sdm
Apr 25, 2008, 12:27 PM
Development agency exec wants more tall buildings
By MICHAEL TUTTON The Canadian Press
Fri. Apr 25 - 5:45 AM
It’s economically vital that Halifax city council allow exceptions to proposed rules on downtown building heights, says the chief executive of Nova Scotia’s economic development agency.
Council is expected to hear a proposal next month that would set firm height restrictions in the downtown to protect the view of Halifax Harbour from the top of Citadel Hill and ensure that streets aren’t cast into deep shadows.
The height guidelines are part of a broader proposal to create an urban plan for the city’s downtown.
Under current policies, maximum heights must be negotiated through a lengthy process.
Stephen Lund, chief executive of Nova Scotia Business Inc., told an audience of business-people Thursday that the city needs more office space if his agency hopes to attract more businesses to the province.
"If we don’t do anything, then it’s probably going to be game over," he said.
Without "flexibility" in height restrictions, it’s possible that businesses the agency is trying to attract to the city will choose another location, he said.
Lund said companies want to be downtown, where the city hasn’t had a major new tall building in 18 years.
He said the new urban plan, called HRM by Design, is promising, but "it needs to be flexible."
"It needs to allow for the right development downtown, and I am talking about height. (Companies) want to be downtown. They want to be in a cluster where their competitors are."
Heritage groups argue that the proposed rules are already flexible enough to allow development and there is already a considerable amount of vacant space in existing buildings.
Philip Pacey, president of Heritage Trust, said Lund has approached him before to make similar points.
He said he’s told Lund the provincial government could quickly move departments around, emptying out downtown office space, if the Crown-owned development agency attracts new companies.
In addition, he said there are several buildings already approved for development in the city’s downtown, but there hasn’t been enough of a market to warrant construction.
"I know a developer has an approval to build an 11-storey building, I believe, and they don’t build because there isn’t sufficient demand," Pacey said.
"If Mr. Lund wants, he just has to call these people and say ‘OK, I’ve got a tenant.’"
During his speech, Lund also emphasized a need for the city’s businesses to believe passionately in the coastal city’s prospects.
By MICHAEL TUTTON The Canadian Press
Fri. Apr 25 - 5:45 AM
It’s economically vital that Halifax city council allow exceptions to proposed rules on downtown building heights, says the chief executive of Nova Scotia’s economic development agency.
Council is expected to hear a proposal next month that would set firm height restrictions in the downtown to protect the view of Halifax Harbour from the top of Citadel Hill and ensure that streets aren’t cast into deep shadows.
The height guidelines are part of a broader proposal to create an urban plan for the city’s downtown.
Under current policies, maximum heights must be negotiated through a lengthy process.
Stephen Lund, chief executive of Nova Scotia Business Inc., told an audience of business-people Thursday that the city needs more office space if his agency hopes to attract more businesses to the province.
"If we don’t do anything, then it’s probably going to be game over," he said.
Without "flexibility" in height restrictions, it’s possible that businesses the agency is trying to attract to the city will choose another location, he said.
Lund said companies want to be downtown, where the city hasn’t had a major new tall building in 18 years.
He said the new urban plan, called HRM by Design, is promising, but "it needs to be flexible."
"It needs to allow for the right development downtown, and I am talking about height. (Companies) want to be downtown. They want to be in a cluster where their competitors are."
Heritage groups argue that the proposed rules are already flexible enough to allow development and there is already a considerable amount of vacant space in existing buildings.
Philip Pacey, president of Heritage Trust, said Lund has approached him before to make similar points.
He said he’s told Lund the provincial government could quickly move departments around, emptying out downtown office space, if the Crown-owned development agency attracts new companies.
In addition, he said there are several buildings already approved for development in the city’s downtown, but there hasn’t been enough of a market to warrant construction.
"I know a developer has an approval to build an 11-storey building, I believe, and they don’t build because there isn’t sufficient demand," Pacey said.
"If Mr. Lund wants, he just has to call these people and say ‘OK, I’ve got a tenant.’"
During his speech, Lund also emphasized a need for the city’s businesses to believe passionately in the coastal city’s prospects.