[St. John's] The Official Project Thread

[Architype]

New Office Building in the works

Also mentioned in the article; some new office construction is coming:

Mr. Oliver also predicts some movement to the suburbs along with building makeovers and new construction in the next 12 to 18 months. His firm is purchasing land for a planned office building in excess of 80,000 square feet.

80,000 sq ft is roughly the size of the Fortis building downtown.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...Story/Business

[Architype]

It looks like bars will be closing earlier:

St. John's city council is expected to pass a motion at today's meeting asking the Newfoundland Liquor Commission to enforce a 3 a.m. closing time for all bars. - Photo by Gary Hebbard/The Telegram

City wants earlier closing time
Liquor licencing board will be asked to cut back bar hours to 3 a.m.

TARA MULLOWNEY
The Telegram

Weekend party-goers could soon be heading off to bed at 3 a.m. instead of dancing until the sun comes up, if St. John's city council has its way.

Rest of article here:
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=146684&sc=82

In my day, we had to walk long distances to go from one bar to another. That helped sober people up and keep them out of trouble.

[Architype]

Centreline lighting may be added to second runway at St. John's airport

Published Friday June 27th, 2008

JEFF DUCHARME
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador may be the foggiest in the nation, but it's considering taking further steps to ensure that planes can land and take off in conditions that many airports, such as Saint John, can't.

St. John's International Airport is awaiting bids in response to a tender call before making the final decision on installing centreline lighting on another of its runways this summer. The airport already has the lighting on one of its three runways.

Halifax is the country's second foggiest city (it also uses centreline lighting) and Saint John is third on the list, but it has no centreline lighting.

http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.c...article/338511

If youv'e ever flown into St. John's in foggy conditions it can be pretty unnerving, with the ground being invisible until you're actually on it.

[Architype]

Some news about Memorial University:

Low Tuition Lures Thousands
June 26, 2008

The Canadian Federation of Students says lower tuition fees in the province are attracting thousands of students from the Maritimes. Tuition averages about 26 hundred dollars a year at Memorial University compared to 58 hundred dollars at universities in Nova Scotia. A new study by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission shows a 15 per cent increase in students from the Maritimes studying at MUN over the past year. CFS Chairperson Daniel Smith says government must still tackle the problem of student debt with reductions in tuition fees and the expansion of the grants program.

http://www.vocm.com/news-info.asp?id=29569
_____________________________________

Hillier Named New Chancellor at MUN
June 26, 2008

General Rick Hillier has been named the new Chancellor of Memorial University. Premier Danny Williams calls General Rick Hillier an inspirationial and respected Newfoundlander and Labradorian who will be a vibrant addition to the university. Hillier will step aside as Chief of Defence Staff next week, he takes over as Chancellor from now Lieutenant Governor John Crosbie. Williams pointed out what MUN stands for, a memorial that honours our men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. He says Hillier is a great choice for the job. The appointment is effective July 3rd and Hillier will be formally installed during Memorial's fall convocation in October.

http://www.vocm.com/news-info.asp?id=29583

[Architype]

New provincial sport and training centre officially opened in St. John's

An $8-million world class, state-of-the-art athlete training facility for the province was opened in St. John’s this morning.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Centre, located on Crosbie Road, was opened by Premier Danny Williams; Loyola Hearn, the province’s representative in the federal cabinet; St. John’s Mayor Dennis O’Keefe, and Dr. Pat Parfrey, chairman of the Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Centre Steering Committee.
The funding was provided by the three levels of government, the sports community, and the private sector.
Williams noted the centre, located in proximity to existing sports infrastructure — including the Swilers Rugby Club and the Wishingwell soccer facility — will serve as a venue for athlete training and to host provincial, national and international competitions for the more than 70,000 athletes, coaches and administrators that make up Sport Newfoundland and Labrador (SNL).
“The athletes of this province now have a first-class facility in which they can train and compete,” Williams said.

Rest of article here:
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=149399&sc=79




Any other local news or picture updates anyone??

