[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by lirette

The UNB building is inside the old Oulton College campus

Still looks like an old muffler shop (corrugated steel, set in the middle of a large vacant parking lot).

Certainly not your typical leafy university campus.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by lirette

The UNB building is inside the old Oulton College campus (i went there in 2008). I don't want to make everything a development opportunity but man if they ever moved their campus that would instantly one of the most prime plots of land in the core, especially with the new riverfront plan.

It would be great if we could get some serious university or college campus downtown. Great for foot traffic, and i could see why UdeM putting a law campus/building down there would help raise their profile along with the proximity to the courts. Would be great to get some younger folk into the core as I'm sure most of these condo buildings skew closer to retirement ages.

Excellent points. The current UNB building sits on a large lot, 70% of which is surface parking. This lot is almost as big as the Gateway Towers property.

If UNB were ever to expand their presence in Moncton and establish a new downtown location, the current property would create a prime development opportunity. What a tremendous addition another Lafford type building on this lot would be to the area.

And a UNB expansion doesn't necessarily have to be on a grand scale. I'm sure a modest augmentation of programs in Moncton would be very welcomed by local students, their parents, and the city.

But alas, it's not likely. Unfortunately.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

As requested, here is a close up of the Hal Betts Sports Complex.



The white building in the middle of the complex, surrounded by parking is labelled as a "field house", but, it's footprint is not much larger than a baseball infield, so I can't imagine it being a field house in the traditional sense. I could see it containing locker rooms, washrooms and perhaps a canteen, but not much else. The parking lot looks better organized and seems paved.



This is the former landfill between the Brenda Robertson and Gunningsville Bridges. It remains pretty much as is, although one of the trails has been upgraded to an "active transportation trail", and therefore may be paved to allow for a better surface for bicycle commuting. Somewhat incongruously, there is a small "Park 'n Ride parking lot on the east end of the landfill site. I find this odd. There are a couple of small adjacent buildings.

It’s funny that they didn’t include a future extension of assumption in this plan. I’m sure that the city still intends on building this, but maybe it’s outside of the lifecycle of this plan, so there is no need to include it.

If do find it funny though that the plan never even bothered to show the river’s adjusted course under the Brenda Robertson Bridge.

Regarding the comment about google maps, I do find it really odd that my hometown of Summerside had had their maps updated at least 3 times since the last time Moncton has been updated. Even MapQuest (yes, that mapquest) has more up to date imagery of Moncton than google maps.

[reflist]

Yes google maps on the web browser and even on the phone has been really slow to update. The current map image is from 2017, same for the 3D view. Google will usually pick the most beautiful images available. If you use google earth pro(its free) on the desktop you could select historical images and the latest map of Moncton is dated April 2025. Even Apple maps is updated for last year. If you dont have a apple phone you could use apple maps on the Duckduckgo search engine. Furthermore, this site, https://browser.dataspace.copernicus.eu is a European cloud cover satellite and has updated aerial images(not too clear and only good at a distance) of Moncton about 1-2 times a week, the latest no cloud obstruction image is from Nov 3 2025. Just click on "Show latest date". Its very beautiful to zoom out and see the cloud formations over our region combined with the leaf colours too!

[Audevourahn]

[QUOTE=josh_cat_eyes;10511134]It’s funny that they didn’t include a future extension of assumption in this plan. I’m sure that the city still intends on building this, but maybe it’s outside of the lifecycle of this plan, so there is no need to include it.

I wouldn't be surprised if the city no longer plans to extend assumption anymore. All city planners seem to be anti-car now, so I could see it being only envisioned as a bike trail only or something. Oh well.

[acadieman]

an extension to where ? , having 3 kids a car is a must ain't carrying them on my back during winter haha.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by acadieman

an extension to where ? , having 3 kids a car is a must ain't carrying them on my back during winter haha.

There has long been a proposal to extend assumption to the traffic circle at the end of the causeway. This would take a lot of pressure off of west main and they could do a road diet on along that part of main and make it more pedestrian friendly.

[Leroy321]

I found this image on https://www.designplus.pro/ in there projects under residential it looks like a plan for 43 Botsford St.

[MonctonRad]

That would be the back end of the St. Bernard's Rectory building which is planned to become a boutique hotel.

I rather like this.

