[Jonovision]

Our Urban Design team at Fusion Halifax has been busy all summer long putting together VivaCity. It will be a downtown symposium where we have invited all of the developers for the major approved, underconstrcution and proposed developments in the downtown of Halifax and Dartmouth to come showcase their work. It will be held at the AGNS on the 29th of September from 5-7pm. We have two guest speakers. Morten Schmidt of Schmidt Hammer Lassen archhitects designer of the new Halifax Central Library and Julia Rivard VP Communications Sheepdog Inc. Google's exclusive Candian Partner. The developers will all be there along with their boards to show their work. We are also having an art competition called Show Us Your Skyline where we will be displaying all entries at the event. And finally the evening will be ended with a short planning charrette that will look at the Cogswell Interchange lands hosted by yours truly.

I invite you all to come out and enjoy. There is a facebook event page as well http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/event.php?eid=114234058635468&ref=ts

[Canadian_Bacon]

Crap, I work that day... If I didn't, I would be going. Sounds interesting to say the least.

[JustinMacD]

Where is AGNS?

Sounds very interesting

[planarchy]

Where is AGNS?

Sounds very interesting

The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia on Hollis.

[halifaxboyns]

If anyone from this conference is monitoring the postings for this board, I would highly encourage you to videotape any of the presentations and find a spot online to post them.

There are many of us like myself (I can only think of you Fenwick, but I know others who post are not in Halifax) but might be interested in seeing the presentations.

[phrenic]

Or get Haligonia.ca to do a story on it.

[Dmajackson]

If anyone from this conference is monitoring the postings for this board, I would highly encourage you to videotape any of the presentations and find a spot online to post them.

There are many of us like myself (I can only think of you Fenwick, but I know others who post are not in Halifax) but might be interested in seeing the presentations.

There's also Worldly and I that are living outside of town right now.

[David1gray]

and me... but i dont post that often here. still i am very interested in this.

[halifaxboyns]

There's also Worldly and I that are living outside of town right now.

I posted that before I had coffee. I'm lucky I remembered fenwick at that point after getting 4 hours sleep.

[worldlyhaligonian]

There's also Worldly and I that are living outside of town right now.

Yep, I'm in the land of cowboys, wheat, oil and gas.

Halifax is far superior to any city in the west. There is very little to do out here.

[phrenic]

I'm attending.

[beyeas]

I'm attending.

Me too. Will be a bit late, as I am busy until 5:30, but will be there after that.

[sdm]

I am there

[Dmajackson]

Downtown of future on display
Symposium to bring clarity to jumble of new projects
By BRUCE ERSKINE Business Reporter
Wed, Sep 29 - 4:54 AM

The look of tomorrow’s downtown Halifax will be showcased at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia today.

"There’s a lot happening at the moment," James Hardy, the director of Fusion’s urban development action team, said in an interview Tuesday.

Fusion, a 2,000-member organization of young Halifax professionals, is staging the VivaCity Symposium, a showcase of more than 14 development projects planned or underway in Halifax, said Hardy, a commercial appraiser with Halifax’s Altus Group.

"It’s an opportunity for the public to get information from the developers first hand."

Development company officials will display illustrations and models of their projects and answer questions about them, Hardy said.

"It will be fairly informal."

The symposium, beginning at 5 p.m., will be held in the art galley lobby.

Bill Greenwood of Halkirk Properties, which will display plans for The Alexander condo at the Keith’s Brewery site, credited Fusion for its initiative.

"It’s nice to see younger people taking an interest in development activity in our city," he said Tuesday. "It’s encouraging for us."

Greenwood said the design of the 125-unit condo is still being fine-tuned but related restoration work has begun on the portico of nearby Keith’s Hall.

Halifax’s United Gulf Developments Ltd. will provide details on its TexPark development in downtown Halifax, known as the Twisted Sisters towers, said Patrick LeRoy, the company’s vice-president of operations.

"I fully endorse the idea of providing the public with information," he said, although he referred questions on the towers to United Gulf president Navid Saberi, who couldn’t be reached.

Saberi said in April that approval delays had put construction of the towers back 18 months.

United Gulf will also showcase its Lake Banook residential development and its mixed residential-commercial plan for the old Halifax West High School site in Fairview.

Halifax’s Armour Group will provide updates on its Waterside Centre development across from Historic Properties and its 2.8-hectare Queen’s Landing project, which will extend along Halifax’s waterfront from Novascotian Crystal to the Wave sculpture, said Stuart McCrea, Armour’s leasing and marketing director.

