Official Fredericton, NB projects thread

[kirjtc2]

Since it's probably hurting Fredericton's psyche that Saint John and Moncton have threads and Fredericton doesn't, here we are. :) This is a work in progress, pictures and other projects will be updated as time permits.

(3 year out of date list removed)

[niko]

Nice to see Fredericton getting it's own thread.

[Smevo]

Nice work! There's also the countless 4-storey apartment and condo developments going on which aren't very easy to keep up with.

Anyway, keep it up, and I'll update when/where I can. If you want it "stickied", just send a pm to one of the mods requesting it. :)

[kirjtc2]

As if on cue...

Kent in works for north side

HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
hmclaugh@dailygleaner.com
Published Thursday May 17th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
SmartCentres shopping mall developers received planning advisory committee approval Wednesday night to subdivide two lots off their 20-hectare property at Two Nations Crossing to prepare for two new anchor tenants.

The co-applicant on the SmartCentres rezoning and subdivision is Kent Building Supplies.

J.D. Irving purchased the former northside Co-op store site recently. It is going to use part of that land and consolidate it with SmartCentres property in order to have enough room for both a building and outside storage area.

"I can't speak fully on their intentions," SmartCentres spokesman Jeff Lumsden said.

Unofficially, Canadian Tire and Marks Work Wearhouse are the expected second tenants for the shopping mall property anchored by a northside Wal-Mart store.

Marks Work Wearhouse is part of the Canadian Tire business family.

Meantime on the south side of Fredericton, businessman John Kileel is positioning Kileel Developments to be ready for a nine-storey office tower project to match the design of the Toronto Dominion Tower building.

In 1997, city zoning changes meant that Kileel was limited to a seven-storey office building, essentially a twin of the TD Tower at the corner of Westmorland and Queen streets.

His concept plan is for a nine-storey downtown building at King and Westmorland streets with a one-storey retail and corridor linking the two structures.

That proposal was approved by the planning advisory committee, but has to go to city council for a final vote.

"This is really just tidying up the development we had anticipated back in the '90s and just asking for the zoning to be re-established," Kileel said.

"I can't say at this time that we have any firm plans for a start date, but the market in Fredericton is as positive

as it's been for quite some time.

"The future looks good, so we wanted to be ready for that," Kileel said

Other development proposals approved by the planning and advisory committee Wednesday night

include:

- A convenience store and car wash for the corner of Lian Street and Bishop Drive.

- A 21-unit apartment building on Abbott Court from Colpitts Developments.

- A three-unit row housing development for Crerar Court, off Union Street from George Youssef.

- A new location for Craig Electric Co Ltd. on the south side of Two Nations Crossing.

- Rezoning of two city-owned parcels of land at Two Nations Crossing to be sold by the city to developers interested in office building projects.

[kirjtc2]

Man, is this going to be a nightmare....I work up the hill and Regent is bad enough during rush hour as it is...(and speaking of which, anyone know where I can find some decent traffic count data for New Brunswick?)

Gear up for traffic nightmares
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
Published Friday May 18th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
It's going to be the motorists' equivalent of the road to Hades this summer.

The two-lane, spaghetti-strip Highway 101 that takes all of New Maryland, Beaver Dam, Charters Settlement and Fredericton Junction traffic into the capital city is going to be squeezed into a single-lane in and out of Fredericton in June.

That's 18,000 vehicles per day coming in and out of Fredericton across the overpass. Further down Regent Street, traffic counts pick up to about 20,000 to 25,000 vehicle trips per day with easterly traffic from Oromocto and area hitting the Prospect-Regent street intersection.

The Department of Transportation is going to strip the old asphalt and waterproof decking off the Regent Street overpass near the Fredericton Inn. That means traffic will be reduced to one lane southbound and one lane northbound during the four-week project.

"It will have a significant impact," said Department of Transportation District 5 engineer Norman Clouston.

"We will anticipate delays with people both coming into and leaving the city as soon as the work begins. I would expect you will experience between 15 minutes and half-hour delays at that particular intersection."

The provincial civil servant briefed the city's transportation committee Thursday.

The repairs to the government-owned bridge, built in 1959, will cost about $110,000. Work will start June 25, the Monday after school closes for the summer and will take about four weeks, depending on the weather.

The province was going to do the work last year, but the city urged the department to wait until this year in order for the Hanwell ramps to be completed.

The Department of Transportation will do the work with its own workforce, putting in 12-hour days Monday to Friday and eight-hour days Saturday.

Southbound traffic will have to squeeze into a single lane near the Prospect Street Irving service station. Northbound traffic will be diverted into a single lane 140 metres back from the Regent Mall main entrance.

Clouston said there will be no left turns onto Prospect Street. Instead, traffic will have to make a right-hand turn beside the city motel, link with the old Trans-Canada Highway and exit back at Smythe and Prospect streets.

The province has to work out a plan for emergency vehicles to ensure that fire, police and ambulance services can get in and out of Fredericton with the minimum amount of lost time.

For workers who come in at peak times, Clouston said, they'll have to find alternate routes.

"Use carpooling, alter your work hours," he said.

"Have flexible work hours where you can avoid these peak periods between 7 in the morning and 9 and 4 and 6 in the afternoon."

Councillors are concerned.

"You can't underestimate how much traffic goes through these intersections," said deputy mayor Scott McConaghy.

Coun. Bruce Grandy wants to see a solid plan for emergency-vehicle response at an intersection that's already extremely busy.

"I'm very concerned with that aspect," Grandy said.

The councillor asked the province if it had considered doing the repairs during the overnight hours, but Clouston said with two nearby hotels, the department was loathe to make noise at night disturbing the sleep of tourists and business travellers.

Further, he said, some of the repair work has to be done in daylight.

Transit manager Sandy MacNeill said the city has four bus routes that cross the Regent Street overpass and two routes have no alternative but to use the street even while the repairs are ongoing.

"They will be delayed," MacNeill said. "We will try to mitigate the effects as best we can."

Passengers will be notified of the potential for delays, MacNeill said.

"This is a big issue. It's near the busiest intersection in the city," said engineering and public works director Murray Jamer. "It's going to have a significant impact on the way traffic flows over the city," he said.

Advertising will be undertaken to warn the public of traffic changes and the city will try to lengthen some signal light times to let traffic move as quickly as possible through alternate intersections, Jamer said.

[Smevo]

Yeah, I'm not looking forward to that either. My commute to work (in the mall) is bad enough as it is without squeezing the traffic (and horrible drivers) into one lane going each direction. :(

[kirjtc2]

Yeah, I work at the forestry complex but live on the northside. Even now I take Bishop Drive and Hanwell Road half the time to avoid the traffic on Regent going home. I somehow see everyone else having the same idea.

[kirjtc2]

The last of the city's vintage 50s-60s era supermarkets has closed...back when this was Schriver's Save-Easy I knew the owners and out family did their shopping there....

Residents upset about store closure
By RICHARD DUPLAIN
duplain.richard@dailygleaner.com
Published Saturday May 19th, 2007
Appeared on page A3

Shoppers at the Devon Park Atlantic Save Easy are upset the store is closing for good this holiday weekend.

People said they're reluctant to shop elsewhere, but they have no choice.

The store's owner, Atlantic Wholesalers Ltd. in Halifax, says it's also saddened by the store's closure.

"You can't continue operating a business while losing money," said Derk Romain of Atlantic Wholesalers.

He said the store has been suffering a decline in sales.

Some store employees were offered alternative work while others were given severance packages, Romain said.

Store management wasn't able to re-negotiate a lease and the Devon Park Atlantic Save Easy was forced to close, he said.

"It's breaking my heart," said Cathie Hoben of Medley Street.

The housewife and grandmother said she believes the store couldn't survive due to stiff competition from St. Mary's Supermarket.

Hoben said loyalty to a strong community institution made her forget about the slightly higher prices.

"I used to go to the Save Easy about four times a week," Hoben said. "The staff was wonderful and we used to trade recipes."

Tammy Johnston lives on Gibson Street and is the president of South Devon Elementary School's home and school association. She said students benefited from Save Easy's community spirit.

She said the store donated a dollar for every $500 worth of store receipts collected by the school children.

"This amounted to about $150 per year and that helped purchase school prizes, gift bags, special lunches and snacks," Johnston said.

"I'm very disappointed about this closing. There's no one left in walking distance except St. Mary's Supermarket.

"This has really hit home."

Tamara White of Clark Street, a former president of the home and school association, said the Devon Park Atlantic Save-Easy went above and beyond a corporation's duty to the community.

"They have always been supportive of the community and they'd contribute whenever we needed a donation beyond what they were already doing," White said.

"I like to shop in my own community. Now I'll split my shopping between St. Mary's Supermarket and the (Atlantic) Superstore."

Store franchise owner Calvin Sorensen wouldn't make any comment on the Saturday 3 p.m. closure.

Trina MacDonald, general manager of Business Fredericton North, said the Save Easy isn't a member of the business organization.

"But we hate to see any type of business closure," she said. "The Devon Park Save Easy was a good community supporter."

The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce wasn't available for comment.

[Smevo]

There's also the new Water Treatment Plant at the Waterloo Row/Lincoln Rd intersection (where the old Esso station is). If you can find any info on that it would be great. The only thing I remember in the free online section was advertising the public information/consultation sessions that happened recently.

[kirjtc2]

City's role in subdivision project raises questions
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
Published Tuesday May 22nd, 2007
Appeared on page A1
Fredericton is becoming one of the city's hottest property developers in its own right.

And that, according to one local resident, could be putting the city in a conflict-of-interest situation.

Ian Robertson said the city should be held to the same standards as other developers.

But he said he's not certain that's happening when the city is the owner, the vendor, the subdivider and the approver of its own development projects.

Council will soon be receiving an application from real estate manager Calvin Thompson to start the first phase of developing a 4.2-hectare (10.5 acre) site at 353 Cliffe St.

The city has an agreement-in-principle with a buyer to purchase the entire package of land, but the deal allows the buyer to bite off chunks of land bit by bit and develop them over time.

The first phase of eight is a 16-unit apartment building.

When subdivisions are created in Fredericton, the city has the right to request a land dedication of eight per cent from the developer either as land or cash.

In this case, the city is prepared to "pay itself" cash into a subdivision land account. The funds from that account are used, over time, to buy other properties.

When council brought forward its first phase to the planning advisory committee, it submitted development plans for only the first part. It didn't prepare a detailed subdivision plan for the remainder of the land, merely an outline of its future intent.

Alex Forbes, assistant director of development services, said that practice is not unusual when compared to the city's process with other projects, but Robertson said the city should have done more homework to show the roads and future intended uses within the subdivision.

Another sticking point for Robertson is that the city isn't taking its eight-per-cent land dedication in the form of cash.

For future maximum use of the land, the city should require the equivalent of almost six standard single-family building lots for park space, Robertson said.

Instead, the municipality isn't allowing any park land within a subdivision.

While Thompson suggested that Killarney Lake Park, Fredericton's northside sports and leisure complex, and Leo Hayes High School properties are close enough to provide public park space, one planning advisory committee member raised his eyebrows.

Committee member Jim McElman said even a conservative calculation of the potential population to be housed on the 4.2 hectares at full development is 500 people.

Given that the high school is fenced - and isn't intended to be a public play or park space - McElman suggested the land dedication be reviewed.

"It might be something that deserves a second look," he said.

Robertson has other concerns, including the fact that land in the proposed first phase of development has been clear-cut.

"It appears that little or no consideration has been given to basic factors such as environmental assessment and site constraints."

Robertson is recommending that the city deny its own subdivision application until it does more homework.

Other applications headed for city council approval include subdivision and zoning changes that will cover the subdivision of two lots for office development on Two Nations Crossing, a third lot for Craig Electric Co. Ltd., which wants to relocate from its Union Street location, and the sale of two pieces of land to other developers.

[Smevo]

This is one problem I have with this city. They are very quick to approve these subdivisions and contribute to the "within city limit" sprawl because they have the excess land and want the tax money. The entire area around the proposed developments on Cliffe St and Two Nations Crossing is already clearcut, which is a practice I don't agree with. Piece by piece clearcutting has the same end result, but at least shows more of a commitment to due process, environmentally speaking.

The lack of park space is also a valid issue, considering Killarney Lake park is not walking distance to this subdivision. They're right about the high school being fenced and not intended as a public park, though the sports and leisure complex is nearby, but it shows poor vision of the municipal plan from a city that prides itself on it's "greenspaces" and the "smalltown feel".

Anyway, that's just imho.

[kirjtc2]

I thought they required all new subdivisions to have park/green space. When I was growing up in a subdivision in Marysville that was built in the late 70s/early 80s, there was (still is) a small playground that was run by the city's recreation department. It was eventually explained to me that all new subdivisions had something like that...apparently not anymore.

And you're right about Two Nations Crossing...that pre-emptive clearcutting was a travesty. Especially since they never bothered to clean up the brush, making it a massive eyesore. It's all eventually going to be filled in anyway, but what was the point of doing everything at once?

[Smevo]

Probably cheaper to do it all at once. It also has the effect of getting people thinking that they live in a rapidly growing city, which is usually good for the city psyche...at least until the coyotes start attacking the children...

[kirjtc2]

Unable to reach deal with landowners, city hall files expropriation notices
HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
Published Friday May 25th, 2007
Appeared on page A3

Fredericton has filed a notice of intent to expropriate parts of six pieces of property on Union Street for street upgrading.

The city has been trying to acquire both frontages and entire lots of land on Cliffe, Union and St. Mary's streets in order to reconfigure the street system to be ready for the province's plan to construct the missing northeast ramp on the Westmoreland Street Bridge.

The provincial government has pledged $1 million over three years toward the city's street upgrades.

The funding is in addition to the cost of constructing the missing section of the bridge.

Fredericton has spent $500,000 out of its own coffers on land acquisitions to restructure the connections to and from the bridge ramp.

"Expropriation is a last-ditch measure for us when we haven't had success negotiating," said Bruce Baird, assistant director of engineering and public works.

But the step doesn't preclude the city from reaching an agreement prior to a hearing before an expropriations advisory officer.

The formal expropriation procedure permits an independent property appraiser to examine the land to be expropriated and calculate its value.

Up until now, negotiations have been between the city's manager of real estate, Calvin Thompson, and the property owners.

Formalizing the expropriation process means that timelines are set in order to settle the talks, Baird said.

If there is disagreement with the third-party appraisal, the property owner may request adjudication by the Court of Queen's Bench.

The city can also abandon the expropriation process if a negotiated settlement with the property owner is reached, Baird said.

A contract for the bridge-ramp work is expected to be called this year, with construction starting this year and finishing in 2008.

[kirjtc2]

City to borrow $4 million to prepare for development

By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Saturday May 26th, 2007
Appeared on page A3

Fredericton is doing all it can to be ready to build a needed downtown convention centre and parking garage, says Mayor Brad Woodside.

While the city is still awaiting word from the federal government on co-funding of the $15-million project in partnership with the city and provincial Liberals, the city isn't sitting still.

"We are going to be in a state of readiness," said Woodside.

Earlier this week, city councillors directed finance staff to borrow $1 million for the east-end-development project. The money is to be used for site preparation and design work.

It is part of $4 million in funding that the city planned to spend this year on the development of the convention centre.

The city goes to the municipal capital borrowing board June 11 to seek permission to borrow its first $3 million for the project. That money goes toward buying land from the provincial government and from the DiGiacinto family needed for the convention-centre development.

The city will apply for the $1-million loan later this summer.

The city wants to build a convention centre attached to The Playhouse and construct a third parking structure downtown.

The provincial government is looking at the project's potential to include an office component, as it needs to look at a replacement for its Centennial Building offices.

ADI Ltd. has prepared a space-needs study for the convention centre.

"This downtown revitalization project is extremely important for the economic well-being and future of the community," Woodside said.

The mayor said local events are often sold out and space for larger conventions and events in the capital city doesn't exist.

"There's no doubt about the demand," the mayor said.

"We continue to pursue all avenues of funding, including the federal government, and we look forward to pursuing and delivering this project to the people of Fredericton."

Woodside said the business community is equally anxious to see the convention centre become a reality. They have written letters of support to government officials, endorsing the project, he said.

[kirjtc2]

Airport numbers climbing
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
dgleg@nb.aibn.com
Published Tuesday May 29th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

The Fredericton International Airport saw 247,426 passengers pass through the newly renovated terminal in 2006, an 8.3 per cent increase over the previous year.

"This is above the national average and it is good, strong passenger growth," said David Innes, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Fredericton Airport Authority at the annual meeting Monday.

Traffic at the airport is up 25 per cent in the past three years, he said.

"I think the growth in traffic is really related to the growth in the economy in the Fredericton area," said Innes. "Fredericton is booming.

"As long as the economy remains in good, solid shape, I think the air-traffic growth probably will continue."

Since 2001, there has been $30 million in investment in new infrastructure at the Fredericton International Airport.

That includes a new departure lounge that has reduced line ups at the security check because it's "so comfortable," said Innes.

Because of modern comfort levels, he said, people check in early and don't try to rush through security at the last minute.

That has reduced flight delays from late boarding, said Innes.

The multimillion dollar investment also includes the new 8,500-square foot Pavilion - which was finished in 2006 - and in which the annual meeting was held.

Innes said the airport welcomed two new air service providers recently, including the highly successful launch of Air Transat Vacation's direct winter flights to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, in 2006 and the Sunwing 2007 service to Holguin, Cuba.

"The planes basically operated full for the entire season," he said about the Air Transat flights.

That is reflected in airport travel statistics.

Passenger traffic in January 2006 was up 17 per cent compared to the same month in 2005, said Innes.

In February 2006, passenger traffic was up 24.3 per cent, he said.

"Our objective is to look for another (southern) destination next year," he said. "Certainly we have the facilities here now so that we can accommodate the big airplanes."

Financially, he said, 2006 was a good year for the airport.

"We ended up the year in the black," said Lyle Smith, chairman of the airport authority's board of directors.

It had a profit of $529,080 on revenues of $5,573,290.

In 2005, the airport had revenue of $5,445,422 and profits of $148,075.

According to the airport authority's financial statement, long-term debt fell from $264,638 in 2005 to $243,518 in 2006.

Innes said the two biggest challenges in the next few years will be attracting new domestic flights and developing the airport's aerospace and defence business park.

At the top of the airport wish list is a direct flight from Fredericton to Ottawa.

"We actively promote that on a fairly regular basis with anyone who has an airplane," said Innes.

He said he thinks that goal will be achieved in the next few years.

Innes also said that with billions of dollars in industrial regional benefits connected with defence, the time is right for the Fredericton International Airport's aerospace and defence business park to take off.

The airport has about 1,000 acres of space available for such development.

"I would hope and I sincerely believe that in the next 12 months we are going to see some development," he said.

"We are talking to a number of companies."

[kirjtc2]

City seeks convention-centre price tag

HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
Published Wednesday May 30th, 2007
Appeared on page A5
Negotiations are ongoing with a consortium of companies headed by ADI Ltd. to establish the scope of work and cost of designing a downtown convention centre for Fredericton.

City council has authorized its finance staff to seek permission from the municipal capital borrowing board to fund $1 million through its bankers to start the detailed work.

ADI won a call to do the spaces-needs analysis for the facility and the company has the option of negotiating to do the design work.

"We've finished the programming and master planning phase," said Team Fredericton executive director Don Fitzgerald.

Team Fredericton is the city's economic-development office.

"The next stage is the preliminary design," Fitzgerald said.

That means taking the concepts about meeting-room sizes, common areas, washroom and other amenities and fitting them into a design.

As well, the consultants will have to undertake technical analysis of the ground to determine its hydro geology and weight-bearing capacity to see if it will fit with the building's design concepts.

"We're negotiating with them for that scope of work," Fitzgerald said.

Cannon Design of Buffalo, N.Y., and Urban Strategies Inc. of Toronto are working with ADI on the convention-centre project.

Councillors want to develop the building as an add-on to The Playhouse, which is city-owned, and the city wants to construct another parking garage in the downtown east end.

The provincial government has expressed approval-in-principle to an office building component that would be a replacement for the aging Centennial Building, constructed in 1967.

The building's mechanical systems require significant upgrades.

[kirjtc2]

Business kicks up campaign

HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Thursday May 31st, 2007
Appeared on page A1

Fredericton's business community is going to step up the effort to lobby Ottawa for $8 million in funding for a downtown convention centre.

