge isnt it?!

[sdm]

news came out about this development in the allnovascotia.com

[someone123]

Interesting. I didn't know that something of that height could be built there as-of-right. That at least eliminates one hurdle.

This is on a prominent corner and a good building in this location could go a long way towards improving the feel of the whole area.

[Haliguy]

It's where the trinity church is on the corner of Brunswick and Cogswell. Just below the staples.

Jono developments. That's metledge isnt it?!

Oh thats right..I knew that....doh..

[worldlyhaligonian]

I had to do a double take when I saw 18 stories, lets hope this becomes reality.

[phrenic]

Project strives to connect
Parts of city need to be sewn back together, developer says
RACHEL MENDLESON

Joseph Metlege wasn't alive when continuous residential neighbourhoods connected north-end Halifax with downtown.

But the 25-year-old second-generation developer says his goal with the 18-storey, $50-million, multi-use development he's planning for the Trinity Anglican Church site is to re-knit the disparate parts of the city.

"We have a very segregated community right now ... So this location is a perfect gateway to sew the north end into the downtown," said the president of Jono Developments Ltd.

Metlege and his partner on the project, engineer Norman Nahas, recently obtained a building permit from HRM for the 55,000-square-foot site, located on Cogswell Street, just off the Interchange.

The plan involves commercial uses on the ground floor and a combination of apartment units and either hotel or office space above.

"We want to create a pedestrian-friendly environment," Metlege said.

As an as-of-right development, the proposal is exempt from the development approvals process that has kept projects such as the Twisted Sisters on hold for years.

The church selected Jono from a group of developers that answered the call for proposals last year.

In exchange for the land, they are building a new church for the congregation in the new Mount Royale subdivision in Clayton Park West.

Excited about relocation

Rev. Stephen Ashton says he's "very excited" about the relocation, which has been in the works for more than a decade.

The church that currently sits on the site dates back to the 1920s. But he says the congregation has been shrinking since the construction of Scotia Square.

"Our technical parish basically disappeared under a development," he said.

Incidentally, Metlege says monolithic, concrete buildings have inspired him to show Halifax that large projects don't have to be eyesores.

"Instead of pointing at the Fenwick Towers and saying, 'Look how ugly tall buildings are,' now people will be able to say, 'Look at this project, and look how beautiful we can make projects in Halifax,'" he said.

Metlege says his project is shaped by the yet-to-be approved recommendations of HRM by Design, the regional centre urban design study.

Although he hasn't seen the most recent plans, Fillmore says prioritizing pedestrians and providing an appropriate transition to the north end are key concepts.

"They're building a building that's going to be there for a long time. It's important for it to be the right building at the street," Fillmore said.

Metlege says a feasibility study, which he expects to be complete by summer, will finalize his plans.

rmendleson@hfxnews.ca

http://www.hfxnews.ca/index.cfm?sid=105324&sc=89

[Jonovision]

Great news! Metledge is a very strong voice at all of the HRM by Design forums and he truly cares about this city. I'm very excited to see what this looks like. I have a feeling it will be something wonderfully refreshing for this city.

[phrenic]

Hopefully since this is an "as-of-right development" it will move along fairly quickly once HRMbydesign is adopted by council and Metlege finishes his feasibility study.

I'm getting a little ahead of myself here, but wouldn't it be spectacular to see two or three high rise cranes in downtown Halifax at the same time? (United Gulf 1 & 2 plus this)

[Wishblade]

Hopefully since this is an "as-of-right development" it will move along fairly quickly once HRMbydesign is adopted by council and Metlege finishes his feasibility study.

I'm getting a little ahead of myself here, but wouldn't it be spectacular to see two or three high rise cranes in downtown Halifax at the same time? (United Gulf 1 & 2 plus this)

It should move quite quickly without any blockades from the public, council, urb, or anyone else who could get in the way (thank god).

And your right, that would be spectacular. I actually smirked just with the vision in my head :cool:

[someone123]

There could be more than two since there is also the Centennial development and maybe some other office development will happen.

Either way, this development sounds very promising. The developers seem aware of good urban design, etc. and as-of-right developments can proceed very quickly.

This aerial shows the site pretty well:
http://www.pbase.com/mucker/image/68361094.jpg
Source (http://www.pbase.com/mucker/image/68361094)

[phrenic]

It should move quite quickly without any blockades from the public, council, urb, or anyone else who could get in the way (thank god).

