[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[Monctoncore]

I would say no to the Hilton having its own page, all updates can be posted in here. I would save pages for larger developments.

[David_99]

Originally Posted by Budyser

Now that the city has completed a major step forward with the Avenir Centre, I think it's time for them to step up and end this debacle with downtown parking.

The Alma parking garage (yellow block) hold ~200 cars within its 3 levels.

I pasted the exact same foot print (yellow square) behind the Courts building. They could increase the square footage a little and make it 5 levels. This could hold ~400 cars.

City could easily make arrangements with downtown employees (Blue Cross) for monthly parking passes during 9-5.

IMO, if the city really wants to meet it's future development goals south of Main, they and Blue Cross really need to sit down and partner up on some sort of MAJOR parking structure next to the building.

Even if the city had approved the Record Street parking lot, then a developer came and suddenly purchased the old jail land to build a major residential/commercial structure (like the city is hoping for), Blue Cross could then just complain about the parking and threaten to move again.

[L'homard]

What parking debacle is this? YOu must be speaking of a different city. I'm as dumb as a post, and have NEVER EVER had a problem parking downtown, even while attending sold out events at the centre. I just can't understand this concern over parking. The furthest I've had to park is the Capitol Theatre, the equivalent of parking at the far end of the Coliseum parking lot. Honestly, during the first concert, which was sold out, St. George St. had almost no cars parked on it. During the sold out very first Wildcats game, we parked by old YWCA a half hour before game time. I can throw a rock to the centre from there. The most I've ever paid to park is $3. That was one time, all the other times were free. I truly don't mean to be unkind but maybe the problem isn't parking. Maybe the problem is you.

[MonctonRad]

It may not be a real problem (especially if you know the downtown, and know where to park), but it is a perceived problem, which is just as bad, if not worse. It is the perception of lack of parking, fear of being towed, and residual fear of the now extinct booters which is keeping people away from the downtown (as well as increased vagrancy, aggressive panhandlers, streetwalkers, etc etc etc).

[benvui]

I think the real parking issue is the surface parking taking up so much of the available space for development. There is so much wasted space but no one wants to give up their precious parking for fear of having to take a little longer to get from A to B. I have a parking spot downtown, but I often take the bus instead of driving, I actually like sitting on the bus it gives me time to relax before work and before getting home (I have 5 kids so there is no rest!). Yes I have to plan and make some sacrifices but I think it is worth it, but I feel like I might be in the minority.
The real parking problem is that the parking lots are taking up development space. The city needs to make it tougher to make money on an empty lot or there will be no incentive for land owners to develop there land, that is the real problem.

[MonctonRad]

Excellent post!!

[Taeolas]

Hell, Freddy Downtown is percieved to have a "parking problem" and it has 4 parking garages and a huge public downtown parking lot, and all of the parking is basically only monitored M-F 8-5.

Moncton's main problem is so much of its parking is private parking and it has a reputation for booting 24-7. So people who know of that reputation or just read the signs and don't know the downtown could become frustrated at the lack of available parking; especially if they are downtown after hours or on a weekend when there seems to be an ocean of empty space but not a place to park.

I know I was downtown for a weekend in the summer a few years back, and I parked in an area that was deserted (and gates were up) but there were booting signs around too. I wasn't sure if it was safe to park or not. What's worse was it looked like some areas of the lot were available for public parking and some were private parking, but it wasn't really obvious what was what; and it was basically a huge gravel lot so line markings weren't really there to help either. I ultimately had no issue, but it was annoying as a visitor.

Moncton City Council needs to work hard to shake those spectres of the past, encourage businesses to open their parking up after hours and/or to make more public parking clearly visible and available for people visiting the downtown area.

[David_99]

Is this in reference to me? I’ve never had an issue parking downtown either. I was referring to the current Blue Cross parking debacle that is currently going on, with them wanting to add a parking lot on Record St. Blue Cross needs to get off their butt and build themselves a parking structure near their building pronto, before the City gets to develop the land next to it. Everything else in that image is the Cities actual plan.

