Category Archives: INITIATIVES

Activist initiatives such as encouraging letter-writing. New projects. Protesting.

Citizens See 3-D model – but HRM won’t look!

Development Option Halifax’s 3-D model of 2 Carlton Street proposals shows them together together for the first time.  This cheap and available technology helps understand the scale, perspective and placement. Unfortunately HRM’s Heritage Advisory Committee ignored requests to present the 3-D model to aid them in their approval process. Listen to Sheldon MacLeod’s interview with Peggy Cameron to learn why we need 3-D models for all developments and for proposed changes under the Centre Plan.

Vancouver requires 3-D models for all proposed developments.

3-D Model Shows the Big Picture

 

Hadrian Laing presents his model of proposed Carlton Street developments to a group of interested citizens.


Development Options Halifax wants the city to require 3-D models for all developments and for changes proposed with the Centre Plan.
 
Learn why in this interview from News 95.7FM where host Todd Veinotte speaks with the architect and 3-D modeller Hadrian Laing:
 
Then read & sign the petition – https://forms.gle/3enTs6PfSkmMmNW48
 

June 4th – Letter to Heritage Advisory Committee re Carlton Street proposals

Howard Epstein’s June 4th letter to the Heritage Advisory Committee requested that the HAC strive to achieve a better balance between the interests of developers and those of citizens as they consider the Rouvalis and Dexel proposals.  For example, more reasonable were proposals from the Centre Plan Public Consultation where HRM story-boards suggested adding 400 residents to the area in two ten-storey buildings or one ten-story and two five-storey buildings. Other concerns are thematically organized and can be found in the letter below under the following headers.
1. Cultural Landscape
2. Planning for the entire Halifax Common
3. Carlton Street Neighbourhood Heritage Conservation District
4. Centre Plan Public Consultation Story-boards
5. Development Options Halifax drawings and 3-D model
6. Better Options for the Buildable Land Area Continue reading →

Public hearing – “Pizza with the Works” to be Served

At 6pm, Tuesday May 21, at a Public Hearing at City Hall Mayor and Council will decide what their appetite is for a proposed 8-storey + penthouse building at the corner of Robie, Cunard and Compton Streets. Changing the existing height restriction of 35-40’ along the western edge of Robie Street to permit the development will drastically alter the character streetscape that citizens view from and near the Halifax’s North Common.

An 8-storey + penthouse "Pizza with the works" development will go to public hearing on Tuesday May 21, 6pm. 6 to 8 historic buildings on the western edge of the North Common will be demolished.

An 8-storey + penthouse “Pizza with the works” development will go to public hearing on Tuesday May 21, 6pm. 6 to 8 historic buildings on the western edge of the North Common will be demolished.

“The multi-coloured, multi-facaded building is like an over-sized pizza with the works but so far, feedback from about 80 citizens at two Public consultations confirming this has been largely ignored,” said Peggy Cameron, Friends of Halifax Common co-chair. “It’s troubling that while cities around the world are recognizing the importance of distinctive, historic buildings as critical for economic, social, cultural and environmental reasons, Halifax would even consider changing the rules to tear down another 6-8 character buildings* and continue our conversion into an any-where, any-city streetscape.“

Citizen’s group Development Options Halifax is calling for 3-D models of all developments being considered now and under the proposed Centre Plan before its approval. “3-D models show details that otherwise are being missed,” says the group’s Larry Haiven. “In this case we could better understand what the result will be if city changes the exiting height restriction to permit this massive building on the western edge of the Halifax Common, what the effect on the neighbourhood is or how adding 75 cars impacts Compton Street and the nearby busy intersection at Robie,” said the retired Saint Mary’s business professor.

Two properties adjacent to the proposal on Cunard were recently bought and renovated into attractive, multi-unit buildings that are-in-keeping with the character of the neighbourhood. Studies prove that older, smaller, neighbourhoods are more sought after for successful destinations.

