[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Nashe

All of the residential apartment construction that continues to be proposed makes me think developers have their finger on a different pulse than I do. Though the few supers/landlords I've talked to indicate that a lot of their new clientele are empty-nesters and retirees who want to simplify and dump the SFH along with all of the associated strings.

It does seem a bit incongruous. Immigration has been throttled. Current temporary residents are being told to leave and the provincial population is declining, yet we seem to be seeing more residential proposals in the last two months than in all of last year.

I know we are still in a housing deficit, but, this seems a bit much. Do they know something we don't???

[MonctonRad]

These are the variances being sought for the proposed new four storey building at 71 Gordon Street:

The City of Moncton has received a request for the following variances:

• To allow non-traditional materials in some areas.
• To reduce the required loading area width from 3.0 metres to 2.5 metres.
• To increase the height of the building within 10.0 metres of the street from 13.0 metres to 17.07 metres
• To reduce the required rear yard setback from 6.0 metres to 0.93 metres.
• To reduce the required flankage setback from 2.0 metres to 0 metres.

It should be noted that this building will not occupy all the vacant land on the north side of Gordon Street in this location, only the lot on the NE corner of Gordon/Elm.

[emad]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

My thoughts as well. They never built the 2nd Lorentz Drive building, and that was a bit of a red flag. Why they've slowed down, who knows.

Did they pull back just to prepare for the bigger project? I hope that's all it is, but it's a bit worrisome that we've heard nothing from them about the major downtown development.

I know someone who moved in the Ashford Lorentz appartment building in December. The appartment was never rented since construction and deeply discounted with first month rent free and underground parking provided free for a year... If they're having difficulty renting the first building, this might explain they never started the 2nd one

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by emad

I know someone who moved in the Ashford Lorentz appartment building in December. The appartment was never rented since construction and deeply discounted with first month rent free and underground parking provided free for a year... If they're having difficulty renting the first building, this might explain they never started the 2nd one

Also the location might be a factor.

[riverviewer]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

It does seem a bit incongruous. Immigration has been throttled. Current temporary residents are being told to leave and the provincial population is declining, yet we seem to be seeing more residential proposals in the last two months than in all of last year.

I know we are still in a housing deficit, but, this seems a bit much. Do they know something we don't???

According to Statistics Canada estimates, immigration will only be throttled for two years then growth will resume.

https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/71-607-x2022015-eng.htm

They estimate New Brunswick will reach 1 million by 2042. Much of that growth will be centered in Moncton.

[Sunnybrae]

Originally Posted by emad

I know someone who moved in the Ashford Lorentz appartment building in December. The appartment was never rented since construction and deeply discounted with first month rent free and underground parking provided free for a year... If they're having difficulty renting the first building, this might explain they never started the 2nd one

Originally Posted by jonny golden

Also the location might be a factor.

Location? No sure about that.

[Leroy321]

Originally Posted by emad

I know someone who moved in the Ashford Lorentz appartment building in December. The appartment was never rented since construction and deeply discounted with first month rent free and underground parking provided free for a year... If they're having difficulty renting the first building, this might explain they never started the 2nd one

I wonder why Franklyn yards and other projects are doing so well but this one singular building can’t.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by Sunnybrae

Location? No sure about that.

Maybe not, but there must have been some reason why they had to offer rent free first month & a year free underground parking. Maybe the units were over priced?

In any event, they seem to have been scared off of residential construction. The 2nd building on Lorentz not being built doesn't bother me as much as the plans they had for the 6 floor building across from Avenir. It would have been a nice addition to the neighbourhood, and a big improvement over that dated auto detailing business.

I hope that Ashford moves forward with their development of the Assomption land this year. It'll be 7 years in Sept. since they acquired it.

[Mud]

If Ashford indeed plans to go through with a hotel along Assumption it would give me some hope for the rest of his holdings south of Main.

One would assume they wouldn't leave it overlooking large, empty lots. If it was another type of commercial development sure, but hotels need to somewhat consider the attractiveness of their surroundings.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by Mud

If Ashford indeed plans to go through with a hotel along Assumption it would give me some hope for the rest of his holdings south of Main.

One would assume they wouldn't leave it overlooking large, empty lots. If it was another type of commercial development sure, but hotels need to somewhat consider the attractiveness of their surroundings.

The first thing I thought about when I heard about a large commercial building with a tenant over several floors, was the government. I have friends who work for the federal govt. who are upset because they're being forced back to the office. They'd rather work from home.

This whole Ashford file is confusing, and the radio silence doesn't help. I really hope we get some concrete information soon.

[monctonwatch]

as it was explained to me the deep discounts on the new apartment units have nothing to do with the price being too high. They never intended on renting for those high rent $$. The building managers artificially inflate the renting price and deeply discount for two reasons, firstly it gives the renter a false sense of a bargain, but secondly and most importantly it allows the developer to raise rents well beyond the annual 3% rent cap if the market allows it. For example your rent is $2100 a month but you negotiated free parking and a $300 discount, you're paying $1800 a month but if a year from now markets change and the owner wants to raise your rent to $2000 they would just not renew the discount. Whereas if they would have simply set the rent at $1800 they would be maxed at the amount they could increase the rent by $54(3%)

[MonctonRad]

I just noticed that the west facing wall of this proposed mixed use building on the NW corner of Elm/Gordon is devoid of windows. This must mean a future "phase two" of this project which will be built contiguous to this building. The adjacent lot is already vacant.

[Leroy321]

I’m not sure if this is anything major but this presentation is on the agenda: “Riverfront Master Plan – Honour Garden Area”

https://www5.moncton.ca/docs/councilmeetings/2026/Agenda/2026_03_16_Agenda_Ordre_du_jour.pdf

[Leroy321]

I seen this on the agenda today: "Introduction – Rezoning – Peoples Park Tower"

I did some searching and I found the website and the renders for a 6 story addition.

960 Saint George Blvd:



"we are growing with plans that include an expansion of 65 apartments." I love seeing smaller architecture firms designing some bigger stuff (gives spitfire some competition.) Its quite a busy week for development.

https://www.pptseniorliving.ca/peoples-p...ng-with-our-community-ppt-expansion-2026

[Leroy321]

delete

[MonctonRad]

Great stuff!

[Leroy321]

Peoples Park Tower Site Plan:



They expect to put a traffic lights at the intersection by 2027

[BlackYear]

Heard from a semi-reliable source that the crumbling building at 887-889 Main st between Flat Iron and Red Satay might be coming down this year. Finally.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by BlackYear

Heard from a semi-reliable source that the crumbling building at 887-889 Main st between Flat Iron and Red Satay might be coming down this year. Finally.

That's actually rather sad (if true).

The juxtapoition of the Subway Block with the Flat Iron Building right next to the CNR overpass is really a defining feature of the downtown core. It will be a shame to lose this.

Of course I realize that the Subway Block has been allowed to deteriorate almost to the point of no return, and that the costs of restoration is probably beyond any reasonable expectation of a profitable return, but, still........

If it is torn down, there had better be a plan to replace the building with something better. I would be tremendously offended if this lot were allowed to remain vacant for the next 20 years.

[KnoxfordGuy]

I'd be surprised if someone is to rebuild that close to the tracks?