Residents say skyscrapers are OK

Finally, Finally, Finally…..  Stephen Dempsey, chief executive officer of the Greater Halifax Partnership has released the details of the survey that Bristol Omnifacts prepared for the partnership. For those of you that don’t know me , I spend most of my workweek in the downtown core of Halifax, my clients are there, I socialize there and I am fully aware of the strengths & weaknesses of the CBD … it’s been my contention for a long time that the majority of people who actually work & live in the area are strongly in favour of development. It comes down to an issue of attitude & top down decision making by city hall. Its time that Halifax invests in Halifax…. but more on that later… here is the content of Mr Dempsey’s press conference.

Poll: Most people agree development is needed
By STEVE PROCTOR Business Editor
Tue. Apr 22 - 5:19 PM

Halifax needs an extra 1.6 million square feet of space to accommodate growth downtown over the next 10 years, the Greater Halifax Partnership says. (DARREN PITTMAN / Staff)

Halifax residents aren’t anti-growth, they are not opposed to tall buildings and they would not oppose more spending to improve the vitality of the downtown core.

Stephen Dempsey, chief executive officer of the Greater Halifax Partnership, said those are some of “the surprising findings” in a 1,400-person survey on growth in the city that Bristol Omnifacts prepared for the partnership.

“Given the tone of the public discussion in recent months and the fact that there hasn’t been a new office tower built in the city for a generation, some people are assuming residents must be anti-development and opposed to tall buildings,” Mr. Dempsey said. “In fact, that’s not the case at all.”

Only four per cent of the people surveyed believe growth is bad, he told a business luncheon Monday. The majority not only support the idea of growth but believe further investment in the core would have spinoff benefits that would be good for them personally, their community and their neighbourhood.

Mr. Dempsey said most people are not opposed to tall buildings, but to bad design. He said the survey indicated that the younger the respondents were and the closer they lived to downtown, the more likely they were to support tall buildings. Older people living farther away from downtown were the most opposed to tall buildings.

According to the partnership’s figures, Mr. Dempsey said the city needs an extra 1.6 million square feet of space to accommodate growth downtown over the next 10 years, and he believes the only way to get it is to build taller, more architecturally interesting buildings.

Capping building heights has been a point of contention for months as the city moves toward approving a development strategy for the downtown. Some developers have complained that restricting building heights to 10 or 12 storeys would destroy the economics of projects and lead to a boring skyline, but heritage groups, principally the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia, have argued that the new limits would put 120 heritage properties at risk. The trust believes the downtown core has plenty of room for mid-scale development, and tall buildings should be relegated to an area that could be developed if the Cogswell interchange is demolished.

Mr. Dempsey said older, well-organized interest groups have received a disproportionate amount of attention in the downtown debate and he suggested city officials should listen to young people, who will be vital in filling vacancies as baby boomers retire.

He said young people want to work and live downtown but “if they can’t find the economic benefits here, they will find them in a downtown somewhere else.”

Danny Chedrawe, president of Westwood Developments, called the Greater Halifax Partnership study “shameful propaganda.” He said the agency uses the numbers to link tall buildings to keeping the downtown vibrant and livable, but the two are unrelated.

Mr. Chedrawe, a supporter of mid-sized development, said one big office tower project would suck up demand for years, potentially leaving more storefronts and offices empty. And if the economics for such a project were in place, he contends, several buildings approved under the old rules would be buzzing with construction activity.

“They’re not, because the economics aren’t there,” he said.

If the city was serious about bringing more people downtown, it would improve infrastructure, develop new transportation strategies, ponder low-income housing initiatives and press the Waterfront Development Corp. to make the harbourfront more accessible, he said.

Mr. Chedrawe said he supports the HRM by Design plan as presented, not because it’s a good plan but because it’s at least a plan.

“At least there is some guidance,” he said. “It doesn’t leave us wandering around in limbo like we have been for the past number of years.”

Residents’ comments on the plan mailed to HRM by Design, P.O. Box 1749, Halifax, B3J 3A5, or e-mailed to capdistrict@halifax.ca must be received by Wednesday.