Frustrated by the lack of federal response to repeated requests for financial support for the multimillion-dollar project in the downtown east end, the business groups feel it's time to act.

Fredericton city councillors are getting equally anxious about the wall of silence from Ottawa.

At a recent closed-door meeting, councillors passed a resolution to proceed with the convention centre and negotiations have already started with ADI Ltd. and its partnership of companies in Ontario and New York to begin detailed design.

The resolution will move forward to the June 11 council meeting for ratification in the public forum.

Fredericton Chamber of Commerce general manager Anthony Knight said his group wrote to Prime Minister Stephen Harper last fall and to Greg Thompson, federal cabinet minister responsible for New Brunswick.

The letter was copied to federal Infrastructure, Transport and Communities Minister Lawrence Cannon.

"We expressed concern at the slow approach to moving on the project and how critically important it is for Fredericton," Knight said.

"We're missing out on opportunities related to events. We have long waiting lists, but we simply can't accommodate them. There's a great deal of opportunity that has presented itself. We need that convention centre now."

Knight said there are other actions that the business group can take to step up the lobbying effort.

"We're in the preliminary stages of advocacy to Ottawa," he said.

Downtown Fredericton general manager Bruce McCormack said his group is sending a letter to Mayor Brad Woodside, urging him to take a delegation to Ottawa to show the federal government how important the project is to Fredericton.

"The business community is driving this. We all feel -and we met with our presidents - that this is so important to our community and to all the operators, all the businesses in the community," McCormack said.

Ottawa is sitting on a $13-billion budget surplus and all Fredericton wants is $8 million, McCormack said.

"We want to make our point very clear to the people in charge that we need to have this," said Downtown Fredericton president Rob Jackson. "We want to do something that will make a positive impact."

The business community has the will, the desire and is assembling the cold hard facts to put before Ottawa to convince it of the merits of the project, Jackson said.

Woodside hasn't given up hope that Ottawa will play its role in the development.

"We're still negotiating and trying to get the federal government onside. The process is one that we had approved. We're in step with what our progress should have been at this particular point in time," Woodside said.

The mayor said the city can't sit back and wait for Ottawa to announce funding or the project will lose too much valuable time.

"We still have faith in (New Brunswick MPs) Greg Thompson and Mike Allen as supporters of the project," Woodside said. "I'm looking forward to and confident that the federal government will come to the table."

Other sources are telling The Daily Gleaner that the city had to move forward with the support of its stakeholders because of the unpredictably of the federal government.

The spirit of the council resolution approved last week means that the city will push forward despite how long Ottawa drags its feet, sources said.

[kirjtc2]

Delta adds second daily flight to Boston

By RICHARD DUPLAIN
duplain.richard@dailygleaner.com
Published Friday June 1st, 2007
Appeared on page D1

The addition of a second daily Delta Air lines flight to and from Boston is good news and the possibility of a third flight is even better news, says a local travel-company owner.

Marie Embleton, owner and manager of Embleton Travel, said the addition of a second Delta flight at the Fredericton International Airport compounded with the growing value of the Canadian dollar could mean large numbers of travellers to the U.S. from Canada.

On Thursday, Delta carrier Big Sky of Montana announced a second Delta flight will be added July 15.

Big Sky will assume carrier responsibilities for the Delta flights in Fredericton from Comair of Ohio on June 7.

"It's a good idea to have two flights and that could open up more opportunities for additional travel to the U.S., especially for through-fares (connecting flights)," Embleton said.

She doesn't expect fare prices to change, but there could be more sales and promotions.

She said a third flight could be supported during peak times.

Embleton said travellers could use the third flight during March break, Easter and other holidays.

The third flight could eventually become part of the full-time service, she said.

Big Sky's marketing director Scott Summerville said going to two smaller aircraft - the 19-seat Beechcraft 1900D turboprop - will enhance travellers' opportunities by allowing two daily flights.

He said Delta Air Lines enjoys a good working relationship with airport president and CEO David Innes.

"If we continue to do well here, there's no reason we couldn't add a (third) flight," he said.

Summerville said Delta is not looking at any other destinations in Atlantic Canada.

Airport board chairman Pat Bird said the second flight will benefit travellers.

"Convenience is the benefit," he said. "A third flight would even be better for Fredericton."

[kirjtc2]

32 jobs lost
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com
Published Wednesday June 6th, 2007
Appeared on page a1

Thirty-two people working at the MarketBridge tele-sales centre are losing their jobs.

Company officials handed out layoff notices to all of the employees Monday.

Half of them have been terminated immediately.

"As of the end of July, there will be none," said Bashar Mardam-Bey, vicepresident of operations for the company, from Bethesda, Md.

He said the company made the decision to close because it wasn't prepared to make a five-year lease commitment when its current lease expires at the end of July.

MarketBridge opened the tele-sales centre in November 2006.

The company builds and manages high-growth sales and marketing for Fortune 500 companies, focusing on IT, life sciences and telecommunications.

Business New Brunswick spokeswoman Sarah Ketcheson said the province didn't have any outstanding loans to the company.

"We didn't provide them with assistance.

There is no exposure for Business New Brunswick," she said.

[kirjtc2]

Project manager hopes city will reach Kyoto targets first
By JACQUELINE LEBLANC
leblanc.jacqueline@dailygleaner.com
Published Wednesday June 6th, 2007
Appeared on page a6

Collectively, every Frederictonian can help save the environment and it can start with a light bulb.

This is part of the message the City of Fredericton wants to convey to citizens when it launches its Green Matters campaign June 13.

The city is also launching a new website to help citizens reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions by six per cent by 2010.

And this doesn't involve radical lifestyle changes, says Green Matters project manager Sonya Hull.

It can be as small as leaving the car in the driveway on a sunny day and walking to work, she said, or it can as big as applying solar panels to the house to conserve energy.

"City hall can't control what people do," Hull said.

"The best that we can do is engage them, help them feel ownership ... We want people to take pride in the fact that we could be the first city in the country to reach Kyoto targets." The Green Matters campaign launch, which will occur in front of city hall at noon, will give citizens access to resources to green their homes.

Hull said there will be a variety of booths offering hints on how to be more energy efficient.

TD Friends of the Environment Foundation will be giving out free compact fluorescent bulbs and JD Irving will be giving out free trees.

"If every Frederictonian planted a tree, that's a huge deal in terms of reducing CO2 emissions," she said.

During the campaign, which is scheduled to last until at least 2010, citizens can learn how to reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions. Their efforts will be measured every year, Hull said.

The city will keep track of car emissions, solid waste, and oil and electricity consumption.

She said sometimes citizens need to be reminded to keep their heat turned low or to try and conserve water.

The city hopes to reduce its corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2010.

Mayor Brad Woodside said the city wants to lead by example.

"It's important that citizens take part because citizens want to take part," he said.

"I think most people, including myself, didn't know how to take part. They didn't know that one person could make a difference. I think what we're doing is enabling the public and the individual to do what they think is right to make a difference." He said the city wants to make citizens realize that one person can make a difference.

"Whether it's recycling, or using different bulbs, or turning more lights off, it all contributes," he said. "The more people do it, the better we are."

[kirjtc2]

Community groups worry about changes to street system
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Thursday June 7th, 2007
Appeared on page A4

Twenty-five years of waiting will soon be over, but the construction of the Westmorland Street Bridge ramp brings with it changes to the city's street system.

Those changes aren't going to make everyone happy.

Tonight at the Ducks Unlimited offices at 752 Union St., a public meeting will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. to show the plans for street reconfiguration and design.

Fredericton Heritage Trust, Fredericton North Heritage Association, St. Mary's and South Devon neighbourhood associations are calling their own public meeting June 12 at 7 p.m. at the Kinsmen Community Centre on School Street to talk about the city's planning.

The heritage groups are stirred up because the city intends to demolish the 1882-built McFarlane-Neill building at the corner of Union and St. Mary's streets.

More recently, the building was owned by Atlantic Rentals and MacLean Sports.

Mike O'Brien, councillor for the Ward 3 Fulton Heights-North Devon area, said the plan to demolish the building isn't new.

Three years ago, O'Brien, city staff and the local MLA at the time met with the neighbourhood association and outlined a concept plan for the street changes.

"We talked about the potential for truck traffic to be routed off Main Street to St. Mary's Street and the possibility that the building couldn't be retained," O'Brien said.

The St. Mary's Neighbourhood Association had no objection to removing the building at that time.

"That guided the direction for the city," O'Brien said. "Recently, there's some interest groups interested in retaining that building."

Those groups are welcome to express themselves, O'Brien said, but the new plans for the bridge ramp, the widening of Devonshire Drive, Cliffe Street and related traffic changes, aren't built around retaining the structure.

The open house today will show traffic design details and indicate where street widenings will be.

The city has already spent $500,000 to purchase property and begin basic design.

Another $1 million will be spent over the next three years to complete the street reconfigurations.

O'Brien said the provincial government is calling tenders to construct the missing northeast arm of the bridge this year. The bridge system won't open until next year, when the final work to reconfigure the lower end of Cliffe Street and Devonshire Drive is done.

The city's major traffic study five years ago indicated that the opening of the bridge ramp will take between 3,000 and 4,0000 vehicles per day off Union Street between the Westmorland Street Bridge and Cliffe Street.

Union Street residents, who have lived with truck traffic noise for years, will be able to adjust to a quieter atmosphere and lifestyle, O'Brien said.

But the neighbourhood groups holding their own public meeting next Tuesday, say rerouting logging trucks onto St. Mary's Street between Union and Maple isn't a good idea because it's a narrow residential street.

O'Brien said it may take a few more years, but ultimately a realignment of Route 8 and the extension of the Marysville bypass will take truck traffic off Gibson Street.

"The permanent solution is the outer ring road, but that's a generation away," O'Brien said.

In the interim, the city measures will help to ease the transport truck problems.

The city's recently revised municipal plan has set, as one of its goals, elimination of truck traffic through the north side residential downtown.

"We think we've got a real solid plan. It will help traffic flow and economy of the city," O'Brien said.

---

[Opinion: Maybe I'm not understanding the traffic pattern they're describing, but why would trucks go up St. Mary's between Union and Maple? If they're coming off the bridge and want to go north, wouldn't they get off at the Two Nations Crossing exit? Trucks coming from Devon Lumber would probably be better off going up through Marysville or Barkers Point to the Princess Margaret anyway.]

[kirjtc2]

Past, future about to clash
New bridge ramp | First department store, old blacksmith shop could be torn down for roadway
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Published Friday June 8th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
A battle royale could be looming as heritage groups and neighbourhood associations on the north side campaign to save two historic buildings.

City hall unveiled its traffic configuration to complement the construction of the missing northeast bridge ramp Thursday night.

But community groups have already called their own public information session June 12 at 7 p.m. at the Kinsmen Community Centre, 141 School St.

They are concerned council isn't listening to them about traffic and heritage issues.

The city is proposing to use St. Marys Street as the truck access to the bridge.

To do that, it has to expropriate and demolish the 1862-built McFarlane-Neill building at the corner of St. Marys and Union streets to install a turning lane.

The former blacksmith shop survived a number of fires and restorations. In 1882, it became a two-storey brick factory. During the Second World War, it produced shell casings for munitions. The building more recently housed Atlantic Rentals and it's currently owned by Brian MacLean of MacLean Sports Ltd. on Union Street.

MacLean said he was finally given official notice of the city's intent to expropriate his property in March after months of indecision.

"We've been telling them (the city) for 18 months to decide what you're going to do," MacLean said. "We bought the building to develop it."

Now, MacLean isn't even certain how much land the city will claim and what will be left over for his businesses.

"We're not driving the bus on this. It's the city," he said. "We had the ability to go and oppose the expropriation and we choose not to."

While MacLean has hired a lawyer, he said there are too few cases of people succeeding against the city when it wants your land. Instead, his legal counsel will try to wrangle a fair offer for his property, MacLean said.

"Something has to be done with it. It has to be fixed up or torn down," he said. "We didn't buy the building (three years ago) to tear it down. We would have had this block redeveloped by now."

The Fredericton North Heritage Association is concerned about a second building in the path of bridge-ramp construction. The CIBC bank building at the corner of Cliffe and Bowlen streets, now owned by the Masonic Lodge, was one the city's first major department stores.

"This is in an area of the city which has been identified as a study area for possible heritage preservation," said architect Ian Robertson, who is a member of the Fredericton North Heritage Association.

As far back as 2002, Robertson said, the St. Marys Neighbourhood Association urged the city to seek alternatives that would get truck traffic off Union and St. Marys streets.

Cliffe Street and Two Nations Crossing, which are designed to carry large traffic loads and could even be widened, should be designated truck routes, Robertson said.

"Business Fredericton North has requested that the logging truck traffic be removed from Main Street primarily because it's seen as a detriment to business, making it less attractive to shop on Main Street," he said.

"The city's suggested solution is to take the logging truck traffic up St. Marys Street as least as far as Maple Street," he said.

That makes little sense given the number of homes, driveways, intersecting streets -- Dedham, Jaffray and Highland Avenue converge onto St. Marys -- and the grade of the road, Robertson said.

Vanda Rideout, a Union Street resident and member of the South Devon Neighbourhood Association, said her group is also worried.

She said the municipality declined to consult and share its thinking with the neighbourhood until it had drafted a final plan.

"Consultation that should have been done ahead of time with individuals and groups has not taken place." Rideout said. "We're very concerned that there's a plan that's been put in place and we'll be presented with it as 'here, take it or leave it'."

"It makes far more sense to our organization to extend the Ring Road and use Cliffe Street as opposed to using St. Marys Street (for trucking)," Rideout said.

"The other issue many of our members have is maintaining the historical buildings we already have.''

George Wood, president of Fredericton North Heritage Association, said at best the city's truck route plan is a short-term solution.

"They seem to have abandoned the concept of a bypass continuing across Devon," Wood said.

"In older plans, we've seen that road (Two Nations Crossing at Cliffe Street) hooking onto Gilbert Street which runs into Gibson and Canada streets.

"That would move truck traffic away from Main and Union streets in Devon."

[Yeah, that makes sense - funnel trucks away from two buildings and have them go right through Marysville, a federally-designated heritage district]

----

Road reconfiguration leaves residents divided
HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Friday June 8th, 2007
Appeared on page A3
The City of Fredericton on Thursday night unveiled its road reconfigurations to accommodate the promised construction of the Westmorland Street Bridge ramp this year by the province.

At an open house at the Ducks Unlimited offices on Union Street, the city displayed maps and aerial photographs of the Union to Cliffe Street intersection changes.

Opinions are split on how the revamped roadway system will work.

St. Marys Neighbourhood Association chairman Wayne Gunter worries that the upgrades to the Union and St. Marys streets intersection will diminish efforts to rehabilitate and restore the area's residential quality and history.

At that corner, the city plans to expropriate and demolish the McFarlane-Neill building, a one-time brick factory some argue merits protection.

With the building demolished, trucks heading west along Union Street will be able to use a right-turn slip-off lane to get onto St. Marys Street and to access the Ring Road and Westmorland Street Bridge.

There will be a centre lane to direct through traffic to Main Street and a third lane that will allow traffic to turn toward Devonshire Drive along the St. John River or to access side streets such as Bowlen, Hayes and Balsa.

At Cliffe Street, the city will build a full intersection with traffic signals and turning lanes that will collect and disperse traffic coming off the new bridge ramp.

Gunter is loathe to encourage truck traffic on St. Marys Street.

"We're trying to return these residences away from the drugs and the prostitutes ... We're trying to upgrade this to a good residential area and people with higher incomes do not want to reside in high traffic areas," Gunter said.

"This deters us from moving ahead with new development and that's kind of a very big obstacle."

McKeen Street resident Tim Richardson supports the city's plan because it will quiet the area surrounding historic St. Marys Landing and its mid-19th century homes.

"Aspects of the plan work for me because it removes truck traffic from Union Street through what right now is our neighbourhood ... It means, in my view, a more cohesive neighbourhood," Richardson said.

Moving the trucks even a block further means the neighbourhood will be safer and quieter, he said.

Richardson questions why saving the McFarlane-Neill building has suddenly become an issue. Sacrificing a building with dubious historical value is worth it to improve community safety, he said.

Assistant engineering and public works director Bruce Baird said the city isn't altering the traditional use of St. Marys Street because it's always been a truck route.

The benefit with the city's plan is that it allows Union Street west of St. Marys and Main Street to become designated for local truck deliveries only, Baird said.

Ward 2 Coun. Bruce Grandy said Main Street residents wanted truck traffic reduced on their street because it poses a safety risk to the children at Nashwaaksis Memorial School and is a neighborhood nuisance.

"Trucks were going by, vibrating the windows. I was there when I was campaigning and these people had me in their houses. It just vibrated," Grandy said.

"It's our opinion as the city to have the transport trucks go up there (St. Marys Street) than having them travel the whole length of Main Street," Ward 3 Coun. Mike O'Brien said.

"We want transport trucks off Union, off of Canada Street, off of Gibson Street. The municipal plan identifies that, but that's a generation away."

Some residents said the city should convert Cliffe Street and Two Nations Crossing into truck routes, but city engineering and public works director Murray Jamer said the city gave a verbal pledge to St. Marys First Nation that the roadway cutting their reserve in half wouldn't be a truck route.

As for extending Cliffe Street to connect to Gilbert Street in Marysville, Jamer said it serves no purpose to take truck traffic out of one residentially-zoned area and shove it into another section of the city which has been designated for residential development.

Ultimately, the Ring Road truck bypass is the solution to get transports off Union and Main streets, he said.

[kirjtc2]

Marysville tops school priority list

By JENNIFER DUNVILLE
dunville.jennifer@dailygleaner.com
Published Friday June 8th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
New schools may be in the works for students and staff in the Hanwell and Marysville areas.

District 18 officials are considering building a school in the Hanwell area and another in Marysville to replace the aging Alexander Gibson Memorial School.

Both projects were discussed at a district education council meeting Thursday night during a presentation on capital improvement projects.

The Gibson school, which was built in 1926, is listed as a priority.

"Two years ago, we requested the Department of Education do a study on the condition of the school, but it didn't go through," said Jeannine St. Amand, chairwoman of the education council. "We went ahead on our own and hired an outside engineering firm do an assessment on it."

The facility assessment found the school in dire need of repair, according to St. Amand.

She said an upgrade just to bring the school up to current building codes would require almost $6 million in repairs.

Supt. Alex Dingwall said there are no safety concerns at the school, but it needs everything from new exterior walls and electrical work to a new ventilation system.

"We could continue with normal operations at the school, but it's not up to code at all," he said. "Even with $6 million, we couldn't bring the older section of the school up to code because it's wooden framing."

St. Amand said the council passed a motion to look into the possibility of building a new school instead of making the repairs because there isn't much of a difference in costs.

"A new school is between $7 million and $8 million, so it's time we consult with the community and school administration to decide what direction to take next," St. Amand said.

She said there's been no decision regarding a school in the Hanwell Road area, but council has received letters from parents requesting one.

"We'll do an internal review of the area, including costs and population, to see if a school on the Hanwell is viable," said Wanda Bauer, director of administration and finance for the district. "Once that review is done, we'll decide what we want to do."

Another project in the capital improvement plan is $15.7 million in renovations to Fredericton High School.

Bauer said the cost for new

windows is phenomenal and the building has 35 different roofs that need repair.

Fredericton High School isn't usually on the major capital improvement list, Bauer said, but it's too hard to get ahead when only a few repairs are done each year.

"We've done a lot of work at the school over the last few years. The school is close to 40 years old, so major upgrades are needed."

The major-projects list also includes renovations to Doaktown Consolidated School and the next phase of construction for the Kimble Road School and the combined Boiestown and Doaktown school.

Some of the smaller projects include heating systems for Kingsclear Consolidated School, a new roof for Nashwaaksis Middle School and green space for George Street Middle school, which is expected to cost $1.8 million.

There are 349 projects on the district list for 2008-2009 slated to cost approximately $26.2 million.

The list has been forwarded to the Department of Education for review.

[kirjtc2]

Cannon 'too busy' to discuss plans for convention centre, Woodside says
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Saturday June 9th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

Lawrence Cannon, the federal transport minister, has refused to meet with Mayor Brad Woodside to talk about convention centre funding.