"It’s a great opportunity," he said of the symposium. "It helps bring clarity."

McCrea said the Waterside Centre poses engineering challenges related to its foundation and its proximity to the harbour.

"We had to do some investigating," he said.

But he said the project is moving ahead while Queen’s Landing, which includes a 250-room hotel and a 120,000-square-foot office building, is still at the planning stage.

The symposium will also hear from architect Morten Schmidt of Copenhagen’s Schmidt/hammer/lassen architects and Julia Rivard, CEO of Halifax’s SheepDogInc.ca.

Schmidt, part of the design team for Halifax’s new main library on the former Halifax Infirmary site, will discuss whether Halifax can learn from Copenhagen.

Rivard, whose web service company is a Google apps partner, will talk about how positive work spaces can nurture innovation and productivity.

( berskine@herald.ca )

[alps]

My class ends at 5 so I think I can make it, little late.

[beyeas]

Hopefully I won't miss too much of the presentations!
And I am hoping that I can figure out who some of you are so that I can put faces to names :-)

[phrenic]

I know no one. I'll be in a black/green track jacket if anyone feels like asking "hey, are you one of the people from the internet?"

[Jstaleness]

Sorry all, Can't make it as I'm babysitting tonight. Pictures and videos would be awesome.

[beyeas]

you're in luck. Haligonia is taking video of it.

[beyeas]

I know no one. I'll be in a black/green track jacket if anyone feels like asking "hey, are you one of the people from the internet?"

Yeah I was hoping there might be name-tags and I could figure some people out.

I was the guy walking around in brown cords and a white shirt wondering "hey, are you one of the people from the internets?" :-)

[spaustin]

Took it in too. Guy with the big yellow backpack :) The presentation by the Danish architect was great. The cycling in Copenhagen was really neat to hear about. Talk about a different way of living.

[Jonovision]

Thanks everyone for coming! It was a huge success. I can't believe how many developers and people showed up. I'm hoping haligonia.ca will have some stuff up soon. They went around to almost all the developers to film a little piece with each of them.

[Jonovision]

Here is a sampling of the pics posted on Fusions Facebook page from last night. If there are more of the displays I will post them.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs005.ash2/33595_456529762368_196135342368_5265313_5869071_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs703.snc4/62315_456529822368_196135342368_5265316_6709228_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs700.snc4/61987_456529857368_196135342368_5265317_7321354_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs701.snc4/62115_456529947368_196135342368_5265327_7739239_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs006.ash2/33656_456529967368_196135342368_5265328_1374754_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs337.ash2/61778_456530062368_196135342368_5265329_1101044_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs673.snc4/61359_456530322368_196135342368_5265343_5670603_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs700.snc4/62053_456530762368_196135342368_5265367_6259128_n.jpg

[Jstaleness]

Thank you. I love the look of "The Lakes" on Brookdale.

[halifaxboyns]

The lakes probably isn't downtown - but the mandate can be easily expanded. :)

The photos look impressive.

[EGS]

There are posts about developments featured at the Square Feet residential real estate blog on Infomonkey.net, and the site's commercial blog, the space race.

[Dmajackson]

There are posts about developments featured at the Square Feet residential real estate blog on Infomonkey.net, and the site's commercial blog, the space race.

Damn my secret source is no longer secret :P

But seriously welcome to the forums EGS. Hopefully the maps on the website will be updated soon. ;)

[someone123]

Did anybody talk to the United Gulf people about their project downtown? They are still showing the same renderings they had in 2007.

I think I see the Alexander rendering as well..? What about Centennial and the Salter Street project?

[halifaxboyns]

Here is a sampling of the pics posted on Fusions Facebook page from last night. If there are more of the displays I will post them.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs005.ash2/33595_456529762368_196135342368_5265313_5869071_n.jpg


It`s good to see Cesar is still hanging in. He was always good for a laugh around the office, nice man. I remember doing the review of his house up in Clayton Park.

[Jonovision]

It's that time of year again. Fusion is hosting VivaCity 2011.
Our team has worked super hard this year and its going to be awesome event. As of right now we have 17 developers confirmed.

Find us on facebook, twitter and Fusionhalifax.ca

Here is the rundown.

VivaCity
Who's Building Our City

Downtown is full of life: come learn about the proposed, approved and active developments building our city’s future, the historic properties from our past, and the city planning of today.