( sproctor@herald.ca)

Committee greenlights project

But Brewery Market decision deferred
By SHERRI BORDEN COLLEY Staff Reporter
Tue. Apr 22 - 5:13 AM

A 19-storey residential building slated for the corner of Brenton and South Park streets in Halifax inched one step closer to getting approval Monday night.

During a meeting at city hall, the downtown Halifax advisory committee — despite strong opposition from one member — recommended the W.M. Fares Group project go ahead.

The committee assists council by reviewing projects to ensure they fit the downtown planning strategy.

Cesar Saleh, an engineer with the Fares Group, said they were very pleased with the committee’s decision.

“We’re hoping to go forward at a public hearing toward the end of May,” Mr. Saleh said. “I thought . . . except for one (committee) member, I thought that the questioning and the decision-making goes to support our development.”

Meanwhile, a second developer who wants to build a 21-storey condo complex in downtown Halifax will have to wait until next week to find out whether the committee supports his proposal.

Halkirk has proposed a $30-million complex for the south side of their Brewery Market property. After receiving a staff report that recommended the Halkirk development, the committee ran out of time before it had a chance to discuss the project.

The 66-metre proposed height for the South Park Street development was the biggest concern for Beverly Miller, acting chairwoman of the District 12 planning advisory committee. Ms. Miller was the only member to reject a staff recommendation

The Fares Group proposal does not meet municipal regulations that restrict building height to 14 metres at the site.

“I have trouble with staff recommending that because at the public information meeting (last year) there was considerable opposition from the people who live in Schmidtville area against a huge building going into their essentially low-rise neighbourhood,” Ms. Miller said.

“This is a neighbourhood question and a neighbourhood preservation question and just what is suitable in a particular neighbourhood.”

Schmidtville, bordered by Spring Garden Road, Dresden Row, Morris and Queen streets, forms an historic neighbourhood that dates from the late 1700s.

Other committee members did not support Ms. Miller’s motion to reject the proposal.

Municipal planning staff justified their recommendation by noting the area had become more urban since the municipal planning strategy was developed. In a report, staff said the Fares proposal for the highrise in this location is acceptable because tall buildings are already present.

The Fares Group and the advisory committee are looking for a site to relocate three Victorian houses that stand on the proposed building site.

“They are not registered heritage (buildings) but we are assessing the possibility of relocating them instead of demolishing them,” Mr. Saleh said. “And our company has offered to put the cost of demolition as well as discarding of the buildings toward the relocation.”

( sborden@herald.ca)

Technorati Tags: S Borden. The Halifax Chronical Herald,Development,Aproval

COMMENTS

POST YOUR COMMENT

Keith P. wrote:
Why is Bev Miller the chair of that committee? That is like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse as she is stauntly anti-development and a foe of any new buildings in the downtown. No wonder nothing new ever gets approved in this town. To say that is a low-rise neighborhood is absurd when you have Park Vic on one side and the Charterhouse on the other.

RyanNS wrote:
What is wrong with this city? Doesn’t anyone realize the impact this will have? If we continue to allow massive, skyscrapers to overtake or city you can say goodbye to cruise ships and tourists. People love Halifax because we are stuck in a time warp and oppose any development! In all seriousness good to see this approved

haliguy wrote:
Great news!

CapeHalifax wrote:
If we have the technology to bury the several stories of parking that a structure this size if going to require, why not keep going and bury the whole thing. Our new claim to fame would be the largest subterainian dwelling in the world. I’m sure DND would rent the bottom couple of stories for its new R&D facility.

phrenic wrote:
Excellent news. Keep ‘em coming.

David fm CH wrote:
The environmentally responsbible way for a growing city to build is up. No more energy sucking suburban subdivisions!

HV wrote:
Bev Miller is out to lunch and should not be on this committee. Calling the area “essentially lowrise” is absurd. This site is surrounded on all sides by large scale buildings. This is a great proposal and should be built as soon as possible.

citizen@large wrote:
There is no legitimate reason why this building should be built beyond the height limits prescribed in the plan. The plan was created and approved for principled reasons. Why is this developer entitled to special treatment? The development community and HRM staff is out of touch with true green approaches to architecture and planning. High-rises are not legitimate sustainable approaches to planning and urban design. The Fares high-rise development is a total failure in terms of sustainability. The project will send several heritage buildings to the landfill, and leave the low-rise Schmidtville heritage neighbourhood in shadow in the afternoon hours and thereby compromise future solar energy potential. Solar energy technology will never be compatible of servicing a building of this size or design—either now or in the future. This dominating development will be another unsightly backdrop to the adjacent Public Gardens and Victoria Park. Where are the complete view impact, shadow and wind studies to identify and clarify the full impacts of this development? Nothing seems to matter any more as long as it is a high-rise development! Anything goes—who needs a plan, planning staff or a council—just build it!

