The Official Moncton, NB Project Thread [Archive] - Page 82

MonctonRad

Jan 25, 2011, 12:33 AM

Also does anyone know what is going on with the two projects the Valmond Robichaud has planned? One by the Superstore on East Main and the other that can be seen from Vaughn Harvey?

Sorry, I haven't heard anything new. The development on East Main, next to the Superstore was supposed to go first and should get underway this year, but things are so quiet, you have to wonder what's going on......

Meanwhile, I found this tidbit in today's T&T interesting:

New community centre for north-end Moncton?
Published Monday January 24th, 2011

Idea for north-end centre gets a push as capital budget deliberations continue today
by brent mazerolle
Times & transcript staff

Monctonians who want more public places for sports and other activities, and especially northwest Moncton residents, might find something to get excited about by the time this year's City of Moncton capital works budget gets finalized.

Moncton city council is set to resume its deliberations on the capital works budget at a special public meeting starting tonight at 5:30 p.m.

Among dozens of line items in the budget may be $550,000 set aside for preliminary work on a new multipurpose community centre for Moncton's fastest growing residential area. Also at least pencilled is another $2.2 million for the project in 2014-15.

The idea of a community centre is something people have been talking about for many years, but as northend resident Christa Wheeler-Thorne suggested this weekend, the desperate need for two new schools in the burgeoning area has tended to overshadow other community concerns.

With the schools problem almost solved - the English language K-8 school is ready for the area's children as soon as Moncton High School can give it back to them, and the French language school project is being built - now's the time to look at other community needs.

The idea has been championed by the ward's two city councillors for some time now, by the veteran Brian Hicks a bit longer and the rookie Daniel Bourgeois a bit louder.

But as was seen with the Crossman Community Centre Kay Arena project in east Moncton, it will likely take a concerted grassroots community effort to see such a project through.

The story of the Crossman Kay is now a local legend of grassroots democracy and advocacy. When the neighbourhood was threatened with losing its community recreation and gathering space, it dug into its own pockets and convinced three levels of government to dig into theirs. It has taken almost a decade of hard work and passion by a lot of people, but this spring the last phase of a bigger better community centre will be completed.

The idea of doing something similar uptown is still in its infancy - even what form the facility might take is still up for discussion, but a small core group of citizens is taking the first baby steps.

Wheeler-Thorne is one of those people, and she said she was encouraged by a "very positive" meeting between a small group of residents and city officials this week.

Another of those interested residents, Jeff Reath, has started a Facebook page www.facebook.com/groups/NorthMonctonCAG dedicated to bringing the community together at least initially.

Citizens will get a chance to gather in the offline world and have their say on this and a whole lot of other ideas for the city when the Plan Moncton exercise the city embarks on later this week gets under way. As well, the north end residents hope to have a public open forum devoted specifically to the idea of a community centre held later in the spring.

This idea has been around for at least 15 years, ever since Evergreen Park School was in it's planning stages. There is lots of room in the back of the school property for a community recreation centre, so I wonder if this is still where they are thinking of building this.

The original idea was for a neighbourhood rink, indoor walking/jogging track, exercise rooms and community meeting space. The idea of a pool was also bandied about.

It will be interesting to see what becomes of this. There are about 25,000 residents in the northwest end of the city that could benefit from this.

josh_cat_eyes

Jan 25, 2011, 5:33 AM

I was thinking about that the other day. They should build a community centre with a rink and such near the casino. It would be a valid reason to open the road to connect to the highway ramps.

My proposal:
Ice surface with seating for about 750-1000
Second Floor: Ten small meeting rooms (office size)
5 medium sized meeting rooms (big enough for 30-40 people)
3 Big conference rooms that can be used separate or together (see Veterens convention centre @ Credit Union Place in Summerside)
Gymnasium with a walking track and a workout gym (newbodys etc.)
Small Cafe (Could be a local Business, Tims, Robins, Ect.)

mylesmalley

Jan 25, 2011, 5:34 PM

There's a fair bit of structural steel up at that new medical clinic on Mapleton. It doesn't have quite as bad a setback from the road as I expected. Should fill in that corner fairly well.

NBNYer

Jan 25, 2011, 8:44 PM

There's a fair bit of structural steel up at that new medical clinic on Mapleton. It doesn't have quite as bad a setback from the road as I expected. Should fill in that corner fairly well.

The render shows it as being pretty close to the road with all parking behind the buillding. Should be a nice addition to the area.

mmmatt

Jan 25, 2011, 8:54 PM

The render shows it as being pretty close to the road with all parking behind the buillding. Should be a nice addition to the area.

Yeah its really lookin great...just same beef with this as the new apts on Gauvin...WE NEED THIS DOWNTOWN!!! :P

Dmajackson

Jan 26, 2011, 5:53 AM

I was looking for information on a project here in Halifax when I came across a project for Moncton around Centennial Park; http://www.cbre.ca/EN/Our+Offices/Nova+Scotia/Halifax/Property+Profile/FranklinCrossing

mylesmalley

Jan 26, 2011, 11:43 AM

Franklin Crossing sits on what used to be a rail yard. It's being redeveloped along with the old CN Shops. When developers first came forward for it, the project entailed something like 1100 units of mixed residential, which even included a couple (?) of 11 story towers. Council put the kibosh to that pretty quickly because it was 'too dense for Moncton', or something along those lines. I haven't been back there for a while, but the last time I was through, there wouldn't have been more than 30 houses built. Nice places though.

lukepaa

Jan 26, 2011, 12:31 PM

Has anyone heard anything about the new Starbucks opening up within the delta. Apparently it's scheduled to open Friday and will be full service, and there are plans for 3 more in Moncton. Sounds good to me!

mylesmalley

Jan 26, 2011, 1:13 PM

I guess it was only a matter of time before Starbucks decided to make a big push into Moncton. It's going to be tough-going for them though. The Moncton coffee market has to be at a saturation point now. New stores only replace old ones, except for when the population has grown enough to justify more (Ryan St). Starbucks then, is going to have to get all of it's business from competitors, rather than generating new business.

Curious why they'd put one in the Delta. A Main St. location would be a lot better suited to get the downtown office crowd, IMHO.

lukepaa

Jan 26, 2011, 1:26 PM

MonctonRad

Jan 26, 2011, 1:31 PM

apparently they use the Moncton Delta as a test market for the other Deltas in Canada, and are looking to put Starbucks in Deltas all across Canada. Moncton North needs a starbucks or something other than tims in the worst way!

Welcome lukepaa, it's been awhile since we had a new member! :tup:

Interesting news about Starbucks. I would have preferred a streetfront location downtown but perhaps that will happen in the future in any event.

Regarding a Starbucks in the north end, with the Royal Bank branch in that area moving to their new location at Gorge & Mountain, that frees up their old location at Valhalla Place. It's about the right size for a full service cafe and it already has a drive thru lane!

Another obvious choice for a Starbucks would be in the new casino complex.

mylesmalley

Jan 26, 2011, 1:33 PM

Also, welcome to the boards, Lukepaa!

lukepaa

Jan 26, 2011, 2:53 PM

Thanks!

I think the RBC location would be a great location for a Starbucks!

I have heard that there is a new cafe opening in the north end with ties to City Grill...the sad thing is that if Starbucks opens, the "local" cafe probably won't be able to sustain itself.

YYCguys

Jan 26, 2011, 4:28 PM

Good news for me re: Sbux @ the Delta! That's where I stay when I'm in Moncton on business! :)

pierremoncton

Jan 26, 2011, 7:32 PM

Regarding Robichaud's condo projects:

This article (http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/rss/article/469961), published on Nov 4th, 2008, states that "the developer will have 24 months to complete the project or else the contract of purchase and sale will be nullified."

This second article (http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/964198), published on Feb 24th, 2010, states that "Robichaud is moving forward with plans to build [...] on Main Street [and] an apartment complex near High Street and Dominion Street [...] with construction expected to begin this year."

Two years have passed. I looked for a renewal on the Moncton website but found nothing. Would this mean that the Main St condo is at least technically dead?

If T&T staff browses this forum: it would be interesting to have some news on these projects!

MonctonRad

Jan 26, 2011, 8:37 PM

:previous:

I would imagine that technically you are correct............

City council however is likely desperate for any type of development on East Main Street, so I'm sure that they would be willing to cut Valmond Robichaud some slack.

This of course has no bearing on Valmond's other proposed development on High Street. There were no such restrictions placed on that development.

BTW, we know for certain that the T&T pays attention to this forum. Perhaps one of the staffers will pay heed to your request for information. :)

brod3211

Jan 26, 2011, 9:03 PM

There was an article a couple months back between June and December in the Transcript which mentioned that they had some exciting or something like that news of two new Condo/ Apartment complex's to be built in the city, on west main and off Vaughn-Harvey. I know not much help but this was with in the last 7 months or so.

MonctonRad

Jan 27, 2011, 1:32 AM

Abridged from today's T&T

UdeM, Moncton near land deal
Published Wednesday January 26th, 2011

Agreement on sewer line will allow multi-million-dollar Vision Lands development to proceed
BY BRENT MAZEROLLE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

It appears the City of Moncton and l'Université de Moncton are close to an agreement on a sewer line that was holding up millions of dollars' worth of development in one of the city's most attractive areas for the future.

University president Yvon Fontaine said during a meeting with the Times & Transcript editorial board yesterday that the university and the city have reached a memorandum of understanding, subject to formal ratification by Moncton city council.

One of those councillors, Pierre Boudreau, had lashed out at the university last fall, saying the university's intransigence would either prevent development of what's come to be known as the Vision Lands, or force the City of Moncton to spend millions extra routing the line around the university's 200 acre (81 hectare) portion of the 1,400 acre (567 hectare) tract.

Moncton council would debate the issue in the next few weeks. Council's next public meeting is Monday, Feb. 7.

With council ratification, the city will be free to run its sewer into the Vision Lands in a place both it and the university can live with.

The Vision Lands are the large wooded area bounded by Morton Avenue on the south, McLaughlin Road on the east, Highway 2 (the Trans-Canada Highway) on the north and Crowley Farm Road on the west. Another tract of land north of Highway 2 is also considered part of the Vision Lands, but the portion of the area at the heart of the dispute has been the southern expanse near Morton and Crowley Farm Road.

"It's a small piece of land, and we're not taking anything away from them," Boudreau said, noting the city only needed a right of way to bury a key sewage trunk line and was not asking to buy the property. The alternative would be a roundabout route requiring expensive lifts, pumps and bridges.

Neither the request nor the answer were simple, however, according to UdeM's president, who took time to note the university pays the city about $3 million per year in property taxes and that the bulk of City of Moncton grants to the university have gone to scholarships and the operation of the Acadian Museum on campus, a community resource and tourist attraction.

The city may want to simply bury something beneath the ground where it's out of sight and out of mind, but if it runs right through a spot where the university wants to put up a building or dig an underground parking garage some day, that's a problem.

Most homeowners, for instance, would probably accept a sewer line beneath their property if it served them as well, but they would want a say in precisely where it would run.

"I don't think we've been unreasonable," Fontaine said. "It impacted our (existing) campus and our plans for the future."