Panel Discussion: Creating a Design Culture in Halifax
featuring:

Michael Napier - Michael Napier Architects http://mnarch.ca/

Eugene Pieczonka - Lydon Lynch Architects http://lydonlynch.ca/

Joe Metlege - Templeton Properties http://www.templetonproperties.ca/

When: Tuesday, October18th, 2011 from 6-9 pm
Where: The Halifax Marriott Harbourfront,
1919 Upper Water Street, 2nd Floor Ballroom

[planarchy]

It's that time of year again. Fusion is hosting VivaCity 2011.
Our team has worked super hard this year and its going to be awesome event. As of right now we have 17 developers confirmed.

Find us on facebook, twitter and Fusionhalifax.ca

Here is the rundown.

VivaCity
Who's Building Our City

Downtown is full of life: come learn about the proposed, approved and active developments building our city’s future, the historic properties from our past, and the city planning of today.

Panel Discussion: Creating a Design Culture in Halifax
featuring:

Michael Napier - Michael Napier Architects http://mnarch.ca/

Eugene Pieczonka - Lydon Lynch Architects http://lydonlynch.ca/

Joe Metlege - Templeton Properties http://www.templetonproperties.ca/

When: Tuesday, October18th, 2011 from 6-9 pm
Where: The Halifax Marriott Harbourfront,
1919 Upper Water Street, 2nd Floor Ballroom

Sounds good. Nice to have some discussion in addition to the open house. It is unfortunate though that we have so few events like this in the city and two are happening the same night:

Panel discussion
Capital Conversations: Capital Planning in Ottawa and Halifax
Tuesday 18 October 2011, 4:30-7:00 pm
Kenneth Rowe Heritage Hall, Pier 21 National Immigration Museum
As part of Horizon 2067, a fifty-year plan for Canada's Capital Region, the National Capital Commission is opening conversations with Canadians across the country. This event will explore possible futures for Ottawa and Halifax as capital cities. Prataap Patrose (Director of Urban Design, Boston Redevelopment Authority) will talk about cities of the future, followed by panelists Pastor Rhonda Britton (Cornwallis Baptist Church), Andy Fillmore (HRM Planning), and Frank Palermo (Dalhousie's Cities and Environment Unit). An open public session will follow.

[fenwick16]

It's that time of year again. Fusion is hosting VivaCity 2011.
Our team has worked super hard this year and its going to be awesome event. As of right now we have 17 developers confirmed.

Find us on facebook, twitter and Fusionhalifax.ca

Here is the rundown.

VivaCity
Who's Building Our City

Downtown is full of life: come learn about the proposed, approved and active developments building our city’s future, the historic properties from our past, and the city planning of today.

Panel Discussion: Creating a Design Culture in Halifax
featuring:

Michael Napier - Michael Napier Architects http://mnarch.ca/

Eugene Pieczonka - Lydon Lynch Architects http://lydonlynch.ca/

Joe Metlege - Templeton Properties http://www.templetonproperties.ca/

When: Tuesday, October18th, 2011 from 6-9 pm
Where: The Halifax Marriott Harbourfront,
1919 Upper Water Street, 2nd Floor Ballroom

Hopefully Fusion will become as strong a voice for development in the city as the Heritage Trust has been for heritage. I look forward to the day when the CBC and other media outlets will go to the Fusion organization for comments on development instead of just the Heritage Trust. (however, I am not against heritage)

Hopefully VivaCity will have a great turnout.

[RyeJay]

I wish I could go!

And I love how this takes place on the 18th--the day after the scheduled announcement of the shipbuilding contract.

[fenwick16]

It's that time of year again. Fusion is hosting VivaCity 2011.
Our team has worked super hard this year and its going to be awesome event. As of right now we have 17 developers confirmed.

Find us on facebook, twitter and Fusionhalifax.ca

Here is the rundown.

VivaCity
Who's Building Our City

Downtown is full of life: come learn about the proposed, approved and active developments building our city’s future, the historic properties from our past, and the city planning of today.

Panel Discussion: Creating a Design Culture in Halifax
featuring:

Michael Napier - Michael Napier Architects http://mnarch.ca/

Eugene Pieczonka - Lydon Lynch Architects http://lydonlynch.ca/

Joe Metlege - Templeton Properties http://www.templetonproperties.ca/

When: Tuesday, October18th, 2011 from 6-9 pm
Where: The Halifax Marriott Harbourfront,
1919 Upper Water Street, 2nd Floor Ballroom

To Jonovision: Is there any chance of broadcasting this on ustream? It would be great for people who are no longer living in Nova Scotia.

[sdm]

any list of the developers/ projects that will be there?

