The Official Moncton, NB Project Thread

[MonctonRad]

Just for fun, heres what Monctons CMA would look if Shediac was added...it looks like it makes sense...and stacked up to the other large cities in NB we are still smaller in area by quite a but...so it seems feasible.

(all maps are at the same scale)

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/CMA/Moncton.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/CMA/SaintJohn.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/CMA/Fredericton.jpg

All images and info from Statscan 2006 Census.


Interesting Matt; I would extend the boundaries even further though.

If Shediac were in the CMA then why not Cap Pele? Since Memramcook is in the CMA then why not Sackville? Both of these communities would easily qualify as part of the rural commuter watershed. Even with Cap Pele and Sackville included, I'd bet that our CMA would still be geographically smaller than Saint John's.

If Cap Pele and Sackville were part of the Moncton CMA then our population would likely be in the range of 145,000.

[mmmatt]

Interesting Matt; I would extend the boundaries even further though.

If Shediac were in the CMA then why not Cap Pele? Since Memramcook is in the CMA then why not Sackville? Both of these communities would easily qualify as part of the rural commuter watershed. Even with Cap Pele and Sackville included, I'd bet that our CMA would still be geographically smaller than Saint John's.

If Cap Pele and Sackville were part of the Moncton CMA then our population would likely be in the range of 145,000.

Yeah it would still be smaller Im sure, but Sackville has its own economy to a point with the university and stuff so I don't know how well that would fly...I think we should AT LEAST put Shediac in the CMA though...When you sit and think of how far Moncton and Shediac are apart and the relationship between the two places it actually sounds foolish to think its not included.

[mylesmalley]

I really wonder what the rationale behind CMA boundaries is.
Look at Fredericton. It's the smallest city by population, but by far the largest in area. Much of the territory in Freddy CMA is rural, and by the looks of the map above, most of it isnt' even accessible by road.

At the same time too, why is elgin part of Moncton, but Petticodiac isnt'.


Also, who drew the road lines on those maps? There's a stretch of road near Hopewell that's apparently a few miles offshore.

[mmmatt]

Also, who drew the road lines on those maps? There's a stretch of road near Hopewell that's apparently a few miles offshore.

hahaha! I didn't even notice that! There are a few places where the road randomly takes a watery detour on those maps. Good job statscan! :)

[ErickMontreal]

Moncton to New York daily flights to continue year-round
Service will no longer be reduced in the winter
9/17/2008

Greater Moncton International Airport (GMIA) is pleased to announce that commencing this winter, Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) will continue its daily Moncton-New York service on a year-round basis. The daily 50-seat jet service to Newark Liberty International Airport which, in the previous two years was reduced to four times per week between November and February, will now continue seven days per week year-round to better serve customers.

The schedule enhancement is due to the demand for year-round daily access to Continental’s connections to over 144 destinations worldwide through its New York hub and the removal of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) cost recovery fees at GMIA. In addition, several regional marketing campaigns were launched in the last two years to build awareness of Continental in our community.

“We are pleased that New Brunswick’s only transborder service is enjoying strong community support”, states Rob Robichaud, President and CEO, of the Greater Moncton International Airport Authority. “Continental’s expanded flight schedule in Moncton is a perfect example of a community coming together to optimize air accessibility not only for this region, but for New Brunswick as a whole.”

A recent Economic Impact Study revealed that the Greater Moncton International Airport injects over $378 million annually in revenue in the local, regional and provincial economy and is responsible for the employment of over 1,500 people in the region, while contributing $13 million annually in fiscal obligations, making it one of the region’s foremost employers.


- 30 -


Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,500 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 131 domestic and 131 international destinations. More than 550 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines. For more company information, go to continental.com

The Greater Moncton International Airport Authority is a not-for-profit entity mandated to manage local airport assets on behalf of the community.

For more information :
Johanne Gallant
Director, Airport Commercial Development
Tel.: 506-856-5435
Fax: 506-856-5431
Email: jgallant@gma.ca

(Greater Moncton International Airport :: L’Aéroport international du Grand Moncton)

[mmmatt]

Moncton to New York daily flights to continue year-round
Service will no longer be reduced in the winter


Great news! :D

So far this year we are on course to beat our 2006 record for passenger numbers and this will only help that cause.

[kirjtc2]

I really wonder what the rationale behind CMA boundaries is.
Look at Fredericton. It's the smallest city by population, but by far the largest in area. Much of the territory in Freddy CMA is rural, and by the looks of the map above, most of it isnt' even accessible by road.


They use parish boundaries, which don't really have much relevance to anything else anymore.

As for the roads in the water...looks like the coastline and the roads were drawn to different levels of accuracy. Big GIS no-no.

[mmmatt]

Moncton-New York flight stays daily

Airport says changes to customs service hours should result in more business

BY ALAN COCHRANE
Published Thursday September 18th, 2008

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/CMA/M-NY.jpg
billboard campaign to promote Continental service

The folks at the Greater Moncton International Airport were all smiles yesterday with the news that Continental Airlines has decided to continue its daily flights from Moncton to New York without any reduction through the winter this year.

In the previous two years, the daily 50-seat jet service to Newark Liberty International Airport had been cut down to four times per week between November and February.

"I think this really helps our marketing efforts and puts us on an equal footing with other medium-sized airports in the country for bringing in new business," GMIA president and CEO Rob Robichaud said yesterday.

Robichaud said business and recreational travellers are coming from all over New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island to catch the flight to Newark, which shows there is definitely a demand for the service. He said the Irving group of companies has been a contributor to the success of the flight. The Newark airport, located near the famous Statue of Liberty, is a major travel hub with connections to destinations all over the world. It is expected the Moncton-New York service will be busy this winter for people on business trips and headed for winter getaways in the sun.

Robichaud said the removal of extra customs fees had a lot to do with the Canada Border Services Agency (CSBA) recovery fees at the Moncton airport. In the past, the CSBA only provided customs inspection services from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the airport. That meant that planes landing outside those hours of operation were charged fees to staff the customs office. The fees were not charged to domestic flights from inside Canada.

Robichaud said those extra fees were costing Continental about $200,000 a year. A deal was recently reached to staff the Moncton airport between 8 a.m. and midnight, which means Continental won't have to pay the fees if they land their planes within that window.

Robichaud said the airport is getting busier with both passenger and cargo planes and may soon require CBSA coverage 24 hours a day, or a shifting of that 16-hour window to accommodate more planes.

"We want to be able to go after new services and not have to worry about it."

At the moment, there are some air cargo flights landing and taking off from the airport in the wee hours of the morning. But Robichaud said most are domestic cargo flights coming from other locations inside Canada.

[MonctonRad]

Downtown Shediac location to showcase new format

BY ALAN COCHRANE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

A new Shoppers Drug Mart location in downtown Shediac will be among the largest in the region and will showcase the national chain's new look and format.

"This new store in Shediac is a relocation and is slated to open in November," said company spokeswoman Tammy Smitham. "It will have 14,000 square feet of selling space and feature our new prototype format."

The new store will have the latest pharmacy design and increased floor area for food and convenience, beauty supplies, photo-finishing and other convenience store items. It will also have leased space on the second floor for doctors' offices.

The Shediac store is now under construction on Main Street across from the federal government's superannuation office.

Meanwhile, Shoppers Drug Mart is also building a new store near the intersection of Main Street and Vaughan Harvey Boulevard in Moncton, between the Via Rail station and the new Sobeys store which opened last December. The new store will replace the existing store inside the nearby Highfield Square shopping mall.

Smitham said the new stores are part of Shoppers Drug Mart's expansion plans and renewal of infrastructure across the country. The chain operates more than 1,100 associate-owned stores from coast to coast, including 11 in Metro Moncton and Shediac.

[Wishblade]

Downtown Shediac location to showcase new format

BY ALAN COCHRANE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

A new Shoppers Drug Mart location in downtown Shediac will be among the largest in the region and will showcase the national chain's new look and format.

"This new store in Shediac is a relocation and is slated to open in November," said company spokeswoman Tammy Smitham. "It will have 14,000 square feet of selling space and feature our new prototype format."

The new store will have the latest pharmacy design and increased floor area for food and convenience, beauty supplies, photo-finishing and other convenience store items. It will also have leased space on the second floor for doctors' offices.

The Shediac store is now under construction on Main Street across from the federal government's superannuation office.

Meanwhile, Shoppers Drug Mart is also building a new store near the intersection of Main Street and Vaughan Harvey Boulevard in Moncton, between the Via Rail station and the new Sobeys store which opened last December. The new store will replace the existing store inside the nearby Highfield Square shopping mall.

Smitham said the new stores are part of Shoppers Drug Mart's expansion plans and renewal of infrastructure across the country. The chain operates more than 1,100 associate-owned stores from coast to coast, including 11 in Metro Moncton and Shediac.

I've seen them building in that format for about 3 years now. That was the first one I saw which was built in Dartmouth. Its not exactly new, but its certainly an improvement over the way they used to build their stores.

[kwajo]

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/CMA/SaintJohn.jpg

Why does the SJ CMA include all of SJ County? The whole region past St. Martin's probably has like 70 people living in it, it's one of the least populated parts of the province, not to mention the fact that it would take almost 2 hours to drive from parts of that area to Uptown Saint John, if only because it doesn't really have roads.

[kirjtc2]

It's the way the parishes are drawn. Statscan uses them to determine CMAs and it's all or nothing...doesn't make much sense, but nothing Statscan does seems to make much sense.

[mmmatt]

Moncton backs Vision 2010

Published Friday September 19th, 2008
A11
By Aloma Jardine


As Moncton City Council confirmed its commitment to the city's Vision 2010 strategic plan, it also suggested it may be time for a more long-term vision.

"When you look at visioning, it seems that visioning for 2010 may have been appropriate in the past, but we're almost there. We're within 14 months of being in 2010," says Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc. "Let's move on from there and move forward. What kind of a city, what kind of a community do we want to build?"

LeBlanc says the city should use the next 14 months to take stock of how well it has done at meeting the plan's goals and to figure out where to go from here.

"We should be starting the next stage of this soon," he says. "I suggest we should be looking at 2020 vision. We should be planning for the future not in two-year or four-year increments. My intention is to put together a group to plan for the long-term."

The original Vision 2010 plan was adopted in May 2006.

While council accepted its six goals -- focusing on the environment, active living, creating a safe and healthy community, growth and development, arts, culture, and heritage, and good governance -- it also elected to add a goal of its own: long-term financial stability.

"It is no secret that many members of council, in fact probably all members of council, feel very strongly that we have to be responsible in our financial planning and we are working very hard at that," LeBlanc says. "We are very focused on responsible financial planning and spending."

[MonctonRad]

DEC deems need for East-Riverview School a top priority
September 19, 2008 - 10:45 am
By: Cathy LeBreton - News 91.9 Staff


RIVERVIEW, NB - The need for a new elementary school in East Riverview is now on the radar as the District Education Council bumped it to the top of it's capital priority list this week.

The next hurdle is to sell the idea to the Department of Education.

The 58 year old Gunningsville Elementary school is outdated, and overcrowded.

Ten of the school's 16 classrooms are portables and Principal Adam Rogerson says there isn't any room to put more.

