The Official Moncton, NB Project Thread

[jonny golden]

Significant projects include a $17.3-million, 135-unit apartment building at 290 Millennium Blvd.

I can't help but wonder if the developers of this project might shift their focus to higher buildings when this massive project is complete. I know that we're a few years away from completion, but by then we could see a lot of 15+ floor buildings in the city.

Or could they adjust their plans and go a bit taller with some of the later buildings in this development?

[new kid in town]

Nice to know we're still growing in terms of permits

[habs33]

Partial closure of West Main Street traffic circle

A partial closure of the West Main Street traffic circle in Moncton will lead to some delays.

City officials say the closure, which begins Monday, Oct. 21, is needed to install new sanitary sewer.

There will be no access to Main Street from Findlay Boulevard. Traffic will be detoured through St. George Boulevard.
City officials said the work is expected to continue until Tuesday, Nov. 19.

[MonctonRad]

Well, this explains that weird little bit of new paving they laid down the other week at the northbound exit to Wheeler off of the traffic circle. The orientation of this bit of paving now makes sense!

[MonctonRad]

More residency opportunities could mean more doctors in N.B., Saint John med student says
Dalhousie spokesperson says funding, projected need, training capacity determine residencies
Jennifer Sweet · CBC News · Posted: Oct 20, 2024 6:00 AM ADT | Last Updated: October 20
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/sj-nb-mansa-medical-student-opportunit-1.7356009

According to the provincial Health Department, current in-province residency opportunities include internal medicine in Saint John and Moncton, family medicine in Saint John, Fredericton, Greater Moncton and Miramichi, integrated family and emergency medicine in Saint John, and psychiatry in Moncton.

I agree with this 1000%

Med school and residency represents a 9-11 year commitment (after a basic four year undergraduate degree). This is a long time, with graduates in their early 30s by the time everything is finished. During this time relationships have been established, marriages have occurred and families started. People get very attached to where they have lived and have trained. Most graduates do not want to move. When I finished my residency, I didn't want to leave Halifax, but, at the time, there were no opportunities, so I came to Moncton. Now, at a time of desperate shortages, people DO have the opportunity to stay and practice where they have been trained. This makes it even harder to recruit in communities without residency training programs.

It is hard to establish a fully accredited residency training program. You need a large teaching hospital providing multiple specialty services and, a diverse patient population with a variety of interesting diseases so that experience can be gained. happily, Moncton has two such hospitals, both university affiliated.

There are residency programs already established at both the Moncton and Dumont hospitals in both family medicine and internal medicine, and, psychiatry at the Dumont. Both hospitals also offer rotations for residents in other disciplines to gain experience here (for example an orthopedics rotation for Halifax based residents at the Moncton Hospital, and a neurosurgery rotation at the Moncton Hospital in conjunction with the University of Toronto.)

Smaller more subspecialized programs will be difficult to establish here because you need a volume of work to become competent. Ophthalmology or ENT training therefore will always be only in Halifax But, there is room for growth in larger specialties like general surgery. This should actively be pursued by the province and by the health authorities.

I look forward to seeing future growth of The Moncton Hospital as a teaching centre. We have nearly 30 medical students and residents based at the hospital now. I look forward to a time when we could have 50, 60 or even more.

[habs33]

For anyone interested, the City is doing a survey for a Riverfront Master Plan

The City of Moncton is currently working to develop a Riverfront Master Plan.

The goal of the plan is to capitalize on the unique natural setting of the Petitcodiac riverfront, while also capturing community, social, cultural, and economic opportunities to integrate the riverfront with the downtown and to cement the riverfront as an exceptional and signature City of Moncton experience and destination.

https://letschatmoncton.ca/riverfront-master-plan

[new kid in town]

Was just about to post the survey link as well.

[MonctonRad]

I would highly recommend everyone affiliated with SSP to fill out this form to combat the toxic influence of the "Gang of 34" and their ilk. You just know what their plans would be, and it would not include thoughtful development of the riverfront (preserving natural spaces) but, at the same time, creating a new "people place" increasing intensification of use.

If you want a riverfront responsive to all, and a riverfront that is lively and active, then fill this questionnaire out.

[jonny golden]

I think a key component will be the linking of Main Street to the riverfront - currently they seem to be disconnected. I'm not sure what would be the best way to do that, but I hope they can successfully address it.

One of the features I really like about the Gateway is the walk through that takes you right to the riverfront trail.

