HomeDiagramsDatabaseMapsForum About
     

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Regional Sections > Canada > Atlantic Provinces


Reply

 
Thread Tools Display Modes
     
     
     
     
  #1  
Old Posted Mar 16, 2012, 6:55 PM
MonctonRad's Avatar
MonctonRad MonctonRad is online now
Wildcats Rule!!
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Moncton NB
Posts: 34,451
[Moncton] Downtown Developments

Due to popular outcry, I'm creating a thread for discussions of development issues concerning downtown (and central) Moncton. I thought that the Wheeler ring road would make a good boundary for central Moncton.

Consider this a placeholder:







__________________
Go 'Cats Go
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #2  
Old Posted Mar 18, 2012, 3:54 AM
MonctonRad's Avatar
MonctonRad MonctonRad is online now
Wildcats Rule!!
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Moncton NB
Posts: 34,451
From CBC

Moncton mulls 110 new parking spaces

Proponents say plan would boost business downtown
CBC News
Last Updated: Mar 17, 2012 7:18 PM AT

Moncton is considering adding dozens of new parking spaces it hopes will bring more people to the city's downtown.

The $230,000 parking plan was presented Friday to city council. It would add 110 new parking spaces in the urban core to lure people to city centre shops.

Jacques Dube, the city manager, hopes it will help revitalize downtown.

"Clearly we want to attract more business downtown and we want to keep the business we have here right now. This is extremely important to do that," he said.

"This is really an economic development initiative, more than a parking initiative."

Ingo Flohr, owner of Moncton's Unique European Style Footwear, said additional parking is a good start, but that the city needs to do more.

"If you compare this to other cities, like Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver or Calgary, they do a lot for downtown, they have nice events, even they have free street parking," he said.

Pedestrian friendly

Most of the new spaces will be on Main Street between Highfield and Lewis streets. Others will be on a stretch of Queen Street between Alma and Robinson streets.

One plan for more parking spaces called for one-way streets and angled parking, as was present on Main Street in the 1940s. But the city said that would not work.

The architect who helped design the plan said pedestrian safety was also taken into account.

"The whole idea is to make it pedestrian friendly. By parking cars, traffic tends to slow down," Pierre Gallant said.

The spaces will be added this summer if council approves the parking plan.

The city hopes to add another 300 spaces in the future if the first phase is a success.
__________________
Go 'Cats Go
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #3  
Old Posted Mar 20, 2012, 3:04 PM
C_Boy's Avatar
C_Boy C_Boy is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 210
I guess I should have posted this here instead...


City of Moncton identifies potential site for downtown entertainment centre

News 91.9


The City of Moncton has entered into an agreement with the option to purchase the Highfield Square Shopping Centre site , and has identified it as the preferred site for a proposed downtown multi purpose sports and entertainment centre. This option agreement would allow the City to purchase the property for $6 million dollars.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #4  
Old Posted Mar 20, 2012, 3:33 PM
MonctonRad's Avatar
MonctonRad MonctonRad is online now
Wildcats Rule!!
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Moncton NB
Posts: 34,451


Interesting......

And so it begins. I stated on a previous post in a different thread that the city needed to identify the site of the events centre so that developers could begin to make their plans for adjacent properties.

It will be intriguing to see what the Aquilinis will do with their city block. There are also soon-to-be-vacant properties a little further west on Main at the CIBC and Coast Tire locations. These are contiguous and could easily be combined to make an interesting development.......

The next year should be very interesting!!

__________________
Go 'Cats Go
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #5  
Old Posted Mar 20, 2012, 4:27 PM
MonctonRad's Avatar
MonctonRad MonctonRad is online now
Wildcats Rule!!
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Moncton NB
Posts: 34,451
Moncton agrees to $6M land deal

Site is the preferred location for a downtown convention centre
CBC News Posted: Mar 20, 2012 12:39 PM AT Last Updated: Mar 20, 2012 2:31 PM AT

Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc said the city’s push for a downtown convention centre took a step forward Tuesday with council passing a motion to buy a parcel of land in the Highfield Square area.