Though the woods across Morton Avenue from the campus have been owned by the university for a generation, development there is no longer some distant dream of the future. Rather, the university has a detailed design for an extensive research and development campus that will see at least some work starting this fall. That, Fontaine suggested, meant it was more difficult for the university to tell the city it could just put the sewer line wherever it wanted.

Even before that development, the Pavillon J.-Raymond-Frenette, right now the sole university building on the north side of Morton, will be expanded. Fontaine said a $7-million addition that will more than double the size of the current building and house the medical school being developed with l'Université de Sherbrooke will go to tender in March.

Lrdevlop

Jan 27, 2011, 5:37 PM

Wow! I found this: http://www.verdiroc.com/construction_urban.html

I don't know if it's new but it look's quite interesting! :tup:

Edit:
Nevermind.... I made some research and it's kinda old...

kwajo

Jan 27, 2011, 6:39 PM

Anyone have any photos of the finished courthouse? I haven't been in downtown Moncton since Thanksgiving and I'm curious to see the final product.

mylesmalley

Jan 27, 2011, 6:42 PM

Ah yes, Verdiroc...

What could have been. What should have been. I'd say that ship has sailed, considering everyone got tired of waiting for them. Since that proposal first surfaced, the casino, courthouse, at least 4 hotels, and an entertainment venue have been built on other pieces of land.

In fact, the only thing they've actually managed to build is that god-awful call center and massive parking lot.

Call me bitter, but they promised us an awesome addition to downtown, and instead, they actually lowered the quality of that part of the core by building something that is only one step up from golf course in the great hierarchy of ways to waste good land.

In fact, I take it back. It's worse than a golf course, because at least manicured lawns and trees are pleasing to look at.

Worse than that, they've stalled development for a solid ten years because nobody wanted to make a move with this awesome project on the horizon.

Screw 'em.

MonctonRad

Jan 27, 2011, 8:06 PM

josh_cat_eyes

Jan 27, 2011, 8:25 PM

This little tidbit is from the Star.com

On Monday, Canada’s largest retail landlord RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX: REI.UN) announced a 50-50 partnership with U.S. mall operator Tanger Outlet Centers that will see up to 15 American-style outlet malls in Canada by the end of 2012. The deal is worth up to $1 billion.

RioCan does a lot of business in Atlantic Canada. They are involved in the Wheeler Park Power Centre. If they are planning on 15 American style outlet malls in the country, surely 1-2 of them would be in the Maritimes. Moncton with it's central location should be a logical candidate.

Perhaps this would be a way to resurrect the moribund Mapleton Power Centre. Alternatively, I have always thought that the vacant land on the south side of the TCH, opposite the Caledonia Industrial Park, to the east of (and accessible from) Harrisville Blvd. would be a prime location for a regional outlet mall.

What do you guys all think..........
Here is the Press Release:
TORONTO, ONTARIO and GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 01/24/11 -- RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust ("RioCan") (TSX: REI.UN) and Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. ("Tanger") (NYSE: SKT), announced today that they have entered into a letter of intent to form an exclusive joint venture for the acquisition, development and leasing of sites across Canada that are suitable for development or redevelopment as outlet shopping centres similar in concept and design to those within the existing Tanger U.S. portfolio. Any projects developed will be co-owned on a 50/50 basis and will be branded as Tanger Outlet Centers. Tanger has agreed to provide leasing and marketing services to the venture and RioCan will provide development and property management services. It is the intention of the joint venture to develop as many as 10 to 15 outlet centres in larger urban markets and tourist areas across Canada, over a five to seven year period. The typical size of a Tanger Outlet Center is approximately 350,000 square feet, but is dependent on tenant demand. Assuming these parameters are suitable and materialize in Canada, on a fully built out basis, the overall investment of the joint venture is anticipated to be as high as $1 billion.

Tanger is a recognized leading developer and manager of outlet shopping centers in the United States, each one known as a Tanger Outlet Center. Tanger has been a publicly held Real Estate Investment Trust since May, 1993. Tanger Outlet Centers are characterized by a tenant mix of leading designer and brand-name manufacturers. Each shopping center provides a unique opportunity for customers to purchase a variety of brand-name products for the entire family directly from the manufacturer at substantial savings.

RioCan is Canada's largest real estate investment trust exclusively focused on retail real estate. RioCan owns and manages community-oriented neighborhood shopping centres anchored by supermarkets, together with a rapidly expanding mix of new format centres.

"In response to the increasing demand by U.S. tenants to expand into Canada, RioCan is pleased to partner with Tanger to develop Canada's first portfolio of U.S. style outlet centres. This venture will fill a void in the Canadian retail marketplace and will provide consumers with a distinctive outlet shopping experience closer to home" said Edward Sonshine, Q.C. President and CEO of RioCan. "This property type will be unique in Canada and will provide a niche retail segment for RioCan to further enhance its position as Canada's leading retail landlord."

"The opportunity to partner with a growth-oriented company such as RioCan to expand our North American border was one not to be missed," stated Steven B. Tanger, President and CEO of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. "With RioCan's expertise and stellar reputation in the Canadian marketplace, coupled with the synergies in our strategies and approach to development and growth, we believe that this venture will be successful. Tanger's top retail partners are looking for growth in the Canadian market and it is our intent to provide them with the outlet shopping center sites to meet their needs."

I think Moncton in the "Vision Lands", Halifax In Bayers Lake, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Richmond Hill, Toronto, Hamilton, London, Niagara Falls, Winnipeg, Saskatoon Calgary, Edmonton.

mylesmalley

Jan 27, 2011, 8:26 PM

There, or further down Harrisville at Route 15. Although in either case, some serious money is going to be needed to upgrade the roads and overpass.

pierremoncton

Jan 27, 2011, 8:30 PM

Verdiroc:

Source: http://22864.vws.magma.ca/index.php?&article_id=83

The long road to downtown development
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
The Moncton Times and Transcript

Here is a timeline of developments with respect to the former Beaver Lumber property since the city opted to buy the land in 1998:

- Nov. 19, 1998: Moncton city council votes unanimously to buy the eight-acre former Beaver Lumber property at Westmorland Street and Assomption Boulevard for $1.8 million.

- January, 1999: Moncton commissions a land-use study for the property.

- Feb. 26, 1999: The city's purchase of the former Beaver Lumber property is official.

- April 25, 1999: The city, in conjunction with the Times & Transcript and Downtown Moncton Centre-ville Inc., hosts a public forum on downtown's future, with a focus on the former Beaver Lumber property. Ward meetings and polling are also conducted to include residents in the development of a vision for downtown.

- Sept. 21, 2000: Moncton and Verdiroc Development Corporation sign an option to purchase for the former Beaver Lumber property. The agreement gives the Toronto development group six months to come up with a plan for the property that includes a hotel, restaurants, entertainment facilities, office space, convention facilities, residential units and parking.

- Oct. 2, 2000: The findings of the city-commissioned feasibility study on a convention centre are presented to city council, noting the only way for Moncton to catch up to other Atlantic Canadian cities when it comes to hosting conventions is to build a convention centre/hotel complex.

- March 2001: Moncton city council extends Verdiroc's option for six months.

- Verdiroc's early plans for the former Beaver Lumber property include a multi-media entertainment and education complex and studio with Rogers Television and Immersion Studios if agreements can be finalized. Other components of the plan begin to emerge - a hotel and convention centre, possibly an aquatic centre, a courthouse and maybe even a casino.

- June 2001: Moncton city council gives Verdiroc a two-year extension on its option.

- October, 2001: Plans to have Vista Hospitality Company build an aquatic centre and small hotel are announced. The agreement would see the city contribute $2.9 million in capital funding for the construction of the pool and an additional $600,000 paid over 10 years for furnishings, fixtures and equipment. The agreement for the deal is signed April 7, 2002. Vista Hospitality Company still has to purchase the land from Verdiroc.

- Dec. 17, 2001: Despite several objections, Moncton city council approves spending $85,000 to study the merits of building a casino on the old Beaver Lumber property. The issue was earlier studied by the city's Citizens Destination Gaming Committee, which reported in July, 2001.

- Feb. 12, 2002: The July opening of the Rogers customer contact centre on the former Beaver Lumber property is officially announced.

- 2002: Moncton is on the hook for the $410,000 clean-up of contaminated soil on the former Beaver Lumber property.

- March, 26, 2002: Moncton and Verdiroc sign an agreement that will see the city lease two parcels of land on the old Beaver Lumber property to Verdiroc for the creation of a 385-space parking lot for 10 years at an annual cost of $1. When the issue was before council earlier that winter, George LeBlanc, Brian Hicks and Kathryn Barnes voted against the deal.

- Dec. 2, 2002: In an appearance before a public session of Moncton city council, Verdiroc unveils Generation Place. Verdiroc proposes two options. Option A entails a 55-suite hotel, an aquatic and fitness centre, professional office building and a three- to four-screen movie theatre with stadium seating. Option B includes a 50,000-square-foot casino, a 20,000-square-foot convention centre, a 150-suite hotel, an aquatic centre, a health club, 1,000 new parking spaces, new retail space, two or three restaurants and 30 residential units.

- May, 27, 2003: Amin S. Visram, of Vista Hospitality, tells the annual meeting of Downtown Moncton Centre-ville Inc. that he expects to break ground on a hotel and aquatic centre complex in September.

- June 16, 2003: Moncton city council extends Verdiroc's option for another 18-months, making the new deadline Dec. 21, 2004.

- 2003: Moncton city council debates the scope and size of the aquatic centre, which evolved from a place to swim and exercise to a major water-themed playground, unlike any in Atlantic Canada. In the end council returns to the initial vision. Given the eight-month delay while the city considered a water play park, council extends Vista's deadline for the project from Dec. 31, 2003 to Aug. 31, 2004.

- Aug. 31, 2004: The Vista deal for the 50- to 55-room hotel and eight-lane main pool, as well as a leisure pool lapses.

- Nov. 31, 2004: Verdiroc officials make the first of two private presentations to city council on the development vision. This is the first time the new council, elected in May, has met with Verdiroc.

- Dec. 6: Council and Verdiroc again meet in private to discuss Verdiroc's development plans. The company is not seeking an extension to the agreement, but rather wants to exercise its options.

- Dec. 6, 2004: Denis Losier, president and chief executive officer of Assumption Life, who was unable to come to an agreement on a land swap with Verdiroc for the courthouse he proposes to build, publicly announces his firm's desire to reach a similar agreement with the city if they reject Verdiroc's development proposal, ending the Toronto firm's option on the land.

- Dec. 20, 2004: Generation Place, a partnership between Verdiroc and Ashford Investments, presents plans for a 65-room hotel attached to a convention centre and 60-room apartment complex. Parking and retail space are also part of the vision. The plan also includes provision for a courthouse on the site, which Generation Place says it wants the opportunity win in a fair and open bid process.

- Dec. 20, 2004: Moncton city council - at its request - gives Verdiroc a 30-day extension on its option, allowing the city solicitor and Verdiroc officials to reach an agreement on the purchase and sale of the land.

