[Moncton] Northwest/Magnetic Hill Developments

[MonctonRad]

Site prep has started on a large lot on DesBrisay Street in the MID West Industrial Park, just to the west of Greystone Energy Systems (also under construction), and, across the street from JessEm Tools.

No word yet on who the tenant will be, but, this is a large combo lot, so it will be something substantial.

The existing portion of MID West is now about 90% full. I fully expect phase two of MID West to begin construction next year (2025). This will entail extending Horsman to Delong Drive, with a new overpass over the CNR mainline. Additional roadwork will be done, as well as service installation.Land has already been sold in phase 2 for a couple of very large mystery tenants. They obviously won't be starting construction until 2026-27, but, hopefully we might find out who these enterprises will be.


Phase 1 of the MID West expansion. The two large lots are for the mystery tenants.

[MonctonRad]

There is something definitely afoot at the Lounsbury Centre in the last vacant CRU next to BMO in the centre of the plaza. The for lease sign has been removed from the window, there were two electrical contractor trucks parked out front today, and I saw a worker entering the unit.

[drewber]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

There is something definitely afoot at the Lounsbury Centre in the last vacant CRU next to BMO in the centre of the plaza. The for lease sign has been removed from the window, there were two electrical contractor trucks parked out front today, and I saw a worker entering the unit.

Hoping for a philthy Phil's they just opened in Freddy

[MonctonRad]

I just checked the Blueberry Commercial Real Estate website, confirming this space has been leased.

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

There is something definitely afoot at the Lounsbury Centre in the last vacant CRU next to BMO in the centre of the plaza. The for lease sign has been removed from the window, there were two electrical contractor trucks parked out front today, and I saw a worker entering the unit.

The store manager of Scholar's Choice that's in this plaza has confirmed that Knots Jiu Jitsu is moving to this location. She confirmed it in the comments on the post over on Retail Talk & Share group.

[MonctonRad]

Reported in Retail Talk and Share:



A proposal was presented to city council for a new development on Queensway Drive (near Mapleton Road exit from the TCH) for a new highway service centre including a gas station, Fen's Market, Denny's and Starbucks. Judging from the colours, I would say the gas station will likely be a Petro-Canada.

This will likely be very popular and a major traffic generator. They will have to align the Queensway/Northwood intersection with Mapleton Road, and signalize the intersection, or, the Mapleton exit from the TCH. There is already traffic chaos here. We can't make it worse. There are already two hotels on Queensway/Northwood (Holiday Inn Express & Hampton Inn), and construction of a third hotel is imminent (Home 2 Suites by Hilton).

In any event, Denny's is finally coming to Moncton, and will be entering a crowded market for breakfast/diner food.

[MonctonRad]

This would appear to be immediately adjacent to the westbound offramp at the TCH/Mapleton interchange, and, immediately across the road from the Holiday Inn Express.

[MonctonRad]

From the most recent Moncton City Council minutes:

7.1 Introduction – Municipal Plan Amendment, 70 Queensway Drive
Motion: That Administration recommends that Moncton City Council proceed with proposed Municipal Plan amendment Z-122.12 by:

1. Giving first reading to the Municipal Plan amendment;
2. Setting a Public Presentation for February 3, 2025;
3. Referring the by-laws to the Planning Advisory Committee for its written views; and
4. Tentatively setting a Public Hearing for March 17, 2025.

The Municipal Plan Amendment, if approved, should be subject to a resolution with conditions including but not limited to:

1. The two properties, being PIDs 70638465 and 70638473, be consolidated prior to the issuance of
a development permit;
2. Any exterior lighting shall be arranged to divert light away from adjacent streets and adjacent lots;
3. The landscaping be completed, as per the site plan attached as Schedule B, no later than one
year following the issuance of a development permit;
4. That all uses of land pursuant to this agreement shall conform with the provisions of the City of
Moncton Zoning By-law, as amended from time to time, except as otherwise provided herein;
5. That notwithstanding Table 13.1 of the Zoning By-law, service stations are permitted as-of-right;
6. That nothing contained herein shall prohibit or in any way limit the Developer’s right to apply for a
variance pursuant to the provisions of the Community Planning Act; and
7. The development shall be carried out in general conformance with the plans and drawings

submitted as Schedule B.
Moved by: Councillor Edgett
Seconded by: Councillor Bourgeois
MOTION CARRIED

They have already agreed to amend the municipal plan for this development. There was no mention of any traffic improvements. I suppose this could be dealt with as a separate matter.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

This would appear to be immediately adjacent to the westbound offramp at the TCH/Mapleton interchange, and, immediately across the road from the Holiday Inn Express.

