RBC Waterside Centre | 37 m | 9 fl | U/C - Page 78

ILoveHalifax · #**1541** Posted: **Apr 2, 2013, 11:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drybrain

D. I'm starting to wonder if ILoveHalifax does love it, because to hear him tell, this city is one precarious step from utter ruination.

.

Please be advised that because I do not agree with you does not mean the city is one precarious step from utter ruination. DO NOT PUT WORDS IN MY MOUTH

Drybrain · #**1542** Posted: **Apr 2, 2013, 2:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILoveHalifax

Please be advised that because I do not agree with you does not mean the city is one precarious step from utter ruination. DO NOT PUT WORDS IN MY MOUTH

*Takes words out of ILoveHalifax's mouth*

I am sorry.

KnoxfordGuy · #**1543** Posted: **Apr 2, 2013, 4:11 PM**

Anywayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy....

worldlyhaligonian · #**1544** Posted: **Apr 2, 2013, 5:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drybrain

*Takes words out of ILoveHalifax's mouth*

I am sorry.

Well, you do it alot... and some of us have been on this forum for years.

You're a bit idealistic. There are many issues with the heritage buildings: owners, condition, etc. Many in Granville mall were empty from what I remember.

I agree with you that they have value, but one of the major things we have discussed in this thread over the past 5 years is that there needs to be a mix of new development in order to support the old. Anything else is completely unfeasible.

Primarily though, this is a skyscraper forum for those who are in favour of high density developments.

Drybrain · #**1545** Posted: **Apr 2, 2013, 5:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

Well, you do it alot... and some of us have been on this forum for years.

Sorry then.

Quote:

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

You're a bit idealistic. There are many issues with the heritage buildings: owners, condition, etc. Many in Granville mall were empty from what I remember.

Idealism is good.

Maintenance concerns and other issues can be dealt with, and are often (not always, but more often than not) worth the time and money in the long run, even when it might be logistically simpler to tear things down.

Quote:

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

I agree with you that they have value, but one of the major things we have discussed in this thread over the past 5 years is that there needs to be a mix of new development in order to support the old. Anything else is completely unfeasible.

The "mix of old and new" thing is true, but is so often invoked to justify demolitions, i.e. "We need old AND new, and can't keep every old thing around, so let's lose this one."

We all know Halifax has lost a LOT of its older building stock. At this point, I'm against pretty much any demolition of Victorian/Georgian/Edwardian brick or stone structures in downtown/central city, unless there's some very strong justification. (Like a truly world-class development, a legitimate safety hazard, a condemnable building, etc.)

This would not be especially onerous—we're not a city (anymore) with unbroken stretches of 19th-century building stock, and there are zillions of development sites that wouldn't be impacted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by worldlyhaligonian

Primarily though, this is a skyscraper forum for those who are in favour of high density developments.

Pro-heritage isn't anti-density. And someone said a few weeks ago they think of it as more of an urban-design/planning forum, as do I.

worldlyhaligonian · #**1546** Posted: **Apr 2, 2013, 5:57 PM**

That's fair. By high density, I was alluding to height because many of us appreciate "skyscrapers". I mean, in the context of Halifax, we don't see true skyscrapers but we can have efficiently tall buildings and that's what many of us are all about.

I don't believe its an argument for demolition per se, but property owners aren't given a real preference in terms of owning many of these properties. They probably should.

One thing is for sure, many older buildings require significant work.

Jstaleness · #**1547** Posted: **Apr 3, 2013, 10:55 AM**

I am going to come back on Friday when SekishikiMeikaiHa does his weekly update. This side conversation has overtaken the thread.

SekishikiMeikaiHa · #**1548** Posted: **Apr 6, 2013, 4:10 PM**

Weekly updates:

essaysmith · #**1549** Posted: **Apr 8, 2013, 10:47 PM**

So, to get back on topic, am I the only one the sees Waterslide Centre when they read this?

fenwick16 · #**1550** Posted: **Apr 8, 2013, 10:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by essaysmith

So, to get back on topic, am I the only one the sees Waterslide Centre when they read this?

