[St. John's] Henry-Bell Condo Complex | 10- & 8-floors U/C | 1X25-30m Proposed
 

Henry Bell Developments Proposal - Henry Street - Duckworth Street (Marconi & Mirador).

The project will have a total of 90 units and a five-level parking garage which will have about 400 parking stalls.
It includes the renovation and expansion of the former CBC-Capitol Theatre Building, and is expected to cost in excess of $33 million.

http://www.pbase.com/image/128571789.jpg

Source & Article: The Telegram, Courtesy of the City of St.John's - http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Loca...Size-matters/1
More Photos: http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Loca...Size-matters/1


Mix - 345-347 Duckworth Street, Redevelopment of former Newfoundland Telephone Building
The existing building will be redeveloped in a mixed use development. Three floors will be added to the east section, one floor and a new section on the west. The height will be 8 stories, about 25 meters from Duckworth, and 10 stories, about 30m, from McBrides Hill.

http://www.pbase.com/image/141783459.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/142071406.jpg

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfou...pment-223.html

LUAR (Henry-Bell): http://www.stjohns.ca/pdfs/Land%20Us...evelopment.pdf

LUAR (NL Telephone):http://www.stjohns.ca/pdfs/AirPhotoS...neAnalysis.pdf

I really with the Mix wasn't the last development in the trio: that building needs to be redeveloped NOW. I'd almost wish it'd burn down right now, but if that were to happen, any new development on the site would be restricted to 4 floors.

I hope it doesn't burn down, at any rate it will really have to be gutted, and will look like all new in the end.

The star of The Sea is just across on Henry Street, it's almost a part of this too, [the Manga site says it will add another 100 units], although the LUAR states 54 units.

That should bring the total units in this area close to 250 if not more.

http://www.pbase.com/image/142071406.jpg
Mix - Rear View
Source: http://www.stjohns.ca/pdfs/Land%20Us...evelopment.pdf

There will be quite a bit of density in that area once these projects get developed. With the hotel/condo proposal at the old Crazy Horse site - I think this may end up being my favorite part of downtown :D

Note: I just added the rear view of the Mix building to the first post.

If I had to pick one development in the city that I am most interested in, there's no doubt it's this one. That stretch of Duckworth is rather ugly.

It's not just ugly it's quite sketchy to walk through.

I was on the 7th floor of Atlantic Place today and the boardroom has a great view of the CBC development. The hole they've dug is absolutely monstrous.

I'm definitely most interested in the MIX development. Based on these drawings, it could be one of the most interesting developments in St. John's. This is a fairly complex development aesthetically, with the three separate sections. I just hope that they don't start cutting costs here and there until it's just another run of the mill development. Is there anything in place to keep companies from getting approval based on a certain proposal, only to make aesthetic changes later on?

I really think that developments such as this one, the Fortis Building, and the Job Street development are really setting a high standard for architecture in the city. Look how quickly the Garden Inn was shut down. It sends the message that if you're going to come to St. John's looking to build, you'd better come with a well-conceived plan.

I don't know what the city can do after the fact but proposals are approved based on their designs, particularly in the heritage district.

This project currently seems stalled. Anyone know why? They dug a big hole and have an excavator there but haven't been on site in a month or more.

I wouldn't expect things too fast; it's Newfoundland 2012, not New York 1931 where it took only 13½ months to build the Empire State Building. The planning process alone today seems to take several years. (I mean that in a joking way, not as a rebuff :) )

There's not really a whole lot you can do during the winter: if you don't have things in the ground before everything freezes, work practically stops until spring. As for the old CBC building, everything's gutted inside the building, but the fire that was there may have set that back a little. I wouldn't worry at this point though, winter is usually a slow season for groundbreaking development.

I'm under the impression that they've run into trouble with the excavation as it relates to the street above. I believe they are trying to figure out how to shore things up before continuing.

Truth. I've been waiting years for something to happen here. Every time I walk past it I get angry its taken so long. Thank god that SOMETHING is under way. I'd love to be working for Henry Bell on this project.