Woodside confirmed Friday that he wrote to Cannon's office to request a meeting in Ottawa to talk about the multimillion downtown-redevelopment project for Fredericton.

The mayor said he was disappointed and shocked when Cannon wrote back to say he was "too busy" to meet.

"I wrote him a lengthy letter, explaining our east-end project, what we have done to date, updating him on the project and requesting a meeting with him," Woodside said. "I requested a one-on-one meeting with the minister.

"Apparently he's too busy to see the mayor of Fredericton. I am very disappointed. I would have liked the meeting. This is a setback."

Downtown Fredericton and the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce are backing the city's plan to construct a convention centre.

It will be connected to the city-owned Playhouse building on Queen Street. Plans also include building an east-end parking garage and work to partner with the provincial government on a modern office building to replace the aging Centennial Building.

The cost of the convention centre and parking garage has been estimated at $15 million, but those estimates are gathering dust as the project hinges on federal uncertainties.

The city has been trying to convince Ottawa to contribute $8 million to the downtown redevelopment.

Woodside said all he wants is an opportunity to put Fredericton's case forward.

"We're not asking for meetings constantly," he said.

"When I ask for a meeting, it's for a very good reason. I would have gone up there, sat down and presented my case on behalf of Fredericton and accepted the answer based on that."

Woodside said he has had to inform city councillors of the minister's correspondence, but he's vowing not to give up the cause.

The mayor said the project is key to the city's future and vital to its economic growth.

A spokesperson for the minister's office couldn't be reached Friday.

[I wonder...would he have the time if Fredericton weren't in Atlantic Canada?]

[mmmatt]

[I wonder...would he have the time if Fredericton weren't in Atlantic Canada?]

lol thats exactly the reason. Moncton and Fredericton are both trying to get these economy boosters and neither city is seeing much progress, Id say mainly because of the view ottawa has of us...pretty sad really.

[ErickMontreal]

You`re right !

Moreover, the confederation act has not been a fair deal for the maritimes, Saint John and Halifax was in the top cities in the english collonies.

Anyway, Moncton, Saint John as well as Fredericton grow relatively quickly right now in the maritime context

[kirjtc2]

Church to decide future of building
By MARK TAYLOR
For The Daily Gleaner
Published Monday June 11th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

The fate of a historic Fredericton building could be decided Tuesday night.

Brunswick Street Baptist Church is hosting a business meeting at 7 p.m. to discuss York House, a 114-year-old structure at the corner of George and York streets.

The congregation will hear options for York House and decide upon a church steering committee recommendation that the demolition of York House proceed.

"The purpose of this committee was to examine how to address the ministry needs of the church," said Paul Greene, spokesman for Brunswick Street Baptist Church.

"That was it. Let's look at everything that was on the table and that is exactly what they need."

Greene said the committee of 40 people has been exploring avenues for church expansion for about a year.

He said the group overwhelmingly decided that demolishing York House and proceeding with new construction was the best route to take after looking at dozens of options.

Greene said the church has obtained a demolition permit from the City of Fredericton.

"There does seem to be a consensus within the church that we do have to do something.''

Greene said the church, which has about 900 members, needs additional space.

It hasn't been able to use York House for several months because of the discovery of asbestos, PCBs and lead.

"It's past the point of being able to just sit and wait," Greene said.

The former home of Fredericton High School, York House is one of the oldest buildings in Fredericton.

It was designed by architect James Dumaresq, who is responsible for the look of the New Brunswick legislature and the Charlotte Street School building.

Greene said demolition is not the only option for York House.

The church has also looked at letting York House remain and expanding the church down Brunswick Street. Greene said York House could be sold or leased under this option.

A third idea was to renovate York House and use it for Sunday school and administration purposes.

Greene said the church congregation will decide what will happen.

"There is not one person who decides," he said. "It's the church membership as a whole who decides."

Ian Robertson, past-president of Fredericton Heritage Trust, questioned whether every option for York House has been seriously considered.

"I think that there has been a number of alternative solutions offered either for the building itself or so that Brunswick Street Baptist Church could realize the space needs that are necessary for their continued operation," Robertson said.

"Several architects worked at no charge for the church to illustrate some of those concepts and to the best of my knowledge, those concepts were never seriously considered."

He said there have been examples of where churches benefited financially from saving old buildings and developing them.

He reflected on what the demolition of York House would mean.

"It think it would be a sad day for the City of Fredericton," Robertson said.

"The building has been a part of the city for a long period of time and served a number of very useful needs and still could serve a number of very useful needs."

[mmmatt]

"asbestos, PCBs and lead."

wow...I went to that church when I was a kid (only for like a few months but still...) maybe thats why Im so messed up lol

[kirjtc2]

And down she goes...I really don't care one way or the other, I thought it became somewhat of an eyesore over the past few years...

York House demolition approved
By MEREDITH O'HARA
o'hara.meredith@dailygleaner.com
Published Wednesday June 13th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

The congregation of Brunswick Street Baptist Church decided Tuesday night that York House, one of Fredericton's oldest buildings, will be demolished as part of its expansion plan.

There were about 240 members of the church in attendance. One-hundred and ninety-eight -- or 85 per cent -- voted in favour of tearing down the building. Seventy-five per cent was required for the motion to pass.

Demolition was the best option, said Paul Greene, spokesman for Brunswick Street Baptist Church.

"(York House) was built as a 19th-century school not a 21st-century church,'' said Greene. "The renovations would be absolutely huge.''

A multi-purpose building will be built in place of York House. It will house Sunday school classrooms, administration offices and a larger worship space.

York House has been unusable for the last few months because of the discovery of asbestos, PCBs and lead.

A 40-member steering committee was created almost a year ago to examine the church's options.

The committee found that it would need 30,000-sq. feet for the new structure.

"No matter how you worked out the numbers ... it always entrenched on York House," Greene said.

Other options would have seen York House sold, leased or renovated as part of the extension.

Liz Burge, president of Fredericton Heritage Trust, said the planned demolition is a disappointing piece of news.

"The loss of a landmark such as York House is a huge wake-up call to governments to improve heritage laws," she said late Tuesday night.

She wants the church to allow the public to view the plans for the new structure.

"This is a failure for Fredericton in respecting our past," said Burge.

Although the church owns the building, the general public doesn't want to see this building torn down, said Ward 10 Coun. Stephen Kelly.

"The sense from the comments I'm receiving is that Fredericton really doesn't want to see us lose this building," he said.

Despite approval, demolition won't take place soon, said Greene.

The recommended plan would add the new building directly to the side of Brunswick Street Baptist Church, a historic building in its own right.

York House, which is 114 years old, served many purposes, including housing Fredericton High School at one time.

[kirjtc2]

City council will try to buy York House
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Tuesday June 19th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

City council has voted unanimously to open negotiations with Brunswick Street Baptist Church to determine if the church is willing to sell York House to the city.

The three-storey, 114-year-old brick building on York Street is slated for demolition.

Mayor Brad Woodside said Monday night's council decision isn't reactive.

The city has been working behind the scenes to find private properties in close proximity to the downtown church in hopes of offering alternative sites for a proposed church redevelopment and expansion, the mayor said.

"This is an opportunity to protection a heritage building. Ultimately, it would be a win-win," Woodside said.

There are owners in the vicinity who are willing to sell property.

The city wants to send its staff to negotiate with the church and inform them of the alternatives for expansion.

The city hasn't purchased any of the alternative sites, but has reassurance they can be acquired, Woodside said.

Brunswick Street Baptist Church bought York House from the city in the 960s for $81,000, but the cost of renovating the building and removing asbestos and lead is too much for the church's budget.

It needs additional space, but wants to wreck York House and replace it with a modern structure more suited to its needs.

The environmental upgrades don't worry Woodside because the main city hall building had similar problems because of its age but was renovated.

Woodside said the city has been scouting for additional downtown office space to ease the crunch at its own historic city hall structure.

Offices for city workers are tucked into every nook and cranny of the building -- even in an old bank vault in the structure's centre core.

"They have needs. We have needs. It's bringing all the parties together," Woodside said.

"This one is doable."

If negotiations can reach a satisfactory conclusion, Woodside said, it would be a win-win for both the city and church.

"Fredericton is known for its history and heritage ... This one does have a special place in the history of our city," Woodside said of York House. "It's a heritage building worth saving. There's a long history there."

The building was designed by James C. Dumaraesq, the same architect who designed the provincial legislative building, St. Paul's Church and Charlotte Street School.

In 1893, York House was built to house Fredericton High School. Since then, it's been a teacher's college, a library, a student employment centre and a youth hostel.

While the church has estimated repairs and renovations would hit the $3-million mark, Woodside said the city wouldn't have to launch into a full-scale renovation right away.

The project could be phased-in at an affordable pace and in a cost-effective manner, he said.

Coun. Stephen Kelly, who represents the downtown ward, said he's heard from citizens of all walks of life on the issue.

"Council has heard loud and clear the deepest public concern at the prospect of needlessly losing one of our most cherished properties," he said.

Kelly said Fredericton's culture and heritage are valued by its citizens similarly to essential public services such as clean water, police and fire protection, and good streets.

[kirjtc2]

Forget York House, here's a building that needs to be saved...

Sale may be close for local train station
HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Wednesday June 20th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

There could be good news on the horizon for the old Fredericton train station on York Street.

Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside said there is ongoing talks between a private-sector interest and the historic building's owners, J.D. Irving Ltd.

"It's a private deal that's being worked on. The city is not involved," Woodside said. "They're very close."

Alex Forbes, assistant director of development services at city hall, said he's optimistic the city will be asked about the property's redevelopment, but an application hasn't yet come to the city.

"We're hoping to receive that shortly," he said.

Woodside said he's optimistic that negotiations will reach a successful result.

"One of the happiest days for me will be when that train station issue has been addressed. It's been there and dragged on far too long and it's long overdue," Woodside said.

A spokesperson for J.D. Irving couldn't be reached Tuesday for comment.

The company has long maintained that it would look at restoring the building if it has a viable business redevelopment plan for the property and its surrounding lands.

A proposal for an office complex to house call-centre offices for a Canadian bank was the best prospect for saving the structure.

But that venture collapsed when the call-centre proponents opted to lease office space in Kings Place mall downtown, rather than participate in the Irving proposal for a new downtown office centre.

Heritage Canada Foundation has placed the York Street train station on Top 10 endangered places list.

The building is designated under the heritage Railway Station Protection Act of 1985. While that bars its owners from deliberately demolishing the structure, nothing in the legislation requires an owner to maintain a minimum standard.

The station's roof is deteriorating and the city required Irving to fence the building because of concern about the building's condition.

A few years ago, a structural anlysis suggested that apart from the roof, most of the building is in good condition.

Fredericton Heritage Trust, Fredericton Trails Coalition and a local group called Friends of the Fredericton Railway have been working to preserve the 1923 Canadian Pacific Railway station. It's one of the last remaining brick stations in New Brunswick.

[kirjtc2]

Apartments, townhouses approved by city committee
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Thursday June 21st, 2007
Appeared on page A1

Kileel Developments Ltd. has received a city committee's approval to move forward with a proposed 60-unit apartment building and 14-unit townhouse development on McLeod Avenue.

Company spokesman John Kileel said the earliest construction could start would be this fall. That's providing city council approves the project and all the necessary paperwork follows normal time lines.

The design was approved by the Queen's Square Neighbourhood Association.

It did draw one letter of concern from Robert Brown of A and R Rentals, the company that developed an apartment complex in the same neighbourhood.

Brown said a high-density project will mean 140 cars at the apartment building. A medium-density project would be more manageable, Brown said.

"Queen's Square park was here first. We believe this is why the proposed land was zoned medium-density with the intention to preserve the park as a safe place to enjoy," Brown wrote in a letter given to the committee.

Architect Stephen Skinner of ADI Ltd. came up with the design concept for the Kileel project.

He's grouped townhouses, which mimic Victorian design elements found in neighbouring homes, along the frontage of McLeod Avenue facing the city-owned Queen's Square park.

Skinner then tucked the 60-unit apartment building in behind so that it will be closer to Beaverbrook Street.

Although the apartment building is five-storeys high, Skinner told planning advisory committee members that the fifth floor is the roof level, so the building won't look as

high.

"It's a very sensitive site and a very important site," Skinner told the committee Wednesday evening.

Committee chairman Kevin Rickard, who sits on the city's design review committee, said as long as the design follows the plan, there's no need for it to go to a further design review process.

Don Dennison, spokesman of the Queen's Square Neighbourhood Association, said the group -- representing neighbours in the vicinity -- has no qualms about the project, but it's more concerned with the city's responsibility to ensure there's adequate parking for park users.

Kileel Developments is purchasing land for its development from Abe Khoury, who has relocated his carpet and flooring business to Lincoln Road.

Khoury's former parking lot has become an unofficial parking spot for park users. Once the property is redeveloped, those vehicles will be shifted back to on-street parking.

"I think we have to anticipate there will be a problem and plan for it," Dennison said. "More work needs to be done by the city in terms of parking."

The neighbourhood association's support is contingent on the city reassuring them that steps are taken to keep through traffic on Regent Street and off nearby side streets.

Bruce Baird, assistant director of engineering and public works, said turning Church Street into a cul-de-sac and punching McLeod Avenue through to Beaverbrook Street were steps taken by the city to prepare for the anticipated redevelopment of land on McLeod Avenue.

Baird said the city will monitor the traffic situation once the development is built.

McConaghy said he wasn't too concerned with traffic.

Since the development is downtown, he anticipates many residents might not even need to use vehicles to go to and from work. Underground parking is proposed for the apartment complex.

Committee member Jim McElman said there may be ways to tinker with angled parking to try to increase the number of available spaces.

Coun. Bruce Grandy signalled he may want a comprehensive parking plan from city staff when the project comes to the council table for discussion.

In other projects approved by the committee, Canadian Tire, located in the Smythe Street plaza, is planning an addition and redesign.

The company wants to add 1,539 square metres onto its existing building.

It will also redesign the structure to reflect newer store designs. Wider aisles and a better internal layout will be part of the changes.

Terrain Group Inc. of Dartmouth, N.S., is the planner for the redevelopment.

While there are limits to the expansion potential at the mall -- while maintaining parking ratios -- the strip-mall owners have told the city that an expansion of the Winners store won't be going ahead.

[kirjtc2]

And away we go....as someone who has to use this bridge to get to work, I'm thrilled. :p

Hurry up and wait; Regent repairs begin Monday
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Saturday June 23rd, 2007
Appeared on page A1

Circle Monday on your calendar because it's the beginning of four weeks of traffic misery.

New Brunswick's Department of Transportation is repairing and resurfacing the bridge deck of the Regent Street overpass. It's not a big-ticket project at $110,000 but the nature of Regent Street could turn the routine job into a traffic nightmare.

Department of Transportation District 5 engineer Norman Clouston said there's no question there will be traffic delays and snarls.

About 18,000 vehicles per day travel from Fredericton Junction, Nasonworth, Beaverdam, Charters Settlement and New Maryland into Fredericton via Regent Street.

The already congested two-lane, spaghetti-strip Highway 101 will be narrowed to two lanes, one in and one out of Fredericton.

Department of Transportation crews will begin working on the two inside lanes first, complete those repairs and then do the two outside lanes, Clouston told the city's transportation committee at a briefing Thursday.

On Monday, work will be delayed until 9 a.m. to provide a bit of adjustment for local drivers, but Tuesday morning, work crews will be on the job from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., working 12 hour days Monday to Friday and eight hours Saturday starting between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Southbound traffic will have to squeeze into a single lane near the Prospect Street Irving service station. Northbound traffic will be diverted into a single lane 140 metres back from the Regent Mall main entrance.

Two police officers will be assigned with traffic detail weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Apart from traffic direction, they'll be available to try to guide emergency vehicles through the construction area at the worst moments of traffic congestion.

If motorists can flex their work hours, carpool, alter their travel times or limit the number of trips they, it will help, Clouston said.

"Allow more time to get to where you're going. Be prepared," Clouston said.

Coun. David Kelly asked why police won't be assigned Saturdays -- a busy shopping day. Tourist traffic is also picking up, he said.

Clouston said the traffic situation will be monitored and the department will be flexible if it spots problems.

[kirjtc2]

Residents concerned about Union Street development
By JOSIE LIVINGSTONE
For The Daily Gleaner
Published Saturday June 23rd, 2007
Appeared on page A8

Some northside residents are worried a plan to develop Union Street will lead to more traffic on the busy thoroughfare.

The Union Street secondary plan steering committee unveiled the plan in a public meeting at the Ducks Unlimited Canada building.

More than 40 residents attended the session, where maps of the plan were handed out.

At the back of the map was a space for comments, which they could forward to the city's development services department.

The map shows a suggestion of six transition areas covering the areas from the Westmorland Street Bridge to the Nashwaak River.

* Transition area 1 is bordered by St. Mary's Street, Union Street up to Crerar Court. It is currently a commercial area. The proposal is to make it a mixed development area to include a residential component.

* Transition area 2 covers Gibson Street. It is currently designated as a commercial area. The proposal is to reduce its commercial component, with the upper portion of Gibson Street changed to a residential designation.

* Transition area 3 is the area fronting all residential areas on Station Road. It is currently classified as low density area with single detached lots. The proposal is to designate it as a mixed residential development with apartments, low density single detached dwellings and townhouses.

* Transition area 4 is bordered by Union Street, Cliffe Street, Devonshire Drive and St. Mary's Street. It is currently a mixed-use and commercial area. The plan is to incorporate an additional residential component.

* Transition area 5 covers York Arena Street. It is currently a designated park and the proposal is to make it into a residential area.

* Transition area 6 is the area adjacent to Carleton Park and the former Craig's Electric building site. It is currently an open space and the proposal is to designate it as a park.

Jennifer Voss, city planner, said the plan is an update of the existing secondary plan, which was crafted in 1994.

"We hope to improve the aesthetics of the area by incorporating some landscape provisions into the plan, and change some of the land uses, maybe scaling back some of the commercial destinations to reflect more residential community, and to put the policies in place that will guide appropriate future development in the area," she said.

Some residents who attended the meeting said they were worried about the heavy traffic that could result from the changes while others liked the plan.

"I think that maybe this is the first step in a good start," said Lynn Coy, a Byng Street resident.

Union Street resident Bill Depow said he hopes the changes make a difference.

"Right at this time, it's very conceptual, and it's just the start of coming to preparing a final plan and they've been delayed tremendously here in getting this underway," he said.

"And I hope that the plan is going to be something that is going to improve the Union Street area and the Devon area."

Darlene Tompkins of Union Street said traffic is her biggest concern.

"Residential people are going to be moving off Union Street and what's going to happen to Union Street?" she said.

"We just don't want it to turn into what happened to Main Street."

St. Mary's Street resident Kevin Corbett said he's looking forward to seeing what happens.

"To people who don't have the choice to say what they want, at least somebody is making some suggestions to what could be," he said.

"With that I feel quite happy. There are certainly things I never thought of, I can't wait to see what comes out in the next round."

Union Street resident Sam Aird agreed.

"It's been good to see the plans. Some of it look good. The questions stemmed because I think the traffic is very high on Union Street, and there's a lot of development or possibly residential development happening. And I think the traffic needs to be addressed first," he said.

Alex Forbes, assistant director of the city's development services department, said the city will host three more public meetings on the plan with the next one in the fall.

He said the committee might be able to submit the plan to city council for review by December 2007.

"We'll continue to refine the plan until we think the majority of the people are in support of the plan," said Forbes.

"We're listening to them tonight and hopefully with some of those concerns that they have, we can come up with some solutions."

[kirjtc2]

[Can they hurry up and finish that road over to Kimble Dr? Hopefully by 4:30 today so I don't have to go through the hell that is Regent St construction?]

University says it's doing its research
By JEREMY DICKSON
dickson.jeremy@dailygleaner.com
Published Monday June 25th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

Recent development in the University of New Brunswick's woodlot has officials at UNB examining new development ideas that will minimize the destruction of the ecological structure and function of the landscape.

"UNB faces a great opportunity to create a national model for alternative forms of development as new projects move forward in the woodlot," said Shawn Dalton, director of UNB's environment and sustainable development research centre.

"Recognizing that neighbourhoods might possibly be built in the woodlot where people will be living for years to come in a changing climate raises some questions," Dalton said recently at UNB's associated alumnae's annual general meeting.

