Newfoundland & Labrador Projects

[PoscStudent]

^ Looks pretty good.

[kingcobra]

More pics...

http://cornerbrooker.com/2010/11/an-...new-city-hall/

[Architype]

^ Those pictures are quite cool.

What's going to happen to the old city hall ?

[PoscStudent]

City Hall looks better then I expected it would. I thougt that round piece on the front could have looked really stupid but it's great.

[Architype]

Originally Posted by PoscStudent

City Hall looks better then I expected it would. I thougt that round piece on the front could have looked really stupid but it's great.

The renderings showed it a bit different; the frame-like structure that extends out and finishes off the top of the round part is missing, or hasn't been added yet, it gave a more contemporary look to the building.

original rendering -

original source - City of Corner Brook

[Architype]

Here's a bit about a protest against the recent proposal by the paper mill to use tire-derived fuel as an alternative energy source.

Protest against tire burning goes ahead in Corner Brook


About 75 people took to the streets of Corner Brook in a protest march against Corner Brook Pulp and Paper's proposal to burn tire-derived fuel as an alternative energy source Saturday morning.

Bolstered by several boisterous members of the student union at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland, the march was initially going to finish at City Hall as organizers were concerned about crossing the busy streets leading to the nearby paper mill.

However, after stopping at City Hall, the crowd decided to go all the way to the mill's doorsteps, leaving several placards at the mill gate when they left. . . .

While Corner Brook Pulp and Paper believes it can burn the provincial stockpile of nearly 2 million used tires in an environmentally safe manner, the protestors are not comfortable with the unanswered questions they have about the long-term effects of burning tires on air quality.

Rwad More:
http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Loca...Corner-Brook/1

[Architype]

Building lots in high demand

CORNER BROOK—

A lack of available land, sureties and fees associated with the building process and regulations on landscaping were all brought up by people in the construction industry during a forum Wednesday night.

The City of Corner Brook held the forum at the Pepsi Centre to outline proposed amendments to the city’s residential, commercial and subdivision construction procedures.
. . .

Once the floor was open to comments it seemed land availability was the big issue, even though it was not officially part of the forum. Many questioned why land in the city is not being opened up for development, and pointed to areas such as Deer Lake and Pasadena where more homes are being built.

Paul Barnable, the city’s director of community services, said the city is looking at areas that can be opened up.

Read article:
http://www.thetelegram.com/Business/...-high-demand/1

[Architype]

Corner Brook residents fight condo development

Some Corner Brook homeowners are claiming the city misled them about a potential condominium development slated for their upscale neighbourhood.

Residents fear a condominium development could erode the value of their Corner Brook homes.

People who live near Sunnyslope, which features million-dollar homes, claim they were not told of the possibility that condominiums would be built there.

A developer wants to put up three, two-storey buildings to house 36 condos, which resident Evelyn Rideout said would overlook backyards and increase traffic in the area, eroding the value of the existing homes.

Rideout accuses the city of selling land in the residential subdivision without telling people that condominiums were a possibility.

Source & article:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfou...ok-condos.html


This raises a good question; what is so scary about condominiums? They are accepted and even coveted elsewhere in the country and the world; condominiums usually provide for more density, more efficient lifestyle, more efficient land use, smaller carbon footprint, are often part of the most upscale neighbourhoods, and should be an enhancement to the community if they are done properly. In this case the proposed development (2 stories) is not even taller than the single family homes. Ideally, however, they should be built in areas where there already is some density; areas within walking distance of all kinds of shops and services, and not on just any available land on the fringes of the city.

[Architype]

Council defers decision on controversial condominium proposal

CORNER BROOK

Residents of the MacDonald Brown Drive area of the city will just have to wait while a developer decides whether or not to continue with a proposal to build a three-building condominium development in their backyard.

Corner Brook City Council voted Monday night to defer, indefinitely, a decision on the proposed development by Countryside Estates Inc. on a parcel of land located off MacDonald Brown Drive, adjacent to the Lewin Parkway. The development would be located in a residential medium-density zone and falls under a discretionary use for the land.

Read Article for more explanation:http://www.thewesternstar.com/Busine...ium-proposal/1



Nimbys 1
Urban Development 0

[Architype]

City hoping to open up new residential areas

CORNER BROOK Corner Brook city council dealt with several land issues during a recent public meeting, including the purchase of a parcel of land that is hoped will facilitate connecting MacDonald Brown Drive with O’Connell Drive.

Council approved the purchase of a 0.417-acre piece of land from the company Harris and Roome at the intersection of O’Connell Drive and Boone’s Road at the appraised market value estimate of $59,050.

The city will need to make further land acquisitions between that parcel of land and the intersection of MacDonald Brown Drive and the top of Carberry’s Road in order to open up the entire area for development.

Dale Park, the City of Corner Brook’s director of corporate services, said there is still about 11.5 acres the city would like to acquire from four different land holders in that area.

He recently told council at a public meeting that those other land acquisitions are hoped to be made in the coming year and that the area will be ready for development some time in 2012.

Some of the development may be able to proceed before all of the land is acquired, according to Park.

When opened up, the area is expected to accommodate around 300 residential lots.

Meanwhile, the city has advertised a request for proposals for the sale of 4.6 acres of land located at the top of Wheeler’s Road, across from the long-term care duplexes operated by Western Health.

The property is raw land that has never been developed. Although it is currently zoned as a residential medium-density zone, the city will consider rezoning if an appropriate development is proposed.