awayfornow wrote:
Schmidtville, you have got to be kidding. As a 45 year native and resident of the Halifax area, this is the first time I have ever heard that area called so. We need progressive people in place that will bring development and tax base to the city. Get your heads out of the sand and out of your own back yards and look athe overall good fro the whole city!!!

phrenic wrote:
citizen@large, your posts are borderline comical as they show you have little to no factual knowledge about the specifics of these developments, nor knowledge of the complicated and often drawn-out approval process they must go through before being subject to approval. Not even knowledge of solar energy and how it is efficiently collected! If you are a Heritage Trust plant, please be advised your rants are not doing any favors for their “cause.”

Guy wrote:
Heritage preservation and commercial development depend on each other. They are talking about saving the two victorian homes that are on the site now. The only way they could afford to save those houses and to build an attractive building of high quality design and materials is to have a good ROI. Developers have to make money. Period. Otherwise, everything dies… heritage properties included.

Runesword wrote:
Might they mean Brenton Place and South Park Street?? Since South Park and Brenton Streets run parallel…

Downtown Halifax of the future

Final draft of HRM By Design report to be released todayBy MICHAEL LIGHTSTONE Staff Reporter Mon. Apr 7 - 5:34 AM

(Illustration from HRM By Design) (Illustration from HRM By Design) (Illustration from HRM By Design) HRM By Design consultants envision a greener, more people-friendy downtown Halifax. (Illustration from HRM By Design)

THIS IS A CITY in which residents still refer to one of two spans across Halifax Harbour, a structure that opened 38 years ago, as “the new bridge.”

It’s a place some folks have said, perhaps facetiously, should adopt the following motto: Halifax — Progress Without Change.

Old habits die hard here, but the first decade of the 21st century is going to bring a shift in the way urban planners and developers do things downtown.

As a result, if all goes well, Halifax’s central core will evolve into a lively, people-friendly place with downtown residents, workers, business owners and tourists living in harmony.

Heritage properties and new highrise buildings will coexist in the Halifax Regional Municipality of the future. Affordable housing will be available, and public transit upgraded.

The cost? So far, that’s unknown.

But many costs associated with the renewal effort are to be handled by the private sector, developers who’ll likely be improving existing properties and paying to build more esthetically pleasing new ones.

Plans for downtown’s refurbishment come from the city’s HRM by Design study, an urban revitalization plan in the works for about 20 months. A 17-member task force assigned to the $405,400 project envisions a downtown that’s livable, distinct and vibrant.

Planners want 16,000 people to move downtown within the next 15 years, Halifax regional council heard at a city hall meeting in February. They’d also like to see a million square feet of new office space downtown in the next decade or so.

On Monday, the municipality’s final draft of the downtown plan is to be released. Public review of the proposal is to continue until April 23. Copies of the plan will be available electronically and in print.

City hall is encouraging people to review the draft and submit comments to the HRM by Design gurus. An open house will be held April 16 at the World Trade and Convention Centre in Halifax.

The proposed downtown vision, guided by consultants from Toronto, would manage growth and development in the central core over the next 25 years.

Coun. Dawn Sloane (Halifax Downtown), a task force member, said recently that a renaissance for the downtown, parts of which have been neglected for years, is long overdue. She urged residents, workers, employers, visitors and property owners to contribute to the planning process by commenting on the consultants’ final draft.

“We’re hoping that by June, we’ll be bringing the full contents of the (final) report to regional council forward,” Ms. Sloane said.

A public hearing on the study will probably be held before July.

According to the city’s consultants, a new-and-improved downtown should include:

•”Defined and distinct . . . precincts.”

•A protected and “vibrant historic heart.”

•Various open spaces and “streets that support . . . walking.”

•A downtown that’s transit-oriented.

•A central core that reinforces civic pride.