Neighbourhood restaurants like Jane’s on the Common (now re-located to Gottingen Street), Studio 21, Elliot & Vine, Robie Street Station, El Chino Snack Bar and Tony’s are examples of what makes this part of the city interesting. The new offering gives nothing to the community while proposing huge advantages to the developer.

*Some of the multi-unit historic buildings to be demolished are:

2162 and 2164 Robie (at Compton)

  

2166 Robie Street

2176 Robie Street

  

2178 Robie and 2182 Robie (at Cunard)

Dear Centre Plan, Show us your 3-D models!

Dalhousie architecture student Hadrian Laing volunteered to produce this 3-D model of 4 towers proposed for historic the Carlton St. neighbourhood- together & for the first time!

FHC has joined other citizens to form Development Options Halifax. Recently the public saw our 3-D print model of 4 towers that 2 developers want to build at Carleton, College, Spring Garden and Robie. This technology is readily available, effective and  cheap but it’s the first time it’s been used to model developments for Halifax citizens. 

In January we developed and showed the public drawings of the two proposals together, again for the first time – even though they’re on the same block HRM processes and meetings have been entirely separate! The model is so successful we call on HRM to provide 3-D print models of all proposed developments and Centre Plan changes in advance of its approval. The public has the right to know what HRM plans for the city. This “to scale” model captures how out-of-scale the proposals, at 80% the square footage of the convention centre, are. It allows a comparison of before and after, and helps explore better options for in-fill respectful of Halifax Common’s last historic neighbourhood.

HRM planning needs a more open, transparent process. During June 2016 Centre Plan public consultations, HRM Staff story-boards suggested their target of addition 400 residents to the area could be accommodated in two 10-storey buildings or one 10-storey building and two 5-storey buildings. But Staff didn’t include the already approved 18-storey high-rise that Killam will build on Carlton by Camp Hill Cemetery – it would house 70% of the 400 residents!

There are so many unanswered questions. How is it volunteers are showing the mass and scale of these developments together to the public for the first time? And presenting the first 3-D model? Why are the 2012 and 2016 requests by Heritage Trust for the last historic neighbourhood on the Halifax Common to be designated as a conservation area being ignored? Almost 50% of the buildings are heritage and another 11 qualify. Why is HRM planning for the wasteful destruction of up to 12 buildings? Its a small-scale, mixed-use, commercial and residential neighborhood with many affordable units and hidden density.

There are better options. The 3-D model helped us visualize and calculate that 8-storey buildings could be constructed in the 48,000 sq ft of parking area in the centre of the block. These could accommodate approximately 213  two-bedroom units or ~534 people. Similarly a low-rise building could be built at Killam’s property at 5880 Spring Garden Road next to the Glitter Bean. The towers are not necessary.

Please ask the Mayor and Council to not approve these 2 developments. Sign the petition: https://forms.gle/3enTs6PfSkmMmNW48

 

Planning A Carlton Street Super Block Isn’t Urgent – It’s Premature, Piecemeal and Peculiar.

Why exactly are Mayor Savage and HRM Council following the lead of the Lawen/Dexel and Rouvalis developers who want to break rules and jump ahead of HRM’s planning process to build 16, 20, 26 and 30-storey towers on the Carlton Street block of the Halifax Common? Listen to Rick Howe’s interview with FHC director Howard Epstein about his letter to Mayor and Council to hear some of the many reasons why the proposed super blockers should be deferred or defeated.

Read the letter here: FHC Director Howard Epstein’s letter of Jan 28th to Mayor and Council re: Carlton Street

 

Want to help out? Scroll down to find a poster and 2-sided flyer you can print and distribute.

     Print and post this poster in your neighbourhood and workplace.

Download and print a 8.5 x 11 two-sided handbill.

There are four handbills per printed sheet.

    

 

 

Heritage is Greater than the Sum of the Parts

In early January FHC as part of Development Options Halifax held a media conference to show a model of two massive developments (16-, 20-, 26- and 30-storey towers) proposed for the historic Carlton Street area together to the public for the first time. Listen to the interview below by News 95.7 Sheldon MacLeod about the work that this group is initiating, to learn what better and more sustainable options for densification in Halifax could be, and to understand the context on what is at risk if we follow these developers’ lead and lose older, smaller, mixed-use neighbourhoods.