God help this city if Pacey and the Heritage posse try to get the church registered as a heritage building. Unlikely of course, but I'll shut up before I jinx anything.

Anyway, I found another article that gives more background into the church's situation, in case anybody is interested: http://www.anglicanplanet.net/TAPCanada0711a.html

[Keith P.]

God help this city if Pacey and the Heritage posse try to get the church registered as a heritage building. Unlikely of course, but I'll shut up before I jinx anything.


Article in the current Frank Magazine discusses how the Heritage Trust is having internal problems. Alan Parish has quit the group and others are withdrawing support. Attributed to their ridiculous stand on the United Gulf project and subsequent appeal which was very badly handled. Apparently the Paceys are the main people involved with the group now.

[someone123]

As far as I know there's no legal way for the Heritage Trust to prevent this development. Heritage registration only happens with the property owner's permission and only new development agreements can be appealed.

It is important to have organizations like the Heritage Trust but they should be working on the actual preservation of historic buildings.

[Wishblade]

Article in the current Frank Magazine discusses how the Heritage Trust is having internal problems. Alan Parish has quit the group and others are withdrawing support. Attributed to their ridiculous stand on the United Gulf project and subsequent appeal which was very badly handled. Apparently the Paceys are the main people involved with the group now.

I hate to say its a good thing that the people who are 'supposed' (and I don't use that word lightly) to protect our historical landmarks are disbanding at the seams, but in Halifax's case, it is.

[Jonovision]

I was discussing HRM by Design with Andy Fillmore the other day and he said their private consultations and sessions with the Heritage Trust were quite successful at so called "converting" a lot of the people on that side. Not the main people like the Paceys (argh) but many others.

[phrenic]

As far as I know there's no legal way for the Heritage Trust to prevent this development. Heritage registration only happens with the property owner's permission and only new development agreements can be appealed.

Fair enough then. Hopefully this proposal will have few hurtles, if any.

It is important to have organizations like the Heritage Trust but they should be working on the actual preservation of historic buildings.

Of course. Its just that the United Gulf fiasco has left a bad taste in many mouths for the HT. I'm glad to hear HRMbydesign has converted some people.


Anywho, is this project definitely going to include rental apartments and not condos? That is also a nice change for once. It would certainly be the tallest apartment building built in the area in some time.

[sdm]

Someone shoot Sloane, i heard a comment that she wished the developers to provide a few floors for low income housing. This lady has got to go

[someone123]

Someone shoot Sloane, i heard a comment that she wished the developers to provide a few floors for low income housing. This lady has got to go

I guess she's getting tired of her current house and wants a condo with a view. ;)

[reddog794]

I can't disagree with her. As... convoluted :shrug: , as she seems sometimes, I have a feeling she's a reader of Jane Jacobs, I would hope so with a comment like that, and (I can't believe I'm defending her) having a counsellor in there that reads the Urban Saint, is a step in the right direction. Just not her. Uteck though... I might mail her one of my books.

[someone123]

Even if mixed low income housing were the way to go, randomly asking this developer to include it is unfair. They have to compete with other developments, none of which provide artificially low cost housing without government subsidy.

The whole "what are you going to do for me?" attitude that surrounds private property development is ridiculous. Private developers are out to make money like everybody else. It's not their job to provide low income housing, parkland, etc. They (and everybody else) pay taxes to the province and to the HRM for that.

[xxFamilyGuyxx]

"Instead of pointing at the Fenwick Towers and saying, 'Look how ugly tall buildings are,' now people will be able to say, 'Look at this project, and look how beautiful we can make projects in Halifax,'" he said.

Let's just hope hes not talking about building somthing like those big brick housing projects you see in chicago lol

[phrenic]

More details about this project are in an article about Condo construction in the Herald today.

I posted it here:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=3340186#post3340186

[Jonovision]

You beat me to it...lol
So it seems this is gonna be 19 storeys instead of 18 and he wants to start construction this fall! I really look forward to seeing the design.

[Wishblade]

Has anybody seen a rendering of this project at all? If it's to start in the autumn, they must have some plans draw out by now.

[JONOJOE]

good news guys, within the next 6 months there should be some exciting developments for this site

[Jonovision]

Yah? any details you can let us in on?

[Haliguy]

Good to hear!

[someone123]

I'd love to see a rendering of this as well. I like the idea of a major building on this key site. I hope the design treats the corner appropriately and avoids any kind of "tower-in-the-park" feel.

