Saturday, January 21, 2006
Looking for input: I am one of three people representing the Southend Community on the "Spring Garden Road/Queen Street Area Joint Public Lands Committee" or as I call it the Queen/Spring Lands Study (QSLS). Some people want to know what is going to get built on the vacant lots? At this stage a better question might be what do you want to see on the Queen Street Lands? (Just click on the comment box and type away). Jeff H.The Queen/Spring Lands Study (QSLS), is in its early stages. Many ideas have been discussed for what might be the best possible use of the provincial and civic lands available. Please let me know what are your thoughts and reactions to the following options ?(just click on the comment box and type away) Jeff H.
1. PARKING: It is necassary that the existing levels of parking be maintained. However, there is a question if extra or additional parking is required for the area.
2. CONDOS: There is some speculation that developers may want to help develop the area, possibly with a condo component.
3. FLAGSHIP LIQOUR STORE: The NSLC is considering the amalgamation of the Clyde Street and Port of Wine locations into a large 15,000-sq. ft. flagship store.
4. NEW CENTRAL LIBRARY: The people planning the new library are hoping to make it a showcase on the Queen Street lands. What do you think?
5. NEW LAW COURTS: The interest of the Department of Justice in the Infirmary site has a similar foundation to that of HPL. The new law courts would be almost 10X the size of the existing property on Spring Garden.
6. PARKS & RECREATION CENTRE: A facility that would focus on meeting the needs of the peninsula neighborhoods, replacing the Bloomfield Centre and Centennial Pool. Maybe the YMCA might be interested in a partnership?
7. DAL - SEXTON CAMPUS EXTENSION:
8. NOVA CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS: A new arts facility with a 2,500-person auditorium.
9. CIVIC MUSEUM: Halifax and its history
10. AFFORDABLE HOUSING: ¶ 4:39 AM
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1. PARKING: i think we should take a radical approach to driving and parking downtown as they did in London, England. It costs x amount to drive into town every day there and parking is astronomical. If this situation were throughout the downtown area people would have to leave their cars elsewhere, unless they had a permit (in the case of a disabled person or someone picking up little kids)... what about that?
2. CONDOS: The condo situation is a problem. This is because they are overpriced and out of the range of average people. Clearly they are built with a "senior" in mind who has sold a house in town or some other place with good land values, and moves into this area to be close to hospitals etc. I think this condo market is rather saturated at this point.
3. FLAGSHIP LIQOUR STORE: I am sure the NSLC would like a big liquor store. However that means BIG traffic. I don't think that is a good idea. It is also USELESS space forthe community. Meetings and get togethers do not take place in liquor stores.
4. NEW CENTRAL LIBRARY: A library is a good idea, always. It provides some meeting space, some open space and indoor activities.
5. NEW LAW COURTS: This is something like the liquor store. This means a lot of in and out traffic. And parking problems. I wouldn't be opposed if there were meeting rooms and public space attached to the law courts. Not merely a building open from 9-5 weekdays, as is the case now. The issue of security may be key. In that perhaps the public is not welcome in a law courts building because of security issues. If so I'm opposed to having a building that is basically empty evgs and weekends.
6. PARKS & RECREATION CENTRE: A recreation centre of some sort is a good idea. Of course given the clientelle in the neighbourhood, the centre would have to cater to seniors and maybe single people. A nice swimming pool would be an idea.
7. DAL - SEXTON CAMPUS EXTENSION: Do they need to expand?
8. NOVA CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS: A new arts facility with a 2,500-person auditorium. I think a place with one or two smaller auditoriums is an idea. Plus open space, plus art space.
9. CIVIC MUSEUM: Halifax and its history-- this is a nice idea, if it is accessible and cheap.
10. AFFORDABLE HOUSING:
Very important. I think townhouses or row houses. Or two floors of apartments. We could look at Co-housing or Cooperative housing which would allow people a lot of pride in where they live. Medium cost housing esp. for seniors and small families is necessary.
posted by Jeff H at 4:39 AM
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TAKE THE LEAP, be involved: Here’s an invitation to participate in enhancing the quality of Halifax's peninsula communities. Do you want to protect our neighborhood's unique vibrant character? With discussion, sharing of ideas and civic involvement, let's develope a consensus of what needs to be done. At the same time, we can create a vision which can improve the peninsula through good design, urban planning and responsible development.