Proposed changes to heritage properties in this historic neighbourhood were approved by the Mayor and Council on Jan 29th- see details below. This continues the way for the two proposals that together are equivalent to ~80% of the new convention centre, and the demolition of 12 buildings on the Halifax Common’s only remaining historic neighbourhood. (See three related media stories below.) 
 

Please take action! There’s a draft sample letter that you can copy and paste to the Mayor and Council, the Heritage Advisory Committee, the Halifax and West Peninsula Community Council c/o clerks@halifax.ca here https://www.facebook.com/pg/halifaxcommon/posts/ and there are other details here https://www.developmentoptionshfx.com/take-action/  

 
 
Some approved changes to Carlton St. Heritage properties are:

Case H00456 (Rouvalis) proposes several amendments to heritage properties in the historic Carlton Street area. The major one is relocating two buildings on College Street east to lots adjacent to Carlton Street so their properties can be freed up for the proposed 20 and 26 storey developments. After the move, the Gold Cure Institute, a registered heritage building at 5969 College Street and the unregistered 5963 College would be re-registered as heritage properties. Parking for 384 underground vehicles is proposed to go next to the heritage properties on College Street.



Case H00462 (Lawen/Dexel) proposes several amendments, the major ones being the subdivision of four rear yards of houses on Carlton Street so the new lots can be part of the proposed 16 and 30 storey developments. As part of this, 5950 Spring Garden Road, a house which was joined to 1494 Carlton Street (the home of Margaret Marshall Saunders at the corner of Carlton Street and Spring Garden Road) with an adjoining addition in the 1990s making it a heritage property will be demolished. Parking access for 380 underground vehicles is proposed to go between the Margaret Marshall Saunders home at 1494 Carlton Street and 1484 Carlton Street.

In 2012 and again in 2016 Heritage Trust requested that this area be considered a Heritage Conservation District as 50% of the buildings in the area are heritage and another 11 would qualify. So why is HRM working to move, demolish and subdivide heritage properties when the only beneficiary is private profit for private developers who want 16-, 23-, 26- and 30-storey towers to loom over Carlton Street?

Time to Start Over – Spring Garden Road, Robie, College, Carlton St Projects are TOO Massive

“Development Options Halifax” is a new group using technology to model two proposals for four towers 16, 30, 20 and 26-storeys, at Spring Garden Rd, Robie, College and Carlton Streets and to explore alternatives. At 3/4 the size of the Nova Centre these are among the most colossal proposals in Halifax to date. If approved the scale of all subsequent development in the city will change. So far in the planning process the two projects have been separate. By presenting the model of the two developments together in the context of Carlton Street and the adjacent neighbourhood Development Options hopes the public will be better informed and ask for a more transparent process. Please write to clerks@halifax.ca (Below is a sample letter)

Dear Heritage Advisory Committee, HRM Halifax and West Community Council, and Mayor and Council;

The older, smaller, Carlton Street neighbourhood is just the kind of neighbourhood that gives the best return on measures for economics, hidden density, affordability, local business, diversity and desirability. And re-using and retrofitting existing buildings almost always offers the best environmental choice over demolition. Instead of demolishing 12 buildings for four out-of-scale towers that will loom over historic Carlton Street, only small scale in-fill development should be permitted. Protect the last historic neighbourhood on the Halifax Common and Carlton Street, a nationally recognized “rare” Early Victorian heritage streetscape. Make the best economic and environmental choice for densification: do not approve the proposed 16, 20, 26 and 30 storey towers.
Sincerely,
(Name, Address)

Learn more at: developmentoptionshfx.com

Rick Howe 95.7- Carlton Street Area- Conservation District or Developers’ Demolition Dream?

The Dexel proposal is for 30- and 16-storey towers with 250 residential units plus 60,000 ft2 of office space, ~21,000 ft of commercial and 380 underground parking units (entrance/exit on Carlton Street). This proposal will requires the demolition of roughly 8-9 buildings destroying ~20 small-scale residential and commercial units mostly at Spring Garden Road.

