Downtown Developments

I took a short walk across the waterfront earlier this afternoon. Along the way, I stopped at several of the downtown buildings that are undergoing extensive renovations. And one that isn't.

Preparation for the nine storey Waterside Centre at Historic Properties continues. Aside from exterior structural supports, not very much progress is visible from the outside.





The site of the Chronicle Herald building, demolished in March 2010, remains a wasteland. It's quite an eyesore, with garbage piling up against the fencing and in deep holes in the foundation.



The addition of several levels at City Centre Atlantic is progressing. This photo from Birmingham Street, near Spring Garden Road.

Historic Properties (Again)

Following a walk around the Chronicle Herald Building at Argyle and Prince, I walked over to Duke and down to the Historic Properties where buildings are being demolished or re-purposed, making way for the Waterside Centre development.

1. Imperial Oil Building on Upper Water Street


2. Almost totally gutted inside leaving only the facade at street level.


3. Harrington MacDonald-Briggs Building on Hollis


4. Also on Hollis Street, the Harrington MacDonald-Briggs Building from the side.


5. And again, the Harrington MacDonald-Briggs Building on Upper Water Street.


6. Fishwick & Company Building. It looks empty on the inside but mostly intact with the exception of it's roof... which is gone.


7. Shaw Building at Duke and Hollis. Like the Fishwick Building above, the Shaw Building appears empty but intact with street level windows covered.


8. And, not in danger of a wrecking ball, the Morse's Tea Building.



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Making room for the Waterside Centre

On Monday I took a few minutes to wander around the Historic Properties area where several of the city's oldest building are being demolished and/or re-purposed to make room for the Armour Group's Waterside Centre.

As of February 15, the Harrington MacDonald-Briggs Building (built 1820) is mostly demolished. The Imperial Oil Building (built 1926) has been gutted on the inside and is without windows. On the corner of Duke and Hollis, the Shaw Building (built 1903) and adjacent Fishwick & Company Building (built 1820) have their ground level windows covered.

1. From left to right: Morse Tea, Briggs, Fishwick & Shaw.


2. Shaw Building (built 1903) sits on the corner of Duke and Hollis.


3. Imperial Oil Building at Duke and Upper Water.


4. Inside the Imperial Oil Building (aka O'Carroll's)


5. Left to right: Imperial Oil Building, Harrington MacDonald-Briggs Building and a vacant lot where the P. Martin Liquors Building (built 1875) stood prior to demolition in 2008.


6. Looking inside the Harrington MacDonald-Briggs Building from Hollis Street. See link for pre-demolition Street View.


The buildings that are being re-purposed will retain their exterior, street-level facade.

The block should look like this once it is all said and done.

Photo: http://www.hpwatersidecentre.ca/

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