- Jan. 10, 2005: Bernard Cyr, the local hotelier behind the Chateau Moncton, proposes to build a 150-room hotel as part of the Generation Place development on the former Beaver Lumber property. An agreement to see Cyr join the Generation Place team was reached a few days earlier.

- Jan. 13, 2005: Before reporters, Losier unveils a competing vision for the former Beaver Lumber property, as well as Assumption Life land and the land of other private developers. The vision includes a courthouse, parking, a convention centre, hotel and housing. A reported six city councillors have also seen this proposal.

josh_cat_eyes

Jan 27, 2011, 8:38 PM

Highfield Square in holding pattern?

Thursday, January 27, 2011
Times & Transcript

By: Alan Cochrane
Moncton's downtown Highfield Square appears to be a quiet shadow of its former self these days, with only a handful of stores still open as people speculate on the future of the site. But independent retailers who remain in the mall say they plan to stay put.

There has been widespread speculation that the mall location on Main Street could be the future site of a downtown multi-events centre and the new home of the Moncton Wildcats.

"I think 2011 could be the year when everything comes together," Mayor George LeBlanc said yesterday. City staff have been actively working on a proposal and business plan for a new downtown multi-events centre with a deadline of March 31 to present it to the federal government along with requests for funding.

Kevin Silliker, economic development officer with the city, said the Highfield Square property is a very visible part of the downtown and would like to see it developed into something spectacular.

But the city is still looking at three possible locations for the centre, and those three locations have not been revealed. LeBlanc would not comment on the possible locations but he agreed there has been a lot of speculation that the Highfield Square property could be one of them. He said it is important that the locations remain confidential until a deal has been worked out between the city and the property owners so the project can move ahead.

The downtown facility has been described as a sports and entertainment arena that would be surrounded by retail shops, restaurants and other businesses.

If the mall area is chosen as the location for the centre, the mall would likely be torn down and any remaining businesses would have to find a new home. Many businesses have already left. Sobeys built a new grocery store nearby which also includes an NB Liquor outlet. Shoppers Drug Mart also moved out of the mall into a new building nearby, the new extension of Vaughan Harvey Boulevard which runs under the railroad tracks to connect with the Gunningsville Bridge.

The Highfield Square mall and the Terminal Plaza Building next door are owned by Crombie REIT of Stellarton, part of the Sobeys group of companies. Officials with the company could not be reached this week to comment on the mall's future. But as negotiations and planning for the centre continue, Moncton's oldest mall remains in an apparent holding pattern and waiting for its fate to be revealed.

"I don't know what the future is for the mall but I hope I'm included in it," long-time retailer Betty Rubin said this week. "I love it here. It's very comfortable. The people are nice, there's lots of parking, The Bay is fabulous and we get lots of customers coming in for lunch time. I am staying."

Rubin's women's wear store has been in the Highfield Square for nine years and even though the number of retailers in the mall has dwindled there is still a good amount of traffic.

Pierre Sansfaçon, who runs The Passage gift shop in the mall, also says business is good even though there are many empty spaces. The Passage - which deals in a wide variety of clothing, art, music and books from around the world - has been in the mall for about three years.

"Every month we ask for news but there's no news," Sansfaçon said.

The downtown mall, located at the corner of Highfield and Main streets, has undergone many changes in its 40-year history.

First opened in 1969, Highfield Square was Moncton's first mall and was for years anchored by the Eatons department store and Sobeys grocery store. The mall underwent a major facelift in 1979, during which the movie theatre was removed and replaced with a food court.

mmmatt

Jan 27, 2011, 11:15 PM

^ My preffered site is still behind Assomption place...it would be more tight, but its possible...Highfield Square would be a close second. I just want it to be as central as possible, making it "the hub of the hub" you could say :P

On the retail lease topic the former Ponderosa is currently being transformed into a "maritime beauty" store. "Merle Norman" has moved out of Highfield Square and into the former Tims across the street. Also the former "Major Discount" car repair shop on west main is now being renovated into an auto parts store.

gehrhardt

Jan 28, 2011, 3:22 PM

Published Friday January 28th, 2011
A10
Times & Transcript staff

A new proposal to develop land adjacent to Moncton's Mapleton Park and Route 2 into a commercial subdivision will have to go through the process and be approved by council.

Bill Budd, executive-director of the Greater Moncton Planning District Commission, said the proposal being put forward by Cordova Realty and developer John McManaman is for a commercial subdivision with four large lots. The proposal is basically the same as one put forward five years ago, but dropped by Co-Op Atlantic, but will still have to go through the process.

Cordova Realty Ltd. has entered into an agreement to purchase the land from Co-Op Atlantic and create four commercial lots and a new public street in the not-too-distant future.

Cordova Realty and McManaman appeared before the commission this week asking for a variance allowing them to build an extended cul-de-sac on the property and for review of the subdivision plan.

Budd said the zoning only allows a cul-de-sac of 180 metres so the variance was required to go longer. This is just one preliminary step toward the development.

I assume that this would either be down by the new dental offices, but maybe adjacent to the Aliant building. Some infill in that area would be nice for sure.

MonctonRad

Jan 28, 2011, 4:01 PM

:previous:

From the sounds of the article, I believe that this is the parcel of land on the southwest corner of the Mapleton/TCH interchange that Co-op wanted to develop several years ago. There was quite a fuss at the time because the public felt (erroneously) that it was part of Mapleton Park.

mylesmalley

Jan 28, 2011, 6:29 PM

I spent about two hours at city hall for the first public session of PlanMoncton. They had the planning department and most of council out to show off their development vision and to poll residents for their opinions.

I strongly suggest everyone else try to make it out at some point. I think it runs today until 5, but there are a bunch of other events over the next couple of weeks.

MonctonRad

Jan 29, 2011, 1:56 AM

Abridged from today's T&T:

Main Street restaurant scene undergoing big changes
Published Friday January 28th, 2011

New locations set to move in to Moncton
By Eric Lewis
Times & Transcript Staff

If the thought of new restaurants gets you excited, you'd better sit down.

In the next few months, no less than three new restaurants will be opening their doors on Moncton's Main Street. Plus, an iconic brand of coffee finds its way to the street, starting today.

If you've been paying attention lately, you may have noticed that both Bogart's Restaurant and Kramer's Corner closed recently.

Bogart's is currently undergoing a transformation into what will be Catch 22 Lobster Bar, and Kramer's has closed in favour of a new spot called Tide & Boar Gastropub. Both are expected to open in the next month.

Meanwhile, a hit restaurant out of Fredericton, Relish Gourmet Burgers, will be opening in May on Main, in the former location of Jagoes' Fine Jewelry.

To top it all off, Le Café and Triiio Restaurant in the Delta Beauséjour, popular lunch spots for the downtown crowd, will begin serving Starbucks coffee today.

Meanwhile, renovations are underway at the former Bogart's Restaurant to turn it into Catch 22 Lobster Bar, which as the name implies, will offer 22 different lobster dishes, along with beef, chicken, lamb dishes and more.

Denis Landry, owner of Gabrielle restaurant and The Lobster Deck in Shediac, will operate the new venture.

"I'm very excited," he says. "It's a year-round market (in Moncton), and in Shediac it's a seasonal market."

Landry promises a New Orleans/cajun vibe that is open to families, offering a kids menu as well.

Landry says he believes there is a niche market Catch 22 will slip into nicely, serving up the best seafood available.

"To attract new people, you have to do change," he says. "In this corner (near Catch 22), you have The Keg across the street, which is a steakhouse. We're a lobster house. You have Pump House (Brewery) next door, which is an alehouse, and then you have Pastalli's, an Italian, and then you have Saigon Thai."

Catch 22's chef Marc Surette is originally from Dieppe. He apprenticed at the Delta Beauséjour and over the year has since worked across the country in restaurants and hotels. He's served food to Queen Elizabeth, presidents and NHL stars.

Meanwhile, Bill Eaton, a native Monctonian now living in Saint John, is excited to open up his own new venture back home.

Eaton and his wife Norma opened up a Relish Gourmet Burgers franchise in Saint John last fall. The hit restaurant, which got its start in Fredericton, has taken on a life of its own, with Moncton being the fourth location to open.

Eaton says the Saint John restaurant has been doing well.

Eaton is excited to bring the burger joint to Moncton. He says every burger comes with fresh made products and no processed cheese is used.

In addition to burgers, French fries, sweet potato fries, onion rings, poutines and more are on the menu.

The Relish name got a boost recently when KISS rocker Gene Simmons and his partner Shannon Tweed stopped in to the Oromocto location for a bite to eat on their way to Moncton.

A Facebook group, "Relish Gourmet Burgers Moncton" has been launched, and the Eatons are looking for suggestions on what should be "Moncton's signature burger."

Each Relish location offers up a burger specific to its city or town.

Anne Poirier Basque, executive director of Downtown Moncton Inc., says she is excited to see change and fresh faces coming to downtown Moncton's restaurant scene.

"If it's good for Gene Simmons, it's good for Moncton," she says with a laugh when mentioning the new Relish location.

mctnguy

Jan 29, 2011, 1:50 PM

Now's your chance, armchair city planners! :)

Residents can help plan future of the city
Published Saturday January 29th, 2011
Plan Moncton is largest public-consultation in city's history
A4
by James Foster
Times & Transcript Staff

Moncton residents have an unprecedented opportunity to help shape what their city will look like in the future.

Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc is hoping many residents come forward to help shape the city's future as part of Plan Moncton.
The city has embarked on the largest public-consultation exercise in its history as it undertakes a revision of its municipal plan, the guiding document for deciding where and how residents will work, travel, learn, play and shop in the coming years. To do that, residents can provide their input via public meetings, a visioning symposium, through the city's website and using an online game that allows you to design your own Moncton.

"I cannot stress enough the importance of public participation in this process," Mayor George LeBlanc said yesterday at the launch of the initiative and its first open house.

"Our city has been blessed with phenomenal growth over the past decade. As a community, we need to think about what our city should look like in the future and about the kind of city we want for our families and future generations."

The online game should prove a hit. It's not only fun, it allows players to design a future Moncton. Participants are given a budget of $1,000 and they then allocate that money to where their priorities are.

LeBlanc likens it to the hit video game Sim City, and the comparison is apt indeed. In Sim City, players design the city of their dreams, restricted only by their imaginations and by the budget awarded to the player by the game, a budget which grows and shrinks depending how good, or bad, of a city planner you prove to be.

Plan Moncton aims to inspire an unprecedented level of public participation into what Monctonians want their city to look like in five - or even 50 - years from now. One person who takes part in the online game will win an iPad tablet computer.

Skeptics might think this is little more than a public relations exercise that will produce a document that will sit on a shelf gathering dust, but in fact cities regularly review their municipal plans.

This particular review is taking the extra step of soliciting the widest possible variety of public input. It is guided by a committee made up of city councillors, municipal planners, public administrators, parents, new Canadians, young people, older residents, the arts community, environmentalists, active transportation advocates, public safety specialists, an architect, community activists and non-profit groups, in a bid to garner the widest possible divergence of views.

"The Plan Moncton Committee is looking forward to hearing from residents and getting their perspective," said Bill Budd, executive director of the Greater Moncton Planning District Commission.