Originally Posted by L'homard

What parking debacle is this? YOu must be speaking of a different city. I'm as dumb as a post, and have NEVER EVER had a problem parking downtown, even while attending sold out events at the centre. I just can't understand this concern over parking. The furthest I've had to park is the Capitol Theatre, the equivalent of parking at the far end of the Coliseum parking lot. Honestly, during the first concert, which was sold out, St. George St. had almost no cars parked on it. During the sold out very first Wildcats game, we parked by old YWCA a half hour before game time. I can throw a rock to the centre from there. The most I've ever paid to park is $3. That was one time, all the other times were free. I truly don't mean to be unkind but maybe the problem isn't parking. Maybe the problem is you.

[MonctonRad]

Indeed.

As you have pointed out, the pertinent issue is increasing the number of leasable parking spots for Slate, so they can retain tenants at the Blue Cross Centre, and to keep their options open for future expansion of the Blue Cross Centre. The issue has less to do with general public parking, but it would seem reasonable to try and increase parking intensity in any structure which is built by making the facility available to public parking in the evenings and on the weekends.



As you pointed out in your graphic, the eventual redevelopment of Downing Street (with enclosed parking), and the construction of a parking garage on the land south of the Marriott should solve the situation.

I would hope that the development of the land south of the Marriott would be multipurpose, including additional office space for Slate to lease out, as well as street front retail/commercial store frontage along Assumption to try and improve vibrancy of the area.

[benvui]

Originally Posted by David_99

Is this in reference to me? I’ve never had an issue parking downtown either. I was referring to the current Blue Cross parking debacle that is currently going on, with them wanting to add a parking lot on Record St. Blue Cross needs to get off their butt and build themselves a parking structure near their building pronto, before the City gets to develop the land next to it. Everything else in that image is the Cities actual plan.

No, it isn't in reference to anyone, it is just my opinion on what is the problem in Moncton with parking, sorry if you felt it was directed at you.

I've said it before, but a park and ride with an express bus to downtown would do wonders for the landscape. Also making it harder for people to change vacant land into parking lots, and this doesn't necessarily mean taxing them but requiring gates and proper landscaping and keeping the parking lot to a certain standard would deter some people from running them and make them look at different ways to profit from their land. I think the city needs to start looking at alternative ways to promote development and bring a greater population to the core. Projects like 55 Queen are going a long way to help the situation downtown but more work needs to be done and riding the city of surface parking and getting parking garages built has to be part of the solution, as well as active transit and better public transit options. As far as parking garages, private companies are not going to build them on their own accord, I don't think there is profit to be made from owning one. I do however think that the city would profit from them. Maybe not from running the day to day operations of the garage, but from the increased property tax base in the core because there is available parking. If the city were to build them and charge a lower rate than the surface parking this would drive the other lots out of business and open them up for business.
This has to be a multi-prong solution as there are more than one problem.

[Ammn_guy]

Totally agree with this..

Originally Posted by benvui

no one wants to give up their precious parking for fear of having to take a little longer to get from A to B.

Even myself.. if the record st parking lot had of been approved, I would have gotten free parking there.. but honestly would not have used it. i have parking closer that i pay 50.00 a month for, its not worth the extra 4 block walk in the winter to save the money.

I used to us the bus as well.. but when they abandoned the express lines in favour of the 3 bus system(blue.red green) it changed the commute from 30 mins to 1 hr + from the north end. They should put the express back in play 4 or 5 bus's 1 every 15mins in a constant circle from plaza/trinity to champlain mall. The switch buses 3 times to get downtown just doesnt fly with most people.

[benvui]

Originally Posted by Ammn_guy

Totally agree with this..



Even myself.. if the record st parking lot had of been approved, I would have gotten free parking there.. but honestly would not have used it. i have parking closer that i pay 50.00 a month for, its not worth the extra 4 block walk in the winter to save the money.

I used to us the bus as well.. but when they abandoned the express lines in favour of the 3 bus system(blue.red green) it changed the commute from 30 mins to 1 hr + from the north end. They should put the express back in play 4 or 5 bus's 1 every 15mins in a constant circle from plaza/trinity to champlain mall. The switch buses 3 times to get downtown just doesnt fly with most people.