[Jonovision]

We have 19 that will be there

United Gulf - Skye Halifax
Kings Wharf
Boris Holdings - Lotus Point
Spirit Place
WM Apartments - 1600 Young
Dexel - The Vic and City Centre
Templeton - Fenwick
Compass Realty - TD Centre
HRM - Library
CBCL - Dartmouth View Plane Review
WDCL - Cunard final massing design and maybe other
Discovery Centre
CD Plus will be unveiling their redevelopment tonight
Armour Group - Waterside and maybe Queens Landing
Dalhousie -Bold Ambitions Campaign - various projects
Monaco Investments - The Prince Albert
Ecology Action Centre
It's More Than Buses

[mcmcclassic]

Last year's show was awesome-- I plan on checking it out again tonight.

[RyeJay]

I would love if someone would be able to hit United Gulf over the head with a serious question regarding their Skye proposal.

How do they plan on gaining enough support to build something so tall, when the public doesn't like you? United Gulf has not followed through on the previous difficult-to-approve proposal for this site. What's different about Skye that's going to make them...do anything...?

[halifaxboyns]

I would love if someone would be able to hit United Gulf over the head with a serious question regarding their Skye proposal.

How do they plan on gaining enough support to build something so tall, when the public doesn't like you? United Gulf has not followed through on the previous difficult-to-approve proposal for this site. What's different about Skye that's going to make them...do anything...?

Jono are you writing this down? :)

[mcmcclassic]

I'm curious to see whether United Gulf will have different renderings or a model of their Skye proposal. Up until now we've only had that one rather generic picture.

[fenwick16]

Was there news or pictures from the event that can be posted?

[Jstaleness]

Last year's show was awesome-- I plan on checking it out again tonight.

Where you able to make it to the event?

[kph06]

I was there for a while, it was pretty good, I spoke to Louis Lawen from Dexel for a bit, he was interesting to talk to. I was surprised with a couple developers that weren't there. Its too bad Kings Wharf weren't able to bring their model over, that would have stolen the show.

[Jonovision]

Thank you to everyone who did attend. We had around 175 people come out. I was very happy.

When I get some pics I will post them.

[mcmcclassic]

Where you able to make it to the event?

No I wish I would've been able to though. Didn't expect work to run as late as it did.

For those who went, was there anything (aside form the CD Plus unveiling) that stood out in terms of new models/pictures/renderings?

[MitchKyle]

Nothing really new then whats already been discussed/displayed on this site. Was interesting to have a chance to talk with the developers though.

Here is some pics I took while walking around...

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/303134_10150415477689935_593459934_10040369_1768376301_n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/312738_10150415477754935_593459934_10040370_1186846287_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/312824_10150415477794935_593459934_10040371_1330044258_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/313624_10150415477919935_593459934_10040373_10386774_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/297170_10150415477984935_593459934_10040375_238059921_n.jpg

[mcmcclassic]

Nothing really new then whats already been discussed/displayed on this site. Was interesting to have a chance to talk with the developers though.

Here is some pics I took while walking around...

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/303134_10150415477689935_593459934_10040369_1768376301_n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/312738_10150415477754935_593459934_10040370_1186846287_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/312824_10150415477794935_593459934_10040371_1330044258_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/313624_10150415477919935_593459934_10040373_10386774_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/297170_10150415477984935_593459934_10040375_238059921_n.jpg

Thanks for the pictures mitchkyle. I am glad to see that VivaCity was a success. Kudos to Fusion Halifax for pulling it off too :)

[Jstaleness]

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/312738_10150415477754935_593459934_10040370_1186846287_n.jpg


I like the Large Street Front TD Logo. Also does anyone know if the roof feature has plans to be lit with LED lighting? In the TD Green perhaps.

[someone123]

Did anybody get more info about Skye?

[Jonovision]

There are more pictures posted on the Fusion Halifax Facebook Page.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150375981447369.379750.196135342368&type=1

[RyeJay]

Did anybody get more info about Skye?

Yes. The balls will be blue.

[HaliStreaks]

Yes. The balls will be blue.

lol, I know I'm going to be the immature one here.. but that just killed me .. I couldn't stop laughing.. lol :haha:

[someone123]

Yes. The balls will be blue.

I was mostly wondering if they addressed the lack of confidence people have that this will ever be built.

[RyeJay]

I was mostly wondering if they addressed the lack of confidence people have that this will ever be built.

I know buddy. It's all good. I'm just poking fun at what I think is an absurdly long time for a prime downtown lot to remain vacant.

