[Saint John] Uptown Thread

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by sailor734

being discussed over in the retail thread.

As I mentioned there I wonder if Hilton declined to renew? I had family stay there about a year or so ago and they found it pretty shabby. AI says the last refresh was 2013 so at 13 years old I can believe the rooms are probably getting pretty shopworn.

I recall years ago when Fairmont removed their name from the Algonquin because it no longer met their standards and the province (owners at the time) refused to upgrade it.

https://www.unifor2002.org/News-Room/Hilton/Hilton-Saint-John-Innvest-Hotel-group-parts-ways

Innvest the building owner parted ways from Hilton

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

Innvest the building owner parted ways from Hilton

Sure, the contract was up in Jan 2026 and the parties chose not to renew. The question is .... why? Did Innvest fire Hilton or the other way around? Who knows

Multiple comments on the Facebook Retail Talk and share group regarding how rundown the hotel has become in recent years. No idea if that's the reason but the idea that they no longer met Hilton's standard to operate under that brand is certainly plausible. Innvest is hardly going to come out and say the hotel isn't good enough to be a Hilton as it is and they don't want to spend the $$ to bring it back up to standards are they?

As I said, I had out of town family stay there summer 2023 and they found the room "dated, pretty rundown and a bit shabby"

[bingun]

My only thought on this is that it is probably good news for Delta. They may get more business from those who prefer to stay uptown and stick with a big-brand hotel.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Sure, the contract was up in Jan 2026 and the parties chose not to renew. The question is .... why? Did Innvest fire Hilton or the other way around? Who knows

Multiple comments on the Facebook Retail Talk and share group regarding how rundown the hotel has become in recent years. No idea if that's the reason but the idea that they no longer met Hilton's standard to operate under that brand is certainly plausible. Innvest is hardly going to come out and say the hotel isn't good enough to be a Hilton as it is and they don't want to spend the $$ to bring it back up to standards are they?

As I said, I had out of town family stay there summer 2023 and they found the room "dated, pretty rundown and a bit shabby"

If the Fort Howe hotel on Main St can be under the premium brand Crowne Plaza, then no issue with the market square hotel being a Hilton! Besides, stayed at Hilton branded hotels near airports and there is nothing special about them, and IMO could be a Ramada.

[sailor734]

Well, if nothing else it will be interesting to see what they decide to call it.

It's going to take a pretty significant crane to get those big Hilton signs down off of the roof.

[DyAm00394]

EV chargers will be installed at the Area 506 Container Village.

“Traffic Advisory for Water Street tomorrow, December 3.

Street: Water Street
Date: December 3, 2025
Duration: One (1) day
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Direction: Southbound
Action: Traffic reduced to one lane (southbound)
Specific area: In front of 85 Water Street (Area 506 Container Village)
Description of work: Infrastructure installation/upgrades – installation of EV chargers for Area 506 Container Village
Additional details: Traffic control personnel will be in place for the duration of the work.

Thanks for your patience and understanding!”

[DyAm00394]

Another new tenant is coming to Brunswick Square. Klancy Fashion Ezzentials has building permits registered.

[sailor734]

Well, they are certainly building quite an eclectic group of tenants.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Well, they are certainly building quite an eclectic group of tenants.

Beggars can't be choosers!



This popped up on my feed today - New Restaurant Coming to Uptown Saint John in 2026

https://sjcommercialre.com/2025/12/03/new-restaurant-coming-to-uptown-saint-john-in-2026/

Two local entrepreneurs have leased the 2,200 SF space at 36 Canterbury Street (currently home to Paddington Station) with plans to open in late spring 2026.

A modern restaurant putting its own spin on Japanese-inspired cuisine is now in development, with more details to come. Renovations will begin soon, bringing new life to this prominent Uptown location.

[CharlotteCountyLogan]

Is Paddington Station closing or moving?

[bingun]

Originally Posted by CharlotteCountyLogan

Is Paddington Station closing or moving?

It is moving down to Water Street, near Let's Hummus.

[adamuptownsj]

Forgot to mention this, but over the summer, I talked to a road crew making improvements nearby, and a contact at the port, about the triangular wedge of land between Lower Cove Loop and Ross Street. Apparently the port has leased or is in the process of leasing it to a developer (not residential) which will entail reopening the south end of Germain to Lower Cove.

[bingun]

Kim's Korean new spot in the market has opened up (previously Slocum and Ferris).



Also, the Bagel Artist posted a few weeks back that their appearance was delayed. They also recently moved their main location from the upper floor to the lower floor out on the east side.

Dear customers,
Many of you have been asking about the opening date of our second shop at the City Market. Unfortunately, we still don’t have a confirmed timeline for when we will be allowed to begin. We’re also incredibly excited for that moment to come! ������
While we wait, our doors remain open at our new space on the ground floor:
������ 615 Rothesay Avenue — Unit 103
We’re here every day with warm, fresh bagels made just for you. ������✨
We can’t wait to welcome you! ������������

[adamuptownsj]

There's a fair amount going on in Waterloo Village, despite its deplorable state. I mapped it out here.

