Latest news with #FathomStudio
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Mooseheads asking city for $1.6M to expand Dartmouth training facility
The Halifax Mooseheads are asking Halifax regional council for up to $1.625 million to expand the training facility they lease at the RBC Centre in Dartmouth. Mooseheads general manager Cam Russell and Elizabeth Powell of architecture firm Fathom Studio outlined plans for a proposed 4,700-square-foot addition at a standing committee meeting on Wednesday. They said the project at the municipally owned centre would benefit both the team and the public. Russell, who has been with the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League organization for 25 years, told the committee the current training facility is challenging to use. "Our gym isn't big enough, we have to work out in two or three different groups," he said. "We have a lounge that only seats three to four players. We don't have a wellness area that would be good for the kids, for their mental health and their well-being." Russell told the committee a state-of-the-art facility would enhance the Mooseheads' ability to attract top talent, putting the team on the same level as NCAA teams, universities and colleges. Russell said the proposed expansion would include a high-performance gym equipped with hockey-specific training gear, a 21-metre turf training track, and a dedicated shooting room for skill development, which he said would be a first in the QMJHL. The plans would also incorporate a sauna, steam room and cold plunge recovery area, a more spacious player lounge and a publicly accessible, barrier-free washroom. The timeline for the project is about six months for the design and eight months for construction, said Powell, the project architect. Russell said the Mooseheads are asking the municipality to fund the construction of the building shell, while the team would cover interior costs and remain the exclusive tenant of the training facility. The Mooseheads' current lease, set to expire next year, costs the team about $45,000 annually, he said. Coun. Patty Cuttell said while she understood the need for the expansion, she had concerns about the municipality paying for a space for the exclusive use of a privately owned franchise. "If we build this, what's the cost recovery through the lease?" she asked. Maggie MacDonald, the executive director of parks and recreation, recommended a staff report to examine the financial implications, the assessment of public good, and potential cost recovery mechanisms. Cuttell said she would be willing to ask for a staff report once she examined the motion in greater detail.
Global News
16-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
The why behind the highrise living that's popping up around Halifax
As Halifax continues its rapid transformation to meet historic housing demands, cranes above intersections have become a defining feature of the skyline. But the city's future doesn't rest solely in highrises. Across the region, planners and developers are eyeing green fields and underused spaces as opportunities for new neighbourhoods — designed from the ground up to accommodate tens of thousands of new residents. Rob LeBlanc, planning director at Fathom Studio, says his team is working hard to create more housing. 'In our office alone, we're working on master planning about 65,000 units in Atlantic Canada,' he said. In Moncton alone, the plan includes a proposed 16,000 units. That includes major developments like Bedford Common with 6,800 proposed homes, and Exhibition Park, which could see upwards of 5,000 units. Story continues below advertisement These are just a few pieces of Halifax's Centre Plan, which is the city's blueprint to manage growth and build sustainable, high-density communities. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy They're envisioned not just as places to live but as complete neighbourhoods, with schools, grocery stores, daycares, and other facilities. 'You'll see new downtowns develop in what might have been a green-filled area or a small suburban neighbourhood,' said LeBlanc. However, with a big vision like this one, the timeline is long. For many, the wait for housing relief remains frustrating and unattainable. LeBlanc warns that while the goal is to support the housing lifecycle and free up homes for families, 'It'll take upwards of 10 to 15 years to even start to put a dent in the crisis we're currently in.' And for many potential homeowners or renters, affordability still remains the biggest hurdle. Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore acknowledges that while building new communities is crucial, they're just one part of the puzzle. 'There's a tremendous amount of work to do to build the housing stock,' he said, adding that speeding up approvals, unlocking low-cost land, and supporting innovative building methods like modular homes must also be priorities. As of now, the average home price in Halifax sits above $550,000, and the average rent has climbed over $600 in the last decade. Story continues below advertisement The city's vacancy rate may have ticked up to two per cent, but for affordable units, it's effectively just one per cent. This is Part 2 in our three-part series looking at development in Halifax and if we're pricing too many people out.