I had noticed this land had recently sold. I figured it had something to do with the proposed industrial park so I didn’t look into it. This should be successful, and will a major competitor to the nearby IHOP.

They will almost certainly need to improve the TCH exit here. I think a triple roundabout would be the way to go here. One on each exit intersection and one at Queensway Dr. & Northwood Rd. intersection.

[MonctonRad]

Public notice is now up on the city's website regarding this proposal:

https://www5.moncton.ca/docs/pac/PAC/February_26_2025/6a_70_Queensway_Drive_Avis_Public_Notice.pdf

They are planning a roundabout at the junction of the westbound TCH offramp and onramp at Mapleton Road.

There is no mention of realigning the Northwood/Queensway intersection with Mapleton. This is a major mistake.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Public notice is now up on the city's website regarding this proposal:

https://www5.moncton.ca/docs/pac/PAC/February_26_2025/6a_70_Queensway_Drive_Avis_Public_Notice.pdf

They are planning a roundabout at the junction of the westbound TCH offramp and onramp at Mapleton Road.

There is no mention of realigning the Northwood/Queensway intersection with Mapleton. This is a major mistake.

That’s just a recommendation by the city planning department. I imagine the NBDOT will have a much more comprehensive plan.

[Riberview]

I guess we can assume they'll make the roundabout big enough that tractor trailers will have no issue navigating it.

I mean I know they won't. But we can assume they will.

[MonctonRad]

I should note that the proposed Fen's/Starbucks/Denny's highway service centre on Queensway will include 10 EV charging stations. This is a good example of forward thinking on the part of the developers.

[MonctonRad]

Freddy's Pizza on Mountain Road near Wheeler has reopened following their fire last year.

[MonctonRad]

I have been made aware of a rumour that one of the two large lots that have been pre-sold in the MID West Industrial Park expansion will be for Armour Logistics. Apparently they intend to consolidate all (or a large part) of their operations into one large campus.

This actually makes a lot of sense. They are spread out over about six different sites in the main MID park. It would make sense to bring them all together.

I have a gut feeling this rumour may be true.



I don't know which of the two lots this might be.

[MonctonRad]

A rumour has arisen from an anonymous source regarding the possibility of a major new residential project in Moncton North, out by the casino.

The source mentioned two buildings, 15 & 16 storeys tall. More information may be available in the next month or two.

We will have to keep an eye on this one.

[jnaygull]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

A rumour has arisen from an anonymous source regarding the possibility of a major new residential project in Moncton North, out by the casino.

The source mentioned two buildings, 15 & 16 storeys tall. More information may be available in the next month or two.

We will have to keep an eye on this one.

That seems like a bizarre location to have buildings of that height. Why densify that area of town? I can see there being a bunch of NIMBYs if those are anywhere near houses.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by jnaygull

That seems like a bizarre location to have buildings of that height. Why densify that area of town? I can see there being a bunch of NIMBYs if those are anywhere near houses.

I would prefer the density downtown myself, but, I have enough information from my source to consider this a legitimate possibility. I can't say any more without compromising the source.

More will come to light in the next couple of months.

One things for sure, if we start seeing density like this out in Magnetic Hill, Sobeys will likely build on that piece of land they own next to the Home Furnishings store. There's enough land there for a nice retail plaza.

[Taeolas]

That areas been getting a lot of residential development in general in recent years. 30 stories worth of apartments (across 2 buildings) would be a somewhat natural continuation of that, even if that density would be better suited for the core.

And yeah, with all that development, a major grocery store or two would make sense, along with more retail options in general. Maybe a Giant Tiger would make sense in the medium future too.

[MonctonRad]

Greater Moncton is a multi-nodal city with distributed development. Some cities are like that. This is to the detriment of the core, but, gives residents lots of options.

Magnetic Hill is just becoming one of the more far flung nodes.