The Town of Riverview says it will donate a couple of acres of land on the old naval base, near the Coverdale Rec. Centre, for the new facility.

The chair of the DEC, Harry Doyle is excited about the offer and hopes the province will be as well.

Gunningsville and the Lower Coverdale are both K-5 schools, but Doyle says there is a case to be made for making the new facility a K-8 school.

He suggests it could be built on the model currently being developed for a K-8 facility to be built in Moncton's north end.

Doyle says the request for a new school is going in to the Department of Education this week and he hopes to hear something back from them early in the new year.

[mmmatt]

DEC deems need for East-Riverview School a top priority

Great!, the need for new schools is always a good thing, population is growing fast for sure! :)

Hopefully this one doesnt take as long to go through the works as the upcoming north end school did.

[MonctonRad]

Moncton enjoys continued construction boom

Commercial projects leading the way with no end in sight
By Yvon Gauvin
Times & Transcript staff

Moncton continues to set construction trends with several large projects started and more on the horizon.

Total value of building permits issued by the city for August amounted to $24,424,000, an increase of 14.1 per cent over the August 2007 total of $21,410,000.

The total to date of $88,320,000 falls just short the 2007 total of $96,403,000, a decrease of 8.4 per cent.

"Considering all the commercial projects in the pipeline, 2008 will be another banner year for builders and developers in the City of Moncton," said Ben Champoux, business development specialist for the city.

"Many of the larger commercial projects, such as the casino, hotels, stadium, retail fashion centre on Mapleton Road for example, will be under construction in 2009 as well, leading us to believe that the construction sector is not about to cool off anytime soon," he said.

The number of permits for August was 96, which was down slightly compared to the 121 permits issued in August 2007.

The commercial and industrial sector, however, recorded an increase in the number of permits for the month. Twenty-six commercial and industrial permits were issued compared to 20 last year, an increase of 30 per cent. The total value of the permits nearly doubled at $19,121,000 compared to $10,082,000 last year.

Residential permits were down in August with 66 issued compared to 94 last year, but they are ahead when looking at the year-to-date figures. So far 580 permits were issued, compared to 538 in 2007. The value of the permits is down slightly this year, with $44,068,000 in 2008 compared to $44,862,000 last year.

Major construction permits issued in August included construction of the foundation to a three-storey office building on Weldon Street, a new water tower storage facility on Twin Oaks Drive, foundation for a 78-unit motel on Mountain Road and construction of building A of the retail complex by Mapleton Development Inc. on Mapleton Road.


Personal note.......The "78-unit motel on Mountain Road" must refer to the new construction site next to the Amsterdam Inn. Given the sign previously located on this site, this must be the new Motel 6.

[MonctonRad]

As I was driving down Mountain Road today, I passed a sign I had not seen before announcing a new residential development.

The sign is located on the north side of Mountain Road, just a little to the west of the Mormon Church. I think it said that the developer was "Armco Investments".

The development is an apartment/condo project and the illustration on the sign appeared to show about four buildings, each about 4-5 stories high.

Does anyone have any additional information on this?

[mmmatt]

As I was driving down Mountain Road today, I passed a sign I had not seen before announcing a new residential development.

The sign is located on the north side of Mountain Road, just a little to the west of the Mormon Church. I think it said that the developer was "Armco Investments".

The development is an apartment/condo project and the illustration on the sign appeared to show about four buildings, each about 4-5 stories high.

Does anyone have any additional information on this?

Yeah Ive mentioned it before, I first saw that sign while walking home from the Eagles concert...It looks nice, however on closer inspection I think it says "potential investment property" or something like that...so it might just be some idea that if someone wants to fund it the design is already pre made or something? I dunno haha...

[alienc]

This is long overdue. I have been by the Gunningsville School and it has seen better days. It's in the middle of a residential neighborhood with no means of expanding it out any further than it is now.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=riverview,+nb&ie=UTF8&ll=46.072568,-64.773588&spn=0.00358,0.009656&t=h&z=17

There has been a huge building boom on the east side in the past 5 years, especially in the past 2 years with all the new Duplex/Condo units going in on new roads directly past Runnymeade (where they propose putting the new school).

They even now have a road in that subdivision that connects around the back to Runnymeade making it a complete loop.

Anyone living on this side of Riverview that happens to be on the left-hand turn side in the morning has a very hard time getting out in the morning with all the traffic coming in from further out along with the new traffic associated with all these new living units.

On another subject, there was a sign posted for Colliers International selling the land directly across from the Petro Canada that was at one time going to be used for another Convienence store (Cheryl Conway tried many times to get the rezoning made to have this happen and I assume gave up).

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=riverview,+nb&ie=UTF8&ll=46.076025,-64.762752&spn=0.00179,0.004828&t=h&z=18

Anyways, the sign was taken down a few weeks ago so I assume that either it was sold or whomever was selling it took it off the market. I would like to see the town buy it and put in some kind of public space there such as a playground as there are a lot of small children in the area that could make use of it.

It's only other use really is to construct residential housing on it and given the average lot size you might get 6-8 lots out of it.

DEC deems need for East-Riverview School a top priority
September 19, 2008 - 10:45 am
By: Cathy LeBreton - News 91.9 Staff


RIVERVIEW, NB - The need for a new elementary school in East Riverview is now on the radar as the District Education Council bumped it to the top of it's capital priority list this week.

The next hurdle is to sell the idea to the Department of Education.

The 58 year old Gunningsville Elementary school is outdated, and overcrowded.

Ten of the school's 16 classrooms are portables and Principal Adam Rogerson says there isn't any room to put more.

The Town of Riverview says it will donate a couple of acres of land on the old naval base, near the Coverdale Rec. Centre, for the new facility.

The chair of the DEC, Harry Doyle is excited about the offer and hopes the province will be as well.

Gunningsville and the Lower Coverdale are both K-5 schools, but Doyle says there is a case to be made for making the new facility a K-8 school.

He suggests it could be built on the model currently being developed for a K-8 facility to be built in Moncton's north end.

Doyle says the request for a new school is going in to the Department of Education this week and he hopes to hear something back from them early in the new year.

[mylesmalley]

This is long overdue. I have been by the Gunningsville School and it has seen better days. It's in the middle of a residential neighborhood with no means of expanding it out any further than it is now.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=riverview,+nb&ie=UTF8&ll=46.072568,-64.773588&spn=0.00358,0.009656&t=h&z=17

There has been a huge building boom on the east side in the past 5 years, especially in the past 2 years with all the new Duplex/Condo units going in on new roads directly past Runnymeade (where they propose putting the new school).

They even now have a road in that subdivision that connects around the back to Runnymeade making it a complete loop.

Anyone living on this side of Riverview that happens to be on the left-hand turn side in the morning has a very hard time getting out in the morning with all the traffic coming in from further out along with the new traffic associated with all these new living units.

On another subject, there was a sign posted for Colliers International selling the land directly across from the Petro Canada that was at one time going to be used for another Convienence store (Cheryl Conway tried many times to get the rezoning made to have this happen and I assume gave up).

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=riverview,+nb&ie=UTF8&ll=46.076025,-64.762752&spn=0.00179,0.004828&t=h&z=18

Anyways, the sign was taken down a few weeks ago so I assume that either it was sold or whomever was selling it took it off the market. I would like to see the town buy it and put in some kind of public space there such as a playground as there are a lot of small children in the area that could make use of it.

It's only other use really is to construct residential housing on it and given the average lot size you might get 6-8 lots out of it.

Welcome to the forums, Alienc!
It's good to hear some talk on the Riverview side of the river. I think we're mostly (all?) from either Moncton or Dieppe. Either way, it's great to have another member.

[MonctonRad]

Lutheran church to open school
Published Monday September 22nd, 2008

Concordia Academy accepting kindergarten students now for class to begin next year
By Eric Lewis
Times & Transcript Staff

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Moncton will break ground this weekend on a new private school and daycare behind the church on Hildegard Drive in Moncton.

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=186894&size=500x0
This is the front elevation plan for the new building. The first phase is expected to be complete in January.

This weekend, the church will break ground just behind it in the first visible step toward the opening of its own private school.

Concordia Academy will open in three stages over the next five years, with the first step to be completed by January and the first kindergarten class to move in Sept. 2009.

Milette says the school will eventually serve children from kindergarten to Grade 8, and he says it will uphold high academic standards.

Richard Betsch, a congregation member, is the construction and building co-ordinator for the project.

Betsch's wife Debra has been operating a daycare, Kingswood Academy, in the basement of the 20-year-old church for the last two years.

The daycare is a separate entity from the church, but they have a solid relationship that has led to some growth in the congregation.

"The daycare revitalized the church, revitalized the congregation," says Betsch. "Flowers got planted, lawns got cut, kids from the daycare would attend Sunday school, families were starting to come to school every so often . . . These were things that weren't happening and now are."

Pastor Milette agrees.

"They help out with the congregation, and they also give an opportunity for many people who would never really find a reason to come into a church building to come into a church building," he explains.

When Lutheran Church-Canada, the governing body of the church, saw the success of the daycare, it asked the church if it would consider opening a Lutheran school. The Lutheran body keeps an extension fund to maintain or rebuild churches across the country.

Roughly two years of research precipitated the Moncton project before all involved decided to give it a go.

Lutheran Church-Canada is kicking in about $2 million for the school and additional fundraising will be done to complete the project and even tear down and rebuild the church if all goes well.

Once complete, the school will serve up to 135 students (15 per grade in Grades 1-8).

Phase one will be about 6,500 square feet over two stories, and it is expected to be finished by January.

An addition will be added later of another 6,500 square feet about two years later, and the third step will be the addition of a gymnasium for use by the school and surrounding community three years after that.

Kingswood Academy will also move into the new building once the first phase is complete.

Kingswood Academy daycare has about 40 youngsters attending right now, and Betsch says the school aims to retain about 10 of them for the first kindergarten class.

Betsch says the school's curriculum is based on western Canadian curriculum that will include math, health, science, English, French, essentially all of the normal school subjects, in addition to religion.

"Religion is taught, but it's not as dogmatic as people might think," Betsch explains.

Tuition will be $500 per month ($5,000 per year), and there will be summer programs available as well.

The church is currently in the process of selecting a principal.

Pastor Milette will run a daily chapel service for the kids, but says he wants "someone who has all the necessary qualifications" to be selected as a principal.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Moncton is the only Lutheran church in Metro Moncton. There are only a few Lutheran churches on the East Coast, including one in Saint John.

Outside of the public education system in North America and the Catholic private education system, the Lutheran system is the largest, explains Betsch.

Pastor Milette says he is happy to see the church growing, and he is excited about the school project.

"I love it," says Milette. "It's intimidating because it's a big project, but I didn't become a pastor because I wanted everything to be nice and simple and straight-forward."

The school groundbreaking will take place this Sunday at 12:30 p.m. just behind Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at 25 Hildegard Dr. in Moncton. The president of the east district of Lutheran Church-Canada, Alan Maleske, will be on hand.

