[Saint John, NB] 99 King Street | 13 storeys | Under Construction

[homebody]

Originally Posted by sailor734

So, any bets on whether when they top this off is those crazy upside down ottoman legs will be there on the corners? I suspect they would have to coast at least something. This building appears to be being built on the cheap so I'm going to bet "NO"

I have never heard anyone as negative as you! Honestly, you pick about every thing no mater what it is. Maybe when it’s done just don’t look up! Remember it’s still better than what was there!

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by homebody

I have never heard anyone as negative as you! Honestly, you pick about every thing no mater what it is. Maybe when it’s done just don’t look up! Remember it’s still better than what was there!

Nothing is perfect and I don't see pointing out flaws as negativity, just reasonable points for discussion. Better that than the rah-rah "Gee isn't it great?" gushing that we sometimes see here about any development at all.

Some things are much, much further from perfect than others. This project appears to be one of those.

If you look back I have already agreed that this is better (obviously) than the derelict building that was there or the raw hole that was left after it's demolition. However, being better than a rubble filled hole or an abandoned, grafitti covered 1950's building really isn't a very high standard to meet.

This building doesn't seem like it will be awful, just kind of boring and mediocre.

I just can't help but be disappointed with what is going up in this prime location and think "A missed generational opportunity"

There seems to be a certain mindset in Saint John that thinks nothing should change in terms of our streetscapes or architectural styles or at least that everything new should blend in.......pretty boring IMO.

A city's should evolve and grow. It's architecture should reflect the era in which various buildings were designed and constructed. We don't need to be mindlessly recreating the style of 100-150 years ago by putting up stamped out imitations. Is anybody going to look at 99 King in 50 or 75 years and think "excellent example of early 21st century design?"

Don't forget, this is a major building in a prominent uptown location.....not a 4-6 story stick built Spitfire designed build on the outskirts of town. As such I think it reasonable to hold it to a much higher standard.

end of rant

[nwalbert]

Originally Posted by homebody

I have never heard anyone as negative as you! Honestly, you pick about every thing no mater what it is. Maybe when it’s done just don’t look up! Remember it’s still better than what was there!

Its funny, I read his last comment and was going to say something similar but less polite.

I can begin to understand why someone would continue to post the exact same negative comments on a thread almost daily. Like maybe don't bother visiting the thread?!

[nwalbert]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Nothing is perfect and I don't see pointing out flaws as negativity, just reasonable points for discussion. Better that than the rah-rah "Gee isn't it great?" gushing that we sometimes see here about any development at all.

Some things are much, much further from perfect than others. This project appears to be one of those.

If you look back I have already agreed that this is better (obviously) than the derelict building that was there or the raw hole that was left after it's demolition. However, being better than a rubble filled hole or an abandoned, grafitti covered 1950's building really isn't a very high standard to meet.

This building doesn't seem like it will be awful, just kind of boring and mediocre.

I just can't help but be disappointed with what is going up in this prime location and think "A missed generational opportunity"

There seems to be a certain mindset in Saint John that thinks nothing should change in terms of our streetscapes or architectural styles or at least that everything new should blend in.......pretty boring IMO.

A city's should evolve and grow. It's architecture should reflect the era in which various buildings were designed and constructed. We don't need to be mindlessly recreating the style of 100-150 years ago by putting up stamped out imitations. Is anybody going to look at 99 King in 50 or 75 years and think "excellent example of early 21st century design?"

Don't forget, this is a major building in a prominent uptown location.....not a 4-6 story stick built Spitfire designed build on the outskirts of town. As such I think it reasonable to hold it to a much higher standard.

end of rant

I think the frustration is you have made this same rant probably 30 times on this thread, maybe try just giving it a rest. You don't like the building design, others do, your opinion has been voiced.

It gets old for the rest of us.

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by nwalbert

I think the frustration is you have made this same rant probably 30 times on this thread, maybe try just giving it a rest. You don't like the building design, others do, your opinion has been voiced.

It gets old for the rest of us.

I agree 100% with this. The same/similar criticism voiced over and over again is getting pretty old. Like the design isn't going to change just because you don't like the design choices the developer has chosen. The building is finally being built after many years of nothing, so I agree that it's time to just give it a rest and move on.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by homebody

I have never heard anyone as negative as you! Honestly, you pick about every thing no mater what it is. Maybe when it’s done just don’t look up! Remember it’s still better than what was there!

I don’t know, I think it’s positive to hope we don’t see the building finished with “the turrets”. It should be pretty easy to just remove them from the design

My biggest issue is the project was approved based on a previous design that didn’t have such a weird roof design.

There’s always a chance the developer actually reads these forums and takes these opinions into consideration.

[JakeNB]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

I don’t know, I think it’s positive to hope we don’t see the building finished with “the turrets”. It should be pretty easy to just remove them from the design

My biggest issue is the project was approved based on a previous design that didn’t have such a weird roof design.

There’s always a chance the developer actually reads these forums and takes these opinions into consideration.

We all know who the developer is. Why not pick up the phone and call him to express your concerns rather than repeating the same comment multiple times in this thread.

[sailor734]

I haven't been on King St for a while......any advance on 6 floors erected?

[905er]

the upside down dresser leg feature is truly hideous design. While I'm glad Saint John is getting more heft and density, I would almost rather it not if that is the finished look.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by sailor734

I haven't been on King St for a while......any advance on 6 floors erected?

6th finished earlier this week, no start on 7 yet, I would guess early next week.

[sailor734]

They started on Oct 6 AFAIR Next Friday will be the four month mark and they're about halfway done. That's about half the pace Percy was talking about last July but to be fair I'm sure doing this type of work in the winter is much, much slower. I'm not sure what delayed the intended early August start for assembly but I've been told it was supplier issues.