[Architype]

Housing starts up year-to-date

Year-to-date, there have been 738 new homes started across the province versus last year's total of 623 homes, an increase of 18 per cent.

A total of 628 of these starts occurred within St. John's metro, for a year-to-date increase of 20 per cent.

Full article:
http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archiv.../09/c2453.html

Any other local news or picture updates anyone??

[mylesmalley]

Originally Posted by Architype

It looks like bars will be closing earlier:



Rest of article here:
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=146684&sc=82

In my day, we had to walk long distances to go from one bar to another. That helped sober people up and keep them out of trouble.

3 a.m.? What time are they allowed to stay open til now?

Also, great to see so much good news coming out of newfoundland. Was this year's budget surplus a one-of, or are they projecting more good years?

[Architype]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

3 a.m.? What time are they allowed to stay open til now?

Also, great to see so much good news coming out of newfoundland. Was this year's budget surplus a one-of, or are they projecting more good years?

Re: The bar hours

I think it works like this (from a 2007 article):

The law dictates nobody can consume alcohol in a bar after 3:30 a.m., but there is nothing that says they have to leave.

That loophole has resulted in the proliferation of after-hours bars in St. John's.
"Right now, there can be people inside the building until 6 a.m.

Source:
http://www.downtownstjohns.com/news/...s/2007_03.html

Years ago I think it was a 1:30 or 2 AM cutoff, someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

On the budget and economy; I expect there will be many good years to come, but I'm a little suprised there isn't more construction aside from single family homes.

Re: Construction Projects-
I think right now there are some downtown condo projects under or nearing construction (The Narrows and Water Street East 6 buildings), also Dafodil Place, 18 Lives Housing, and two seniors buildings in the East end (Kennys Pond and Tiffany Court, 6 & 8 stories) under construction. I think the Steele Hotel is going to go ahead, but I'm not sure about the others.

[Architype]

St. John's harbour will have a new 67 metre (220 ft) crane as a landmark on the waterfront:

New crane for Oceanex

A local company is getting a lift with a new 67-metre-tall, $5-million crane.

Freight services company Oceanex Inc. has purchased a Liebherr mobile harbour crane - a piece of equipment executive chairman Sid Hynes says is leading edge.

Hynes said the investment in infrastructure will likely be a fixture on the harbourfront for at least 20 years.

Full story here:
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=152228&sc=82

Picture Link:
http://www.thetelegram.com/photos/Te...Crane-2-RH.jpg

[MrChills]

Originally Posted by Architype

St. John's harbour will have a new 67 metre (220 ft) crane as a landmark on the waterfront:



Picture Link:
http://www.thetelegram.com/photos/Te...Crane-2-RH.jpg

Now if we could only get some buildings at that height in the west end of the city!!!

[kingcobra]

http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=153665&sc=82

Heritage preservation or new development print this article
Coun. Shannie Duff says hotel proposal needs serious consideration

[Architype]

Interesting, that is a key location right on the waterfront with two tall buildings there already. I wonder what will be approved?

The city has received an application from Southwest Properties - which recently finished the redevelopment of Atlantic Place - to construct an 11-storey, four-star hotel at the corner of Water and Prescott streets, featuring 150 suites, a restaurant, meeting rooms, health centre with a swimming pool and underground parking for 100 vehicles.

To approve the construction, city council would have to make major changes to the height and density allowances for that area - resulting in big problems when it comes to preserving the heritage of the area, said Duff.

However, the zone allows a maximum height of 15 metres and a maximum floor area ratio of three. Because of the slope of the site, council can allow additional height and a floor area ratio of four on the Harbour Drive side.

http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=153665&sc=82


I guess it would be where the red outline is, and maybe about that height:

credit: my photo

They built 11 storey buildings in the 1890's, so an elaborate design similar to that period might work in keeping with the heritage theme.

[mylesmalley]

Originally Posted by Architype

Interesting, that is a key location right on the waterfront with two tall buildings there already. I wonder what will be approved?



http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=153665&sc=82


I guess it would be where the red outline is, and maybe about that height:

credit: my photo

They built 11 storey buildings in the 1890's, so an elaborate design similar to that period might work in keeping with the heritage theme.

