[St. John's] Metro East End Development

[statbass]

I was up around Stavanger yesterday and noticed the area behind Boston Pizza has been cleared for the new Hampton hotel. Maybe it's just me, but it doesn't seem like a whole lot of room to put a hotel and ample parking spaces.

[techie]

Originally Posted by statbass

I was up around Stavanger yesterday and noticed the area behind Boston Pizza has been cleared for the new Hampton hotel. Maybe it's just me, but it doesn't seem like a whole lot of room to put a hotel and ample parking spaces.

St. John's parking requirement for Hotels is one space for three rooms, which is crazy low if you ask me.

[PoscStudent]

Here's the LUAR for the condo in Quidi Vidi, does not look good in my opinion.

http://www.stjohns.ca/pdfs/Aerial%20...idi%20Vidi.pdf

[statbass]

Originally Posted by PoscStudent

Here's the LUAR for the condo in Quidi Vidi, does not look good in my opinion.

http://www.stjohns.ca/pdfs/Aerial%20...idi%20Vidi.pdf

It looks like another run-of-the-mill, status quo condo project for St. John's. Every time I see projects like these I keep telling myself, "I can't wait for Henry-Bell development to be completed so it can set a new precedent for condo development in this city".

[Architype]

Originally Posted by PoscStudent

Here's the LUAR for the condo in Quidi Vidi, does not look good in my opinion.

http://www.stjohns.ca/pdfs/Aerial%20...idi%20Vidi.pdf

Source: Luar
http://www.stjohns.ca/pdfs/Aerial%20...idi%20Vidi.pdf

This one suffers from "front and back architecture"; the render above shows the "back". The front which is facing the lake and parking lot has received all the design attention while the back and sides are a plain unbroken facade with tiny windows and will look like an awful housing project from the seventies. Unfortunately, the "back" is also facing Quidi Vidi Village and the road. It has a plain unbroken facade with very small windows; the ends which actually face the road and village are also like this. This needs some tweaking like breaking up the facades, making the windows a different shape, adding some gabled offsets or maybe some balconies, or some other creative idea. The alluding to a fortress here just doesn't work very well.

[Architype]

Here's the front side of the Quidi Vidi Condos, facing west and the lake.


From Luar: http://www.stjohns.ca/pdfs/Aerial%20...idi%20Vidi.pdf

This side looks much better, but because of the hill, it appears only the two top floors will be visible from the lake.

[J_Murphy]

I drove down Torbay Road today and it looks like site work has started on the Field Power Center.

[statbass]

Source: CBC,May 18, 2012

Proponent sympathetic to traffic concerns of residents

A plan to put a five-storey condominium complex in Quidi Vidi Village attracted much criticism and little praise at a public hearing in St. John's.

Powderhouse Hill Investments wants to put a 24-unit building on land that developer Bill Clarke owns off Forest Road, just at the entrance to the village, a centuries-old enclave that is known for exceptionally narrow streets and a cosy feel.

"This development adds nothing to Quidi Vidi Village," said Bernadette Arsenault, one of more than a dozen people who spoke at the meeting at St. John's City Hall.

Many of the concerns were about parking and traffic, and what the development may mean for the skyline and heritage look of the neighbourhood.

Michael Mallard said the proposal would be an eyesore.

"I think the look of the building, or any apartment building of that size, down in that area, is going to look stupid," he said.

Architect Dick Cook, who is working with the proponent, told CBC News that the proponents agree with residents who are worried about the impact on traffic loads.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfou...eting-518.html

The Nimby's were out in full force for this public meeting. Although, part of me sympathizes with the residents since this development is very blah!!!

[Architype]

^ I agree with the above comments.

Originally Posted by statbass

Source: CBC,May 18, 2012

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfou...eting-518.html

The Nimby's were out in full force for this public meeting. Although, part of me sympathizes with the residents since this development is very blah!!!

Isn't there a plan in place to guide development in the village?

I'm not sure if this site is technically within the historic village, but I would be opposed to the development because the sides facing the village are stark and a poorly designed eyesore while the front side is innocuous at best. Anything going there needs to have a more sensitive architectural character.

There are other issues though like traffic through the narrow village streets, and although this one development wouldn't add that much they have to address this issue sometime perhaps by building a bypass.