If they top off by May I wonder what's realistic to complete the interior? 8 months? 12?

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by JakeNB

We all know who the developer is. Why not pick up the phone and call him to express your concerns rather than repeating the same comment multiple times in this thread.

Maybe I have and he's already blocked my number?


Seriously though, it's not exactly pointless posting in this thread... we all know the developer is aware of this forum and that this thread is the most viewed/ discussed post on the internet about 99 King (despite the thread title still not being updated)

Again, we have people from the GTA on this forum who only know about one development in Saint John (99 King) because of its goofy roof design... which is pretty embarrassing for our city/ region.

Not sure why the developer wouldn't want to save a little bit of money by deleting the "turrets" from the roof design which would result in a much less aesthetically offensive building.

As said previously, the government loan should have been contingent on the removal of the "turrets" from the roof design.

Originally Posted by 905er

the upside down dresser leg feature is truly hideous design. While I'm glad Saint John is getting more heft and density, I would almost rather it not if that is the finished look.

Yup, it's quite unfortunate... instead of getting a modern or neo-Art Deco high rise, our city centre is getting one of the oddest looking buildings on this entire website. Here's hoping reason prevails and the developer simply deletes the "dresser legs".

[bingun]

Originally Posted by sailor734

They started on Oct 6 AFAIR Next Friday will be the four month mark and they're about halfway done. That's about half the pace Percy was talking about last July but to be fair I'm sure doing this type of work in the winter is much, much slower. I'm not sure what delayed the intended early August start for assembly but I've been told it was supplier issues.

If they top off by May I wonder what's realistic to complete the interior? 8 months? 12?

They can do a floor a week on a good week, so I think it will be April.

In the interest of changing the subject, does anyone have any more thoughts on what will be going in the retail space? With the positive news we are hearing from the Market, it would be good to have similar momentum next door.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by bingun

They can do a floor a week on a good week, so I think it will be April.

In the interest of changing the subject, does anyone have any more thoughts on what will be going in the retail space? With the positive news we are hearing from the Market, it would be good to have similar momentum next door.

I thought the retail space was history and it was all apartments. (hope you're right and I'm wrong)

[bingun]

Originally Posted by sailor734

I thought the retail space was history and it was all apartments.

Ground floor is still retail/commercial, isn't it?

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Hopefully it’s only retail.

Ideally the entire first floor would be a small grocery store along with bodega style convenience store that was open later than the Uptown bars.

It’s clear this place won’t be luxurious, upscale condos/apartments, but it could actually be a great addition to the Uptown core if the mixed use on the first floor delivers the neighborhood something it’s been in desperate need of for years in the form of a small grocery store 🏬

If 99 King featured Uptown’s first grocery store with a late night convenience store/ bodega component, it could turn 99 King into one of the most convenient places to live in the Saint John Region.

Even if it won’t ever be the most luxurious or desirable place to live, 99 King’s apartments will be in very high demand if the first floor retail delivers something truly desirable and useful for it’s residents and the surrounding community.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Hopefully it’s only retail.

Ideally the entire first floor would be a small grocery store along with bodega style convenience store that was open later than the Uptown bars.

It’s clear this place won’t be luxurious, upscale condos/apartments, but it could actually be a great addition to the Uptown core if the mixed use on the first floor delivers the neighborhood something it’s been in desperate need of for years in the form of a small grocery store 🏬

If 99 King featured Uptown’s first grocery store with a late night convenience store/ bodega component, it could turn 99 King into one of the most convenient places to live in the Saint John Region.

Even if it won’t ever be the most luxurious or desirable place to live, 99 King’s apartments will be in very high demand if the first floor retail delivers something truly desirable and useful for it’s residents and the surrounding community.

I seem to recall there was talk of this at one point. I saw one of the plans that showed provision for a loading dock at the rear of the building on South Market. I don't know if that feature survived the multiple revisions of the design but I would think it would be a requirement for even an urban sized grocery store.

[bingun]

I know everyone wants a grocery store, but I just don't know if it's realistic with the current population density. A grocery store with limited parking is one thing, but one with no parking is another. I guess there are a few spots outside on King Street or on King's Square. It also has to compete with the city market next door.

Are there any comparable grocery stores in similar locations in other maritime cities? Victory in Fredericton is downtown, but I don't think that is a good comparison.

If it is not a grocery store, then I am unsure. It feels like too big a space for a restaurant or consumer retail.

We've seen the retail space at Fundy Quay advertised, but nothing for 99 King. Do we think that means it has already been accounted for, or is that still to come?

[sailor734]

Good point about parking issues. Unless you shop everyday grocery stores are one type of retail that really does require close, convenient parking.

The"urban" grocery stores I'm familiar with are built on top of underground parking. One I've been in (Urban Fare in Vancouver's Yaletown) even has a moving sidewalk type escalator to let you take the shopping carts down to the garage level. The carts have a function that locks the wheels when on the ramp and unlocks them at the bottom....ingenious.

Even the downtown Costco in Vancouver has a similar setup.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Good point about parking issues. Unless you shop everyday grocery stores are one type of retail that really does require close, convenient parking.

The"urban" grocery stores I'm familiar with are built on top of underground parking. One I've been in (Urban Fare in Vancouver's Yaletown) even has a moving sidewalk type escalator to let you take the shopping carts down to the garage level. The carts have a function that locks the wheels when on the ramp and unlocks them at the bottom....ingenious.

Even the downtown Costco in Vancouver has a similar setup.

When I worked in downtown Fredericton I'd frequently stop at Victory after work and left my car where I parked it at the office. Super convenient. I think a lot of people do that.