[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[sailor734]

I've noticed in some areas of SJ they have taken out a good number of the kiosks that will accept credit cards or coins.

I've been using the app for some time now and really like it but I can see how it might not be for everyone.

[Taeolas]

Freddy was basically one of the early adopters for Hotspot. As far as I've noticed, they still have kiosks available for the parking lots and garages (including the renovated parking lots behind City Hall and behind the Library). On street parking still has regular meters and a few blocks have a kiosk (like Carleton street next to Kings Place).

All in all in Freddy, it feels like there's decent coverage for both app users and kiosk/meter users.

[drewber]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Totally unacceptable when there isn’t a website or self serve kiosk to pay for your parking.

I’m no Luddite or technophobe, but requiring apps for so many things that don’t necessarily need apps has been getting out of hand for a while now.

"The third method is to use one of the pay stations using credit, debit or cash."

There is literally self serve pay station. You just need the meter number and you license plate number and you can even pay with cash. It's progress and I'd say 99% of the driving population can use it.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by drewber

"The third method is to use one of the pay stations using credit, debit or cash."

There is literally self serve pay station. You just need the meter number and you license plate number and you can even pay with cash. It's progress and I'd say 99% of the driving population can use it.

Well that's acceptable then. I thought it was said in this post: https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showpost.php?p=10547294&postcount=8739 , that there was only the app to use to pay for parking.

[Taeolas]

MonctonRad's post about it even includes a picture of a kiosk pay station:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

New digital parking system to be in place by summer: city

[J81]

Originally Posted by ChampduLarge

I have the Hotspot app and I use it. But it's not a great solution for everyone. I went to the art gallery / museum at the university on Thursday, and my brother in law came. I knew he would not have the hotspot app so my first attempt was to add his vehicle into my own app and just pay for his parking. But ... you cannot have two current parking sessions at once, so I could switch between paying for his car, or paying for my car, but not both. So he tried to download the app, but he needed his google password to do so and he did not have it. There was, therefore, no way for him to pay for parking. I find this is becoming increasingly common, that you have to find and download an app, then configure it with personal and payment information, just to do a transaction. if you do something all the time, well, it's fine, but if you are doing someone just once, it's an unacceptable burden and there should be an easier way.

I just scan the QR code at the location and pay through the website it sends you to. No need to download an app if you dont want to.

[sailor734]

One thing I appreciate about the app is that when the weather is bad you can just buy your parking before having to get out of the car. No more walking walking to the kiosk (sometimes in the wrong direction) and standing out in the rain, snow or cold while keying in information and feeding it coins or CC info. It'll also very convenient if you get delayed and need to add more time.

I have noticed Saint John has taken out at least some kiosks. They are still there but there are fewer of them and they are not as close together. I wonder if that's because their usage is declining?

[BlackYear]

Downtown Moncton had free meter parking after 6:00pm, weekends and holidays. Now that the meters are being phased out and replaced, anyone know if this same courtesy will be applied with the new HotSpot parking rule?

I just answered my own question from city web site:

There is some free parking available depending on when and where you are choosing to park.

City-owned lots: Saturday and Sunday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Free
Riverfront Park lot: 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. – Free
Downtown metered spots: Free after 6 p.m. on weeknights, on weekends, and holidays.
Hospital metered spots: Free after 10 p.m. on weeknights, on weekends, and holidays.

[Taeolas]

Even better than the meters, the Hotspot Kiosks and the app will not let you pay when it's free. They'll indicate it's free parking and/or only charge up until the free period starts.

Here in Freddy, the kiosks will explicitly say "Free Parking" when the free times are active so you don't have to do anything.

And if you are in the app, I think it will similalrly say that (I never checked). I HAVE gone down during the pay period and into the free time. (Say 4:30 and stayed until 6:30). Free Parking starts at 6pm, and Hotspot only charged me for 90 minutes in that case, all automagically.

It's nice too when different lots have different times. Most of Freddy has free parking after 6 and on weekends. The big exception is the Playhouse/Convention Centre/ Hilton parking garage, which is ALWAYS pay parking 24/7. As long as you check the app or the kiosk, you won't be caught by surprise if you park somewhere that may have different hours from the other parking areas.

