[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[MonctonRad]

$8 & $17 million for new market, convention centre and riverfront amenities

This is not much money for what the city envisions. I suspect federal and provincial contributions are also expected.

In addition, this is money budgeted for the 2025 fiscal year. As such, this is probably just phase one of this project.

Finally, this money is only for the public portion of the Ashford/Downing project. For what Ashford wants to build, we might be talking $100M or more.......

[MaritimerJAB]

A new restaurant is coming to 880 Main street. They claim to be offering something new to the market. La Pottazza seems to offer a unique take on potato and pizza fusion
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569474746485&mibextid=ZbWKwL

[lirette]

Originally Posted by MaritimerJAB

A new restaurant is coming to 880 Main street. They claim to be offering something new to the market. La Pottazza seems to offer a unique take on potato and pizza fusion
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569474746485&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Email address listed for the account is the mama's restaurant email, so likely just the owners opening up another spot. My early assessment from the pictures and graphics is that this looks more like something a young kid would make after coming home from the bar. Now perhaps thats the crowd they are hoping to get given the location.

I'm not really convinced when they are calling it "first of its kind" food. This is just a typical potato skins type dish you see at many pubs with a few pizza toppings on it.

Nevertheless always happy to see a vacancy filled downtown and Elian always seemed like a really nice guy who continues to expand his horizons in the city so I wish him the best with this one.

[MonctonRad]

St. George Street Improvement Plan

St. George Street has the potential to be a vibrant and inviting corridor that will serve as a focal point for the city’s cultural, social, and economic life. This project aims to foster community engagement and transform St. George Street into a pedestrian and active transportation friendly environment with an emphasis on enhancing the streetscape and promoting local businesses.


Project Scope

The project zone spans the entire 1.9 km stretch of St. George Street from Vaughan Harvey Boulevard to King Street. The street hosts a blend of commercial and residential properties, including retail shops, restaurants, apartment buildings, and townhouses.


Background

The 2008 St. George Street Concept Plan created a vision for St. George Street as one of Moncton’s premier destinations, functioning as a dynamic urban hub for both residents and businesses. The 2013 St. George Street Improvement Plan provided a further series of short-term streetscape improvement projects including sidewalks and curb replacements along the street and a series of guidelines to give St. George Street a unique character based on the 2008 conceptual plan. Phase 2 of the Active Transportation Plan, adopted in 2022, recommended a bike lane on St. George Street to connect the street and downtown area to the future citywide active transportation network. A 2023 study evaluated the potential addition of this recommended bike lane within the street’s design, however, it was considered that an overarching vision and concept for the future of St. George should be developed instead. The planned replacement of ageing sewer infrastructure under the street makes this an opportune time to envision the future of St. George Street and plan for above-ground reinstatements that balance the needs of all users for the decades to come.

We're looking at an Improvement Plan to build on previous studies and prepare three redevelopment scenarios for the implementation of a multi-year revitalization project. The scenarios will explore innovative approaches that treat the street as a space for people, as well as accommodate the movement of residents and visitors in the downtown core without using a car. Active transportation will be at the heart of the options for the St. George Improvement Plan, shaping a space where moving on foot, by bike, with mobility-aid devices, by e-scooter and e-bike, or skating and rolling, is the best experience possible.



How you can participate

Community engagement is a key aspect of this project and will help shape a streetscape that reflects the local community’s needs and aspirations. There are multiple opportunities for local community members and stakeholders to participate in this project during the first phase of engagement:

Drop-in office hours at the Aberdeen Cultural Centre from Dec. 3-5:

Dec. 3 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Open House at the Aberdeen Cultural Centre on Dec. 4 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Pop-up at the Holiday Night Market on Dec. 5 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Online survey (live early 2025 – stay tuned!)

Stakeholder group discussions with local businesses and service providers in early 2025

https://letschatmoncton.ca/st-george-street-improvement-plan

The city is apparently updating the master plan for St. George Street and is re-engaging the public for more input. It appears they plan on doubling down on pedestrianization of the street and the promotion of active transportation.

While generally supportive of the concept, St. George Street is not like Downing Street. The latter lends itself quite well to improving the pedestrian realm, but St. George is a major through street in the downtown. They should not go out of their way to impede vehicular flow. Great care is necessary in implementation.

Thoughts???

[MonctonGoldenTri]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

St. George Street Improvement Plan



https://letschatmoncton.ca/st-george-street-improvement-plan

The city is apparently updating the master plan for St. George Street and is re-engaging the public for more input. It appears they plan on doubling down on pedestrianization of the street and the promotion of active transportation.

