[Moncton] Sackville Developments

[MonctonRad]

Bookstore, barber shop find new homes after lease termination
York Street redevelopment prompts Sackville bookstore, and barber shop to move to new locations
Author of the article:Sarah Seeley
Published Jul 04, 2024 • Last updated 20 hours ago • 3 minute read
https://tj.news/moncton-miramichi/bookstore-barber-shop-find-new-homes-amid-lease-termination (paywall)


T&T photo

So, two of the four businesses affected by the lease terminations have been able to find alternate commercial storefrontage downtown.

As for what the future plans are, no additional information is forthcoming.

When asked about the future plans for the buildings, Alder said “At this time I can’t share details of the redevelopment of the properties at 26, 28, 30 York street.”

I suspect rental apartments given the proximity to MTA, hopefully with ground level commercial/retail.

[MonctonRad]

I see the Vogue Cinema in Sackville is now up for a tax sale:

https://www.chmafm.com/welcome/vogue-cin...n-january-with-nearly-70k-in-taxes-owed/

This is unfortunate. I guess all efforts to revive the business have come to naught. A cinema in a small town like Sackville would be tough to operate profitably, but, still would be an important resource for the local university students.

[Dieppe98]

John Lafford & Mike Wilson of AIL are seeking permission to put up a 7-storey, commercial-residential building on York St. in downtown Sackville. Planner Lori Bickford presented their proposal to Tantramar Council yesterday. Before it can go ahead, council would have to approve a bylaw amendment to increase the maximum height limit from 50 to 75 feet. You can read my report on my news website at: warktimes [dot] com.

https://www.facebook.com/share/pFwW1W8t4jmCLu71/?mibextid=WC7FNe

[MonctonRad]

Holy —!

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Holy —!

A very impressive proposal for a small town.

[MonctonRad]

I just read the article on Wark Times.

https://warktimes.com

If you read the article carefully, this image was displayed by town planner Lori Bickford as a concept of what such a building would look like.

“I just wanted to show an example of what a seven storey building would look like,” planner Lori Bickford told council yesterday as she projected a slide showing a proposed building concept for the corner of York and Ford.

This is not the actual render of what Lafford is proposing to build on York Street, but just a facsimile thereof.

Lafford is proposing a seven storey building with 95 rental units and ground level commercial retail space. We just don't know exactly what it will look like.

At some point in the planning process, actual renders will become available.

[MonctonRad]

Photo from today showing current progress on the Lafford apartment building going up adjacent to the Waterfowl Park.

[daveynb]

Apparently work stopped some time ago on this as they asses the implications from using the services of the infamous Moncton engineer who has lately been much in the news.

[MonctonRad]

Really! Ouch. I thought progress was slow, but I didn’t connect the dots.

I hope they can come up with a solution that makes sense. They are reinforcing the six storey mixed use building on Main Street in Shediac, but rumours are that it was a very near thing, and that demolition was a possibility.

[MonctonRad]

From CHMA News:

Council must consider height increase for entire downtown zone, says planner
October 11, 2024
Erica Butler
https://www.chmafm.com/welcome/council-m...e-for-entire-downtown-zone-says-planner/

A proposed planning amendment to increase the allowable building height in downtown Sackville has moved forward, and will be back at Tantramar council for a public hearing on November 25.

Developer John Lafford and property owner Mike Wilson have requested the change in order to make way for a seven storey building they have planned for York Street at Ford Lane, the current location of Blooms Flowershop, Sweet Yummyland, and a small apartment building.

The matter was before Tantramar council at their meeting on Tuesday, and council decided to let the request proceed through the Plan 360 process.

In response to a question from councillor Mike Tower on Tuesday, Plan 360 planner Lori Bickford told councillors that the proposed change would apply to the entire mixed use zone in downtown Sackville, which includes some residential streets. Tower asked specifically about the downtown district’s more residential streets, like Wellington and Allison.

Detail from Plan 360 report to council showing zoning in Sackville downtown business district. Mixed Use (yellow), Institutional (red), Agriculture Conservation (green), Industrial/Business Park (orange)

[MonctonRad]

Proposal for a new subdivision off of Fairfield Road in Sackville (adjacent to the golf course).

The subject property is located on Fairfield Road at the southwest end of Sackville. The property has access to municipal water and sewer systems and is within the area designated for urban residential development. The surrounding properties are characterized by low density residential development, pockets of higher density R3 zoning, and a nearby golf course (institutional use). Though the property is zoned residential, it was previously being used as an agricultural lot until it was purchased by Freshwinds Eco-Village in 2023.

The applicants are requesting a rezoning from the R1 to the R3 zone to permit the development of a co-operative housing initiative. The proposed development consists of two, 3 story apartment buildings (~26 units) and twelve detached 2 unit dwellings (~36 units), along with associated accessory buildings such as a potential future tool shed and community building. The intention of this development is to provide the proposed 62 residential units in a co- operative housing format. A mix of different configurations of housing units will be provided including some barrier free units and a mix of 1, 2, 3, and 4 bedroom units. This variety of housing is intended to provide the opportunity to suit the needs of families, individuals, and those wishing to age in place. The applicants are proposing a secondary emergency access along Fairfield Road which would be gated from regular vehicle traffic and used as a pedestrian walkway.

This is an eco-village. Although not explicitly stated, it appears that the development includes a whack of solar collectors. I wonder how close to self sustaining it will be?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by daveynb

Apparently work stopped some time ago on this as they asses the implications from using the services of the infamous Moncton engineer who has lately been much in the news.