It's understandable that not much has been released for this when it is being developed as-of-right.

[JONOJOE]

development is scheduled to start this fall, which means demolition and excavation for site preparation, you won't see cranes until after the winter.. because of that, the design is still being tweaked (as far as architectural impact) the massing study is complete (what's the most effecient/economical size/unit count), now the 'what it looks like' is the next step, and now it's just a matter of coming to grip on how to treat the mixed use aspect of the site.

it is a bit early to tell, but it is generally going to model itself off of the tower on top of a podium design, and is going to incorporate all of the latest urban design guidelines with respects to setbacks, roof lines on the human scale at the street, including retail on the ground level accessible to/from the street (generally 1500-4000 sq ft spaces) for cafe's etc.... this project is going to definitely be the type of building which is going to highlight the beautiful gateway of brunswick and cogswell, and hopefully shift a bit of the downtown feel to merge with the beautiful north end community.. and to respond to one of the concerns about 'hopefully not building a brick monster' ... our attraction is to precast and glass.. we want to utilize the beauty of curtain walls as much as possible... this type of finish is much more expensive then traditional brick.. but lets face it.. is so much cooler looking, and interesting

[Keith P.]

our attraction is to precast and glass.. we want to utilize the beauty of curtain walls as much as possible... this type of finish is much more expensive then traditional brick.. but lets face it.. is so much cooler looking, and interesting

Uh oh, now you've done it... some of us here are very down on precast such as used on Salters Gate and the building whose name escapes me on Morris St just up from Barrington. ;)

[JONOJOE]

I agree bad color choice, and texture, but Keith it's important to note, with precast there are several textures, colors, and finishes which can be used, there are several precast buildings in town which look different, look at the W or barrington, or the paramount on south park.. even the martello has precast and all three buildings look different then the ones you've named.. regardless of this, precast remains undoubtedly the highest quality finish product around far superior to brick.. as far as looks go, I also think it's a much nicer product to work with and look at.. but hey.. everyone has their preferences..

p.s i know not alot of people like the fake stone product, but I used it a few years ago when i built the Harwick (behind the oxford theatre) and I'v recieved nothing but praise.. I think it looks great myself aswell.. and i think that goes to show how the exterior clading has to work with the design and complement the setting of the building..

[Haliguy]

I actaully don't mind the precast if its done right. Just as long as its not brick. There have been way to many brick buildings bulit lately. Just look down Cunard st its the land of brick. Nothing against brick but there is just way to much of it in this city.

[someone123]

I don't think there are "bad" materials.. the materials just need to fit the design.

With precast specifically problems arise when developers pretend it is real stone. It's not - the detailing is not as precise as with older stone buildings in Halifax, the pieces are larger, and the colours and texture are not the same. If it is used to replicate an old stone building it therefore ends up looking like a caricature.

[Takeo]

I don't think there are "bad" materials.. the materials just need to fit the design.

With precast specifically problems arise when developers pretend it is real stone. It's not - the detailing is not as precise as with older stone buildings in Halifax, the pieces are larger, and the colours and texture are not the same. If it is used to replicate an old stone building it therefore ends up looking like a caricature.

Architects might call this being "true" to the materials. And I agree. Besides, if you rule out brick and precast... what does that leave you with?! Fake stone (tacky imitation). That weird concrete board being used on Spice (I'll reserve judgement for now). That horrible board and baton cladding on the new Hyrdostone Apartments. Shingles (only suited to residential). Claps (also only suited to residential). Titanium (only suited to buildings designed by Frank Gehry). Corrugated Metal (only suited to buildings designed by Brian MacKay). Stone (only suited to developers with scads of money). The only practical alternative is probably pre-cast. And there have been some nice buildings done with pre-cast.

[sdm]

I don't think there are "bad" materials.. the materials just need to fit the design.

With precast specifically problems arise when developers pretend it is real stone. It's not - the detailing is not as precise as with older stone buildings in Halifax, the pieces are larger, and the colours and texture are not the same. If it is used to replicate an old stone building it therefore ends up looking like a caricature.

Excellent point.

Just to add to that;

With regards to design.
Pre-cast molds are needed (obvious) to construct the panel. If the developer can minimize the number of different molds needed then the building becomes cheaper to construct through efficiencies. This can mean that designs are changed/ altered/ purposely designed to facilitate more common panels. That being said there is nothing wrong with it at all and when done right can be very pleasing.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Yeeehaww. The virtual city seems to be coming a reality.