Project manager Andy Fill-more, a city hall staffer, said the precinct idea is relatively simple. Planners are proposing nine downtown neighbourhoods be designated.

Mr. Fillmore said “a clear mission statement” for each district — areas that share a common geography but have distinct elements — would be established.

“The policy for each precinct is developed around acknowledging, protecting and perpetuating those . . . characteristics.” Not everyone agrees with the HRM by Design concept, of course, and the consultants have received candid criticism from opponents.

Haligonian Janet Morris is worried the city’s historic structures will suffer under the proposed revitalization scheme. Tall buildings near heritage properties, she feels, should be verboten.

“Halifax is known as the City of Trees,” she said last year in comments posted on a local website. “This is a clue — the height of our buildings in the historic core should not exceed the tree canopy. Let there be light and air for everyone.”

A summary of feedback provided to the municipality’s design team at a public forum in November shows the perennially contentious issue of height is not in danger of being knocked down soon.

“Height is fine,” an observer wrote, “in the right spot.”

Another warned about tall buildings affecting such heritage sites as Halifax city hall, Province House and Government House.

One person noted there are unattractive low-rise buildings downtown and was concerned they could be joined by taller mistakes. “Ugly short buildings may be bad,” the commenter wrote, “but ugly, tall, overpowering buildings are even worse.”

Said a tall-building supporter: “I would like to see more height in the Cogswell area. I am also concerned about the height restriction in a lot of the downtown area.”

Planners are recommending a height limit of about six storeys for part of downtown, the “vibrant historic heart,” Mr. Fillmore said. He said that district would include Historic Properties and parts of Barrington Street.

Outside of that zone, “a balance” will have to be struck between heritage preservation and allowing for modern architecture, Mr. Fillmore said.

When it comes to reviewing, approving and appealing future developments, downtown planners want municipal politicians to have the final say, on appeal, instead of the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board. Mr. Fillmore said proposals would be considered and authorized by a “site plan review” group of municipal staff and a design-review committee made up of citizens.

Progress without change?

Not in the scenario shaped by the HRM by Design team.

Mr. Fillmore said changes are definitely in the offing, such as the approval and appeal processes for development proposals. But he acknowledged several are subject to amendments to provincial legislation. He said the city is making progress on that front.

On Monday, to obtain a free copy of the final draft of the downtown plan, a five-volume report, go to www.hrmbydesign.ca or go to the planners’ office at the Halifax ferry terminal on George Street.

( mlightstone@herald.ca)

COMMENTS

POST YOUR COMMENT

Quiet Comment wrote:
It would be great to have a plan that allows the old to co-exist with new. If you look at Europe and some of the wonderful cities there they have learned to allow tall buildings to be constructed among beautiful old buildings. The heritage buildings in Halifax and Dartmouth are great but if they are falling down and not worth saving let them go. We need to make our city a place where business and residents can live together. Buildings like the “Twisted Sisters” will bring people to the small shops and restaurants downtown. It will allow people to live work and shop in their own neighborhood. It will give a sense of community within a City. The sky line of Halifax is ready for some buildings that will show we are willing to be a modern place. Canadians seem to think the only time we can look at fondly is the past. The present and future are great too.

voiceofreality wrote:
I don’t really care what direction they take, so long as them make some more bloody parking.

Chuck wrote:
unhuh…16000 people moving to the downtown core within 15 years…ic. Well I can’t seriously predict the future…but let’s put it this way…I’ll believe it when I see it. Right now..they’ll be lucky if there are that many people left in the whole city, the way this place is being run. I notice they have a little “side note” in there about upgrading transit. They’re going to need to move that front and center if they want to even begin to succeed here…and never mind too much about “affordable housing” in the midst of all this development because the only 16000 people who would be able to afford to live down there are the people with the $$$. Anyway, we’ll see what happens. Based on council’s track record (any council of late), I have serious doubts this is going to go through.

black pearl wrote:
The new vision for an exciting, vibrant city sounds inviting…but at the snail’s pace of change by which it happens here, it will take a generation or two to see results. I crave an exciting but livable city in which to live. Halifax has ground to a standstill in terms of anything remotely inspiring or exciting being built. It has become a tired, dreary place with the same old, same old look. This city desperately needs a facelift of something bold and exciting. Maybe a concert hall or a futuristic development that will be a trademark.