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Councillor - Hfx North End
Councillor - Hfx Downtown
Councillor - Hfx South End
Councillor - HfxConnaught-Quinpool
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2. CONDOS: The condo situation is a problem. This is because they are overpriced and out of the range of average people. Clearly they are built with a "senior" in mind who has sold a house in town or some other place with good land values, and moves into this area to be close to hospitals etc. I think this condo market is rather saturated at this point.
3. FLAGSHIP LIQOUR STORE: I am sure the NSLC would like a big liquor store. However that means BIG traffic. I don't think that is a good idea. It is also USELESS space forthe community. Meetings and get togethers do not take place in liquor stores.
4. NEW CENTRAL LIBRARY: A library is a good idea, always. It provides some meeting space, some open space and indoor activities.
5. NEW LAW COURTS: This is something like the liquor store. This means a lot of in and out traffic. And parking problems. I wouldn't be opposed if there were meeting rooms and public space attached to the law courts. Not merely a building open from 9-5 weekdays, as is the case now. The issue of security may be key. In that perhaps the public is not welcome in a law courts building because of security issues. If so I'm opposed to having a building that is basically empty evgs and weekends.
6. PARKS & RECREATION CENTRE: A recreation centre of some sort is a good idea. Of course given the clientelle in the neighbourhood, the centre would have to cater to seniors and maybe single people. A nice swimming pool would be an idea.
7. DAL - SEXTON CAMPUS EXTENSION: Do they need to expand?
8. NOVA CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS: A new arts facility with a 2,500-person auditorium. I think a place with one or two smaller auditoriums is an idea. Plus open space, plus art space.
9. CIVIC MUSEUM: Halifax and its history-- this is a nice idea, if it is accessible and cheap.
10. AFFORDABLE HOUSING:
Very important. I think townhouses or row houses. Or two floors of apartments. We could look at Co-housing or Cooperative housing which would allow people a lot of pride in where they live. Medium cost housing esp. for seniors and small families is necessary.
posted by Jeff H at 4:39 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home
------------------------------------------------------------------------
About
TAKE THE LEAP, be involved: Here’s an invitation to participate in enhancing the quality of Halifax's peninsula communities. Do you want to protect our neighborhood's unique vibrant character? With discussion, sharing of ideas and civic involvement, let's develope a consensus of what needs to be done. At the same time, we can create a vision which can improve the peninsula through good design, urban planning and responsible development.
City of Halifax Links
City of Halifax
Councillor - Hfx North End
Councillor - Hfx Downtown
Councillor - Hfx South End
Councillor - HfxConnaught-Quinpool
Previous
# posted by 
: 5:48 PM
: 5:48 PM
Hi Jeff,
Contrary to 'utterings' at meeting last week, here are my thoughts on subjects:
1.Parking: IF there is to be parking (would like to see the entire area as pedestrian traffic), then ALL of it should be underground - multi-level, lots of underground taking in the entire re-development area to leave above ground for cultural/commercial - in other words, you can drive into the 'heartbeat' area, but once there, have to leave car underground
2. Condos: not unlike Yorkville (Toronto) there can/should be some high-end condo presence, BUT architecturally/appearance-wise MUST be an absolute blend/compliment to surroundings.
3. Flagship Liquor Store: there is no reason it couldn't be there, but until decisions are made about a) central library b)central YMCA c)central art gallery/museum d)justice building(s), that's 'putting the cart before the horse'. Once decision made on extent and type of street-level commercial presence, flagship liquor store could fit well.
4.New central library: A MUST HAVE.
