[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[MonctonRad]

(photo courtesy of Jeff Boucher).

The Flat Iron Building is back up for sale. I feel sorry for the developer who invested a fair amount of money to remediate this building only to see his investment come to naught.

As I said on the previous page, the city needs to be actively involved in finding a solution for this building and the Subway Block, or, this whole city block could be lost, along with two of the most architecturally interesting buildings in the downtown core.

[MonctonRad]

Jeff Boucher over at Retail Talk & Share has been playing around with AI, and came up with this concept of what the Subway Block and Flat Iron Building could look like with a little love and attention:



Just imagine how iconic this would be for the downtown core, especially with the adjacent CNR overpass.

He also came up with this hotel conversion for the vacant office building at 1222 Main.



A perfect use for this building, especially given the Avenir Centre next door.

I think he should submit his render to Hilton for their consideration!

[MonctonRad]

Moncton wants owner to fix heritage building at risk of collapse
City seeks court order for owner to dismantle St. Bernard’s rectory tower
Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Oct 24, 2025 6:00 AM ADT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/moncton-rectory-tower-court-9.6950473




You cam see cracks in the tower. Collapse is imminent if not fixed.

The building is currently owned by an anonymous Ontario company which wants to turn it into a restaurant and boutique hotel. This sounds like a nice plan, but, as a non local company, one always has to be concerned about their intentions and sincerity. The fencing around the building has been up for about a year, with no evidence of activity on the site.

This is one of my favourite buildings downtown. I hope a resolution comes soon. I had high hopes for this block, what with St. Bernard Church, the rectory and the planned St. Bernard Place development, but, the rectory is falling apart, and, there is radio silence on St. Bernard Place. Things are going to pot.............

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Jeff Boucher over at Retail Talk & Share has been playing around with AI, and came up with this concept of what the Subway Block and Flat Iron Building could look like with a little love and attention:



Just imagine how iconic this would be for the downtown core, especially with the adjacent CNR overpass.

All it's missing is a Subway! (restaurant)

[sailor734]

MonctonRad wrote

"You cam see cracks in the tower. Collapse is imminent if not fixed.

The building is currently owned by an anonymous Ontario company which wants to turn it into a restaurant and boutique hotel. This sounds like a nice plan, but, as a non local company, one always has to be concerned about their intentions and sincerity. The fencing around the building has been up for about a year, with no evidence of activity on the site.

This is one of my favourite buildings downtown. I hope a resolution comes soon. I had high hopes for this block, what with St. Bernard Church, the rectory and the planned St. Bernard Place development, but, the rectory is falling apart, and, there is radio silence on St. Bernard Place. Things are going to pot............."

I had wondered if this was the 18 story tower that appears to have stalled when I read the article. I assume this location is close but not the same site or developers?

[MonctonRad]

I had wondered if this was the 18 story tower that appears to have stalled when I read the article. I assume this location is close but not the same site or developers?

It is on the other side of the church from the proposed St. Bernard Place development.

[BlackYear]

The Subway Block

My thoughts. I don't see any retail future for any of these 4 out of 5 businesses.

Flat Iron: In the past 30 years, there has been no businesses that I can remember that was able to stay open here for more than a couple of years. Not enough foot traffic, inconvenient parking, excessive noise from trains, growing menace of undesirables in the area. Great job to whomever renovated the place, however the only thing I can see here is an office space with no staff parking.

Three story crumbling building: If the inside is anything like what it looks from the outside, the cost to update is probably not feasible. It's destine for demolition in my opinion.

Red Satay: I was really surprised to see RS take over from the previous Vietnamese restaurant. If I'm not mistaken, this previous Vietnamese restaurant was previously located the other side of the street next to Taj Mahal. They renovated the new place and within 1-2 years it was taken over by Red Satay. Not sure of the ownership story, but seeing there's another (original) RS just 3 blocks away on St George street, makes you wonder, why open a 3rd Red Satay here on Main in this specific location. Time will tell if they can survive. I wish them well.

JoJo Restaurant: I have no idea how they even survived being open for the time they were there. I walked in during the first year they were opened and quickly walked out. Only thing I can see here is some sort of specialty shop, however renovation cost could be very significant. It is currently boarded up. This location could be ok if the price is right, especially being sandwiched between two really good properties.