Ont.1 wrote:No municipality can stay “the same”.For many reasons a city has to embrace change but do so very carefully,especially a city like Halifax which has such a blend of historic and modern.As an occasional visitor to your city I say,”so far so good”,but tread lightly.Good luck!

11.8 per cent of Halifax workforce nearing retirement: census

By THE CANADIAN PRESS
Tue. Mar 4 - 1:55 PM

OTTAWA — Nearly 12 per cent of the workforce in the Halifax region is nearing retirement age, Statistics Canada reported Tuesday as it released new census data which shows a national trend of a declining rate of young people entering the workforce to replace retiring baby boomers.

Information from the 2006 census indicates 11.8 per cent of the workforce of the Halifax region was aged 55 to 64. Provincially, 13.2 per cent of the workforce was in the 55-64 age group and nationally the figure was 12.9.

Among that age group nearing retirement in the Halifax region, 22.6 per cent work in business, finance and administration occupations and 22.2 per cent work in sales and service occupations.

The median age of a worker in the Halifax region was 40.2 in 2006. In 2001, the last time the census was taken, the median age was 38.3. Nationally, the median age of a worker was 41.2, compared to 39.5 in 2001.

Statistics Canada defines median age as a middle value — the point where exactly one half of the working-age population is older than the median age and the other half is younger.

The census shows a continuing national trend of fewer young people entering the workforce to replace retiring baby boomers.

Across Canada, there were 1.9 entrants to the labour force aged 20-34 for every person over 55 on their way out. Five years ago, there were 2.7 entrants for every potential retiree and 25 years ago, the figure was 3.7 entrants.

The census numbers show that in 2006, there were 2.4 entrants to the labour force of Halifax region aged 20-34 for every person over 55 who was on their way out.

For several years, researchers have been warning about potential labour shortages across Canada based on the aging of baby boomers — those born between 1946 and 1964 — and lower fertility rates. Within the next three years, almost one-fifth of Canadian baby boomers will be at least 61 years of age.

Labour market analysts are predicting a widespread shortage of workers impacting a broad range of occupations.

A shortage of suitable workers can hurt a healthy economy because the labour market and economy are so tightly bound. When the ratio of workers arriving to the workplace dips below the number leaving it, it could create a drag on the economy and stagnate growth.

A recent report by the Conference Board of Canada put a price tag on job shortages: a projected shortage of 90,000 IT workers over the next five years will cost the economy an estimated $120,000 for each worker not replaced in each year. Other sectors of the workforce identified as particularly vulnerable to potential labour shortfalls include health care and skilled trades.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has said the federal government must find ways to help Canada hold onto its skilled workers and draw talented immigrants to cover the gaps.

In the Halifax area, the median age of workers in health occupations was 42.4. For those working in trades and related occupations, the median age was 42.5.

The census information released Tuesday also gives insight into the education levels of people in the Halifax region.

A total of 34.1 per cent of the population in the Halifax region aged 25-64 have attained a university certificate, diploma or degree. A further 22.0 per cent have a college diploma; 11.4 per cent earned a trade certificate; 20.2 per cent have nothing higher than a secondary school education and 12.3 per cent didn’t earn a high school diploma.

Among those in the Halifax area who are in the 25-34 age group and have probably entered the workforce, 14.8 per cent studied business/management/public administration. The next most popular field of study was architecture/engineering (11 per cent), followed by social sciences/law (10 per cent).

The census also showed that 6.1 per cent of the total employed workforce of the Halifax region worked at home in 2006. A total of 8.9 per cent of working population in the Halifax region was self-employed.

Statistics Canada also uses the census to find out about unpaid work, such as housework, child care or elderly care. In 2006, women in the Halifax region did more unpaid work than their male counterparts — 53.7 per cent among women to 46.3 per cent for men.

The census is conducted every five years by Statistics Canada and is based on information filled out by Canadians on May 16, 2006. The data released Tuesday on work and education follows information released earlier on overall population growth, families, age and sex breakdowns of the population, immigration and a look at the country’s aboriginal communities.