"UNB will have to think about what those neighbourhoods might look like and question how they will withstand more extreme weather events in the future," she said.

"I don't think we've thought through carefully in New Brunswick what these new communities might look like."

She said as the climate changes and flood threats increase, it's possible that more Frederictonians will move to higher ground 50 to 100 years from now.

"New uphill properties might be quite attractive in the coming decades and the woodlot might be ideal for retirement communities as more New Brunswickers reach their later years," she said.

A number of alternative methods for low-impact development were outlined in her presentation, including preservation techniques for mature trees and run-off solutions,

For the existing land that will be developed over time, Dalton said green building designs need to be examined.

"Increasing natural lighting, installing rooftop gardens and special water vents to collect rain water for re-use and using recycled or local building materials for construction are all alternative building possibilities," she said.

According to Dalton, it would cost five per cent more to build a green building.

"But because green building principles save you so much in energy costs over the first several years, it pays itself back very quickly."

Michael Baldwin, UNB's manager of real estate and planning, said the university is working with a Halifax company to develop design principles to apply to the land between the Home Depot and the future home of the municipal sports and leisure complex.

"We are hoping to have a drafted set of guidelines up for review by mid to late July," Baldwin said.

"It's still early but we're hoping to have a balanced set of design principles that can help guide the

university when it moves forward to the next step of development in the woodlot."

Baldwin said there are a lot of question marks from the university's point of view and from a market point of view as to what can go in the woodlot in the future.

"The reason we want a balanced set of principles is to allow us to work within the reality of the market," he said.

"Retirement-type communities could go in there, but there could be many other options as well.

"We want to see things done to a new standard and hopefully UNB can raise the bar as the market changes over time."

[kirjtc2]

Projects shift out of neutral
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
dgleg@nb.aibn.com
Published Tuesday June 26th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

The Marysville bypass is finally getting some of the $400 million in federal-provincial highway funding announced last spring.

The long-awaited bypass was one of six federal-provincial highway projects announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Fredericton on Monday.

"Together, these improvements to New Brunswick's transportation infrastructure will smooth traffic flow, increase the efficient movement of goods and people and stimulate jobs and opportunities in the road construction sector," said Harper.

Premier Shawn Graham said working out the final details of the highway- funding deal was one of the top priorities of his Liberal government when it came to power last fall.

"It is all about staying connected to markets, to essential services, to communities and to each other," he said.

"We are committed to a comprehensive provincial highway system with safe and reliable connections to our province's ports, airports, rail lines and manufacturing and production facilities.''

The Marysville bypass is a 36-kilometre highway along the east side of the Nashwaak River.

Phase 1 includes 15 kilometres of grading on Route 8, paving at the Route 8 and Bridge Street intersection and construction of one bridge and two overpasses.

Coun. Walter Brown said Monday's announcement proves the Marysville bypass is real.

"The money is now there," he said. "This a great day."

The completion of the bypass will make Marysville a beautiful bedroom community because it will take truck traffic out of the neighbourhood, said Brown.

The federal money was also bumped up slightly to $207 million from the original $200 million. It must be matched by provincial funds. The $414 million in total funding is spread over 10 years.

Whether the Marysville bypass was eligible for funding under the original highway deal depended on whom you asked Monday.

In the dying days of the Tory government in the fall of 2006, a memorandum of understanding was signed on highway funding which set the priority for that funding on so-called core highways. Route 8 is designated a feeder highway, not a core highway.

"This agreement will see important work done on our national highway system, both core and feeder routes," said Graham. "We were able to establish a precedent today by convincing the government of Canada that our feeder routes were important.

"It means that all of New Brunswick will be able to benefit under the infrastructure investment."

But Opposition transportation critic Paul Robichaud said routes 8, 11 and 17 were all added to the national highway system in March 2005.

He also said it was the former Tory government that first negotiated the $400-million deal.

"What we have today is the details of that agreement," said Robichaud.

Fredericton Liberal MP Andy Scott said that while he is pleased with the funding, he hopes it doesn't come at the expense of other projects.

"As we learned last year, announcements don't count for much," he said. "It is identifying the funding source that is critically important.

"I would like to see some clarity from the Conservatives as to where the federal money is precisely coming from."

Scott also claimed credit for the extra $14 million. That represented the $7 million the former federal Liberal government allocated to the Marysville bypass in May 2004, he said.

The Fredericton MP backed Robichaud's position regarding the bypass being part of the national highway system.

"We worked successfully at the federal level to get it added to the national highway system in September 2005 so it was eligible for federal funding," said Scott.

The highway deal will also provide funding for the 10-kilometre Welsford bypass on Route 7 between Fredericton and Saint John.

Phase 1 of that project includes the construction of a viaduct, clearing of the highway corridor and five kilometres of grading.

Other highway initiatives include work on the One Mile House interchange near Saint John, 11.5 kilometres of new four-lane highway from Pennfield to Lepreau, 2.2 kilometres of highway to complete a 24-kilometre Route 1 bypass from Waweig River to Murray Road in southwestern New Brunswick and 7.9 kilometres of highway on Route 11 from Tracadie-Sheila to the Six Roads bypass.

Details of how much work will be done this year weren't available. But the province issued a statement saying contracts for the work on the Marysville bypass, Route 1 and Route 11 would be awarded this year.

Lloyd Giggie, executive director of the Roadbuilders Association of New Brunswick, welcomed the highway funding announcement.

"It is something we have been waiting for," he said. "It sounds now like there is going to be some money spent."

Giggie said the timing is good because the Liberals cut the provincial highway construction budget by 25 per cent this year.

"Our people are under utilized right now," he said.

About 7,000 people work in the provincial road-construction industry. said Giggie.

[kirjtc2]

England-N.B. direct flight announced for Fredericton Airport
Last Updated: Friday, June 29, 2007 | 3:54 PM AT
CBC News

Fredericton Airport says it will offer direct flights from New Brunswick to England, in an effort to bring more British tourists to the province.

Beginning in May 2008, a Fredericton-to-Gatwick service will fly on Tuesdays, and direct return flights from London will go Wednesdays, the airport said Friday. The flights will be managed by Canadian Affair, the U.K.'s largest tour operator, and will be operated by Air Transat, starting as low as $400 round trip.

Airport authority CEO David Innes said the deal has been in the works for about three years.

"I think the real economic benefit is getting people to come into New Brunswick … but certainly the side benefit of this service is to have the U.K. more accessible for New Brunswickers," Innes said Friday.

Fredericton travel agent Janet Tomkins said that's going to increase her business at Maritime Travel. She said not only do many of her customers fly to London to start European trips, but the discount service will also get a lot more people flying to the U.K.

"Normally if you're leaving from Fredericton, if you're doing it, say, July, from here to London, you're probably looking at $1,000 return with tax, so this is like half the price for them."

While travel agents like the idea of more New Brunswickers travelling to Britain, Anthony Knight of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce is looking forward to an increase in tourists coming here.

"We need to expand our capabilities and opportunities to attract new tourism dollars from outside the region and outside the U.S. as well. I mean, we rely heavily on the U.S. market and I think we need to diversify our tourism dollars, and this is a great way to do that."

To help attract more British travellers, the provincial government plans to double its tourism marketing spending in the U.K. to $500,000 a year.

The flights will run until the end of October 2008.

[Smevo]

Although the apartment building is five-storeys high, Skinner told planning advisory committee members that the fifth floor is the roof level, so the building won't look as high.


Sounds like every other apartment building in the city, with the exception of the townhouses in front of it.

And I love the brilliance of UNB concerning the woodlot. [/sarcasm]

I've noticed both the road connecting Knowledge Park Dr to Kimble Dr and the NE offramp on the Westmorland Bridge being worked on.

As far as apartment buildings go, I actually like how the new one on Cliffe St turned out (I'll try to get a picture on of these times), though it sticks out like a sore thumb now until more stuff gets built around there.

[kirjtc2]

FREX manager says future looks good
By Jeremy Dickson
Published Monday July 9th, 2007
Appeared on page A4

The future of the Fredericton Exhibition (FREX) and its property remains strong, says FREX general manager Brent Briggs.

That's despite a longer than expected review procedure by the FREX board's long-term planning committee, he said.

"It's going to be the end of the year before the long-term plan is completed," Briggs said.

"It's a slow process, but the committee is very upbeat right now.

"We're going to look at every possibility for the FREX grounds during our review."

This year will mark the 180th year of FREX and Briggs said the exhibition won't be going away any time soon.

"The city's municipal long-term plan to put residential housing on the property isn't on the radar screen right now because the FREX, even after all this time, is still a very popular attraction in the city," Briggs said.

The City of Fredericton still owns the exhibition's land, but FREX owns and operates the buildings on the property.

Briggs said FREX's lease with the city states the exhibition may remain on the grounds as long as it continues to be held every year and remains successful.

"The FREX was very successful the last two years and it still attracts approximately 40,000 people every year, so it's going to be here for a long time," he said.

Coun. Stephen Kelly, who is also a former council representative on the FREX board, said the city's plan for housing on the property has become a moot point because FREX has been so successful.

"The City of Fredericton wishes the FREX well," Kelly said, "and I don't think there's anybody who wants the FREX to do anything but live up to its potential, which it's done for so many years."

Despite FREX's prosperity, Briggs said his planning committee needs more time to map out the future of the grounds, including plans for the Coliseum and the racetrack.

"We need to look ahead at other business aspects," he said.

"The city just returned our lease for the Coliseum in May and although we haven't had a lot of time to look at its long-term use, we do know there will be no ice going in there this fall. It's primary use right now is for the FREX."

Briggs said the racetrack has been doing well and will continue to prosper at least until 2009 with the help of government subsidies.

"We really believe that harness racing is on the upswing again, but we also want our racetrack to be an entertainment centre."

Briggs said the FREX board has asked the provincial government to include harness racing in its gaming policy, which should be released later this summer or fall.

"The gaming policy is a long-term plan, but we still need government authorization," Briggs said.

Briggs said the buildings are looking good and new improvements will be made this year.

"We will be improving the parking lot starting today," he said.

"We are finally going to pave a significant portion of the Exhibition Grounds, especially trouble areas around Tim Hortons and William's Seafood."

He said those areas are guaranteed to be fixed and there is a possibility the paving will extend back to the Coliseum and Capital Exhibit

Centre.

"We also plan to complete upgrades to the roof of the Coliseum

which was half completed in 2005," he said.

"And we will upgrade our grandstand and replace the roofs on our two agricultural buildings."

Briggs said he's satisfied with how the city has dealt with FREX

property.

"I feel like our relationship with the city has improved a lot and I know they will keep an open mind with the results from our review

concerning future possibilities for the grounds."

[kirjtc2]

Work begins on new Waterloo Row water treatment plant
Out with the old | First phase of project expected to cost $2 million; plant to be commissioned in 2008

By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Thursday July 12th, 2007
Appeared on page A4

City water and sewer crews are demolishing the former Waterloo Row service station as part of the preliminary site preparation work for a new water treatment plant.

"We'll go to tender soon with a site works package to develop the site," said Bruce Baird, assistant director of engineering and public works.

A second contract will be issued by late summer or early fall for the construction of the building, Baird said.

The city purchased the property for $285,000 from its owners because of its proximity to its new well field in the downtown west end.

The first phase of the project in 2007 is expected to cost $2 million and the city will use a red-brick finish on its exterior, hoping to mimic the heritage of its historic water treatment plant at the foot of Smythe Street.

The city hopes to commission brick-laying work before the winter.

Installation of equipment and the commission of the plant have a 2008 deadline.

ADI Ltd. designed the proposed 1,130-square-metre facility and Daniel K. Glenn Ltd. will do the landscape design.

Heritage Trust and Waterloo Row-area neighbours of the development had mixed feelings about the plan.

At a May public meeting, Heritage Trust members weren't thrilled with the design.

A few residents said a water treatment plant is an industrial structure that doesn't fit a residential neighbourhood.

Others wanted the former service-station property turned into a park, while some residents said the city should have bargained with the University of New Brunswick to redevelop part of UNB's University Avenue parking lot for the treatment plant.

The city has countered that the former service-station site is the best location due to its proximity to wells that supply Fredericton's drinking water and that it has chosen a heritage-style design for the development.

[kirjtc2]

Money designated to clean northside wetland
By JACQUELINE LEBLANC
leblanc.jacqueline@dailygleaner.com
Published Monday July 16th, 2007
Appeared on page A4

President of Business Fredericton North Anne Baldaro says she's excited to mark the beginning of an investment to restore a wetland in the heart of her organization's business improvement area.

"It's a great opportunity for our businesses because there will be more walking traffic," she said. "It could potentially be a destination for tourists and our local residents who are interested in wetlands and nature. And it's an extension of the trail system."

The Environmental Trust Fund and the City of Fredericton have teamed up with Business Fredericton North to improve the area around the wetland, which covers the area from the Snow Storage Facility to the Superstore area, and from the river to the back of Hillcourt.

The University of New Brunswick and Ducks Unlimited are additional partners in the project.

A minimum of $60,000 will be invested in two separate projects on the city's north side.

The first project, which will cost a minimum of $50,000, will restore the wetland.

The project will also involve new trails, interpretive signs, tree planting, a boardwalk, nesting platforms and more.

Business Fredericton North will also invest a minimum $10,000 for the second project to beautify the streets.

Currently, Business Fredericton North funds all the planters that decorate the business improvement area.

"I would think that our businesses will be extremely pleased," Baldaro said. "And certainly there may be an opportunity that we can draw more business to that area."

Baldaro said the improvement won't only benefit businesses.

"For our schools, it's an opportunity for an outdoor classroom," she said. "And because we're extending the trail down to where the old Nashwaaksis arena was, it's a great opportunity to park up and walk in through that way as well."

Trina MacDonald, general manager of Business Fredericton North, said this project will help the north side attract tourists.

"Right now, we're lacking a tourism node on the north side," MacDonald said. "This is an opportunity to create at least one tourism node on the north side which will integrate with the trail system.

"So now when tourists are in the downtown, going to all of the things happening at the Garrison District, it'll give them a reason when they are crossing the train bridge to make their way down to the Main Street area and have a look at what is going on there."

Already, Business Fredericton North has cleaned up the wetland area.

MacDonald said people were using it as a dumping site.

They retrieved nearly 400 tires from the wetland.

Some of the improvements should be complete by the end of the summer.

MacDonald said she anticipates the entire project being completed by next year.

[kirjtc2]

[Maybe it's just me, but I have no idea where this is. I was thinking one of those old lumber warehouses off Main Street near Shoppers Drug Mart, but haven't they all been converted into retail?]

[Never mind...looked it up...it's off Cityview Avenue...]

Northside business owner turns warehouse into music venue
By JACQUELINE LEBLANC
leblanc.jacqueline@dailygleaner.com
Published Tuesday July 17th, 2007
Appeared on page A6

A local company is giving northsiders a reason to rock out.

Lloyd Merriam, owner of Musiplex, is renovating a large warehouse near his business and converting it into a state-of-the-art performing arts centre.

"It's going to give (Frederictonians) the best stage in the city, bar none, designed for live music," Merriam said.

"I think it will give the north side a facility that they currently don't have. A lot of our patrons are northsiders. And in general, it'll give the music community and the arts community a resource."

Merriam said the facility will be used for more than music.

It can also be used for comedy shows, hypnotists, dance companies or theatre companies.

He said the project has been in the works for four years.

"It has always been our intention to open an event centre," he said.

"We wanted a facility that is complementary to the rest of our activities at Musiplex.

"We have an active school. One of the uses of the event centre will be to showcase our students with recitals and various things related to school functions. It was a natural next step from that."

The venue will open in two phases.

Merriam said the first phase should be ready to open by August once it has received proper permits from the city. The second phase should be ready by October or November.

When renovations are complete, the venue will hold approximately 700 people.

Merriam said he hopes his venue will be a part of the 2008 East Coast Music Awards that will be held in Fredericton.

"We will have probably one of the premiere venues in the province of New Brunswick," he said.

"It's a performance arts venue, and it was designed and equipped specifically for live performances. Certainly, it would be logical to be a major player in the ECMAs in 2008."

Tim Yerxa, chairman of the local organizing committee for the ECMA, said it's not too late for venues to get involved in the event.

"For the ECMA, venues are great," he said.

"The more venues that we have, and the better venues that we have in the city, then it's going to make for a better event all around."

James Boyle of Forward Music Group, a booking and management agency for local talent, said new venues could translate into more live shows for Fredericton.

"We're excited that there's more opening up, and it's definitely opening up a lot of doors," Boyle said.

"It's definitely an improvement. It's going to improve the music scene in some way. It's going to have a positive impact."

He said the venue will be great for the north side.

[kirjtc2]

City silences tree cutters' saws at residential development site
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Wednesday July 25th, 2007
Appeared on page A4

Fredericton community services staff called an early halt to tree cutters starting to clear land off Union Street for a condominium project.

The city has notified the provincial Environment Department which confirmed Tuesday that it is investigating.

"They're aware of the situation," said Brian Cochrane, the city's superintendent of parks and trees.

The tree-trimming was nipped in the bud about three weeks ago. No big trees were felled, but a few upper branches had been cut.

"We found some guys cutting and we told them to stop and we notified Environment and Workplace Health and Safety," Cochrane said.

He said it's unclear if the workers were cutting on their own land or on city property, but the workers were advised to stop until the property boundaries are clarified.

"They were getting a little too close to the edge," Cochrane said.

The workers did comply, he added.

The city's riverfront walking pathway separates part of the property from the riverbank. The city doesn't want to see mature trees on its property damaged or cut, although a landowner is free to clear his or her own property for construction.

Until a site comes to the concrete-pouring stage, no building permit is required to grade or clear surface land.

The Union Street site will be developed into a five-storey condominium development by local businessmen Marx Miles, John Kileel and partner Greenarm Management.

Neither Miles, nor Kileel responded to messages left for them Tuesday.

Coun. Norah Davidson-Wright said she hadn't heard about any inappropriate tree-clearing, but will monitor the situation.

The property under redevelopment was once owned by Forbes and Sloat Construction and is located east of the Jean Coutu on Union Street on the river side of the street.

A couple of years ago, the city and Environment Department were too late to spare mature trees along the riverbank that were chopped down in front of River City townhouse development.

The townhouses have south-facing windows with garages facing the backyards of Dairy Queen and Tim Hortons outlets on Union Street.

Miles said the trees were cut in error by a contractor working at the site.

[kirjtc2]

City still in talks to buy York House
Let's make a deal | City councillors voted in June to purchase historic 114-year-old building
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Friday July 27th, 2007
Appeared on page A4

Talks between the City of Fredericton and Brunswick Street Baptist Church representatives are ongoing, but there's still no definitive word on a city proposal to buy the historic York House structure.

"Things are positive. Meetings are still going on, but it's a complex issue," said Mayor Brad Woodside.

City councillors voted unanimously in June to purchase the 114-year-old brick building designed by architect James C. Dumaresq, who was the designer of the provincial legislature.

History buffs and the city see the structure as valuable to the local heritage inventory.

But the church needs space for expansion, and renovating the building still wouldn't meet the religious group's needs, a church spokesman has said.

The building stands alone on the property, separated from the main church structure by a parking lot.

The church wants to demolish the building and start fresh.

City officials have been trying to act as a land-assembly facilitator in order to create a redevelopment package that would allow the church to meet its goals and spare York House from the wrecker's ball.

"We have the blessing of the congregation to give it the best shot we can to bring about a solution everyone can be happy with," Woodside said.

[kirjtc2]

[Another new hotel? I thought tourism was down lately...]

90-room hotel to cozy up on Bishop Drive
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Saturday July 28th, 2007
Appeared on page A7

Construction has started on a new 90-room, four-storey hotel in Fredericton.

Best Western is opening a location at 333 Bishop Dr. A building permit for the project was issued mid-July and site work has started.

Saulnier Management of Tracadie-Sheila is the general contractor for the development.

Best Western International Inc. is the world's largest hotel brand. It has more than 4,200 hotels in 80 countries.

The hotel chain was founded in 1946. It has four locations in New Brunswick, including hotels in Dalhousie, Grand Falls, Moncton and Woodstock.

A spokesperson for the hotel chain could not be reached Friday for comment on the project.

[kirjtc2]

[I think Crombie Properties will realize their mistake this winter when people have to walk outside when it's -30...they say "you spend less time waling in the elements", but in the old mall, you spent no time walking in the elements...]