[BlackYear]

Originally Posted by Taeolas

Even better than the meters, the Hotspot Kiosks and the app will not let you pay when it's free. They'll indicate it's free parking and/or only charge up until the free period starts.

If that's the case, I have no complaints.

[ChampduLarge]

I should say as well that I used the Hotspot app while in Alberta and appreciated the ease of having the same app in different places. Def a plus.

[J81]

Originally Posted by ChampduLarge

I should say as well that I used the Hotspot app while in Alberta and appreciated the ease of having the same app in different places. Def a plus.

This ^^^^

[MonctonRad]

Harvest Clean Eats at the corner of Botsford and Main is apparently for sale.

They are hoping for a new franchisee to take over, but this might be a tough sell. Their location on Granite Drive is also underperforming.

These vegan QSRs are a tough sell in Moncton. New Brunswickers are just not grazers like urban metrosexulals in downtown Toronto.

Freshii also did not do well. They originally opened in this same location, then decamped to Tannery Place before closing there as well. They are hoping third time is the charm as they will soon be trying again in the main lobby of the Moncton Hospital. At least they will have a captive audience there, as their only competition will be the hospital cafeteria, but, a lot of hospital employees are carnivores, and are a little displeased that their needs are not being catered to.

Freshii has a good product, so I wish them well, but I'm not sure this was the best choice for the TMH lobby.

[MonctonRad]

Signage has been installed for the new Peruvian restaurant on Robinson Street.

[MonctonRad]

There is a request for variance before Moncton PAC to allow for the use of "non tradition" cladding on the Crowne Plaza on Main Street.

There is also a mobile crane on site this morning.

It would appear the refresh of the Crowne Plaza is imminent.

[MonctonRad]

The new (relocated) location of Taj Mahal on St. George Street is scheduled to open on February 14th.

[Leroy321]

Has anyone heard anything on the ashford projects recently? Seems we hear new rumours every year and nothing ever comes of them.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Leroy321

Has anyone heard anything on the ashford projects recently? Seems we hear new rumours every year and nothing ever comes of them.

Nothing in the last 4-5 months or so,

Ashford is working very closely with the city. A good portion of what is planned will require provincial and/or federal government funding. There are a whole lot of ducks to get in a row.

It's agonizing I know.

And, even when the ducks are lined up, the market conditions may no longer exist in a manner that would let the development proceed.

It's all a mystery.

[Mattyyy]

Originally Posted by Leroy321

Has anyone heard anything on the ashford projects recently? Seems we hear new rumours every year and nothing ever comes of them.

The last I’ve heard is that the funding is not there from the federal government to support a new city market and convention space. The current government programs do not allow for this type of investment. Is there another avenue? Great question.

Further, based on other chatter I feel that ashford is no longer interested / serious about this project. It seems they are also not interested in the residential space and want to concentrate on commercial.

In my opinion, I give this project an almost zero chance of moving forward under Ashford. They have owned this land for many years and if they were truly excited about this development, I don’t think they would have wasted the amount of time they have while Moncton exploded in growth. I question their financial ability to do so, and quite frankly I think they have missed the boat.

I think it’s time the city pushed them to move forward, or sell the land to a serious developer.

[MonctonRad]

I think there is a lot of truth in what Mattyy just described.

The city will want federal/provincial money for the city market/convention space.

In a time of spiraling deficits, this money may become increasingly difficult to obtain.

The private component that Ashford is responsible for is probably at least partially contingent on the construction of the market/convention space.

I have also heard that Ashford is no longer interested in residential development. They have offloaded management of their current portfolio to a private management firm.

They do want to transition more to commercial development but I have heard from a source that a couple of large commercial entities are interested in leasing space in the Downing Street project. Is this enough to make Ashford proceed without government involvement????

I believe that Ashford is a very prudent (cautious) developer, unlike Lafford or ICON (which tend to be more optimistic/ambitious). As such, I am increasingly concerned that we may see more foot dragging over the next few years.