 

Technorati Tags: StatsCan,Sencus Report,Halifax 2007

Rec centre should have 3rd rink

 

Cole Harbour Place has ice-cleaning gear, space for another surface, councillor says
By MICHAEL LIGHTSTONE Staff Reporter
Thu. Feb 7 - 11:16 AM

Coun. Harry McInroy says Cole Harbour Place has the equipment and land needed for a third ice surface, but Bedford hockey dad Steve Warburton says it’s Bedford’s turn to get new rink facilities. (TIM KROCHAK / Staff)

COLE HARBOUR – If multiple hockey rinks are to be part of metro’s future, says Coun. Harry McInroy (Cole Harbour), the city should look into expanding the existing ice surfaces at Cole Harbour Place.

The city-owned recreational complex, which has two ice pads, could easily accommodate a third, he said last week.

“If it was only one ice surface that we’re going to be adding over the next number of years, then I would understand that Cole Harbour Place wouldn’t be the place to put it — in fairness to taxpayers and all the residents” of Halifax Regional Municipality, McInroy said.

But since city hall is considering more than one sports complex, and each centre would probably house multiple rinks, then Cole Harbour Place is a cost-effective place to add rink space.

“The final review of where (rinks are built) should at least include a serious look at Cole Harbour Place, because that one is going to be the cheapest one,” said McInroy. He said the city already has the land at the recreational centre and such support equipment as a Zamboni machine for ice cleaning.

As well, arena administrative costs, including those covering management, staffing and other equipment, would be minimized as an add-on to the existing operation.

Steve Warburton, a Bedford father of three hockey-playing boys, said Mr. McInroy’s suggestion of a third rink at Cole Harbour Place leaves him cold. He criticized the municipal politician for floating the idea past voters during an election year. (There’ll be a civic election in October.)

Warburton said Bedford is a fast-growing community lacking recreational amenities. He said the LeBrun Centre’s lone hockey rink is about 40 years old.

“It’s our turn,” Warburton said.

He said his eldest child, who’s 15 years old, has been playing hockey for 10 years and Bedford has been lacking rink space during that entire period.

“It is my greatest desire that my youngest (who is age eight) will be able to benefit” from new ice rinks in Bedford, Warburton said.

Halifax city hall is testing the waters on the potential for private-sector involvement in the construction and operation of recreational centres in metro. An advertisement that municipal staff placed in The Chronicle Herald in January says the city is inviting “qualified individuals or firms to express interest in entering a partnership to design, develop and operate an arena complex.”

Coun. Andrew Younger (East Dartmouth-The Lakes) said last month the sites could include up to four hockey rinks built at each place.

“This is obviously just the first step,” he said recently. “If all goes well, then we would get to a (formal) request for proposals later on.”

According to Younger, there appears to be a willingness in the development community to explore the possibility of building an arena complex with the city.

The deadline for the expression of interest is Feb. 15.

Technorati Tags: Cole Harbour,Rec Center,Ice Surface

HRM to review request by Bedford developers

By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER City Hall Reporter

 

Technorati Tags: Bedford Development,Hum,Hensbee,Planning & development

Thu. Feb 7 - 5:47 AM

Permitting a new residential development in Bedford before a highway interchange is built to enable easy access to it is unacceptable, a councillor says.

“When I first received this, I was shocked,” Coun. Linda Mosher (Purcells Cove-Armdale) told councillors Tuesday night about a request to review the possibility of adding 2,000 building lots in Wentworth/Bedford South without a required Highway 102 connector.

“I don’t see why we should review this.”

Despite her vocal opposition, council voted in favour of staff reviewing the situation that now prevents the 2,000 new units from going ahead without a proposed interchange linking Larry Uteck Boulevard to Highway 102.

The lots have been on hold because of a clause in the Bedford South Secondary Planning Strategy that says developers have to wait until the interchange is in place.

But city planners have received several requests to permit development of a 190-hectare area, planner Andrew Bone told council Tuesday night.

A councillor who regularly uses the Bedford Highway says traffic counts and capacity studies don’t always paint an accurate picture.

“You only have to travel on it to know that, for many of us, we feel it’s already reached capacity,” said Coun. Debbie Hum (Rockingham-Wentworth).

“Critical to this (development) is the Larry Uteck interchange. We need to ensure that that moves forward.”

