The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[KnoxfordGuy]

Love to see it!!!

[cdnguys]

[cdnguys]

There is a street renaming item on council agenda, mentioning two 20 unit buildings that were approved off of Roxbury Dr. I don’t remember any proposal though. Maybe it’s an approved building permit as it’s all apartments up there anyhow.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

That's really going to be a place with an interesting view! Unfortunately, the 3 storey apartment building beside this are going to lose their view, but such is the price of progress.

[cdnguys]

CBC NB news article about Rothesay development by Kent. It is indeed same developer as The Landmark in SJ.

[bingun]

Main Street improvements on time, under budget: project manager

https://tj.news/saint-john-south/main-street-improvements-on-time-under-budget-project-manager

Engineer and project manager Jill DeMerchant told Brunswick News the project is operating on time and should be completed by the end of August or mid-September, barring any weather, equipment or material delays. Nothing has come up during construction that has required extra funding, she said.

[irisheyes]

Originally Posted by bingun

Main Street improvements on time, under budget: project manager

https://tj.news/saint-john-south/main-street-improvements-on-time-under-budget-project-manager

A lot of good in this to be sure. But I wouldn't want to be caught stepping out of a storefront as a bicycle rushes by on the multi-use pathway portion. I wonder what logistical dilemma caused that decision because it not only looks foolish but seems practically unwise as well.

One would hope these kinds of projects bring a sort of sober modesty to the professional bureaucrats or planners out there having gone from advocating for the destruction of the Main Street neighbourhood in the 50s and 60s to then attempting to backpedal (pun intended) with initiatives such as this one.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by irisheyes

A lot of good in this to be sure. But I wouldn't want to be caught stepping out of a storefront as a bicycle rushes by on the multi-use pathway portion. I wonder what logistical dilemma caused that decision because it not only looks foolish but seems practically unwise as well.

One would hope these kinds of projects bring a sort of sober modesty to the professional bureaucrats or planners out there having gone from advocating for the destruction of the Main Street neighbourhood in the 50s and 60s to then attempting to backpedal (pun intended) with initiatives such as this one.

Yeah, Bikes and pedestrians don't mix.....especially with the proliferation of E Bikes that cruise at 25kph or more. In China Ebikes are called "the silent killers" for a reason.

[bingun]

The proposed development up by Michael Crescent is also up for sale. The lot sold for $75K in 2023.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/28654855/lot-loch-lomond-road-saint-john

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by bingun

The proposed development up by Michael Crescent is also up for sale. The lot sold for $75K in 2023.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/28654855/lot-loch-lomond-road-saint-john

Any thoughts on this practice of getting things project ready then selling them? I have mixed feelings but curious what others think

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by bingun

The proposed development up by Michael Crescent is also up for sale. The lot sold for $75K in 2023.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/28654855/lot-loch-lomond-road-saint-john

1840% appreciation in 2 years seems decent.

Seriously, the city needs to come up with a plan that identifies bone fide developers and lets them get projects approved while screening out speculators who sit on development land. Maybe when you put land up for sale it should be reassessed at the asking price?

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

CBC NB news article about Rothesay development by Kent. It is indeed same developer as The Landmark in SJ.

Whole new neighbourhood proposed for Rothesay, with 1,277 housing units



Saw that. I think this is exactly what Saint John needs more of... developers from outside the province coming here and bringing fresh perspectives and bigger ideas to a city and region with so much untapped potential for development.

I wonder, did Parsi Development NB ltd from the 300 Sydney St proposal rebrand as Landmark 661 Ltd? Or are these just two LLCs owned by the same group of developers and investors?

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

I have to say I find Parsi/Landmark's proposals and approach to development in the Saint John Region to be a breath of fresh air and optimism, and hope they can prove their doubters like UptownAdam wrong and actually get their projects built, even ones like Serenity Landing which he claims is "absolutely speculation".

Sometimes speculation can turn into reality, all that is needed is investors who believe in the idea and see the value. I think their Serenity lane proposal looks great and has an even better location, directly adjacent to the main West Side shopping hub.

Would love to see Parsi/Landmark propose something even bigger for the West Side, like 300 Sydney, that could really take advantage of the West Side's location beside the sea, and close proximity to shopping.

Living off Fairville blvd. would be a more walkable location than Uptown in terms of shopping and every day needs, since there's already good public transit, two large grocery stores, a wal-mart, a gym, multiple pharmacies, restaurants, cafes, and a lot of other retail... the only thing that has been missing from Fairville blvd, is the apartments and the residents. The only thing to mock about Aquarius Towers is the name. The idea to build up apartments on Fairville blvd is commendable, and something that I hope we see more of.

