sdm
Sep 23, 2008, 10:32 AM
Half of survey respondents want to preserve city views
LINDSAY JONES, METRO HALIFAX
September 23, 2008 05:00
Most of us want new buildings downtown, even if it means blocking a few views from Citadel Hill.
A new Bristol Group survey commissioned by Metro Halifax shows that eight in 10 people in urban and suburban HRM feel that new buildings in the downtown are good for the city.
Half said most sightlines from Citadel Hill should be preserved and there needs to be flexibility to allow for low buildings. Three in 10 said they want to keep just a few sightlines and build highrises. Only 12 per cent don’t want the sightlines changed at all. Nine per cent said new buildings are more important than sightlines.
“The public feel that views are important, but you don’t have to keep every single one exactly as it is if it’s at the expense of development,” said Layton Dorey, Bristol Group’s managing director of project development.
Halifax developer Ben McCrea, chairman of Armour Group, believes this means people are open to reviewing the city’s view planes legislation. Those rules have remained virtually unchanged since the 1970s.
“What I make of that is the public is not nearly as driven by that as a sacred cow,” McCrea said.
The fate of McCrea’s controversial Waterside Centre, which would join six buildings at the corner of Duke and Hollis and put a six-storey glass tower on top, will be decided in early October.
“It’s encouraging, from my point of view, to see that there’s some flexibility to allow the downtown core to grow,” said McCrea, who redeveloped the award-winning Founders Square.
Joe Ramia of Argyle Developments said it feels good to know the majority agrees with him. Ramia built Barrington Gate and the Mountain Equipment Co-op building. He’s now working on a proposal for a new World Trade Centre.
“You always have to weigh what’s right for the city,” Ramia said, adding that the views from Citadel Hill are important.
Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia president Phil Pacey, however, also thinks he’s on the side of the majority: The 50 per cent who want to keep most sightlines and allow low buildings.
He doesn’t agree with the three in 10 who expressed a desire to keep just a few sightlines and build highrises.
“The view is important and it’s more than just a few views that we need to protect,” Pacey said.
Pacey says it’s wrong to assume the poll shows people are open to changing view planes, which are specifically designated and protected by bylaws, because the survey uses the term “sightlines.”
Under current policy, sightlines aren’t protected.
Halifax Downtown candidate weigh in:
Jerome Downey:
• Believes it’s possible to protect heritage and grow the city core
• City should redevelop decaying Gottingen Street buildings into mixed residential and commercial space
• New residential buildings should include affordable housing for seniors
Cameron Ells
• “Heritage buff” who likes highrises, so long as they don’t lead to evening ghost towns downtown
• Highrises should be in the right places, like a redeveloped Cogswell interchange, not Fenwick Street
• Wants more mixed-use development, particularly on Gottingen Street, to get more people living downtown
Dawn Sloane
• Heritage and development can co-exist, but developers need to stick to the rules
• Voted against several development proposals approved by council because she felt they didn’t mesh with the city’s Municipal Planning Strategy
• Affordable housing should be part of all new residential developments
• Development should help build distinct, walkable neighbourhoods
James Steuwe
• Heritage can be protected without preventing crucial development projects
• Says he wouldn’t cater to small interest groups
• Would have supported the recently approved towers on Lower Water and South Park streets
• Wants affordable housing in all new residential projects
Article Tags
Halifax-municipal-election
LINDSAY JONES, METRO HALIFAX
September 23, 2008 05:00
Most of us want new buildings downtown, even if it means blocking a few views from Citadel Hill.
A new Bristol Group survey commissioned by Metro Halifax shows that eight in 10 people in urban and suburban HRM feel that new buildings in the downtown are good for the city.
Half said most sightlines from Citadel Hill should be preserved and there needs to be flexibility to allow for low buildings. Three in 10 said they want to keep just a few sightlines and build highrises. Only 12 per cent don’t want the sightlines changed at all. Nine per cent said new buildings are more important than sightlines.
“The public feel that views are important, but you don’t have to keep every single one exactly as it is if it’s at the expense of development,” said Layton Dorey, Bristol Group’s managing director of project development.
Halifax developer Ben McCrea, chairman of Armour Group, believes this means people are open to reviewing the city’s view planes legislation. Those rules have remained virtually unchanged since the 1970s.
“What I make of that is the public is not nearly as driven by that as a sacred cow,” McCrea said.
The fate of McCrea’s controversial Waterside Centre, which would join six buildings at the corner of Duke and Hollis and put a six-storey glass tower on top, will be decided in early October.
“It’s encouraging, from my point of view, to see that there’s some flexibility to allow the downtown core to grow,” said McCrea, who redeveloped the award-winning Founders Square.
Joe Ramia of Argyle Developments said it feels good to know the majority agrees with him. Ramia built Barrington Gate and the Mountain Equipment Co-op building. He’s now working on a proposal for a new World Trade Centre.
“You always have to weigh what’s right for the city,” Ramia said, adding that the views from Citadel Hill are important.
Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia president Phil Pacey, however, also thinks he’s on the side of the majority: The 50 per cent who want to keep most sightlines and allow low buildings.
He doesn’t agree with the three in 10 who expressed a desire to keep just a few sightlines and build highrises.
“The view is important and it’s more than just a few views that we need to protect,” Pacey said.
Pacey says it’s wrong to assume the poll shows people are open to changing view planes, which are specifically designated and protected by bylaws, because the survey uses the term “sightlines.”
Under current policy, sightlines aren’t protected.
Halifax Downtown candidate weigh in:
Jerome Downey:
• Believes it’s possible to protect heritage and grow the city core
• City should redevelop decaying Gottingen Street buildings into mixed residential and commercial space
• New residential buildings should include affordable housing for seniors
Cameron Ells
• “Heritage buff” who likes highrises, so long as they don’t lead to evening ghost towns downtown
• Highrises should be in the right places, like a redeveloped Cogswell interchange, not Fenwick Street
• Wants more mixed-use development, particularly on Gottingen Street, to get more people living downtown
Dawn Sloane
• Heritage and development can co-exist, but developers need to stick to the rules
• Voted against several development proposals approved by council because she felt they didn’t mesh with the city’s Municipal Planning Strategy
• Affordable housing should be part of all new residential developments
• Development should help build distinct, walkable neighbourhoods
James Steuwe
• Heritage can be protected without preventing crucial development projects
• Says he wouldn’t cater to small interest groups
• Would have supported the recently approved towers on Lower Water and South Park streets
• Wants affordable housing in all new residential projects
Article Tags
Halifax-municipal-election