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We all love our new, international award-winning Halifax Central Library. Its first year boasted 1.9 million visits—twice what was predicted. Remember the awe you felt on your first visit? For me it was like someone was reading my mind when I overheard, “This is SO NOT the Halifax we’re used to.”
This library cost citizens almost $60 million, not including the land and opportunity costs; in return we have a signature building for all of Halifax and proof that modern can work. And the fifth floor Living Room is the jewel in the crown—a 270-degree public view east, north and west. A vista of the city’s history and character. It’s not just a library. It’s not just a building like any other. It’s a civic pride.
Danish chief architect Morten Schmidt says, “The historical axis between the Halifax Citadel and the Halifax Harbour, crossing right through the library site, is reflected in the orientation of the top floor of the building containing the Halifax Living Room, hereby providing not only a unique view but also an understanding of the city’s historical heritage.”
The library’s own website predicts, “the Halifax Living Room will become the main feature due to its dramatic view of downtown Halifax and Citadel Hill.” The library’s slogan is Share The Wow.
But now we urgently need to save the wow.
Danny Chedrawe, of Westwood Developments, is planning a new seven-storey building, the Doyle Block, which next to the library is drab and uninspired. It fills an entire block opposite the library. Already seven historic buildings have been destroyed. Worse still, the Doyle Block will appropriate the public’s view of the Citadel for a private business interest. In future, that view will be available only to paying customers of Mr. Chedrawe.
It was a private citizen, Dalhousie architecture professor Steve Parcell, a specialist in architectural drawing, who provided a montage showing the impact the Doyle Block would have on the library’s fifth-floor view of Citadel Hill.
Until then, the developer, city planners and HRM’s design review committee were either unaware of or silent on this conflict.
Chedrawe’s response so far has been to attack and disparage Parcell’s careful, informed work. Even Westwood’s own rendering of the view, flawed as it is, makes it clear that Citadel Hill will be substantially obscured by the Doyle Block.
But shooting the messenger and bullying citizens does not address the real questions. Can Mr. Chedrawe afford to risk his valuable reputation here?
And the mayor and council, have they built a $60 million library then trumpeted the glorious view only to give it away? Why does city government remain unresponsive to such an urban development blunder? Who runs city hall?
A variety of real solutions could be worked out with the developer that would keep the public’s view. Or simpler yet, what if the developer showed genuine respect and forbearance towards the library he claims to love and just built his building lower?
This is an election year. It’s a perfect time for the mayor and council to demonstrate real leadership and do something helpful here. Please write to remind them it’s their duty to negotiate a solution that keeps us all proud (clerks@halifax.ca). Learn more here.
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Doyle Block won’t ruin view from the library, says developer
This article appears in Apr 7-13, 2016.
Ummmm… wasn’t Danny Cherawe already on the news saying they had no intention of blocking views?
Anyway, fek off! I’m tired of people saying this can’t happen and that shouldn’t happen. The goddamn library wasn’t built with the intention of seeing the Hill and vice versa. We saw years of stagnation here because of backwards thinking and “preservation efforts”; even now they whine.
Things they are a-changin’ so get on the bus or jump out in front of it! Either way, fek off!
I think one just has to look at the developers own version of the effect on the view. In his version the developer blocks the view
Ummm, Danny Chedrawe keeps SAYING his building won’t block the view, but he hasn’t backed it up with any proof. He can say it until he’s blue in the face, but until he’s willing show us some evidence, why should we believe him? On the other hand, a professor of architecture who teaches on the subject of perspective has carefully prepared drawings that clearly show the building will in fact block the view. Who should we believe? Ummmm…
Why is it backward to want to protect something special – a one of a king view – from something that is as pedestrian as the building my Chedraw proposes? And this group isn’t say don’t build at all – they are suggesting the developer simply build a bit lower and that he be compensated making a civic-minded compromise by being allowed to transfer the additional height to one of his other properties. Sounds like a good solution to me.
If he’s part of the “Friends of Schmidtville” then his words certainly won’t be part of my heart.
If he’s part of the “Friends of Schmidtville” group then his words won’t be part of my heart.
Isn’t it long past the time for the members of Council AND Staff to pay attention to the citizens who pay them through taxes? And not listen to the developers who thump on their desks daily? The developers, most of whom come from the Sand Countries, don’t care one bit about our history or our desire to preserve the views and our built heritage. When the tourists can no longer see the Harbour from the Citadel or the Citadel from the library, etc., they’ll ask, “How could you let that happen?” Then they won’t come back anymore. If the developers are (finally) forced to follow the rules they won’t leave (unfortunately) they’ll still stay and build but within the rules. Don’t be afraid of them, they’re bullies.
At the end of his article Prof. Haiven says that in this election year the mayor and council might, “demonstrate real leadership and do something helpful here.” May I echo that and challenge the mayor and council to “Be Bold” and exercise the stewardship with which they are entrusted by the electorate and stand up for the unique history and heritage of Halifax.
Absurd and ridiculous. The library view didn’t even exist two years ago and now suddenly it needs protection? Why weren’t the Haivens arguing on behalf of those who found that the construction of the library destroyed their own views from wherever? Surely to god we must have learned from the development stasis that existed downtown for over 2 decades that blindly opposing any building more than 3 floors tall is a sure way to ruin a local economy. I suggest Mr. Haiven go the the library to read books, not to use it as a sightseeing venue.
“Sand Countries” wow your narrow mind speaks volumes to the old decay that still lingers and stops this great city from moving forward into the 21th century.
If you wan’t to see Citadel hill that badly, then get off your high horse and go there instead of whining about your “precious view”.
Where is the petition against this faceless development? I was hoping to sign just to add my voice to the small group which cares about the evolution of this city.
So looking back at archived articles on this site the overwhelming majority of comments was about how hideous this new library was. Now its a civic pride? This Halifax attitude is developing into a certain pattern in my mind. We don’t want change, at all, but when change happens it turns out to be a good thing. Yes the view or the so called “wow” is amazing but limiting all development to preserve it in its entirety is just plain foolish. Calling a rat infested dilapidated city block that was past due for demolition over a decade ago historic is just plain foolish as well. Has anyone else noticed the historic crumbling downtown buildings? Actually I meant to say crumbling historic buildings, lol. Has anyone else noticed the out of control urban sprawl that is destroying the downtown core? And seriously other then the old bank what are the other six historical buildings? They’ve faded from my mind pretty quick…. I do think one was a bagel shop a long time ago…..
Anyway, embrace development Halifax, so little has happened in my lifetime its extremely positive to see.