The city’s finalized option agreement gives it the option to buy $6 million worth of downtown real estate prior to March 2, 2013. The cost to obtain the option agreement is $25,000.

“I’m extremely pleased that we can finally announce the preferred site and take the next step towards a multi-purpose sports and entertainment centre in our downtown,” LeBlanc said in a statement.

“It’s the perfect site for our new centre as it has frontage on Main Street, the location is a significant gateway to our downtown, and is within walking distance of neighbourhoods, many restaurants and other amenities in our downtown.”

The land is owned by Warren Gate Investment Inc.

Highfield Square officials announced in January that the shopping centre will be closing in the fall.

After reviewing many sites for a downtown convention centre, the top sites were shortlisted and then land appraisals and environmental assessments were undertaken.

The Highfield Square location was selected as the best option, based on site characteristics, location and transportation; costs of acquiring development land; urban context and physical elements; and economic impact and synergy with the downtown.

“With the selection of a preferred site, the dialogue with Monctonians can continue in order to more fully understand the costs, issues and the opportunities of such a major project,” LeBlanc's statement said.

“Ultimately, this project is subject to the approval of council, but this is another important step forward.”

A new downtown event centre could cost $100 million to construct, city officials have said. In December, the federal government rejected a request for $25 million in funding.

Moncton politicians have been talking about replacing the aging Moncton Coliseum for several years.

A new centre would help attract bigger entertainment acts during winter months, officials have said. The coliseum's seating capacity is 7,200 and the roof is too low for some major concerts.



they fleshed this out a little more on the radio. The city is paying (Warren Gate) $25,000 for the rights to purchase this property for $6M. This option will be in effect for one year. If the purchase does not happen by March 2013, then the option expires.

I updated the CBC article today as they added some new information in the meantime. In the paper today, they also noted that the $25k option was actually paid to Warren Gate Investments. They own the property. Crombie REIT owns the building.

About two years ago, somebody on the Moncton thread stated that the Highfield square site was actually owned by a company controlled by Warren Buffet and Bill Gates. It looks like they were right!!
__________________
Go 'Cats Go

Last edited by MonctonRad; Mar 21, 2012 at 1:26 PM.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #6  
Old Posted Mar 20, 2012, 5:32 PM
Nashe's Avatar
Nashe Nashe is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Moncton, NB
Posts: 2,471
I think this is pretty good news. Sure, it's no guarantee of anything, but it's $25k well-spent on ensuring this "perfect spot" (IMHO) doesn't get away from us for the next year. And with the recent goings-on with certain left-coast property buyers, I think it's prudent.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #7  
Old Posted Mar 22, 2012, 1:11 AM
mylesmalley's Avatar
mylesmalley mylesmalley is offline
Moderator / Supervillain
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Moncton, NB
Posts: 4,066
Now that a preferred site has been selected, it's going to be a lot harder for the province to insist it gets built out in Irishtown
__________________
"When you go home tonight, there's gonna be another story on your house! "
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #8  
Old Posted Mar 22, 2012, 12:31 PM
C_Boy's Avatar
C_Boy C_Boy is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 210
Quote:
Originally Posted by mylesmalley View Post
Now that a preferred site has been selected, it's going to be a lot harder for the province to insist it gets built out in Irishtown
Din't the province have some extra land out by the casino? I mean after all, it would only make sense to have a DOWNTOWN event center by the far end of city limits right? ...
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #9  
Old Posted Mar 22, 2012, 12:40 PM
C_Boy's Avatar
C_Boy C_Boy is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 210
Downtown on-street parking pilot project info session: Mar 31 from 9-10am at Moncton City Hall

http://downtownmoncton.com/webcura/f...arch222012.pdf
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #10  
Old Posted Mar 22, 2012, 2:54 PM
MonctonRad's Avatar
MonctonRad MonctonRad is online now
Wildcats Rule!!
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Moncton NB
Posts: 34,451
Quote:
Originally Posted by C_Boy View Post
Downtown on-street parking pilot project info session: Mar 31 from 9-10am at Moncton City Hall

http://downtownmoncton.com/webcura/f...arch222012.pdf

I'm glad to see that they are referring to this as a "pilot project". I still don't think it's a good idea. The answer is really more public parking options in the downtown, especially a new parking garage or two. This is especially true with the announcement regarding the preferred location for the events centre.