A bump for this thread. Does anyone know if anything has been done lately? Last I heard excavating for the parking garage and internal demo for the NL telephone building (aka Mix) was underway.

oh wow thats huge! Didn't realize both of these developments were already UC! Holy crap!

I walked past yesterday (and, well, most days), but completely forgot to check anything out. :doh:

It seems not much has been completed as of late. I guess they're still having issues with excavating the site. Hopefully we'll see some progress in the upcoming weeks.

There's a drill rig on site now. I'm going to guess that's to anchor the piles that will shore up the excavation.

Land Use Assessment Report for the Telephone Building!

http://www.stjohns.ca/pdfs/AirPhotoS...neAnalysis.pdf

^ Thanks for posting.

This should be the most interesting project in St. John's because it involves such dramatic changes to an existing structure.

The elevation figures given in the drawing show the height above sea level, but from the dimensions given the actual building height from Duckworth will be 28.53 meters. The height on the east from McBrides Hill should be somewhere around 35 m. The elevation of the roof looks to be a bit lower than the Scotia Centre.

I'm REALLY REALLY liking the look of this building, they really mastered the density and mixing heritage and development

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net...63153843_n.jpg

Great looking project!Application states that the developer hopes to start construction almost immediately upon approval with an anticipated completion date of June 2013.

Public Meeting May 15th

EVENT NAME: PUBLIC MEETING: 345-353 Duckworth St. (former Avalon Telephone Bldg)
DATE : 15-5-2012

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2012
AT 7:00 P.M. AT ST. JOHN'S CITY HALL

A public meeting will be held by the City of St. John's on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 to provide an opportunity for public review and comment on an application submitted by Henry Bell Developments Ltd. to redevelop and extend the former Avalon Telephone Building located at Civic Number 345-353 Duckworth Street. The Building is proposed to be redeveloped for approximately eighty (80) residential condominium units above a commercial level on Duckworth Street. Parking for the residential condominium units will be provided in the new parking garage that will be constructed by Henry Bell Developments Ltd. on the north side of Duckworth Street opposite the former Avalon Telephone Building.

The proponents have prepared a land use on this development project under terms of reference which were approved by the St. John's Municipal Council to provide detailed information on this development. This assessment report along with other background information may be viewed below. Copies of these materials are also available from the Department of Planning, third floor, St. John's City Hall. Enquiries on the application may be directed to the Department of Planning at (709) 576-8220 or e-mail planning@stjohns.ca

Any person wishing to make representation on this application prior to the public meeting may send their comments in writing to the City Clerk's Department as follows: (by mail: City Clerk's Department, City of St. John's, P.O. Box 908, St. John's, NL, A1C 5M2; by fax: (709) 576-8474; or by e-mail: cityclerk@stjohns.ca). Written and verbal representations may also be made at the public meeting, which will be chaired by a member of the St. John's Municipal Council. As information, written representations received will become a matter of public record.

In accordance with the City's policy on public notification, properties located within a radius of 150 metres of the former Avalon Telephone Building on Duckworth Street are notified in writing by the City of this upcoming public meeting. Notices are mailed to the property owners, business owners and occupants of buildings located within the 150 metre radius area. Property ownership information is based on data contained in the City's assessment roll.

Attachments:
Air Photo, Staff Report, Land Use Assessment Report and View Plane Analysis

This building is absolutely stunning. It's taken a concept explored by the Bluedrop building and expanded it into a highrise condo development. This development is a fantastic combination of modern and traditional and will have absolutely no problem whatsoever being approved.

Out of curiosity, does anyone have a photo of the Avalon Telephone Building before it fell into disrepair? It seems like it may have been a nice building at one time.

I'm really looking forward to seeing this re-development. It's going to look fantastic and re-shape downtown's look.... let's get this going!

Also looking forward to seeing the old Telephone building redeveloped. I work downtown and always get saddened when I walk by the current boarded up building that is there right now.

How did the Public meeting go?