A staff report written for Tuesday night’s council meeting said the proposed interchange is to be in place by January 2010. But another councillor noted that timelines aren’t carved in stone.

“What if the interchange is not built in time?” said Coun. Reg Rankin (Timberlea-Prospect).

Another asked if staff will also research the strain that new developments place on other infrastructure.

“What about the septic capacity at Mill Cove?” asked Coun. David Hendsbee (Preston-Lawrencetown-Chezzetcook), pointing out that schools and community centres also bear the brunt of an influx of new residents.

“The developers want to push through with their investment, and I can understand that,” he said.

But all aspects of the development should be researched, he said.

( apugsley@herald.ca)

HRM mum on pool in Mainland Common rec centre plans

Technorati Tags: Build it right,Mainland Common,Humm,Wild,Recreation

By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER City Hall Reporter
Tue. Feb 5 - 5:49 AM

After years of community consultations and a few return trips to the drawing board, the city has finally decided on a design for a Mainland Common recreation centre.

But the dimensions of the centre’s highly contentious pool — and its price tag — will remain under wraps pending financing arrangements and council’s approval of the project.

“I can’t say anything,” Coun. Russell Walker (Fairview-Clayton Park) said Monday when contacted about the design and the pool dimensions.

The size of the pool — 25 metres long versus 50 metres — has been hotly debated in the community since the centre was proposed almost a decade ago.

The Mainland Common was first identified in a city-commissioned report on community facilities back in 1998. But the proposed facility and the pool inside have morphed a few times since then.

In 2001, a 25-metre pool was part of the plan for the building, which was to be a straight replacement for the aging Northcliffe Centre nearby in Clayton Park.

But Halifax’s bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which got underway in 2002, included a proposal for an Olympic-size 50-metre pool at the centre.

The larger-size pool also won support from a local community group called Build It Right, even though the city said it couldn’t be done with the proposed $14-million price tag for the facility.

Whatever it has decided upon, the city is forging ahead and hopes that the province and Ottawa will jump in too.

“The final design details of the facility and a funding strategy is currently being reviewed with the province and the federal government,” Margaret Soley of the city’s facility development department said Monday.

“We’re optimistic that hopefully we’ll be able to present a recommendation to council early this spring.”

Regional councillors are also set to award a tender for the site’s preparation work tonight when they meet for their regular weekly meeting.

However, there are no hints in the staff report about what might be on the site. That’s because the prep work has to be done, regardless of the building’s footprint or design, says another local councillor. “Timing is of the essence,” Coun. Debbie Hum (Rockingham-Wentworth) said Monday.

“We can’t wait any longer, because we have to have the (infrastructure) funding spent by March 31 so moving forward with that and getting the site prepared . . . is with regards to that.”

She’d like to see the official sod-turning and groundbreaking for the building soon and says the site preparation brings the building a step closer to reality.

The city’s director of community development was also tight-lipped when reached Monday but he did say the city is proud of the design for the new rec centre.

“We think it’s a really good project,” Paul Dunphy said Monday.

Technorati Tags: Build it right,Mainland Common,District 10,Humm,Wild,Kelly

“But there’s nothing really that we can say about it.

“We want to let council see it first and then the debate begins afterward.”

( apugsley@herald.ca)

Click on sigh to go to Build it Right and see more detail…..

BUSINESS DAYBOOK

Mon. Feb 4 - 6:43 AM
TODAY

Halifax: Ceremony marking the arrival of Heritage Gas natural gas, Bluenose Room, Delta Halifax, 11 a.m.

WEDNESDAY

Halifax: The impact of new-era technology on society and business, David Jackson, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Delta Halifax, 4 p.m.

•Bell Aliant fourth-quarter results released.

•Wolfville: 42nd Annual Acadia Business Banquet, keynote Sandra Greer, CEO AMIRIX, Fountain Learning Commons, 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY

Halifax: Creating Partners, Building Communities, a conference for agricultural and rural organizations, Holiday Inn Select, runs through Saturday.