"As we move into the next phases of the review process, the committee will have the responsibility of ensuring that the public's feedback is properly integrated into the revised municipal plan, which will define the community's vision for Moncton in the long term."

The first of four public open houses was held immediately after yesterday's launch of the exercise. Public participation was good, with standing room only in city council chambers and big crowds at city hall afterwards, where information on Plan Moncton and its intentions was available all through the lobby.

From this point, residents are invited to open houses on Tuesday at Bernice MacNaughton High School; on Thursday at Northrop Frye School and on Feb. 16 at L'École L'Odyssée. All sessions take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Phase One culminates with the Visioning Symposium at the Capitol Theatre with workshops and other activities from Feb. 23 to 25, with facilitator and keynote speaker Antonio Gomez-Palacio, the award-winning urban designer and the cofounder of the Office for Urbanism. As well, Marshall Button and artist Mario Cyr will be in attendance. Reserve your tickets by calling the Capitol Theatre at 856-4379.

After the overall vision and planning direction are set, the next stage will look at options for managing growth in the city - where and how development should take place.

After that they'll develop a draft plan which will likely be tweaked as more feedback is received.

Then the necessary bylaw and regulatory changes will be made to put the plan into action.

You can play the planning game, learn more about Plan Moncton or submit your ideas at their web site at www.planmoncton.ca

MonctonRad

Jan 29, 2011, 3:02 PM

From today's T&T

Events centre funds quest continues
Published Saturday January 29th, 2011

Moncton hopes to tap into$1.2B federal program for new downtown facility
By BRENT MAZEROLLE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

You may have heard in a variety of news stories from across the nation this week how the federal government is looking for ways to invest money in the P3 Canada Fund, an economic stimulus fund it created in 2008.

More than two years later, the lion's share has gone largely unspent, with $1 billion of its total $1.2 billion still up for grabs.

You might be happy to know that is precisely the fund the City of Moncton is trying to access to build the multi-purpose downtown events centre the community has been clamouring for.

"We have some good suggestions of where the money can be invested," Mayor George LeBlanc said yesterday of the federal government's dilemma.

And with so much money still uninvested, you might be happier to hear the city expects to have its complete and extensive application to the federal Crown corporation running the fund by the end of March.

"As you can imagine, you don't just go to Ottawa and ask them for millions of dollars," LeBlanc said. "They have a very detailed list of what is necessary."

The new 9,000-seat facility is expected to cost about $80 million.

The city has spent months doing the paperwork required as part of the process of getting some of the money set aside for investing in the public-private partnerships to which P3 refers.

"March 31 is our deadline and we'll meet it with a very well-documented application and business plan with substantiation," he said.

"I hope it will be very favourably received."

While there was still plenty of work to do once Moncton city council unanimously voted to pursue the construction of a downtown centre last March, a lot was done.

Leading to that decision was the work of experts in the field and then the follow-up study of a task force of community leaders and citizens.

While it has been a lengthy process, LeBlanc said the initial study and the work of the task force have greatly informed the application and formal business case the city has been preparing since, with the guidance of federal and provincial officials.

"We've had a good relationship with both levels of government on this. We've had constant two-way communication on what it is we need to give them for our application."

Also key to having a viable business plan was an equitable long-term agreement with the Moncton Wildcats, who would be the facility's anchor tenants. That was accomplished with a 15-year memorandum of understanding last July.

Support from the downtown business community, through a formal agreement with Downtown Moncton Centre-Ville Inc., has also been achieved.

As well, "I believe we are getting closer to having a hospitality levy in the city," the mayor said.

Our region is one of the few places in North America that does not have a levy on hotel rooms, and once the province passes legislation enabling such a levy, a portion of the money collected in Moncton would go to funding the downtown centre.

"Because of all the work we've done, I think we're well positioned. I think we got out of the gate really early," LeBlanc said.

There's no word on how long it might take P3 Canada Fund officials to make a decision, but Moncton's mayor feels good about the part of the process he and council could control, what has been done to date.

"This has certainly a very high priority for me and continues to be. Council has supported it as well. We still have a lot of work to do, but a lot of work has been done."

As a Wildcats seasons ticket holder, I filled out an online survey yesterday regarding my desires and expectations in a new downtown arena complex. I was a little upset to see the surveyors referring to a proposed 8,000-9,000 seat downtown arena. Hopefully this was an error. My understanding was that we were talking about a 9-10,000 seat arena. Downsizing this project would be a very bad idea, especially since certain events (eg the Brier and the World Curling Championships) now mandate a 10,000 seat minimum stadium.

Now isn't the time to go cheap folks. We only have one kick at the can for this for at least the next 50-60 years. We have to do it right....

MonctonRad

Jan 29, 2011, 3:25 PM

Moncton will have a Wal-Mart supercentre
Published Saturday January 29th, 2011

Company spokesman said they hope to eventually bring format to every region
Times & Transcript Staff

Metro Moncton will one day be home to a Wal-Mart supercentre, but whether that happens this year or later won't be announced for another few weeks.

"Eventually we hope to bring the supercentre format to every region of the country and we will have one in Moncton eventually," says Wal-Mart Canada's director of corporate affairs Andrew Pelletier. "Moncton is a fantastic market for us because we have two stores there and we're thrilled to be in Moncton."

Wal-Mart announced earlier this week that it will create 40 new supercentres in Canada this fiscal year, which starts Feb. 1 and ends Jan. 31, 2012. Those differ from the standard Wal-Mart discount store in that they have a full service grocery department, instead of just a small grocery section, which the Moncton and Dieppe stores have.

Wal-Mart Canada opened its first supercentres in Ontario in 2006 and has since added supercentres in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The company announced on Wednesday it will expand its supercentre concept into Manitoba and Quebec in 2011.

Pelletier says Wal-Mart will announce details in the near future.

"We'll be confirming the specific locations over the coming weeks and we'll let you know if Moncton is on the list," says the spokesman.

While 40 supercentres will be added this year, that doesn't mean 40 new stores will be built. There will be some new stores in new markets, while in other markets stores will be moved to locations. Some stores will be expanded to add the full service grocery section, while others will simply be reconfigured to fit everything in.

The company will spend approximately $500 million on the 40 new supercentres this year.

Well, this is no surprise; especially with Target invading the Canadian market over the next several years.

I imagine that it will still be a couple of years before we see a Supercentre here. Wal-Mart has already indicated that they are going to be concentrating on the Quebec and Manitoba markets for this new format in the near term.

I think the more interesting question is "what does this mean for the local retail and property development landscape in Moncton".

- We have two Wal-Marts in Moncton now - Do we need a third?
- If not, then which of the two existing locations will be relocated (or expanded).

- Both current locations are hemmed in and not easily expandable. The Plaza Blvd. location however is new, closely adjacent to Wheeler Park and services the burgeoning northwest end of the city. The Champlain Place location meanwhile is considerably older and I believe a lot of people question whether Wal-Mart actually belongs in a traditional mall environment.

- I therefore predict that the Champlain Place Wal-Mart will relocate, probably to someplace in the Harrisville Blvd/Dieppe Blvd vicinity and will adopt the new Supercentre format....
- This will leave a large vacant hole in Champlain Place but since Champlain has successfully positioned itself as a regional "fashion mall", I don't expect that this space would remain vacant for long.
- American chains like Kohl's are planning to move to Canada. This is one possibility but I personally think a more likely probability is that the Bay would relocate from Highfield Square to Champlain. There is no question in my mind that the Bay would be more successful (and less neglected) in this new location.
- With the Bay gone from Highfield, the final death knell for that mall would finally have been rung; but wait, isn't there a new downtown arena/events centre that might be built in the city starting in about 2013-2014. Hmmmmmmm......

Methinks I'm starting to see a definite cause and effect relationship here.....:yes:

Freddypop

Jan 29, 2011, 4:17 PM

mylesmalley

Jan 29, 2011, 5:19 PM

Hard to say. They were pretty adamant last year when rumours about a huge distribution centre being built in Moncton were swirling around that the company had no plans whatsoever to do that.

David_99

Jan 29, 2011, 6:21 PM

Hmmmmm........

The old EB location is right next to People's isn't it. Maybe it's going to get incorporated into the Bath & Bodyworks location

Also Tip Top, on the other side of People's, is also moving a couple lots down. That'll be a huge area.

MonctonRad

Jan 29, 2011, 6:28 PM

Hard to say. They were pretty adamant last year when rumours about a huge distribution centre being built in Moncton were swirling around that the company had no plans whatsoever to do that.

I dunno Myles, I kinda think that where there's smoke there's fire.

If Wal-Mart is planning on invading the region with Supercentres, they will need a distribution centre. Moncton is the obvious choice. I'm of the school of thought that they didn't build that new interchange for the Scoudouc Industrial Park purely on speculation.......:cool:

riverviewer

Jan 30, 2011, 1:42 AM

Steelcowboy

Jan 30, 2011, 2:21 AM

Well I hope at least one of the Walmart's become a 24 hour Superstore..give some competition to Sobey's ..we had one open up by our place in London (not superstore) just a regular Walmart similar to the one at champlain mall and it became a 24 hour store, it was awesome when you work a late afternoon shift and you need to do some grocery shopping or even regular shopping. I think 1 of the Moncton Walmarts would do well, add more jobs for sure! I'd love to see Moncton get with the times..I think there's a 24 hour one in Halifax as well.

mylesmalley

Jan 30, 2011, 5:14 AM

I don't know... I guess I just have a hard time getting excited about yet another massive wal-mart.

And I think the jury is still out on whether or not they actually create jobs, rather than just moving them around. Frankly, I'd much sooner see a company like Sobeys thrive and expand.

MonctonRad

Jan 30, 2011, 1:55 PM

:previous:

I sympathize Myles, but if the scenario I pointed out above were to transpire, it could start out a domino effect of development all over the city.

Also, a relocated Wal Mart out of Champlain would be less injurious to the overall retail health of the city than a third Wal Mart.

If the Wal Mart did relocate to Harrisville, that really could be the start of a new retail node in the metro area. There are already long term plans for a new plaza anchored by a Sobeys on Harrisville. throw in a Wal Mart too and the area will really take off.

Freddypop

Jan 30, 2011, 4:20 PM

Hard to say. They were pretty adamant last year when rumours about a huge distribution centre being built in Moncton were swirling around that the company had no plans whatsoever to do that.

They will need a supplier for the various foodstuffs. Loblaws and Sobeys have an existing capacity that is large enough but can`t see them getting into bed with Walmart. Still believe they will make an announcement re a distribution centre with store reconfigurations to follow. Only other option is to service Atlantic Canada from Quebec but that would be expensive....especially for Corner Brook and St John`s.

NBNYer

Jan 30, 2011, 6:36 PM

I dunno Myles, I kinda think that where there's smoke there's fire.