I have a question, if there was a park and ride near your home where you could park for free and get a bus downtown would you use it? I'm just curious as to how many people would use it. I'm lucky, I live a 1 minute walk to a bus stop on route 95 that I take to the mall and switch to the blue line to get to work, it takes 40-50 minutes, but I'm finding as the summer approaches my drive is getting closer to 30-40 minutes anyway, so not much difference. When the traffic gets really bad in the summer and when the kids are out of school I will switch to biking every day rather than taking the bus.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

It may not be a real problem (especially if you know the downtown, and know where to park), but it is a perceived problem, which is just as bad, if not worse. It is the perception of lack of parking, fear of being towed, and residual fear of the now extinct booters which is keeping people away from the downtown (as well as increased vagrancy, aggressive panhandlers, streetwalkers, etc etc etc).

I dunno, downtowns are always going to have a perceived parking problem by some segment of the population. People say it all the time about Fredericton, and I've literally never had an issue parking here – even during Harvest Jazz and Blues when there is a decrease in parking capacity and everyone goes downtown. If you're driving downtown there is always the chance that you won't be able to park right by your destination but the reality is that you're only going to be a 2-5 minute walk away. For some people that's deemed an inconvenience making it not worth going downtown which is fairly silly (unless of course you have a physical disability).

[jonny golden]

I believe the Slate/Record Street situation will turn out to be positive in the long run. People realize there is too much surface parking down town. The city wants to increase density and therefore tax assessment in the down town core. Slate will now be forced to deal with their parking issue in a manner other than adding more surface parking down town. The old jail property would be an excellent location for a mixed use development including multi-level parking. Another excellent property is the Robinson Street parking lot that was traded for the Castle Manor lawn on the condition that this lot would be developed.

[Ammn_guy]

Yes 100% park n ride at mapleton park at gorge rd, casino or anywhere in elmwood (costco hahaha). as long as i could get to say downtown or avenir center in 30-40ish mins.

The problem right now is the main hub in the north is at Walmart plaza..if a downtown commuter express routes went to where the majority of commuters/people actually are( beyond the wheeler ring). IT would make it more time friendly.

Right now, when the weather is good ,i drive to mapleton park(gorge) and cycle in from there.

Originally Posted by benvui

I have a question, if there was a park and ride near your home where you could park for free and get a bus downtown would you use it? I'm just curious as to how many people would use it. I'm lucky, I live a 1 minute walk to a bus stop on route 95 that I take to the mall and switch to the blue line to get to work, it takes 40-50 minutes, but I'm finding as the summer approaches my drive is getting closer to 30-40 minutes anyway, so not much difference. When the traffic gets really bad in the summer and when the kids are out of school I will switch to biking every day rather than taking the bus.

[MonctonRad]

To my understanding, Park 'n Ride options are primarily for exurban commuters rather than suburban commuters (correct me if I'm wrong), and as such, the parking lots for such a service would be far afield (Shediac, Cap Pele, Memramcook, Sackville, Salisbury, Petitcodiac).

I have nothing against the concept.

[PEI highway guy]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

To my understanding, Park 'n Ride options are primarily for exurban commuters rather than suburban commuters (correct me if I'm wrong), and as such, the parking lots for such a service would be far afield (Shediac, Cap Pele, Memramcook, Sackville, Salisbury, Petitcodiac).

I have nothing against the concept.

Anytime I have seen a park and ride they are in suburban areas. Larger Cities like Boston/Montreal/Toronto have them and the lot is generally (not always) attached to a commuter rail station. I like the concept. I AM not sure if we have a large enough population to make it financially feasible.

[lirette]

My understanding from Retail Talk & Share is that theres a cafe going in across from Avenir Centre in the small building that houses the UPS Store. Has anything been posted about it here?

[jonny golden]

[QUOTE=lirette;8586244]My understanding from Retail Talk & Share is that theres a cafe going in across from Avenir Centre in the small building that houses the UPS Store. Has anything been posted about it here?[/QUO

I believe there was a Tim Horton's there a long time ago. One of the first ones in Moncton. Since there also was a Tim's in Highfield Square the one in that building across the street closed. I think a cafe would do good there. There'll be a lot more people in the area once Tannery Place is occupied, as well as 1222 Main Street redeveloped.

[benvui]

I know 1111 Main has a sign out front with there space to lease advertising it as a good place for a cafe/restaurant with place for sidewalk seating. Personally I'd like to see that old Tim's location torn down and something more substantial take it's place. It seems oddly out of place there.