FRIDAY

Halifax: Doing business in Romania, World Trade and Convention Centre, Suite 101, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

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Library’s woes worsen — CEO

Clean, spacious building needed sooner, not later, Hare says
By BILL POWER Staff Reporter
Sun. Feb 3 - 5:27 AM

A library staff person wheels a book cart at the Spring Garden Road library, (Ingrid Bulmer / Staff) A man and two children leave the Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library on Saturday. A public meeting will be held on Wednesday to discuss a new facility. (Ingrid Bulmer / Staff)

Conditions at the Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library in Halifax have deteriorated to such a pitiful state that a public meeting to discuss a replacement for the 57-year-old structure will be held at a nearby hotel.

“It really is sad that we do not have space for a community meeting of this size,” Judith Hare, chief executive officer of Halifax Public Libraries, said Saturday.

That’s just one deficiency that will be addressed when a replacement is built, Ms. Hare said in an interview.

She said the discussion about the need for a new downtown central library ended a long time ago.

“Now is the time to move forward and hopefully it will be something spectacular,” Ms. Hare said of a replacement for the often waterlogged and mould-infested building that was scheduled for renewal back before municipal amalgamation in 1996.

She said backers of the central library project are mindful of the risk of over-planning and of further delays as they embark on consultations this week. That includes a public meeting at the Lord Nelson Hotel on Wednesday beginning at 7 p.m. and focus meetings with teenagers, day-care operators and other library regulars throughout the week.

A site at the corner of Spring Garden Road and Queen Street near the existing library was tentatively targeted last June for a new facility.

Negotiations about the future of that site and some others in the area are continuing between Halifax Regional Municipality and the province.

Ms. Hare said the Lord Nelson meeting is expected to be well-attended as it is the first step in determining the services, functions and space requirements for the library system’s flagship branch.

“Our goal right now is to gather input from the public and staff. We need to hear what people want in a new central library so we can develop a shared vision that will meet the needs of the community for years to come.

“Based on this input, our team of experienced urban designers, planners and architects will shape that vision into a reality.”

This phase of the planning process is expected to be completed by June, when figures on the new building’s tentative cost and proposed square footage will be presented to regional council. A $35-million price tag is attached to the project in a draft staff report circulated at city hall last year.

The Spring Garden Road library was built in 1951 and enlarged in the early ’70s. Water leaks and mould have increased maintenance needs in recent years.

Serious talks within HRM about replacing the structure started back in 1996, and the former city approved a replacement plan about 10 years before that.

“We truly cannot continue operating in the existing building much longer,” Ms. Hare said.

She said that besides mounting technical and space-deficiency issues there are health and safety concerns behind the drive to build a replacement.

The Spring Garden Road branch has about 500,000 patron visits annually, compared to an estimated 4.5 million overall within the 14-branch system.

( bpower@herald.ca)

COMMENTS

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Parkstrider wrote:
No need to replace the building. I’m sure mold levels can be at acceptable levels just the the VG.

Corridor Resources gets new partner in Anticosti gas exploration

The Halifax Chronical Herald

Corridor Resources gets new partner in Anticosti gas exploration
Halifax firm gets new partner
By The Canadian Press
Wed. Jan 30 - 6:05 AM
RIMOUSKI, Que. — Petrolia, a Quebec-based energy producer, has acquired all of Hydro-Quebec’s interests in oil and gas exploration permits on Anticosti Island off the Quebec coast.

The company announced Tuesday it will become owner of Hydro-Quebec’s interests over 35 exploration permits on Anticosti, or about 6,381 square kilometres of territory. Under the deal, Petrolia replaces Hydro-Quebec and becomes the partner of Corridor Resources in the exploration project.

Halifax-based Corridor has been exploring in the area for about a decade.

Petrolia said it is acquiring the properties from the big Crown electrical generator in return for a royalty on oil production.

“This new acquisition is strongly justified by a geologic setting that is favourable for the discovery of oil and gas, and also by the shallow depth of the petroleum targets (less than 1,500 metres),” the company said Tuesday in a news release.

“Unlike the St. Lawrence Lowlands, which only exhibit a potential for the discovery of gas, the data indicate that the northern half of the island is promising for the discovery of oil.

“The recent discoveries of natural gas in New York State, and one in Quebec in the St. Lawrence Lowlands, confirm the significance of this exploration environment, which extends eastward into the Anticosti Basin.”

Petrolia also said the discovery of oil in western Newfoundland, on the Port-au-Port peninsula, “unequivocally demonstrates the promise of this geologic setting in the Anticosti Basin.”