Status update: Drove by Henry-Bell yesterday, still completing excavating work. It looks as if they have a few piles driven in to anchor the parking garage. Work seems to be going at a slow pace... but it's better to get it right the first time :)

Walked by here yesterday and there looks to be some progress. Looks like they are constructing a retaining wall adjacent to Henry Street and concrete footings are poured down in the main excavation at the Duckworth Street elevation. Looks like it's going to be a busy summer downtown construction-wise! Still no visible progress on the old CBC and Newtel buildings though...

Here's a photo from June 11, via the CBC Seen Blog -

http://www.pbase.com/image/144156891.jpg
Source: http://www.cbc.ca/nl/blogs/seen/#igImgId_41680

City Expropriates Land for Development
 

Source: VOCM, June 19, 2012

Also posted in the St. John's main thread.

http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?...24181&latest=1

There was some action when I drove by today.

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg684...pg&res=landing

Here's a small render in which the parking garage appears a little different from before.

http://www.pbase.com/image/144243645.jpg
From article, via VOCM, June 19 -
http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?...24181&latest=1

Looks much nicer, perhaps an updated design?

I think it is an improvement; they have added some arches to break up the facade which is more in keeping with the scale of the traditional streetscape,
sort of a combination of Moorish and Art Deco design, with the building above a kind of pseudo Second Empire style.

The arches are a definite improvement, especially as parking garages go.

I was walking around downtown today and I noticed they have a huge sign on the old telephone building, with a rendering of the redevelopment and it said opening fall 2013!

This being the last phase in the developement I'd expect to see some serious movement on this whole project if they are going to complete it all in a little over a year.

Here are the websites for the buildings:

Marconi
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...45657960_n.jpg

http://condosmarconi.com/

MIX

http://www.condosmix.com/


Im really liking the Marconi building now too! looks great!!

August 4, 2012

http://i.imgur.com/nM0Sjh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/6GQmch.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/1hp64y.jpg

And this is one that can even been seen from Harbour Drive:

http://i50.tinypic.com/34eyouu.jpg

^^^ Thanks for the pics SignalHillHiker. This project is a little slow moving, I believe the wooden retaining wall is new since the last set of pics. I guess building a parking garage into the side of a hill with lots of granite comes with its own unique set of challenges! :yes:

Came here to post that they've created a Facebook page with Floor Plans, but it seems the Floor Plans are also on their new website.

https://www.facebook.com/MixMarconiM...nsNewfoundland

I'd love to buy one, but I can't imagine that those will be ready by Fall 2013... we'll see I guess.

I wish. I'd love that! I doubt they'll be affordable for me, however. ;-) I need to stay south of $250,000 - preferably below $225,000.

Exciting to see the two projects together (Mix and Marconi).
It doesn't seem that the page for the Mirador development is finished yet: http://condosmirador.com. I'd like to see new pictures of the parking garage etc.

I was downtown yesterday and noticed a sign promoting the Mix building on the side of the old NL Telephone building. Hopefully these units will sell fairly quickly.

*** Edit: Sorry Jeddy, I just noticed you already posted this - :cheers:

You could be in luck, according to jeddy1989's post these condos start at $214,000... not too shabby!

I recognize that the building MIX is renovating is oddly shaped, and there is definitely limited space, but does anyone else feel that many of the floor plans are a bit awkward? I'm not sure, but I find that as I look through them as a potential buyer, very few excite me. With the exception of the larger units (01 and 02) I find qualms with almost all of the floor plans. :shrug:

The Marconi preliminary floor plans look much more normal. Substantially better, from what I had a chance to check out today. Hopefully they'll be on the website soon.

Argh. I want one of these so bad. I hope I'm ready to buy when they're ready to be bought...

Maybe we'll be neighbors. I'm very interested myself, although if the building really is ready in Fall 2013 I probably won't be ready, especially considering that I'm looking at signing a 1-year lease for an apartment in town that should be opening its doors in the Spring.

August 22, 2012

Finally showing signs of progress.

http://i.imgur.com/OdsKQh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/HmdDYh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/DZQvxh.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/lRnuMh.jpg