[MonctonRad]

They are repaving Westmorland Street today. This means the reconstruction is nearing completion.

I wonder what this might mean for Ashford/Downing next year.........

[MonctonRad]

Former Moncton family home becomes new cancer resource hub
Community celebrates opening of new cancer resource centre providing emotional, physical and social support to patients and survivors
Author of the article:Sarah Seeley
Published Dec 02, 2025 • Last updated 17 hours ago • 3 minute read
https://tj.news/moncton-miramichi/former-moncton-family-home-becomes-new-cancer-resource-hub (paywall)


T&T photo

Renovations cost $1M, with the building completely gutted to provide non medical support services like relaxation and visualization, individual and group peer support, yoga, a nutrition-focused cooking program called Nourish, exercise, and classes for cancer-related fatigue and brain fog.

All programs are led by health professionals like dieticians, kinesiologists, nurses and social workers, and there is a team of 15 trained peer support volunteers with lived cancer experience.

It is one of nine Wellspring Cancer Support Centres across Canada, and the first in Atlantic Canada.

Bannon House is one block further down MacBeath Ave from the Moncton Hospital, and located immediately across the street from the regional RCMP detachment building.

[Nashe]

It's just a couple of houses up from me and I gotta say it looks fantastic.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Someone close to the RCMP project has informed me that the target opening date is now sometime in March. I imagine there is still probably lots of landscaping left to do as well so that part will probably have to wait.

[Mud]

That mystery building on Université was up to four stories last I drove by. Looking more and more like it'll be similar to the one at 235.

[MonctonRad]

Nice picture of the Franklin Yards development by Jeff Boucher over at Retail Talk & Share.



An entirely new urban neighbourhood with 11 buildings. A case could be made that this deserved it's own thread, but, given the lack of architectural diversity, and the absence of a significant commercial component, I just didn't think at the time that it deserved it.

If it had even a smidgen of more interest (like the Station Yards), I would have created the thread, but, I just didn't think there was enough here to discuss, no matter how large the development.

[reflist]

I feel you MonctonRad, this development is quite a significant one for our city. This site is adding many hundreds of units and we never seen this type of efficiency for apartment building construction other than the Three Sisters. But honestly it just feels like its hidden from the rest of the city because or all the trees and the sports complex across the street. When I think about these buildings, I kinda wish that they were closer together and less surface parking. And use that space as a garden plaza where the residents can rest and mingle in, creating that community vibe.

[Sunnybrae]

Originally Posted by reflist

I feel you MonctonRad, this development is quite a significant one for our city. This site is adding many hundreds of units and we never seen this type of efficiency for apartment building construction other than the Three Sisters. But honestly it just feels like its hidden from the rest of the city because or all the trees and the sports complex across the street. When I think about these buildings, I kinda wish that they were closer together and less surface parking. And use that space as a garden plaza where the residents can rest and mingle in, creating that community vibe.

What I find interesting is there is nothing around. No supermarket, dollar store, gas station... I guess Ayer Variety on Killam or Chubbys might be the closest thing for getting milk or whatever. A Greco up by the traffic circle and a Tims.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Sunnybrae

What I find interesting is there is nothing around. No supermarket, dollar store, gas station... I guess Ayer Variety on Killam or Chubbys might be the closest thing for getting milk or whatever. A Greco up by the traffic circle and a Tims.

There will be two small commercial buildings as part of the development (Buildings 10 & 11). I presume these might have some services for the residents like a convenience store, hairdresser, etc, but, if you live in the Franklin Yards, you had better have a car. that's for damned sure!

[lirette]

Originally Posted by Sunnybrae

What I find interesting is there is nothing around. No supermarket, dollar store, gas station... I guess Ayer Variety on Killam or Chubbys might be the closest thing for getting milk or whatever. A Greco up by the traffic circle and a Tims.

Hey now...this is a dream location if you like trade shows

In in seriousness though I think the best thing about these is their proximity to centennial park, and from a car perspective super easy to get anywhere onto the highway, but I'll be interested to see what the commercial buildings provide, seems like they could have done something more interesting from that perspective.

[Sunnybrae]

I can't remember but is there any new news on the business and technology park at the corner of Millennium and Vaughn Harvey? Anything going in there that was announced that I missed? Seems like the black hole of Moncton. At least the Vision Lands has some movement.