Fredericton Mall reshapes image for big-box shopping
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Tuesday August 7th, 2007
Appeared on page A3

It's a work in progress, but Fredericton Mall's reshaped image as what the industry dubs a "power centre" is in full swing.

The mall is eliminating its interior corridors and giving merchants more space to allow them to develop their parking lot-facing storefronts into a big-box store style.

Mall manager Ryck Bourgette said the latest round of construction is preparing room for a co-ed fitness facility that will be next to Zellers.

The 2,160-square-metre gym should be open by the fall, Bourgette said.

Redevelopment of a larger space for Staples is continuing, with the office supply store slated to relocate next door to Pets Unlimited.

Once Staples settles into its new digs, its old location, which juts out into the parking lot, will be demolished and shaved back to create a uniform mall front.

Moore's men's clothing store will remain where it is, but will be redesigning its store interior.

"They'll continue to remain open, but they're going to stay the same size with a new store look," Bourgette said.

Music World, an existing tenant in the interior of the mall, will move into its new premises this fall, with its storefront facing the parking lot.

"We have two other tenants that are signed and ready to go. Both (are) ladies fashion tenants," the mall manager said.

The new stores will be 450-square-metres each.

Reitmans will be one of the fashion shops. Addition Elle will be the second ladies wear retailer, specializing in plus-size clothing for women.

Both stores will be ready for fall openings.

They'll be located alongside Moore's in the former Royal Bank location. Music World will be next in the lineup of retailers.

The Royal Bank is slated to move into a new mini-strip mall built where the New Brunswick Liquor Commission outlet once sat next door to Future Shop.

The bank is scheduled to move Aug. 24. Royal Bank insurance services will be the second tenant in the three-unit mini-mall.

Bourgette said negotiations are ongoing with a third tenant for that development on the mall property.

By eliminating the mall's interior common areas -- which are paid for on a cost-shared basis by mall tenants -- rents are reduced and the retailer gets the larger space they're looking for.

"Once you realize what's available to you and the potential for each of these tenants, there are a lot of retailers out there looking for this kind of environment," Bourgette said.

"The best part of all of this is that the parking is ample."

The advantage for customers is that they can park closest to their destination store and spend less time walking out in the elements.

[kirjtc2]

City housing market still has legs after years of rapid development
By KATE WRIGHT
wright.kate@dailygleaner.com
Published Friday August 10th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

OTTAWA - Fredericton's housing market is still going strong, after nearly a decade of unprecedented growth.

New housing starts were up last month from the same time last year, jumping to 58 units from 48 units in July 2006.

The city's multiple-unit starts have cooled dramatically, down from 70 units last July to only two units last month.

But Alex Forbes, assistant director with the city's development services department, said the slowdown in apartment and condo units being built is a reflection of years of strong growth -- not a floundering market.

"We knew we could not continue to bring on an unprecedented number of units," he said. "We're now in a natural state of vacancy that everyone can live with."

He said single-family dwellings increased this year, up to 130 units being built compared to 117 during the same period last year.

Apartment units have also cooled year to date, with only 78 units being built this year down from 169 units over the same period last year.

Canadian Mortgage and Housing spokesman Claude Gautreau said this cooling is part of a natural cycle after a period of rapid growth.

"If we go back three or four years there was fairly heavy construction and because so much was built, it's sprinted ahead of demand," he said.

"It's nothing uncommon; it's likely just a situation where the amount of product was probably a little more than the actual demand was."

The construction of townhouses in the capital city is growing. Forbes said he's seen an influx in townhouse growth, although building figures from last year are not available.

"It's a market that's not slowing down," he said.

Gautreau said the resale market in Fredericton is steady, with many residents searching for cost-saving options when it comes to buying a home.

The cost of a new home in Fredericton averages $211,157, while the cost of an existing home averages $146,794 -- a significant difference for first-time buyers or homeowners looking to downgrade.

"The cost of owning a home is pushing people to enter into more innovative areas of the market," said Forbes.

[ErickMontreal]

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=15664&size=300x0

Business is booming on the Northside
New Wal-Mart, new Canadian Tire, new YMCA... the other side of the river is really growing.

Clarissa Andersen
Published Thursday August 9th, 2007

The scenic beauty of Fredericton, the picture perfect capital of the Picture Province, is a breathtaking site with its charming downtown area, historic buildings, and manicured greenery.

While Fredericton has maintained the allure of being a close-knit community, over the last few years it's evident that this city, divided by the great St. John River, is moving forward full speed ahead.

Although development plans have seen both sides of Fredericton expand, the Northside of the city has grown faster than many people can keep up with, especially those who move away and return only for occasional visits.

"Everybody is noticing it. It is pretty obvious isn't it?" said Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside. "When the decision was made to build the multi-use sport complexes, one on the Northside and one on the Southside, [we said] the facilities would spur on growth and the growth on the north side has been nothing short of phenomenal." While the city Fredericton, with both the North and South side combined, works as a whole, anyone who has lived there can attest the sparkling waters of the vast St. John River often create a feeling of division. There seems to be a force emanating from the waters, creating a mindset that keeps people on their selected side.

Although the drive from one side to the other isn't the trek it is often made out to be, many people view the river as an invisible barrier: Northsiders only passing over for work, school and shopping, and Southsiders finding no reason to venture over at all. Especially since the once famous "Toonie Theatre" has evolved into a call centre, and the most permanent stores in the Brookside Mall are the ones painted on the walls.

But the persistent growth swelling on the Northside of this magnificent city could create a flood of reasons for residents to travel to both sides of the river.

"The interesting thing about the city, which I'm extremely pleased with, is that we're having a real balanced development which is important. It doesn't make a great deal of sense to have everything all in one place," said Woodside. "I think there is a pride in the community that we are moving ahead, that we are growing, without differentiating between Northside and Southside residents, there's a good feeling in the city of Fredericton." Noticing the need to build evenly, plans came to fruition with the new Northside YMCA fitness complex, which Northsiders have welcomed.

"We're right in an area that is going to be all built up in the next few years. [It] is very central and everything is going up around it. We're really happy, we have lots of new programs on the go, and it has been really great. I think it was needed for sure," said Margaret Scott, one of the managers at the new Northside Wellness Centre.

As Woodside predicted, upon completion of the sports complex other businesses followed. There's Wal-Mart, a new Canadian Tire being built, and Kent Building Supplies and a government office building are on the way. Even Frank's Finer Diner has moved its neon and pies to an area of the north side that many say will rival Prospect Street in the next 20 years.

"It has huge growth potential. There will end up being a large cluster there and as I've said all along, it wouldn't surprise me if somebody comes out and wants to build a hotel," said Woodside.

While the many phases of development have seen commercial businesses being pulled to the Northside of the great river, the dollars have also been flowing through the personal real estate market, and now more people are living in this area of the city than on the south side.

"A lot of people that I talk to really like the Northside. I've got a new family relocating from Saint John who really wants to stick [to this area] because it seems more family-oriented," said David Watt, a real estate agent with Exit Realty.

"It's an up and coming spot, people love the Northside, definitely." While the family friendly vibe that many of the neighbourhoods and subdivisions of the Northside give off is attractive, the rapid growth areas are another reason people seek homes on the Northside.

"It was funny, when I went to high school, nobody came to the north side, there was no need to. But now that there's a second high school, a new Wal-Mart, a new golf course coming in, Main Street is really being brought up, people are really finding that, wow, the Northside is just as good as the South," said Watt.

Watt, unlike his fellow Northsider Woodside, believes the Northside expansion will accentuate the invisible barrier the winding St. John River seems to create.

"I think [development] is making both sides of the river self-sufficient. One of the big things about going to the south side from the North- side was Regent Mall and Fredericton Mall. But with the new Wal-Mart and the other big box stores that are going to go up in the next few years, it will create quite a divide in the city of Fredericton," said Watt.

While Scott thinks likes Watt, "I say why go to the Southside if you can do everything on the Northside... everything I need is right here," there are still others who agree with the mayor.

"It'll probably bring everyone closer," said Monica Bottos, a Southside resident who works in the tourism industry.

Whether or not the Northside expansion will dissolve any division amongst the ranks, or whether the invisible force shield will continue to contain each resident to their side, it's obvious that those who live in Fredericton are proud to call it home.

"The Fredericton North and the Fredericton South issue is really a moot point," said Woodside. "This is a pretty united community. There is still a lot of pride in where people live.

"But we're all from Fredericton and that is the way I'd like to keep it."

[kirjtc2]

Contract awarded to begin site preparation work at new southside water treatment plant

By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Tuesday August 14th, 2007
Appeared on page A5

Charmac Construction Co. Ltd. was the low bidder to win a contract to do the site preparation work and build a base for a new water treatment plant on Waterloo Row.

The former Waterloo Row Esso will be replaced by a city-owned facility to treat water pumped out of three new well fields in the city's downtown east end.

Charmac's $316,069 contract will have the company build a sub-base for the driveway and walking area, install fill to create the proper grade for the building foundation, preliminary landscaping and hydro-seeding.

It has to finish its work before the end of September.

Coun. Cathy MacLaggan, who represents the area where the plant will be located, has been working with her constituents to ensure the 1,130-square-metre facility designed by ADI Ltd. of Fredericton meets appropriate heritage-design standards.

During public information sessions about the project, Fredericton Heritage Trust voiced concerns about the building's design, as did neighbours living nearby.

The site is within the city's St. Anne's Point Heritage Preservation Area.

MacLaggan said the city's heritage preservation review board is asking for a number of cosmetic changes to the original plan, including a visual reduction to part of the roof, changes to some windows and approval of the building's sign.

"At the board review, the design was substantially improved," MacLaggan said. "I think people will be very favourably impressed with the design of the building."

The board has given tentative approval to allow site work to proceed, while architects draft the recommended design alterations.

"We are working on the specifications for the new building and we hope to award a tender for the construction of the building by the

middle of September," MacLaggan said.

"With this contract, we are moving another step closer to making this new water treatment plant a reality. This major capital project is coming together nicely," said Coun. Tony Whalen, chairman of the city's public safety and environment committee.

The city's engineering and public works department undertook the demolition and renovation of the old service station.

Council has awarded a contract worth $802,687 to California firm Pureflow Filtration Division to supply the filters and related equipment for the proposed plant.

More tenders will be called later this month for mechanical and electrical equipment.

The city has budgeted $2 million for the project.

Fredericton's water supply is derived entirely from drilled wells, but high levels of manganese and iron have to be removed and the water chlorinated before it is mixed into the rest of the city's drinking water supply.

The water supply is treated at the Smythe Street water treatment plant.

Record construction in Fredericton has pushed up demand for drinking water in the capital city.

[kirjtc2]

[This is what happens when you build a big subdivision outside city limits for no apparent reason. It seems that there are way too many of these in the Maritimes but barely any in the rest of the country....]

Chateau Heights pumped for water funding
Deal | Birchwood Estates will also get cash for projects

By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN and STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
news@dailygleaner.com
Published Wednesday August 15th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

After seven years of hauling water from a Fredericton fire station, Wayne Flinn said he's excited about a new federal-provincial pledge to help sort out water woes at Chateau Heights

Residents of the community, just outside Fredericton city limits on the north side of the St. John River, learned Tuesday that their area will get $3 million out of $42 million in federal-provincial funding to find new sources of water.

The funding is part of $116 million in federal gasoline tax revenue transfers, plus a $30-million transfer of provincial gasoline tax revenues to top up the fund.

"It's good news. I am looking forward to seeing it happen," Flinn said. "As much as I'd like to see it happen immediately, it could still take time."

Chateau Heights was built in the mid-1970s.

Flinn's family moved into the development in 1977, but over the last few years he's had to haul water in a trailer he's rigged up, buying it from a Fredericton fire station and trucking it home to replenish his converted plumbing system.

He's not alone. As many as 450 other residents of the community are perched upon volcanic rock.

Regardless of rainfall, only a limited amount of water refills the subsurface aquifer.

A Chateau Heights water committee was formed years ago to begin the costly search for reliable water sources, but the community knew it needed federal-provincial help.

"There are two options being reviewed," said Daniel Lessard, spokesman for the provincial Department of Local Government.

"The first one is a well-water source and distribution specific to the area, a system of their own."

The other option is a connection to Fredericton's public water system, he said.

Lessard said meetings are being held between provincial and city officials to determine the option to be chosen.

There will also be meetings with residents, but no date has been set for those meetings, he said.

"The cost of the project is estimated at $3 million," said Lessard.

He said construction could start in the 2008-09 fiscal year if an agreement can be reached on an option.

Even with $3 million in funding, there are hurdles to overcome. The steepness of McLeod Hill Road means that even if the community could negotiate a water purchase from the City of Fredericton, it could take significantly more than $3 million to build the series of water booster stations to pump water up the hill.

The search for a well with high enough yields to serve the community hasn't yet been successful.

Bruce Baird, Fredericton's assistant director of engineering and public works, said the city hasn't yet been approached by community or government officials regarding the funding announcement.

"I have been discussing the issue with (Liberal) Minister (T.J.) Burke in the riding," said Coun. Bruce Grandy. "We (the city) don't provide water to outside areas for development, but we're more than willing to listen to what the government is proposing."

Grandy said he would like to see McLeod Hill residents within city limits access water supply and sees room to talk about a partnership.

"They have some more work to do," Grandy said. "It's an issue that has to be dealt with, and as a city councillor trying to get services into McLeod Hill eventually, I'd like to at least listen to the government to see what they have to say and discuss."

Birchwood Estates subdivision in the Hanwell local service district is another beneficiary of the new federal-provincial program.

It will get $1 million over five years to repair its water distribution system to improve water quality. No date is set for the water system upgrade in the subdivision, where residents are on a shared well-water system.

York Tory MLA Carl Urquhart said he's still digging out details of the funding.

Two years ago the community encountered water problems, but the water system has since been fixed.

"I know they had water problems because they're on a communal well. They were trying to re-establish a new water source. That had been looked after," Urquhart said.

Urquhart's understanding is the subdivision has a more pressing need for a sewage disposal system update.

Lessard said there is no specific date for the start of the Birchwood Estates project.

"There is no safety issue at this time," he said. "At this point, it is hard to estimate the timeframe. The next step is the assessment of the condition of the system to determine the need of the upgrade."

A total of 20 projects across New Brunswick will be funded by the $42-million federal-provincial agreement announced Tuesday.

In addition to water projects, the money will be spent on public transit, community energy systems and solid-waste management.

"This funding will address a number of immediate needs for infrastructure upgrades across the province and will better determine future infrastructure development through a series of engineering studies," said New Brunswick Local Government Minister Victor Boudreau in a press release.

[kirjtc2]

Neill family's farmland will be developed for housing

By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Thursday August 16th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

Historic Neill farm in Devon, which for generations was a family-run dairy operation, will be gradually developed for housing over the next eight years.

James Realty -- composed of partners Jim Davis, Jim Yerxa and Jim Martin -- has a development agreement with the family to transform the city's last piece of idyllic farmland into mixed-use housing.

Six hectares, or 15 acres, around the original family homestead, including the barns, is not scheduled for development, Martin told the city's planning advisory committee Wednesday night.

Ron and Albert Neill are fourth-generation descendents of the first Neill to emigrate to New Brunswick from Scotland in 1840, making their farm one of the oldest in the St. John River Valley.

While the two brothers have been loathe to call it quits to farming, the younger generation of Neills have pursued interests other than farming and the Neills are getting on in years.

The Neills in 2006 sold a right-of-way to the city to build a street across a portion of their land to provide access to the proposed fire station on Cliffe Street, but vowed to keep farming for as long as they could.

They've already donated nearly 2.5 hectares (6.2 acres) of land for a city park and another five hectares (about 13 acres) will be used to create a storm water management pond, green space, cycling and walkways.

Martin said that leaves nearly 33 hectares (82 acres) of the family's 44-hectare (110-acre) farm available for creation of single-family housing, townhouses and other types of residential development.

The development will unfold in four phases, starting at Cliffe Street and progressing from west to east, Martin said.

The first phase will be 48 lots, mostly single-family residences, developed along an extension of Hillcrest Drive.

However, some of the land closer to Cliffe Street will be R-5 and R-6 zones, which allow for higher density uses such as townhouses or apartments.

The first phase is estimated to bring $15 million of new residential construction to the city.

Martin said construction will start this fall, with the first of 48 lots ready for sale by Jan. 15.

Barbara Blizzard of Forbes Street questioned the subdivision layout and what might end up behind her residential home, but assistant director of development services Alex Forbes said that end of the street will have single-family housing.

While that project was clear sailing for the planning advisory committee and goes forward to city council with a positive recommendation, another project was a bit more complex.

Planning advisory committee member Dan Koncz had to step aside from his duties to present a zoning plan of his own.

Koncz's company, Skyline Building Management Ltd., is purchasing an existing bachelor-style apartment building at 242 Regent St.

Developed a number of years ago by Frank Good, the property has a long record of ongoing legal issues and complaints related to building-code infractions.

Koncz purchased the building and plans to keep the property at 20 units, but bring it up to appropriate building codes.

"I want a safe building for my tenants," Koncz told the committee members.

The building has been the subject of a 15-year battle between the city and the previous owner.

Staff weren't going to support the project, but Coun. Marilyn Kerton said it's not fair to hold the past against a new developer.

"Our issues were with the previous owner," she said.

"He is somebody who wants to bring the property into conformity," agreed Coun. Bruce Grandy.

The number of units in the building will stay at 20, but will be reconfigured to meet National Building Code standards. The site has room for 11 cars, but should have parking stalls for 15.

The existing property has a parking shortfall, but since it's located downtown within walking distance to shops and a grocery store, committee member Zona Bovingdon said the parking deficiency shouldn't be a problem.

The building will have 18 bachelor units and two one-bedroom units.

-----------

[Some great unbiased reporting here....I guess if they had their way it would remain a vacant lot for all eternity....]

City annexes former Irving gas station land; now responsible for site cleanup
Decision | Irving says expropriation of one of the two sites on Cliffe Street not fair and unnecessary

By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Thursday August 16th, 2007
Appeared on page A4
The City of Fredericton will move to acquire two pieces of property on Cliffe Street that are owned by Irving companies.

The city and Irving Oil Ltd. clashed on one of the two proposed expropriations.

Both sides attended a hearing before the province's expropriations advisory officer John Larlee on the expropriation of 96 Cliffe St., a former service station site.

Irving Oil Ltd. argued the intended expropriation of its property would cause injurious affection as a result of the reduction in market value, that the expropriation wasn't fair and unnecessary, and that proceedings were initiated while negotiations were underway.

During the hearing, it was determined by a provincial expropriations advisory officer that the expropriation is necessary for the construction of a road system required once the northeast Westmorland Street Bridge ramp -- currently under construction -- is opened.

Irving Oil argued that since the property is a former gasoline station, it has a reasonable probability of contamination.

"There should be no distinction made between contamination cleanup costs and removal of structures or infrastructures," the company argued.

The company said it shouldn't have to be involved in property remediation for any site contamination once the city acquires the land because it then loses control over the method and costs of the cleanup.

Irving Oil argued the city should expropriate all the property on an as-is, where-is basis and become responsible for remediation of any contamination caused by the property's former use as a service station.

Larlee agreed and ruled that while the city's expropriation is fair and could proceed, he also agreed with Irving Oil that the city should acquire the entire property.

Larlee said the city will have to comply with applicable provincial legislation during the cleanup process.

Meanwhile, the city has served notice to Brunswick News Inc. of its intention to expropriate land at 74 Cliffe St.

The Irving-owned company has not filed an objection to the expropriation, but the two sides haven't been able to agree on a price.

The next step in the expropriation is for the city and company to await a final market value appraisal of the property from a third-party real estate appraiser.

Transportation committee chairman Coun. Mike O'Brien said both pieces of land are vital to the city's plan to reconfigure its street system in the Union and Cliffe streets area to accommodate traffic from the Westmorland Street Bridge ramp.

[kirjtc2]

Fredericton's commercial construction sector on the grow, says city official

By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Saturday August 18th, 2007
Appeared on page a8

It’s the year of commercial construction in New Brunswick’s capital city.

After several strong years of residential housing, and apartment and townhouse construction dominating the marketplace, Fredericton’s retail sector is rising to the top in 2007.

Development committee chairman Mike O’Brien will have a full mid-year review of the city’s development picture at Tuesday’s development committee meeting, but he said the city is posting a solid building season to date.