While generally supportive of the concept, St. George Street is not like Downing Street. The latter lends itself quite well to improving the pedestrian realm, but St. George is a major through street in the downtown. They should not go out of their way to impede vehicular flow. Great care is necessary in implementation.

Thoughts???

IMO they need to do 2 things:
#1 move the harvest house & CO.
#2 rezone a section for retail/resto zone ONLY.

50% of the business's aren't retail/resto which isn't attractive if you want to draw more people. They should at the very least rezone a section of St-George for retail/resto only to create a nice shopping district.

[MonctonRad]

The west end of St. George Street is nearly a lost cause. Smarter people than me will have to come up with a plan, but, whatever they decide will have to include reclaiming this portion of the street from the homeless and derelict population.

I agree about gentrifying a portion of St. George. The central portion of the street has some redeeming characteristics and a few interesting retail shops and restaurants. I would start the rehabilitation here, and then gradually work towards the east and the west.

Improving the pedestrian realm and adding an active transportation corridor is probably a good idea, but, we need to maintain two way vehicular traffic too. This will mean a bit of a road diet, and, probably limiting on street parking to one side of the street. This would likely be an acceptable compromise.

Relocating all overhead lines and services underground should be mandatory.

[lirette]

What St George needs is a couple of high quality condo developments to kickstart things. It's got some of monctons best local businesses Brix experience, Epoch Chemistry, Dolma, but the rest is all pretty stagnant. I'm not sure if I see anything in the pipeline though unfortunately.

Part of the reason for the stagnation though is something I've brought up before. It's distance from main Street is too far with how the connecting streets are laid out. Streets like Highfield in theory are good connectors but in practice they are extremely dark at night, have very few businesses and some of the houses aren't maintained. Thus they feel unsafe. The Hilton was a nice addition, but more needs to be done to create an environment where people who want to walk and explore downtown include both main st and St George in their itinerary. Most people going to St George park at the business they are going to.

I park on St George st nearly every cats game, I dont worry about the walk back and forth to Avenir, but I can't say it's a great experience either.

[MonctonRad]

I agree with everything you said. I've made the point myself that the street lighting on Highfield should be upgraded. It is surprisingly dark given the fact it is a north-south connector that leads directly to the Avenir Centre. They should make sure upgrading Highfield is a major part of the St. George Street makeover.

The section of St. George that requires special care is the section two blocks on either side of Highfield Street. This is where the most interesting shops and restaurants are.

You are quite right that the best way to build a lively street is with a resident population. Mixed use residential (low to mid rise) should absolutely be encouraged.

And, I'll say it again, they can't turn St. George soley into a pedestrian/cyclist paradise. Two way vehicular traffic will have to be maintained to facilitate visitation from other parts of the city, and to encourage residential development along the thoroughfare. You might have a condo on St. George, but you might also have a car, and will want a street so that you can access your underground parking.

Finally, vehicular access is important for business deliveries. Cycling activists sometimes forget this.........

We're looking at an Improvement Plan to build on previous studies and prepare three redevelopment scenarios for the implementation of a multi-year revitalization project. The scenarios will explore innovative approaches that treat the street as a space for people, as well as accommodate the movement of residents and visitors in the downtown core without using a car. Active transportation will be at the heart of the options for the St. George Improvement Plan, shaping a space where moving on foot, by bike, with mobility-aid devices, by e-scooter and e-bike, or skating and rolling, is the best experience possible.

This paragraph has me very concerned. It seems to treat the car as the common enemy.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by lirette

What St George needs is a couple of high quality condo developments to kickstart things. It's got some of monctons best local businesses Brix experience, Epoch Chemistry, Dolma, but the rest is all pretty stagnant. I'm not sure if I see anything in the pipeline though unfortunately.

Probably better to start with rental apartments rather than condos.

[lirette]

Originally Posted by OliverD

Probably better to start with rental apartments rather than condos.

I should have just said large residential developments. Rentals are more likely for sure. Id just like to see something with some height and quality to attract more gentrification of the street.

[jonny golden]

It's too bad that it wasn't a good property developer who purchased the Delux building and the adjacent lots a couple of years ago. It's a nice sized piece of land that could be developed.

[MonctonRad]

I just shared my thoughts with the city regarding the St. George Street Improvement Plan on Let's Chat Moncton. I encourage other to do the same.

"The scenarios will explore innovative approaches that treat the street as a space for people, as well as accommodate the movement of residents and visitors in the downtown core without using a car. Active transportation will be at the heart of the options for the St. George Improvement Plan, shaping a space where moving on foot, by bike, with mobility-aid devices, by e-scooter and e-bike, or skating and rolling, is the best experience possible."