Next steps for 2 proposals for 16-, 20-, 26- & 30-storey towers beside Carlton Street, (Halifax’s only Heritage streetscape?) will be a review by the Heritage Advisory Committee and then the Halifax and West Community Council. Meeting dates are not yet scheduled.

Up to 11 buildings on the last historic neighbourhood of the South Common will be demolished at Spring Garden, Robie and College. The proposals ignore the 1994 Halifax Common Plan’s commitment to plan for the entire 240 acre grant.  They ignore formal requests to HRM for a designated Conservation Area. And they ignore overwhelming public opposition. Learn more with Rick Howe’s interview.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Read Chronicle Herald coverage by Francis Campbell here:

Developer pitches twin towers for Halifax’s Robie Street, concerned group counters

Continue reading →

Designate Carlton Street Area as Conservation District!

Two developments for four towers (16-, 20-, 23-, 30-storeys) on the single block between Carlton, Spring Garden, Robie & College continue on a path to destroy dozens of affordable housing and small-scale commercial units on the last historic neighbourhood on the Halifax Common’s South Common. In an August 29th letter to Mayor Savage  FHC Director Howard Epstein requested a halt to these proceedings until a Heritage Trust request made in 2012 and another request in 2016 that the area be considered a conservation district or part of a conservation district are considered.  FHC didn’t hear back from Mayor Savage.

The classic 3-storey Coburg Apartments, an Edwardian-era building on the South Common, is one of dozens of buildings under threat by two developers who hope to erect 16 & 29 storey and 20 & 26 storey high-rises in the single block between Carlton, College, Robie and Spring Garden Road. Formal requests in 2012 and 2016 for this area to be designated a Conservation District have so far been ignored.

This week Case 20761 & Case 20218 come before the HRM’s Peninsula Advisory Committee (4pm Mon) and HRM’s Heritage Advisory Committee (4pm Wed) at City Hall. These committees act on behalf of all citizens. Their duty is to use their power to balance the interests of all residents, not just pander to the pursuit of profit by certain private developers. So, FHC’s September 24th letter to PAC and HAC asks that PAC & HAC request that proceedings on the proposals are halted until the 2012 and 2016 requests for a Conservation District for this area be considered.

The proposed 4 towers, 2 others in the works plus an 7 existing  means 13 in total for this small area. Why aren’t these 13 towers being considered together? Where are the 3-D models and studies for cumulative impact of wind, shadow, traffic, noise?

Over half of the buildings in the area have Heritage designation and 11 more qualify.  The towers aren’t necessary; Centre Plan’s growth target of 400 residents could be achieved with one 5-storey apartment building and the already approved 18-storey Killam tower next to the Camp Hill Cemetery.

Why isn’t the city building on the economic, social, environmental and cultural advantages that small-scale, older, smaller buildings are proven to provide? And how does destroying buildings to replace them with greenhouse glass and concrete towers address climate change? Or fulfill the need for ‘gentle or middle” style housing that can support density and attract families?

Who runs city hall? Mayor Savage doesn’t answer correspondence and HRM planning ignores valid input and concerns.  Write the PAC and HAC to ask that they request a halt to the projects and recommend Conservation Designation for the area. Remind them to act on behalf of all citizens, not developers. clerks@halifax.ca

 

Common Roots Urban Farm – Transplant it to St Pat’s!

Gardening doula Jayme Melrose at Common Roots Urban Farm (Chronicle Herald, Christian LaForce / Staff / 2015)

An idea planted by FHC led Jayme Melrose and  her volunteers to transform QEHS lands into a place of productive beauty. Now the farm is evicted and still homeless. So let’s imagine the St Pat’s site with that same vision & ask HRM to transplant Common Roots to Quinpool. 95.7’s Listen to Sheldon MacLeod’s interview with FCH for details. 

 

Time to care for Canada’s oldest, besieged Common – Chronicle Herald Op Ed