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

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Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

Yes it's quite consistent that denser urban areas generate more tax revenue relative to the spending required to support them and therefore subsidize their low density surroundings. But I'm sure suburban areas still "feel" deprived since very costly things such as requiring far more road surface per resident are kind of invisible to people while lower cost things like cycle infrastructure are conspicuous due to being different.

It's crazy that on an urbanism forum this has to be explained.

[Nouvellecosse]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Oh great. Now this thread has morphed into yet another suburban vs urban debate.

I wish people would just get used to the idea that both exist and will continue to exist. This is Canada. We have choices. It's good.

Yes it's good that we have choices. But that framing makes it sound like the opposite, that we don't have choices. That things just are the way they are and we can't do anything about it except "just get used to it." That if we, as a society, want to develop our regions more sustainably then it's hopeless and there's nothing we can do.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

Yes it's good that we have choices. But that framing makes it sound like the opposite, that we don't have choices. That things just are the way they are and we can't do anything about it except "just get used to it." That if we, as a society, want to develop our regions more sustainably then it's hopeless and there's nothing we can do.

You can perceive framing anyway you want to.

Another way of looking at it is that not everybody wants the same thing, and at the time at least, we still have the ability to choose the style of living that we want (housing affordability issues notwithstanding). To spell it out, there are some that prefer to live in an apartment in a densely populated area, and there are some who would not prefer that environment.

Of course, on SSP, given the nature of the forum (i.e. skyscrapers, urban preference), the majority will likely see the 'urban lifestyle' as the preferred (and apparently morally virtuous) choice, but then for the rest of the people (2/3 of the city's population, and those living outside of the city), 'other' choices are preferable. I know you already know this, but those are the "choices" I was talking about.

Regardless, we all know where this will go if we continue to embellish, so it would be nice if we could just get back to the topic of the thread.

[Nouvellecosse]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

You can perceive framing anyway you want to.

Another way of looking at it is that not everybody wants the same thing, and at the time at least, we still have the ability to choose the style of living that we want (housing affordability issues notwithstanding). To spell it out, there are some that prefer to live in an apartment in a densely populated area, and there are some who would not prefer that environment.

Of course, on SSP, given the nature of the forum (i.e. skyscrapers, urban preference), the majority will likely see the 'urban lifestyle' as the preferred (and apparently morally virtuous) choice, but then for the rest of the people (2/3 of the city's population, and those living outside of the city), 'other' choices are preferable. I know you already know this, but those are the "choices" I was talking about.

Regardless, we all know where this will go if we continue to embellish, so it would be nice if we could just get back to the topic of the thread.

Yes I understand the type of choice you meant. I was just pointing out that the concept of choice is often misrepresented with these topics. Some people falsely assume that the only valid type of choice is personal (individual) taste which makes no sense when we're talking about something with huge effects in so many other areas. Especially in the context of an urban area which is - by definition - collective. As a result we get a version of choice that ignores larger scale economic and environmental factors since it those things really need to be coordinated through collective planning. There's just no avoiding the reality that personal preference is just one of many relevant factors that is sometimes outweighed by other things.

But I agree it's off topic. So unless somebody adds anything else that I feel compelled to respond to, I won't say anything further.

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by OldDartmouthMark

Oh great. Now this thread has morphed into yet another suburban vs urban debate.

I wish people would just get used to the idea that both exist and will continue to exist. This is Canada. We have choices. It's good.

Back to the Skye... I recall the discussion of the lighting effects in the rendering being unrealistic the first time they were posted on this forum - but renderings are just like fancy sales brochures intending to sell somebody on the product. They show views that don't exist in reality, and imaginary lighting effects to create mood/settings that show how nice it could look in some ideal world. They also don't necessarily accurately depict finishing materials, and thus really should be taken with a grain of salt.

All I can add is just build the damn thing! I mean, after nearly two decades, Saberi least they can do.

[Keith P.]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

But I'm sure suburban areas still "feel" deprived since very costly things such as requiring far more road surface per resident are kind of invisible to people while lower cost things like cycle infrastructure are conspicuous due to being different.

They are really conspicuous to people wanting to get to their suburban homes who are sitting in traffic snarls due to lane removal while the bike lanes are perpetually empty.

[OldDartmouthMark]

Originally Posted by Saul Goode

All I can add is just build the damn thing! I mean, after nearly two decades, Saberi least they can do.

This.

It's becoming too much of a struggle to find things to post about an empty lot.

We've covered:
- Renderings (light effects and views)
- Architecture (good vs not-so-good)
- Landscaping and maintenance (or lack thereof) of the empty lot
- What used to be there (Texpark)
- Past proposals that never got built
- Virtues of finishing with quality materials when nobody can see them (or can they?)
- Urban vs Suburban (or whatever that was about )
- Tabletops
- Etc.

Time for them to get going on this so I can think of some new meaningless fluff to post about. Getting bored with recycling the same old stuff over and over again.

[ILoveHalifax]

Just 1 more thing - remember the hookers who used to work the sidewalk in front of TexPark for the convenience of men getting off work - just pointing out the changes on this project

[Saul Goode]

Originally Posted by ILoveHalifax

Just 1 more thing - remember the hookers who used to work the sidewalk in front of TexPark for the convenience of men getting off work - just pointing out the changes on this project

Did you think any of their facades were worth preserving?

[Dmajackson]

Seven civic addresses have been added for this development;

1565 - 1597 GRANVILLE STREET
1572 - 1590 HOLLIS STREET

... and possibly noteworthy ...

The building permit has been issued for this development!

1565 GRANVILLE STREET - 350 UNITS - 23 STOREYS - $15 M

[bartekci]

Another open air parking lot bites the dust

[mleblanc]

Previous renderings were for 21 storeys, no? I wonder if we'll see a new one?

[Dmajackson]

^It's likely counting from Hollis Street which adds floors from the most used rendering which faces Granville Street.

https://unitedgulf.ca/

[teddifax]

Where can I see this updated proposal?

[IanWatson]

[Saul Goode]

Yet another unfortunate "looks like someone sat on it" downtown project.

[OldDartmouthMark]

It's okay... apparently you'll never see that view anyhow.

I don't care if they clad it in tarpaper... just build the damn thing and get it over with!

[teddifax]

Doesn't $15 million seem like it wouldn't build much...

[Nouvellecosse]

The towers themselves look a bit bland but the ground level seems decent based on the renderings. But yes, almost anything is better than the empty lot.

[pblaauw]

Even another parkade would be better.