I find the tenor of this paragraph in the proposal somewhat concerning. It seems to view the motor vehicle as the enemy. I am supportive of active transportation and thoughtful pedestrianization where appropriate. Your plans for Downing Street are very well thought out. BUT, St. George Street is NOT Downing Street. It is a principal cross town connector in the downtown core. Two way vehicular traffic and some on street parking MUST be maintained to encourage visitation from elsewhere in the metro area, to maintain connectivity and to allow for deliveries to local businesses. In addition, a major factor in enlivening St. George Street should be to encourage mixed use densification including a larger resident population. People occupying new apartment buildings along St. George Street may have personal motor vehicles and would want vehicular access to underground parking. I accept that a "road diet" is on the way, with narrower lanes and limiting on street parking to one side of the street. This would allow for bicycle lanes and a more pleasant pedestrian experience BUT, please do this thoughtfully, keeping the importance of the personal motor vehicle in mind.

[Audevourahn]

One of Moncton's own, The Timeister, is creating a series where he builds Moncton in Cities Skylines 2! I can't wait to see how he does! He used the map I created for the game of the city too!

https://youtu.be/0GmuPreTwbo?si=96zDM73cGrPNm0--

[reflist]

Originally Posted by Audevourahn

One of Moncton's own, The Timeister, is creating a series where he builds Moncton in Cities Skylines 2! I can't wait to see how he does! He used the map I created for the game of the city too!

https://youtu.be/0GmuPreTwbo?si=96zDM73cGrPNm0--

Oh thats so exciting to watch! I love the first game so much, never really tried this version.

[MonctonRad]

New apartment building proposal for 30 Waterloo Street. This building will be six stories tall, and will be in the immediate neighbourhood of the Three Sisters and the Gateway Towers. The densification and gentrification of this neighbourhood continues to rapidly progress!

Application to construct a six-storey apartment building at 30 Waterloo Street. The apartment building will consist of 77 residential units.

The property is zoned CBD (Central Business District) and requires the following applications:

Conditional Use Application
To permit the underground parking garage below the minimum 10.5m geodetic elevation.

Variance Application
To remove the requirement to step the building back within 10m of the street.

Locator map:


Site plan:


Rendering:


When all the dust settles, this will make six substantial apartment buildings in a small three block area. There should also be a seventh apartment building across the street from this one, assuming that Lafford has substantial plans for the old Tim Horton's property on Albert Street. This whole neighbourhood used to be "on the other side of the tracks" (both literally and figuratively). Things seem to be changing.

[Riberview]

Still that pesky shelter on Albert St to deal with unfortunately

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

New apartment building proposal for 30 Waterloo Street. This building will be six stories tall, and will be in the immediate neighbourhood of the Three Sisters and the Westgate Towers. The densification and gentrification of this neighbourhood continues to rapidly progress!

When all the dust settles, this will make six substantial apartment buildings in a small three block area. There should also be a seventh apartment building across the street from this one, assuming that Lafford has substantial plans for the old Tim Horton's property on Albert Street. This whole neighbourhood used to be "on the other side of the tracks" (both literally and figuratively). Things seem to be changing.

Who is building this one?

I've always been fascinated by the brick warehouse at Euston and Albert. It would make incredible office space or a restaurant/bar. Massive windows.

Same with the city owned 'park' land between this project and Assomption. Is that old dump land or could it be developed? Could fit 100 units easy, even at just 6 floors. Needs a sidewalk between Foundry and Euston regardless.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Who is building this one?

I've always been fascinated by the brick warehouse at Euston and Albert. It would make incredible office space or a restaurant/bar. Massive windows.

Same with the city owned 'park' land between this project and Assomption. Is that old dump land or could it be developed? Could fit 100 units easy, even at just 6 floors. Needs a sidewalk between Foundry and Euston regardless.

Seville Properties is putting up this building.

I believe the land behind this proposal (adjacent to Assumption Blvd ) is considered wetland. This does not prohibit development, but would require infill, and, the province would have to be compensated for the loss of wetland.

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Seville Properties is putting up this building.

I believe the land behind this proposal (adjacent to Assumption Blvd ) is considered wetland. This does not prohibit development, but would require infill, and, the province would have to be compensated for the loss of wetland.

Really? Seems like the same elevation and PAOL doesn't mark it as such. Not disputing you, but it just looks like a bog standard vacant urban lot to my layman's eye.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Really? Seems like the same elevation and PAOL doesn't mark it as such. Not disputing you, but it just looks like a bog standard vacant urban lot to my layman's eye.

It doesn't take much for wetland designation these days.