[Halifax] Vintage Row Development (1528 Queen) | 24 M | 9 Fl | U/C

[Dmajackson]

Demolition permit submitted for 1533 BIRMINGHAM STREET, HALIFAX.

Mixed Use & Commercial Building Permit - New Building - Application Incomplete - 40 OCHTERLONEY ST, DARTMOUTH - $11'100'000 - Mixed Use - Residential & Other Use(s) - Residential Use - 128 Units - 10 Floors - we want to apply for a RES/COM building according to the central plan on 28/40 Ochterloney St, Dartmouth.

[mleblanc]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Demolition permit submitted for 1533 BIRMINGHAM STREET, HALIFAX.

Anything planned for that site? I believe that was the Childrens bookstore that didn't get their lease renewed and had to move. Arguably one of the nicest "Halifax" style rowhouses along that block. Would be a shame for it to be demo'd if it's just going to sit vacant.

[Colin May]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Demolition permit submitted for 1533 BIRMINGHAM STREET, HALIFAX.

Mixed Use & Commercial Building Permit - New Building - Application Incomplete - 40 OCHTERLONEY ST, DARTMOUTH - $11'100'000 - Mixed Use - Residential & Other Use(s) - Residential Use - 128 Units - 10 Floors - we want to apply for a RES/COM building according to the central plan on 28/40 Ochterloney St, Dartmouth.

If you want to live up close and next to a busy crematorium (behind Dartmouth Funeral Home) that is the spot.

[JonHiseler]

Originally Posted by mleblanc

Anything planned for that site? I believe that was the Childrens bookstore that didn't get their lease renewed and had to move. Arguably one of the nicest "Halifax" style rowhouses along that block. Would be a shame for it to be demo'd if it's just going to sit vacant.

They owned the building, but they sold it because maintaining it was taking up too much of their focus, which I guess isn't surprising considering it's 80 years old.

[Drybrain]

Originally Posted by JonHiseler

They owned the building, but they sold it because maintaining it was taking up too much of their focus, which I guess isn't surprising considering it's 80 years old.

That building is definitely more than 80 years old—definitely 19th century Victorian, I’d guess 1870s-90s. The owner of Woozles made a big show of speaking out against registering it as a heritage building, then sold it for top dollar and moved. I understand the financial decision but it’s unfortunate from a heritage standpoint. I certainly hope the building isn’t torn down without a rapid redeveloped plan in place.

[someone123]

I wonder if there could be an economical way to increase density on those sites while preserving the character people care about, and ideally some physical elements. It is harder on small sites like this with wooden buildings, although the lot coverage is not 100%.

It would be a big win on this block to add some kind of medium density building that maintained the colourful detail on both sides. It would be good to see something similar along the Maxwell's Plum block on Grafton, in that case rebuilding parts from scratch.

The debate shouldn't really be a binary between demolition and registration. There are some buildings that should be fully protected, some of no value that can be demolished, and then there's a spectrum in the middle. The city should also encourage faithful reconstruction of historic architecture in some areas like the south end of Barrington (I am thinking of that Victorian brick building that got a replacement facade in the 50's or so). This could be done with density bonuses or tax breaks.

There are also a lot of historic buildings out there that are preserved but not to a great quality. An example is the "headband" where the cornice on the St. Paul's Building should be. There are so many decent streetscapes in Halifax that would be great with a couple of those projects.

[Insigne]

1529-1535 Birmingham St. (Woozles and adjacent building) has been demolished. 1525 (Mathers Bldg) has signs up for asbestos removal. Sign on hoarding also indicates 1520-1530 Queen Street.

[Empire]

Originally Posted by Insigne

1529-1535 Birmingham St. (Woozles and adjacent building) has been demolished. 1525 (Mathers Bldg) has signs up for asbestos removal. Sign on hoarding also indicates 1520-1530 Queen Street.

Real shame, this town will never learn.

Demolished:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@44.6437488,-..._ep=EgoyMDI1MDEwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

[HalifaxRetales]

Originally Posted by Insigne

1529-1535 Birmingham St. (Woozles and adjacent building) has been demolished. 1525 (Mathers Bldg) has signs up for asbestos removal. Sign on hoarding also indicates 1520-1530 Queen Street.

applications have been made to demo 1520 to 1534

[Empire]

Originally Posted by HalifaxRetales

applications have been made to demo 1520 to 1534

This town will never learn.

Demolition permit application submitted for these buildings....
https://www.google.ca/maps/@44.6436932,-..._ep=EgoyMDI1MDEwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

[LikesBikes]

Agreed, this is a sad case. These buildings really do add to the character of the neighbourhood and make walking around here more pleasant. Do the city's historic preservation by-laws not apply here?

[JET]

Originally Posted by LikesBikes

Agreed, this is a sad case. These buildings really do add to the character of the neighbourhood and make walking around here more pleasant. Do the city's historic preservation by-laws not apply here?

No, they do not. Overall, people don’t care.

[teddifax]

Is there a development planned for this area, being torn down?

[Insigne]

Originally Posted by teddifax

Is there a development planned for this area, being torn down?

There was a rendering posted back on February 11, 2022 in this thread. Hopefully they've gone back to the drawing board.

[eastcoastal]

Originally Posted by LikesBikes

... Do the city's historic preservation by-laws not apply here?

I don't think any of these buildings are registered heritage properties and this is not a heritage conservation district... so no, heritage protections do not apply here. I know we often get into an if-it's-wood-framed-it's-not-worth-preserving discussion, but these really are charming buildings. Yes, even if a little run-down. They do a lot to make this area feel special and not an extruded copy of a commercial zone that could be anywhere in North America. Their demolition will be a loss to the look and feel of this part of downtown, and I am not convinced we'll get much in return that makes the loss worthwhile.

[Drybrain]

These were among a few dozen buildings that city staff brought forward a few years ago to designate as heritage in and around downtown, the idea being that the development boom would endanger them if they weren't locked down. It turned into a huge blowback against it, with property owners lining up to oppose registration (not just these but almost all of them, including the owner of Woozles) and council ultimately didn't register anything.

I think it was a real shame that nothing was designated, but at the same time I'm actually torn on these. While they're bright and cute and certainly reflect a historic local aesthetic, it is true that they're architecturally very plain and very unsympathetically modified from whatever their original appearance would have been. I'm more bothered by the loss of the Woozles building, which was genuinely a high-quality example of Victorian architecture, and the Mathers building, which is a very unique-for-Halifax mid-century structure.

If the replacement here is high quality and animates the street as well as these lost buildings did, I think it'll be a wash. That remains to be seen of course.

[teddifax]

I have posted this comment before.... I wish that ALL Threads would have a direct link to their respective development to save us from trying to find it.... is this possible to have such a think at the top of each thread??

[Jstaleness]

Originally Posted by Insigne

1529-1535 Birmingham St. (Woozles and adjacent building) has been demolished. 1525 (Mathers Bldg) has signs up for asbestos removal. Sign on hoarding also indicates 1520-1530 Queen Street.

I took this after the holiday break. They've been back to the site recently. Multiple trailer loads of asbestos have been removed.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by JET

No, they do not. Overall, people don’t care.

I believe that this is a correct assessment.

[Jstaleness]

1500 block of Birmingham

Excavator onsite. The colorful buildings have had their windows removed. Demo permit was issued.

Photos from me.