[JONOJOE]

Excellent point.

Just to add to that;

With regards to design.
Pre-cast molds are needed (obvious) to construct the panel. If the developer can minimize the number of different molds needed then the building becomes cheaper to construct through efficiencies. This can mean that designs are changed/ altered/ purposely designed to facilitate more common panels. That being said there is nothing wrong with it at all and when done right can be very pleasing.

very good point.. the building i'm developing now in mounte royale (palace royale) is precast (i think the only precast residential building in clayton park) and we managed to design the effecincy in such a way to have only 6 different pannels...

[JONOJOE]

Yeeehaww. The virtual city seems to be coming a reality.

within the next 5 years, this city (downtown) is going to grow more then the past 20, due not only to us developers (obviously) but also to the modern thinking progressive attitudes of (generally) the youth.. keep up the interest.. and more importantly, COME OUT TO THE HEARINGS AND BE HEARD!!!.. also we should try to organize a voice around voting into office a mayor and councilors who share our progressive thinking for this amazingly under-utilized city.. i get so excited when i think of how great and modern this city is going to get.. we just have to stay focused!!

[Jonovision]

I am working on both the campaign teams for Sheila Fougere and James Stewie. As you all know Sheila is running for mayor. Her comments last week at the public hearing made me very happy. Her story about her first council session 10 years ago was with a public hearing for Bishops Landing. And all the people who were out last week against the tower were there saying the 7 storey tower of Bishops Landing would be the death of the neighborhood, and now its an integral part and has really helped that neighborhood. James Stewie is a young professional I've known all my life. He's going to be running against Sloan for the downtown district. If anyone on here is interested in helping out on either campaign, please send me a private message. We are always looking for new volunteers, and I'd love to have others on the team that are so passionate about development in this city.

[wow]

I believe the planning group out of Dalhousie is organizing a "retail design centre" to promote the City's architecture and planning. A version of Toronto's Design Exchange would be welcome.

On another note. BRICK can be used successfully.
Check out the McCully Woklofts, nothing ordinary there.

[Jonovision]

Yes they are. My friends are heading it up for Frank Palermo who is in charge of the whole thing.

[worldlyhaligonian]

within the next 5 years, this city (downtown) is going to grow more then the past 20, due not only to us developers (obviously) but also to the modern thinking progressive attitudes of (generally) the youth.. keep up the interest.. and more importantly, COME OUT TO THE HEARINGS AND BE HEARD!!!.. also we should try to organize a voice around voting into office a mayor and councilors who share our progressive thinking for this amazingly under-utilized city.. i get so excited when i think of how great and modern this city is going to get.. we just have to stay focused!!

Any news about renders or what this thing will look like?

Cheers,

worldly

[worldlyhaligonian]

Would love to see some renderings/hear some news on this one.

[Haliguy]

I see that they have put a chain linked fence up around the property and have closed the sidewalks so it looks as though they are ready to break ground soon.

[Wishblade]

I see that they have put a chain linked fence up around the property and have closed the sidewalks so it looks as though they are ready to break ground soon.

lol we havn't even seen any renderings or stories about this. Definately one of those mystery developments. Should be interesting.

[Haliguy]

Sorry guys.. I got confused in the names and thought I was on the Trillium tread. Yeah I don't know whats going on with this project it would be nice to see some renderings.

[someone123]

I wandered by this site back in August and if I remember correctly they had done some work on the old church, taking out the stained glass windows etc.

Since this is happening as-of-right the project could theoretically start whenever. I hope it moves forward soon.

[Jonovision]

They started tearing down the old church today. Should be gone entirely by Monday I would say.
I met with the developer the other day, and it sounds like a really really good project. They are still in the design stages, and are holding off for a few months with all that is going on down south.
The new building from what I understand will be of the up most quality. Unlike any other building we have seen go up in the downtown. It will be hotel and condo or apartments with ground floor retail. The hotel will be a 7-8 floor podium and the condos or apartments will be in a 10 storey tower on top of that.

I can't wait to see the final designs.

[Dmajackson]

I'll hold off on my final verdict until there are renderings available.

A mixed-use building is defenitely what is needed more of in the north end thpugh.

EDIT: Can someone change the thread title to "approved" since this is an as-of-right development?