On street parking on Main Street is the equivalent of fiddling while Rome burns....

Interesting to see in the paper today that Coun. Bourgeois is going on again about completely closing Main Street to through traffic, at least for two months every summer. This would absolutely destroy Main St as a viable commercial entity and is absolutely ludicrous when you consider that the events centre will be built on Main St!! I wonder if he has thought the implications of this through?
__________________
Go 'Cats Go
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #11  
Old Posted Mar 22, 2012, 5:00 PM
JasonL-Moncton JasonL-Moncton is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 757
Quote:
Originally Posted by MonctonRad View Post
Interesting to see in the paper today that Coun. Bourgeois is going on again about completely closing Main Street to through traffic, at least for two months every summer. This would absolutely destroy Main St as a viable commercial entity and is absolutely ludicrous when you consider that the events centre will be built on Main St!! I wonder if he has thought the implications of this through?
I agree with you closing Main St. is not the right idea, but that said, closing it on weekends from Friday at 8pm to Sunday at 8pm would be viable. Do it from about June 1st to end of September and then Main St. would flourish on the weekends...IMHO.

JL

PS> Also agree more streetside parking in downtown is just nutty...
__________________
Jason
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #12  
Old Posted Oct 23, 2014, 11:50 PM
tmacdougall tmacdougall is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 225
development after downtown centre

In a recent Facebook post, Moncton city counselor Dawn Arnold has been quoted as saying, "This centre will completely revitalize the west end of our downtown. There are many developers in that area simply waiting to see what is going to happen…sometimes a City has to take the first step to get things going."

In your opinion, what developers are simply waiting and what are the projects do think could move ahead after the development of the downtown multifunctional centre?
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #13  
Old Posted Oct 24, 2014, 12:02 AM
MonctonRad's Avatar
MonctonRad MonctonRad is online now
Wildcats Rule!!
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Moncton NB
Posts: 34,451
Quote:
Originally Posted by tmacdougall View Post
In a recent Facebook post, Moncton city counselor Dawn Arnold has been quoted as saying, "This centre will completely revitalize the west end of our downtown. There are many developers in that area simply waiting to see what is going to happen…sometimes a City has to take the first step to get things going."

In your opinion, what developers are simply waiting and what are the projects do think could move ahead after the development of the downtown multifunctional centre?
Two I can think of for sure:

(1)- Crombie REIT - they own the terminal plaza development right next door, and recently renovated 1234 Main Street to house Tangerine Bank (amongst others). They also want to renovate 1222 Main Street as well. In addition, they retained ownership of that portion of the old Highfield Square property where the Sobeys used to be. I don't think they would have done that unless they had plans for it. I suspect that when 1222 Main is renovated, that they will connect it to 1234 Main and extend the property to also include a mixed use development where the old Sobeys used to be. All these properties are closely adjacent and immediately next to the west side of the proposed events centre property.

(2)- Aquillini Group - they own the entire block where the Crowne Plaza Hotel is located. Again, I suspect a large mixed use development incorporating the existing hotel. I have no idea what their ultimate plans are, but the Aquillini's are well respected major developers based in Vancouver. They own the Vancouver Canucks as well as the arena they play in. They are a serious development company.

Otherwise, the old Coast Tire property across the street is being held by a developer awaiting interest. Also, the property on the southwest corner of Vaughn Harvey/Main has also recently been purchased by a developer as well. All these properties are awaiting final decision on the events centre.