Tandem family law: This is the only portion of the block that has a future IMO. Small parking in the back and decent constructed office building.

[LewisVillis]

Don't disagree with the assessments necessarily, but Graffiti was in the Flat Iron for 20 years. I worked in the three-storey building for some years, some years ago, and even then it was in bad shape.

Originally Posted by BlackYear

The Subway Block

My thoughts. I don't see any retail future for any of these 4 out of 5 businesses.

Flat Iron: In the past 30 years, there has been no businesses that I can remember that was able to stay open here for more than a couple of years. Not enough foot traffic, inconvenient parking, excessive noise from trains, growing menace of undesirables in the area. Great job to whomever renovated the place, however the only thing I can see here is an office space with no staff parking.

Three story crumbling building: If the inside is anything like what it looks from the outside, the cost to update is probably not feasible. It's destine for demolition in my opinion.

Red Satay: I was really surprised to see RS take over from the previous Vietnamese restaurant. If I'm not mistaken, this previous Vietnamese restaurant was previously located the other side of the street next to Taj Mahal. They renovated the new place and within 1-2 years it was taken over by Red Satay. Not sure of the ownership story, but seeing there's another (original) RS just 3 blocks away on St George street, makes you wonder, why open a 3rd Red Satay here on Main in this specific location. Time will tell if they can survive. I wish them well.

JoJo Restaurant: I have no idea how they even survived being open for the time they were there. I walked in during the first year they were opened and quickly walked out. Only thing I can see here is some sort of specialty shop, however renovation cost could be very significant. It is currently boarded up. This location could be ok if the price is right, especially being sandwiched between two really good properties.

Tandem family law: This is the only portion of the block that has a future IMO. Small parking in the back and decent constructed office building.

[MonctonRad]

I also don't generally disagree with this assessment.

Flat Iron Building - Has been recently rehabilitated, and is structurally in good shape. It's location right next to the tracks however limit it's utility. Current regulations do not allow for any residential units in this building, and the only place a kitchen can be sited in this building also precludes any use as a restaurant. The only use for this building is as a small office building, or a service based establishment of some kind.

Subway Block - long abandoned and derelict. In a near terminal state of decay. The facade is crumbling, requiring scaffolding to protect passing pedestrians. It is however an architecturally interesting building, especially when combined with the style of the adjacent Flat Iron Building. Rehabilitation would be best, but might be too expensive to make it worthwhile. I have been advised by a source that there may be some funding forthcoming in the next couple of months. We will have to see what happens.

Red Satay Building - recently completely refurbished and in excellent shape. I agree with BlackYear that ir is damned peculiar they have two locations of the same restaurant within several blocks. Is there enough business for both to survive???

JoJo Restaurant - currently closed and the windows are boarded up. Signage seems to indicate a restoration of some kind. Was there a flood or something like that? In any event, this restaurant always seemed kinda sketchy to me. I doubt that it will reopen. The state of repair of the building is also questionable.

Tandem Law Building - stable business in a modern and well maintained building. No problems here.

So, of the five buildings facing Main Street on this block, the only one without any concerns is the Tandem Law Building. The linchpin of the block is the Subway Building. So goes this building, so goes the block. If it is non repairable, then perhaps the whole block (except for Tandem Law) should be torn down. This would be a shame. If the block is repurposed, types of usage would be severely limited by the CNR ROW.

[drewber]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Red Satay Building - recently completely refurbished and in excellent shape. I agree with BlackYear that ir is damned peculiar they have two locations of the same restaurant within several blocks. Is there enough business for both to survive???

My understanding is the location on Saint George is the original. The one in Dieppe and the one on Main street are owned by the same franchise but unrelated to the one on Saint George. So they have two locations one in Dieppe and now one in Moncton.

[BlackYear]

Originally Posted by LewisVillis

Don't disagree with the assessments necessarily, but Graffiti was in the Flat Iron for 20 years. I worked in the three-storey building for some years, some years ago, and even then it was in bad shape.

Graffiti? Ok, that rings a bell but don't remember what that was. Sorry.

[drewber]

Originally Posted by BlackYear

Graffiti? Ok, that rings a bell but don't remember what that was. Sorry.

