[Moncton] Sackville Developments

[AGGUS]

News of a new development in Sackville. Just getting some popcorn ready for the responses now that the word is out.

https://warktimes.com/2025/08/25/tantram...using-development-near-salem-elementary/

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by AGGUS

News of a new development in Sackville. Just getting some popcorn ready for the responses now that the word is out.

https://warktimes.com/2025/08/25/tantram...using-development-near-salem-elementary/

I normally don't even report little subdivision proposals like this in Moncton, but, this is after all Sackville. I can hear the pitchforks being sharpened right now!

Sackville developer Artie Kenny has begun clearing 9.6 acres of land near the Salem Elementary School to build an urban subdivision with 92-dwelling units off Queens Road.

The Bayview Estates subdivision would contain a series of townhouse-style buildings each ranging from three to six units as well as three, two-storey buildings with multiple units in each.

Town planner Lori Bickford told Tantramar Council on Monday that the property is already zoned to permit high-density development.

She said that the subdivision, built by Salem Properties Inc., would include two new streets. Sheppard Lane would run directly off Queens Road, while Basinview Drive would run parallel to it.

This is pretty major for Sackville. I don't see anything offensive in the proposal myself.

[jonny golden]

It's a good location for young families with children, being close to the elementary school. Sackville needs the housing, as the last census showed a 14% increase in population. I'm sure the town doesn't mind the increased tax revenue that the development will provide. Overall it seems like a positive project for Sackville.

[MonctonRad]

- They are working on the third floor of Lafford's mixed use building across from Convocation Hall on York Street.

- Structural steel is going up for the new Health and Wellness Centre at Mount Allison University.

[MonctonRad]

There is serious opposition mounting against the natural gas power plant proposal in Centre Village. They are well organized and very aggressive.

https://warktimes.com/page/2/

Numerous articles in Wark Times (link above)

I think this proposal will not see the light of day. Maybe they should reconsider the Scoudouc Industrial Park. Sackville is dominated by university academics, retirees and environmental activists. It was definitely a strategic misstep to think the plant should have been built here.

[MonctonRad]

Lafford Place at 133 Main Street, overlooking the Sackville Waterfowl Park officially opened about two months ago.



Lafford's other big project in town (The York) remains a mystery. All we know is that it is mixed use residential, with about 100 units and will be seven storeys tall. Construction is well underway, but publicly available renderings are not to be found.

[MonctonRad]

Tantramar council turns down call to oppose proposed natural gas power plant
Defeated motion called for lobbying premier, asking NB Power to go with clean energy
Erica Butler · CBC News · Posted: Sep 25, 2025 6:00 AM ADT | Last Updated: 6 hours ago
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/tantramar-council-no-opposition-gas-plant-1.7642672

It was a close vote (5-4).

A vote in favour of opposing the development would have been purely symbolic. The final decision rests with the province.

[MonctonRad]

Cost estimate more than triples to $1.3B for new federal inmate hospital
$400M estimate for centre in New Brunswick made public in 2021
Daniel Leblanc · CBC News · Posted: Oct 30, 2025 5:00 AM ADT | Last Updated: 4 hours ago
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal-inmates-hospital-cost-9.6958472

The budget for a new hospital for inmates in federal facilities is now estimated at $1.3 billion, over three times the $400-million estimate made public in 2021, according to federal documents and sources.

The funding for the project in New Brunswick was approved by Treasury Board in December 2024, but the higher amount has not been made public as Ottawa is in a bidding process with construction firms.

Sources familiar with the matter indicate that the project survived Ottawa’s expenditure review ahead of the Nov. 4 federal budget, despite pressure to reduce spending at Correctional Service Canada.

The 155-bed centre will offer mental and physical health care in French and English to men and women in the federal correctional system. It will be in a new building and will replace an outdated facility with a third of the capacity inside Dorchester Penitentiary.

Correctional Service Canada plans to complete the project by 2032.

According to federal documents, the proposed centre will "meet both physical and complex clinical and mental health needs of federal offenders from across Canada."

This may seem like an outlandish amount of money to spend, but, at 155 beds, this is equivalent to a medium sized civilian hospital, and will provide both clinical and psychiatric services. It will be a national level treatment facility. A lot of clinical infrastructure will be required. It should be remembered that the expansion of the QE2 Hospital in Halifax is costing about $4B (if I recall correctly).