[MonctonRad]

Clinton to speak in Moncton
September 22, 2008 - 11:05 am
By: Cathy LeBreton - News 91.9 Staff

MONCTON, NB - Political junkies will be in their glory during an upcoming speaking engagement at the Moncton Coliseum.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton will make a stop in the Hub City this Fall.

Clinton will deliver a 45 minute speech to up to four-thousand spectators at the Moncton Coliseum on November 25th.

He will then be joined on stage by former Premier Frank McKenna and the pair take part in a lively discussion about the economy and global issues.

Event Spokesperson Derek Riedle says McKenna negotiated for months to bring Clinton to New Brunswick and the original date for the event, October 14th, had to be scrapped when the Federal Election was called.

Tickets for Clinton's speech start at 99 dollars.

[mmmatt]

Lutheran church to open school
Published Monday September 22nd, 2008

Concordia Academy accepting kindergarten students now for class to begin next year
By Eric Lewis
Times & Transcript Staff

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Moncton will break ground this weekend on a new private school and daycare behind the church on Hildegard Drive in Moncton.

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=186894&size=500x0
This is the front elevation plan for the new building. The first phase is expected to be complete in January.



Thats really cool! The Wesleyan Church on St George currently holds a bit of a monopoly on the private school market in Moncton (they also just expanded their school recently)...so its nice to see another pop up, not a bad looking building I must say.

[BaseballFan]

Yes, you're right, that is where the Motel 6 sign was located.

I drove by the site this evening and tried to have a closer look. While it could be a Motel 6 going in there, I think the site is actually kinda small and actually looks to be more suited to a restaurant (with ample parking). I could be wrong however.

I can confirm that the building permit on file with the city is for a Motel 6. On a related note, I'd love to know how many hotel rooms there are in Moncton following the recent constructions boom as compared to, say, ten years ago. Any ideas/guesses?

[mylesmalley]

I can confirm that the building permit on file with the city is for a Motel 6. On a related note, I'd love to know how many hotel rooms there are in Moncton following the recent constructions boom as compared to, say, ten years ago. Any ideas/guesses?

Welcome to the forums!

According to the Go Moncton page, there are around 2,200 rooms in the city. The number seems pretty accurate, though it doesn't include the new Hampton Inn, nor does it include the other new hotel on Mapleton. I'd say there's probably another 500-750 rooms just built or under construction.

The casino is supposed to have around 90, there's the Motel 6, which i'm guessing will probably have around the same. The Hampton, probably 100, the other one on Mapleton, 100. There's also a 80 or so room hotel being built on the TCH at Salisbury. There's a couple proposed for the Dieppe area, and I'm sure there are a few they missed in their list.

All told, I'd hazard that there are probably 3,000 to 3,500 rooms in town.

[gehrhardt]

There's also a 80 or so room hotel being built on the TCH at Salisbury. There's a couple proposed for the Dieppe area, and I'm sure there are a few they missed in their list.

All told, I'd hazard that there are probably 3,000 to 3,500 rooms in town.

As for the hotel in Salisbury, the only activity at that site all summer was public works putting all the curbs and median in. The foundation is still in the same shape it was for most of last winter. There are some concrete forms piled up that haven't moved in months. I wonder if the deal fell through...

[BaseballFan]

Welcome to the forums!

According to the Go Moncton page, there are around 2,200 rooms in the city. The number seems pretty accurate, though it doesn't include the new Hampton Inn, nor does it include the other new hotel on Mapleton. I'd say there's probably another 500-750 rooms just built or under construction.

The casino is supposed to have around 90, there's the Motel 6, which i'm guessing will probably have around the same. The Hampton, probably 100, the other one on Mapleton, 100. There's also a 80 or so room hotel being built on the TCH at Salisbury. There's a couple proposed for the Dieppe area, and I'm sure there are a few they missed in their list.

All told, I'd hazard that there are probably 3,000 to 3,500 rooms in town.

With all this new construction, one has to wonder if some of the existing stock will have to start renovating or performing other upgrades in order to remain competitive.

[mmmatt]

With all this new construction, one has to wonder if some of the existing stock will have to start renovating or performing other upgrades in order to remain competitive.

Welsome to the forum BaseballFan!

The city has been growing its tourism stake steadily for the past few years and even with the huge influx of new hotel rooms the occupancy rate is still high. However within the past few years the citys two largest hotels had major overhauls (Crowne Plaza and Delta) this could be due to new competition, but I'm not sure.

[BaseballFan]

Thanks for the kind welcome! I've been reading the forums here for a while now, I finally decided to create an account.

I really like the exterior of the new Hampton Inn much better than that of the Future Inn. I'm not holding my breath on a nice design for the Motel 6, I assume it will be a vinyl-sided box similar to the Super 8 designs we see around here.

On a related note, I stayed at the Future Inn in Halifax recently, and the restaurant in that hotel is not nearly as nice as Maverick's. I used to think it was silly to put a nice restaurant in a "medium" calibre hotel (priced above what the typical hotel guest would be interested in), but with the explosion of growth in the north end, I think I'm going to be proven wrong.

[mylesmalley]

Thanks for the kind welcome! I've been reading the forums here for a while now, I finally decided to create an account.

I really like the exterior of the new Hampton Inn much better than that of the Future Inn. I'm not holding my breath on a nice design for the Motel 6, I assume it will be a vinyl-sided box similar to the Super 8 designs we see around here.

On a related note, I stayed at the Future Inn in Halifax recently, and the restaurant in that hotel is not nearly as nice as Maverick's. I used to think it was silly to put a nice restaurant in a "medium" calibre hotel (priced above what the typical hotel guest would be interested in), but with the explosion of growth in the north end, I think I'm going to be proven wrong.

It's not like Maverick's was ever in a particularly high-class part of town to begin with. If memory serves, it was on the main floor of a vinyl cladded appartment building.

[BaseballFan]

It's not like Maverick's was ever in a particularly high-class part of town to begin with. If memory serves, it was on the main floor of a vinyl cladded appartment building.

I agree, the previous location was not ideal, but at least it was within a short drive or cab ride from downtown; much more accessible for business lunches & dinners. I don't think the newer location is ideal either, but better than I had first thought.

That being said, I am a "Keg person" :tup:

One more thing....I agree with the general sentiment around here that mostly vinyl-clad apartment buildings should be discouraged. Cost is an issue, yes, but vinyl-clad buildings in the central area of the city gives a "cheap" impression to residents and visitors alike.

[mylesmalley]

I agree, the previous location was not ideal, but at least it was within a short drive or cab ride from downtown; much more accessible for business lunches & dinners. I don't think the newer location is ideal either, but better than I had first thought.

That being said, I am a "Keg person" :tup:

One more thing....I agree with the general sentiment around here that mostly vinyl-clad apartment buildings should be discouraged. Cost is an issue, yes, but vinyl-clad buildings in the central area of the city gives a "cheap" impression to residents and visitors alike.

Yeah. That pretty much sums us up.
Thankfully, city council has decided the same thing, and some of the newer buildings look very nice. Even the one by the T&T building, which is partly cladded in vinyl has a nice aesthetic appeal to it.

[BaseballFan]

Does anyone know what is going on along Harrisville Boulevard? A quick scan of previous thread pages didn't turn up anything up for me.

I saw sanitary services being laid earlier this summer on the eastern side of the road. Is some sort of construction imminent?

[mylesmalley]

At the moment, it's just piping. The plan, or so I'm told, is to build a Sobeys on the NE side of the Dieppe/Harrisville/Rt 15 Interchange. There's been some talk of that area eventually becoming another retail 'node' to service the quickly growing Uptown Dieppe and shediac Rd. areas. The area has also been suggested as the site of a possible Sam's Club store.

As far as I know though, there hasn't been anything concrete announced.

[mmmatt]

This is long overdue. I have been by the Gunningsville School and it has seen better days. It's in the middle of a residential neighborhood with no means of expanding it out any further than it is now.



Welcome alienc!! I didnt notice your post until now haha

2 new members in 24 hours, not bad :) the more the merrier!

[MonctonRad]

I can confirm that the building permit on file with the city is for a Motel 6. On a related note, I'd love to know how many hotel rooms there are in Moncton following the recent constructions boom as compared to, say, ten years ago. Any ideas/guesses?

Let me also belatedly welcome you to the forum BaseballFan.

Indeed, you could almost have a compilation thread dealing only with the new hotel construction here in Moncton. In the last three years, additions to the hotel inventory include:

Dieppe Blvd/Moncton Airport area
- Holiday Inn & Suites Airport/Dieppe (3 floors, approx. 60 rooms)
- Super 8 Motel (3 floors, approx. 80 rooms)

Downtown Moncton
- Marriott Residence Inn (6 floors, 133 rooms)

Mapleton Road/Power Centre area
- Future Inn (4 floors, 130 rooms)
- Hampton Inn and Suites (6 floors, 127 rooms)

Magnetic Hill/Mountain Road area
- Amsterdam Inn (2 floors, approx. 50 rooms)
- Motel 6 (under construction)
- Casino New Brunswick Hotel (approved)
- Microtel Motel (approved)

As mentioned above, both the Delta Beausejour and the Crowne Plaza Hotels downtown have also undergone multimillion dollar makeovers in the last couple of years. The Best Western Motel at the Dieppe traffic circle has been expanded. By my estimate, the hotel room inventory in Moncton has increased by about 600 rooms in the last three years, with about another 250-300 rooms on the way.

Finally, I have the feeling that the Best Western Hotel project in Salisbury must be dead. There is a concrete slab down, but there has been no other activity on the site for months now. I presume that the financing for this project must have fallen through.

[MonctonRad]

BO FM features 'urban' mix of French and English music, will rely on volunteers
BY NICK MOORE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

Dieppe's first-ever radio station is now on the air.

CFBO-FM, branded as BO FM, can be found on the dial (at 90.7 FM) and online (at www.cfbo.ca). The station's studios are located in the old Dieppe city hall on Acadie Avenue.

Owned by Radio Beauséjour (also owners of CJSE in Shediac), General Manager Serge Parent said it took about eight years for the Dieppe station to sign on.

"It will be a community radio station, the fifth French radio station in the Moncton market," said Parent. "It will be a typical community radio station focusing on the community."

Parent said bringing community flavour to airwaves will be possible because the station is offering volunteer opportunities to the public.

"We'll be recruiting people for different types of shows: sports people, cultural-type people that know a lot about different aspects of music and arts ... all to be reporters. There will be all kinds of ways to volunteer."

Volunteers will make up a large part of the station's weeknight and weekend schedule; their recruitment will begin around mid-October. The station will also employ five people.

Following an "urban" sound mix, Parent says BO FM will have both French and English music on its playlist, ranging from Top 40 hits to classic tunes. The station's schedule will also feature a music countdown show based out of Paris, France.

Sister station CJSE in Shediac also went through a mild format change with BO FM going on air. CJSE now plays exclusively country music, pushing all bits of pop music over to BO FM. Parent said tweaking the format in Shediac helped the broadcaster get a licence from the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission) for the Dieppe station. At the same time, Parent said the adjustment on CJSE isn't all that drastic.

"We've always been known as the country music (station) before," he said. "The only difference now is that we've pulled off all the pop music from the station and kept the country and Acadian music."


