[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The tower crane for the Tomato Building was dismantled today.

Mobile crane working on the site today. Although I was disappointed when they reduced the height from 10 to 6 floors, it'll still be a nice building and a huge improvement over what was there before!

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

Mobile crane working on the site today. Although I was disappointed when they reduced the height from 10 to 6 floors, it'll still be a nice building and a huge improvement over what was there before!

Yep, Half a loaf better than none. Given it's length I think it would have looked good at 10-12 floors.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Yep, Half a loaf better than none. Given it's length I think it would have looked good at 10-12 floors.

For sure it would have.

The Junction developers have revised their master plan in the past. What I'd love to see is a major building along Main Street of 10-12 floors. They did acquire 2 adjacent properties along Stewart Street, so there's a huge footprint for them to work with. If they still plan on having a hotel in the development, it could be incorporated into a larger building along the lines of 55 Queen.

That would save this corner, (IMHO) and make it a gateway to the downtown.

[riverviewer]

I'd like to see the short EMC building redeveloped as a podium/entrance with a large 20 story complex behind it which incorporates a parking garage accessible off High street.

[MonctonRad]

Capitol Theatre refreshed with 772 new seats, carpet, railings
Summer spruce up brings 772 seats that are wider, comfy and have cup holders
Author of the article:Alan Cochrane
Published Sep 25, 2024 • Last updated 16 hours ago • 3 minute read
https://tj.news/moncton-miramichi/capitol-theatre-refreshed-with-772-new-seats-carpet-railings (paywall)

there are now 772 seats in the theatre, which is eight fewer than before. The change is the result of wider spaces between the rows of seats. In the past, there was a gap between the seats directly in front of the stage, providing a walkway. That gap has now been filled to create full rows in front of the stage. A row of 20 seats along the main walkway are mounted on steel plates so they can be quickly removed, creating space to accommodate up to 10 patrons in wheelchair with their caregivers.

Along with new seats, the original 1926 hardwood floor in front of the stage has been refinished and new carpet was laid under the other seats. The balcony level has been fitted with new black safety railings and safety edges on the stairs.

The summer spruce-up also included repairs and painting of cracked or damaged walls and fixtures, along with a new black floor on the main stage. The house lights have also been upgraded to LED lights, which provide more colour variety, use less electricity and produce less heat. The Capitol has upgraded its sound system and has LED screen technology, which allows technicians to project computerized images onto a screen on the stage to create the illusion of scenery.

[jnaygull]

I was initially skeptical to see the older chairs go, there was a certain nostalgia about them. However, these look fantastic, and I'm certain the comfort will match the new beauty.

[MonctonGoldenTri]

Steadman/St George foundation was poured last week, a lot of activity this morning, does anyone have any renderings? The foundation footprint is rather small if this is an appartment.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonGoldenTri

Steadman/St George foundation was poured last week, a lot of activity this morning, does anyone have any renderings? The foundation footprint is rather small if this is an appartment.

Older news story. This building has taken a long time to get off the ground.

https://www.919thebend.ca/2021/11/16/aff...ets-mixed-reaction-from-moncton-council/

[MonctonRad]

Some colour for the page:


Fog over the Petitcodiac. Taken yesterday morning. Infinity Aerials on Facebook.

[jonny golden]

I'm wondering how the infrastructure work is coming along at the Assomption parking lot? I see there are still a lot of the large cement sewer or water pipes laying on the ground, and a lot of big piles of excavated earth. Not being an expert in this area, I'm just curious to know if everything is proceeding on schedule. Will Ashford be able to get phase one of their major project off the ground in the spring?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

Will Ashford be able to get phase one of their major project off the ground in the spring?

No.

I doubt we will see any movement until 2026, or even later. This is a huge development - bigger than the Fundy Quay in Saint John. Sometimes it takes a decade or more for these huge projects to get off the ground.

We may see some renderings next year. I'm hopeful for that at least.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

No.

I doubt we will see any movement until 2026, or even later. This is a huge development - bigger than the Fundy Quay in Saint John. Sometimes it takes a decade or more for these huge projects to get off the ground.

We may see some renderings next year. I'm hopeful for that at least.

I was hoping that we might see something happening in 2025 - maybe a start on phase one. Then again, does the new east/west street have to be done first in order for Ashford to start?

