[Saint John] Uptown Thread

[michael_d40]

Originally Posted by bingun

That's very confusing.

55 is the building
57 is the parking garage.

They are moving offices from Somerset Square to The Mercantile Building.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

[IMG][/IMG]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

[IMG][/IMG]

A very nice infill development on Harding St. and some more progress at the Barrack Green Armouries development

The South End has never looked so good

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by Pugsley

Hello everyone! After seeing some of the posts here related to re-purposing the south port area into the Uptown, I thought I would pull out some work I did a long time ago for a master-plan for the area. I spent a few hours "dressing it up", but anyhow, here is what I had come up with many moons ago as a revitalized district, known as Southport. Enjoy!

This would be quite a spectacular transformation of the South End, if the Port was ever willing to swap 25+ acres land with the city. Perhaps such a plans (even the enhanced plan) could be possible if major port expansions occur at the West Side Docks, Lorneville, and other prospective deep water locations in the Saint John Region. If Port Saint John expanded across hundreds acres at Lorneville, Mispec, the West Side, and other viable locations across the region, including a new potash terminal, that would be quite a tantalizing opportunity for property development in the core of Saint John.

I don't see the potash terminal going anywhere anything soon though, and I still think there's a tremendous opportunity for a rail tunnel connecting the potash terminal with the West Side Docks. Such a project could open up a whole new way to export containerized potash via the potash terminal, and the port could put all the earth moved to create such tunnels to good use in land reclamation efforts to expand the port.

If another pedestrian or car tunnel was to connect the West Side with this new, revitalized South End, the developments in the South End could have major spillover effects that could help transform the lower West Side.

If a tunnel is for some reason too expensive, I could see this type of transformation of the South End bringing back a cross harbour ferry service.

[Sabien]

Any guesses which restaurant is for sale? 1 Market Square. Seats 226. I think that number is exaggerated for the listing description… I can’t think of any place there that can seat that many people.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/29044852/1-market-square-saint-john

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by Sabien

Any guesses which restaurant is for sale? 1 Market Square. Seats 226. I think that number is exaggerated for the listing description… I can’t think of any place there that can seat that many people.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/29044852/1-market-square-saint-john

Not sure. But I've recently heard some chatter that the owners of Lemongrass were sort of entertaining a couple offers. One of them from the owner of Grannan Group. And apparently Swiss Chalet also approached them. But not sure if that's related to this specific restaurant listing. I think the owners of Lemongrass are just entertaining any offers that approach them, just seeing how much people will offer for the restaurant.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by Sabien

Any guesses which restaurant is for sale? 1 Market Square. Seats 226. I think that number is exaggerated for the listing description… I can’t think of any place there that can seat that many people.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/29044852/1-market-square-saint-john

I think if it were Country Club, it would be marketed more as a bar than a restaurant, although I know they sell food now. I also don't think they could seat 226, and Grannan's probably isn't big enough for that either.

I would therefore guess Peppers or Ale House, they are the largest of the four.

[DyAm00394]

"Demolish Office Building" permits were registered yesterday (November 14th), for the Irving Golden Ball building that recently sold at 10 Sydney Street.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

"Demolish Office Building" permits were registered yesterday (November 14th), for the Irving Golden Ball building that recently sold at 10 Sydney Street.

While the prospect of demolishing the building isn't a huge shock, the speed at which they've moved on this is surprising. Either they are in a hurry to minimize the property taxes they pay next year, or they have had plans for this space for some time.

[sailor734]

The 64,000 dollar question is....."Will it be just parking or a new build?"

[bingun]

I didn't think they were that short of parking between their parking garage and the lot further down Union St with the gate.

Maybe during the summer time when they have a lot of students.

[bingun]

No wrecking ball for Chipman Hill building, Irving Oil says

https://tj.news/saint-john-south/no-wrecking-ball-for-chipman-hill-building-irving-oil-says

“Irving Oil has owned the property at 71 Sydney Street for 10 years, with the recent commercial lease having expired,” said spokesperson Katherine d’Entremont. “While Irving Oil is evaluating future uses for the property, our company does not have plans to sell or tear down the building.”