Possibly, however from now on whenever I read it I will think of a waterslide

PS: I agree, people should try to remain somewhat on topic.

someone123 · #**1551** Posted: **Apr 8, 2013, 10:59 PM**

The retail-related posts have been moved here: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=204898

(I didn't want to interrupt the posting in the other retail thread so there's a second thread now)

SekishikiMeikaiHa · #**1552** Posted: **Apr 13, 2013, 4:42 PM**

Weekly updates:

Keith P. · #**1553** Posted: **Apr 16, 2013, 10:20 PM**

Sad news: the developer behind this project, Ben McCrae, has died:

http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/met...rea-dies-at-73

Quote:

Prominent Halifax developer Ben McCrea, 73, has died in Halifax after a lengthy illness.

Born Armour Mayes McCrea in Salisbury, N.B., he moved to Halifax in 1972 to found his Halifax-based real estate development company, The Armour Group Ltd., which changed the face of downtown Halifax.

McCrea is perhaps best known for transforming seven derelict warehouses on Halifax's waterfront into Historic Properties, which has won many national and international awards.

But in an interview last year with The Chronicle Herald, he said his most difficult project was Founders Square in downtown Halifax. The project involved incorporating the facades of seven 18th-century buildings into a new office building.

McCrea, who last year was inducted into the Junior Achievement Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame, was an ardent conservationist and environmentalist.

He took personal pride in Armour Group’s Park Place Corporate Campus, which was the first LEED–certified commercial building in Atlantic Canada. (LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.)

In the 1980s, McCrea was part of a group that bought the ailing Halifax Shipyards and resurrected it before selling it to the Irving family.

In recent years, his company had been involved in a protracted battle with Halifax Regional Municipality over its $25-million Waterside Centre at the corner of Duke and Hollis streets in Halifax.

When complete, the outfit will have developed and managed some two million-square-feet of space in the Halifax area.

“The issue has always been to create a sense of place so that there is some longevity and it is sustainable over time,” McCrea said of his projects in an interview last year.

In an interview on Tuesday, Halifax lawyer Bruce Outhouse, a long-time fishing and hunting companion, called McCrea a “very astute and successful businessman who had a reputation for being a tough negotiator” but who was also “a soft guy in a lot of ways who had great concern for this city and province.”

He leaves wife Joanne, sons Stuart and Scott, daughters Alison and Janice, and their families.

Details on the funeral service and burial will be provided later this week.

(jdemont@herald.ca)

I believe son Scott has been running the company for the last few years. R.I.P.

fenwick16 · #**1554** Posted: **Apr 17, 2013, 2:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith P.

Sad news: the developer behind this project, Ben McCrae, has died:

http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/met...rea-dies-at-73

I believe son Scott has been running the company for the last few years. R.I.P.

This is very sad news. Although I have never personally met him, I admire his dedication to the city and I hope that his buildings will stand as part of his legacy for many future generations.

resetcbu1 · #**1555** Posted: **Apr 17, 2013, 4:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenwick16

This is very sad news. Although I have never personally met him, I admire his dedication to the city and I hope that his buildings will stand as part of his legacy for many future generations.

Sad news for sure , maybe they can incorperate a tribute into the project ?

sdm · #**1556** Posted: **Apr 18, 2013, 3:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by resetcbu1

Sad news for sure , maybe they can incorperate a tribute into the project ?

I see they have notified people (facebook) that they intend to shut down the construction site and put up the St Andrews flag to pay their respects to McCrea.

SekishikiMeikaiHa · #**1557** Posted: **Apr 20, 2013, 4:42 AM**

Weekly updates:

Duff · #**1558** Posted: **May 3, 2013, 2:00 PM**

The crane is coming down this weekend.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/RBC-W...ocation=stream

SekishikiMeikaiHa · #**1559** Posted: **May 4, 2013, 2:42 PM**

"Weekly" updates:

SekishikiMeikaiHa · #**1560** Posted: **Yesterday, 6:06 AM**

Too-busy-to-update updates: