[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

There is a bulldozer busy moving some earth at 1299 Main (NW corner of Main & Vaughan Harvey). Is this the beginning of site prep???

Still very disappointing that they went from 10 floors to 6. Especially when the developer originally said they needed the extra floors to be financially viable.

[MonctonianSentinel01]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

Still very disappointing that they went from 10 floors to 6. Especially when the developer originally said they needed the extra floors to be financially viable.

More to believe that they will keep it at 10 then because they "had no choice" but to keep it at 10 with the current market conditions. Here's to hoping for a surprise return to their originals plans.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

This will likely be the sum total of economic activity on this lot for at least the next two years. Socioeconomic factors are not currently favourable for the proponent at present.

High crime, rampant homelessness and uncontrolled drug use are a problem for the proponent. High interest rates, inflation, supply chain issues and labour shortages are serious issues for every single developer in greater Moncton (and the rest of Canada).

We are in the eye of the storm. No wonder PAC has been so quiet this year.............

I just came across this story from Global News stating that 1 in 5 (20%) home builders are cancelling projects because of high interest rates. Obviously it's a major factor.

Housing starts across Canada for the month of July were down a whopping 10% despite the extraordinary demand.

Hopefully rates will start to decline so some of our major projects can get under way.

https://globalnews.ca/news/9903071/pre-sale-home-cancellations-delays/

[MonctonRad]

Official groundbreaking for the new $56M coronary care unit for the Moncton Hospital


T&T photo

https://tj.news/times-and-transcript/102157114# (paywall)

The expansion will slightly increase the capacity of the CCU and cardiac step down units, and will improve workflow as these two units will now be side to side. The workspace will be state of the art and fully outfitted with modern equipment. While intensive procedures and surgeries will still be performed at the NB Heart Centre at the SJRH, the new unit will allow patients to be more rapidly transferred back to Moncton following surgery.



The new unit will be constructed in the former staff parking lot in behind the Dr. Sheldon Rubin Oncology Clinic and should be open by June 2026.

[Mattyyy]

From Dawn Arnold's post regarding public session of city council yesterday:

2. Awarded a contract for downtown municipal upgrades Phase 1 (Fram Enterprises=$3,800,000);

Would this be for work on Lutz or could it be for the new street behind assumption?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Mattyyy

From Dawn Arnold's post regarding public session of city council yesterday:

2. Awarded a contract for downtown municipal upgrades Phase 1 (Fram Enterprises=$3,800,000);

Would this be for work on Lutz or could it be for the new street behind assumption?

Lutz most likely. The new street behind Assumption Place will be a later phase project.

[infinityaerials]

Originally Posted by Mattyyy

From Dawn Arnold's post regarding public session of city council yesterday:

2. Awarded a contract for downtown municipal upgrades Phase 1 (Fram Enterprises=$3,800,000);

Would this be for work on Lutz or could it be for the new street behind assumption?

Very interesting!

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Lutz most likely. The new street behind Assumption Place will be a later phase project.

If I understand correctly, they'll be raising Assomption Blvd. and updating the underground services before creating the new east/west street.

And Lutz Street sorely needs this upgrade.

[BlackYear]

Lutz street from Queen all the way down to Record street has been spray painted with ground markers to detect electrical/gas/etc underground on the road and sidewalks for about 2 weeks now. So reconstruction/street closure coming soon. Only 20 years overdue.

[jnaygull]

Originally Posted by BlackYear

Lutz street from Queen all the way down to Record street has been spray painted with ground markers to detect electrical/gas/etc underground on the road and sidewalks for about 2 weeks now. So reconstruction/street closure coming soon. Only 20 years overdue.

That was once the bumpiest street in Moncton... however, in recent years, the rest of the city caught up. Lutz isn't so bad now.

That being said, I'm glad it's getting a facelift. I hope Main St gets a strip and resurface soon, it's embarrassing how bumpy and patchwork that street is.

[MonctonRad]

1st phase of major downtown Moncton infrastructure work set to start
Work will see Westmorland 'surcharged,' relocation of electrical and communications lines
Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Aug 23, 2023 7:30 AM ADT | Last Updated: 1 hour ago
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-bruns...n-redevelopment-infrastructure-1.6943699

This excellent CBC article contains the entire scoop pertaining to this contract. I could not summarize it any better if I tried. The current contract is limited to Westmorland Street and relocation of sewer and electrical in the Assumption Place parking lot. The work on Lutz Street is a separate contract, but is imminent.


Red lines show the locations of work on Westmorland Street and where work on an underground sewer line in the Assomption Place parking lot will take place. (City of Moncton) CBC photo

[MonctonRad]

One throwaway bit of information in the CBC article is that Ashford is deferring making any announcements or releasing any renders of their project until the city releases the results of it's study on the feasibility of adding a convention or conference space to the development.

This study will be released this fall, so, I fully expect not to see any Ashford renders until after the new year, most likely next spring or summer.

[jonny golden]

The idea of a convention center is intriguing. I think it would be a great addition, and bring a lot of visitors and money into the downtown.

We're going to see a lot of construction in this area for some time. Compared to what it looks like now, in a few years we won't recognize the place.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

There is a bulldozer busy moving some earth at 1299 Main (NW corner of Main & Vaughan Harvey). Is this the beginning of site prep???

The bulldozer has disappeared after moving around a small amount of dirt. There are a few new survey stakes on site, but, aside from this, it is <crickets> again.

Another false alarm.........

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

The idea of a convention center is intriguing. I think it would be a great addition, and bring a lot of visitors and money into the downtown.

We're going to see a lot of construction in this area for some time. Compared to what it looks like now, in a few years we won't recognize the place.

I wonder if the talk of a possible convention facility might indicate a new hotel as part of the development?

This might indicate a second tower to go along with the residential tower.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I wonder if the talk of a possible convention facility might indicate a new hotel as part of the development?

This might indicate a second tower to go along with the residential tower.

Excellent point. A hotel with convention center is a natural combination, which would bring a lot of people and business into the core. And with residential tower(s) in addition, you'd have to think that this would spawn other businesses nearby.

Like I said, we won't recognize the area in a few years.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The bulldozer has disappeared after moving around a small amount of dirt. There are a few new survey stakes on site, but, aside from this, it is <crickets> again.

Another false alarm.........

I just hope that the delay with this project is because the developer is crunching the numbers and will eventually decide that 10 floors is the better option.

A very important location like this one needs a noteworthy development, and the community sorely needs the housing.

[jnaygull]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

I just hope that the delay with this project is because the developer is crunching the numbers and will eventually decide that 10 floors is the better option.

A very important location like this one needs a noteworthy development, and the community sorely needs the housing.

I sure hope the tomatoes in the area had a bumper crop this year.

Talk about pulling the wind out of the sails of a project. That being said, nobody knows if that petition derailed this project or not except the developers.

[Riberview]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I wonder if the talk of a possible convention facility might indicate a new hotel as part of the development?

This might indicate a second tower to go along with the residential tower.

Hold on to your hat. Big news coming

[MonctonianSentinel01]

Originally Posted by Riberview

Hold on to your hat. Big news coming

Can you say when?