Drum Condominiums | ? m | 6 fl | Proposed

[Nifta]

I noticed that the sign was gone this morning on my way into work. For a sad moment I thought the developer had pulled out of the project. Glad to hear that it's just been taken down due to some bureaucracy!

[RyeJay]

There are two things I like about this project:
1. Its location
2. Its shape; front round facade.

The Drum's close proximaty to Citadel Hill is going to show our eyes the obvious reality of the hill's superior height. This is a good thing--especially to the heritage peoples. But the fun effect of this will be the Drum's height versus that of what's in the background: our prized Purdy's Wharf II, to which it looks similar, width-wise, and especially in terms of its front facade. The Drum will appear to be within equal to slightly superior height of Purdy's Wharf.

The Drum is going to be a visual high-heel for the Citadel.

[macgregor]

From: http://thechronicleherald.ca/busines...ng-it-designed

Architectural firm decides to move into building it designed
December 21, 2011 - 8:00pm BY REMO ZACCAGNA BUSINESS REPORTER

...

Meanwhile, construction work on a six-storey, 44-unit flatiron-style building across from Citadel Hill, dubbed the Drum, will begin in May, Chedrawe said.

The developer plans to build $250,000-$600,000 condominiums on the site, which sits on a wedge of land near Centennial Pool, by Rainnie Drive, North Park Street and Cogswell Street.

Regional council removed a major hurdle to the development by amending the secondary municipal planning strategy and land-use bylaw that required ground-level landscaped open space for residential buildings.

Chedrawe said he plans to build a green space on the building’s rooftop.

“We were waiting for this one major amendment in the HRM by Design bylaw, which was passed by council last week, so now we’ll start planning the design work.”

[cormiermax]

I hope they do a redesign before starting construction.

[RyeJay]

Does this mean the city won't throw a tantrum if the developer puts the 'coming soon' sign back up?

Oh good.

[Waye Mason]

Originally Posted by cormiermax

I hope they do a redesign before starting construction.

God yes. Worst looking crap ever, in the style of that Falkland condo building.

[someone123]

Well, there's some serious competition in the "worst looking crap ever" category, particularly in this neighbourhood -- look at Agricola and Cunard for example.

One thing I find strange and unattractive is how busy many of these designs are. There are many handsome older buildings in Halifax, especially around this area, that are very simple and were probably inexpensive to build. I would not be surprised if a skilled architect could look at the styles in Halifax and design an elegant building of the same size at a lower cost than 5505 Falkland.

Inspiration could be found right across the street from the Drum location: http://g.co/maps/gtnvd

[coolmillion]

I live down the street from this site and wrote to Dawn Sloane to voice some concerns about the design of the building. She spoke to Danny Chedrawe on my behalf (and for some other people in the neighbourhood) and he's open to meeting to receiving feedback on how to improve the design. If anyone is interested in joining this discussion send me a pm or just post some suggestions here. It may be too late now but perhaps still worth trying...

[RyeJay]

Is there any news on this development? I thought it had been approved.

[cormiermax]

If it has been, that's unfortunate. This thing is ugly as hell, and well as stubby.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by cormiermax

If it has been, that's unfortunate. This thing is ugly as hell, and well as stubby.

I agree, it is a cheap, ugly, typical downtown building. When will developers ever learn?

[Hali87]

Originally Posted by Empire

I agree, it is a cheap, ugly, typical downtown building. When will developers ever learn?

This might have something to do with the fact that it's directly adjacent to the Citadel. The YMCA proposal has been a good illustration of how much this can complicate the development process. I remember reading an article in the Herald for the previous development on this site (which was about 10 storeys) in which a local resident was quoted as saying that we shouldn't be developing at this scale because he thought that Halifax was fine the way it is and shouldn't be trying to grow - this was about 5 or 6 years ago.

[someone123]

I read at some point that the delay is due to a problem with open space requirements that were created as part of HRM by Design (the policy is apparently something like "all developments must be X% open space", which sounds nice but is totally unworkable in some situations). The same delay is holding up the redevelopment of the empty lot near Spring Garden and South Park. Once the policy is amended these developments should be able to proceed.

You can find somebody to complain about anything. I think that new buildings can often complement open public spaces by lending them more definition and enlivening them. Parking lots, on the other hand, tend to really detract from these areas. The gap-toothed row of buildings along Barrington by the Grand Parade is a prime example.

[Hali87]

Originally Posted by someone123

I think that new buildings can often complement open public spaces by lending them more definition and enlivening them. Parking lots, on the other hand, tend to really detract from these areas. The gap-toothed row of buildings along Barrington by the Grand Parade is a prime example.

HRMbyDesign actually encourages the development of a higher streetwall around Cornwallis Park for exactly this reason. It's kind of weird that the same logic can't be applied to other open spaces in the downtown. One of the recent arguments I heard against the YMCA proposal is that the Public Gardens is supposed to offer visitors a complete escape from the urban environment. Couldn't anybody overwhelmed by the chaos of Downtown Halifax just take refuge within the ramparts of the Citadel for a minute? They'd forget the city's there..

[FuzzyWuz]

Originally Posted by Hali87

One of the recent arguments I heard against the YMCA proposal is that the Public Gardens is supposed to offer visitors a complete escape from the urban environment....)

So we want people to come to the city and then go to the public gardens to get away from the city?

I hope someone from 22 minutes is paying attention to all this.

[someone123]

Haven't heard about this one in a while. My understanding is that the same HRM by Design amendments are holding up both this development and the "L-shaped" development around the Eastlink building at the corner of Spring Garden Road and South Park Street.

[cormiermax]

Id rather this never get built, complete crap design.

[haligonia]

Originally Posted by cormiermax

Id rather this never get built, complete crap design.

This city deserves better.

[someone123]

Apparently because of the grade the developer can only build up to five storeys without a development agreement. I guess this site isn't covered by HRM by Design...? The developer might either break ground this fall on the five storey version, or they might elect to try to approval to go higher, in which case there would be another year or more of delay.

[Dmajackson]

Originally Posted by someone123

Apparently because of the grade the developer can only build up to five storeys without a development agreement. I guess this site isn't covered by HRM by Design...? The developer might either break ground this fall on the five storey version, or they might elect to try to approval to go higher, in which case there would be another year or more of delay.

The site is in the HRM by Design area;

Pre-Bonus; 16m
Post-Bonus; 18.288m

This works out to 5 floors pre-bonus and 6 floors post-bonus roughly with standard ten feet per floor for residential use. The way this works is five floors would be approved by the development officer and would be very efficient allowing for construction this year. To get the original design they would have to go through the DRC (and if appealled Regional Council). This could add months onto the timeline delaying construction until next year.

The key to understanding HRM by Design is to remember projects that meet the by-law are approved without going through the public (just like As-of-right elsewhere). Projects that require ammendments go through the DRC and depending on the outcome possibly through Regional Council.