[Jonovision]

It's that time of year again!

Fusions annual VivaCity is taking place this Wednesday evening, October 24th. Doors open at 6pm at the Halifax Railway Station. The event is happening in conjunction with one of the Build Your Centre engagement events taking place next door at the Westin. We have a list of 17 developers in attendance this year. And of what I know there will be new information from 3 of them.

We have also brought in architecture critic and Toronto Star columnist Christopher Hume as our keynote speaker. He will be talking to his impressions of Halifax.

Also on the agenda is the introduction of The Framework for Community Focused Engagement. A new tool our team has been working on for the past year that will act as a means for the young public to open up dialogue with developers and help give input on development to try and create the city that we want to see.

Come out and talk to the people making this city.

[Halifax Hillbilly]

It's that time of year again!

Fusions annual VivaCity is taking place this Wednesday evening, October 24th. Doors open at 6pm at the Halifax Railway Station. The event is happening in conjunction with one of the Build Your Centre engagement events taking place next door at the Westin. We have a list of 17 developers in attendance this year. And of what I know there will be new information from 3 of them.

We have also brought in architecture critic and Toronto Star columnist Christopher Hume as our keynote speaker. He will be talking to his impressions of Halifax.

Also on the agenda is the introduction of The Framework for Community Focused Engagement. A new tool our team has been working on for the past year that will act as a means for the young public to open up dialogue with developers and help give input on development to try and create the city that we want to see.

Come out and talk to the people making this city.

Great work Jono. Wish I was in town to hear Christopher Hume, he's a smart dude when it comes to cities. You should try hard to get the new mayor there, he's said downtown is his priority. There are many good discussions starting to happen in Halifax: it's time the council and mayor paid attention to these kind of events.

Is there any way to follow along/ participate online?

[halifaxboyns]

It's that time of year again!

Fusions annual VivaCity is taking place this Wednesday evening, October 24th. Doors open at 6pm at the Halifax Railway Station. The event is happening in conjunction with one of the Build Your Centre engagement events taking place next door at the Westin. We have a list of 17 developers in attendance this year. And of what I know there will be new information from 3 of them.

We have also brought in architecture critic and Toronto Star columnist Christopher Hume as our keynote speaker. He will be talking to his impressions of Halifax.

Also on the agenda is the introduction of The Framework for Community Focused Engagement. A new tool our team has been working on for the past year that will act as a means for the young public to open up dialogue with developers and help give input on development to try and create the city that we want to see.

Come out and talk to the people making this city.


If I had known in advance - I could've sent you my copy of his CBC program that he did. I bought it with the public viewing rights, so you could've shown it if you wanted... :)

[Jonovision]

Great work Jono. Wish I was in town to hear Christopher Hume, he's a smart dude when it comes to cities. You should try hard to get the new mayor there, he's said downtown is his priority. There are many good discussions starting to happen in Halifax: it's time the council and mayor paid attention to these kind of events.

Is there any way to follow along/ participate online?

I believe we have someone who will be tweeting constantly. Just check #vivacity.

[someone123]

Are there any plans to put Christopher Hume's talk online?

There's a brief article about the talk here: http://metronews.ca/news/halifax/415713/urban-affairs-expert-says-halifax-isnt-realizing-vast-potential/

This comment is on point: “It looks shabby, run down, lots of empty stores, lots of empty lots.”

Halifax has a lot of neighbourhoods that don't work correctly because they don't have enough people living in them. There aren't enough people to support shops to fill up the storefronts and offer all the goods and services that residents need. Additional density in the core would make it more attractive for businesses, would provide a better tax base for the municipality, and would help with problems like dwindling school enrolments. In the future I hope more people will stop thinking of urban infill as an imposition on their already perfect neighbourhood and start thinking about the best ways to accommodate the increased density that their neighbourhood needs to be viable. In the neighbourhoods the dialogue needs to shift away from the unhelpful building height turf wars and needs to address the question of how to best support the added density that is needed.

[Jonovision]

I do not believe his talk was recorded.

[teddifax]

Nothing really new then whats already been discussed/displayed on this site. Was interesting to have a chance to talk with the developers though.

Here is some pics I took while walking around...

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/303134_10150415477689935_593459934_10040369_1768376301_n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/312738_10150415477754935_593459934_10040370_1186846287_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/312824_10150415477794935_593459934_10040371_1330044258_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/313624_10150415477919935_593459934_10040373_10386774_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/297170_10150415477984935_593459934_10040375_238059921_n.jpg

These pictures don't show up, can they be reposted?