Good news!!!

Rehabilitation is nearing completion. The building is fully leased. The first tenants are expected to move in during July 2025.
https://www.chmafm.com/welcome/lafford-d...ised-at-public-hearing-on-height-limits/

[MonctonRad]

Lafford defends 7-storey York St project after concerns raised at public hearing on height limits
November 28, 2024
Erica Butler, CHMA News
https://www.chmafm.com/welcome/lafford-d...ised-at-public-hearing-on-height-limits/

A proposed increase to the height limit for buildings in Sackville’s downtown business district didn’t receive much opposition on Monday afternoon at a Tantramar council public hearing.

The proposed change (from 50 feet to 75 feet) would make way for a seven-storey building on a block of York Street stretching from Ford Lane, where Blooms Flower Shop currently sits, down to but not including the AIL office in the former NB Tel building.

Only two people made presentations in opposition to the development height limit in downtown Sackville, both decrying the effect this move would have on the "small town character" of Sackville

Lafford said the demolition and construction on the York Street site could start as early as May 2025, and the $25-30 million project would take 18 to 24 months to complete. The proposed building, which will be called The York, will have 80-90 apartments and between 15,000 and 20,000 square feet of commercial space fronting on Ford Lane and York Street, said Lafford.

A facsimile of what the building will be like:


Final renderings have not been released.

[Feneant]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Only two people made presentations in opposition to the development height limit in downtown Sackville, both decrying the effect this move would have on the "small town character" of Sackville

I swear, they could build this and tell people it's free to live there and someone would still find a reason to complain.

[MonctonRad]

From CHMA News:

Planning changes that will make way for major residential developments in Sackville will happen sooner than originally expected.

Tantramar council has added an additional special meeting to its calendar before year end, on Monday December 16 at 3pm.

On the agenda are:

1) - Third and final reading of a rezoning on Fairfield Road to allow for a 62-unit village style development by the Freshwinds Eco-Village Housing Cooperative; and
2) - Third and final reading of an increase to the maximum allowable building height in the downtown Sackville business district which will make way for a seven-storey residential building on York Street proposed by John Lafford and Mike Wilson.

If this passes on Monday then Lafford will have a clear path to start his new seven storey building downtown in the springtime.

[MonctonRad]

Also:

A new owner of two properties on Kirk Street in Sackville has applied to up-zone the properties to R2, in order to make way for a 5-unit rowhouse development. Tantramar council first heard the application from Massod Hosseini on Tuesday night.

[AGGUS]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

From CHMA News:



If this passes on Monday then Lafford will have a clear path to start his new seven storey building downtown in the springtime.

Looks like everything passed today - You Tube video is all of 7 minutes long! No questions, all "aye's" and here we go!

[MonctonRad]

Listening to CBC Radio driving home this evening after work, they mentioned that Dominic LeBlanc (the new minister of everything) was in Dorchester today with an announcement for the new prison hospital facility planned for Dorchester Penitentiary.

Apparently preliminary design work and bidding will take place next year.

It will be interesting to see the news reports on this announcement, but, it is a 150 bed facility,and a combination acute care hospital and psychiatric facility. It will be modern and fully equipped.

As to the cost, LeBlanc was coy, but, said it will be the largest federal investment in Atlantic Canada since the Confederation Bridge (which means it will displace the $600M or so ASEC, now under construction). He also said it would be an equivalent cost to the Confederation Bridge, which would put it close to a billion dollars.

It will be interesting to see if this project survives Pierre Poillievre.

[MonctonRad]

Cost climbing for new prison health centre in New Brunswick
3 companies selected to submit proposals to design and build centre on Dorchester Penitentiary grounds
Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Dec 19, 2024 7:10 PM AST | Last Updated: 5 hours ago
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/dorchester-health-facility-spending-1.7415188

A new 155-bed health-care facility for prison inmates in southeastern New Brunswick is expected to cost millions more than previously expected.

The federal government has been planning a facility to replace the 53-bed Shepody Healing Centre at Dorchester Penitentiary.

The new centre was expected to cost $400 million in 2021. During a news conference Thursday at the prison, Canada's new finance minister said the cost has climbed.

Dominic LeBlanc described it as the largest federal spending project in the province since the Confederation Bridge, which cost about $1 billion.

"The scale of this project is very much in that range," LeBlanc said of the cost comparison.

LeBlanc said three companies have been selected to submit proposals early next year to design and build it: Bird Design-Build Construction Inc., EllisDon Corp. and Pomerleau Inc.

LeBlanc announced the plan to replace Shepody in 2019, but on Thursday he said there have been various delays, including an evaluation of whether it should be in another province or in a city.

It will require more staff, including psychiatrists, family doctors, and nurses. He said that recruitment will take place over years, but he's optimistic there will be interest in coming to work a the centre.

"It'll become a teaching centre as well. So we probably will need to triple the staff available that we currently have," he said.

Again, this will be a full fledged prison hospital, including an infirmary with diagnostic and lab services and consultation rooms for visiting specialists. There will be a total of 155 beds, but the vast majority of these will be psychiatric beds. I get the impression this facility will be the national referral centre for forensic psychiatric services. They anticipate a staff of 12 psychiatrists, and this will be a teaching hospital with psychiatric residents.

Quite something for little Dorchester.

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Quite something for little Dorchester.

Our very own "Arkham".