[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[new kid in town]

Originally Posted by OUIR@random

It has not been to the PRAC, right? The NIMBYS are standing nearby as well.

Theoretically what leg do the NIMBYs have to stand on? I'm drawing a blank at this point but is there anyway they can be outnumbered during meetings so that whatever tangential complaints they have can be drowned out?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by new kid in town

Theoretically what leg do the NIMBYs have to stand on? I'm drawing a blank at this point but is there anyway they can be outnumbered during meetings so that whatever tangential complaints they have can be drowned out?

But think of the children..............

[new kid in town]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

But think of the children..............

The children who are going to inherit the city and would need more housing?

[Monctoncore]

There is no leg to stand on. City council has shown they are very progressive when it comes to development. Just look at what’s been built, Avenir Center, 55 Queen, Three Sisters, new RCMP offices, the array of developments on Weldon, Highfield and throughout the city. They even approved the development on the corner of Vaughn Harvey and Main for 6-10 floors, but the developer made the decision to go smaller.

They can fill all the seats they want at a council meeting, but, they need to come with valid arguments as for why a development shouldn’t go forward. Not liking change isn’t a valid point, disliking tall buildings isn’t going to win. They would have to come forward with something that massive that would show this shouldn’t go forward.

[jonny golden]

At present, that land generates $40 thousand dollars in tax revenue. By example, the Blue Cross building generates $2 million dollars! I can't see any circumstance where the city would reject the development of this vacant land.

[MonctonRad]

Public notice regarding a rezoning request for Infinity at Harper & Main is now posted on the city of Moncton website:

https://www5.moncton.ca/docs/pac/Pub...lic_Notice.pdf

I now have enough information on this project to create a project specific thread for Infinity on SSP Atlantic. I will do this in the next day or two (whenever I have the time).

[jnaygull]

From the looks of the shadow cast outlined in that City of Moncton document, no tomatoes will be harmed in the building of this fine edifice!

The area is mostly open land and commercial, and I can't see there being ANY objection from the localized businesses with this many humans living next door to them.

Onwards and upwards ICON! To Infinity and beyond? lol

[theshark]

The Acadie Nouvelle, in an interview with the Moncton chamber of commerce reveals that two other projects of about 20 stories are in the works, one of the location for one was mentioned as behind hotel Beausejour and the other would also be downtown but no specifics on the location.

[NBNYer]

Originally Posted by jnaygull

To put things into perspective, here's what the 30-floor, 101m tall, Richmond Yards building looks like after topping out in Halifax. It is currently the 2nd tallest building in Atlantic Canada.

I must say, I'm impressed that Moncton will have one of these soon enough.

Richmond Yards is very prominent in its location and visible throughout the North End of Halifax and Dartmouth. Infinity will be similarly prominent. Also, the building will almost perfectly line up with both Champlain street in Dieppe and Wheeler Blvd. east-bound from Mapleton road. It will be Moncton's Fenwick tower (or whatever its called now), seemingly visible from everywhere.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by theshark

The Acadie Nouvelle, in an interview with the Moncton chamber of commerce reveals that two other projects of about 20 stories are in the works, one of the location for one was mentioned as behind hotel Beausejour and the other would also be downtown but no specifics on the location.

That would be Ashford/Downing (behind Hotel Beausejour) and the other one would almost certainly be St. Bernard Square.

[new kid in town]

Most of the facebook comments (so far) under The Bend's post are supportive of the Infinity being built.

[MonctonDowntown]

Originally Posted by new kid in town

Most of the facebook comments (so far) under The Bend's post are supportive of the Infinity being built.

Goes to show how inexperienced Moncton is regarding a development like this. Height should only be one consideration before ‘supporting’ any project. What will the egress and ingress ramifications be, should there be setbacks to mitigate a wind tunnel, having entrances on Main Street to animate the space, what will the landscaping look like. And most importantly, what will be the quality of the cladding and glazing?

All that being said, excited we are getting density downtown.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by MonctonDowntown

Goes to show how inexperienced Moncton is regarding a development like this. Height should only be one consideration before ‘supporting’ any project. What will the egress and ingress ramifications be, should there be setbacks to mitigate a wind tunnel, having entrances on Main Street to animate the space, what will the landscaping look like. And most importantly, what will be the quality of the cladding and glazing?

All that being said, excited we are getting density downtown.

There is now a project specific thread for Infinity where questions like this can be asked and discussed.

[MonctonRad]

Imported from the main [Moncton] thread:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Apparently there was a brief Moncton city council session today with only two items on the agenda.

A discussion regarding commissioning a study for new convention space was on the agenda

I am aware that there is a plan floating out there for convention space as part of the Ashford/Downing proposal. Specifically, I think the plan is for "flex space" in the farmers market part of the project which can be used by vendors on a weekend or short term rental basis, but which can also do double duty as a convention space.

This would have no bearing on Ashford's mixed residential/commercial tower, but may be useful in beefing up the replacement city market part of the development.

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

From what I gathered, the new city market will be multilevel. The ground level will be for permanent vendors and food stalls. The upper levels will be for temporary or weekend vendors. It would be the upper levels that would essentially be flex space.

I could be wrong. Maybe the city is commissioning this CBRE study to look at potential convention space elsewhere. We will soon find out............

There is a new article in the T&T which appears to confirm that the discussion regarding convention space is indeed associated with the Ashford/Downing project:

https://tj.news/times-and-transcript/102130939 (paywall)

There is nothing much new in the article, but this confirmation is gratifying. Ashford/Downing has two components:

1 - a private mixed use tower (now assumed to be 20(+) storeys
2 - a municipally owned building which will contain the relocated city market, possibly a relocated main library branch, and probably convention space.

Whether the convention space will be co-located with non permanent market space is not really known. This has been previously speculated.

[MonctonRad]

Here's a non paywalled article concerning the study regarding convention space as part of the Ashford/Downing project:

Moncton to study feasibility of convention-centre space downtown
$60,000 report, due back by fall, will look at feasibility
Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Jun 23, 2023 12:51 PM ADT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-b...tudy-1.6886190

You would think that they would have studied this already. Ashford is rumoured to be close to releasing their plans. This study could delay things further, unless the study doesn't really impact on their plans for the mixed use tower.

[Mattyyy]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Here's a non paywalled article concerning the study regarding convention space as part of the Ashford/Downing project:

Moncton to study feasibility of convention-centre space downtown
$60,000 report, due back by fall, will look at feasibility
Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Jun 23, 2023 12:51 PM ADT | Last Updated: 2 hours ago
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-b...tudy-1.6886190

You would think that they would have studied this already. Ashford is rumoured to be close to releasing their plans. This study could delay things further, unless the study doesn't really impact on their plans for the mixed use tower.

I feel like they have been ready to release their plans for a few years now....

I also would have expected street construction to begin downtown by this point - perhaps waiting for major events to finish downtown?

[jonny golden]

I thought that the infrastructure work had to be done before Ashford could start their project?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

I thought that the infrastructure work had to be done before Ashford could start their project?

Indeed. This probably can't start until later this summer. This doesn't prevent Ashford from releasing their plans, even if construction doesn't start until next year.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Indeed. This probably can't start until later this summer. This doesn't prevent Ashford from releasing their plans, even if construction doesn't start until next year.

Makes sense. The story says that the city expects to have work done this year, so Ashford will hopefully hit the ground running in the spring. Meanwhile they'll be able to work on their Lorentz Drive project.

[MonctonRad]

Lorentz Apartments, Building One - current status:


Amico Construction photo