The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Agreed. Excellent repurposing. Will there be any nearby leased parking?

That was something I wondered......nice looking heritage building and a very central location but without parking......

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Does every apartment really need 1-2 accompanying parking spots?

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Does every apartment really need 1-2 accompanying parking spots?

Not every apartment no but most do. SJ is hardly midtown Manhattan or central London. Not having a car (and somewhere to put it) is a pretty significant drawback for most people in what I imagine this building's target market to be.

Having said that there are probably enough monthly spots within a block or so to accommodate these 16 units. Not the most convenient solution but better than nothing. Still, with only 16 units the building's footprint is probably large enough to accommodate 16+ spaces in the basement if you could get access from the rear with a ramp.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Not every apartment no but most do. SJ is hardly midtown Manhattan or central London.

No it’s not but Uptown Saint John isn’t the suburbs either. If we really see Uptown continue to densify, some ideas regarding parking minimums might have to be challenged. Like midtown Manhattan or San Francisco, a lot of the people and their cars parked in Uptown Saint John between 9-5 during the work week live elsewhere.

More underground parking and parkade solutions will be needed if we want to make the most of Uptown in terms of residential development, as well as consideration for some housing without parking spots.

And yeah, I don’t see parking being an issue m for this development if it’s only 16 units… I just mean in general, it would be good if more people living Uptown felt they could go car-less.

[bridgeoftea]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

No it’s not but Uptown Saint John isn’t the suburbs either. If we really see Uptown continue to densify, some ideas regarding parking minimums might have to be challenged. Like midtown Manhattan or San Francisco, a lot of the people and their cars parked in Uptown Saint John between 9-5 during the work week live elsewhere.

More underground parking and parkade solutions will be needed if we want to make the most of Uptown in terms of residential development, as well as consideration for some housing without parking spots.

And yeah, I don’t see parking being an issue m for this development if it’s only 16 units… I just mean in general, it would be good if more people living Uptown felt they could go car-less.

The only way to really get more car less people living uptown is to add a grocery store uptown. Outside of the market, you can't do a big shop uptown.

[cdnguys]

The block across the street has 700 covered parking spots, so there is plenty of parking. And covered parking is never free with newer buildings, with prices around $120-175 a month. Tenants can cross the street, enter B Sq and take elevator to car.

[bingun]

Getting a monthly off-street parking pass uptown is much more difficult than many realize.

I had a friend who moved uptown recently try to get a spot, and the majority of lots have very long waiting lists. They knew someone who worked for the parking commission, and they told them some of the prime lots (Germain/Canterbury, etc.) are at least a 3-4 year wait.

That being said, getting spaces in Market Square, Brunswick Square, or Peel Plaza is more realistic but a considerable walk, depending on where you are located.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by bingun

Getting a monthly off-street parking pass uptown is much more difficult than many realize.

I had a friend who moved uptown recently try to get a spot, and the majority of lots have very long waiting lists. They knew someone who worked for the parking commission, and they told them some of the prime lots (Germain/Canterbury, etc.) are at least a 3-4 year wait.

That being said, getting spaces in Market Square, Brunswick Square, or Peel Plaza is more realistic but a considerable walk, depending on where you are located.

Convenience enters into it as well. Nobody wants their car parked 100's of meters away from their house. Especially during bad weather or late at night.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Convenience enters into it as well. Nobody wants their car parked 100's of meters away from their house. Especially during bad weather or late at night.

This might have to change in the future… I believe you mentioned way back that there were close to 30,000 people living on the central peninsula a century ago… if we ever want to see even close to that type of density again, closeby parking spots might not be guaranteed for every apartment.

Originally Posted by bingun

Getting a monthly off-street parking pass uptown is much more difficult than many realize.

I had a friend who moved uptown recently try to get a spot, and the majority of lots have very long waiting lists. They knew someone who worked for the parking commission, and they told them some of the prime lots (Germain/Canterbury, etc.) are at least a 3-4 year wait.

That being said, getting spaces in Market Square, Brunswick Square, or Peel Plaza is more realistic but a considerable walk, depending on where you are located.

I assume that’s because a lot of uptown workers don’t live uptown or don’t even live in the city.


The city should be pushing for more parking garages and underground parking to be built, but also improving public transportation and active transportation options… along with getting a full fledged grocery store. Uptown is very walkable as is, but there’s still a lot that can be done to further improve the situation.

[bingun]

It has been a while since this was discussed, but I regularly drive past 210 Crown Street, and several vehicles have been consistently parked outside, with the occasional worker going back and forth. Yesterday afternoon, there were at least 10 vehicles, including a larger Uhaul truck. While no changes are visible from the outside, I assume they continue to progress internally.