“Commercial and institutional permits are coming on line, which will keep the numbers strong. Businesses and residents alike are showing tremendous confidence in our market and in the city,” O’Brien said.

Business and commercial growth tends to follow population and with Fredericton’s population nudging beyond the 50,000 mark, commercial activity is picking up steam.

More jobs, in turn, bring more people and that recharges the residential sector in cyclical fashion, he said.

Fredericton ended 2006 with its best-ever construction performance at $137.4 million. Some of that recordsetting construction was driven by the city’s own construction agenda with the completion of the $16 million northside sports and leisure complex, construction of two new swimming pools and repairs to two others.

This year, O’Brien predicts the city will again break the $100 million mark.

“The way things are heading, it’s going to possibly be our second-best year ever, which is pretty phenomenal,” O’Brien said.

The outlook for 2008 is expected to be as strong as 2007, he added.

“Residents should take pride in what is happening in their city.

It is green, clean, safe and financially solid with a strong sense of its past, but the emphasis on growth,” he said.

Some of the commercial projects on tap for this year include the construction of a new Best Western hotel on Bishop Drive.

The building permit has already been issued for the $3.6-million hotel project.

The city will see the construction of a new Tim Horton’s coffee shop in the vicinity of the Home Depot site.

A new Kent home-improvement warehouse will be constructed on the north side of the St. John River at Wal- Mart’s Two Nations Crossing shopping mall site. Other development is brewing in the same area, including the possibility of a new Canadian Tire outlet combined with a Mark’s Works Wearhouse store. Mark’s is now part of the Canadian Tire family of companies.

[kirjtc2]

Group seeks O'Ree, Grant 'arenas'
Rinks | Council asked to consider names for two new sports complexes

By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Tuesday August 21st, 2007
Appeared on page A1

A group of citizens wants Fredericton's northside sports complex named for the local hockey player who broke the colour barrier.

Willie O'Ree, 71, was to hockey what Jackie Robinson was to baseball.

O'Ree was called up by the Boston Bruins on Jan. 18, 1958, to play his first NHL game against the Canadiens in Montreal -- the first black athlete to play in the NHL.

Fredericton lawyer David Hashey said Jan. 18, 2008, will mark the 50th anniversary of that momentous game and on Monday night, he and a delegation of citizens, asked city councillors to name the northside arena in O'Ree's honour.

The group also asked to come back to city councillors in two weeks with a second proposal, to name the southside sports complex -- currently in design -- after Danny Grant.

Grant, another native son, played NHL hockey for Montreal, Minnesota, Detroit and Los Angeles.

Grant won the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year and scored 50 goals in his 1974-1975 season during his stint with Detroit.

Grant ended his NHL career with 263 goals, 535 points and played in three all-star games.

Grant was later head coach at the University of New Brunswick and assistant coach at St. Thomas University.

Both men are worthy of naming honours, Hashey said.

In O'Ree's case, he was one of 13 children.

His father Harry O'Ree supported the family by working in the city's engineering department.

He lost the sight in his right eye at the age of 20 when he was hit in the face by a puck at a game in Guelph, Ont.

But O'Ree kept his injury a secret, turning pro in the 1956-57 season with the Quebec Aces of the Quebec Senior Hockey League under legendary coach Punch Imlach.

"We can't stress enough the obstacles he overcame to become the first black to play in the NHL," Hashey told council Monday night.

"We're hoping that you would get on side with us and see that the new complex is named after Willie O'Ree. That's what we're requesting tonight."

O'Ree works with the NHL as director of its hockey diversity task force, helping disadvantaged youth of all backgrounds.

David Sansom said honouring Grant also has the support of his group.

"Danny Grant, without question, is one of the most celebrated professional hockey players this city has ever produced," Sansom said.

"Danny's NHL statistics are legendary and his accomplishments many."

Most of all, Sansom said Grant has given back to his community by coaching at both the minor and

senior levels and through his commitment to sport fundraising.

The citizens group is hoping for a quick decision from city council because it wants to market the 50th anniversary of O'Ree's achievement as a milestone.

Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside said it would be premature to

respond to the group's request since it has asked to return to council within two weeks with a more detailed presentation.

Woodside said the city has been investigating the possibility of selling naming rights to its arenas.

"This has been something that has been talked about for quite some time," Woodside said.

"I can tell you that the City of Fredericton certainly is and has been interested in corporate sponsorship to reduce any costs to the taxpayers.

"That being said, it does not mean it couldn't be the Willie O'Ree complex,'' said the mayor.

Woodside said he has asked city staff to prepare a report for council to review how the marketing of corporate naming rights has been

going and whether there is a possibility of sponsorships that would reduce the financial cost on taxpayers.

Construction of the two new hockey arenas in Fredericton and repairs to the Lady Beaverbrook Rink are expected to be close to the $40-million mark when all the building dust settles.

[mmmatt]

Neill family's farmland will be developed for housing



Wow! I used to be good friends one of the Neill's (when we were kids) good times...that farm is so random...its like in the middle of a subdivision in Devon, I always thought it was the coolest thing ever :)

[kirjtc2]

[So...will these new restaurants still be ready for Spring 2007 like the sign says? :) ]

No end in sight to city growth

By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Wednesday August 22nd, 2007
Appeared on page A1

After an idle spring, it looks as though the University of New Brunswick's Corbett Centre is going to start unfolding.

Building and foundation permits have been issued for two restaurants and two strip malls on the site, which is now home to Home Depot.

Development committee chairman Mike O'Brien said it's up to the university and its mall negotiator Trinity Developments to announce the names of the tenants.

"It's a pretty intricate process, very delicate to the public, to the university, to the city,'' said O'Brien. "There's been a lot of back and forth on the quality of the development and double-checking everything and making sure it's A-1 before it's introduced.''

A sign advertising the Corbett Centre identifies East Side Marios and Montana's steakhouse as site tenants.

The Daily Gleaner has also learned that the Regent Mall Tim Hortons, which has closed, will reopen at the Corbett Centre site.

Fredericton has already chalked up $18.7 million in commercial development to the end of July.

O'Brien said there are enough construction projects on the horizon to break the $100-million mark again this year.

"There's so much in the hopper that's going to be coming in over the next two or three months and especially over the next 12 months. Next year looks pretty rosy as well," O'Brien said after Tuesday's development committee meeting.

Last year, Fredericton posted its best construction season at $134.4 million.

The value to date of all types of construction in Fredericton is $60 million.

That's about $30 million behind last year's figures to the end of July, but there are major projects still in negotiations, including the possibility of starting a University of New Brunswick wellness centre.

The city has seen 260 residential starts, including 130 single-family homes, and 78 apartment units during the first half of 2007.

The municipal construction that fuelled Fredericton's 2006 season has dropped off.

The city spent nearly $18 million on projects of its own, including the first of two new hockey arenas, repairs to the Lady Beaverbrook Rink, and construction of two new outdoor swimming pools and repairs to two others.

There was more good news for the city as a trend toward construction outside its borders is dropping.

Fredericton's share of the regional construction market increased nine per cent to 49 per cent in 2007, while Oromocto captured 12 per cent of the housing market, New Maryland another one or two per cent, and unincorporated areas about 33 per cent.

It's the fourth year in a row that Fredericton has seen construction within its boundaries go up, said city planner Meredith Cooper.

The city's real estate market has seen 546 houses resold, with the average price of a single-detached dwelling jumping by $16,000.

Mayor Brad Woodside said a few years ago he predicted the capital city would be ready to fasten its seatbelt and enjoy the ride.

"The growth has been phenomenal," Woodside said.

[kirjtc2]

Site work at Kimble Drive school to begin in October
By JENNIFER DUNVILLE
dunville.jennifer@dailygleaner.com
Published Thursday August 23rd, 2007
Appeared on page A3

Construction of a new middle school on Kimble Drive is expected to begin in October.

Bids are being accepted by the Department of Supply and Services for the construction of the school, which will replace the aging Albert Street Middle School.

Supply and Services Minister Roly MacIntyre said the new school is not expected to interfere with Kimble Drive Park or with traffic on Kimble Drive.

He said the new school is a positive change for Fredericton.

"Any time you're making a major change, there's always people who raise concerns, but we're getting more positive feedback than anything else," MacIntyre said.

"We seem to be through the phase of criticism and been past it for quite some time. We're getting a lot of support to do this project."

The tender for the construction was issued Wednesday and closes Sept. 21.

At that time, MacIntyre said the estimated cost of construction and the winning bid will be announced to the public.

The construction is considered a single-phase project, which means the tender will be for foundation work, structural steel framing, roofing, exterior walls, interior masonry walls, plumbing and electrical work, installation of air ventilation systems and controls, and fire protection systems.

The school, which will be 7,288 square metres, is being built on about eight hectares of land next to Kimble Drive Park.

The land was purchased for the purpose of a school in 1968.

In 1992, a licensing agreement was signed with the city for a playground and park area.

Over half of the property was kept for a school following the construction of Kimble Drive Park.

Although trees in the area will have to be cut to make room for the new school, MacIntyre said the park shouldn't be affected.

"I really haven't gotten into that aspect of how much it'll impact the park as far as the kids from the school using it, but it's not in our plans to do anything to it," MacIntyre said.

"Once you build a school adjacent to a park, you know the students are going to use it, but other than that, it shouldn't affect the park at all really."

Once built, the structure will include 20 classrooms, a computer lab, rooms for art, music, science and other technology, and physical education programs.

It will feature a large gymnasium and cafeteria, which will be designed to also function as an auditorium.

"One of the commitments made in our education plan is to create healthy and safe schools," said Education Minister Kelly Lamrock.

"The modern, state-of-the-art school that will be built on Kimble Drive is an example of that commitment."

MacIntyre said a company was hired by the department a few months ago to conduct a traffic impact study for the area of Kimble Drive.

The study, which was done in consultation with the city, indicated there would be no issues with school traffic and other traffic that moves along Kimble Drive.

"It shouldn't have any major impact, but we'll be doing things anyway to make sure it doesn't affect traffic," MacIntyre said.

"For example, parking space, busing lanes, sidewalks and crosswalks will be adjusted to accommodate the new school. We'll ensure pedestrian safety and be careful as work is done, so that it's not only a nice, new school, but also a safe location."

Jason Humphrey, a spokesman for the education department, said plans to name the school have not been finalized.

He said a naming committee made up of a member from the district's education council, the school board and the department will take submissions from the public when -- or shortly after -- the new school opens.

"How the naming committee takes submissions is totally open," Humphrey said.

"It could be anything from taking submissions from the community or having a school competition for the name. Either way, the community will be consulted."

As for the future of Albert Street Middle School, Humphrey said District 18 officials will have to declare the property surplus in 2009 before anything can be decided about the middle school.

Lamrock said the new school is scheduled to open in September 2009.

[kirjtc2]

City moves ahead with convention complex
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Tuesday August 28th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

Fredericton city councillors have officially charted a course to build an $80-million downtown convention centre, parking garage and office building with underground parking.

And the message from New Brunswick's capital city was that Ottawa can either pay its $8 million and be in the front row for the ribbon-cutting ceremony ... or not.

The project will go ahead with or without the federal government's help, city councillors said Monday night.

"We are going to do the project,'' said Mayor Brad Woodside. "Components allow us to do it in its entirety and design it in its entirety.

"It's a great decision for the City of Fredericton, for the businesses here. It will prove to be the right decision in the long run.''

Councillors voted behind closed doors to endorse the project months ago, but Monday night they awarded ADI Group the contract to design, engineer and build the facility with a tentative construction start date of June 2008.

Two city councillors have cold feet about the deal's financing and one voted against granting ADI the concession to build the Queen Street convention centre.

City finance committee chairman Dan Keenan is concerned about the lack of a funding commitment from the federal government.

"This is certainly a development that will be very beneficial to the city. I'm very supportive of the concept of building the convention centre. I think it's going to be transformational in that area of the city," Keenan said.

But Fredericton is already committed to $80-million worth of pools, rinks and other infrastructure repair work, and that's a lot on the city's plate, Keenan said.

"One of the key components of that plan is the federal funding to offset the cost of the convention centre. For that reason and that reason solely, I will be voting against this resolution. I don't have the comfort level to move forward ... to a commitment to build the facility," Keenan said.

Coun. Tommy Jellinek didn't vote against starting the design work, but he made clear that he, too, is reluctant to go ahead without federal cash.

"I personally do have certain reservations in trying to build it without federal funds," Jellinek said.

Councillors Stephen Kelly and Walter Brown, however, are championing the plan.

"With or without federal funding, this project is seen by the public as the most important project probably in our downtown in a generation," Kelly said.

While Ottawa should be given every chance to sign onto the deal, its lack of financial commitment shouldn't kill it.

Brown said the development is essential to grow downtown business, gain new tax revenues and support existing downtown businesses.

"Successful cities come from vibrant cities with vibrant downtowns. You cannot have one without the other," Brown said.

It's time Ottawa shook loose some of its $6.4-billion surplus and supported, not just Fredericton, but a number of Atlantic Canadian communities with downtown convention centre projects on tap, he said.

Woodside, meanwhile, plans to meet soon with Premier Shawn Graham to talk about $5 million in provincial government support already pledged.

"I'm not writing off the prime minister ... There is ample time, but the bottom line is we can't wait until next June and then make a decision. Council has made its decision, he said.

[GUB]

If the Feds back this one, I think it is fair to say Monctonians will be slightly peeved. haha!

[kirjtc2]

Workers met by locked doors at 2 N.B. call centres
Last Updated: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 | 1:09 PM AT
CBC News

Employees of call centres in Fredericton and Bathurst appear to be out of a job as of Wednesday morning as Connect North America closed its two New Brunswick centres overnight.

Employees arriving for work in both cities this morning found a locked door with a note on it.

The note said the call centre was closed until further notice and employees would be contacted.

Michelle MacFarland, an employee for a year and a half, is one of about 250 people who worked at the centre in Fredericton.

"It's very upsetting actually, you know, it wasn't expected," MacFarland said Wednesday. "I mean there were little warning signs here and there, we figured we had a few months, we figured we'd get a little warning, they would have the courtesy to give us a couple weeks' notice or something. We didn't figure there would be a note on the door."

At this time it's not known how many people have been affected by the closure in Bathurst.

[shane44]

Has anyone heard anything more on the Fredericton Square Office Building that is supposed to go up beside TD Bank?

[kirjtc2]

O'Ree, Grant get hockey arenas in their honour
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com
Published Wednesday September 5th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

City councillors accepted a community group's proposal Tuesday to name sports complexes in Fredericton after two of the city's shining hockey stars.

Mayor Brad Woodside said councillors have been hearing feedback from the public regarding the issue -- and with the 50th anniversary of Willie O'Ree's debut in the NHL in January -- it was the right time to honour O'Ree.

"It was a unanimous council decision,'' said Woodside on Tuesday night.

A citizens' group made its formal pitch to council, urging that O'Ree be the namesake for the northside sports and leisure complex opened earlier this year.

NHL star Danny Grant's name was put forward as the moniker for the arena on the south side of the city, which is currently in design.

Fredericton lawyer David Hashey said Fredericton-born O'Ree made hockey history when he broke the National Hockey League's colour barrier.

"Time will never change his place in history," Hashey said.

O'Ree joined the NHL on Jan. 18, 1958. The anniversary of his first NHL game will be marked on that date next year.

The 71-year-old California resident continues to travel all over North America as director of youth development for NHL diversity.

David Sansom said Grant is often referred to as the Iron Man for playing 566 consecutive games. He amassed 263 goals and 273 assists for 536 points in his career.

While playing for the Detroit Red Wings, Grant became the 12th player in NHL history to score 50 goals.

After retiring from the Los Angeles Kings in 1979, Grant returned to Fredericton and has supported home-town hockey at all levels since.

"Heroes are not created by NHL statistics or public appearances, but are in contrast defined by their contribution after the lights have dimmed ... Danny Grant became a hero when he unselfishly gave himself back to the community," Sansom said.

Fredericton lawyer Bob Kenny said the accomplishments of both men are legendary, their character sound and their love of the community immense.

Both deserve to have their contributions acknowledged in a meaningful and lasting way by naming the two sportsplexes in their honour, Kenny said.

The citizens' group came armed with letters of support from the presidents of the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University, Hockey New Brunswick, senators and other sports groups.

[kirjtc2]

Second wetland discovered at new arena site
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com
Published Friday September 14th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

The City of Fredericton has applied for a permit to alter a wetland on the southside civic centre worksite.

The move comes after it was discovered last spring that the property near the intersection of Kimble Drive and Allison Boulevard is home to not one, but two wetlands.

While planners were able to maintain the regulated 30-metre distance from the wetland they knew about on the west side of the property near Vanier Highway, the more recently discovered one isn't as simple to contend with, said community services director Wayne Tallon on Thursday.

"This other wetland is somewhat more central on the site, which is more problematic."

The wetland offers most of the natural drainage for the site and provides headwaters that flow into Corbett Brook.

The city has hired Jacques Whitford to consult on the issue. The engineering firm is expected to report to the city as early as today with a list of options for addressing the situation. Those will be forwarded to the province.

Reed Hentze, a wetland biologist with the Department of the Environment, confirmed the city has already applied for a watercourse and wetlands alteration permit for the property. Hentze said the second wetland will have to figure into any work done on the site.

"Basically, we're looking for them to design their arena complex around that wetland feature within reason," Hentze said.

"We're trying to promote sustainable development. We want them to develop around the wetland as much as possible."

Wetlands are inundated or saturated by enough surface or ground water to normally support vegetation that is typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands usually include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas.

The second wetland was discovered by a member of the public who alerted the environment department.

A city official said a previous survey, which only indicated the one wetland near the property's perimetre, had been conducted in late summer.

City officials couldn't say how much the work might add to the civic centre's price tag .

Tallon said he is confident the Department of the Environment will rule in the city's favour.

"With the topographical information and the information we have at our disposal, we have had some discussions with the Department of the Environment,'' said Tallon.

"That's how we got the temporary permit to do the geotechnical work to further understand the soils and the significance of the wetlands and help deal with it."

[kirjtc2]

Small city, big festival

By JACQUELINE LEBLANC
leblanc.jacqueline@dailygleaner.com
Published Monday September 17th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival organizers are singing the praises of volunteers, and our city's ability to successfully stage an international event.
Advertisement

Music director Brent Staben said between 75,000 and 80,000 music lovers came out to the shows, which started last week and wrapped up Sunday. Only one show out of 40 wasn't sold out.

Staeben said the festival was an amazing success.

"We're just over the moon about it," he said Sunday. "It's a testament to what Fredericton can achieve. It's all volunteer run and the committee works very hard to raise its goals every year and create a bigger and better event, and we've been doing that for 17 years.

"And again, it's very satisfying to have what we think is an international festival here in this town."

He said performers gave them positive feedback for organization.

"When we have people like Dr. John coming in here and saying, 'You guys are doing it right. You're doing it just as good as it's done anywhere.' It's very satisfying for sure," Staeben said.

The festival wrapped up Sunday with thousands packing into Officers Square for the final show. Headliner Molly Johnson dropped by for a final performance.

Committee members would like to see an economic impact study done to see how much money the festival brings into the community.

The last one was done in the late 1990s, said David Seabrook, festival spokesman.

"We know that the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival has a huge economic impact," Seabrook said. "Maybe between $5-million-$7 million for the local economy.

"Everything from babysitters, to restaurants, to hotels, to sound technicians, you name it. It's been a few years since we've done a study. I think we're all interested in what that current impact is."

A new study would benefit the entire community, he said.

"It's very important when you're a festival at the scale that Harvest is now, and have the impact on the community, it takes resources in the entire community to pull it off. So I think it's important for the community to know what that is."

Staeben said the festival's success is due to the community's commitment.

"This festival speaks to the potential of the community," he said. "This community can do great things. It's an incredible event for the city."

[mmmatt]

Yeah Id say! haha. Me and my GF were trying to get to the market on saturday...we had to park like a mile away because there were so many people downtown!

[kirjtc2]

District 18 unveils drawings for Albert Street school replacement
By GLENNA HANLEY
For The Daily Gleaner
Published Thursday September 20th, 2007
Appeared on page A5

With the construction of Kimble Park School weeks away, disappointed residents of the old Alberta Street Middle School neighbourhood are turning their attention to the future.
Advertisement

Parents such as Marylou McKenna, the former chairwoman of Albert Street's parent-school support committee, said it's time to recognize the changing demographics of an aging neighbourhood.

