The Official PEI Project Thread

[braymondg]

Construction in Charlottetown Booming
The Guardian, June 6th 2012

The construction industry appears to be booming in Charlottetown so far this year.

The value of permits issued to the end of May is $50 million compared to $28 million for the same period in 2011.

That puts the city corporation on pace to exceed the $100 million total for 2011.

"We are definitely having a good year for construction,'' said Coun. Rob Lantz, chair of the city's planning committee. "The average value for our building permits is up, indicating there are relatively more large projects.''

Some of those are government projects, but others are private commercial and retail.

"There seems to be an almost insatiable appetite for new apartment units in the city and we've got a new mixed-use condominium/commercial project about to break ground downtown any day now.''

As is always the case, there are other large developments being discussed that have not been permitted yet by the city corporation. If they go forward, they will add significantly to the city's numbers.

However, the demand is taking its toll on the city's planning department which finds itself understaffed in regards to dealing with all the applications rolling in.


The planning department has brought two employees from other city departments to help clear the backlog.

"We've recruited help from other departments and are actively looking to fill a senior role but that is a position that requires a very specialized skill set,'' Lantz said.

There will also be a review of the planning department's operations with an eye to best practices.

"(That is) so we can deliver the best planning services possible. It's a very important aspect for any successful and vibrant municipality.''

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[braymondg]

Habbi Holdings Building Another condo.


12-164 388132 099-BLD-12 11-Apr-12 15-May-12 516 North River Road New 32 Unit Apartment - Foundation Permit only Coles Associates 5-Jun-12
12-164 388132 112-MAV-12 19-Apr-12 14-May-12 516 North River Road Major variance - rear yard setback to 19.7 feet Habbi Holdings Inc 4-Jun-12

I see they are underway with another 32 unit condo at Ellens Creek Condos, right beside the other that was just completed last April.

[braymondg]

WOW, the size of the new addition to Charlotte Court on North River Rd. Way too big for being so close to a residential area. They should have built that building 3 more stories in the back and shaped it L-shape with the building backing against the apartment buildings. That would left a large common area in front and a better buffer zone and would have left it more open for residences across the road.
I know if I lived along that street, I would soon consider selling.

[engpei]

Originally Posted by braymondg

WOW, the size of the new addition to Charlotte Court on North River Rd. Way too big for being so close to a residential area. They should have built that building 3 more stories in the back and shaped it L-shape with the building backing against the apartment buildings. That would left a large common area in front and a better buffer zone and would have left it more open for residences across the road.
I know if I lived along that street, I would soon consider selling.

Agreed. Totally changes that area. Probably blocks the sun in the morning.

[engpei]

Reitmans going in beside Toys R us.

Wicker emporium going beside new sobeys.

Weight Watchers, Papa Johns, maritime travel going across from new sobeys.


...YAWN

[braymondg]

Demolition slated for Queen St Building.

Why are they demolishing this building?. Anyone know....

212-216 Queen Street Demolish building, foundation, backfill Bulldog Demolition
http://www.city.charlottetown.pe.ca/...UN_15_2012.pdf

[braymondg]

Permit issued,12-208 340570 127-BLD-12 30-Apr-12 19-Jun-12, 194-198 Grafton Street New Commercial/Condo Bldg. Phase 1-Excavation & Site work John & Lynda Taylor 10-Jul-12



The fence is up and backhoe is in place.

[Just an Islander]

Sounds like we are not getting a whole lot of new shops. Just a lot of shops moving around. come on. What else is going out by Toy's R US.

[RHINO]

What was that noise?

That was a pin droping in PEI

with love from Vancouver

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by RHINO

What was that noise?

That was a pin droping in PEI

with love from Vancouver

To be fair, there are things happening on the Island, it's just that there is only a small number of forumers (less than half a dozen), and at present it appears that interest in the forum is waining in the Land of Anne......

[apollo]

We're all at the beach!

[apollo]

Much of the discussion around here is where Costco will be going and how soon... everything else is irrelevant.

[apollo]

there's also rumors that Genivar bought out a local architectural firm and is looking for 5000 sq.ft. of office space.

[MonctonRad]

Thought I would step up to the plate with an offering:

Holland College Charlottetown Campus
or
This is a community college???!!!!

First a bit of a preamble:

Holland College was formerly Prince of Wales College, a Protestant institution where Islanders could complete their last two years of high school and first two years of university. Up until the 1950's, rural Islanders had to board in Charlottetown if they wanted to go beyond grade 10. My sister had to do this. PWC served as the template for the college that the fictional character Anne of Green Gables attended when she got her teaching degree. For a brief period of time in the 1960's, PWC received a university charter and became Prince of Wales University. In 1969, PWC and St. Dunstan's University were amalgamated and became UPEI. For a few years in the early 70's, PWC stayed the downtown campus of UPEI. Subsequently, all programs were relocated to the suburban campus and PWC became the provincial trade and technical school - Holland College.

Because of this history, there was always a stock of university quality buildings on the Holland College campus, but several years ago, the province embarked on an ambitious expansion plan for the college, and the quality of construction for the new buildings has really been impressive.

















There is no question that Holland College feels more like a small urban university campus than a community college. Given the quality of the new construction, I have ofter wondered if the goal of the provincial government is to transform Holland College into a technical university.

----------------------------------------------------------------

I will be back sometime in the next couple of days with a phototour of downtown Charlottetown.

[MonctonRad]

DOWNTOWN CHARLOTTETOWN PHOTOTOUR

Looks pretty urban for a CA of 58,000.


The old Dominion Building is being reborn as a mixed use development with condos on the upper floors and commercial/retail on the ground floor.