[MonctonRad]

No need for comprehensive review of Tantramar gas plant, Liberals say
Environment minister tells legislature he’s heard no concerns that would require more rigorous assessment
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Oct 29, 2025 5:18 PM ADT | Last Updated: October 29
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/tantramar-gas-plant-9.6958816

It would appear that the Holt government really wants this natural gas power plant to proceed, and are going to do everything in their power to make it happen as quickly as possible.

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

No need for comprehensive review of Tantramar gas plant, Liberals say
Environment minister tells legislature he’s heard no concerns that would require more rigorous assessment
Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Oct 29, 2025 5:18 PM ADT | Last Updated: October 29
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/tantramar-gas-plant-9.6958816

It would appear that the Holt government really wants this natural gas power plant to proceed, and are going to do everything in their power to make it happen as quickly as possible.

Put it in Saint John, Miramichi, Sussex, or literally anywhere else. We'd be happy to have it. Sackville is a fantasy land.

[MonctonRad]

The York by Lafford now has an official website and some renders:

https://the-york.ca

Residents of The York will enjoy access to a rooftop deck with great views of the area and a community room for socializing and activities. There will also be several retailers and services available on the ground floor, including a new eatery featuring a south-facing patio. The York will also offer both underground and surface parking, a keyless building entry system as well as an on-site property manager. The building will be wheelchair accessible, and pets will be allowed, subject to conditions.

[MonctonRad]

Lafford has a Facebook page. This video was posted on it showing the current status of The York;

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17qfLA9XuG/

Looks like six floors down, one to go. As usual, Lafford is very efficient in his builds.

On one of the drone shots, you can see structural steel going up for the new Mount Allison University athletic building in the background.

[MonctonRad]

Mount A considers bringing back program after nearly 30 years
University meets with Anglophone East School District to discuss bringing back the Bachelor of Education program.
Author of the articleayge Woodard
Published Nov 25, 2025 • Last updated 17 hours ago • 2 minute read
https://tj.news/times-transcript-moncton...nging-back-program-after-nearly-30-years (paywall)

[Taeolas]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Mount A considers bringing back program after nearly 30 years
University meets with Anglophone East School District to discuss bringing back the Bachelor of Education program.
Author of the articleayge Woodard
Published Nov 25, 2025 • Last updated 17 hours ago • 2 minute read
https://tj.news/times-transcript-moncton...nging-back-program-after-nearly-30-years (paywall)

Probably about 10-15 years too late, but better late than never.

The province has a severe teacher shortage, and it doesn't look like it'll be easy any time soon. My mom's a retired teacher, but she's been substituting for the past few years, and she's regularly been called in 3-4 times a week; practically full time work. And just about every other retired teacher has similarly been pulled back in. The system is creaking dangerously, and can only really be solved by getting more (young!) educators in the system.

[MonctonRad]

Semi confirmed Facebook rumour that the restaurant going into Lafford's York building will be Pump House Brewery.

This will be the third location for this popular Moncton establishment (Moncton downtown, Shediac and now Sackville).

This will be a big hit for the students at Mount Allison University. Between the townies and the gownies, I think they should do well, especially given that there is a large hole to fill with the demise of Joey's after their fire several years ago.

[MonctonRad]

Lafford's York building project - current status:



This project is progressing with impressive speed (as is typical for Lafford). This building is impressively large for Sackville.

[Taeolas]

Looks like a beautiful design too, with the arched windows on the 3rd floor and inset balconies on the upper floors. Much better than the cookie cutter lego bricks a lot of projects seem to be doing nowadays.

[sailor734]

That does look like it will be an attractive building. A huge improvement over all the 4-6 story boxes being built most places (thinking of the dreaded Spitfire designs).

Serious question....Why is it that Lafford seems to be able to propose an attractive building, move quickly to start construction after approval and then build and complete the project in a timely fashion when so many other developers seem unable to do this?

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by sailor734

That does look like it will be an attractive building. A huge improvement over all the 4-6 story boxes being built most places (thinking of the dreaded Spitfire designs).

Serious question....Why is it that Lafford seems to be able to propose an attractive building, move quickly to start construction after approval and then build and complete the project in a timely fashion when so many other developers seem unable to do this?

I’m not certain, but if I had to guess I’d say two words. Deep pockets.

Thrive for example, had great ambition but not deep pockets. And Irving on the other hand has deep pockets but no ambition to be a developer despite having massive land holdings. Ashford has both ambition and deep pockets, however they seem to be saving their money for a really big splash in downtown Moncton.

[Titan2030**]

Agreed