"People are seeing the benefits now and putting their differences aside and seeing what's best for the kids," said McKenna who has served on the committee for six years.

McKenna was among a small but steady stream of residents to attend an open house Wednesday night at the Albert Street school where education officials displayed drawings of what its replacement will look like.

"The new school is so needed and it's going to be so beneficial for the children that I am beyond any sadness," McKenna said,

Parents in the Kimble Drive area are jumping for joy at the prospects of having the new facility within walking distance of their homes.

"My daughter is just starting Grade 5. She'll be in that school and it is just a hop, skip and a jump away," said Patsy Williams.

She said there are lots of young families in her area to fill the facility designed for 650 students.

Albert Street school had been serving increasing numbers of children bused in from other areas, such as Lincoln and New Maryland.

Susan Price from Hanwell Road, another parent excited about the new school, said a few minutes more on the bus to Kimble Drive won't make much difference for her children.

"I'm just excited to see the kids get into a new school because this one is worn out," said Price.

Contracts for the site work and construction of the 7,288-square-metre facility will be announced next week along with the price tag for the 21-classroom school.

Architect Robert Phillips believes construction can get underway by late October for a tentative completion date in spring 2009.

Exactly how the school will impact the existing park and its tennis courts, soccer and ball field isn't clear.

The district has a few details to hammer out with the city which built the park, said District 18 Supt. Alex Dingwall.

"Right now we have to sit down with the city. We have one soccer field and we would like a second one," said Dingwall. But as with other school sites, the school will have priority use during school hours.

A large stand of trees will be removed to accommodate the school but a popular walking trail at the back will remain and may be extended, said Dingwall.

A major improvement from the current school will be a bus parking area. It will accommodate nine or 10 buses at once and won't disrupt local traffic as occurs on Albert Street, said Phillips.

http://www.the506.com/kimble.jpg

[kirjtc2]

DOT says pedestrians often ignore pedways
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com
Published Wednesday September 26th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

The Department of Transportation will talk to the City of Fredericton about the viability of setting up pedestrian overpasses for Route 8, but it isn't keen.

"We think our concerns about whether or not a pedestrian overpass would be used remain the same," said Department of Transportation spokeswoman Tracey Burkhardt on Tuesday.

Student leaders have pressed for a safer route across the old Trans-Canada Highway.

A report recently prepared for the city indicated an overpass between the University of New Brunswick and Skyline Acres would be the most feasible, and probably cost about $1 million to construct.

Route 8 is a provincial highway, and the city will be encouraging the province to consider such pedestrian overpasses as part of future work in the area.

But the province has seen less than convincing results from similar projects.

"Our experience with fencing and overpasses is that people don't necessarily use them even if it's provided," Burkhardt said.

Students in Riverview continue to run across a four-lane roadway despite the proximity of a pedestrian overpass the province provided near their high school.

"We have our experience with fencing behind the malls here in Fredericton. We fence it up and they cut a hole in the fence and keep on going."

While the department has its reservations about any such project, Burkhardt said staff members are willing to talk to Fredericton representatives.

Burkhardt said DOT hasn't seen a copy of a report prepared for the city that provides two options for each of three locations where pedestrian crossings might be considered.

[mmmatt]

I used to run across that highway all the time last year...its a dangerous spot...some of my friends have had close calls there. Good advise: if you have had a few drinks a dark four lane highway is the last place you want to be!

[kirjtc2]

70 people lose jobs
Dollar | High loonie leads to mill closure

By MICHAEL STAPLES
staples.michael@dailygleaner.com
Published Friday September 28th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

The high Canadian dollar is behind the closure of Fredericton's M.L. Wilkins and Son Ltd. Sawmill.

The move leaves 70 workers wondering what their future will be.

Brent Wilkins, vice-president of the company, told The Daily Gleaner on Thursday he hopes the company can reopen in two to three weeks, but wasn't making a commitment.

"I am very confident and quite optimistic," Wilkins said with regard to that time frame.

He said everything depends on what happens with the Canadian dollar, hovering at or near par to the U.S. greenback.

"It was the final straw at this point in time," Wilkins said.

The company vice-president said most of M.L. Wilkins's exports over the last year have been to the United Kingdom and Ireland. The high loonie has affected those exchanges too, he said.

The family mill, in operation since 1969, had modified its production process to meet new market opportunities.

"Until we have an improving dollar or come up with a better game plan, it's a difficult situation," Wilkins said between meetings Thursday.

With the inventory on-hand, the operation should be able to comply with its overseas orders, he said.

Wilkins said the decision to close was made Wednesday night, and the employees have been advised to file for employment insurance.

A security crew and some office staff will remain on the scene.

The usually busy mill yard looked like a ghost town Thursday with a bare minimum of activity.

A "sorry we're closed" sign hung on the front of the outside entrance to the company's store and offices. A forklift operator could be seen loading bundles of inventory on the back of a flatbed tractor-trailer.

"The forestry industry sucks, but they have tried very hard here," said Corey Fullarton, an eight-year employee.

Fullarton said he believed the shutdown would be short, but admitted the closure didn't come as a huge surprise.

He said things have been "kind of tough" at the mill and morale has been low.

Ken Hardie, manager of the New Brunswick Federation of Woodlot Owners, said the closure was another major blow for members.

"M.L. Wilkins was one of the better customers in the province and bought quite a lot of woodlot wood," he said.

Hardie complimented the Wilkins operation for being progressive in developing overseas markets, but he said even that may not be enough.

"It's extremely difficult times," he said. "It's been every week for the past month now that we've seen mills close down."

Operations in Miramichi, Blackville, Petitcodiac and Juniper have shut down in recent weeks -- with about a third of the 63 mills operating on reduced hours.

Shawn Church, editor of Random Lengths, a U.S.-based weekly publication that provides the wood products industry in Canada and the U.S. with reports of market activity, trends, issues, and analysis, said watchers should prepare themselves for more closures.

"I think that the industry as a whole is bracing for a tough winter and even a tough 2008," Church said in a telephone interview from his office in Eugene, Ore.

"It's very possible that we could see more of this as we move through the winter."

Church said the trend of sawmills closing because of the rising loonie is a Canada-wide problem.

"Mill closures have happened in both the west and the east, with the exchange rate being a major factor in the decision to pull the plug."

To make matters even worse for Canadian mill operators, other factors have also come into play, Church said, with regard to exports to the U.S.

They include an export tax on products going south, and the fact that lumber prices are at an historical low because of a housing recession in the U.S.

"Once the U.S. starts to pull out of this historic downturn in housing and wood products supply and demand changes, prices will rise and, of course, that will help."

[cl812]

as for the second frederick square building by TD Tower I heard construction is supposed to start next spring

[mylesmalley]

as for the second frederick square building by TD Tower I heard construction is supposed to start next spring

Anyone know if there's a picture or model of the new building somewhere?

[kirjtc2]

Anyone know if there's a picture or model of the new building somewhere?

It's a twin of the first one, only with 2 more stories.

Can't find any drawings anywhere.

[cl812]

There is a rough drawing in the skyscraper page if you search for fredericton and its under the proposed catagory. Theres also used to be a model inside the existing building I noticed once when I was in there, but it was a long time ago

[mmmatt]

Wow...I didnt think there was that much demand for office space in Freddy...I guess "if you build it, they will come" works in this situation?

[kissman202]

Here is a concept drawing from 2004. It is where the old tra building is across from the frederick square parking garage. From the addresses it takes up the whole parking lot also. Seeing that city hall is getting quite cramped. Were they thinking about building a new city hall? I've never heard anything about this building until now. http://www.arsamco.com/realestate/QueenStreet/queen1.jpg

[ErickMontreal]

Wow, great rendering!!!

[mylesmalley]

It's an attractive looking building, but I honestly can't see that being a new city hall. It's easily three times the size of Moncton's. Fredericton couldn't possibly need that much space for a city government. As for renting out to the private sector, aren't they already planning/building at least two new office buildings downtown? That's a lot of new floor space for a small city to handle...

[kissman202]

It's an attractive looking building, but I honestly can't see that being a new city hall. It's easily three times the size of Moncton's. Fredericton couldn't possibly need that much space for a city government. As for renting out to the private sector, aren't they already planning/building at least two new office buildings downtown? That's a lot of new floor space for a small city to handle...

I just said that because in the paper they said they were so cramped. Right now they are trying to get york house. If they can get it from the church. They said they would move alot of the city's offices there from city hall. The paper also said one persons office is in an old bank vault in the basement. lol.
It looks like it might be more condos for downtown because the company that made up the rendering is in the condo business.
http://www.arsamco.com/Projects/QueenStreet.htm

[kirjtc2]

City dials up hundreds of new jobs

By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com
Published Thursday October 11th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

A new call centre is creating 300 jobs in Fredericton.

Montreal-based Atelka Inc. announced this week the new facility will begin hiring immediately. It will be located in the Brookside Mall.

The company is also creating 200 jobs at a new call centre in Bathurst.

"We will need English-speaking, French-speaking as well as bilingual individuals who are looking for work in those areas," said Francois Lambert, co-founder and chief operating officer of Atelka, in a media release.

Atelka has 1,500 employees in five call centres in Canada, including 200 at a call centre that opened in Saint John in 2005.

"We know that New Brunswick represents a pool of skilled labour that fits the profile we are looking for," said Lambert. "The numbers in terms of jobs will probably need to be revisited soon since our operations keep on growing.''

The company media release states that it has mandates with all telecom companies.

The two new centres in New Brunswick will meet the growing demand for customer service and technical support, the company says.

Atelka said it's involved in inbound, outbound, web assistance, administrative and technical support.

Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside said he's always thrilled to hear new jobs are coming to the capital.

"There is a need for different kinds of jobs in the community," he said Wednesday evening.

"We have a lot of customer contact centres here in Fredericton and some of them have been here a long time and provide good jobs and opportunities.''

Anthony Knight, general manager of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, said the announcement is fantastic news for Fredericton.

"It just goes to show how strong the case is to be made for setting up a business here," he said. "We have highly educated people with great skills.

"Clearly, Atelka has recognized this by establishing 300 new jobs in our community."

Sarah Ketcheson, communications manager for Business New Brunswick, said the government is pleased to hear that a new company is investing in New Brunswick.

"We have certainly worked with the company in terms of helping the company come to New Brunswick and introducing them to people," she said.

Ketcheson said the provincial government provided no funding assistance to Atelka.

The announcement comes weeks after hundreds of call centre jobs were lost in Fredericton and Bathurst when Connect North America closed its call centres in those communities.

But Maryse Ricard, director of communications and marketing for Atelka, said Wednesday there is no connection between her company and defunct Connect North America.

"The centre should be opening in the next few weeks," she said. "We are hiring as we speak."

Ricard said human-resources officials from Atelka will be in Fredericton conducting interviews by the end of the week.

She invited potential employees to send their resumes to the company's website.

The Bathurst centre will probably open a week or two before the Fredericton facility, said Ricard.

"Although we want to open both very quickly," she said.

[kirjtc2]

Leaders hint convention centre news coming soon

By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com
Published Thursday October 11th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

Premier Shawn Graham and Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside are both hinting that a major funding announcement about the capital's new convention centre is imminent.

"We are going to be reviewing a number of options for funding this week at the cabinet table," said Graham in an interview after speaking to the mayor's business breakfast Wednesday morning.

"Supply and Services Minister Roly MacIntyre ... is bringing the file forward.''

The city wants to build an $80-million convention centre, parking garage and office tower complex adjacent to The Playhouse between Queen and King streets.

The convention centre will cost about $20 million of that total.

The project has been delayed, awaiting the federal government's financial contribution.

Addressing a chamber council packed with more than 200 people, Graham said he met with Woodside about the project recently and provincial money will start to flow as soon as Ottawa writes a cheque.

"It is time to make this complex a reality in Fredericton," said Graham.

In the interview, the premier said he's still cautiously optimistic that the federal government will help fund the convention centre.

If the project follows the traditional formula then each level of government will pay for one third of the total cost, he said.

Graham wouldn't speculate on what the province will do if Ottawa doesn't come through with its share.

"It is premature at this time to predict if the federal government will not be at the table," he said.

Woodside said he was pleased that the premier renewed his commitment to the development.

"Probably next week the premier and I will be making an announcement which will make it a little more clear on exactly what their commitment is going to be," he said.

"What we would like to do is to do the entire project all at the same time, which would include the provincial government and the announcement will probably be made next week after cabinet meets," he said.

The mayor said the city has already decided to proceed with the convention centre and won't wait for the federal government's funding.

A design contract has been awarded to local engineering company ADI Ltd., he said.

But the mayor also said he's optimistic that the federal government will be at the table.

The possibility of a federal election this fall is adding to the uncertainty about the convention centre funding from Ottawa.

"It is terrible to be having this many elections," said Woodside. "It is very difficult for municipalities and anybody looking for political stability.

"I just hope that a commitment is made before an election is called, if it is called, so we can make our plans."

[kirjtc2]

Funding ratio for convention centre still up in the air
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com
Published Friday October 12th, 2007
Appeared on page A3

The New Brunswick cabinet was briefed Thursday on the $80-million redevelopment project in the east end of downtown Fredericton, not just the $20-million convention centre.

The project includes a new office tower, a parking garage and the convention centre.

Minister of Supply and Services Roly MacIntyre said a final decision will be made soon.

"It is a document that will be coming forward for approval some time in the next week or so," he said in an interview after the cabinet meeting. "The premier has been briefed."

On Wednesday at the mayor's business breakfast, Premier Shawn Graham said the province was still committed to helping the city fund its new convention centre.

Some observers expected a funding announcement would be made by the premier Wednesday morning.

There were 13 Liberal MLAs in the audience in the council chamber for the premier's speech. The proposal hasn't been presented to cabinet.

The aging Centennial Building on King Street houses most of the government offices in Fredericton.

The city has proposed the provincial government occupy a new office building that would be part of the convention-centre complex.

But no funding arrangements have been finalized or made public.

"I can tell you that the way it is presently structured the province would be involved in their (new office) building and the city would be involved in the convention centre and the parking garage," said MacIntyre.

He said the three buildings are all on the same piece of land adjacent to The Playhouse so it only makes sense to co-ordinate the work.

"We don't want one construction going over here and more construction going (on over there)," he said.

MacIntyre said the next decision is how to pay for the complex.

"Will it be a public-private partnership?" he said. "Will it be financed by government?

"That is what will happen in the next two weeks. We will decide as a provincial government how we will do our portion of the project."

MacIntyre wouldn't comment on what would happen to the project if the federal government doesn't come through with its share of the funding.

"We are very optimistic that the federal government will go through."

Business New Brunswick Minister Greg Byrne -- in whose riding the project is located -- said it's important for the business community to have a new convention centre in the capital's downtown.

"Right now I know from talking to business leaders that there are conventions that cannot be held in the city because we do not have the capacity," he said. "It is a benefit to all the hotels and all the businesses."

"This will give us the capacity to have larger gatherings and certainly the local MLAs support that."

Byrne said he was confident the project would proceed.

"As you can see we have gone beyond the initial concept of the convention centre," he said.

"We are talking of a complex that would include an additional office (building) and a parking garage as well," said Byrne.

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

Irving says it's planning to restore train station
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com
Published Friday October 12th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside issued a public plea to the Irving family Thursday to do something about the crumbling York Street Train Station in downtown Fredericton.

And the Irvings responded.

Mary Keith, vice-president of communications for J.D. Irving Ltd., said the company plans to restore the train station.

"Our company has committed in writing its promise to refurbish the train station, including a schedule of repairs to be initiated and completed after review and approval by the City of Fredericton Heritage Preservation Review Board and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada,'' Keith said Thursday night.

"However, restoring the train station could cost up to $2 million and requires a viable commercial development to underwrite the repairs. Our efforts to find a viable commercial development still continue.''

In the meantime, Keith said, the company is reviewing the condition of the railway station to determine what winterization can occur safely and efficiently.

Woodside said Thursday the public has been talking about this issue and asking questions for a long time.

"The City of Fredericton and the council would dearly like to have this situation resolved."

The train station property is on a list of Canada's 10 most threatened heritage sites.

"It looks bad," said Woodside. "It is unacceptable in this community or in any other community.

"We are really hoping that the landowners will address it. That would please a lot of people. That is all we are asking."

An online petition calling for action by government on the train station was recently posted by the group Fredericton Friends of the Railway.

The mayor said the train station doesn't fall under the city's jurisdiction, and council cannot order the Irvings to clean it up.

The property is registered under the name Fredericton Railway Company, he said.

According to a recent legal opinion received by council, technically the property is treated like a Crown corporation, he said.

"If the city was of a mind to enforce its unsightly premises bylaw, in this particular case we have no jurisdiction.''

The mayor said the situation is complex.

"I can tell you that if the city did have jurisdictional rights, if the city could do something, the city would do something," he said.

"I just wanted to make sure that we made that clear to the public."

Woodside said city representatives spoke to Irving staff 10 days ago, and there may be some kind of deal in the works for the property.

"We have not been able to get confirmation," he said.

"We are crossing our fingers. We still want some movement on the property."

It's Woodside's understanding that except for the roof, the building is still structurally sound.

But he said the roof is deteriorating and should be looked after quickly.

"What we would like to have happen is that the rightful owners of the property at the very least inform the people of Fredericton exactly what is the status of the negotiations and if indeed there is some light at the end of the tunnel," said the mayor of Fredericton.

[kirjtc2]

City hammers away at banner building year
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com
Published Tuesday October 16th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

Fredericton appears poised for another banner year in construction.

The city has seen $80.6 million in construction investment during the first nine months of 2007.

While the city won't shatter last year's whopping $132-million record, building is expected to surpass the $100-million mark for the second year in a row.

It's also on track to set a record for commercial construction.

The robust growth comes as no surprise to Marx Miles. He recently moved his business, Frank's Finer Diner, to Two Nations Crossing, almost doubling in size to 226 seats in the new location.

"I'm optimistic about the future here," Miles said Monday.

"What they're saying here is that this is going to be the north side's Prospect Street."

For Miles, who has owned the Fredericton restaurant for 24 years, the view outside looks promising.

Down the road the girders are in place for a new office complex and there's a buzz of activity across the street where crews are preparing the site for a new building supplies store.

It's the kind of retail activity that Coun. Mike O'Brien points to as giving Fredericton's economy a real slingshot effect: new businesses open up, more people move in and they need homes.

"The last three or four years in Fredericton have been a wondrous time," O'Brien said Monday.

"It shows that there's extreme confidence in the city from both the residents -- with the renovations they're making to their properties, their expansions or their decision to build a new home -- and the business community and through to the developers because they continue to build apartments, condominiums and homes to service the market that's here."

The city has seen $16 million in new commercial building. That's up from $9 million last year.

And upgrades to existing commercial buildings have topped $11 million, up from $6 million in 2006.

"Fredericton is the shopping destination centre for central New Brunswick and the Upper River Valley area," O'Brien said.

There's strong development in the residential sector too.

Construction of single-unit residences has accounted for $21 million so far this year. That's up from $16 million.

O'Brien is confident the overall $100-million threshold will be passed by year's end.

Commercial development continues along Two Nations Crossing, Cliffe Street and Bishop Drive.

The same will happen on the south side once work begins on a new sport and leisure centre there, he said.

Shovels are also in the ground at UNB's Corbett Brook Centre development on the south side, he said.

The growth taking place in Fredericton mirrors what's going on in a lot of mid-sized Canadian communities, says UNB economist David Murrell.

Fredericton, like Moncton and Saint John, is on the receiving end of the exodus from rural New Brunswick. And retailers are increasingly deciding to base large stores in regional service centres.

"That's happening all over Canada. You're getting medium-sized cities growing quite rapidly and you have rural communities losing their businesses," Murrell said.

That's mostly because of the opening of big-box stores in the larger communities that have the critical mass to support such businesses.

"Fredericton is emerging as a retail centre for western New Brunswick," he said.

Fredericton Chamber of Commerce general manager Anthony Knight said the local economy's growth in recent years has been "outstanding."

"It certainly says Fredericton is open for business and there are development opportunities in the city that anyone can take advantage of," he said.

[shane44]

Can anyone tell me what the new building there putting up on two nations crossing is going to be??

