[sdm]

Long-awaited land swap ready to go
HRM will own site of new library
By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER City Hall Reporter
Tue. Nov 18 - 5:20 AM
The i’s are dotted and the t’s ready to be crossed on a land swap between the city and the province involving several key downtown properties.

The exchange, which has been brewing for years, will finally put the future home of a new main library under the ownership of Halifax Regional Municipality.

Getting construction started soon on the flagship library branch is "high up" on council’s to-do list, Mayor Peter Kelly said Monday.

"I would hope that this would be one of the main priorities for council."

Mr. Kelly also mentioned other high-priority investments in public transit, public safety and infrastructure needs.

"It’s just finding the proper financial approach so it won’t become a drain on the operations."

The new library is to be built at the corner of Spring Garden Road and Queen Street, adjacent to the site of the old Halifax Infirmary, which the province tore down in 2005.

A 2004 city staff report on the library said it was crucial to have the new building in place by 2009.

The current library, at Spring Garden Road and Grafton Street, was built in the early 1950s. Over the years, council has OK’d hundreds of thousands of dollars in upgrades, but the building still poses "potential health and public safety liabilities," according to the 2004 report.

The land swap, which will go before a council committee this afternoon and then to the province for cabinet approval, also includes the old Queen Elizabeth High School property on Robie Street. Part of that land has already been used to expand the emergency wing at the new Infirmary, part of the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre.

The Capital district health authority, a provincial body, now wants to take over the rest of the old school property, but a group called Friends of the Halifax Common opposes further development at the site and wants the land returned to public open space.

A staff report on the land swap says many participants at a recent workshop called for the school site to be used strictly as open space. Members of Friends of the Halifax Common will get a chance to tell that to council themselves tonight. The group is listed on the agenda as making a presentation when the brand new council, elected on Oct. 18, meets tonight for the first time.

The mayor said the city wanted to give the group a chance to voice its concerns publicly.

"This is their opportunity," he said.

It also leaves the door open for further research by city staff, he said.

Also going to the province is the old Birks store site on Barrington Street, which the city has used as a parking lot for the past few years.

At the end of the day, the city will still owe the province about $2 million, but there’s a possibility the city could pay its bill with more land, the mayor said.

Mr. Kelly said other properties are also under review as part of a "long-range program" between the two levels of government. The city might have interest in the Victoria General hospital parking lot on South Park Street "to enhance some of the green space," he said.

( apugsley@herald.ca)

[sdm]

Members of Friends of the Halifax Common trying to stop the redevelopment of QEH for more Green space?

[JET]

Members of Friends of the Halifax Common should spend a couple of weeks in the VG hospital, and then they will gladly see a new hospital on the old high school lands. JET

[sdm]

Friends of the commons seem to have a lot of similar members of the Heritage trust? Anyone notice this?

[Jonovision]

Indeed they do. I would give them some credibility of their arguments made sense, but quite honestly, from a planning perspective this is one of the worst sites to add more open space. It would be totally wasted.

[sdm]

Indeed they do. I would give them some credibility of their arguments made sense, but quite honestly, from a planning perspective this is one of the worst sites to add more open space. It would be totally wasted.

Just read that Bev Miller is the co-chair.

[worldlyhaligonian]

I don't think that land should be a hospital or open space. As a QEH graduate I would rather see a landmark development there.

If this was green space it would be awkward, as the school is built on a hill. Not to mention a huge waste of space, the commons are massive already... these nutjobs really do enjoy empty lots. wtf? It makes the city feel awkward and exposed, which is especially true during bad weather.

If it were given to the hospital it would not turn out well either... How much land do they need? They could be given the land close to the parking structure, but not all of the land... its huge!

I would like to see the city parcel the land, give a bit of it to the hospital. However, for the corner lot, I believe they should sell it to a private developer for an office development that could prominently sit at the corner and act as a gateway to downtown. Imagine a 15 story tower next to the Holiday Inn!

If our city was really inventive, they could build the tower themselves and make money of their own development. Create a corporation to develop/manage it, with the money going to benefit the residents of the city. Everything doesn't have to be "spend money" at a loss. Jesus, look how inventive some of the churches have become.

[worldlyhaligonian]

When is the council meeting tonight? Anybody want to go and make our opinions known???