Source: http://www.thewesternstar.com/News/L...ential-areas/1

[Architype]

More good updated pictures of the new City Hall here:

http://cornerbrooker.com/2011/04/cit...tell-the-time/



Credit: Photo by Tom Cochrane on flickr

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomcochrane/tags/cityhall/

[Architype]

Something modern is in progress on Fogo island, a five-star inn -

Construction photos of the Fogo Island Inn, along the Back Western Shore on the North Coast of Fogo Island, Newfoundland.

As well as 29 Guest Rooms the new facility will house a Restaurant & Lounge, an Art Gallery, a Library, a Cinema, Saunas, and Conference Space.

The Fogo Island Inn is designed by Todd Saunders (www.saunders.no) and built by the Shorefast Foundation (www.shorefast.org) with consulting from Sheppard Case Architects Inc., DBA Consulting Engineers Ltd., and Crosbie Engineering Ltd..

Source; & check out the construction photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shorefa...th/5550047270/



Source: http://www.s-edge.com/pdf/fogoislandinn.pdf

Links:
http://www.s-edge.com/pdf/fogoislandinn.pdf

http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Loca...d-Dreams-Big/1

http://www.saunders.no/work/item/28-fogo-hotel

http://affectingchange.com/projects/fogo-island-inn/

http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Loca...Fogo-on-fire/1

Telegram Slideshow:
http://www.thetelegram.com/Slideshow...-in-pictures/1

[PoscStudent]

Why'd you put that here?

It's sad Fogo has more modern architecture then St. John's.

[Architype]

Originally Posted by PoscStudent

Why'd you put that here?

It's sad Fogo has more modern architecture then St. John's.

Because of the thread title; it's intended to include - "Regional Newfoundland", it would get lost anywhere in the existing Atlantic Canada threads. There isn't enough activity for a rural Newfoundland exclusive thread.

I hope this architect becomes more active in Newfoundland, St.John's could use some of his work.

[PoscStudent]

True, the projects on Fogo are unbelievable.

[Trevor3]

Originally Posted by Architype

Because of the thread title; it's intended to include - "Regional Newfoundland", it would get lost anywhere in the existing Atlantic Canada threads. There isn't enough activity for a rural Newfoundland exclusive thread.

I hope this architect becomes more active in Newfoundland, St.John's could use some of his work.

If someone tried to design a building that modern to be constructed in St. John's, all hell would break loose. They have a hard enough time agreeing to replace abandoned buildings in the downtown with real development. Its unreal how far they go to preserve the heritage and that of the downtown, I respect their goals but you have to find a balance somewhere.

The Fogo project is great, it helps when you're town is backed a millionaire who wants to spend. I wish I had her money...
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/151/rock-star.html

It's interesting that there is so much development on the west of Newfoundland and Corner Brook especially. The city has a rapidly rising unemployment rate up to 17% now from 11% in 2006, the second largest centre on the west coast is Stephenville (my hometown) about 45 minutes away, which lost its mill and has unemployment around, if not exceeding 20%. Just for some perspective, during much more prosperous times the median income in Stephenville was $14,000 with an average of $24,000, and that was in 2000-2001.

Despite all this land prices are up, housing prices are up, subdivisions are springing up all around and it seems there is development everywhere. Its perplexing to be honest.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by Trevor3

Its perplexing to be honest.

When I was last in the area (2007) Corner Brook seemed to be much busier than the rest of Western Newfoundland. Stephenville was a tough place to visit with the unemployment and such, but Corner Brook seemed to have a fair number of developments on going. I'm surprised if what you're saying is true, in regards to subdivisions and etc.

[Trevor3]

Originally Posted by GregHickman

When I was last in the area (2007) Corner Brook seemed to be much busier than the rest of Western Newfoundland. Stephenville was a tough place to visit with the unemployment and such, but Corner Brook seemed to have a fair number of developments on going. I'm surprised if what you're saying is true, in regards to subdivisions and etc.

Corner Brook is busier, there is no doubt about that. It just seems odd that so much is happening in there with industry declining, the mill being on shaky ground and unemployment on the upswing. But all their development is based on government projects such as the City Hall, Courthouse, Grenfell Campus expansion, Hospital, Long Term Care Centre etc... Its not meant as a slight or knock against CB but they fared really well under Danny Williams tenure as premier.

After the mill closed Stephenville took a pretty big hit, and the flood which followed certainly didn't help. In '08 I think Stephenville posted its highest number of housing starts in 15 years, which was up from just 1 housing permit issued the year the mill closed. Right now there are 5 subdivisions open ranging in size in Stephenville, 3 in neighbouring Kippens and 1 in Port-au-Port. Land prices range from $150,000 on the high end to $40,000 on the low (as compared to $12,000 in 2005). The thing is, there hasn't been any economic development, no government investment and no major developments of any kind in Bay St. George (Stephenville's region). That said, Corner Brook and the Humber Valley are still much more active.

[PoscStudent]

I guess there are people moving out of the small rural communities into the urban centres. There are probably a lot of retirees moving into areas like Stephenville and Corner Brook to be closer to health care facilities and what not.

[Architype]

^ It's hard to find good photos of Stephenville anywhere on the web.

Corner Brook has been doing well in terms of government projects in the last couple of years, but not so much in the private sector. It still is very much a regional center for Western Newfoundland which I suppose is why you see all these projects happening here, although Stephenville does have a nice new(?) hospital too.


Anyone know if this Deer Lake Hotel project has been completed yet, or is at least in progress:
Link: http://www.thewesternstar.com/photo/...opment-1289580

Construction is expected to resume on the Holiday Inn Express on Bennett Avenue in Deer Lake in early January 2011.

Source Article: http://www.nl.dailybusinessbuzz.ca/P...construction/1
Western Star Article, Oct 2010: http://www.thewesternstar.com/News/L...t-few-weeks-/1