[kirjtc2]

A fire hall. It's going to replace the ones in Marysville and Devon.

[shane44]

ok, thx
i heard theres going to be one in silverwood too next year

[kirjtc2]

Two articles in today's Gleaner about historic buildings that keep falling apart...

Groups opt to work together to save station
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com
Published Wednesday October 24th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

Parties that want the York Street train station restored are getting on the same track to ensure the historic building's future.

J.D. Irving Ltd., the federal, provincial, and municipal governments and Fredericton Friends of the Railway Inc. will begin meeting as a committee.

The station is listed as one of Canada's 10 most-threatened heritage sites.

Mayor Brad Woodside recently pressed Irving to make repairs so the red-brick structure built in 1923 would survive winter.

Representatives from the various levels of government and Irving attended an information meeting Tuesday night.

"We're encouraged by the different levels of government interested in finding a resolution," said Mary Keith, vice-president of communications for J.D. Irving Ltd.

The company has owned the property since 1995. Keith outlined their efforts to find a commercial development that would underwrite the up to $2 million it would cost to restore the building to Heritage Canada's standards.

None of them has come to pass.

"I think we've been committed all along to find a way in which the restoration might occur. We worked hard to try to realize a commercial development," Keith said.

Woodside said it's going to take the involvement of everyone.

Business New Brunswick Minister Greg Byrne was the first to step up to the plate, telling the audience he was confident he could "find seed money for a feasibility study."

Some people suggested the newly formed New Brunswick Capital Commission should focus its efforts on the station.

Woodside also pointed to the federal government as a possible source of financing to restore the glory of the York Street building.

Rail station restoration projects in Bristol and McAdam -- which were owned by non-profit groups -- each received more than $800,000 in funding, he said.

"We have to come up with some innovative ways to access other ways of funding and ask J.D. Irving to be a partner, and I think they will be."

But he said it shouldn't fall on the private company to do it out of goodwill.

"Don't expect J.D. Irving to just take the $2 million and absorb it and say we're being good citizens."

Michel Audy, executive secretary of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, said the legislation that protects the building from alterations and demolition is a stop gap to give owners time to address the situation.

But he said the federal government will rarely carry the ball on the projects. The York Street station is one of 166 across the country that have been designated as historic by Parks Canada.

"I've yet to see a community group pull off such a project," Audy said.

Such a project needs private-sector involvement, he said.

Noreen Barwise, a commercial realtor who lives a block and a half from the station, said the parties involved can't let another opportunity for commercial development slip by like it did in 2000.

"If people feel passionately about restoring the station, $1.5 million just isn't that hard to get. I'm sure some of those people at the table have some way to raise that very quickly and I think you'll see them do it," she said.

The weathered station's roof is sagging in spots and holes can be seen. Its condition has people worried the building won't survive winter.

Engineers and an architect working for J.D. Irving visited the station last week to assess the building and suggest ways to winterize it. Keith said she expects their report shortly.


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


York House might be saved
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com
Published Wednesday October 24th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

The city has presented Brunswick Street Baptist Church with a proposal that would see the historic York House saved.

The plan involves the acquisition of several properties, said Mayor Brad Woodside.

But he offered few specifics about the plan Tuesday night.

"It's a very complex issue dealing with multiple landowners, a variety of people and organizations, and we're very, very close to the deadline we agreed to, which is the 30th of October," said Woodside.

The city has been working since June to acquire the building. That move came after church members voted to demolish the historic red-brick landmark to make way for a new building that would better serve their needs.

City officials had been trying to assemble other plots of land that would allow the church to meet its goals.

Putting the proposal together wasn't a simple task, Woodside said.

"There are so many pieces to this puzzle. We've done everything humanly possible to bring this to resolution, to satisfy the church and also retain this very beautiful historic building.

"Our city staff has done just a phenomenal job in putting together a proposal that we're able to propose to the church congregation.''

A church spokesman had yet to see details of the proposal Tuesday night.

"We're eager to take a look at it and see what they have to offer," said Paul Greene.

"If it's something that's workable, we'll take it to the congregation and they will decide," he said.

The congregation tried to strike a deal that would have seen the downtown landmark saved, Greene said.

York House was built 114 years ago. It was designed by James C. Dumaresq, who also designed the provincial legislature, George Street School and St. Paul's Church.

The church bought it from the city in the 1960s for $81,000.

If York House is purchased by the city, it may end up being used for office space.

In its last budget, the city allocated $400,000 to find more downtown office space.

[shane44]

http://www.emporis.com/en/il/im/?id=170456

heres a picture of frederick square1 (right) and frederick sqare2 (left)

[kirjtc2]

[FYI...there was a story about this on CBC TV at 6 last night and they said the names of exactly which stores were coming to Corbett Centre: Winners, Michael's, East Side Mario's and Montana's.]

Building boom should continue, mayor says
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com
Published Saturday October 27th, 2007
Appeared on page A7

Fredericton is healthy and growing, according to members of the committee that oversees planning in the city.

Committee members and city officials visited about 50 construction sites around the city Friday for a first-hand look at the development going on.

"It's hard to believe this is going on in a city the size of Fredericton," said Zona Bovingdon, a resident and one of the five members of the public on the city's planning advisory committee.

She sad she's impressed by the results of the applications the committee has considered.

"To come out and see the finished product, and the new developments being developed, is so phenomenal "¦ It's just forever progressing," she said.

The city appears to be headed for another banner year in construction. The value of construction in the city has broken the $80-million mark for 2007.

All indications are that the trend will continue, said Mayor Brad Woodside.

"It's not going to stop. We've still got a good couple of years ahead of us," Woodside said Friday, as he looked at the progress being made on commercial work at Corbett Centre at the intersection of Regent Street and Knowledge Park Drive.

"I'm not so sure you could find any big pieces of equipment like they're using here and the site at Two Nations Crossing sitting around not being used."

Members checked on housing developments, the off-ramp being built on the north side of the Westmorland Street Bridge and construction at the Corbett Centre, among other things.

The tour is an opportunity to see what's going on and observe partnerships such as the one with the University of New Brunswick for development of the Corbett Centre, said public committee member Jim McElman

He said he was impressed not only with the volume and quality of work, but by the workmanship that developers are putting into the projects by way of additional green spaces, flower gardens and extra trees.

"The bottom line is it provides a much stronger tax base to provide the amenities we all expect of the community."

[kirjtc2]

Clock ticking on demolition of historic Fredericton building
Last Updated: Monday, November 5, 2007 | 12:34 PM AT
CBC News

The City of Fredericton is still trying to come to an agreement with the Brunswick Street Baptist Church to prevent the demolition of a 114-year-old building. But the church is saying that time is running out.

The historic York House is owned by the church, which announced in June that it would be tearing down the building to make space for new offices and classrooms.

"We do have to move forward," said church representative Paul Green. "The need is urgent for more space."

The church is already holding adult education classes in a funeral home across the street, Green said.

Church administrators told the city it would consider not tearing down the building if a replacement property for their developments could be found near the church.

Since the summer, the city staff has been working to acquire two or three properties that would accommodate the church's request.

But they've hit a stumbling block with a building owned by the Catholic Knights of Columbus, which is only willing to give up their nearby space if a land swap can be arranged.

"We think we're making some progress in acquiring that property," said Mayor Brad Woodside. "But the problem is we had to find another piece of property somewhere else that will suit their needs as well."

The deal is simply a matter of time, Woodside said.

Green said church has already waited longer than it expected.

[kirjtc2]

Not betting on new casino
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com
Published Friday November 9th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside doesn't want a casino in the capital.

"I would be quite pleased to let the other communities fight this one out," he said Thursday.

The Liberal government unveiled its new gambling policy, which allows for a single casino in New Brunswick by 2010.

Woodside said he knows that casinos bring money to a community, but they also bring heartache and problems.

"The winner may end up being the loser," said Woodside about the community that gets the casino. "I have never been a big supporter of casinos."

Under the Liberal gambling policy, the new casino will be built with private money at a cost of between $30 million and $35 million.

That would make it about the size of the Halifax Casino. It's expected to generate $50 million a year in revenue, half of which goes to the province.

The proposed casino could -- but doesn't have to -- include a race track, hotel and convention centre.

"Fredericton ... is a smart city," said Woodside. "We are doing quite well."

He said there is nothing he wants more than to have Fredericton grow and to maintain the capital's quality of life.

But the mayor also stressed he wasn't speaking for council.

"I am not a one-man show. It hasn't been discussed by council."

Brian Duplessis, executive director of the Fredericton Emergency Shelters, said he was pleased with the increase in addiction services funding and the reduction in VLTs.

"We certainly see here the effects of the addictions with VLTs," he said. "There are people whose lives are destroyed by VLT gambling so the reduction of them by any amount is positive.

"The availability is certainly harmful to those who have addictions."

Duplessis said it will be important that additional addiction services money is used properly.

He said the shelter would be pleased to be involved in any consultation process.

Fredericton Chamber of Commerce general manager Anthony Knight said involving the private sector is the right approach.

"We don't believe government should be directly involved in how it (gambling) operates on a day-to-day basis," he said. "The private sector has the expertise.

"It is a progressive step taken by the provincial government. Overall, it has a lot of the right parts."

Knight said the chamber will be consulting with its members on the impact of the new gambling policy on Fredericton's economy.

Chamber members include restaurants and bars, which will be affected by changes to VLT regulations.

Under the new gambling policy, all VLTs will be out of restaurants by April 1, 2009. There will be new regulations affecting multiple licenses for one building which allowed operators to get around the restrictions of five VLTs per licence to create mini-VLT casinos.

Operators will also be required to take mandatory addiction services training.

Gerald Normandeau, president of the Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick, welcomed the changes.

"Some bar owners who will have video lottery terminals taken away will definitely be confronted with loss of revenue," he said. "However, if we look at this policy in its entirety, it offers interesting potential for the tourism association.

"A casino in the province would certainly be an additional attraction to stimulate visitation to New Brunswick.''

Normandeau said the association polled its members and 69.2 per cent support the idea of a destination casino.

Real Robichaud, executive director of the association, said the group will be meeting with Finance Minister Victor Boudreau to get more details of the gambling policy.

Bill Rutsey, president and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, said the new direction strikes a balance between social responsibility and access to gambling.

"It's very, very well thought out," he said. "You're going to have some economic development here.

"You're going to have some more jobs."

He said he expects big gaming companies such as Great Canadian Casinos and Harrah's -- which operates the casino in Windsor, Ont., -- to be interested in the government's request for proposals to build and operate a casino.

Rutsey said any casino would have to be close to a larger population base.

Wayne Steeves, Opposition public safety critic, said he would've preferred to see a referendum on the issue of casinos in the municipal election in May.

"This was not in the charter for change," he said, referring to the Liberal election campaign platform.

[cl812]

I noticed the web drawing on the Corbett Centre site has been updated and shows more tenants going in there

http://www.trinity-group.com/index.php?q=node/135

[kirjtc2]

[The definition of out-of-control NIMBYism...]

Councillors to debate rezoning of Dundonald Street building
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com
Published Tuesday November 13th, 2007
Appeared on page A3

A proposed zoning change that would see an existing building at 247 Dundonald St. converted into a six-unit apartment will be up for debate at tonight's city council meeting.

Residents of the block, located between Northumberland and Westmorland streets, have made their opposition to the move known.

In recent days, many have put Save Our Street banners in their windows to object to the amendment requested by Fredericton Non-Profit Housing Corp.

Residents are concerned that if the rezoning happens, it will set a precedent for future apartment conversions on their block.

The housing corporation said the location is perfect because it's downtown, near public transit routes and close to amenities.

Proponents and opponents will state their cases to city council tonight. Councillors are to hear first and second readings of the proposed zoning amendment at the meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m.

"Why would city council even consider rezoning this as the property is in the downtown plat and complies with the secondary plan adopted by city council? That's what's bothering me," said Sandra Sutherland, who lives next door to the property being proposed for rezoning.

She wants the city to send a clear message to residents that neighborhoods can have stability.

Fredericton Non-Profit Housing Corp. will make its case that it needs to rezone the property, which used to house law offices, to create a six-unit apartment.

It will respond to the concerns of locals during the meeting, said Sheldon Archibald, the organization's chairman.

"We will be making a presentation then as to what we want to do with the building," he said.

"We're a developer like any other ... It's up to council to decide whether they want future development in that area or not," Archibald said.

[kirjtc2]

Mazzucas to serve, insult for last time at year's end
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com
Published Saturday November 17th, 2007
Appeared on page A3

A beloved downtown retail landmark in Fredericton is closing its doors for good after more than eight decades in business.

The last day for Mazzuca's variety store is scheduled for Dec. 31.

"This is our 84th year in business and I have been here for 67 years of those 84," said co-owner John Mazzuca on Friday.

"We have been thinking about this for the last year or two," said the 72-year-old businessman. "It was a hard choice but we feel this is the time to do it."

He runs the store on York Street with his brother Gus.

"I have a hole in my heart and a hole in my stomach when I think about this," said Gus, 68. "I don't know. It is going to be hard. It really is."

The two brothers took the reins of the store when their father passed away.

Any organization that wants to sell tickets in the city works with the Mazzucas. They have hobnobbed with political, business and sports stars.

"We've known a lot of people," said John.

They are most famous for their gruff attitude with their customers and for having dog biscuits on hand for anyone walking their dog on York Street.

Former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna once said that whenever he got a swelled head from meeting with Toronto power brokers, all he had to do was drop into the store.

The brothers say they treat their customers the way they treat each other.

"We give them our piece of mind and they take it and laugh about it," said Gus.

He said what he will miss the most is the store's Saturday morning coffee club and the banter with their friends and customers.

"We have many, many good friends and many good customers and friendship is a wonderful thing," said John. "We have a good time and laugh and joke."

But he said working 14 hours a day is getting hard as they get older.

"We get up at 5:30 in the morning and open up at seven," he said. "It's just at the point where it's getting the best of you. My health could be better than it is. It is one of those things."

He said customers who heard they are closing are saying they don't believe it.

"They are going to have to believe it," he said.

Gus said the business is still profitable.

He said the building has been sold but not the business.

"The business is going to close and that is it," he said. "It has been 84 years under one family and we just feel that is good enough to keep it that way."

The brothers said after the store closes, they will have time to play more golf and travel.

"Then we will just have to wait and see what happens," said Gus. "I know I am not going to be able to sit around the house and do nothing all day."

Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside said Gus called him and warned him before going public about the closure.

"I was quite speechless when Gus called me," he said. "You really expect Mazzuca's to be there forever."

He described the Mazzuca brothers as a couple of unique characters.

"They have been around for a long, long time and provided a lot of great service to the community and a lot of great entertainment to the community as well," said Woodside.

"It's one of the few places that you can go to in town and be insulted and feel good about it.

"The city will not be the same with the departure of these two guys."

Hal Pennell, a sales and rentals clerk at Tony's Music Box on Queen Street, is one of the regulars at Mazzuca's Saturday morning coffee club.

He was in shock Friday after hearing the news.

"I am very surprised," said Pennell. "It's going to be something that we are going to miss terribly. We have been accustomed to Mazzuca's just being there for so long as a place to drop in and suffer the abuse from John and Gus."

He said he first started visiting the store in the fall of 1966, the year he arrived from Cape Breton. He quickly learned Mazzuca's was the place to go for newspapers or smokes or tickets for events.

"Cry," he replied, when asked what he was going to do now on instead of going to Mazzuca's for coffee.

"Saturday morning I will have to stay home and have a coffee and think of better times. It's going to be quite a change."

[cl812]

Has anyone heard anything about another starbucks opening in Fredericton? I saw a job posting for a new starbucks on the internet but it didnt say where.

http://www.careerbeacon.com/jobbeacon/job/en/64/0/MB0711013380

[michael_d40]

Has anyone heard anything about another starbucks opening in Fredericton? I saw a job posting for a new starbucks on the internet but it didnt say where.

http://www.careerbeacon.com/jobbeacon/job/en/64/0/MB0711013380

Probably a kiosk location in Regent Mall,

Thats what they did in Saint John, and then Moncton... So i assume Fredericton would be next

[cl812]

cool, thanks

[Smevo]

Tuesday's Daily Gleaner (http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/front/article/138821)

Council narrowly passes zoning change for housing project

By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com
Published Tuesday November 27th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
It was a tight vote Monday night as Fredericton city councillors approved rezoning of 247 Dundonald St. to six-unit residential for a non-profit housing project.

The motion, which encountered opposition from a group of residents on the block, passed five-to-four with one abstention.

Two councillors who were absent for the first and second readings Nov. 13 couldn't participate in the final decision.

Councillors were polarized. One camp was determined to see council take the steps needed to support affordable housing, while the other called on colleagues to support the existing secondary plan for the area.

Several neighbourhood residents voiced their frustration with the outcome.

"We're decidedly disappointed," said resident Terry Fitzgerald late Monday night.

"I think they manipulated the municipal and the secondary plan to their advantage," she said of council.

Neighbours, she said, will seek recourse in the courts.

"We're not done yet. We're going to hold them to a two-unit. That's our current zoning."

City staff had recommended the zoning change requested by Fredericton Non-Profit Housing Corp., saying it fit into the area's secondary plan.

The building was originally introduced to council as a six-unit with four designated for single units and two to be used as two-person units.

Floor plans provided to councillors showed six single-person units.

Eldon Toner, properties manager for Fredericton Non-Profit Housing Corp., said the group offered that as a compromise.

He said they'll consider which floor plan to use.

"We're going to have to think about it now," he said, adding they could go either way.

Councillors Walter Brown, Scott McConaghy, Dan Keenan, Tony Whalen and Mike O'Brien supported the zoning amendment.

Councillors Stephen Kelly and Cathy MacLaggan -- who had voiced the most opposition to the proposal -- were joined by councillors Marilyn Kerton and Tommy Jellinek in voting against it.

Councillors Bruce Grandy and Nora Davidson couldn't vote on the final reading because they hadn't been part of the first set of proceedings.

Coun. David Kelly, who serves as council's appointment to the non-profit corporation's board, abstained from the vote.

Most councillors spoke on the motion before the vote was taken.

"I just regret that it didn't come in their favour," said Stephen Kelly, who represents the ward. "It was a very difficult situation because I believe so sincerely in housing alternatives whether they be affordable or non-profit, especially in a situation where Fredericton Non-Profit is such a great developer.

"But at the same time, I have greater issues facing me as the councillor for Ward 10, and that is the secondary plan and a degradation of that plan by decisions of council that basically don't support the intent of that plan.''

McConaghy said the issue was a test of council's resolve to provide non-profit housing.

"I actually believe this one has a lot to do with the applicant just because it is non-profit housing."

"If you're going to have affordable housing, you can't have it in some kind of mythical place that's on the edge of the city away from bus service ... This is close to the city, close to bus routes, close to shopping. This is a place where people who don't have their own transportation can take full part in our city," McConaghy said.

Jellinek proposed an amendment that would have limited the developer to six single-person units. That amendment required the unanimous consent of voting councillors but was opposed by Kelly and MacLaggan.

"That is unfortunate," Jellinek said after the amendment failed.

"If I thought for one minute that this was not legal, we would not end up doing it," said Brown.

"I know in one year ... people are going to say I wonder what all the fuss was about."

He suggested that if the rezoning failed, residents might not get as good an organization as Fredericton Non-Profit next door.

MacLaggan said she believes every councillor is aware of the need for affordable housing.

But she said it had nothing to do with who will live there.

"This is a zoning issue, it has nothing to do with who is actually asking for the rezoning."

Keenan said he couldn't understand why colleagues had voted against the amendment that would've seen the number of residents in the building reduced to six.

O'Brien, who chairs the city's ad-hoc committee on affordable housing, said that despite representations that the secondary plan for the area limits zoning, the city's municipal plan challenges councillors to act decisively to develop affordable housing.

"The wording is 'where appropriate.' I would argue that this location is appropriate. It's near amenities, it's near bus routes."

Whalen and Kerton made no comments before voting.

[kirjtc2]

There's now a sign saying phase 2 of Frederick Square is now leasing. About time they got rid of that dumpy gravel parking lot in the middle of downtown.

[Smevo]

I'm hoping to get out with a camera to get some pictures of the developments in this thread. Hopefully be able to post them by Monday. :cheers:

[ErickMontreal]

This building could get up sooner than later, its always more easy for a city that provides public jobs.