[Halifax] Skye Halifax (1565 Granville) | 66 m | 2 x 21 fl | U/C

[eastcoastal]

Hmmm... they're proposing the through-block connection as the "public benefit" and describing it as "public space where people are invited to gather on the seating 'stairs' and watch the pulse of the city."

I'm not sure that looks like a sunny and warm space in which to hang out in the manner described. It seems to me that it would be destined to be a useful cut through mid block, but not a social space.

The other "public benefit" of this proposal, according to the developer is "higher-quality finishes and public amenities, such as street trees and furniture."

Those don't seem particularly high aiming or worthy of special consideration for a prominent site downtown. If it were me evaluating, I'd say this isn't enough public benefit to be valued at $485 thousand.

[eastcoastal]

Originally Posted by Jstaleness

This one isn't DEAD yet!
While no where near as ambitious, or 48 storeys this one is coming to city council for the 3rd time.

Link to Chronicle article here:
https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/business/skyes-the-limit-311594/

Chronicle Herald article says United Gulf claims 480 underground parking spaces. The development's website says 294

http://www.skyehalifax.ca/index.php/key-features

[OldDartmouthMark]

Interesting...

I thought their commentary about architectural context to be a little lame:

The building itself is located on a block with its neighbour—the MetroPark Garage—providing little existing architectural context. Skye Halifax is therefore both freed from existing architectural precedent and shouldered with the task of positively defining the character of a prominent city block.

Uh... true, the parkade is next to the lot, but it will be surrounded with the new Green Lantern and Zellers/Discovery Centre projects, the Roy at the corner, and The Maple on the other side.

Overall it doesn't look like a bad development, but I think its architectural independence and importance is being a little overstated.

[IanWatson]

Originally Posted by eastcoastal

Chronicle Herald article says United Gulf claims 480 underground parking spaces. The development's website says 294

http://www.skyehalifax.ca/index.php/key-features

Car plus bicycle parking is ~480, so maybe that's the confusion?

[bluenoser]

May as well get a few images up:










All from http://www.skyehalifax.ca/

[kph06]

Based on the renderings it seems like they kept the same massing as the "Twisted Sisters" proposal.

[eastcoastal]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

... Overall it doesn't look like a bad development, but I think its architectural independence and importance is being a little overstated.

But, but, but... it's the "feather in the cap of downtown's revitalization"

FEATHER
IN
THE
CAP

It's simultaneously the most important, most emblematic and "shouldered" with the most responsibility. Please, think of the children.

[eastcoastal]

Originally Posted by IanWatson

Car plus bicycle parking is ~480, so maybe that's the confusion?

Ahhh - looks like CH must have misinterpreted. Thanks for taking the time to do the math.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by eastcoastal

But, but, but... it's the "feather in the cap of downtown's revitalization"

FEATHER
IN
THE
CAP

It's simultaneously the most important, most emblematic and "shouldered" with the most responsibility. Please, think of the children.

LOL... how could I have not understood that?

[someone123]

Originally Posted by eastcoastal

But, but, but... it's the "feather in the cap of downtown's revitalization".

It's remarkable how this development would have hugely stood out 10 years ago but now it'll just be another one of many. I like it though, and this part of downtown will always look shabby while the giant weedy lot is there. The podium design is nice, and the towers will bring much needed population density.

There's one big surface lot left on Sackville Street, just below the Maple. I have heard the province owns that site and considered it for the replacement for the law courts.

[IanWatson]

It's amazing how much DT has filled out. By the time this one breaks ground, the only remaining lots of any size will be Barrington St. Superstore, Waterfront Warehouse, the Sister Site that Dal bought, and the lot you mention below the Maple.

DT is filling up just in time for Cogswell to come into play!

[Jstaleness]

Originally Posted by eastcoastal

Chronicle Herald article says United Gulf claims 480 underground parking spaces. The development's website says 294

http://www.skyehalifax.ca/index.php/key-features

I had noticed that as well, but as I see others corrected it to also include the bicycle spots.

[Hali87]

The N-S oriented tower looks clunky and awkward to me and the other tower is as non-descript as it gets, but I really like the podium design. Overall this seems to take a lot of cues from the Maple.

[someone123]

The perspective in the first rendering above isn't one you will be able to see in person. The building will be surrounded by other highrises and the streets next to it are all narrow. In a context like that it kind of makes sense have have a nice podium and bright but nondescript towers above.

Downtown Halifax is increasingly going to be a ~20-25 storey blob. Not the worst thing in the world, but probably not optimal. The planning rules don't allow for landmark towers, and the upper floors of the tallest buildings will not be as prominent as in the past.

[pblaauw]

Originally Posted by eastcoastal

But, but, but... it's the "feather in the cap of downtown's revitalization"

FEATHER
IN
THE
CAP

It's simultaneously the most important, most emblematic and "shouldered" with the most responsibility. Please, think of the children.

Except for the last sentence, which I read in a Mrs. Lovejoy voice, I read this whole thing in a Homer Simpson voice, and it was pretty amazing.

[IanWatson]

Originally Posted by someone123

The perspective in the first rendering above isn't one you will be able to see in person. The building will be surrounded by other highrises and the streets next to it are all narrow. In a context like that it kind of makes sense have have a nice podium and bright but nondescript towers above.

Interesting observation. You got me flying around the city on Google maps, and I think you're correct, especially once the Ralston redevelopment happens. My guess is the most prominent view of the towers (other than from private balconies in The Maple and The Discovery Centre) will be from Blowers Street, and even then it'll only be a view of a portion of the south tower.

[eastcoastal]

Originally Posted by someone123

The perspective in the first rendering above isn't one you will be able to see in person. The building will be surrounded by other highrises and the streets next to it are all narrow...

I'd love to know how they plan to get so much daylight into the passage between the new buildings.Its almost as sunny as the renderings of the Rogers hole beneath the convention centre.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by eastcoastal

I'd love to know how they plan to get so much daylight into the passage between the new buildings.Its almost as sunny as the renderings of the Rogers hole beneath the convention centre.

It's... magic! Don't ask how or why, just trust that it will look exactly like the renderings...

One would expect no less for the 'feather in downtown's cap'...

[Keith P.]

Just build something, anything, on that site. I'd almost be willing to accept a Highfield Park Special as was built on other parts of Hollis St and surrounding areas not so very long ago.

[Phalanx]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

It's... magic! Don't ask how or why, just trust that it will look exactly like the renderings...

One would expect no less for the 'feather in downtown's cap'...

I mean, to be fair, it has more of an east-west alignment which is more conducive to getting natural light, and 'bridge' between buildings is narrower than the entire convention floor of the Nova Centre, so I don't think it'll be AS BAD as the Nova Centre, buuuut, yeah, it's not going to be nearly as 'bright' and evenly lit as the render implies.