The events centre may end up costing $100-150M to build, but it seriously could unlock an additional $250M in private development in adjacent properties.
__________________
Go 'Cats Go

Last edited by MonctonRad; Nov 21, 2014 at 1:52 AM.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #14  
Old Posted Mar 23, 2012, 1:18 AM
mylesmalley's Avatar
mylesmalley mylesmalley is offline
Moderator / Supervillain
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Moncton, NB
Posts: 4,066
The triangular section of the lot would make for a pretty inefficient parking structure. I don't know what the optimum shape is, but I'm pretty sure that isn't it. The rink itself could be built closer to the tracks than where the mall is currently though. You could fill in that corner with some kind of public space either inside or outside of the main building. Depending on where parking is situated, that might make for a distinctive concourse or lobby.

Everything I've heard related to the city seems to imply that they aren't too keen on having a lot of parking, so transit is certainly going to be a major component. Since the city really ought to have a downtown transit hub, this would be a perfect fit. The events centre is going to be in use primarily at times where transit ridership dies down.

It'd be really great to see Acadian (or whoever ends up running intercity bus, if we ever get that back) tie in to it as well. Having municipal transit, intercity bus and rail all at roughly the same place would be ideal. Halifax already has a combined bus/train terminal and that seems to function well.

I do think we should get rid of the pedway across Main. It isn't used all that much, and they only serve to take people away from the street.

We've got a great asset in the Santa Claus parade every winter. It might be nice to integrate a lot of glass on the Main facade so that people who aren't able to enjoy the parade because of physical limitations or whatever else would have a place to see it. Including a lot of glass could be a good way to turn the Main-facing parts of the building as a venue for art displays which can draw people in.

Beyond that, the sky is the limit, really. The city has a fantastic opportunity to learn from venues all over the country to see what works and what doesn't. I think it's important to bear in mind that Moncton isn't Toronto though. The project is still going to have to be at a scale that is appropriate and sustainable for a city that's less than 200k.
__________________
"When you go home tonight, there's gonna be another story on your house! "
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #15  
Old Posted Mar 24, 2012, 3:06 AM
MonctonRad's Avatar
MonctonRad MonctonRad is online now
Wildcats Rule!!
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Moncton NB
Posts: 34,451


I find your idea of having an integrated transit hub (Codiac Transpo, Acadian Lines & VIA Rail) intriguing. Unfortunately, Acadian just moved their Moncton terminal up to the east end of St. George St., but otherwise there would be some interesting synergies here. If this were to transpire, the transit hub would have to be at the rear of the property, near the VIA station. This would not necessarily be a bad thing however as it would allow the Main St facade of the events centre to have an enhanced street presence. Busses could enter the transit terminal at the rear via the driveway off Vaughan Harvey that passes between the VIA station and Sobeys. The exit could be the driveway that leads to Highfield St.

I think the events centre needs to have a significant street presence. By this, I mean that I don't think there should be a public plaza separating the events centre from Main St. The centre should border on the sidewalk and should have streetfront retail and commercial frontage. This was a big mistake with Highfield Square. The facade of Highfield on Main St was just a blank wall. This killed the west end of Main St and this mistake should not be repeated. We all want a vibrant streetscape with shops, cafes, pubs and patios on the sidewalk.

I agree that the existing pedway to the federal building should be removed. It serves no purpose. I could see it being replaced however with a new pedway to the east, connecting the Aquillini block with whatever gets built on the current Highfield Square parking lot. I could see a combination of a hotel, convention space and condos in this area.

The president of DMCI stated something in the paper the other day to the effect that he could see the $100M events centre leading to another $100M of developments in the surrounding area. I believe he is correct. I think this is why you will see the province staying on board with this initiative. I also believe that the feds will find some way of getting involved as well.
__________________
Go 'Cats Go
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #16  
Old Posted Mar 26, 2012, 11:47 AM
benvui's Avatar
benvui benvui is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Shediac
Posts: 348
I think if they plan on integrating a bus terminal they can get some federal cash for that portion of the development. Right now the feds aren't going to put any money into arenas, they have made it look like bad policy and you can't really argue with that.
I've always thought we should have a transit terminal similar to the Charles Street terminal in Kitchener/Waterloo. The platforms are accessed through the building via a pedway so people don't have to cross the road, tickets can be purchased inside. The platforms are all covered, but open on the sides. It was a very easy system to figure out. As you can also see from the image I have posted, they have places for the inter city buses to stop at. If they could somehow figure out a way how to link this with the train station they would have a really good transit setup.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #17  
Old Posted Mar 26, 2012, 8:09 PM
riverviewer's Avatar
riverviewer riverviewer is offline
Random Contributor
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Siknikt
Posts: 399
This blogger makes an interesting point