[JET]

Worldly, you need to look at the domino effect. The old Infirmary lands can now be developed because the old infirmary moved. If the VG could move over to the new infirmary site, just imagine the land that would be freed up; even just the VG parking lot is prime land. Moving the VG over beside the new infirmary just makes sense. JET

[Barrington south]

as much as I'd like to see a tower on the qeh lands, I think that's a bit of a pipe dream....never gonna happen.....I think a expanded hospital is the best we can hope for, however I would love to see many of us fight tooth and nail against this hopefully misguided, pea brian plot, to harm our city's future. I would love to go but I can not get out of work.

[Barrington south]

even there name bites...."friends of the Halfax common" gee that wasn't riped off from "friends of point pleasant park" or anything

[someone123]

This is good news but of course there are the classic annoying elements:

"I would hope that this would be one of the main priorities for council." Mr. Kelly also mentioned other high-priority investments in public transit, public safety and infrastructure needs.


Hah.

That group wanting the QEH site to revert to greenspace (is that even what it was before QEH, or what it was in 1760?) is absurd and it's silly that they are only being heard at this point when so much time has gone into this land swap. They should have been rejected by council years ago.

[worldlyhaligonian]

[QUOTE=JET;3919725]Worldly, you need to look at the domino effect. The old Infirmary lands can now be developed because the old infirmary moved. If the VG could move over to the new infirmary site, just imagine the land that would be freed up; even just the VG parking lot is prime land. Moving the VG over beside the new infirmary just makes sense. JET[/QUOTE

Maybe, that would be the best case scenario, creating real density in the south-end/downtown transition. I would be happy with a couple 19 story towers facing onto South Park with retail on the ground floor.

What about the "Friends of Schmidtville", what will they have to say about the Infirmary Lands... even for a hospital.

Lets create a group called "Friends of Development", lol

[Dmajackson]

This is good news. Personally i say make it part of the hospital, put a parkade or something in it, remove the VG parking lot, reconnect Tower Road, and either make the new block a park or mid-rise development. And for crying out loud do something with the old VG site. Gravel parking lots are ugly!

I wonder how long until they take over the CBC building at Bell and Summer? Its getting hard to believe it only used to be Camp Hill on that block. Now the hospital dominates all of it with its awkward corners and corridors...

[Dmajackson]

According to this article from the Metro a part of the deal is to develop the VG parking lot on South Park into greenland like it used to be.

Debate over Halifax Common space goes before council
LINDSAY JONES, METRO HALIFAX
November 18, 2008 05:00



Council will decide today whether to give up the former Queen Elizabeth High School building to make way for another hospital expansion.




The city says selling the former Halifax Common land to the province will help pay for part of a land exchange for the site of a new Central Library on Queen Street.


But Peggy Cameron of the Friends of the Halifax Common says the land should be turned back into green space, according to the city’s Halifax Common Plan. Cameron says this is one the largest opportunities the city has to get back park land.


“If people were aware of the value of green space in preventative health benefits, people might be less interested in building a building,” she said.


Wayne Anstey, the city’s deputy chief administrative officer of operations, said one of the conditions of the sale is to redevelop the Victoria General parking lot on South Park Street back into green space. The site was also formerly Halifax Common land.


“The overwhelming consideration with respect to the Commons land is that it be for the public good. Open space is one possibility, but public hospitals are also for the public good,” Anstey said.

[worldlyhaligonian]

Victoria Park is green space, just up the street. How much "green space" do we need? Seriously, why are these people even consulted in these sort of decisions.

[sdm]

[QUOTE=JET;3919725]Worldly, you need to look at the domino effect. The old Infirmary lands can now be developed because the old infirmary moved. If the VG could move over to the new infirmary site, just imagine the land that would be freed up; even just the VG parking lot is prime land. Moving the VG over beside the new infirmary just makes sense. JET[/QUOTE

Maybe, that would be the best case scenario, creating real density in the south-end/downtown transition. I would be happy with a couple 19 story towers facing onto South Park with retail on the ground floor.

What about the "Friends of Schmidtville", what will they have to say about the Infirmary Lands... even for a hospital.

Lets create a group called "Friends of Development", lol

There is lots of "friends" groups starting all over it seems.....

[sdm]

According to this article from the Metro a part of the deal is to develop the VG parking lot on South Park into greenland like it used to be.

Thats just wrong.........(the deal that is).

We don't need more green space, especially when we could see high density residential put there.

[Dmajackson]

Well one benfit to green space is it seems to be attracting more development to its edges. Halifax has two great examples; the Commons has a lot of mid-rise to high-rise developments around its edges, and the Public Gardens/Victoria Park has seen a boom in recent years with new high rise developments. The Trillium I know is promoting its proximity to the Public Gardens and Victoria Park. Just imagine extending the high-rise district to South Street. It would be great to have more upscale and retail on SouthPark extending into the South End.