If Wal-Mart is planning on invading the region with Supercentres, they will need a distribution centre. Moncton is the obvious choice. I'm of the school of thought that they didn't build that new interchange for the Scoudouc Industrial Park purely on speculation.......:cool:

Ah yes! I also think that this news of upcoming expansion for Wal-mart plays well in this "interchange to nowhere" busyness

However, is it typical for the government to be aware of such a large private sector development, invest millions in infrastructure (interchange) and not inform the public as to what the purpose would be? If the government was aware and went ahead with this project, then I'm assuming that some kind of commitment was already made by Wal-Mart. So this means the spokesperson who denied the plans either:

A) Was not made aware of the project by Walmart execs
B) Was told to keep it under wraps until an official announcement was made (like the one coming soon)

If that is the case, would the government agree to keep this under wraps for the company while making such an investment in infractructure? Or are my hopes of government transparency naive? :shrug:

porchmouse

Jan 30, 2011, 7:45 PM

It's a beautiful sunny afternoon in Moncton so my husband and I went out and took some pics of what's happening in Moncton. We drove out to future Sobeys location on Elmwood but there is no activity there. Currently it's just all fenced in with lots of snow.

Here's the new courthouse at the corner of Westmorland and Assumption Blvd. Beautiful building.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5020/5401472939_09d94f849d.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5401472649_38f6b3b9dc.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5015/5402071892_8810accfda.jpg

This is the corner of Hildegarde and Mountain Road (where Unison Computers and Kings Ice Cream used to be - making way for a new mini mall).

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5091/5402072168_114d48096e.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5256/5401473313_6b7accbbbe.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/5402072274_80446dd6f2.jpg

This is the new RBC Moncton North Branch opening Monday, Feb 7th (with extended hours). I am happy to say the drive-thru is staying as well.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/5402072496_456cc44408.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5056/5401473511_c2b60737b1.jpg

Hope you enjoy these pics.

Cheers,

MonctonRad

Jan 30, 2011, 8:36 PM

Nice pics porchmouse.........kwajo on the previous page had been asking for updated photos on the courthouse and you delivered! :tup:

mylesmalley

Jan 30, 2011, 10:53 PM

I'm really pleased with the courthouse. I admit, I was skeptical of the design at first, and the conceptual plans made it look like it was quite a bit back from Assomption and Westmoreland, but it definitely turned out to be a great addition to downtown.

Maybe they moved the building closer to the road to give a few extra feet for a new events and entertainment center in behind? :notacrook:

kwajo

Jan 31, 2011, 1:38 PM

Thanks for the courthouse photos porchmouse, that's awesome!

benvui

Jan 31, 2011, 2:18 PM

The pictures of the courthouse are awesome porchmouse. I only have 1 complaint about the building, and it isn't the building itself, but rather the powerlines that cross in front of it...they should put those things underground, what an eyesore!

Lrdevlop

Jan 31, 2011, 3:53 PM

New gastropub to open on Main Street
Published Monday January 31st, 2011

Tide & Boar Gastropub at 700 Main Street has new management with big plans
By Eric Lewis
Times & Transcript Staff

A landmark building on Main Street is under new ownership and plans are underway to open a gastropub and new café/market in downtown Moncton.

Matt Pennell is one of the new owners of 700 Main St., one of downtown Moncton's oldest buildings, which houses The Old Cosmo nightclub, McSweeney Company Dinner Theatre, Café Cognito and the recently closed Kramer's Corner bar.

Pennell has been busy overseeing renovations in what was, until recently, Kramer's.

The chef and business owner says in a month or so, Metro residents can look forward to trying out great food and beer at Tide & Boar Gastropub.

A gastropub, Pennell says, features fine dining food and service in a pub-style atmosphere with affordable prices.

"You're making great product, great service, you're giving that to a customer, but not making them feel uncomfortable, not making them feel stuffy," he explains.

Pennell promises a great selection of beer from around the world, some of which might not be currently available at NB Liquor outlets. He'd like to carry beers from the Garrison microbrewery in Halifax too, he says.

As far as the food goes, Pennell says Tide & Boar will use local, organic products as much as possible and will offer slow-roasted and smoked meats along with plenty of snack foods.

One item he expects to take off is the polenta fry, a French fry-shaped take off of the Italian polenta dish. It was a hit when he tested it out while still operating under the Kramer's Corner name.

Roasted brussels sprouts, bangers and chips and more will also be on the snack menu, and Pennell insists that, "Nothing comes out of a box, absolutely nothing." Everything is made fresh, including sausages.

Pennell and his business partners own the entire 700 Main St. building and will operate Tide & Boar along with McSweeney Company Dinner Theatre.

The Old Cosmo, operated by Jeff Cormier and Jeff Gallant, won't be affected by the building's new ownership, as the two Jeffs signed a 20-year lease for the Cosmo space two years ago.

One business that will be affected however is Café Cognito, a popular lunch spot on the first floor of 700 Main St. that has been in operation for nearly 11 years.

In fact, today is the last day Cognito will be open in its longtime location.

Germaine Montague, owner of the café, which is part of the Downeast Coffee family business, says as soon as ownership of 700 Main St. changed hands, Cognito was served a notice to vacate.

"It was a shock," she says. "We did not expect that. We have been there for such a long time, and it was an established independent café, and we thought we brought value to the building, but I guess the new owners don't see it that way."

Montague says the shock has worn off, and she's taking the move in stride. A new location for Cognito hasn't been determined, but she promises that the "Cognito Phoenix Project" will see the café reopen downtown within the next few months.

She reports that Cognito's loyal customers have been dropping off suggestions for where they could move, and she has been considering each and every option. One suggestion was to move into the location formerly operated by Joe Moka, and later, Deja Vu cafés, further up Main beside Robinson Court.

Ideally, Montague would like to stay as close to Cognito's current location as possible to continue to serve its regular customers from surrounding businesses, but she's considering all options.

Pennell says a new café and market will be opening in Cognito's current space. The new business will serve fresh foods daily, with a butcher's display, preserves, dressings and more.

As with Tide & Boar, Pennell promises everything served at the café will be made fresh, including the bread used to make sandwiches.

A name hasn't been settled on for the café, but Pennell says he hopes to attract a lunch crowd and anyone looking for a quick bite to take home with them.

Pennell is originally from Newfoundland. Roughly a decade ago, he was rooming in culinary school with his future business partner, Chad Steeves.

"We always said one day we want to own a restaurant, and this opportunity knocked on the door, and we said, 'Hey, now is the time, I guess.'"

Pennell admits it's a handful, overseeing a restaurant, dinner theatre, café plans and a catering company to boot, but he says "it's going to work."

"It's just a lot of work right now, which we're all up for," he says. "We're just really excited to get it off the ground and get it running."

Pennell was a chef at Gio restaurant and The Press Gang in Halifax and he's worked in San Francisco as well as western Canada, so he has experience behind him.

Saturday night, McSweeney's will be launching its new dinner theatre show, and Pennell says a new menu will be introduced into the dinner theatre in the future.

He says he wants customers to not only enjoy a great show, but also great food.

Asked if he is aware of the history of the roughly 110-year-old building he now owns and the businesses that have come and gone in it, Pennell says he is aware that there have been highs and lows in 700 Main St. over the years, but, "we're really looking forward to starting our own legacy."

Lrdevlop

Jan 31, 2011, 4:05 PM

I just heard on the radio that it's official! U2 will be in Moncton!! Arcade Fire will also perform as an opening act.:notacrook: :tup:

D3nZ

Jan 31, 2011, 6:13 PM

I just heard on the radio that it's official! U2 will be in Moncton!! Arcade Fire will also perform as an opening act.:notacrook: :tup:

I will so be there this year.

mylesmalley

Jan 31, 2011, 6:31 PM

Awesome!!!

NBNYer

Jan 31, 2011, 8:40 PM

I just heard on the radio that it's official! U2 will be in Moncton!! Arcade Fire will also perform as an opening act.:notacrook: :tup:

Nice! U2 is a great show. I will definitely be there.:tup:

michael_d40

Feb 1, 2011, 4:13 AM

Just booked my hotel! Looks like I'll be there to lol

David_99

Feb 1, 2011, 12:23 PM

Where are tickets being sold? They said Feb 8th at 10am but no location.

acrew79

Feb 1, 2011, 5:04 PM

Grand stand tickets are being sold on Ticket Master .ca

General Tickets are being sold at all Needs Convienience stores in Atlantic Canada, or the Moncton Coliseum Box Office. starting at 10Am AST Feb 8..

MonctonRad

Feb 2, 2011, 10:50 PM

Delta ready to make a splash
Published Wednesday February 2nd, 2011

$1.3M additionto downtown hotelwill include 150-footwaterslide andgames room
by alan cochrane
Times & transcript staff

The Delta Beauséjour is getting ready to make a big splash this spring with a new 150-foot waterslide and a games room equipped with the latest Wii and Xbox consoles.

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=662909&size=500x0
GREG AGNEW/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT
The Delta Beausejour Hotel renovation will include an addition to the building and a waterslide next to the swimming pool, along with a new games room, says hotel general manager Raymond Roberge.

Construction of the $1.3-million project at the downtown hotel began in January and is expected to be ready for use by May, just in time for the summer travel season.

Raymond Roberge, general manager of the Delta, said yesterday that the project has been in the works for a while and is designed to help the hotel remain a popular destination with families visiting Metro Moncton. He said the family market is very important, especially on weekends. Swimming pools, waterslides and games rooms are popular with young sports teams in town for hockey or baseball tournaments. Roberge said it is often a challenge for parents to find something to occupy the kids' free time.

The 150-foot waterslide will be enclosed in a new addition adjacent to the hotel swimming pool. It will actually be constructed above the main ballroom. The slide will include a three-level staircase and have two loops, ending with its own splash pad. Roberge said he wanted the slide to have its own splash pad, rather than have sliders flying into the pool. The games room will have two Wii stations, Xbox stations and computer stations available for hotel guests to use free of charge.

He said the original plan was to have a 275-foot waterslide that would have started inside the building, led outside and back inside to end near the pool. Roberge said similar slides exist in other places but the manufacturer advised against it because of Moncton's varied climate.

At 150 feet, he said it will be the longest indoor hotel waterslide in the province.

The Delta Beauséjour is New Brunswick's largest hotel with 309 guest rooms and 24,000 square feet of convention space. It has served as a resting place for dignitaries of all stripes, rock stars and royalty over the years. The ballrooms have been used for everything from political rallies to community events like the annual Antler Breakfast. It has also served as a headquarters for big events like the World Men's Curling Championships and the IAAF World Junior Championships.

Roberge likes to mention that Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger had the salmon at the Windjammer restaurant, and returned for the same meal the next day.

Roberge, who got into the spirit of the IAAF games last summer by flipping burgers at the Delta's food kiosk at the stadium, says events like the big concerts at Magnetic Hill, the IAAF games and the Atlantic Nationals Automotive Extravaganza have an amazing impact on the local economy. And quite often, people who come to Moncton for these events are so impressed with the local hospitality that they decide to return for another visit.

"Once people get here for a concert or event and see what Moncton has to offer - The Rocks, the zoo, Magnetic Hill, the restaurants and shops - they do come back. It's hard to measure, but we do see it, especially with things like the car show. That is a huge event where people come here every year from the U.S. In this hotel, we have about 30 rooms that are booked by the same people every year. So it's important for us to keep doing these events."