[darkharbour]

Originally Posted by bingun

No wrecking ball for Chipman Hill building, Irving Oil says

https://tj.news/saint-john-south/no-wrecking-ball-for-chipman-hill-building-irving-oil-says

Can't wait to see this go the way of the [former] 'Brown House' on King Street East

[bingun]

Originally Posted by darkharbour

Can't wait to see this go the way of the [former] 'Brown House' on King Street East

This property is a lot more architecturally and historically significant than the Brown House, so I hope they don't leave it vacant.

I really don't get what is going on, though. You kick out the tenant who has been there for 20 years, 10 while you've owned it, with no explanation, and you aren't planning to sell the property.

The only other use case I can think of is similar to Cooke's, with properties on Carleton Street near the arts centre. I think they use them as accommodation for visiting employees, although I don't think they get much use.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by sailor734

The 64,000 dollar question is....."Will it be just parking or a new build?"

Is that the SNB tax assessment once the building gets demolished?

The SNB assessment system and website is so flawed, and this property is a good example. Multi property sales shouldn't show up like this. I've noticed homes in Saint John that are assessed near 200k that sold for $900k according to the SNB website, because that's how they display multi property sales on the website.

I'm going to remain hopeful that Atlantic Canada's largest conglomerate and largest family of companies are willing to make significant investment into the Saint John skyline, which could include a major mixed use development that solves their office needs, and adds housing in the heart of Uptown Saint John.

The Golden Ball should be replaced with with K. C. Irving Tower, and be something that truly commemorates the most consequential person that ever called Saint John and New Brunswick home. Irving is the biggest success story in Atlantic Canadian history, and in the realm of billionaires, success is often measured by the size and style of your buildings.

The Irving family could collectively pool together to build such a 40+ storey tower in honour of K. C. and come out like 1% less wealthy and own a piece of the tallest building in New Brunswick.

Like do we not want to keep up with Moncton and Halifax at all? Who else locally, other than the Irvings, could we honestly expect to build something 30+ storeys in Saint John? Lafford? Investors from outside the province?

[Pugsley]

Originally Posted by bingun

The only other use case I can think of is similar to Cooke's, with properties on Carleton Street near the arts centre. I think they use them as accommodation for visiting employees, although I don't think they get much use.

I wouldn't be surprised if they convert it into a combination of what you say above, or a dedicated event space connected to the main building. A place where they do major presentations, training, or meetings. It is certainly a very beautiful and unique space for such uses.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by Pugsley

I wouldn't be surprised if they convert it into a combination of what you say above, or a dedicated event space connected to the main building. A place where they do major presentations, training, or meetings. It is certainly a very beautiful and unique space for such uses.

Friend who works there claims it will be for overnighting corporate visitors - but who knows for sure

[DyAm00394]

Telegraph Journal is reporting that apparently JD Irving Limited is who purchased 10 Sydney Street.

"J.D. Irving, Limited stated in a media release Tuesday it has purchased the former Golden Ball building at 10 Sydney St. in Saint John’s uptown. The property, which was listed for sale earlier this fall by Irving Oil, recently changed hands in the Irving corporation with realtor Stephanie Turner of Cushman & Wakefield confirming to Brunswick News it had been sold, but not disclosing the purchaser.

However, J.D. Irving, Limited’s vice president of communications, Anne McInerney, issued a media release Tuesday confirming the purchase of the building and plans to demolish as “the structure has been deemed no longer suitable for use and will be removed.”

That removal will require a demolition permit from the city of Saint John and, the city’s corporate communications confirmed that such a permit has been requested for the building.

“The City received an application for this permit late last week and it is in the process of being reviewed,” Brunswick News was told via email from the city. “No permit has been issued yet, as we review the application.”

Should that permit be issued, the plans are to maintain the site as green space while future possibilities are evaluated. No decisions have been made about long-term use, J.D. Irving, Limited stated in its media release".

[bingun]

As I suspected, they've got to get their property tax obligation down before the new year.

At least both recent demolitions haven't led to parking lots. For now at least...

[gtsoc]

Purchase price was $1,500,000. That’s an expensive lawn.

Now, is it part of a red or yellow zone?

[cdnguys]

Trying to get into the head of JDI why they’d want that piece of land. Is one of the future evaluations is parking? If so, a big chunk of Union St down to Pitt street will be JDI parking - be pretty ballsy to pull that off. I can’t see them doing residential because they aren’t in that business. Maybe they are considering another office building, seeing how 300 Union is completely full with no room for more employees. I’d be ok with it if something else is going to be built, but to expand a parking crater that already destroyed dozens of homes really —.