Personal note - this will be Metro Moncton's 15th radio station, all on the FM dial, I'm going to update Wikipedia right now!

[MonctonRad]

Albertan couple open Metro corporate centre
Published Tuesday September 23rd, 2008

40,000 sq. ft. former ammunition warehouse now home to DDx Corporate Centre
By Cole Hobson
Times & Transcript Staff

To most observers, the property located at 210 John St. in Moncton West was nothing more than a dilapidated building without much value. To Marcel and Vera Milan Gervais, it was the future home of their thriving Moncton health-care business.

"We were simply trying to find a new home for our growing business," said Marcel Gervais, president of DDx Health Strategies. "Then we fell in love with this building and decided to take a chance."

Originally built as an ammunition warehouse during the Second World War, the company's John Street building has seen a transformation over the years. In the 1940s it had a number of tenants including Moncton Headstart Recycles and a farmers market. It was then bought in 2006 by the Gervaises after being vacated for a number of years.

"I think the good news was, it was an extremely solid structure . . . We had an excellent shell to start with, but it's all new mechanical, all new electrical, all new plumbing. It's virtually a brand new building," Marcel said.

It's now the new home of DDx Health Strategies, which is a strategic outsource partner for the pharmaceutical and health-care industry, whose clients include seven of the Top 10 pharmaceutical companies in the world.

Yesterday, the husband and wife pair was on hand to announce the official inauguration of the new DDx Corporate Centre which, along with DDx Health Strategies Inc., will be home to New Brunswick EMS and Shift Central Inc.

What makes the Gervais's story unique is that while the province is suffering from a number of workers going out west for employment, the husband and wife pair reversed the trend. Both native Albertans, the pair started the company in Toronto in 1990 and then moved it to Moncton in 1995.

"We met in the industry in Toronto and basically decided in the mid-'90s, when we were introduced to Moncton and what was going on here in the province, we saw a definite possibility and opportunity with global information technology," Marcel said. "I think that was the primary reason to move here, the second was the better lifestyle for our family and the fact the province was bilingual."

Since then the couple has been working and growing the business together.

"I'm the president and she's the boss," Marcel said of Vera Milan, who serves as DDx's executive vice president.

The company president joked that his wife helped "turn this place into an office that people want to come work and I just sign the cheques."

Also on hand to congratulate the Gervaises on the opening of the DDx Corporate Centre were representatives from New Brunswick EMS and Shift Central Inc., Minister of Health Michael Murphy and Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc.

LeBlanc was all too familiar with past iterations of the building, as his previous involvement with Moncton Headstart saw him work in the formerly dilapidated building that he described as "not a very pretty site" before the Gervais' began renovations. The Mayor said with the vision and hard work the husband and wife team and all their employees have put in, they've now given the 40,000 square foot building a 'wow factor.'

The DDx Corporate Centre will provide a workplace for more than 130 employees. In addition to outsourcing, DDx Health Strategies Inc. offers services in knowledge and information management, including specialized databases, websites, clinical trials and a health-care contact centre, HealthConnect.

What began as a two-person operation now employs 32 people, with plans for DDx to add at least four more employees in the upcoming year.

The corporate centre will also host the head office for Ambulance New Brunswick and its managing company, New Brunswick EMS.

ShiftCentral is the newest tenant of the building and is a leading provider of outsourced market intelligence products for major organizations across North America.

While business has been good for the family in New Brunswick, it's the Maritime hospitality that has really made the area feel like home.

"It's where our children have grown up and they consider themselves Maritimers," Marcel said. "Let's put it this way, after just three months in Moncton, we felt more at home than we did after a dozen years in Ontario, so I think that says it all."

[MonctonRad]

I drove down Mapleton Road today, braving the bulldozers and cement curb laying machines. It looks very much to me as if final site preparation prior to building Dr. John McManaman's dental clinic and commercial complex is underway. Final excavation and lot levelling is occurring and there are stakes in the ground.
http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=91379&size=700x0

[JasonL-Moncton]

Lot's of activity at the Mapleton site this morning...huge crane there and a row of about 20 'culverts', 3-4 backhoes, several large dump trucks, etc.

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

JL

[mylesmalley]

Lot's of activity at the Mapleton site this morning...huge crane there and a row of about 20 'culverts', 3-4 backhoes, several large dump trucks, etc.

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

JL

Guessing the crane is for the mall?

[mmmatt]

Some colour for the page :)

NHL in Moncton
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/2885365923_1e970f4ed4_b.jpg
Credit: Colin Busby on Flickr

Stockwell shows up to lend Allain a hand
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3155/2884369730_4d75e1fb3e_o.jpg
Credit: danielallain08 on Flickr

Aliant tower reflected in new Gov of Canada bldg facade
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/2879445676_48dea1141a_b.jpg
Credit: Johnlebl on Flickr

Coliseum for a Wildcats exhibition game (note...the Wildcats haven't lost yet this season :) maybe we wont be last again haha)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/2859698102_e93a4047d3_b.jpg
Credit: Tim's World on Flickr

[mylesmalley]

Moncton and Dieppe still booming: development officers
No sign of economic downturn
Last Updated: Thursday, September 25, 2008 | 10:40 AM AT Comments2Recommend7
CBC News
The economy may be hurting elsewhere, but things are still booming in Moncton and Dieppe with an upward swing in construction projects, say development officers.

Both cities are predicting record years for construction.

Ben Champoux, business development specialist for Moncton, said construction in the city hasn’t stopped.

By the end of September, he said, there will be nearly $100 million in new projects approved for the city.

"And considering what’s in the pipeline between now and the end of December, it could be a record year," Champoux said.

Roger Melanson, general manager of Dieppe’s economic development corporation, said that city will have a record $74 million in new construction by the end of the month.

The communities are reaping the benefits of building new roads and infrastructure, he said, such as Dieppe Boulevard and the Gunningsville Bridge.

"Now we’re seeing the private sector coming and being able to invest in the community because they have access to the infrastructure that is needed," Melanson said.

Both Champoux and Melanson said the region is also benefiting from some big ticket projects

"We have mega-projects that we have ongoing and coming in the area. In Dieppe, we have the uptown project that was announced last year that’s now in development," Melanson said.

"We have Fox Creek Two [housing development], the stadium at the Université de Moncton that’s under construction. We have the casino coming in the Magnetic Hill area, and in the Moncton downtown, we have the courthouse."

Both development officers said they’re optimistic the boom will continue into 2009.

Moncton was named the best place for business in Atlantic Canada and New England, for the second year in a row, according to a KPMG report released last spring.

[mmmatt]

Guessing the crane is for the mall?

Speaking of the mall, they took down all the old logos on the entrances for the renovation, I really hope this renewed look comes with a renewed logo as well...the green and pink just has 80's written all over it.

[JasonL-Moncton]

Guessing the crane is for the mall?

I think it was for unloading the "culvert's"...they are about as big as a dump truck ;)

[mmmatt]

Downtown wi-fi zone expanding - slowly

http://www.moncton.ca/wifi/wifi-logo.jpg

Wireless Internet west of Main Street subway still in the works

By Brent Mazerolle
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Friday September 26th, 2008

The City of Moncton's plan to extend its award-winning wireless Internet to the western edge of downtown has had the experience of many a truck on Main Street in recent years. It appears to have gotten stuck under the railway subway.

Nevertheless, "the dream is still alive and well," says Dan Babineau, the head of the City of Moncton's Information Systems department. "The deployment just might be a little slower than we would like."

Though he expressed regret winter might blow in this year before citizens get a chance to go online from the sidewalks of the Highfield Square/Crowne Plaza Hotel area, Babineau was nevertheless confident Moncton's newest wi-fi zone should be operational before the end of 2008.

Future plans are to one day spread wi-fi throughout the downtown Business Improvement Area, which has recently grown to include St. George Street, but all those plans will be subject to upcoming municipal budget deliberations.

The money needed for Main Street around the Crowne Plaza is already budgeted.

Babineau said he and his staff are talking to owners of buildings between the subway and Vaughan Harvey Boulevard and are still establishing the optimum locations for the city's equipment.

As well, the equipment necessary to make the Moncton Public Library a free wi-fi zone has arrived and the City of Moncton hopes to have it installed soon as well.

Currently, the downtown access is limited to areas around City Hall, Riverfront Park and the Church and Main Street area.





- Note: I live fairly close to Crowne Plaza...maybe one day Ill be able to get free internet! :)

[mylesmalley]

Downtown metro centre 'makes sense'
Published Tuesday September 30th, 2008

City official says record-breaking Elton John concert illustrates need for new multi-use entertainment facility
A1
BY ALAN COCHRANE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

Sunday night's record-breaking concert by music legend Elton John helps justify the need for a new multi-use sports and entertainment facility in downtown Moncton, Ian Fowler, general manager of the city's recreation, parks, tourism and culture department, said yesterday.

"We're looking at a complete package that makes sense. A downtown arena can do so much to regenerate a downtown. It can be a real community pride builder."

Fowler said the Elton John show drew fans from throughout New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and other parts of Atlantic Canada. Elton John performed two nights at the 10,000-seat Halifax Metro Centre Friday and Saturday and will do two nights at the Mile One Centre in St. John's later this week.

Fowler yesterday played host to two major players in the Canadian entertainment industry, Jacques Aubé, president of the Gillett Entertainment Group and Riley O'Connor of Live Nation concert promoters.

Gillett Entertainment group is a major concert promoter based in Montreal and currently looking after tours by Elton John, Bob Dylan, Janet Jackson, Lenny Kravitz, Celine Dion, Sam Roberts Band, Bad Religion and many others in venues across the country.

The national concert promoters toured the various venues around Moncton, including the Coliseum, Magnetic Hill and the new stadium under construction at l'Université de Moncton.

Fowler said Sunday night's concert by Elton John is another feather in the cap of Moncton, which has hosted many music legends over the years and all have been well-received. Successful concerts by such big names as the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, Elton John and others go toward more shows in the future.

The Elton John show broke three records for the aging Coliseum, including an attendance record of 8,704 people and gross sales of well over $1 million. But in today's concert business, promoters are looking for bigger venues that can generate more gross income to help cover the rising overhead costs of manpower, fuel, electricity and other factors.

The idea of building a new downtown arena has been around for a while but is starting to become serious. It is not intended to replace the Coliseum, which was built in the 1970s and seen many renovations and additions over the years. The Coliseum is seen as one of the best trade and convention show spaces in Atlantic Canada and is often filled to capacity with such annual events as the Speed Sport auto show. The huge doors on the Agrena allow exhibitors to move even huge pieces of agricultural machinery into the building with ease.

Fowler said the city will soon issue a Request For Proposals (RFP) for a consultant to compile a business plan for such a facility. The RFP is expected to look at various sites in the downtown, what types of ancillary services it would have and how much it would cost. Fowler said it would include at least one ice surface and likely be surrounded by retail shops, restaurants and other services.

