Fitzroy Street is closed this morning (and will be closed for the next 6 to 8 weeks) and the neighbourhood is filled with the pitter-patter of structural steel being unloaded from flatbeds: construction has started on the Homburg skycraper next door.
And, two blocks away on Grafton Street, the relocated “now with more towering-over-you power” Hotel Homburg is, reports The Guardian, slated to start construction in April and open in 2010.
Oh, and the $2 million Homburg underground passageway connecting the conveniently-relocated hotel to the Confederation Centre across the street (that you and I are donating half the cost of through our tax dollars) received approval from City Council as well.
Bow down before your new overlords, Charlottetown: the era of Homburg has begun. I hope it all works out.
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Comments
It’s just the oligarchy doing
It’s just the oligarchy doing what they do: expand up, out and anywhere with $30 million.
Isn’t higher density a good
Isn’t higher density a good thing for a downtown?
@nathan - that is the idea
@nathan - that is the idea right? It helps keep businesses in business and it encourages more diversity and opportunities downtown.
For me this is not an issue
For me this is not an issue of density vs. non-density, or development vs. non-development, it’s about outsourcing local control of development to an opaque multinational corporation.
The local property owners
The local property owners haven’t been stopped from doing projects such as these. And we haven’t sold the city to them. I hear there are plenty more vacant buildings and lots for interested local developers.
Sure we have to be wary of opaque multinationals, but shouldn’t we judge them individually and by their actions? Your research of Homburg has in part made me feel more comfortable with them.
Anyone who has driven on
Anyone who has driven on Highway 111 in Dartmouth on the way to the MacKay Bridge will recall seeing all those apartment buildings on the opposite side of the road from Burnside Industrial Park. This area of North End Dartmouth, called Highfield Park, is now one of the most dangerous crime-infested areas in eastern Canada. Homburg owns numerous buildings in this area, many of which command low rental rates, which thousands of low income retail and call centre employees call home.
Richard Homburg also recently purchased the VIA Rail station in Montreal. Rumour has it that Pearson Airport or possibly the moon are next.
Yes, I’m sure Homburg is
Yes, I’m sure Homburg is solely responsible for the crack epidemic in North End Dartmouth since we all know that rampant drug crime is such a goose for property values.
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