I don't know much about the CAM Institute of Design, but I assume they have semesters similar to those of universities. Perhaps they would be aiming to be ready for September?

[DyAm00394]

I found this project page on Parsi Development Ltd.'s website for "The Landmark" (The project at 300 Sydney Street that went silent). It says "2024" for the year and the renderings on this webpage look a bit different from ones we've previously seen before? More updated looking and says 185 units vs. the original 180 units. https://parsidevelopment.com/portfolio-item/300-sydney/

This is also the same company that has the proposed Serenity Landing project at 730 Wilson Street & 15 O'brien Street: https://parsidevelopment.com/portfolio-item/serenity-landing/

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

I found this project page on Parsi Development Ltd.'s website for "The Landmark" (The project at 300 Sydney Street that went silent). It says "2024" for the year and the renderings on this webpage look a bit different from ones we've previously seen before? More updated looking and says 185 units vs. the original 180 units. https://parsidevelopment.com/portfolio-item/300-sydney/

This is also the same company that has the proposed Serenity Landing project at 730 Wilson Street & 15 O'brien Street: https://parsidevelopment.com/portfolio-item/serenity-landing/

Interesting. I found it quite weird how many local heavy hitters gave testimonials on the project's website, including Wayne Long, Don Darling, if I recall correctly, only for the project to go dark.








This project, along with whatever Lafford's development ends up building, will truly be catalytic projects to breath new life into the the south end of the central peninsula, and probably be enough to finally get something done regarding the former sugar refinery site nearby.

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

I found this project page on Parsi Development Ltd.'s website for "The Landmark" (The project at 300 Sydney Street that went silent). It says "2024" for the year and the renderings on this webpage look a bit different from ones we've previously seen before? More updated looking and says 185 units vs. the original 180 units. https://parsidevelopment.com/portfolio-item/300-sydney/

Update: According to the post on this over on Retail Talk and Share, a reliable source has apparently reached out and confirmed that the developers are looking very seriously at breaking ground this year.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

Update: According to the post on this over on Retail Talk and Share, a reliable source has apparently reached out and confirmed that the developers are looking very seriously at breaking ground this year.

Tremendous news.



I wonder which project will be topped out first, the Landmark, or the highrise at Fundy Quay?

My money is on the Landmark, even though Fundy Quay project has actually started.

[dhottawa729]

Interesting. This could have easily been a 30-storey building with that many units. Would have rather seen that density near Peel Plaza or at King Square for both the pedestrian activity it would add and also keeping a more clustered skyline, but can’t complain. Growth is good no matter what.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

I found this project page on Parsi Development Ltd.'s website for "The Landmark" (The project at 300 Sydney Street that went silent). It says "2024" for the year and the renderings on this webpage look a bit different from ones we've previously seen before? More updated looking and says 185 units vs. the original 180 units. https://parsidevelopment.com/portfolio-item/300-sydney/

This is also the same company that has the proposed Serenity Landing project at 730 Wilson Street & 15 O'brien Street: https://parsidevelopment.com/portfolio-item/serenity-landing/

Has something changed here? I thought these guys had been pretty much identified as small time developers from BC with a sparse track record who were probably in this as a land/project flip opportunity?

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Has something changed here? I thought these guys had been pretty much identified as small time developers from BC with a sparse track record who were probably in this as a land/project flip opportunity?

The developer is a local business man with out of province partners.

[sailor734]

Do we know if any of the "previous projects" on their site have actually been built? Most seem to be just renderings (no photos of completed buildings) The website seems to be lacking much in the way hard information on completed projects.

[bingun]

The TJ has an article on the potential Peel Plaza development.

https://tj.news/saint-john-south/non-profit-exploring-peel-plaza-for-affordable-housing

Singh said the property will present its own challenges to develop. Although the builders put in the structural support for a building on top floor, they did not add in any other necessities, such as fire escapes, he explained. It will be a challenge to put those in, he said.

They’ll also have to determine the logistics of incorporating a parking garage for entry and access within a residential building.

“All those things will have to be designed into (the proposal),” he said. “Also the layout of the whole property, where it’s located – we’re assuming the entry will be on the second level near the Justice Complex, but it will all come out in the wash when we get professionals looking at it.”

If the non-profit determines it’s a viable project, it will be getting the funding together for the viability study. After that, they’ll put together a funding package that may include funds from the Housing Accelerator Fund, or other sources of funding like the CMHC’s Affordable Housing Fund.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by bingun

The TJ has an article on the potential Peel Plaza development.

https://tj.news/saint-john-south/non-profit-exploring-peel-plaza-for-affordable-housing

Sounds like the perfect plan to copy for the parking situation and long term future of Wolastoq Park!


Build a parking garage, then add housing.