It may or may not be connected with other projects, like the downtown justice centre and long-awaited convention centre for the downtown. The location for such a facility is still up in the air. Fowler said the consultant will look at two or three possible spots in the downtown. One may be the site of the current Highfield Square shopping centre, which is owned by the Empire Group, the parent company of the Sobeys grocery store chain. The mall is located between Main Street and the Via Rail station at the corner of Vaughan Harvey Boulevard. The area has seen much development in recent years, with the new Vaughan Harvey Extension forming a link between Main Street and the new Gunningsville Bridge to Riverview. A new Sobeys and NB Liquor outlet opened at the corner late last year and a new Shoppers Drug Mart is now under construction there.

Earlier this year, architectural design students at NBCC Moncton designed their own downtown multi-use entertainment facility as part of a class project. The models were presented publicly and studied by the city and officials from Downtown Moncton Centre-Ville Inc.

Meanwhile, rumours of more concerts and entertainment events continue to swirl around Metro Moncton. The Blue Man Group appears at the Coliseum tonight, and Bad Religion performs at the same time at the Agrena next door. Other concerts confirmed for the Coliseum include Alice Cooper, Lenny Kravitz and Carrie Underwood.

Fowler said there are always rumours in the wind but would not speculate on who might be coming in the next year or so. Some of classic rock bands currently on tour in the U.S., Canada and Europe include Metallica, Janet Jackson, the Black Crowes, Stone Temple Pilots, Coldplay, Weezer, Dave Matthews Band, Asia, The Who and Tina Turner.

Recent surveys by the Times & Transcript and Canadaeast.com have indicated that Australian group AC/DC continues to be the group most people in Metro Moncton would like to see at the Magnetic Hill concert site next year. The group recently released a new album called Black Ice and has shows scheduled in the U.S. from October to mid-December. Another favourite is Irish group U2, who are also on tour.

But the chances of U2 coming to Moncton seem very slim at the moment. A check of their concert dates online yesterday indicated they will be in Dublin on July 1 and Milan, Italy on July 31 and Aug. 3, and in Poland on Aug. 28 of 2009. The Magnetic Hill shows have traditionally been held on the long weekends around July 1, Aug. 1 or Sept. 1.

[mylesmalley]

Metro population jumps by 1,052
Published Tuesday September 30th, 2008


Minister says province on track to meet goal of boosting population by 6,000 by the end of 2009
A1
By Mary Moszynski
Times & Transcript Staff

FREDERICTON - Metro Moncton saw its population jump by more than 1,000 newcomers by the end of last year.

New figures from Statistics Canada suggest that in 2006-2007 roughly 5,882 people arrived in the city, while 4,830 left, for a net gain of 1,052.

The new residents either moved to Metro Moncton from somewhere else within New Brunswick or from outside of the province.

Saint John, the other New Brunswick city included in the figures, saw a net gain of 33 people.

New Brunswick also saw its population increase over the last few months.

Figures suggest 400 people moved to New Brunswick between April 1 and July 1.

"It's certainly very positive news to have an increase in the population for six straight quarters," said Business New Brunswick Minister Greg Byrne. "Clearly we've been reversing the declining growth that we had seen previously."

The Liberal government has set a goal of boosting the province's population by 6,000 by the end of 2009.

So far, the province has attracted about half that amount, although Byrne said several mega-projects that are due to begin next year will help the province reach its goal.

"We believe that we will meet our targets. I think there's room for optimism."

The province's population growth secretariat will lead a delegation at a Halifax career fair today in a bid to recruit graduates to New Brunswick.

Roughly 1,200 students from the province's five universities are expected to attend the job fair.

New Brunswick employers attending the fair include information and communications company Ambir technology, mobile software company Chalk Media, information technology business Mariner Partners, business outsourcing company Professional Quality Assurance, e-learning business SkillSoft, gaming technology group Spielo, information technology group SwiftRadius, Atlantic Lotto, Career Beacon/NBjobs.ca, Medavie Blue Cross, and Regional Health Authority B.

"Clearly (employers) would like to welcome New Brunswickers back to the province who may have left," said Byrne. "They're interested in finding those people who have the particular skill sets they're looking for."

[mylesmalley]

Moncton needs a new coliseum: mayor
Elton John concert breaks attendance records
Last Updated: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 | 9:03 AM AT Comments0Recommend0
CBC News
A record-breaking concert over the weekend is proof that Moncton needs a new, larger entertainment venue, Moncton’s mayor says.

The Elton John show at the Moncton Coliseum Complex Sunday night drew more than 8,700 fans — well over the Coliseum's stated seating capacity of 7,200.

Mayor George LeBlanc, who attended the concert, said it was the show of a lifetime and he wishes more people could have enjoyed it.

The city needs a new, updated facility if it wants to attract top artists during the cold weather months, he said, and consolidate its ambitions to become the provincial entertainment hub.

"It would be a coliseum-type of venue, together with some convention facilities, possibly some commercial facilities and recreational facilities, as well," LeBlanc said Monday.

LeBlanc said he met with John to pass along the greetings of the community, and with promoters who told him the roof of the Coliseum, built in the 1970s, is too low to light and stage many touring acts.

A downtown complex would act as the anchor of a future network of entertainment venues, he said, including the casino due to open by next year.

LeBlanc said building a new centre is now one of his top priorities as mayor, but he’s not sure how much it would cost.

"We don’t have a handle on that yet, but that’s certainly something that we have to have a look at. And, as I’ve said, we have to provide a sound business plan for the city, something we can afford," he said.

"I think it’s do-able for the city. We just have to find some partners out there, including the federal government, the provincial government, and probably some private-sector partners. We can make it all happen."

[mmmatt]

Metro population jumps by 1,052
Published Tuesday September 30th, 2008




Sweet! :)

not surprising really, but its nice to see the actual numbers

if anyones interested here is the table from Statscan: http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080929/d080929c.htm

We are the 11th fastest growing CMA in Canada between 2006 and 2007, still the fastest east of Toronto :D

[mmmatt]

Here's the CMA migration table for the Atlantic region

Table sorted by rate of change
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/CMA/atlanticCMAmigration0607.jpg

[MonctonRad]

Metro Moncton saw its population jump by more than 1,000 newcomers by the end of last year. New figures from Statistics Canada suggest that in 2006-2007 roughly 5,882 people arrived in the city, while 4,830 left, for a net gain of 1,052.

Saint John, the other New Brunswick city included in the figures, saw a net gain of 33 people.

I guess the status of Moncton as the largest metropolitan area in New Brunswick is in no immediate danger from the explosive growth in Saint John.:D

[Wishblade]

I guess the status of Moncton as the largest metropolitan area in New Brunswick is in no immediate danger from the explosive growth in Saint John.:D

Yeah, really eh. I was expecting higher numbers from them.

On a good note though, every large city in the atlantic provinces marked an increase.

And with the provincial numbers put it, it really shows how our cities continue to grow while the rural areas of the province continue to go into decline.

[mmmatt]

Moncton needs a new coliseum: mayor
Elton John concert breaks attendance records
Last Updated: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 | 9:03 AM AT Comments0Recommend0
CBC News
A record-breaking concert over the weekend is proof that Moncton needs a new, larger entertainment venue, Moncton’s mayor says.

The Elton John show at the Moncton Coliseum Complex Sunday night drew more than 8,700 fans — well over the Coliseum's stated seating capacity of 7,200.


On top of that I just dropped a friend of mine off at the Bad Religion concert going on there tonight and again the parking lot is full to the MAX and there are cars parked illegally down Killam to MX Karting and on Millennium too.

Just thinking about all those people downtown pouring out into resturants and bars and businesses makes me happy :)

This better happen sooner than later.

[mmmatt]

Yeah, really eh. I was expecting higher numbers from them.

On a good note though, every large city in the atlantic provinces marked an increase.

And with the provincial numbers put it, it really shows how our cities continue to grow while the rural areas of the province continue to go into decline.

The rural decline is something happening all over Canada, which is good in ways and bad in others, I would argue mostly good though.

We really need to work on international immigration in Atlantic Canada thats our biggest problem right now...basically every immigrant that comes to Canada automatically goes to Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver, because there are already support networks set up and a population of their own culture usually...we need to focus more of our efforts into making immigrants feel more welcome here.

[MonctonRad]

On top of that I just dropped a friend of mine off at the Bad Religion concert going on there tonight and again the parking lot is full to the MAX and there are cars parked illegally down Killam to MX Karting and on Millennium too.

Just thinking about all those people downtown pouring out into resturants and bars and businesses makes me happy :)

This better happen sooner than later.

Blue Man Group is playing at the coliseum tonight as well. That's why the parking lot is so full!!

Can you believe it.....Blue Man Group in the Coliseum and Bad Religion in the Agrena on the same night. All this only two nights after Elton John. The place is really hopping.

I agree, we need a 12,000 seat downtown arena yesterday!! Let's hope it gets built on the Beaver Lumber lands.

[mylesmalley]

Blue Man Group is playing at the coliseum tonight as well. That's why the parking lot is so full!!

Can you believe it.....Blue Man Group in the Coliseum and Bad Religion in the Agrena on the same night. All this only two nights after Elton John. The place is really hopping.

I agree, we need a 12,000 seat downtown arena yesterday!! Let's hope it gets built on the Beaver Lumber lands.

While I agree, a highly representative survey of the trolls who commented on that article are opposed to it.

While a 12,000 seat arena would be fantastic, what this city really needs is to start accepting change and risk, and to have a little vision that extends beyond skateparks and strip malls. When you think about it, the city has really grown in spite of itself. I really think that if the majority of people had their way, nothing would ever change.

[MonctonRad]

While I agree, a highly representative survey of the trolls who commented on that article are opposed to it.

While a 12,000 seat arena would be fantastic, what this city really needs is to start accepting change and risk, and to have a little vision that extends beyond skateparks and strip malls. When you think about it, the city has really grown in spite of itself. I really think that if the majority of people had their way, nothing would ever change.

I read the comments on that T&T article as well. Most people who post comments on news articles such as this are needlessly inflammatory (because they are anonymous) and I don't think that the opinions expressed there are in any way representative of the population as a whole.

Any plan to build a downtown arena/metro centre will have to be well thought out and well presented to the public but I am confident that the majority of the population would be supportive of the project.

The yahoos and the rednecks who comment online should not be taken seriously. (Gee, I hope that doesn't include us too :D )

[mylesmalley]

I read the comments on that T&T article as well. Most people who post comments on news articles such as this are needlessly inflammatory (because they are anonymous) and I don't think that the opinions expressed there are in any way representative of the population as a whole.

Any plan to build a downtown arena/metro centre will have to be well thought out and well presented to the public but I am confident that the majority of the population would be supportive of the project.

The yahoos and the rednecks who comment online should not be taken seriously. (Gee, I hope that doesn't include us too :D )

I like to think of us as the Senate. A place of sober second thought.

Or something like that.

[JasonL-Moncton]

Actually...I don't want it built on the Beaver Lumber site now the more I think of it.

Highfield Square would be perfect...with the location of two large parking lots, train station, bus depot, large hotel, Vaughn Harvey Blvd., Gunningsville Bridge.

As far as size...it should be built 'bigger' than necessary to accomodate growth, unlike the current facility. 12K is a good number as Halifax is currently looking at the feasibility of replacing the Metro Center that has a capacity of 10K. The facility needs to have a ceiling that is as high as possible to be able to handle whatever is thrown at it.