It was a restaurant that closed over a decade ago.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-bruns...eet-struggles-with-empty-space-1.2818059

[MonctonRad]

New art cafe encourages people to embrace creativity
New downtown Moncton cafe offers do-it-yourself art experiences
Author of the article:Sarah Seeley
Published Oct 27, 2025 • Last updated 17 hours ago • 2 minute read
https://tj.news/moncton-miramichi/new-art-cafe-encourages-people-to-embrace-creativity (paywall)


T&T photo

The menu at Art Time has hot drinks, cold drinks and snacks like muffins and croissants, but its main attraction is the menu of “do it yourself” experiences.

Mohamed Salem, owner of Art Time, said he and his brother Ahmed Salem decided to open the cafe on Main Street after seeing the concept in the U.S. and other countries and thinking it would be a good fit for Moncton.

“There’s no other places around the city where you can find these kinds of activities,” Salem said.

The new business is located at 525 Main Street. Another example of the entrepreneurial spirit brought to the city by immigrants to the community.

[MonctonRad]

Amico Construction photo showing the current status of the new apartment building on Waterloo Street:

[MonctonRad]

A couple of snippets from the city's budget deliberations as reported by the CBC:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/moncton-2026-municipal-budget-9.6965828

The capital budget calls for spending $92 million, with $17 million of that earmarked for "downtown facilities." The budget says that could cover a long-discussed market relocation or new convention centre.

There's also $3.5 million for the city's riverfront, Vision Lands development and building transitional housing. The budget says the city has "set aside funds to build transitional housing in our community."

The convention space and the relocation of the city market are intertwined with each other, and are intimately linked with phase two of Downing Street, and, the Ashford/Downing project.

Perhaps we are finally getting to the end game for Ashford/Downing. If they are going to start construction of the market relocation next year, will we finally see renderings of what Ashford has in mind too???

[tw31]

I’m not sure if it’s been mentioned, but could there be development/infrastructure related to Moncton getting the Canada games in 2029? It could in theory act as a precursor to get the ball rolling on whatever it is they are planning (residential tower, convention/market etc). Possibly alluding to further development than what’s expected?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by tw31

I’m not sure if it’s been mentioned, but could there be development/infrastructure related to Moncton getting the Canada games in 2029? It could in theory act as a precursor to get the ball rolling on whatever it is they are planning (residential tower, convention/market etc). Possibly alluding to further development than what’s expected?

I wouldn't get my hopes up over the upcoming Canada Games. NB is going to host it on the cheap. Firstly, it is being shared between Moncton and SJ. Secondly, they are going to rely heavily on existing infrastructure. In Moncton, they will fix up the Moncton Stadium and the CEPS at UdeM to make them presentable on the national stage. That will be pretty much it. There will be no new grand sports palaces gracing our downtown skyline.

Sorry..........

[tw31]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I wouldn't get my hopes up over the upcoming Canada Games. NB is going to host it on the cheap. Firstly, it is being shared between Moncton and SJ. Secondly, they are going to rely heavily on existing infrastructure. In Moncton, they will fix up the Moncton Stadium and the CEPS at UdeM to make them presentable on the national stage. That will be pretty much it. There will be no new grand sports palaces gracing our downtown skyline.

Sorry..........

Haha wasn’t a hope, more of a discussion piece. I think of the lovely aquatic centre downtown Saint John and its original purpose, and the recent aquatic centre for the North end? I think that’s where I read it.

Totally fair on the CEPS and Stadium.

[MonctonRad]

Development company agrees to repair historic property by end of year
Author of the articleayge Woodard
Published Nov 04, 2025 • Last updated 15 hours ago • 2 minute read
https://tj.news/moncton-miramichi/develo...-repair-historic-property-by-end-of-year (paywall)

work to properly dismantle the building’s tower until it can be restored will begin no later than Nov. 18 and be completed by Dec. 22.

the plan is still to turn the property into a boutique hotel with plans to begin construction on that aspect of the project next year.

The tower of the rectory will be reassembled as part of the reconstruction work. A good news story.

A throwaway found in the article:

The company has announced other development projects in Moncton, including an 85-unit condo building on Marsh Street and a shopping plaza in Dieppe. He said those projects are currently on hold, but the company still plans to move forward with the work in the future.

[MonctonDowntown]

One of the best development news I've heard in the last year.