There's a lot of activity around the Cathedral:

• Steepleview is wrapping up (58 + commercial)
• Supported housing at Merritt House (14 + offices) is mostly framed
• Supported housing at 86 Waterloo (12?) is also mostly framed
• Amazingly someone purchased and is renovating 106 Waterloo (7) which has been vacant for years

Exmouth has two medium-sized lots recently sold, and another 3 lots, 2 medium and one quite large) for sale at pretty reasonable prices-- $70K, $130K, $250K).

The north end of Brunswick, fairly removed from all the excitement, has a completed-a-while-ago transitional housing (12) project on the corner of Middle, and a couple of lots for bargain-basement prices beyond it ($45K each).

The hospital/Agar Place area has the conversion of the diocese office to apartments (25) completed, with more planned on the General Hospital site by the same developer. There's also my project at 202 Waterloo (54), which HOPEFULLY we will finally be proceeding with in 2026. Rocca shuffled some land around in the area too.

So, this is all happening despite the current situation. Waterloo Village has serious potential to develop if the city can start enforcing basic law and order. I can't wrap my head around allowing open drug use and street prostitution on the same block as supportive housing... for people trying to get away from those things. Here's hoping for a change of guard in May.

[irisheyes]

I'd like to throw out the idea of the city taking this boost in development revenues to deal with the ever worsening issue of litter proliferating uptown and the entire south-central peninsula.

People seem to have no problem watching their bins tip over, spilling trash all over sidewalks and streets and just leaving it there. Disgusting stuff.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

There's a fair amount going on in Waterloo Village, despite its deplorable state. I mapped it out here.

There's a lot of activity around the Cathedral:

• Steepleview is wrapping up (58 + commercial)
• Supported housing at Merritt House (14 + offices) is mostly framed
• Supported housing at 86 Waterloo (12?) is also mostly framed
• Amazingly someone purchased and is renovating 106 Waterloo (7) which has been vacant for years

Exmouth has two medium-sized lots recently sold, and another 3 lots, 2 medium and one quite large) for sale at pretty reasonable prices-- $70K, $130K, $250K).

The north end of Brunswick, fairly removed from all the excitement, has a completed-a-while-ago transitional housing (12) project on the corner of Middle, and a couple of lots for bargain-basement prices beyond it ($45K each).

The hospital/Agar Place area has the conversion of the diocese office to apartments (25) completed, with more planned on the General Hospital site by the same developer. There's also my project at 202 Waterloo (54), which HOPEFULLY we will finally be proceeding with in 2026. Rocca shuffled some land around in the area too.

So, this is all happening despite the current situation. Waterloo Village has serious potential to develop if the city can start enforcing basic law and order. I can't wrap my head around allowing open drug use and street prostitution on the same block as supportive housing... for people trying to get away from those things. Here's hoping for a change of guard in May.

I drove by 106 Waterloo the other night and had to do a double-take when I saw there were lights on. Let's hope for progress there as they are right in the middle of the action. I have also noticed the framing work on the supportive housing but not much further progress since. I think there is another property at the top of Sewell St that has been stripped back to a shell and is being renovated.

I am also concerned that it could become a highly concentrated area between the supportive housing and the shelter.

What do you have planned at 202 Waterloo St?

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by irisheyes

I'd like to throw out the idea of the city taking this boost in development revenues to deal with the ever worsening issue of litter proliferating uptown and the entire south-central peninsula.

People seem to have no problem watching their bins tip over, spilling trash all over sidewalks and streets and just leaving it there. Disgusting stuff.

We’re not quite New York City levels of trash on street corners, but we should be doing so much better. There is a distinct lack of public trash cans in Saint John, and the city should get on that.

[irisheyes]

Brunswick Credit Union, formerly Bayview CU is selling Oak Hall.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/29048794/57-king-street-saint-john

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by irisheyes

Brunswick Credit Union, formerly Bayview CU is selling Oak Hall.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/29048794/57-king-street-saint-john

Likely consolidating the upstairs office space into their east side office building?

"The current owners are open to leasing the main floor and basement, presenting leasing opportunities for other businesses within one of Saint Johns most iconic landmarks."

[adamuptownsj]

I was looking at the 2018 parking strategy and noticed the small city-owned lot at Canterbury and Princess was planned to be replaced with infill development.

The other identified projects in the document are completed: the replacement of the Canterbury/Grannan lot, and the construction of the IOL and JDI garages.

Both Canterbury lots indicate parking demand would be reallocated to what's now Fundy Quay, in addition to the port lot just south of it.

I wonder why the city hasn't tried to get this lot developed. It's about 25% smaller than the lot that became the Telegraph (5,000 sf). Prime location for literally anything. Only provides revenue from 13 monthly passes.

Same with the ample Peters and Paddock lots, which were effectively replaced by the JDI garage. IIRC the Paddock lot is just blocked off right now, and Peters is barely utilized.