5.New Law Courts: Yes, definitely - could be a signature architectural statement
6.Recreation Centre:a bad idea,likely to downgrade quality/character of project; a high-end central YMCA (check out Montreal/Toronto on a smaller scale)on the other hand would compliment
7.Campus Extension: NO ! NO ! NO ! am for lots of university facilities IN PROXIMITY, but NOT in development area itself
8. Nova Scotia Centre for Performing Arts: a great idea - logistically/functionally/architecturally, this can be part of a new 'GRAND PARADE' - e.g. NSCPA, Central Library, Gallery, Civic Museaum, New Library, Courts Building all in the same place
9.Civic Museum:
see above
10.Affordable Housing: No - a need for same is better met elsewhere than on this high-priced real estate
Contrary to 'utterings' at meeting last week, here are my thoughts on subjects:
1.Parking: IF there is to be parking (would like to see the entire area as pedestrian traffic), then ALL of it should be underground - multi-level, lots of underground taking in the entire re-development area to leave above ground for cultural/commercial - in other words, you can drive into the 'heartbeat' area, but once there, have to leave car underground
2. Condos: not unlike Yorkville (Toronto) there can/should be some high-end condo presence, BUT architecturally/appearance-wise MUST be an absolute blend/compliment to surroundings.
3. Flagship Liquor Store: there is no reason it couldn't be there, but until decisions are made about a) central library b)central YMCA c)central art gallery/museum d)justice building(s), that's 'putting the cart before the horse'. Once decision made on extent and type of street-level commercial presence, flagship liquor store could fit well.
4.New central library: A MUST HAVE.
5.New Law Courts: Yes, definitely - could be a signature architectural statement
6.Recreation Centre:a bad idea,likely to downgrade quality/character of project; a high-end central YMCA (check out Montreal/Toronto on a smaller scale)on the other hand would compliment
7.Campus Extension: NO ! NO ! NO ! am for lots of university facilities IN PROXIMITY, but NOT in development area itself
8. Nova Scotia Centre for Performing Arts: a great idea - logistically/functionally/architecturally, this can be part of a new 'GRAND PARADE' - e.g. NSCPA, Central Library, Gallery, Civic Museaum, New Library, Courts Building all in the same place
9.Civic Museum:
see above
10.Affordable Housing: No - a need for same is better met elsewhere than on this high-priced real estate
# posted by : 7:37 AM
: 7:37 AM
Re Flagship Liquor Store ; There are already 5 o 6 beer /wine outlets within a 5 minute walk of Spring/Queen/Morris . Some of these are private commercial operations , something we should encourage , rather than a gigantic NSLC of dubious and outdated merit .
Centralized Law Courts may provide an oportunity for innovative civic architecture , but just as likely a mass of ground level concrete , steel doors and security measures accented by throngs of stressed out patrons . Wrong location .
Those two options stand out as poor ideas .
Centralized Law Courts may provide an oportunity for innovative civic architecture , but just as likely a mass of ground level concrete , steel doors and security measures accented by throngs of stressed out patrons . Wrong location .
Those two options stand out as poor ideas .
# posted by : 6:15 AM
: 6:15 AM
Hi Jeff and all,
I just wanted to say thank you all for sharing your thoughts on the Spring,Queen,Clyde Street lands.
Jeff has done a wonderful job at setting up this "virtual feedback centre" so we all may think of great possiblities for the area dubbed "the Heartbeat of Halifax"
(Thanks Marsha for telling me about the groups nickname for the area)
My hopes for the possible developments are simple... They are what we should be striving for for all of HRM but specifically for the Capital District - great architectual quality with good urban design and don't forget complimentary mass and scale to the existing community that surrounds the sites, Easy pedestrian permability, "green" buildings - sustainable building materials.
Ok I've said enough.
Cheers
Dawn
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I just wanted to say thank you all for sharing your thoughts on the Spring,Queen,Clyde Street lands.
Jeff has done a wonderful job at setting up this "virtual feedback centre" so we all may think of great possiblities for the area dubbed "the Heartbeat of Halifax"
(Thanks Marsha for telling me about the groups nickname for the area)
My hopes for the possible developments are simple... They are what we should be striving for for all of HRM but specifically for the Capital District - great architectual quality with good urban design and don't forget complimentary mass and scale to the existing community that surrounds the sites, Easy pedestrian permability, "green" buildings - sustainable building materials.
Ok I've said enough.
Cheers
Dawn
# posted by : 4:13 PM
: 4:13 PM<< Home