I'm not sure if the open space argument holds up unless you consider this site to be of great importance in that regard. The whole area seems to be mostly open space; from Signal Hill to the White Hills there is an abundance of open space.

[PoscStudent]

I don't blame the NIMBYs.

[jeddy1989]

I must say I am very pro development, but I have to agree that this proposal does not add anything to the area and I personally find it kind of ugly, and will probably look like crap in the context. Now if there were apartment buildings going up the hill looking overlooking the lake (closer to the millers centre) further away from the village and "village feel" I'd be all for it and wouldnt care if they were 20 stories or higher but this seems to be wrong place and certainly wrong design for the place (it'd have to add to the feel of the village or area)

[PoscStudent]

I think a condo with a more townhouse look could be good for this area, if that makes any sense.

[Architype]

Originally Posted by PoscStudent

I think a condo with a more townhouse look could be good for this area, if that makes any sense.

^ Agreed, meaning it should be broken up into what looks like smaller units instead of 3 large buildings.

[statbass]

Source: VOCM, May 28, 2012.

St. John's city council will consider this evening an application to rezone property in Quidi Vidi Village to accommodate a controversial 5-story 24-unit apartment building. Councillor Bruce Tilley says in his opinion the proposed project, to be situated on the site of the old school house, is just not right for the area.

He says he knows the passion and love people have for the village and the proposed project just doesn't measure up. Tilley is the Chair of the city's Economic, Tourism and Culture Committee. He says the city is about to open Quidi Vidi Plantation, as another major draw to the area. He says it will give the province the opportunity to showcase our history, culture and art.

The proposal was not well-received at a recent public meeting. Residents expressed concerns about everything from parking and traffic, to how the development would impact the heritage-look of the area. The Department of Planning also weighed in, stating that the rezoning application is not in keeping with the planning policies for Quidi Vidi Village. Powderhouse Hill Investments wants to put a 24-unit building on land off Forest Road. Officials with Powderhouse have said they want to work with the city to find a solution to the concerns expressed, but Councilor Frank Galgay says he'll be recommending rejection of the proposed development at tonight's council meeting, not only for the benefit of the area, but for all citizens and visitors to, what he calls, a "very historic landmark".

Galgay says, Quidi Vidi Village is a jewel for tourism for the City of St. John's. He says they will continue to keep its unique and distinct character with developments that fit into its landscape.

http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?...23508&latest=1

The writing was on the wall with this one right from the get go. Although, I'm in agreement here -> a proposal with little character + area with a lot of character = No go. Those buildings just did not look nice at all!

[PoscStudent]

The developer withdrew the application.

[A325]

Thank God that was hideous

[IronMan]

What's going on with the area opposite the entrance to the airport on Portugal Cove Road? There is an area cleared but I don't know what the plans are.

[J_Murphy]

Just noticed that construction in Pleasantville does not seem to be panning out as illustrated in the site plan (http://www.clc.ca/sites/default/files/site_plan_1.pdf). For instance, the new apartment building under construction is located where there is proposed parking in the site plan and the houses being constructed across the street are not at all as shown in the plan. Just thought I would point this out. I know the "site plan" was probably just a conceptual thing but I figured it would look a bit more like it was shown in the plan.

[Copes]

Originally Posted by J_Murphy

Just noticed that construction in Pleasantville does not seem to be panning out as illustrated in the site plan (http://www.clc.ca/sites/default/files/site_plan_1.pdf). For instance, the new apartment building under construction is located where there is proposed parking in the site plan and the houses being constructed across the street are not at all as shown in the plan. Just thought I would point this out. I know the "site plan" was probably just a conceptual thing but I figured it would look a bit more like it was shown in the plan.

The plan there is outdated in a few ways from what I know. For example, the houses on the right side of the plan labeled as "single family cottages" will have one shared parking lot as opposed to the two presented in the plan. A small change, to be sure, but none the less it demonstrates that the plan was indeed conceptual and has since been changed.

[techie]

Originally Posted by IronMan

What's going on with the area opposite the entrance to the airport on Portugal Cove Road? There is an area cleared but I don't know what the plans are.

I believe it is a new subdivision.