Another upside to greenspace in specific spots is it boxes in the downtown. This box effect which Halifax has a lot of promotes higher density downtown.

I'm not saying I'm in favor of converting the QEH into greenspace since there is a lot of parkland already there. VG parking lot on the other hand is prime for parkland.

One thing with a new park like this is it might be possible to daylight Freshman's Brook and clean it up a bit maybe make it a highlight and the boundary of downtown.

[Barrington south]

I'm am fairly new to Halifax (5 years) so I always remember VG lot being a parking lot.....could someone please tell me how long it has been since it was green space and why they turned a park into a gravel lot?

[Dmajackson]

I'm am fairly new to Halifax (5 years) so I always remember VG lot being a parking lot.....could someone please tell me how long it has been since it was green space and why they turned a park into a gravel lot?

For many years the lot was home to parkland and the school for the blind. I'm not sure exactly when it was destroyed but Tower Road ran through there for years until the VG took it over and converted it into a parking lot. All i know for sure is that the new VG was built in 1948. So within the last fifty years sometime.

[someone123]

Originally I think there was a hospital building on part of the VG parking lot site.

On some level it seems nice to continue Victoria Park to South Street but I also have to wonder if that's an effective use of land. So much land in Halifax is under-developed parks, fields, and cemeteries.

[Keith P.]

I lived on South Park Street from 1982 onwards. When I moved there the current VG parking lot was home to the NS School for the Blind, a large, older (Victorian possibly) structure. There was some green space close to the South Street end, that the residents of the school used. The block was not readily accessible to the public. Tower Rd was a through street between University and South. Sometime in the late 80s/early 90s the School moved and was demolished and the land was turned over to the VGH. They in turn developed it as a parking lot which was (and is still) badly needed. There is nothing magical about having Tower Rd closed though. I think it could easily be reopened with minimal impact.

Until the VGH is decommissioned as a hospital I can see no practical way to remove the parking lot.

Here's a pic I found of the old school -- I don't quite remember it looking this good but I believe this represents the buildings correctly.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll229/keith_p/school_blind.jpg

[Dmajackson]

The removal of the parking lot is just what the article said. I'm assuming that they would add much more parking to the QEII and move enough services over to close the parking lot somehow.

Anyways IMO if the parking lot does get closed it should be turned into a small park to further enhance the neighbourhood and encourage development.

[Keith P.]

The removal of the parking lot is just what the article said. I'm assuming that they would add much more parking to the QEII and move enough services over to close the parking lot somehow.

Anyways IMO if the parking lot does get closed it should be turned into a small park to further enhance the neighbourhood and encourage development.

Well, it wouldn't be a small park. It takes up a large city block and would be close to the size of the adjacent Victoria Park across the street. Having lived in the area I question the need for more parkland -- there is more than enough there already and it is a valuable chunk of land.

[sdm]

Well one benfit to green space is it seems to be attracting more development to its edges. Halifax has two great examples; the Commons has a lot of mid-rise to high-rise developments around its edges, and the Public Gardens/Victoria Park has seen a boom in recent years with new high rise developments. The Trillium I know is promoting its proximity to the Public Gardens and Victoria Park. Just imagine extending the high-rise district to South Street. It would be great to have more upscale and retail on SouthPark extending into the South End.

Another upside to greenspace in specific spots is it boxes in the downtown. This box effect which Halifax has a lot of promotes higher density downtown.

I'm not saying I'm in favor of converting the QEH into greenspace since there is a lot of parkland already there. VG parking lot on the other hand is prime for parkland.

One thing with a new park like this is it might be possible to daylight Freshman's Brook and clean it up a bit maybe make it a highlight and the boundary of downtown.

Great idea, but the problem is most of the properties along south park accross the street from the VG parking lot are heritage properties, therefore you can only imagine the fight.

[Dmajackson]

Great idea, but the problem is most of the properties along south park accross the street from the VG parking lot are heritage properties, therefore you can only imagine the fight.

I know there are some heritage properties but it would probably be possible to gow on the Fenwick block and also some of South St could be upgraded.

[sdm]

I know there are some heritage properties but it would probably be possible to gow on the Fenwick block and also some of South St could be upgraded.

Once you head south of south street the heritage properties level increases.
Besides the height limit for the area is 70 feet i believe....Mind you a development agreement can change this.

I personally believe they should redevelop the parking lot with high density res, with ground floor retail, underground parking etc. You have point pleasant park, south park, and public gardens all within a short distance.

