SPATZ TO BUILD WATERFRONT COMPLEX
By Eva Hoare / Business Reporter - Halifax Herald
Construction of a new Halifax apartment complex on the waterfront will start in mid-January, says developer Jim Spatz (pictured above.) Mr. Spatz hopes to introduce some new elements to encourage long-term leaseholders.
The roughly 238-unit structure, known as Bishop's Landing, will take about 18 months to build. It's scheduled to be completed in July 2001. Some of the building's apartments will likely have lengthy leases, possibly up to 10 years, Mr. Spatz said in an interview late last week. "We're into details like unit types, like whether we want to have fewer but bigger (units)... fewer bachelors and more three-bedrooms, that kind of thing," he said.
One idea under consideration is allowing prospective tenants to have some say in the design of the spaces. "Undoubtedly, we'll have some of that." It doesn't appear Mr. Spatz's company, Southwest Properties, will have much trouble filling the units. Many would-be tenants have already contacted his business.
"We have a huge list. We have 150 to 160 people. I think a good number of them are still planning (on moving in)." In two to three months, Mr. Spatz said Southwest will be able to start offering spaces. Most of those who have indicated they'd like to live in Bishop's Landing are 40 to 65 years old and have already owned a home. Some are empty nesters ready to move on "with the next phase of their lives," while the building would also be suitable for professional couples working downtown, Mr. Spatz said.
In the past few months, Southwest has done market research to determine what prospective tenants want from the building, and a planning team has visited several North American cities with waterfront properties. "If you go to cities on the water, typically . . . they tend to have some of the best developments." Cities visited include Boston, Vancouver and Toronto. Mr. Spatz was particularly impressed with a condominium-commercial complex in Boston called Rowes Wharf. "It's the most gorgeous thing I've ever seen."
Bishop's Landing will incorporate heritage touches in the design by Lydon Lynch Architects Ltd., and the project will blend in with its historical surroundings, the developer said. "There's no question we're going to have . . . a very classical look. It has elements that reflect some details from the past. I think it will be a fabulous place to live." "The better job that we do, the more people will try to meet and beat what we've done."
Mr. Spatz said he could not reveal the cost of the project. Rideau Construction has been hired as project manager, but other contracts have yet to be awarded. That will likely happen in December. The road to the construction stage has not been smooth. Bishop's Landing encountered resistance and court battles from citizens concerned about waterfront access.
But the developer has said a public park will be built in front of the complex along the harbour. A parking and public area will also be available for use during large events.
This article appeared in the October 19th Edition of the Halifax Herald. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WAIT OVER FOR BISHOP'S LANDING
Residential, retail complex scheduled to open in 2001 By Eva Hoare / Business Reporter - Halifax Herald
The backhoes dug into the cold ground on the Halifax waterfront Monday to make way for a new housing and retail complex spearheaded by developer Jim Spatz.
Bishop's Landing is taking shape some four years after Mr. Spatz's company, Southwest Properties, first struck a deal with the Waterfront Development Corp. The multimillion-dollar project will house 211 apartments, including two- and three-bedroom units, said Jim Spatz, whose father, Simon, founded Southwest Properties.
Planners designed the building to hold 238 units, but it was downsized to provide more space for tenants.
The complex, which will also include retail features such as a restaurant, bistro-style cafe and wellness spa on the ground floor, is slated for the summer of 2001.
Mr. Spatz, whose company and architects have done extensive market research to determine features that should be offered to prospective tenants, said two- to three-bedroom units were deemed preferable.
"Nobody . . . wants anything less than a two-bedroom unit," he said.
Tenants, who can sign long-term leases, will also be able to upgrade certain parts of their units, such as flooring and counters, Mr. Spatz said.
The preliminary renting process should begin in about two to three months, he said, adding that 150 to 200 people are on a waiting list. Price ranges will also be decided around that time.
"It's a pretty amazing response to a project that's just getting under way."
The complex will be seven storeys at its highest point, stepped down along the waterfront to three levels at the harbour's edge.
Some units provide space for rooftop terraces, and the Waterfront DevelopmentCorp. has plans for a public marina adjacent to park space on the site, Mr. Spatz said.
About 10 trees planted by the city along Lower Water Street were dug up Monday and are to be transported to the municipality's nursery in Cowie Hill, Mr. Spatz said.
"We wanted to make sure the trees were not destroyed," he said, adding the corporation owned them, but Southwest Properties gave the trees to the municipality.
The first phase involves the groundbreaking and foundation-pouring, while this spring will be taken up with construction. The outside is expected to be completed by December, when workers will move inside to finish the units by summer, Mr. Spatz said.
Architects and Mr. Spatz will fly to Vancouver for a few days next week to work on cosmetic features for the building's exterior and get more ideas to refine the interior layout.
"We're trying to push the design to maximize the quality of the project we do."
The road to construction has not always been smooth. Bishop's Landing encountered resistance and court battles from citizens concerned about waterfront access.
Mr. Spatz said his company and the corporation are making efforts to keep as much parking space available while construction is under way. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CITY MUST DECIDE SOON ON RAIL OPTION
By Steve Maich / City Hall Reporter
Halifax regional councillors must make up their minds soon about the idea of a commuter rail system linking downtown Halifax to the suburbs.
CN Rail has told council it will begin pulling up a branch track between Windsor Junction and Halifax on Sept. 1, unless the municipality decides to develop a commuter service.
Coun. Peter Kelly (Bedford) says this may be Halifax's last chance to approve a commuter train, or the city may risk losing the rail option.
"We have 30 kilometres of rail bed that, if we had to rebuild on our own, would cost up to $30 million," Mr. Kelly said in an interview Monday.
"There are other communities in North America that are kicking themselves because they're having to reinstate the track beds that have been removed. "Before we make that mistake, let's make sure we maintain that infrastructure that may have potential."
Mr. Kelly will ask council tonight to approve a $75,000 feasibility study by consultants Canac Inc., in hopes of convincing CN to leave the tracks in place a while longer.
But that may be a tough sell, regardless of the results of the proposed study.
In a March 30 letter to Mr. Kelly, CN corporate development manager Francois Lemay said the company has delayed removing the tracks for two years while waiting for council to decide the future of a commuter train and can't afford to wait any longer.
"This track material is valuable, in good condition and is required for work programs elsewhere in our system," Mr. Lemay wrote.
"We continue to be interested in reaching a commercial transaction for the use of the line for commuter service. However, we will need to formalize a final agreement . . . by Sept. 1."
Another feasibility study, carried out by the IBI Group in 1997, showed a commuter rail service was likely to recoup only about 40 per cent of the city's costs to run it.
Council decided not to pay the estimated $2.7 million in start-up costs.
But Mr. Kelly said the region's business environment has changed substantially in three years.
"If we're going to make an informed decision on commuter rail, we need to make sure we have the proper information to do so," he said.
"If we don't, we may lose the opportunity of a lifetime."
Coun. Steve Adams (Spryfield-Herring Cove) said he'll support the call for another study.
"In the grand scheme of things, $75,000 isn't a lot of money when you consider the chance to alleviate traffic and parking problems in the city," he said.
"The way things are going, people are afraid to drive downtown because they figure they'll never find a parking spot.
