New to this forum but not to the North End of Halifax. Although I am now in Ottawa, I was one of the archaeologists who did work under the Little Dutch Church (I have since written a doctoral thesis about the place, but that is another story). During my time in the area I was intrigued by the developments of Uniacke Square and Brunswick-Gerrish Towers as it was (now Ocean Towers). I am about to lecture on the neighbourhood at Ottawa U. in a week or so and wondered if anyone had recent pictures of either Uniacke or Ocean Towers - especially showing the new paint job on the last - also I would love it if someone could take a pic for me of the LDC with the Ocean Towers in their new colours in the background.:)

I am also keen to see pictures of any other new development in the Gottingen/ Brunswick Street area.

Thanks,

Paul (sospan_fach) Ottawa

This probably doesn't help much, but it's all I've got. The Ocean Towers are on the left - I think the lights are new with the paint job.

http://static.flickr.com/102/290833903_5edb16b3f8_b.jpg

Sounds like a cool project, though. Good luck with everything.

Hold on a tic...

Here's a picture of Penhorn's, that I found in the projects thread...

http://static.flickr.com/109/290851351_2401572919_o.jpg

that's fabulous thank you. If anyone is interested, I have somewhere in my collection of images various pictures of the street prior to the building of the towers as well as early pics of them, aerial photographs, and conceptual plans! The final result was quite different from what was first suggested.

I would really love to see those pics if you could post them. I don't know why but I quite like Ocean Towers, especially with their new paint job and lighting.

I also like these buildings, and I sort of wish they hadn't fixed them up :lol:. It'd be great if you could post those old photos/historical information! When were they built?

I'll look to see if I have any more pictures tomorrow, I know I have a night-time skyline one, but I think it turned out pretty blurry.

I will try and dig out pictures and post soon.

I remember seeing a diagram of the buildings on Brunswick Street showing the way it was maybe in the 1880s or so. Brunswick used to be one of the nicest streets in the city. It would be interesting to see your pictures.

Two developments happening near the towers are the townhouses along Brunswick (http://www.domusrealty.ca/en/home/homelistings/thebrickyard/default.aspx) and the Spice condominiums (http://www.polycorp.ca/spice/).

There are a number of other small developments happening in the area, mostly townhouses. There have also been many restoration projects. Gottingen itself is very stagnant, while the residential areas on either side have been slowly improving.

I would really love to see those pics if you could post them. I don't know why but I quite like Ocean Towers, especially with their new paint job and lighting.


That makes no sense! They are still ugly and characterless, and their location causes a bubble in Barrington St traffic, although that is the city's fault for not ever fixing the street alignment. But still... how can anyone like these things?

how can anyone like these things?
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=477
:D

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=477
:D

lol, I'll admit, I never really disliked the commie block look. It's unexplainable! :eek:

Like I said, I don't know why I like them. I'm not normally a commie block fan, but what can I say. Maybe I've grown up seeing them everyday?

I think they look quite good from Dartmouth :P

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/Patrick_Helliwell/Halifax/DSC00210Medium.jpg

They look like they fit... esspecially now with the paint. They blend in well with the Navy yards. And if you can make anything blend in the yards, then I can't see how they're that bad. They're alright on the inside to live in too.

Whose idea was it to paint them like that? They did something similar to the old age building off Gottingen Street. UGLY! :ohno:

I think they look really cool at night (see 1st pic) - especially when you see them along with the rest of the skyline down the street...

I like their presence, the fact that there's a highrise grouping between the bridge and downtown, but the buildings themsevles I've never been fond of. I think I'd like them better if they were better integrated into the surrounding streetscape.

And the new paint does nothing for me either. At least before, they may have been ugly, but they had a sense of gritty, austere, realness to them. Now they just look silly.

Another pic I took today from Citadel Hill...absolutly freezing to death....much thanks to those nice old people, who I have no idea who they were, who drove me from the Citadel to the ferry terminal :)

Got a commie block effect going on in this one.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/Patrick_Helliwell/Halifax/DSC00500copy.jpg

Nice picture! And I agree with nouvelleecosse. I did like them better before.

man that area has changes so much since the 80s

Eeks! They look like naval vessels now. Maybe the intent?

Gottingen St. area is bizarre. The street itself is so grim but you need only venture one block up towards the Common to find yourself in an awesome neighbourhood of historic houses and some super-impressive new build architecture. I especially like the in-fill row houses that at first glance can't be distinguished from their much older neighbours. I think that it's only a matter of time until that entire area becomes a highly desireable in which to live.

Must also mention Charlies. I always remember going there, I never remember leaving!

Propeller Brewery as well. I miss my Growlers!

Gottingen St. area is bizarre. The street itself is so grim but you need only venture one block up towards the Common to find yourself in an awesome neighbourhood of historic houses and some super-impressive new build architecture.

It is bizarre, and I suspect it's directly related to the public housing and institutions on Gottingen. Because they're not subject to market forces they just sit there, making the immediate area much less desirable while the rest of the neighbourhood improves.

There is now a major development proposal for Gottingen Street called 5505 Falkland (it's at the corner). I don't know how well sales are going but it is the first such project in a very long time.

There's also a proposal for Brunswick and Cogswell that involves an 18 storey tower and would change the character of the neighbourhood pretty significantly, tying it in more with the downtown.

yes gottingen was pretty crazy back in the days. dont know about now. Creighton street was probably the worse, the corner of creighton and garrish.
I remember when they wre rebuidling uniacke square. Its crazy how many housing projects there are in Halifax considering the size of the city. Mulgrave park being the biggest.

What is that area like at street level? Are their any businesses/cafes/stores? Is there much foot traffic? I get the impression these buildings are not everyones first choice for a home. I think they must get a great view at the very least!

mostly the area around the towers is a geto. but there are lost of new low-rise developments in the area too

that's fabulous thank you. If anyone is interested, I have somewhere in my collection of images various pictures of the street prior to the building of the towers as well as early pics of them, aerial photographs, and conceptual plans! The final result was quite different from what was first suggested.
you wrote this a long time ago, but I am wondering if you could post or send those historic photos..... I am researching these buildings and it would be great to see your collection. I am not doing anything involving publishing if you have any concerns... rubbernecker Halifax