[Saint John] Uptown Thread

[KnoxfordGuy]

Building at the end of Leinster Street

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by KnoxfordGuy

Building at the end of Leinster Street

Nice pic. I think this place will have one of the most interesting views in Saint John, especially from the 6th floor or rooftop.

Is this location considered Uptown, Waterloo Village, or another area?



Based on topography, I think it should just be considered part of Uptown Saint John, but I think it isn't?

[KnoxfordGuy]

Being from Fredericton, I consider the whole peninsula uptown lmao

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Pretty sure most Saint Johners don't think too differently from that... especially those of us that live outside of the Central Peninsula.

[sailor734]

I've always considered "Uptown" to be the central business and commercial area......spreading out from King St and roughly bounded by Union, Princess, Sydney and the harbour.

[Joe]

I believe the South End is from Duke St down towards Broad St including Broadview Avenue and area, Carmarthen down to Crown.

[Ire Narissis]

Originally Posted by sailor734

I've always considered "Uptown" to be the central business and commercial area......spreading out from King St and roughly bounded by Union, Princess, Sydney and the harbour.

I'd extend that out to Carmarthen and Duke at least; surely the Loyalist Burial Ground and the old and older post office buildings deserve inclusion!

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by Ire Narissis

I'd extend that out to Carmarthen and Duke at least; surely the Loyalist Burial Ground and the old and older post office buildings deserve inclusion!

I agree the boundaries are a little fuzzy/irregular, especially heading south. For example, Germain past Princess is purely residential while Canterbury and Prince William aren't.

[adamuptownsj]

Germain from Princess until Duke is definitely uptown, even if it's entirely residential.

I've always mentally defined uptown as roughly bounded, clockwise from the north, by

1. The Red Rose Tea building
2. Union/Coburg
3. King Square South/Sydney
4. Queen from Germain to Prince William
5. Three Sisters lamp

[bingun]

She's coming down shortly, it seems.

Permit approved for Golden Ball building demolition

https://tj.news/saint-john-south/permit-approved-for-golden-ball-building-demolition

That removal required a demolition permit from the city of Saint John and, the city’s corporate communications confirmed to Brunswick News this week that permit has been issued.

“We are unable to comment on when the demolition may take place,” Brunswick News was told via email from the city.

J.D. Irving, Limited has not responded to a request for further information on the permit’s issuance but last year stated the plans are to maintain the site as green space when the building is demolished while future possibilities are evaluated.

[sailor734]

Well, other than it's historical connection with KC Irving it's not like it's an architectural gem. Buildings have a lifespan so......

I just hope the site doesn't sit empty for years and years the way some Irving properties do.

[KnoxfordGuy]

The building on the corner of Germain and King is being completely gutted and rebuilt. This is from one of the contractors:

[bingun]

Originally Posted by KnoxfordGuy

The building on the corner of Germain and King is being completely gutted and rebuilt. This is from one of the contractors:

Yes, the whole building has been gutted during the last six months. Activity has picked up quite a lot late Jan/Feb. New windows are going in, and I saw concrete trucks, etc.

A long way to go yet, but I bet it will start to come together later this year.

[bridgeoftea]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Well, other than it's historical connection with KC Irving it's not like it's an architectural gem. Buildings have a lifespan so......

I just hope the site doesn't sit empty for years and years the way some Irving properties do.

It's a shame it's right beside the two empty lots next to Allure/Blush/506 club etc
Here's hoping it doesn't sit like the 99 King hole in the ground for a number of years. I get it costs money to keep an empty building but I'd rather an empty building than a vacant lot.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by bridgeoftea

It's a shame it's right beside the two empty lots next to Allure/Blush/506 club etc
Here's hoping it doesn't sit like the 99 King hole in the ground for a number of years. I get it costs money to keep an empty building but I'd rather an empty building than a vacant lot.

Well, unlike 99 King I doubt it will be a hole in the ground strewn with rubble. Irvings are generally pretty good about doing some landscaping if they indicate it will be "green space for now"

[darkharbour]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Well, unlike 99 King I doubt it will be a hole in the ground strewn with rubble. Irvings are generally pretty good about doing some landscaping if they indicate it will be "green space for now"

True, but they are also terrible at urban development - especially JDI. Just look at their track record in the direct vicinity; the bought every property on Elliott Row for years, tearing them down one by one and then building a parking garage and taking away the public right of way, the 'Brown House' on the corner of King St. East was left to rot and then torn down, the row of parking lots along Union St. that they created by buying up buildings and then tearing them down, the list goes on. Basically all of the blocks surrounding their tower are a huge waste of urban space and potential, and they rarely build new structures either, so I would be shocked if their plans for the old Golden Ball site are for any meaningful in-fill, except on the off chance they have finally accepted that their tower is at capacity and they need to build a secondary office building.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by darkharbour

True, but they are also terrible at urban development - especially JDI. Just look at their track record in the direct vicinity; the bought every property on Elliott Row for years, tearing them down one by one and then building a parking garage and taking away the public right of way, the 'Brown House' on the corner of King St. East was left to rot and then torn down, the row of parking lots along Union St. that they created by buying up buildings and then tearing them down, the list goes on. Basically all of the blocks surrounding their tower are a huge waste of urban space and potential, and they rarely build new structures either, so I would be shocked if their plans for the old Golden Ball site are for any meaningful in-fill, except on the off chance they have finally accepted that their tower is at capacity and they need to build a secondary office building.

Oh, I don't disagree at all. I was just pointing out that at least it won't be an eyesore.

[Ire Narissis]

I wouldn't expect them to seek new office space anytime soon.

They were all set to take over the Telegraph-Journal building after Brunswick News moved out, but then the pandemic and WFH caused a big paradigm shift in their workforce and they no longer saw fit to keep that space (and sold it off at that point to CAM Institute of Design, I believe?).

[irisheyes]

I'm all for the Stompin Tom statue on the waterfront.

I always thought Miller Brittain especially deserved a statue right on Princess St. in front of Britt's pub and his former studio.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-bruns...tom-connors-saint-john-council-9.7103109

[bingun]

Looks like something is lined up for 36 Canterbury, where Padding Station used to be. Image is from the Heritage Board meeting.

Yoramen x Yomee Tea




It also seems they installed the wrong windows at 40 King St and are now in trouble. $350K down the toilet if the Heritage Board don't let them keep the windows, and that could jeopardize the whole project.