[Halifax] NFB Building | 15 m | 7 fl | U/C - Page 8

RyeJay · #**141** Posted **Jul 30, 2013, 2:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pblaauw

Letting it continue to sit there and deteriorate would be "keeping the disease". Using it as part of a new building is making things better. It's nice to see the revival (slow as it may be) of Barrington continue.

Agreed.

someone123 · #**142** Posted **Jul 30, 2013, 4:34 AM**

The original as shown in the architectural drawing posted by Empire looks quite nice. I guess it's a matter of opinion whether or not a modern-looking building would be better, but there is no modern-looking building on the table. It's either the restored facade or the status quo. Just about anything would be a huge improvement over what's there now.

There have been a couple of false starts with this site. I hope the current owner starts construction really quickly; it would make a big different to the street.

Keith P. · #**143** Posted **Jul 30, 2013, 2:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

The original as shown in the architectural drawing posted by Empire looks quite nice. I guess it's a matter of opinion whether or not a modern-looking building would be better, but there is no modern-looking building on the table. It's either the restored facade or the status quo. Just about anything would be a huge improvement over what's there now.

A vacant lot would be better than what's there now.

This is a sorry excuse for a development - a faux-Victorian replica facade on what is Halifax's main street. Complete with styrofoam detail work no doubt. Shameful.

Empire · #**144** Posted **Jul 31, 2013, 1:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith P.

A vacant lot would be better than what's there now.

This is a sorry excuse for a development - a faux-Victorian replica facade on what is Halifax's main street. Complete with styrofoam detail work no doubt. Shameful.

This is what is shameful on Barrington St. 80's garbage.

80's garbage
https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=halifa...12,318.95,,0,0

Keith P. · #**145** Posted **Jul 31, 2013, 1:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Empire

This is what is shameful on Barrington St. 80's garbage.

80's garbage

That is far better than this mess.

pblaauw · #**146** Posted **Jul 31, 2013, 5:26 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith P.

That is far better than this mess.

You mean a whole in the ground? It takes very little to be better than a hole in the ground. (Though it does take more than tuxedoed mannequins. *pokes fun at Nova Centre*)

It's also better than this: https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=halifa...,,0,-8.82&z=18

Drybrain · #**147** Posted **Jul 31, 2013, 2:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pblaauw

You mean a whole in the ground? It takes very little to be better than a hole in the ground. (Though it does take more than tuxedoed mannequins. *pokes fun at Nova Centre*)

It's also better than this: https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=halifa...,,0,-8.82&z=18

Oh, that thing is the worst. I weep to think what it replaced. The giant blank wall along Morris is just criminal. After the empty lots are all filled in downtown, the city should figure out some way to incentivize developers to tear down this kind of stuff.

Waye Mason · #**148** Posted **Aug 1, 2013, 2:42 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drybrain

Oh, that thing is the worst. I weep to think what it replaced. The giant blank wall along Morris is just criminal. After the empty lots are all filled in downtown, the city should figure out some way to incentivize developers to tear down this kind of stuff.

I think this is the worst:

https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=halifa...,,0,-3.39&z=15

pblaauw · #**149** Posted **Aug 1, 2013, 4:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waye Mason

I think this is the worst:

https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=halifa...,,0,-3.39&z=15

It's definitely the worst thing on Quinpool. It's nothing compared to the blank wall - and sidewalk grates - of Scotia Square.

Drybrain · #**150** Posted **Aug 1, 2013, 4:25 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waye Mason

I think this is the worst:

https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=halifa...,,0,-3.39&z=15

Ech. Also terrible. But I'm still gonna go with Renaissance, just because of the incredible disrespect it shows to what should be a tightly-woven urban environment (and probably was, until Renaissance was set down like an invading Borg-building).

'Course, that Superstore is a pretty terrible way to kick off the westbound stretch of Quinpool. Looking forward to seeing the strip mall across the street given the boot, that's for sure.

Dmajackson · #**151** Posted **Aug 7, 2013, 2:03 AM**

Final approval is scheduled for this weeks meeting of the Design Review Committee.

someone123 · #**152** Posted **Aug 10, 2013, 9:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pblaauw

It's definitely the worst thing on Quinpool. It's nothing compared to the blank wall - and sidewalk grates - of Scotia Square.

Scotia Square has some interesting architectural features but the facade along Barrington is aggressively bad. Hopefully it will one day be redone in a way similar to what they are planning for the stretch farther north.

Those few blocks could be so much better if something like International Place were built and integrated with Granville Mall and an underground transit terminal with improved connections to the ferry terminal.

worldlyhaligonian · #**153** Posted **Aug 11, 2013, 10:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

Scotia Square has some interesting architectural features but the facade along Barrington is aggressively bad. Hopefully it will one day be redone in a way similar to what they are planning for the stretch farther north.

Those few blocks could be so much better if something like International Place were built and integrated with Granville Mall and an underground transit terminal with improved connections to the ferry terminal.

IP is definitely the missing endpoint, it will be interesting to see what development or redevelopment happens at the south end.

Are there renderings for the St. Mary's basilica parking lot development?

Waye Mason · #**154** Posted **Aug 11, 2013, 11:52 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

Scotia Square has some interesting architectural features but the facade along Barrington is aggressively bad. Hopefully it will one day be redone in a way similar to what they are planning for the stretch farther north.

I was told by Sandra, the leasing agent for HDL back when I was renting from them, that the reason it is so ugly is that Barrington is the BACK of the building. Market Street/Albemarle is the "front". The old Irving, the two breezeways, etc are there to make a "friendly access" from the super wide street, which was supposed to be where the transit buses stopped. So the stairs and glass entrance and all that crap on barrington is all retrofitted in. A classic mistake on par with Park Lane having it's "main entrance" off of Dresden Row rather than Spring Garden.

The southern half of Scotia Square on Barrington won't change, as behind that wall is all major mechanical, ventilation systems and whatnot. Pretty much from the entrance at Duke to the loading bay entrance can't be modified.

someone123 · #**155** Posted **Sep 11, 2013, 5:35 AM**

Apparently this was approved tonight by council. Hopefully construction will begin soon!

someone123 · #**156** Posted **Oct 24, 2013, 3:00 AM**

The HAC have endorsed heritage incentives for this development. Not sure if this means they are officially approved. This might explain why we didn't hear any news for a while.

Drybrain · #**157** Posted **Apr 17, 2014, 7:13 PM**

Any news on this? Now that spring is (finally) here, I imagine we'll see some projects that were held over during the winter start up--but I've heard no news on this in particular, and good god, I want it to happen more than almost any other.

ILoveHalifax · #**158** Posted **Apr 17, 2014, 9:58 PM**

Time for the bulldozers. How long can we have this pile of garbage on our main street?

Keith P. · #**159** Posted **Apr 17, 2014, 11:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILoveHalifax

Time for the bulldozers. How long can we have this pile of garbage on our main street?

Exactly correct.

Drybrain · #**160** Posted **Apr 18, 2014, 2:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILoveHalifax

Time for the bulldozers. How long can we have this pile of garbage on our main street?

Time for the bulldozers even though there's an approved development ready to go? A rubbly lot would be better? You and Keith, I swear...