Restaurants and cafes along Richmond St.


Looking down the east side of Queen St. towards the waterfront.


A little further up Queen St, near Confederation Court Mall.


The Confedereration Centre of the Arts, the national memorial to the Fathers of Confederation.




Confederation Centre again, with the Holman Grand Hotel and Confederation Court Mall in the background.


Corner of Queen and Kent Street.


The Charlottetown Hotel on Kent St.


Condos on Pownal St.


The Dundee Arms Inn, one of a number of quality small inns in the downtown core.


The new federal government building at the corner of University Ave and Fitzroy St.


The Homburg Financial Tower, immediately across Fitzroy St from the new federal building.


Plaza in front of the new federal building. This is a very green building.


The Science and Technology Centre, across University Ave from the federal building.


Alley behind the technology centre. Again, pretty urban looking for a small city.


Looking west along the south side of Kent St. This shows the north side of the federal Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters building.


Park in front of the provincial legislature building.


The legislature with the provincial cenotaph in the foreground.


The Holman Grand Hotel with restored heritage building facades on Grafton St.


The Department of Veterans Affairs national headquarters on Grafton St.


Looking towards Great George St, a national historical preservation district, from the provincial legislature.


The front of the legislature with a provincial government office in the background.


Great George St streetscape.


Great George St again. It is this street that the Fathers of Confederation walked every day when they commuted back and forth from the colonial legislature to their ship during the confederation conference in 1864.


Saint Dunstan's Basilica on Great George St.


The Bishops Palace on Great George St.


Water St streetscape, with the Delta Hotel in the background.


Corner of Water St and Queen St.


The Delta Hotel again. There is a new convention centre under construction on the waterfront that will connect to the Delta.


Provincial lawcourts building on Water St.


Charlottetown City Hall in the foreground.

[Beedok]

Looks better than either of Thunder Bay's downtowns if you ask me.

[ErickMontreal]

Great job capturing Charlottetown core!

Plenty of history, clean as well as impressive for a city that size.

Thanks

[MTLskyline]

I'm glad to see that Stratford is going to install some sidewalks.

Build sidewalks near schools first, says resident
Stratford focusing on busy connector routes, then residential roads
CBC News
Posted: Aug 13, 2012 10:35 AM AT
Last Updated: Aug 13, 2012 12:13 PM AT

Road crews have been constructing sidewalks on some of the main routes in Stratford, but one resident thinks the town should focus its efforts on streets near the town's two schools instead.

Maria Wickstrom lives near Marion Drive, a one-kilometre stretch of road with no shoulders or sidewalk. Many elementary school children take that route to get to Glen Stewart or Stratford Elementary.

And it's a dangerous thoroughfare, said Wickstrom.

"You know kids, especially the young ones. They walk with their friends, they play. They push each other. Somebody is going to get hit on the road," said Wickstrom.

"And it's not only just the kids. Because this area is so residential, you see people out here, all day, all evening, going for walks — seniors, you see people walking their dogs. And there's no safe place to walk. I'm surprised a dog or a kid hasn't been hit."

Stratford is putting sidewalks on the busier connector streets first because of the high volume of traffic, said Emile Gallant, chair of the chairs the town's safety services committee.

Once that's done, road crews will focus on residential roads, said Gallant.

The cost to put a sidewalk along a street such as Marion Drive would be about $900,000.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince...walks-584.html

[Just an Islander]

Wicker Emporium opening second store in Charlottetown Guardian photo
Wicker Emporium is tentatively scheduled to open a second location at the new Sobey's mall on Spencer Drive, Charlottetown, Aug. 27
Published on August 15, 2012

Published on August 15, 2012
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Retailer tentatively scheduled to open second location at new Sobey's mall Aug. 27
Topics : Sobey's , Confederation Court Mall , Confederation Court Mall.The , Charlottetown , Charlottetown.The , Ontario.Customers
Wicker Emporium is getting ready to expand in Charlottetown.

The home décor and furniture retailer is tentatively scheduled to open a second location at the new Sobey's mall on Spencer Drive, Aug. 27.

Tina Richards, manager of the new Wicker Emporium store, confirmed Wednesday the existing store at the Confederation Court Mall in downtown Charlottetown is staying open.

"We're keeping this one down here and we're opening the other location at the other end (of the city),'' Richards said.

The new Charlottetown location will give the Atlantic Canadian retailer a presence in 21 communities throughout the region, including four new locations in Ontario.

Customers shouldn't notice anything different between the two Charlottetown locations.

"Every Wicker Emporium offer the same products, the same sales and, yes, our store (on Spencer Drive) is roughly the same size as (the location at Confederation Court Mall).''

Staff members are currently undergoing training and unpacking boxes in the new location.

Keeping the store open in the downtown core is a no-brainer considering it is said to be one of the most successful locations in the franchise.

"People who strictly shop downtown are happy we're staying at this location,'' Richards said, referring to the Confederation Court Mall.

The new Sobey's mall on Spencer Drive continues to grow. Besides Wicker Emporium, other confirmed tenants include Maritime Travel, Weight Watchers and pizza franchise Papa John's.

Plazacorp, the developer behind the Sobey's mall, is also developing the old Sobey's store on Buchanan Drive into the new location for P.E.I.'s first Toys R Us franchise location.

Going in beside that anchor tenant will be Reitman's.

Montana's Restaurant is also expected to set up shop at the Spencer Drive mall.

[engpei]

Originally Posted by apollo

there's also rumors that Genivar bought out a local architectural firm and is looking for 5000 sq.ft. of office space.

They did indeed buy N46 Architecture. Any more info on this office space rumour?