The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[adamuptownsj]

This, coupled with development of the Smythe substation site, and a consolidation and redevelopment of the adjacent parking lot (partially owned by the port and city) should be a focus for the city. The adjacent-to-Red-Rose site in particular has serious skyline potential, even if built to a more modest height. Easy to connect to the pedway system if you go under Union to the Mercantile building. Easy to build modest 'underground' (level with Smythe) parking too.

They are extremely reluctant to part with lots for some reason. I asked about the blocked off and decommissioned Peters St lot, formerly rented by Irving Oil pre-parking garage, and couldn't get anywhere.

[JakeNB]

The City - whether through the “Growth Committee, PAC or EnvisionSJ - should actively target sites for development and provide incentives such as tax holidays, etc. Aside from the SJE substation, I would like to see the NW corner of Coburg and Charlotte developed. This is a main entrance to the City and a vacant lot leaves a poor impression. As does the R-bar but thats a different issue.

[darkharbour]

How dare you drag the good name of the R-Bar into this, it’s a cultural institution

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by JakeNB

The City - whether through the “Growth Committee, PAC or EnvisionSJ - should actively target sites for development and provide incentives such as tax holidays, etc. Aside from the SJE substation, I would like to see the NW corner of Coburg and Charlotte developed. This is a main entrance to the City and a vacant lot leaves a poor impression. As does the R-bar but thats a different issue.

Apparently the two lots west of 149 Union are owned by duelling Greeks. R Bar isn't going anywhere.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by darkharbour

How dare you drag the good name of the R-Bar into this, it’s a cultural institution

When I was a kid it was Bosun’s Chair

[cdnguys]

Walked around the neighborhood this evening and just loving the old buildings lit up - reminds me of several low rise neighborhoods in NYC like Chelsea or Lower East Side. I lived in both Saint John and Halifax. When I was in Halifax I enjoyed the excitement and continuous growth, but I struggled with not having the connection you feel when you are in uptown Saint John with the area and the people. Maybe it’s the memories of the gritty ole days of Saint John where in university you’d go to a party on Germain St or some loft unit somewhere between Water and Canterbury before it was a desirable place to live. Or the more down to earth blue collar friendliness mixed in with industrial chic or eating / drinking in beautiful 175 year old spaces where the mortar on the wall has been untouched since its construction. If I had to somehow put it into words my experiences in both cities, Halifax would be memories whereas Saint John would be moments. Really hard to explain and maybe it’s only an affliction for people that were born here …..

[IMG] [/IMG]

[MonctonRad]

Good stuff. You should post this in the Canada section.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

This, coupled with development of the Smythe substation site, and a consolidation and redevelopment of the adjacent parking lot (partially owned by the port and city) should be a focus for the city. The adjacent-to-Red-Rose site in particular has serious skyline potential, even if built to a more modest height. Easy to connect to the pedway system if you go under Union to the Mercantile building. Easy to build modest 'underground' (level with Smythe) parking too.

They are extremely reluctant to part with lots for some reason. I asked about the blocked off and decommissioned Peters St lot, formerly rented by Irving Oil pre-parking garage, and couldn't get anywhere.

I wonder if that is because the Parking Commission sees themselves as separate from the city? Organizations like that often get tunnel focus on their purpose to the exclusion of anything else. Parking doesn't seem to be to be a huge issue right now in the uptown and many of the recent developments are starting to incorporate underground parking (long past due IMO) Seems to me that the time is right to convert some of these underutilized vacant lots to much needed housing.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by sailor734

I wonder if that is because the Parking Commission sees themselves as separate from the city? Organizations like that often get tunnel focus on their purpose to the exclusion of anything else. Parking doesn't seem to be to be a huge issue right now in the uptown and many of the recent developments are starting to incorporate underground parking (long past due IMO) Seems to me that the time is right to convert some of these underutilized vacant lots to much needed housing.

There is no parking commission - it was dissolved/disbanded October 1st, 2021 and folded back into the city.

[DyAm00394]

The city is selling 2 parcels of city-owned land in the Spruce Lake Industrial Park to Quality Control Council of Canada Atlantic Training Center. This will be the home of their Atlantic Canadian headquarters and home office. The development will include a 6,000 square foot regional office and training center.

[darkharbour]

FYI, the New Brunswick Museum public consultation sessions start this weekend

https://revitalizenbm.com/

SESSION DETAILS:

Saint John: Saturday, September 9, SJ Arts Centre 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Fredericton: Sunday, September 10, UNB Kent Auditorium - 12:00-2:00 p.m.

Edmundston: Monday, September 11, Four Points by Sheraton Hotel - 12:00-2:00 p.m.

Campbellton: Monday, September 11, Campbellton Civic Centre- 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Bathurst: Tuesday, September 12, Danny’s Hotel - 12:00-2:00 p.m.

Caraquet: Tuesday, September 12, Village Historique Acadien - 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Miramichi: Wednesday, September 13, Rodd Miramichi River, 12:00-2:00 p. m.

Moncton: Wednesday, September 13, Resurgo Place, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Province-wide Zoom session: Friday, September 15

Join the NBM and Diamond Schmitt at our upcoming Community Engagement Tour, coming soon to variety of communities around the province. At each event, we will discuss the project in detail, and collect feedback from New Brunswickers about the design of the facility and its use.

It's not clear if there will be early sketches or design ideas presented or not, but I would be surprised given how short the timeline has been thus far.

[cdnguys]

Anyone with a TJ subscription that can give me a summary of the article about Quispamsis housing crunch? Any figures re: housing starts ?

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

Anyone with a TJ subscription that can give me a summary of the article about Quispamsis housing crunch? Any figures re: housing starts ?

Said they are averaging 65 starts per year recently. If both pop grow and housing starts remain steady there will be a 900 unit shortfall in 15 years and 1500 units in 25 years. Article was mostly about the town applying for some sort of federal grant to stimulate housing starts. ( 9 million over three years CMHC's Housing Accelerator Fund)

[DyAm00394]

Councilor Barry Ogden has posted some pictures on social media from the NB Museum public engagement session.

[MonctonRad]

Looks promising.

[sailor734]

Too early to say without the architectural details but it's an awfully big chunk of a building to put in the middle of a residential neighbourhood so far away from any other public space/buildings/attractions. Seems to me things like major museums belong in a district of shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, public spaces etc where people congregate.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Too early to say without the architectural details but it's an awfully big chunk of a building to put in the middle of a residential neighbourhood so far away from any other public space/buildings/attractions. Seems to me things like major museums belong in a district of shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, public spaces etc where people congregate.

They really should have a second exhibit site Uptown— with a big, wooden tall ship docked in front of it. Think the best we’re going to get is a gift shop

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Too early to say without the architectural details but it's an awfully big chunk of a building to put in the middle of a residential neighbourhood so far away from any other public space/buildings/attractions. Seems to me things like major museums belong in a district of shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, public spaces etc where people congregate.

I love the massing - will be very visible from King’s Sq and parts of uptown. I’m all for “go big, or go home”.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

I love the massing - will be very visible from King’s Sq and parts of uptown. I’m all for “go big, or go home”.

I’m surprised how big this looks. Does anyone know the square footage of the previous project under the Gallant gov that got cancelled? I have a feeling this is actually bigger?

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

I’m surprised how big this looks. Does anyone know the square footage of the previous project under the Gallant gov that got cancelled? I have a feeling this is actually bigger?

120,000 sq. feet for the cancelled one.