That's quite the parking garage centre-left. Is it city-owned or private?

[Architype]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

That's quite the parking garage centre-left. Is it city-owned or private?

It was built by the city in conjunction with and at the same time as Atlantic Place.

[HomeInMyShoes]

^Ick. Much as I love Cora's and the view while sipping coffees in Atlantic Place when it's crappy outside, it's such a failure for Harbour Street. There should be so much more happening right along the wharf there.

[Nuks]

Here's a render of the hotel proposal:




Click for bigger image

[Architype]

^Thanks for the render Nuks. It isn't that tall, maybe about 38 or 40 meters high on the harbour side, which is much shorter than the office buildings. It looks pretty basic like it's trying just to fit in with the mostly brick design. If the materials are good it could be quite an attractive building.

[Architype]

From an article in the Montreal Gazette:

Smallwood's dream is almost here

Once an economic misfit, Newfoundland and Labrador was the country's hottest economy in 2007. Its real GDP growth of 9.1 per cent was more than three times the national average.

Rural Newfoundland is not sharing in the wealth, and hundreds of outport communities are still trying to recover from the closure of the cod fishery in 1992, in which a $700-million enterprise, plus 30,000 jobs, were wiped out overnight.

But the province's urban economy, particularly St. John's, is being transformed by petro dollars and by the promise of Hebron, a fourth, major offshore oil project expected to be in development by the end of summer.

St. John's brims with confidence. Flashy convertibles prowl along Water St., where oil executives lunch at trendy new restaurants, and hotels and condos stand on what were once derelict city lots.

The affluence is also shared by a string of satellite towns - Paradise, Mount Pearl, the Goulds and Torbay - where dozens of local oil industry supply firms have their offices and fabrication yards, and an influx of money is fuelling a home-building boom unlike anything in the province's history.

Rest of article here:
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazett...201ceea7d6&p=1

[Architype]

More about the housing market:

Hot housing prices
St. John's market in a summer frenzy: realtor
NADYA BELL
The Telegram

St. John's is in the middle of a buying frenzy like never before, according to local realtors and a house price survey report released Thursday by Royal LePage Real Estate Services.

Housing prices in St. John's are generally up 23 per cent from this time last year, the report says.

"Echoing the trend of the past few months, St. John's has become the economic bright spot of Atlantic Canada. With various new oil projects underway and others to begin shortly, St. John's is experiencing housing market conditions typically only seen in major metropolitan cities.

Rest of article here:
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=154100&sc=82

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by Architype

More about the housing market:

Rest of article here:
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=154100&sc=82

It's interesting - a similar pattern is emerging in my own hometown (saint john NB), though the absolute value of home prices there are still lagging behind those in SJ (NL).

it's a bit of a two edged sword (and the following applies to both cities):

the up side is obvious.

the down side may take a little longer to materialize...housing prices will eventually plateau and drop like everywhere else (though to be fair, both cities are somewhat insulated from what is starting to happen in the rest of the country by virtue of their energy sector / related projects). . . the problem with skyrocketing housing prices and the mad dash to build / buy before prices "get any higher" is that the average person starts to spread themselves very thin in terms of their ability to pay for those houses. . .true, interest rates are still obscenely low in the grand scheme of things, but if we do hit a recession - and that's WHEN, not IF - things could change rapidly... (the prime lending rate topped 20% briefly in the early 1980's....think about that for a second). . .

the second problem (in both cities) is what happens to the working poor? effectively, they will be displaced and concentrated in specific areas of the city (and with all of the social problems that follow this) unless forward thought is given to mixed housing projects. . . http://leinstercourt.ca/about_saint_...ithousing.html is an example of one of the projects trying to address this in SJ/NB.....i'm unsure of what kinds of similar projects are going on (or are already up and running) in SJ/NL. . .

anyway - it is pleasant to see those kinds of positive numbers & hopefully we'll see more long term positive than negative effects...