I wish these developers luck, and hope they can find more investors from outside the province to invest in projects here in Canada's oldest city, which remains the 5th largest costal CMA in Canada, with the 4th largest port, that is now being described as the fastest growing container port in North America.

[cdnguys]

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[lajthabalazs]

Originally Posted by irisheyes

A lot of good in this to be sure. But I wouldn't want to be caught stepping out of a storefront as a bicycle rushes by on the multi-use pathway portion. I wonder what logistical dilemma caused that decision because it not only looks foolish but seems practically unwise as well.

I think it was the need for parking spots that reduced the available space, and didn't allow for a sidewalk wide enough for wheelchairs and a bicycle lane of proper width.

I think what can save the design is that the section is uphill, the slop will have a "traffic calming" effect. Plus there will be traffic lights, so a portion of the time, cyclists will come to that section from a stand-still. Not ideal, I would have chosen to remove the lane separator, to gain the extra width. Or made Main Street 2 + 1 lanes (two going from Uptown to North End, and one the other way). Two single lanes were enough during construction, it will be enough in the long run.

[lajthabalazs]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Living off Fairville blvd. would be a more walkable location than Uptown in terms of shopping and every day needs, since there's already good public transit, two large grocery stores, a wal-mart, a gym, multiple pharmacies, restaurants, cafes, and a lot of other retail... the only thing that has been missing from Fairville blvd, is the apartments and the residents.

Technically Fairville blvd is a walkable location, but I wouldn't compare the pedestrian experience to Uptown. It's a high traffic strode, running parallel to a highway, and to get to Walmart one has to cross another road that feeds into an interchange. After having lived 1km away from a highway, with a direct view on it, never again. Fairwille blvd is within 200m, and direct visibility from the upper floors. Rail is also pretty close. And the increased harbor volume will increase traffic on both.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by lajthabalazs

Technically Fairville blvd is a walkable location, but I wouldn't compare the pedestrian experience to Uptown. It's a high traffic strode, running parallel to a highway, and to get to Walmart one has to cross another road that feeds into an interchange. After having lived 1km away from a highway, with a direct view on it, never again. Fairwille blvd is within 200m, and direct visibility from the upper floors. Rail is also pretty close. And the increased harbor volume will increase traffic on both.

I'd agree. To me Fairville Blvd is very much a commercial/light industrial strip like Rothesay Ave. Multilane traffic and acres of asphalt parking lots. Very much NOT on a pedestrian scale. Neither urban or suburban residential, I don't see it as a desirable residential area at all.

[nwalbert]

Originally Posted by sailor734

I'd agree. To me Fairville Blvd is very much a commercial/light industrial strip like Rothesay Ave. Multilane traffic and acres of asphalt parking lots. Very much NOT on a pedestrian scale. Neither urban or suburban residential, I don't see it as a desirable residential area at all.

I grew up on the west side and my initial thought would have been, not a great place to live as well. However, using just a tiny bit of vision I agree that it just lacks apartments and people.

It is essentially surrounded on three sides by residential. The area is all retail, including grocery, restaurants, gym, and a Wal-Mart.

With a few more apartment buildings, it could be a great walkable neighborhood. Quaint and cozy? Probably not, but a a desirable urban neighborhood, sure.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by nwalbert

I grew up on the west side and my initial thought would have been, not a great place to live as well. However, using just a tiny bit of vision I agree that it just lacks apartments and people.

It is essentially surrounded on three sides by residential. The area is all retail, including grocery, restaurants, gym, and a Wal-Mart.

With a few more apartment buildings, it could be a great walkable neighborhood. Quaint and cozy? Probably not, but a a desirable urban neighborhood, sure.

Well, to each their own, but even with a bunch of apartment buildings it would be pretty far down my list of attractive places to live.

[bridgeoftea]

Originally Posted by nwalbert

I grew up on the west side and my initial thought would have been, not a great place to live as well. However, using just a tiny bit of vision I agree that it just lacks apartments and people.

It is essentially surrounded on three sides by residential. The area is all retail, including grocery, restaurants, gym, and a Wal-Mart.

With a few more apartment buildings, it could be a great walkable neighborhood. Quaint and cozy? Probably not, but a a desirable urban neighborhood, sure.

There's definitely room for many many more buildings like the Aquarius towers popping up along Fairville. As to the point above, they'll never be nice, walkable streets with store fronts along the side walk. At worst I could see them give it the Main Street overhaul with a center meridian with trees and bike lines.

In a different time I could see Lower West around King street getting a revamp. It has quite a lot of potential of a road diet, adding some taller apartments there.

Say it quietly but if you get Lower West having it's own vibrant quarter, maybe that's where any thought of a potential passenger ferry to uptown comes in. Launch it at 139 Riverview and put it right at the Pugsley Wharf between container village and fundy quay.