He said rooms at the hotel are already booked for the July 30 weekend, when Irish supergroup U2 will be in Moncton for a concert at Magnetic Hill. And as far as he knows, the band will not be staying at the hotel.

mylesmalley

Feb 3, 2011, 3:16 PM

http://www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/DEMO05A-eng.htm

Gentlemen, 137,300!!

MonctonRad

Feb 3, 2011, 3:28 PM

:previous:

Excellent news Myles!!

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict a Moncton CMA pop. of 140,000 for the 2011 census.
:banana: :banana: :banana:

Atlantic Canadian CMA Population estimates for 2010

Halifax.....................403,000
St. John's................192,300
Moncton..................137,300
Saint John.................128,000

riverviewer

Feb 3, 2011, 3:31 PM

http://www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/DEMO05A-eng.htm

Gentlemen, 137,300!!

An achievement for sure. Consistent growth. Largest in NB.
What's the next goal?

theshark

Feb 3, 2011, 4:04 PM

140 000????
:d

David_99

Feb 3, 2011, 4:18 PM

http://www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/DEMO05A-eng.htm

Gentlemen, 137,300!!

Hopefully now whenever talk of the CFL comes up again, people will stop quoting the 2006 pop. of 125,000. It may not look like a huge increase to some but it's still almost a 10% jump in 5 years. 140,000 by 2011 would be awesome.

JasonL-Moncton

Feb 3, 2011, 6:35 PM

It would be interesting to see how that increase is distributed across the area.

So the Moncton/Saint John area is 265,300...interesting...anyone have the boundaries (map form) of these CMA's? I can't seem to find it...

MonctonRad

Feb 3, 2011, 6:44 PM

:previous:

The Moncton and Saint John CMAs are not contiguous, so when you talk about the "Moncton/Saint John area", you would have to throw in the population of intervening areas such as Kings County/Sussex. I would give the SJ/Moncton metroplex a population of about 320,000.

When I first moved to Moncton 20 years ago, the population of the Moncton area was less than 100,000. I think a 40% increase in population in 20 years is excellent. Just imagine what it might be in another 20 years time!
:tup:

Continuous population growth helps to justify the services already located in our city and provides ammunition for further commercial and industrial expansion. It's a virtuous circle.....

brod3211

Feb 3, 2011, 7:40 PM

Wetlands designations could have major impact on economic development, critics say
A1
BY BRENT MAZEROLLE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

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The implications are only starting to become clear, but they are staggering.

According to a new provincial mapping system brought online Jan. 1, vast swaths of New Brunswick - including virtually all of Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview and most of southeastern New Brunswick - have been flagged as potential wetlands, with significant consequences for anyone who wants to sell property.

There are also potentially negative consequences for economic development and even to municipalities that derive almost all their revenues from property taxes.

And for those who would characterize this as yet another economics-versus-ecology debate, there is even potential, in some ways, to harm the environment that the mapping sets out to protect.

With so many big issues in play, it might be best to start out simple with one small example.

Moncton's Paul LeBlanc has been hanging onto a piece of land off Ryan Road for about 35 years now. Recently, someone offered to buy it and he decided the time was right to let it go.

It turns out the time was far from right.

On Jan. 1, the Province of New Brunswick brought a new wetlands mapping system on-line that has significantly affected LeBlanc's plans.

The mapping program depicts two layers related to wetlands - the "provincially significant wetlands layer" and the "wetlands predictive layer."

The former designation is found in places you would expect it, like the marshes along the Petitcodiac River and Hall's Creek. The latter designation applies to just about all the other land in the region, owing to the fact the water table is so high in our part of the world.

Therefore, it's no surprise the new system has flagged Paul LeBlanc's land as part of a wetlands predictive layer, that is, a potential wetland, even though it's on relatively high ground in the Evergreen Park area. If you live around southeastern New Brunswick or own land here, chances are, your property is flagged too.

Because of that potential wetland, LeBlanc must now have a wetlands delineation study done by a certified expert before he can sell the land.

There are significant hurdles. First is the cost of the study, which has been estimated at $3,000 to $5,000.

Second is the trouble he's had finding many people around here who are certified to do such work.

Third is the fact the studies can only be done between June 1 and Sept. 30, when all the frost can be assumed to be out of the ground.

"I agree with the policy," LeBlanc said. "It's just the way it's been handled."

LeBlanc says the whole affair has been a learning experience.

"It's been Environment 101," he said. "Everybody I talk to, I learn new things."

At any rate, he said, "I'm pretty sure my land will come through as non-designated wetland, but it leaves me in limbo until summer."

That limbo, or delay, could be the biggest problem for development and economic development.

If a company wants to set up shop in one of southeastern New Brunswick's industrial parks, for instance, will it be willing to wait until next summer to find out if it will be allowed to proceed or not? Or will it go to Nova Scotia?

Moncton Industrial Development's Peter Belliveau says it has potentially huge ramifications for the two parks he manages, the Moncton Industrial Park and Caledonia Industrial Estates, but they're far from alone in this worry about stalled or stifled development.

With the delineation studies limited to summer months, "if someone (a potential builder) came to see me on October 1, how long are they going to wait?" Belliveau wondered.

Pierre Dupuis, the general manager of the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Dieppe, echoed Belliveau's concerns.

"It will have an impact, but what impact we don't know."

He said many of the stakeholders had indications changes were coming to the way of doing things, but he's not sure everyone has fully grasped the scope of what the changes mean on the ground.

He also gave credence to Paul LeBlanc's claim of what it could cost to have delineation studies done. The City of Dieppe had a couple done last summer for parcels they've readied for development along Aviation Boulevard.

"We got three quotes and they were all in the $3,000 to $6,000 range," he said.

Now that the money's spent, Dupuis worries those studies might no longer even be adequate, since the law talks about keeping development at least 30 metres from a wetland, while the new mapping looks at a 50-metre measure.

Dupuis also wondered about the impact of all those properties that might, upon delineation, be determined to be wetlands in whole or in part. Since the assessment value of land is based on its development potential, property values would almost certainly plummet, meaning the tax revenues that cities count on would be impacted.

Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc, whose city derives 81 per cent of its revenue from property taxes, says even the uncertainty is a problem.

He's had senior staff looking into the issue but said, "I don't think we have all the details yet. I'm not sure of the legal framework of all this."

The mayor said it's not yet clear what is policy and what is law and what is still up for discussion.

Another concern of many of those speaking on the topic is that the system places a reverse onus and costs on land owners to disprove the new map. As well, the quality of the mapping itself, derived largely from aerial photography and water table historical data, has been called into question by some.

Environment Minister Margaret Ann Blaney has weighed in to bring some clarity to the issue, and promises more clarity is coming.

First of all, "the policy for wetlands has been in place for a number of years," she noted. "The policy has not changed."

What has changed is the information now available, which is itself a result of work to clarify wetlands issues.

"Stakeholders told us they didn't know where the wetlands were," she said.

About a year and a half ago, the Department of Environment started working on a better mapping system of the entire province, taking advantage of improved technology. That's what came on stream Jan. 1, not any new laws.

However, the guidelines to help people deal with the new information on the new maps and what it means have not yet come from the province.

"I think in retrospect, we should have waited until we had the mapping and the guidelines out at the same time," Blaney said.

The guidelines are however coming imminently, with only the need to translate them into both official languages left to do.

She also emphasized, "even if you have a piece of wetland, there are still things that can be done. You can compensate or mitigate. There are options.

"We have to be very careful of the balance," she said. "Some wetlands we cannot touch. But at the same time, we don't want to stop development. Each project is different."

Ultimately, "we do not want a net loss of wetland."

The word from the capital is that the guidelines are to be re-evaluated after two years, but the concern is how many development opportunities could be lost in that extended period of time.

Whether that two-year test period stands or gets shortened is something that will be worth watching in coming weeks.

What Blaney did say, though, was "we want to hear back from planning commissions, municipalities and developers."

They will likely be hearing plenty.

A Fredericton developer recently launched a lawsuit over the issue, because he says he is now being barred from developing land that had been previously designated for that purpose. Meanwhile, though the chairman of the New Brunswick Planning Directors couldn't be reached yesterday, the Greater Moncton Planning District Commission's executive director, Bill Budd, did say planning commissions across the province have big concerns.

Among them is the fact that lands that have already been serviced and prepared for in-fill development could be judged unsuited for development, forcing development farther afield as people look for parcels that can be developed. Not only does such sprawl cost a municipality more as it runs roads and utilities ever farther from the core, it's also bad for the environment, as more wilderness habitat gets destroyed and more cars burn more fossil fuel.

"Wetlands are important," Budd said. "We need to take a conservation approach to them."

However, he suggested the new mapping doesn't account for how wetland systems work in urban areas, where past development has already influenced them.

He said a partnership is needed to get a wetland map that both the province and municipalities can live with.

pierremoncton

Feb 3, 2011, 8:05 PM

According to that table, Moncton growth (1.779%) is only surpassed by 5 CMAs:

Calgary (1.819%)
Toronto (1.897%)
Regina (2.234%)
Vancouver (2.315%)
Saskatoon (2.829%)

Moncton fares better than the 27 others, including heavyweights:

Edmonton (1.712%)
Ottawa (1.691%)
Montréal (1.063%)

And in Atlantic Canada:

Halifax (1.383%)
St. John's (1.317%)
Saint John (0.629%)

MonctonRad

Feb 3, 2011, 11:33 PM

Moncton High building should be saved: developer
Published Thursday February 3rd, 2011

Property developer Richard Carpenter says historic building could likely be restored at reasonable cost
by alan cochrane
Times & transcript staff

The historic Moncton High School building is an architectural gem that should be saved and restored, Moncton property developer Richard Carpenter said yesterday.

"It's just silly what's going on. I haven't been consulted or been through it but they are talking about water and mould and structural damage. Well, I haven't been in a building yet that didn't have those problems," Carpenter told members of the Moncton Men's Probus Club yesterday.

Carpenter has been involved in many high-profile restoration projects in Moncton over the last 30 years. He converted the old Marvin's biscuit building and the Eatons warehouse into office spaces for government departments and private businesses. He converted the old Woolco building on Main Street into what is now the headquarters of Atlantic Lottery. He has brought new life to old railroad buildings by turning them into specialized shops where old rail cars are rebuilt.

His latest project is converting the old textile mill on Mill Road into a specialized plant that makes fireproof fabrics for the seats of planes, trains and cruise ships.

Carpenter said the Moncton High situation has become a mess with arguments ranging from tearing it down completely to saving part of it. The school is now closed, resulting in a shuffling of students in several other schools. Carpenter has said that the estimates of $48 million to fix it are exaggerated and the bottom line for him is that Moncton has already lost too many historic buildings.

"We've been losing this battle for a long time. I was in Germany in October and they are still rebuilding synagogues and churches there that were damaged in the Second World War. The government pays for it because that's who they are. We have this marvellous building and we've torn everything else down. It's a public building. In my opinion, the Peter's Locks building should not have been torn down but the mob formed and they wanted a parking lot."