[sdm]

They started tearing down the old church today. Should be gone entirely by Monday I would say.
I met with the developer the other day, and it sounds like a really really good project. They are still in the design stages, and are holding off for a few months with all that is going on down south.
The new building from what I understand will be of the up most quality. Unlike any other building we have seen go up in the downtown. It will be hotel and condo or apartments with ground floor retail. The hotel will be a 7-8 floor podium and the condos or apartments will be in a 10 storey tower on top of that.

I can't wait to see the final designs.

I'll reserve my comments till i see the final design, but fully believe this should be apartments and maybe some ground floor retail. The hotel market is becoming overdone in the city (there are up to 5 yet to go;UG, international place, salter street, Queenslanding,herald lands). Apartments gets the core what it needs, people living downtown.

As well, looking forward to seeing the proposal.

[Keith P.]

I drove by the site today and the church was all gone except for the back wall. You could see the interior finish on that wall behind a big pile of rubble. Hopefully they salvaged whatever was nice inside -- I never was in the place so I dunno what it was like.

[dartmouthian]

I'll reserve my comments till i see the final design, but fully believe this should be apartments and maybe some ground floor retail. The hotel market is becoming overdone in the city (there are up to 5 yet to go;UG, international place, salter street, Queenslanding,herald lands). Apartments gets the core what it needs, people living downtown.

As well, looking forward to seeing the proposal.

I agree. it's almost like every single development has a hotel in it. the market will become saturated and a lot of these hotels will end up failing because there won't be enough demand.

[Spitfire75]

I drove by this site yesterday and the church is completely gone.
Can't wait to see the concepts, this project sounds promising.

[sdm]

Article out in the Herald today stating the project is on hold due to the economic issues of recent.

Sad to hear this, however not surprised we are hearing news like this. I think we may hear more of this type of news for others, unfortunatley.

[spaustin]

So they demolished the site and then put the project on hold? That's the kind of decision making that has left us with holes around this city (Birks site for example). The rules regarding demolition permits should be tightened to end needless destruction.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Its not needless at all considering the site is moreso preped for the project to start. Because of the demo, construction will not be delayed further when the project is ready to proceed.

I just want to see a rendering.

[Empire]

So they demolished the site and then put the project on hold? That's the kind of decision making that has left us with holes around this city (Birks site for example). The rules regarding demolition permits should be tightened to end needless destruction.

The assessment should stay the same after the building is demolished and then the lot won't sit as a pile of weeds for 20 years.

The entire demolition process is flawed.

[someone123]

Yes, it's the tax structure that's the problem. It was created as if land and property were some abstract investment when it isn't.

At this point, who knows what will happen with this proposal? There is a lot of uncertainty but I still don't think the situation is like it was around 1990, for example, when the local market was much worse and much more overbuilt (for office).

[sdm]

Yes, it's the tax structure that's the problem. It was created as if land and property were some abstract investment when it isn't.

At this point, who knows what will happen with this proposal? There is a lot of uncertainty but I still don't think the situation is like it was around 1990, for example, when the local market was much worse and much more overbuilt (for office).

True, the situation is different in the sense we are not overbuilt in the office market (less then 4% vacancy). The problem this time is the much needed money to fund these projects don't exist, therefore could create a totally different effect.

Hopefully Joe can find a way through.

[Jonovision]

I was on the bus the other day driving by the site and it has now been opened as a parking lot. I just hope it's not there for long.

[spaustin]

I was on the bus the other day driving by the site and it has now been opened as a parking lot. I just hope it's not there for long.

Yep. It's that kind of thing that needs to end. The City should really adjust the tax structure to end at least some of the incentive to demolish before a project proceeds. If the Trinity ends up going ahead, it won't be a big deal in the end, but, if it doesn't, we've got a dead lot and we've lost a neat piece of architecture that might have found another use under a different owner. Some of the lots in this city that have been vacant for decades and we all wish had something on them started with a script exactly like this.

[someone123]

Too bad. I was hoping this one would get off the ground sooner since it's in a pretty key location. Would still be nice to see some renderings.

[sdm]

Too bad. I was hoping this one would get off the ground sooner since it's in a pretty key location. Would still be nice to see some renderings.

Certainly a nice site, however the lending markets are extremely tight for money, unless the developer/owner is willing to pay the higher spreads that banks are commanding and therefore making the project questionable to proceed on.

Eventually this will correct and i am sure we will see a development.