[hfx_chris]

I don't get it, this article is about the QEH and Infirmary lands, how did you guys get on the topic of the VG and its parking lot?

[worldlyhaligonian]

Because the parking lot of the VG is supposedly a part of some deal.


Across the street is mainly a cemetary actually, with many tall structures up and down South Park (esp. now with Trillium) and along South St. I think that if Tower Rd. Was opened up you could incorporate a green space between a new building, facing South Park at South, and the VG. It could be moreso on the VG side of the Road and be for people staying at the hospital. This could be accomplished quite easily.

BTW, The School for the Blind would have been great had it been restored and continued to exist today. It would make the area have great examples of the style. I think heritage is important, but when there is already a lot, why not develop something residential that is high quality, mixed use, and mid-rise. Can't get much worse than St. James Place... like others, I think that 5800 South is decent quality, almost Lexington level.

[JET]

The post card posted above is interesting. I also lived across from the school in the late 70's and I remember it looking different, more a reddish stone, and the entrance was onthe short side (north end of the building), neat old building. JET

[JET]

interesting history of the halifax common here: http://www.acadiau.ca/~markham/publish&present/CCLR1981.pdf
on page 459 there is a map showing the boundaries of the 'original' common, and on the southeast corner it shows the placement of the school for the blind. It would be nice if they could daylight the old freashwater brook. JET

[Dmajackson]

I too would love to see the brook daylighted but unfortunately its now a sewer. I believe the only part visible above ground is the pond in the Public Gardens.

One thing that would be interesting to see a picture of is the old boardwalk that ran along the stream down around Barrington and Inglis. Where the boat-shaped house is nowadays.

[JET]

Would the brook still be a sewer with the sewage treatment system now set up? Wouldn't the brook run cleaner in the same way as the harbour is now cleaner. I can't say that I fully understand all the plumbing aspects. JET

[Dmajackson]

I honestly don't know. I know that they are/were in the process of rerouting Freshman's Brook in the South End. I think it might go into the pump house at Inglis and Barrington?

[Barrington south]

Sdm said "redevelop the parking lot with high density res, with ground floor retail and under ground parking" I can't agree with you more...it's nice to hear a voice of reason

[Barrington south]

although I have slammed Empire on more than one occasion for his undying love of anything older than 50 years, i have to admit, this is an instance where I regrett that the pre exsisting structure was torn down. Would I rather see the old school for the blind over a Trillium style building, only on a much larger scale? no I would go with a new development, but only if it was done to a high standard. I do love spectacular old buildings, and while it may not have been spectacular, it was, in my opinion something that was worth saving. I think would have made an interesting condo conversion, however one thing is for certain, it would have been far superior to yet another park or a gravel lot

[Dmajackson]

Apparently Council also likes the idea of turning the VG parking lot into parkland. Something I didn't know though was that the land swap also includes a Bell Road widening. My question is how are they going to fit that at the Willow Tree? The intersection is dangerous enough as it is. There won't be a debate about it though. Bell Road is part of Highway 102 so it is therefore the provinces problem.

Hospital space trumps green space in Common decision
LINDSAY JONES, METRO HALIFAX
November 19, 2008 05:00




Regional council approved giving up the rest of the Queen Elizabeth High School land to become part of a hospital expansion yesterday.


The city is exchanging the former Halifax Common land, as well as several other parcels, with the province to help pay for land at the corner of Queen Street and Spring Garden Road. That’s the site where the city wants to build a new Central Library.


The Capital District Health Authority hasn’t decided the size or type of healthcare building that will go where the decrepit school stands now at the corner of Bell Road and Robie Street. But Peter Bigelow, HRM’s manager of Real Property Planning, said it will be set back from the street by a strip of green space and have pedestrian access.


Bigelow said the project necessitates widening Bell Road from three to four lanes.


“There is a need that emergency vehicles can actually get through, so that they’re not held up by one lane of traffic,” he said.


Bigelow said the widening will also ease the traffic flow of cars, buses and cyclists to the south-end.


Not everyone was for the plan. Friends of the Halifax Common community group wanted the land turned back into green space, according to the city’s Halifax Common Plan.


The land exchange also includes turning a strip of the Victoria General parking lot on South Park Street back into green space. The site was also formerly Halifax Common land.


Lower Sackville Coun. Bob Harvey said he hoped the whole block would be made back into city park land.


“I want that sent as marching orders —School that (Capital Health has) to rework this thing,” he said. “We want that whole green thing extended the whole width to South Street or I want to see a good reason why it can’t be done.”