He said even $10 million can go a long way to fixing up a building. Water leaks can be fixed, mould can be removed; structural beams can be repaired, replaced or reinforced.

At the Marvin's building, for example, the structural integrity was reinforced by specially made wooden beams that Carpenter says are stronger and would last longer in a fire because steel will warp under extreme heat.

The Moncton High building has exterior walls of quarried sandstone reinforced by a steel skeleton. The nearby Central United Church is built in a similar fashion and is now being rebuilt into the Moncton Peace Centre.

Carpenter said it took 11 years to rebuild Heritage Court (the old Eatons warehouse building) but it has stood the test of time. He suggests the same could be done at Moncton High.

"You can put the students elsewhere and seal the rest of the building and get to work."

Meanwhile, Carpenter doesn't expect any big ideas to come out of the Plan Moncton exercise where the city is asking residents for ideas on the future municipal plan.

He says development is ongoing and changes will come as long as developers have vision and the money to get their projects started.

One ongoing concern in Downtown Moncton has been vacant spaces in older buildings, with the catch-22 explanation that tenants won't move in until they are fixed up, but property owners don't have the money to renovate unless they have tenants.

Carpenter suggests that Downtown Moncton Centre-Ville Inc. and the city put aside money to help get these properties get fixed up so they can be used and generate revenue.

In his speech to the Probus Club members yesterday, Carpenter told how at one time, he was near personal bankruptcy himself, but couldn't afford the $50 fee to file the papers, so he decided to start from the ground up, following the credo that "desperation is a great motivator."

Since then, his motto is to do the best with what you've got, start with small jobs to prove you can get them done, and keep pushing for more business as change creates opportunity.

Today, his business ventures employ more than 300 people and have attracted international attention for their innovation.

StormShadow

Feb 4, 2011, 1:18 PM

I'm all for saving and restoring MHS, but I'm not much of a fan for Dick Carpenter's taste in restoration. IMHO, it shouldn't be done cheaply (translation- reasonable cost. YMMV)

benvui

Feb 4, 2011, 5:34 PM

I heard a rumor from someone working at the Coliseum that Highfield Square has already been picked as the site of the new arena. Anyone else hear that?

josh_cat_eyes

Feb 4, 2011, 6:16 PM

cdnguys

Feb 5, 2011, 1:11 PM

I think the facade of Moncton High should be saved and a new school built behind it. Here is an example in Saint John - a building was condemned but they shored up the facade, tore the building down and built new preserving the historic streetscape. I think it's worth the extra money and effort - MHS is a beautiful building and it will be a shame if it's completely lost.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4125/4983037635_75ff7a52b2_b.jpg

MonctonRad

Feb 5, 2011, 4:42 PM

That wetlands thing is crap. It's ironic because the government is not going to remove the causeway, but now its going to say every piece of land near a river is wetland. I hope the Fredericton developer wins the lawsuit. I tend to support conservative governments, but only when their policies are actually conservative.

Some tidbits from today's T&T:

Main editorial:

Wetland regulations are truly ludicrous
Published Saturday February 5th, 2011

We wonder if new rules and regulations regarding wetlands in New Brunswick are the last land mine left by the Shawn Graham Liberal government for Premier David Alward and his Tories to step on, for it has all the hallmarks: the new system appears to have come out of the blue and surprised even those most affected; and while the intent may be positive, the implementation is a mess.

Rarely have we seen anything so ludicrous as designating most of the Metro Moncton area, including some clearly high areas, as wetlands or potential wetlands (wetlands predictive layer, in the jargon of government). It would be merely funny if the implications of the regulations were not so enormous, including high potential to simply stop development cold for no appreciable reason.

It's astounding that bureaucrats not only included true wetlands in the designations, but also land that might, sometime, get wet. What are the criteria? Rain? A muggy day? A possible storm surge atop Lutes Mountain? One government website states bluntly that any plot of land where the ground is continuously wet for as little as two weeks each year (spring snow melt, anyone?) is a wetland. That makes the entire province wetland! It ceases to be funny, as the consequence is imposing a massive, costly burden on businesses, municipalities and individual citizen landowners. Even high, almost always dry land, for example, can't be developed until a specialized and expensive survey that can only be done in summer months is completed. And a reverse onus provision is highly objectionable.

We doubt Premier Alward's government would shed any tears if the business, planning, municipal and other sectors, as well as the public, rose up and said "no, scrap it!" Making the situation worse is considerable confusion existing even within government and the Environment Department about just what is what, although some citizens have already been caught in the bureaucratic net.

Wetland protection is important. We doubt any reasonable New Brunswicker would disagree. This isn't about opposing good environmental stewardship, rather it is an issue of common sense and not hamstringing the province's economic growth. Growth and environmental responsibility can go hand-in-hand. But they don't in this new system.

Perhaps the best solution is for the premier, minister and their government to simply pretend all this never happened, then send the bureaucrats back to the drawing board to get it right.

de Adder's Political Cartoon:

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=663480&size=600x0

from "the Sleuth":

Being somewhat green around the gills, your spymaster isn't entirely swayed by talk in local development circles that New Brunswick's new wetlands mapping system is 'all wet,' but the word from Fat City Fink is that the new government is cradling this Shawn Graham leftover like a plastic bag left on the lawn by that pesky neighbourhood dog-walker.

Certainly the local 'development community' is saying at least one national company looking at Moncton for an Atlantic distribution hub is now thinking about Halifax, where they do have wetlands designations, but not a category that can only be described as 'wannabe wetland' and a weird 'reverse onus clause' that will cost you thousands to prove the land you want to develop isn't wetland before you can proceed.

Could it possibly be, speculates the Fink, that the Alward government hopes to give the new system a goldfish funeral?

Personal note: I wonder if this "national company" looking for an Atlantic distribution centre is Wal-Mart. It would make sense. I'm sure the entire Scoudouc Industrial Park could be considered as a wetland area. It's certainly boggy enough. :haha:

If a huge potential employer such as Wal-Mart is threatened by this flawed legislation, I'm sure that Alward will give this relic from Shawn Graham the kiss of death that it deserves. :yes:

NBNYer

Feb 5, 2011, 9:33 PM

Personal note: I wonder if this "national company" looking for an Atlantic distribution centre is Wal-Mart. It would make sense. I'm sure the entire Scoudouc Industrial Park could be considered as a wetland area. It's certainly boggy enough. :haha:

If a huge potential employer such as Wal-Mart is threatened by this flawed legislation, I'm sure that Alward will give this relic from Shawn Graham the kiss of death that it deserves. :yes:

Not sure if this was mentioned here before. I heard a rumor from a friend that Canadian Tire was looking to build a distribution centre in the Scoudouc park. He just heard it from a co-worker so I have zero reference on this. I don't like to spread false rumors, but seems like Canadian Tire would better fit the description of "national company" than Wal-Mart. I don't know if this rumor makes sense or not. Canadian Tire is expanding in the maritimes though, wonder if it would justify a distribution centre????

Anybody else hear something like this?

kwajo

Feb 5, 2011, 9:58 PM

josh_cat_eyes

Feb 6, 2011, 4:23 PM

You shouldn't have to PROVE your land is not a wetland, if when you look at it, its clearly not. They could at least give some leeway when dealing with the stuff. Like come on, its not New Orleans we are talking about folks!

porchmouse

Feb 7, 2011, 11:38 PM

Just got this email:

"SCOTIABANK TOUCHDOWN ATLANTIC IS BACK!
Canadian Football League and City of Moncton to bring Canadian Football League game to Atlantic Canada for second straight year

Moncton, N.B. - (February 7, 2010) -- Scotiabank Touchdown Atlantic II is coming to Moncton this Fall.

"We're thrilled to be bringing another regular season game to the city of Moncton, and our fans and friends from across Atlantic Canada," said Mark Cohon, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League.

Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc said his city is enormously proud to welcome the CFL back this season after hosting the very first ever CFL regular season game in Atlantic Canada last year.

"We are excited and ready to make the sequel even bigger and better than the original," LeBlanc said.

Moncton City Council tonight officially ratified an agreement with the CFL to bring another regular season game to Moncton.

Details, including the two participating CFL teams, the date and time of the game will be announced shortly, along with the full CFL schedule for 2011.

"Scotiabank is thrilled to have partnered with the CFL on the inaugural Scotiabank Touchdown Atlantic Festival, and we are more excited to see it return to the East coast for a second year," said Peter Bessey, Scotiabank Senior Vice-President, Atlantic Region. "Scotiabank Touchdown Atlantic is truly a celebration of sport, Canadian culture and a great game that unites people in communities across Canada."

Last year, the Toronto Argonauts "hosted" the Edmonton Eskimos in the first Scotiabank Touchdown Atlantic in Moncton.

The game sold out in a mere 36 hours, months in advance of the kickoff, and was accompanied by a tremendous festival that featured huge crowds and great fun.

"Moncton continues to build a sterling reputation as Atlantic Canada's entertainment centre, and the CFL's return here, on the heels of the massive U2 concert this summer, is further proof of that," LeBlanc said.

Cohon said the CFL continues to evaluate the opportunity to play more games in Atlantic Canada in the years ahead.

"Time will tell whether we are expanding our footprint in the region, or in a position to consider actual expansion to Atlantic Canada," Cohon said.

"What we do know is the first Scotiabank Touchdown Atlantic was a huge hit, and working with our civic and corporate partners in the region, we're going to strive to make Scotiabank Touchdown Atlantic Two even better."

Information on how to obtain tickets for Scotiabank Touchdown Atlantic will be made available in the coming weeks."

MonctonRad

Feb 8, 2011, 12:15 AM

Moncton's population continues to grow: StatsCan
Last Updated: Monday, February 7, 2011 | 7:40 PM AT CBC News

Southeastern New Brunswick's growing population has come largely at the expense of other areas of the province, according to Statistics Canada.

Statistics Canada issued the latest population figures last week that show the greater Moncton area grew by more than 2,400 people in 2010.

Moncton's census metropolitan area is now 137,346, ahead of Saint John's 127,973. Roughly half of that population growth was generated by people moving to the area from other parts of New Brunswick.

Moncton has not only become the largest city in the province — but one of the fastest growing cities in the country.

The trend of people flocking to southeastern New Brunswick has been noticed by urban planners in Dieppe for more than a decade.

The city's population has more than doubled in the last 10 years.

Pierre Dupuis, Moncton's general manager of economic development, said the expanding population is a boon to the city on many fronts.

"It's the people coming in buying homes or relocating, so it's increasing the tax base on the residential side," Dupuis said Monday.

"But the flip side, it's also helping our business community by providing skilled labour for them to be able to grow and prosper."

Dupuis said it looks like the population trends will continue.

Suzanne McIntosh and her husband made the decision to leave their home in Petit Rocher, a small community in northern New Brunswick, and head to Moncton a couple of years ago.

McIntosh said the move was based on career options and a chance to be closer to family.

She said she can see why a steady stream of people are following suit.

"Moncton and the Moncton area is definitely growing," McIntosh said. "I've only been here since 2007 and I already see a booming area, even though with the recession, I find it's still an area that's booming."