Also...it has to be 'architecturally pleasing to the eye' on the exterior...not just some big box with a dome on top.

JL

[mylesmalley]

Actually...I don't want it built on the Beaver Lumber site now the more I think of it.

Highfield Square would be perfect...with the location of two large parking lots, train station, bus depot, large hotel, Vaughn Harvey Blvd., Gunningsville Bridge.

As far as size...it should be built 'bigger' than necessary to accomodate growth, unlike the current facility. 12K is a good number as Halifax is currently looking at the feasibility of replacing the Metro Center that has a capacity of 10K. The facility needs to have a ceiling that is as high as possible to be able to handle whatever is thrown at it.

Also...it has to be 'architecturally pleasing to the eye' on the exterior...not just some big box with a dome on top.

JL
Point one:
The Highfield Square lot would be ideal. It's surrounded by four-lane streets on three sides, which offers easy access to all parts of town (except Dieppe, who'd have to go through the narrow streets downtown until Assumption is widened all the way).

Best of all, it'd prevent the area from being turned into another goddamn power centre a-la Fredericton Mall or Northwest Centre.

Point two:

The problem is, municipal (and govts in general) have a terrible time trying to get anything but the bare minimum requirement for today built.

Its much like the track and field stadium. For the $20 million or so its costing, we're getting an 18,000 seat field. To expand that number to 25,000 wouldn't cost much at all in comparison because the site work is already done and bleachers are cheap. With inflation the way it is, it'd be more cost effective to build it a lot bigger and grow in to it. But it's hard for the city to justify the 'extra' expense.

I'd love to see the city try to build a 13 or 14,000 seater. If it was built with a proper balcony level, you'd have your need of a high roof covered. It would probably be a bit bigger than our current needs, but the city has shown no signs of slowing down etc etc. But again, hard to justify building something with the future in mind.

[mmmatt]

You guys are right about those comments on the T&T, those people are a small minority in Moncton

The T&T had an independent phone study of residents in metro Moncton done a few months ago (they do one once a year now I think) and one of the questions was if you think a new downtown metro center is a good idea and like 85%+ said they did. Moncton wants and NEEDS a new metro center, and it MUST be downtown.

Jason I do agree the Highfield square area would be nice if they built it right against the road and had a nice parking garage behind along with the existing lots. However I think the arena would be more beneficial to downtown as a whole if it was more central (ie beaver lumber or Assumption parking lot area) closer to the majority of resturants and services, plus there is more room to add further surrounding development. Really either spot would be great though. :)

[mmmatt]

French firm picks Moncton

Wednesday October 1st, 2008
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

AET Inc. to use Moncton as distribution centre for radiators

Metro's reputation as an important distribution hub got another boost yesterday when it was announced it would be the continental distribution centre for a new line of European radiators.

Advanced European Technology (AET Inc.) is launching their line of radiators on this continent from France. The company has chosen Moncton to be its main distribution centre for all the locations they plan to serve in North America.
The products will be sent from France to the Armour Transport facility inside Moncton's Caledonia Industrial Park. From there, Armour trucks will transport the product to locations across the continent.

"Moncton is becoming the largest city in Canada for business communication," said Bernard Vigneau, vice-president of Advanced European Technology Inc. at the official announcement yesterday.




Note - While I dont really believe what that guy said about Moncton I certainly appriciate people thinking that! :) haha

[MonctonRad]

I took a drive at lunchtime today and noticed some site preparation work beginning adjacent to the Irving Headquarters building on Dieppe Blvd. I presume this is related to the expansion of the building that Robert Irving announced earlier this year.

Wasn't the building going to double in size? ......Comments anyone.

Also, there were several active construction sites in the Caledonia Industrial Park, including a new one adjacent to the Tim Horton's/Shell service centre at the corner of the TCH and Harrisville Blvd. Does anyone know what this is going to be?

[mylesmalley]

I took a drive at lunchtime today and noticed some site preparation work beginning adjacent to the Irving Headquarters building on Dieppe Blvd. I presume this is related to the expansion of the building that Robert Irving announced earlier this year.

Wasn't the building going to double in size? ......Comments anyone.

Also, there were several active construction sites in the Caledonia Industrial Park, including a new one adjacent to the Tim Horton's/Shell service centre at the corner of the TCH and Harrisville Blvd. Does anyone know what this is going to be?

There's also foundation work being done for a new building at the corner of Ferdinand and Aderlard-Savoie in the Dieppe Industrial Park.

[mmmatt]

I took a drive at lunchtime today and noticed some site preparation work beginning adjacent to the Irving Headquarters building on Dieppe Blvd. I presume this is related to the expansion of the building that Robert Irving announced earlier this year.

Wasn't the building going to double in size? ......Comments anyone.


Yeah, its extra office and warehouse space for Midland I think it was going to double in size like you said...in other words MASSIVE haha.

[mmmatt]

Colour for the page:

Moncton from the "mountain"
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2904548327_6ce11f2d3d_b.jpg
Credit: libejo on Flickr


Crowd at the Blue Man Group last night
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/2902971569_d6ed7ff119.jpg?v=0
Credit: markline.com on Flickr

Atlantic Nationals this summer
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/2894115346_3b0ec5043f.jpg?v=0
Credit: Sasha Kravetz on Flickr

Tour Lafrance
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/2891314232_227712f212.jpg?v=0
Credit: klereee1 on Flickr

[mmmatt]

Population Estimates

Decided to make some predictions based on the info released by StatsCan the other day.

between 2001-2006 Moncton City was growing by 616 people a year, the new migration stats that came out make it seem like this has slowed very slightly, so Ill estimate low at 500 new people a year (estimate low, so I can be happy when its higher haha).

Same for the CMA, we were growing by about 1,500 per year, so Ill estimate that low as well at 1,000 per year.

For Saint John the new info makes it seem like the CMA is growing a bit quicker (-0.1 to 0.3) so I applied the same logic except I estimated high, for example between 2001-2006 the city shrunk by 2.3% or about 300 people per year. In my estimate the city grows by 50 per year meaning I changed the growth rate from -2.3 to around 0.5 a difference of 2.8%.

of course these are just estimates and Im most likely way off. And things could change quickly between now and 2011.

2008

Moncton
CMA - 128,400
City - 67,000

Saint John
CMA - 122,700
City - 68,100

2011

Moncton
CMA - 131,000
City - 68,500

Saint John
CMA - 123,500
City - 68,300

[Joe]

I would say that these estimates are way off. By 2011 the huge energy projects around S.J. will be in swing not to mention unrelated projects of considerable size, north of union, coast guard site, waterfront condos, municipal infrastructure. Very possible that S.J. will surpass Moncton within 10 years.

[MonctonRad]

I would say that these estimates are way off. By 2011 the huge energy projects around S.J. will be in swing not to mention unrelated projects of considerable size, north of union, coast guard site, waterfront condos, municipal infrastructure. Very possible that S.J. will surpass Moncton within 10 years.

Very true, Saint John is poised for a growth spurt but a lot of the jobs flowing into the community will be short term construction jobs. There is no question that certain projects like the proposed second refinery will create hundreds to thousands of permanent jobs but I don't know how this will translate into absolute population growth.

Saint John will do well in the next decade (and I am happy for them - good for the whole province), but the history here in Moncton over the last 15-18 years has been steady and continuous growth within a stable and diversified economy. I don't think that is going to change and therefore I don't think SJ is going to catch up with us in terms of population growth in the foreseeable future.

My own personal estimate for CMA population by 2011 is not quite as conservative as Matt's. It is:

2011 Moncton CMA pop. 133,000
2011 Saint John CMA pop. 126,000

[mylesmalley]

Very true, Saint John is poised for a growth spurt but a lot of the jobs flowing into the community will be short term construction jobs. There is no question that certain projects like the proposed second refinery will create hundreds to thousands of permanent jobs but I don't know how this will translate into absolute population growth.

Saint John will do well in the next decade (and I am happy for them - good for the whole province), but the history here in Moncton over the last 15-18 years has been steady and continuous growth within a stable and diversified economy. I don't think that is going to change and therefore I don't think SJ is going to catch up with us in terms of population growth in the foreseeable future.

My own personal estimate for CMA population by 2011 is not quite as conservative as Matt's. It is:

2011 Moncton CMA pop. 133,000
2011 Saint John CMA pop. 126,000

Personally, I'd peg Moncton to be within the range of 131,000 to 135,000, but most likely around 133,000. The high estimate is based on the CMA continuing at the same growth rate as the last census-which I don't expect will be exceeded. The low estimate is based on a significant slowdown to 3.5% growth. Bear in mind, Mat, that migration statistics is only part of population growth. In all likelyhood, the city grew by several hundred more thanks to births, and I don't think those numbers include immigration from outside Canada (though I may be wrong).

In spite of the lack of any big news lately, the city's growth hasn't slowed much, if at all, since the last census. Permits are down only slightly this year, and occupancy rates have remained pretty steady


Saint John is a much trickier thing to estimate.

If the benefits blueprint is right, the city might see as many as 30,000 workers flood in within five years. Personally, I think this is a preposterous number, and even if it does pan out, no more than a few thousand will stay as MonctonRad points out. And all that is based on several large projects going through. Now that oil has dropped nearly 50$, I would expect a new refinery is probably a less appealing proposition. However, dont' get me wrong. I'd love to see it happen, as growth in Saint John is good for everybody. I'm just skeptical. Same goes for point lepreau 2. It looks great on paper, but I am pretty bearish that it'll actually happen any time soon.

That said. if the trend from last census continues, 125,000. Absolute best case, 135,000. most likely case, 128,000 to 130,000. Considering we're nearly half way to the next census, and the population (estimated based on the migration numbers, which is where the city is expected to see its greatest growth) has shown no significant growth, It'd take one hell of a turnaround in three years to catch up to Moncton. But that's just this census. IT's too hard to say what'll happen in the next ten to fifteen years.

[MonctonRad]

Just to let people know, not everything in Moncton is sunshine and roses. It was announced today in the Times & Transcript that the Moncton Chrysler parts distribution centre on St. George Blvd. is to close. This follows several other closures on the same stretch of road over the last couple of years, including the adjacent General Motors distribution centre.

I believe this section of St. George used to be called the "million dollar mile" or something like that. This is obviously no longer the case.

This section of road is a major four-lane thoroughfare not far from downtown. Perhaps the time has come to rebrand this section of the city as something else. Given it's infrastructure and location, as well as the large size of the vacant properties, perhaps some thought should be given towards large scale commercial projects or major apartment developments.

Thoughts anyone?

[MonctonGoldenFlames]

This section of road is a major four-lane thoroughfare not far from downtown. Perhaps the time has come to rebrand this section of the city as something else. Given it's infrastructure and location, as well as the large size of the vacant properties, perhaps some thought should be given towards large scale commercial projects or major apartment developments.

Thoughts anyone?

Mixed use urban densification! At grade retail, including all amenities necesary for non-auto living. Improve Transit access to and from downtown as well. Having people live so close to Centennial Park and Jones Lake it really could become a nice urban hub.