[MonctonRad]

Gateway Towers is designed to enhance and promote connectivity. Once Ashford/Downing gets going, this will accomplish the same. This will give eastern and western entrances to the Riverfront Park.

[MonctonianSentinel01]

So what does anyone think the deal is with less people coming to SENB and now having a rent control soon to be put in order. Is this going to cancel and/or reduce the height of certain buildings, or builds all together? Or will this not affect much?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by MonctonianSentinel01

So what does anyone think the deal is with less people coming to SENB and now having a rent control soon to be put in order. Is this going to cancel and/or reduce the height of certain buildings, or builds all together? Or will this not affect much?

Good question.

I think Moncton will continue to grow. The momentum is real. I'm not sure if rent controls will have much effect on new construction. A new build can have an initial rent as high as they want. Since there will be very little maintenance necessary on a new build for 10-15 years, the pressure for rent increases will not be as high as with buildings requiring renovations after 25 years or so.

Also, any rent control implementation will be only temporary. Things might be entirely different in 10 years time.

[lirette]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Good question.

I think Moncton will continue to grow. The momentum is real. I'm not sure if rent controls will have much effect on new construction. A new build can have an initial rent as high as they want. Since there will be very little maintenance necessary on a new build for 10-15 years, the pressure for rent increases will not be as high as with buildings requiring renovations after 25 years or so.

Also, any rent control implementation will be only temporary. Things might be entirely different in 10 years time.

I would expect that the incoming BOC rate cut announcement and elimination of provincial sales tax on new builds would have a much bigger impact on stimulating growth than rent controls could dampen it.

[jonny golden]

I would expect that the incoming BOC rate cut announcement and elimination of provincial sales tax on new builds would have a much bigger impact on stimulating growth than rent controls could dampen it.

I totally agree. The interest rates have dropped by 25 basis points at each of the last three announcements by the Bank of Canada. And I've read that it could drop by another 50 basis points tomorrow, as well as further rate cuts until mid 2025.

When you're talking multi million dollar projects, it's a significant factor. It could be one of the reasons why projects like St. Bernard's, and The Junction (phase 3) haven't started yet. The timing for the Ashford and ICON Infinity projects starting is also working out nicely in their favour.

And the provincial tax factor is another major factor.

Sept 21st:

“We will eliminate the 10% provincial sales tax on multi-unit housing construction. This will spur the development of more housing projects throughout the province,” said Liberal Leader Susan Holt.

[MonctonianSentinel01]

Originally Posted by lirette

I would expect that the incoming BOC rate cut announcement and elimination of provincial sales tax on new builds would have a much bigger impact on stimulating growth than rent controls could dampen it.

Yeah that'll definitely give it a bump and do some good for sure. I think that no tax on new builds was a good move as well.

[MonctonRad]

I just completed my response to the Riverfront Master Plan survey. We need more forward thinking people to do the same, and to drown out the "Gang of 34." Please participate.

[jonny golden]

As expected, the Bank of Canada cut the interest rate by 50 basis points today. There is one more rate announcement this year. (Dec. 11th)

Now if the new Liberal government can (ASAP) eliminate the 10% provincial sales tax on multi-unit housing construction, it will really help set the stage for some of these large projects that have been announced but have been on hold.

I'd really like to see the Junction developers proceed with their next phase, and that they'd come out with a major project along Main Street incorporating the two abutting lots that they acquired in 2022. That corner really needs a signature building.

[habs33]

The city is also doing a Electric Mobility survey

https://letschatmoncton.ca/electric-mobility

[Photo1]

Originally Posted by habs33

For anyone interested, the City is doing a survey for a Riverfront Master Plan


https://letschatmoncton.ca/riverfront-master-plan

Definitely filled this out, was recently walking the "Sea Wall" in downtown Vancouver and it is spectacular...grass/treed parks, next to elevated paved right/left bike lanes, next to paved walking trail, next to harbor/water. Public washrooms, shops, bike/e-bike rentals, all leading to Stanley Park...it's 22km of incredible trail system in the down town of a massive city.

This is a great model and could totally work on our waterfront. It's very active, I even saw a lot of people using it in the rain.

[sailor734]

Note the separate paths for bikes and pedestrians. Harbour Passage is Saint John should have been designed with this. Moncton would do well to consider it moving forward. If the push to encourage active transportation works volume will go up and it will become an issue.

Interesting debate from Vancouver on how much commercialization should be allow on urban waterfront walkways/passages/trails.

https://urbanarium.org/city-debate-13-commercialize-seawall-video