[Dmajackson]

Well this doesn't surprise me really. Most major developments in Halifax have "parking lot" status somewheres in their lifespan. Just look at some others;

Salter St - a parking lot right now
Texpark (UG) - currently a parking lot
Alexander - a parking lot
IP - a parking lot
LSRC/Bio - was a parking lot

As sdm said it will most likely get off the ground when the banks correct themselves back to the way they used to be. In the meantime a parking lot does look better than a hole in the ground and it is profitable.

[someone123]

Certainly a nice site, however the lending markets are extremely tight for money, unless the developer/owner is willing to pay the higher spreads that banks are commanding and therefore making the project questionable to proceed on.

Eventually this will correct and i am sure we will see a development.

Long term it may not even hurt the city since there are older developments still being absorbed. Eventually that has to happen or the new ones stall anyway regardless of the lending environment.

I'd like to see the Alexander happen also.. I've always hated that parking lot.

[sdm]

In the meantime a parking lot does look better than a hole in the ground and it is profitable.

I believe under the MPS that it can be a parking lot, however no revenue can be produced from it without HRM granting a variance.

Might be wrong, but that has happened to a number of the Parking lots around the core.

[spaustin]

I believe under the MPS that it can be a parking lot, however no revenue can be produced from it without HRM granting a variance.

Might be wrong, but that has happened to a number of the Parking lots around the core.

The choice wasn't a hole in the ground or a parking lot it was an old church building or a parking lot. The demolition process in this city really needs to be rethought.

[terrynorthend]

The choice wasn't a hole in the ground or a parking lot it was an old church building or a parking lot. The demolition process in this city really needs to be rethought.

Well, the choice was an EMPTY church building or a parking lot. The congregation has moved on to their new digs in Fairview.

[Haliguy]

The choice wasn't a hole in the ground or a parking lot it was an old church building or a parking lot. The demolition process in this city really needs to be rethought.


Maybe... but not in this situation. The church moved out to Clayton park and the developer was suppose to start construction soon after demolishion, but the then the financial crise hit. Nobody could predict that.

[spaustin]

Maybe... but not in this situation. The church moved out to Clayton park and the developer was suppose to start construction soon after demolishion, but the then the financial crise hit. Nobody could predict that.

Exactly! "Soon" after demolition just isn't good enough. Over at the Trillium, they knocked down the old houses and were in the ground almost immediately. That's how it should be done. I concede that it would have been tough for the developer to have put the empty church building to use, but not impossible. Maybe they could have rented the space to someone. Held performances there perhaps. Who knows. Parking, unfortuantely, is just too lucrative and with an added tax reduction.

If this one goes ahead, it's no big deal. But if the developer ends up not going through with this project for a number of years or if they end up selling to another owner, we'll have lost the church building for no good reason. There has to be a better way of doing things. I don't fault the developer, they're just making a business decision within the existing regulations and in the current economic climate. It's up to the city to change the calculation by adjusting the tax structure or the available options by demanding more in development agreements or being more restrictive in demolition permits.

[someone123]

Allnovascotia is reporting that Canpark now has a five-year contract to operate a parking lot on this site, so it's unlikely that we'll see anything there for a while.

The idea is to focus on Fenwick, which is a good development (though will probably take years to be rezoned and approved...), but this is still a bad situation that should have been avoided. The problem is that there is little or no private cost for developers or the government to hold on to land, even though there is a public cost to having unsightly and underused empty lots. The tax structure should change to reflect the externalities and to give developers more of an incentive to develop sites in a timely manner.

[Dmajackson]

^Too bad to hear. This development would of been a great way to extend Downtown further north. :(

[sdm]

I am not sure i agree with this move as we don't need more parking lots downtown.

[sdm]

Allnovascotia is reporting that Canpark now has a five-year contract to operate a parking lot on this site, so it's unlikely that we'll see anything there for a while.

The idea is to focus on Fenwick, which is a good development (though will probably take years to be rezoned and approved...), but this is still a bad situation that should have been avoided. The problem is that there is little or no private cost for developers or the government to hold on to land, even though there is a public cost to having unsightly and underused empty lots. The tax structure should change to reflect the externalities and to give developers more of an incentive to develop sites in a timely manner.

I concur, and very well said (as usual someone123)

[worldlyhaligonian]

Sad development day, unless whatever went to council was passed.

[Jonovision]

That is sad to hear. But I do think Fenwick will go at a good pace. I don't believe it will have a very large fight at council.

[worldlyhaligonian]

The church is still there in this imagery. It also shows how massive 3 buildings as a part of the Citadel will be for the streetscape.

http://binged.it/XRW32f