[ErickMontreal]

Just to let people know, not everything in Moncton is sunshine and roses. It was announced today in the Times & Transcript that the Moncton Chrysler parts distribution centre on St. George Blvd. is to close. This follows several other closures on the same stretch of road over the last couple of years, including the adjacent General Motors distribution centre.

Huh, strange enought due to the fact they had announced one month ago the Chrysler parts distribution centre in Pointe-Claire (Qc) will be closed by the end of November. By a strange reversal of situation, Montreal newspapers point out today the distribution center will avoid closure. They point out Union made made huge concessions and demonstrated flexibility in order to sign a new agreement.... Unions are not always negative I guess.

[mylesmalley]

Huh, strange enought due to the fact they had announced one month ago the Chrysler parts distribution centre in Pointe-Claire (Qc) will be closed by the end of November. By a strange reversal of situation, Montreal newspapers point out today the distribution center will avoid closure. They point out Union made made huge concessions and demonstrated flexibility in order to sign a new agreement.... Unions are not always negative I guess.

Lies!



I heard about those closures. The GM warehouse closed a year or two ago. I wouldn't put much stock in that being an indicator of the city slowing, though. The big three automakers have been hemorrhaging money for the past few years, and have been trying to save money and cut costs wherever possible.

One thing the car companies are good at is delivering parts efficiently. I suspect they determined that it was easier and cheaper to have individual parts shipped from a central warehouse, like Montreal, than it would be to have local or regional ones located around the country.

That said. Warehouses typically don't have many employees. I think the GM one had 25 or 30 when it closed? Since they're owned by outside companies, they really don't contribute much to the tax base other than through property tax.

Hopefully someone new will come in to fill those buildings, but I doubt they'd be much good to anyone, unless it was for another warehouse. They're both pretty old and probably quite customized to the auto industry. If we do see redevelopment, I don't think we'll see a lot of street level retail and apartments, but I can certainly see that area becoming similar to that street behind Futureshop. There was talk a few years ago of tearing down Centennial Shakers and putting up condos/apartments. Now that they're clsoed, who knows!

[ErickMontreal]

Lies!I heard about those closures. The GM warehouse closed a year or two ago.



Fermeture du dépôt de pièces de Chrysler à Pointe-Claire

24 septembre 2008 - 11h32
Presse Canadienne

Le constructeur automobile Chrysler fermera son dépôt de pièces de Pointe-Claire, à l'ouest de Montréal, le 30 novembre, selon le syndicat des Travailleurs canadiens de l'automobile.

Mercredi, dans un communiqué de presse, le syndicat a précisé que cette fermeture touchera une centaine d'emplois.

Quelque 60 travailleurs et travailleuses cols blancs et cols bleus de ce dépôt son membres des TCA; les autres sont des cadres et des vendeurs.

Ce centre de distribution de pièce automobile ouvert en 1960 a déjà employé plus de 200 salariés.

Le syndicat soutient que lors des dernières négociations, il avait accepté de participer à un programme visant à améliorer la productivité et que, depuis, les salariés avaient dépassé tous les objectifs de rendement fixés.

«Trois ans plus tard, malgré des investissements de plus de 3 M$, la multinationale décide de mettre fin à ses opérations dans la région métropolitaine. Elle approvisionnera désormais ses concessionnaires soit à partir de Moncton ou, plus probablement, des USA», précise le communiqué.

Les TCA blâment le gouvernement Harper pour ces pertes d'emplois, indiquant que ce dernier a décidé de laisser l'industrie automobile canadienne se démanteler peu à peu.

«On assistera de plus en plus à un glissement des emplois vers les États-Unis, a déclaré Jean-Pierre Fortin, directeur québécois du syndicat. Harper n'a aucune stratégie ni pour préserver les emplois, ni pour favoriser de nouveaux investissements dans cette industrie.»

Today :

Le dépôt de pièces de Chrysler à Pointe-Claire restera ouvert

1 octobre 2008 - 17h43
Presse Canadienne

Le dépôt de pièces de Chrysler à Pointe-Claire, dont le syndicat avait annoncé la fermeture pour le 30 novembre, restera finalement ouvert, ont indiqué mercredi les Travailleurs canadiens de l'automobile (TCA).

Le constructeur automobile aurait retiré la lettre annonçant la cessation de ses activités à la suite de négociations intensives, selon le syndicat.

L'organisation syndicale avait indiqué la semaine dernière que Chrysler lui avait fait part de son intention de fermer le dépôt de pièces et de ravitailler ses concessionnaires québécois à partir d'autres centres du Canada et des États-Unis.

Les TCA croient que la fermeture de l'établissement a été évitée grâce à leur intervention et à celle de leur nouveau président, Ken Lowenza.

«Une fois de plus on constate que, dans des situations de crise, l'intervention d'un syndicat peut faire la différence», a affirmé par voie de communiqué le directeur régional des TCA-Québec, Sylvain Martin.

Une centaine de personnes travaillent au dépôt de pièces à Pointe-Claire.

Réunis en assemblée, les travailleurs syndiqués ont accepté à 95% l'entente de principe conclue par leur syndicat. Celle-ci prévoit certains réaménagements non monétaires de la convention collective, qui expire le 11 décembre.

Par ailleurs, les parties ont convenu d'entreprendre dès la fin de novembre les négociations en vue du renouvellement du contrat de travail.

[mmmatt]

Mixed use urban densification! At grade retail, including all amenities necesary for non-auto living. Improve Transit access to and from downtown as well. Having people live so close to Centennial Park and Jones Lake it really could become a nice urban hub.

Good ideas...I always thought it was odd the placement of those warehouses anyways, its like a mini industrial park wedged between two residential neighborhoods, a school and a park. I think some medium density apartments along with commercial development would be a good fit for this area. It is already very well connected to downtown, parks, the 4plex area, schools and churches.

[mylesmalley]

Good ideas...I always thought it was odd the placement of those warehouses anyways, its like a mini industrial park wedged between two residential neighborhoods, a school and a park. I think some medium density apartments along with commercial development would be a good fit for this area. It is already very well connected to downtown, parks, the 4plex area, schools and churches.

Not that out of place, really, or at least historically.

Directly behind those lots was what used to be Franklin Yard, which has now been converted to trails and housing. Directly across from that, was the CN Shops, and behind those, is the Victory Industrial Park-the one you never hear about. Way back when, industry had to be at the centre of town. Everyone worked there, and transportation wasn't easy, so it was convenient.

[mmmatt]

Not that out of place, really, or at least historically.

Directly behind those lots was what used to be Franklin Yard, which has now been converted to trails and housing. Directly across from that, was the CN Shops, and behind those, is the Victory Industrial Park-the one you never hear about. Way back when, industry had to be at the centre of town. Everyone worked there, and transportation wasn't easy, so it was convenient.

Cool...yeah I knew the rail yards were near there but not the other stuff...I guess when they were built they fit in...but not anymore. The times are a changing...now that we have the 3 big industrial parks (Moncton, Caledonia, Dieppe) which are booming at the edges of town...we don't really need industry in the centre anymore..that section of St George could be very nice medium density residential space

The Ideal look of that area of St George:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2302/2486858258_d55e84965f.jpg?v=0
credit: La Citta Vita on Flickr

[MonctonRad]

I heard about those closures. The GM warehouse closed a year or two ago. I wouldn't put much stock in that being an indicator of the city slowing, though. The big three automakers have been hemorrhaging money for the past few years, and have been trying to save money and cut costs wherever possible.

Warehouses typically don't have many employees. I think the GM one had 25 or 30 when it closed? Since they're owned by outside companies, they really don't contribute much to the tax base other than through property tax.


Very true, the closure of those distribution centres in no way reflects on the health of the Moncton economy in general. I bet that total job losses on St. George Blvd. probably does not exceed 100-150. This is something that the city can easily absorb; nobody will notice the difference.

The main thing to consider here is that we now have several large contiguous properties on St. George, only about a km from Vaughn Harvey & Main which are now vacant. They are also very close to Centennial Park, the CN SportsPlex and several schools. They also back onto the Franklin Crossing project. This should be considered a golden opportunity for some developer to swoop in and do something exciting.


Mixed use urban densification! At grade retail, including all amenities necesary for non-auto living. Improve Transit access to and from downtown as well. Having people live so close to Centennial Park and Jones Lake it really could become a nice urban hub.


I agree with this concept entirely. A mixed use high density development would be perfect. There are lots of recreational amenities immediately nearby and the area is within walking/cycling distance of downtown. The development could also be connected directly to Franklin Crossing (either by a roadway or walking/cycling trails) which would allow access to the CN SportsPlex/Tim Horton's Centre. The infrastructure is already there including nearby schools. Talk about low impact on the city's bottom line!

Warehouses belong in the three suburban industrial parks, not next to schools, recreational facilities and the downtown. The time is ripe for something exciting to happen here!

[MonctonRad]

Land clearing at the casino site is now progressing rapidly.

Also, foundations are going in both at the McManaman Complex and across the road at the Mapleton Power Centre

[MonctonRad]

Metro housing boom still booming
Published Saturday October 4th, 2008

Construction trades kept busy as boom defies the reported slumps of U.S., western Canada
BY ALAN COCHRANE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

As much of the U.S. and parts of Canada suffer from a housing slump, Metro Moncton continues to buck the trend with strong housing starts and building permit figures.

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=192635&size=800x0
RON WARD/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT
Metro Moncton continues to buck the trends as home and condo construction continues to be steady. Here are the new condo&apts. near the Moncton Golf Club in Riverview.

"We've already hit 1,000 building permits so far this year and gone past the landmark of $100 million worth of permits, so we're on par with other years, and the big projects like the casino and the courthouse haven't gone through yet," said Moncton economic development officer Kevin Silliker.

"There's been an awful lot of construction activity this month and the contractors have a lot of customers backed up but we haven't heard of any undue delays."

In September, there were 21 permits for residential construction, one duplex and 11 semi-detached homes representing 22 units. The overall building permits in September for Moncton represented $11.3 million, compared to $8.3 million during the same period in 2007.

The story is much the same in Riverview and Dieppe.

"Our building permit totals are great this year," said Brenda Orchard, director of economic development for the Town of Riverview. "Last month we exceeded last year's year-end total. We should be going to tender on the Fundy Gateway project soon."

Riverview has seen the construction of several new apartment buildings and condominium developments recently. According to the building reports for September, Riverview issued permits for seven new single family dwellings and seven duplexes, along with three additions and one permit for repairs. So far this year there have been 59 new single family dwellings and 21 duplexes, four conversions, six additions and eight major repairs for a value of over $16 million. Riverview's total building permits so far this year are over $36 million.

The City of Dieppe had its second best month of September in its history with 66 permits valued at more than $9.1 million according to statistics released by the city's inspection department.

The municipality issued 579 permits for 344 new housing units over the first nine months of the year valued at more than $63.6 million compared to $54 million at the same time last year.

There were 20 permits approved for single family residential at a value of more than $3.2 million. The multiple dwelling sector generated 14 permits for 54 units worth more than $4.4 million. The commercial sector followed with three permits worth $1.2 million.