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2011/02/07/nb-moncton-population-stats-can.html#ixzz1DH41xsbp

BTW, excellent news porchmouse. The rumour is that it will be the Tiger-Cats and the Stampeders.

The Tiger-Cats may become the default Moncton home team in 2012. They will be renovating Ivor Wynne Stadium that year and the rumour is that Moncton will become their home for one third of the season (three home games).

Wildcats and Tiger-Cats........you gotta love it!! :tup:

MonctonRad

Feb 8, 2011, 12:47 AM

The Bay in Moncton will remain open
Last Updated: Friday, February 4, 2011 | 7:48 PM AT
CBC News

The Bay in Moncton will not close, despite the announcement of the closure of The Bay in Halifax. (CBC)

New Brunswick's only location of The Bay will remain open, a spokesperson from the Hudson's Bay Co. confirmed in a statement Friday.

The company announced Thursday that the Halifax location of the iconic department store would close in April.

The Hudson's Bay Co. is the oldest incorporated joint-stock merchandising company in Canada and the second oldest in North America. The company was incorporated by a royal charter by King Charles II in 1670 as the only company allowed to trade in the Hudson Bay drainage basin.

When the fur industry took a downturn in the late 19th century, the company turned into a merchant business selling goods to settlers in Western Canada.

Many people agree that The Bay is an institution. But they also admit the aging department store could benefit from a makeover.

This week it was announced that all of the restaurants in The Bay locations across Canada will get a revamp.

One of the partners involved in the renovation is a company that caters to fine dining.

But regular customers in Moncton are wary about what that'll mean for the family diner atmosphere. The department store has received many complaints like those from worried customers and released this statement:

"Right now, we are very much in the planning process for every one of our 24 restaurant locations across Canada, including the one located in The Bay in Moncton. The next step in our plan is to look at each individual restaurant and determine the needs of the community it serves."

The spokesperson also said its main focus is on getting the first new restaurant up and running at the downtown Toronto store.

In Moncton, new management will take over the restaurant in October. All of the existing employees will remain, but the details about the changes and when they'll happen are still up in the air.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2011/02/04/nb-the-bay-in-moncton-will-remain-open.html#ixzz1DHFTgIvG

josh_cat_eyes

Feb 8, 2011, 1:01 AM

LordFalchion

Feb 9, 2011, 1:28 AM

My husband works at Eddie Bauer and it was confirmed today that EB Games is going in the old sams area!

MonctonRad

Feb 9, 2011, 1:39 AM

:previous:

Welcome to the forums LordFalchion.

Yes, I've seen the sign today too. It's interesting to note that the store will be renamed GameStop, which is the US parent company of EB Games.......I wonder if they will be renaming the entire chain or only certain stores.

mylesmalley

Feb 9, 2011, 2:35 AM

They are just waiting until Walmart builds a new store then they are moving to Champlain place. I can't see them taking up the whole area where Walmart currently is though. When this happens, then the City of Moncton will announce that the new arena will be built at Highfield Square. Thats my speculation.
I am also going to take a stab at this:
Walmart & Target builds a new store near the new Sobeys on Harrisville Blvd. The Zellers next to Superstore closes and they expand into Real Canadian Superstore or a Loblaws. Perhaps Canadian Tire even builds a new store on Harrisville or in Uptown Dieppe as an upgrade to the store on Paul st.

That's an interesting theory, Josh_cat_eyes. I'd hate to see the HBC close, being Moncton's only downtown 'department store' left. That said, I'd really hate to see them leave the city altogether.

It'll be interesting to see what happens out in Harrisville. I can't see it becoming an entirely new retail node. I think we're probably getting close to the point where things are going to start 'moving' rather than expanding. WalMart is a good example. They hate being in malls; I'm surprised they've lasted this long at Champlain. I could see a large standalone store out there. Sobeys has been on a huge building spree lately. A location there would easily capture the growing east end of Dieppe and the Harrisville area, but I think that store would mean the end of the Paul St location. I've never understood why that was there, anyway, seeing as there's one half a kilometer away at the mall.

As for Target... I really can't see them rebranding either of their current locations. I don't know them very well, but the impression I get is that they're a slightly more upscale store than Zellers is now. My bet is that the one on Main gets closed, the one at North West Centre stays a Zellers, and a new Target would get built elsewhere. That'd be a few years away though, because they'll probably spend a few years on the upgrades before they consider new.

Also, welcome LordFalchion!!

josh_cat_eyes

Feb 9, 2011, 4:59 AM

That's an interesting theory, Josh_cat_eyes. I'd hate to see the HBC close, being Moncton's only downtown 'department store' left. That said, I'd really hate to see them leave the city altogether.

It'll be interesting to see what happens out in Harrisville. I can't see it becoming an entirely new retail node. I think we're probably getting close to the point where things are going to start 'moving' rather than expanding. WalMart is a good example. They hate being in malls; I'm surprised they've lasted this long at Champlain. I could see a large standalone store out there. Sobeys has been on a huge building spree lately. A location there would easily capture the growing east end of Dieppe and the Harrisville area, but I think that store would mean the end of the Paul St location. I've never understood why that was there, anyway, seeing as there's one half a kilometer away at the mall.

As for Target... I really can't see them rebranding either of their current locations. I don't know them very well, but the impression I get is that they're a slightly more upscale store than Zellers is now. My bet is that the one on Main gets closed, the one at North West Centre stays a Zellers, and a new Target would get built elsewhere. That'd be a few years away though, because they'll probably spend a few years on the upgrades before they consider new.

Also, welcome LordFalchion!!

Canadian Tire has been on a building spree lately too, and a couple locations next to Sobeys, which is why i speculated a store on Harrisville to replace the Paul St. location.

This is just a thought but I always thought if the Empire Company (Sobeys, Empire Theatres, Lawtons, Needs, Crombie REIT ect) and HBC (Zellers, The Bay, Home Outfitters, Fields) would merge that would create one hell of a company. Plus a lot of places have Zellers and Sobeys located in the same retail complex. A perfect example is in Summerside the county Fair Mall has a Zellers, Sobeys, Lawtons and Empire Theatres and is operated by Crombie REIT. Bridgewater, Amherst Moncton and Fredericton among others have similar arrangements.

LordFalchion

Feb 9, 2011, 6:31 PM

I know many years ago the City of Moncton refused an IMAX on Mapleton citing that it would cause too much traffic. They got one thing right...there is too much traffic on Mapleton. Now there is a push to bring IMAX to Riverview. I really wonder if this will happen?

NBNYer

Feb 9, 2011, 11:19 PM

mylesmalley

Feb 10, 2011, 12:04 AM

Boy... an IMAX in Riverview? If someone can make a go of it, then I say go for it. I really can't see much of a business case for it though. You're just too far removed from the main retail and entertainment areas in the city. I could certainly see it at Mapleton or Champlain place, though.

MonctonRad

Feb 10, 2011, 1:12 AM

Wow, that's good news, hope it works out. Is this a recent rumor? What else to you know about it?

There was an article about this in the T&T last week.

Unfortunately I think this is just a trial balloon being floated by the new Canadian Tire franchisor in Findlay Park. As far as I know, all he has done is orgaize a petition and contacted Empire Corp in Stellarton. i don't think anything will come of this.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have an IMAX in Moncton but the most logical place to put one would either be at Crystal Palace or in a new downtown arena/events centre.

C_Boy

Feb 10, 2011, 7:52 PM

New Moncton courthouse to open next week
Cathy LeBreton - News 91.9

http://www.iWebPhoto.com/iWebPhoto_free_upload_photo/222599/Album1/Court1.jpg

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MONCTON, N.B. - Moncton's new court house, which officially opens next week, features a state of the art security system.

Head Sheriff Michel Boudreau says everyone who enters the new court house will have to pass through an airport-type scanner.

"You'll be asked to walk through a metal detector, and to put your coat and belongings into tray that will go through a scanner similar to what you would see at an airport. So there will be an adjustment period."

Boudreau says 15 additional sheriffs have been hired for the new court house, but the new system means fewer of them will be dedicated to searching visitors.

The building boasts 15 courtrooms and two hearing rooms.

C_Boy

Feb 10, 2011, 7:57 PM

Canadian Tire has been on a building spree lately too, and a couple locations next to Sobeys, which is why i speculated a store on Harrisville to replace the Paul St. location.

I doubt that... I was just in to the Canadian Tire in Dieppe today and it's a mess. They are in full out renovation mode.

If anything the Moncton Mountain rd .location needs to be replaced. It is way too small for the demand. I don't even go there anymore. I take the extra time to drive to Dieppe because it's bigger and they have more stuff plus it's probably in stock too!

JasonL-Moncton

Feb 10, 2011, 8:08 PM

I doubt that... I was just in to the Canadian Tire in Dieppe today and it's a mess. They are in full out renovation mode.

If anything the Moncton Mountain rd .location needs to be replaced. It is way too small for the demand. I don't even go there anymore. I take the extra time to drive to Dieppe because it's bigger and they have more stuff plus it's probably in stock too!

Maybe they should move the Mountain Rd. location to the 'new' development on Mapleton across from Costco...then Kent, Home Depot, and CT would all be in the same "block".

Jason

LordFalchion

Feb 10, 2011, 10:39 PM

Wow, that's good news, hope it works out. Is this a recent rumor? What else to you know about it?

I was in the CT last week and they were asking people to sign a petition.

Jstaleness

Feb 11, 2011, 9:32 PM

Moncton's population continues to grow: StatsCan
Last Updated: Monday, February 7, 2011 | 7:40 PM AT CBC News

Southeastern New Brunswick's growing population has come largely at the expense of other areas of the province, according to Statistics Canada.

Statistics Canada issued the latest population figures last week that show the greater Moncton area grew by more than 2,400 people in 2010.

Moncton's census metropolitan area is now 137,346, ahead of Saint John's 127,973. Roughly half of that population growth was generated by people moving to the area from other parts of New Brunswick.

Moncton has not only become the largest city in the province — but one of the fastest growing cities in the country.

The trend of people flocking to southeastern New Brunswick has been noticed by urban planners in Dieppe for more than a decade.

The city's population has more than doubled in the last 10 years.

Pierre Dupuis, Moncton's general manager of economic development, said the expanding population is a boon to the city on many fronts.

"It's the people coming in buying homes or relocating, so it's increasing the tax base on the residential side," Dupuis said Monday.

"But the flip side, it's also helping our business community by providing skilled labour for them to be able to grow and prosper."

Dupuis said it looks like the population trends will continue.

Suzanne McIntosh and her husband made the decision to leave their home in Petit Rocher, a small community in northern New Brunswick, and head to Moncton a couple of years ago.

McIntosh said the move was based on career options and a chance to be closer to family.

She said she can see why a steady stream of people are following suit.

"Moncton and the Moncton area is definitely growing," McIntosh said. "I've only been here since 2007 and I already see a booming area, even though with the recession, I find it's still an area that's booming."

Could Moncton become the Mississauga of the East Coast? Remember when Mississauga was a small suburb of TO. Moncton knows how to say yes. Amazing what saying yes to development brings. Moncton just needs to learn to keep the growth in the city core if possible. A lot of sprawl heading the Dieppe way.