Quote:
Reviving a downtown coes not begin with a hockey arena or an events centre. We have a hockey arena. If a hockey arena drew other commercial activity, the Coliseum would now be surrounded by restaurants and boutiques. Instead, it's surrounded by a huge parking lot and, beyond that, dandelions.

Downtowns are built by mass transit.
Graeme Decarie from http://themonctongrimes-dripdrain.blogspot.ca/
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #18  
Old Posted Mar 27, 2012, 12:10 AM
JHikka's Avatar
JHikka JHikka is offline
ハルウララ
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Toronto
Posts: 12,853
Quote:
Originally Posted by riverviewer View Post
This blogger makes an interesting point
If the arena is within walking distance of other things then surely restaurants and boutiques will spring up. When it was built the Coliseum was out in the middle of nowhere, and you had to drive to get there. It is essentially the same as it is now.

When the new events centre is built in downtown Moncton, people will be able to walk to it from existing businesses in the downtown. Money is spent when you get people out on their feet and not sitting in their cars. It is at this point that you see nearby businesses popping up.

Mass transit does play a role in this as long as it allows people to get from Point A to Point B.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #19  
Old Posted Mar 27, 2012, 12:38 AM
MonctonRad's Avatar
MonctonRad MonctonRad is online now
Wildcats Rule!!
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Moncton NB
Posts: 34,451
Thanks Benvui, this looks good.....



If this could be covered from the elements and placed close to the VIA station, this would make an ideal transit node for VIA, intercity bus and Codiac Transpo. You could even have a joint ticketing centre. Imagine it connected directly to the events centre, possibly with an enclosed hallway leading directly to Main St.

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

Regarding the comments by the blogger, I do not agree with him at all.....

The coliseum was never meant to be surrounded by shops and services. It's surrounded by acres of surface parking and is immediately adjacent to an exit onto the divided highway. It is a suburban arena designed to get people into and out of the facility as quickly as possible.

A downtown events centre on the other hand will encourage people to linger in the neighbourhood, especially if properly designed and integrated into the streetscape. It will encourage new shops and boutiques and will be a focal point for the downtown. Of this I have no doubt.

The events centre in itself won't save the core, but it will serve as a catalyst to begin the process. What will save the core is if people want to live there and spend their leisure time there. The core has to be a vibrant part of the community. A core composed only of office buildings and parking lots has no heart and soul. The events centre will inject new life in the downtown....
__________________
Go 'Cats Go
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #20  
Old Posted Mar 27, 2012, 11:44 AM
Taeolas Taeolas is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Fredericton
Posts: 3,963
Quote:
Originally Posted by MonctonRad View Post
Thanks Benvui, this looks good.....



If this could be covered from the elements and placed close to the VIA station, this would make an ideal transit node for VIA, intercity bus and Codiac Transpo. You could even have a joint ticketing centre. Imagine it connected directly to the events centre, possibly with an enclosed hallway leading directly to Main St.
When I was in KW, the platforms were covered/shielded for the most part, though at some angles the rain/wind could get in. Still it was a very nice setup and would probably work well for Moncton if all the pieces could get together (and if we ever get intercity bus service again) Moncton especially should have enough non-Transit bus service routes available to do well, as long as we get a company that wants to run those intercity routes. (Moncton to PEI, Truro/Halifax/Sydney, Saint John, Freddy and Bathurst are routes that should work well)
Reply With Quote
     
     
This discussion thread continues

Use the page links to the lower-right to go to the next page for additional posts
 
 
Reply

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Regional Sections > Canada > Atlantic Provinces
Forum Jump


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 12:43 AM.

     
SkyscraperPage.com - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.