"The numbers continue growing and the municipality is looking at another record year," said Mayor Jean LeBlanc. "The increase in our construction sector shows our vitality and our growth. We continue to attract new residents and businesses to Dieppe."

Dieppe's busiest month of September was in 2005 with permits worth $10.7 million.

Homes are also rising in rural communities and unincorporated areas. Permits for three new homes were issued for Salisbury in September, bringing the year-to-date total to 17. And there were permits for 10 new single family homes issued in unincorporated areas outside Moncton.

Metro Moncton's housing boom is bucking the trends seen in the United States and other parts of Canada.

Dwindling housing starts in the U.S. have been blamed for massive layoffs of Canadian forestry workers and mill sawmill employees. Banks have also said they are losing money because of a declining number of mortgages.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said this week the Canadian economy is fundamentally sound and the financial crisis and housing slump that have battered the U.S. and spilled over into Europe isn't nearly so severe in Canada

[MonctonRad]

Track officials pleased with Metro stadium progress
Published Saturday October 4th, 2008

Moncton to host World Junior Track and Field Championships in 2010
By Gerard McLaughlin
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

Over the past two days high-ranking officials with the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) travelled about Moncton, making their first-time visit of facilities for the 2010 World Junior track and field championship.

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=192638&size=800x0
Construction crews are hard at work on the new stadium at the Université de Moncton. Beams for a section of the stands were being installed yesterday and looked like a giant kids erector set.

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=192639&size=500x0
This is an artist’s rendition of what the completed Moncton stadium will look like.
"Perfect, simply perfect" were their observations.

In fact, once construction of all facilities is completed in late 2009, Moncton can proudly call itself a premier track and field centre in Canada.

"Moncton is a very attractive city that will be a perfect host city for this event," offered Robert Hersh, the IAAF vice-president from Long Island, N.Y.

Hersh told a late afternoon news conference "the state of Moncton's preparation is well ahead of what needs to be done.

"This is going to be a tremendous stadium, a great facility for the citizens of Moncton. There are not many track and field facilities like this around and the size of the stadium and it's multi-purpose use is perfect for a city of this size."

Joanne Mortimore of Ottawa, chief executive officer for Athletics Canada, echoed the comments of Hersh.

"In our short visit here, the local committee has proven to us they have done their preparation, their research and the passion is there, too," she said.

"We can see they believe this event will be the best ever and we know it will be."

Mortimore also said, when completed, "with this track, and the evolution of this stadium, this will be the best track and field location in Canada. This will be the best there is.

In fact, "super-duper," is how Mortimore described the track and field stadium.

Pertaining to the world championship. Bill Whalen, vice-president of the local organizing committee, said all decisions regarding the facilities will be finalized this year.

Construction of the stadium, adjacent to the Université de Moncton Louis J. Robichaud sports complex, is well under way.

The stadium will feature a Mondo FTX surface, the same as the one installed for the recent Olympic Games in Bejing, China.

Mondo is the name of an Italian company that weaves the material for the surface of the track and the material they use is the highest quality on the market today.

What's also necessary is a warm-up track within close proximity to the main track, and two practice tracks, also within close proximity to where the 1,500 expected athletes will be lodged, which will be residences at the Université of Moncton and Mount Allison University in Sackville.

Hersh said the ideal location for the warm-up track would be adjacent to the main stadium. He also said a few blocks away is possible, but a 15-minute drive by vehicle would be out of the question.

It's believed that fields at Moncton High School and L'Odyssee, both in close proximity of the stadium, have been proposed as potential warm-up locations.

Whalen confirmed that the local committee proposed 'five or six options' to the IAAF group concerning the warm-up and practice tracks.

Hersh said the IAAF will look at the proposals and state their preference about what would work best in a matter of weeks.

Mortimore also confirmed that the 2010 Canadian junior track and field championship, scheduled for late June, would be the test event for the world championship, scheduled a month later.

Paul Hardy, the IAAF competitions director from Monaco, said the world junior is the second largest event under the IAAF wing.

He said the IAAF features 213 federations and expected representation from between 170 to 180 in Moncton.

Besides 1,500 athletes, Hardy said 800-to-850 team officials will also be in the city.

He said the world junior "really does" feature the future world stars of tomorrow.

He claimed Jamaician sprint star Usain Bolt, who set two world records at the Olympic Games, was a former world youth and world junior competitor.

"Moncton has a lot to look forward to," Hardy said. "After the championship here in the next few years, you will see many of these same athletes on the Olympic stage. It's something special, something very special that Moncton can look forward to experiencing."

[mmmatt]

Great news all around :D

Also if anyone has seen the adds for the new Royal Oaks Condo which will be opening soon, they only have 9 units left to be sold, thats very good news for Moncton, a good market for condos is a great sign...now what we need is a nice shiny condo tower downtown :P

[mmmatt]

Land clearing at the casino site is now progressing rapidly.

Also, foundations are going in both at the McManaman Complex and across the road at the Mapleton Power Centre

Yeah the area where Mapleton is being expanded is crazy right now...driving down there during the day is nuts! They have 3 large projects all going on at the same time in a fairly small space. I know its been said before but Its unreal to think what that area looked like even a year ago. Its going to be very nice once its all in place, from the looks of it though I doubt The Brick and Best Buy will open until summer 2009.

Also the brick strip mall on mountain rd has one store open now...even though the interior work isnt even complete on the other stores yet haha...I guess they were anxious to open.

[ErickMontreal]

http://www.mctaggarts.ca/taggs/images/taggs-logo.gif

This is not linked to any sustainable urban project but Cleve's sources Sport will move in the Mapleton Power Center. The new store will be twice bigger.

[ErickMontreal]

Mapleton Power center

The line-up so far is :

The Brick (1st in NB)
Best Buy (1st in NB)
Cleve's Sources Sport
Jacob Connexion (1st in NB)
La Vie en Rose (1st in NB)
Trade Secret
Swiss Chalet
Bank (Name to be announced)

[MonctonRad]

Mapleton Power center

The line-up so far is :

The Brick (1st in NB)
Best Buy (1st in NB)
Cleve's Sources Sport
Jacob Connexion (1st in NB)
La Vie en Rose (1st in NB)
Trade Secret
Swiss Chalet
Bank (Name to be announced)

Erick, you forgot Linens n' Things, it'll be in the same building as The Brick and Best Buy.

[gehrhardt]

I saw some activity at the hotel site in Salisbury this morning. Unfortunately, it was a truck loading up the concrete forms that have been sitting there for the better part of a year. It seems like that project is dead now.

The land for the casino project seems to be all cleared now. That was fast.

Has anyone else noticed that the small piece of land between the VIA station and the new Shopper's Drug mart seems to be "under construction" as well?

[mylesmalley]

Gerhart, you wouldn't happen to know why there's a helicopter pad behind the Tim Hortons at the Salisburry Big Stop?

[ErickMontreal]

Moncton :: Part of Downtown
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/2915263320_349e3d45a4_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/2913100674_15d96a75cf_b.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/drgnmastr/

[mmmatt]

^^ WOW! great shots...drgnmastr is very talented

That skyline angle would look a lot less dense without the new Marriott, even though its only 6 floors its quite large width wise, makes a big difference. The cathedral peeking out from the Aliant tower looks pretty neat :)

[gehrhardt]

Gerhart, you wouldn't happen to know why there's a helicopter pad behind the Tim Hortons at the Salisburry Big Stop?

I'm pretty sure it's owned by Irving. Kind of like the grass airstrip next to the sawmill in Sussex.

Being from the SJ area originally, I guess I don't think about why Irving does things. Maybe it's for Big Stop-related emergencies, like running out of gravy or something. :haha:

[MonctonGoldenFlames]

Gerhart, you wouldn't happen to know why there's a helicopter pad behind the Tim Hortons at the Salisburry Big Stop?

flying pigs need coffee too?

[mmmatt]

Couple pics of mine from yesterday and today

Rouge and Andal
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/archetecture/DSCN1141.jpg

777 Main st, all shiny and new :)
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/archetecture/DSCN1139.jpg

former Sasha's didn't stay empty long
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/archetecture/DSCN1145.jpg

New strip mall beside NBCC...took this today while doing surveying class (you can see some of my classmates in the bottom left :P)
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/archetecture/DSCN1152.jpg

New federal government offices downtown coming along nicely...although not terribly tall they will fill in this former parking lot nicely...also notice the new 3 1/2 story apartment bldg (left of pic)...two projects in one! :D
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/archetecture/panorama.jpg

[mylesmalley]

Couple pics of mine from yesterday and today

Rouge and Andal
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/archetecture/DSCN1141.jpg

777 Main st, all shiny and new :)
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/archetecture/DSCN1139.jpg

former Sasha's didn't stay empty long
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/archetecture/DSCN1145.jpg

New strip mall beside NBCC...took this today while doing surveying class (you can see some of my classmates in the bottom left :P)
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/archetecture/DSCN1152.jpg

New federal government offices downtown coming along nicely...although not terribly tall they will fill in this former parking lot nicely...also notice the new 3 1/2 story apartment bldg (left of pic)...two projects in one! :D
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/stu_pendousmat/archetecture/panorama.jpg

I'd sooner have a three story building that fills in a huge gap in the streetscape than a ten story building with a massive parking lot :D

[MonctonRad]

Gerhart, you wouldn't happen to know why there's a helicopter pad behind the Tim Hortons at the Salisburry Big Stop?

Helicopters (DNR, Search & Rescue etc.) have landed there occasionally so that the pilots can pick up a cup of Joe. Never pass up a business opportunity!!:D

[MonctonRad]

Is anyone else starting to worry that the global economic meltdown is going to have a serious negative impact on growth in Moncton and the Maritimes in general?

I know that most of the major projects (casino, track & field stadium, federal office building, Irving HQ expansion, courthouse etc.) are safe but I am starting to get concerned re: future residential and commercial developments.

Credit is starting to tighten up and people are getting worried. Consumer spending is going to taper off. It could be a rough couple of years.

Comments?

[mmmatt]

I'd sooner have a three story building that fills in a huge gap in the streetscape than a ten story building with a massive parking lot :D

good point haha

the more downtown lots we get filled in the better!

[mylesmalley]

Is anyone else starting to worry that the global economic meltdown is going to have a serious negative impact on growth in Moncton and the Maritimes in general?

I know that most of the major projects (casino, track & field stadium, federal office building, Irving HQ expansion, courthouse etc.) are safe but I am starting to get concerned re: future residential and commercial developments.

Credit is starting to tighten up and people are getting worried. Consumer spending is going to taper off. It could be a rough couple of years.

Comments?

There'll almost definitely be a slowdown in Moncton, as with the rest of the region and country. Moncton does have a fair amount in its favour though. The economy is quite diverse, unlike twenty years or so. Unemployment is still quite low.

Where we especially have an advantage is that we dont' have a large base in the sectors most likely to be hurt by a downturn. The city does have some manufacturing, but with the exception of a few companies, its almost entirely light. The city's banking sector is mostly provincial offices of the major banks, so it's doubtful there'll be any cuts there. And Moncton's major insurers, Assumption and Medavie, seem to be well protected against the troubles down south.

Where we will definitely see some trouble is with tourism, though that's nothing new either.