They are still working on their new building on Lorentz Drive, and have a 2nd building planned for the property. That would make a 2026 timeline to start their downtown project seem logical.

Meanwhile if St. Bernard and Infinity can start next year, it'll be a big construction year for Moncton.

[habs33]

The Old Triangle on Main st is getting a makeover.



Source Retail Talk and Share New Brunswick on facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/p/in5NuXpJ8F23VnGk/

[MonctonRad]

Fire engine red. Very interesting. Apparently this is in the style of actual Irish ale houses in Dublin.

Another couple of downtown tidbits. Jeff Boucher is in town and messaged me saying that JoJo's Restaurant has closed and both it and the vacant Queen E Hydroponics stores are under renovation.

The rumour is that the owner of Mama's Restaurant is looking at opening a new restaurant in the Queen E space. Not sure what's going on at JoJo's.

[MonctonRad]

Walking tour of downtown Moncton (Jeff Boucher of Retail Talk & Share, AKA MaritimerJAB on SSP)

• Video Link

[MonctonRad]

The old Baci Italia building is apparently up for sale again. I guess the dream of a new brew pub here have gone out the window.

[lirette]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The old Baci Italia building is apparently up for sale again. I guess the dream of a new brew pub here have gone out the window.

I believe the pizza place that was run by the same people who were opening the brew pub (arlos) closed within just a few months.

I had a bad feeling this wasnt a serious operation when their entire website just looked like an AI mess.

Honestly the Baci building is nice but its way to big to make a financial go of it as just a restaurant. It needs to be divided up further or perhaps another brewery wants to use the space for operations plus have a tasting room. I dont see many other scenarios.

[MonctonRad]

More flooding downtown as high tide blocks storm drains: city
Two high intensity storms within a week of each other resulted in street flooding
Author of the article:Alan Cochrane
Published Oct 15, 2024 • Last updated 19 hours ago • 2 minute read
https://tj.news/moncton-miramichi/more-flooding-downtown-as-high-tide-blocks-storm-drains-city (paywall)

For the second time in a week, heavy rain combined with a high tide that blocked storm drains Monday night, resulting in short-term flooding in downtown Moncton.

The city’s storm drains allow rain water to flow out to the Petitcodiac River, but they don’t function at full capacity during high tide. The system also includes inlet control devices which limit the amount of surface water going into the storm drains, and divert excess water onto streets to avoid sewer backups.

The city is in the midst of a federally funded project to renew infrastructure in the area between Main Street and Assomption Boulevard. The area along Lutz Street next to the Heritage Court building and the new Three Sisters apartment complex is being rebuilt with new water, sewer and storm drains, while the electrical and communications lines are also being moved underground.

I wonder if the "Gang of 34" will try to weaponize the two recent downtown floods in their battle against the Gateway Tower project? Of course, the city is in the middle of a pre-emptive upgrade to the downtown storm sewer network, somewhat mitigating their "concerns."

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by lirette

I believe the pizza place that was run by the same people who were opening the brew pub (arlos) closed within just a few months.

I had a bad feeling this wasnt a serious operation when their entire website just looked like an AI mess.

Honestly the Baci building is nice but its way to big to make a financial go of it as just a restaurant. It needs to be divided up further or perhaps another brewery wants to use the space for operations plus have a tasting room. I dont see many other scenarios.

It's one odd structure. What made a restaurant decide to build new in the first place, instead of leasing?

Wasn't there discussion of a Muslim group purchasing it for a mosque before these guys bought it?

[lirette]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

It's one odd structure. What made a restaurant decide to build new in the first place, instead of leasing?

Wasn't there discussion of a Muslim group purchasing it for a mosque before these guys bought it?

I think so.

It was a lifetime dream for the owner of zios to open a full service restaurant after operating the pizza shop on/beside the land where the restaurant was built. The owner admitted in a recent article (about zios reopening) that they made a grave mistake building the restaurant as big as they did.

Perhaps they had high hopes for what the old moncton high building was going to become, but I think most people would have been able to tell them at the time that the size of the restaurant and location were going to be tough.

They were smart to go back to what they do best, churning out high quality take out pizza at an affordable price from a family owned shop at a low rent location.

I suppose beside a brewery or subdividing it that a mosque could be another potential for the building.