The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[Nashe]

For just about ANY drive-thru / fast-food stuff these days, it's super efficient to get their app and order / pay a few minutes before you leave. There are often perks (coupons, loyalty points) that add up after a while, and it cuts down a lot of the miscommunication at the windows.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by Nashe

For just about ANY drive-thru / fast-food stuff these days, it's super efficient to get their app and order / pay a few minutes before you leave. There are often perks (coupons, loyalty points) that add up after a while, and it cuts down a lot of the miscommunication at the windows.

I literally just did this at Popeyes. It’s basically the only way for it to not be overpriced.

[bingun]

1750 Sandy Point Road

I didn't want to trespass, so this is the best picture I could take. Looks like the foundation is done, should be coming up shortly.

[cdnguys]

Visual reminder how awesome our courthouse is. Did you know there is an underground passage from police station lock up to courthouse? Not many cities can make that claim.

[cdnguys]

[cdnguys]

[RaginRonic]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

I believe September 7, 2027 is the deadline for this new school to be complete.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by RaginRonic

I believe September 7, 2027 is the deadline for this new school to be complete.

North End seems to be moving at a good pace. The South End still hadn't moved past concrete foundations last time I walked by.

[bingun]

The Knapper ball hockey facility is up and running, at least partially. I saw various social media posts over the weekend about a game.

Also see the image below of the Health Science building at UNBSJ, shared by a user on Reddit.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

Visual reminder how awesome our courthouse is. Did you know there is an underground passage from police station lock up to courthouse? Not many cities can make that claim.

I remember the controversy about that regarding how much the early designs would have put the old Carnegie Library below grade.

[adamuptownsj]

The photo above reminds me how much I'd love to see something substantial built immediately south of the Red Rose Tea building. Nearly 30,000 feet to play with at the gateway to uptown. Probably not too hard to connect to the underground pedway system, if that's still relevant/appealing to developers. Substantial grade down Union means you could hide a ton of parking accessible off Smythe.

[RaginRonic]

Originally Posted by bingun

North End seems to be moving at a good pace. The South End still hadn't moved past concrete foundations last time I walked by.

The reason I mentioned that date is that the day after is the 1st day of school for the 2027-28 school year. Logical time to have that school finished.

Also, a note...one of the schools it will replace, Centennial, will have it's 60th and final school year beginning in September. Pretty weird how that school will close in such a fashion...in a milestone anniversary. I'm hoping the school will have a proper closing ceremony inviting back all past teachers and students to go out with a bang.

[adamuptownsj]

IIRC the North End Secondary Plan has Centennial surviving and being repurposed. Not sure what they have in mind for it. Hazen White-St Francis is theoretically being replaced with a row home subdivision and a very cool daylighting of Patterson Brook. I thought it would make sense to repurpose it as apartments and build something on the north half of the site, but apparently not.

Also school-related, the Catholic diocese sold St Rose, St Malachy's, St John the Baptist, and St Francis to the province, which explains those transactions. Those were the last diocese-owned schools in the city.

[RaginRonic]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

IIRC the North End Secondary Plan has Centennial surviving and being repurposed. Not sure what they have in mind for it. Hazen White-St Francis is theoretically being replaced with a row home subdivision and a very cool daylighting of Patterson Brook. I thought it would make sense to repurpose it as apartments and build something on the north half of the site, but apparently not.

Also school-related, the Catholic diocese sold St Rose, St Malachy's, St John the Baptist, and St Francis to the province, which explains those transactions. Those were the last diocese-owned schools in the city.

Wow....End of an Era there. I have a feeling that any baccalaureate services that have been associated with St. Malachy's graduation season may meet their end this year, and be cancelled going forward.

[DyAm00394]

An update on the airport's new land development project:

"YSJ working with Tobique First Nation on building strip mall

Saint John Airport's president and CEO hopeful of a groundbreaking soon for new service plaza.

That’s as the airport’s president and CEO, Court Edeburn, explained there’s been ongoing talks between airport officials and representatives of Tobique First Nation about the development of a strip mall on the property. Edeburn said YSJ has built a strong relationship with Tobique First Nation and that means there will hopefully be groundbreaking soon on airport property for a new service plaza.

“We’ve been forging a great relationship with them to look at opportunities on the land development side,” he told media following the airport’s annual general meeting this week. “For example, we’re doing an environmental land assessment Phase 2 down at the corner by Loch Lomond School, at the intersection there, to look at putting a service plaza, gas station and restaurant there. We’re working with them right now and there’s some other opportunities we’re looking at in the future.”

Edeburn said the airport is waiting on final approval from Transport Canada on its land use plan, which is “key” to future and potential developments on the lands.

That’s not the only change that could be coming to the airport. Asked about an anticipated spike in capital investments in the next few years, Edeburn said the figure reflects the organization’s need to invest in its terminal.

Whether that means upgrades or an entirely new building remains to be determined.

“Our intent is to start to do some major renovations on the terminal,” said Edeburn when questioned about the $8.025 million capital expenditures slated for 2028. “We’re starting those discussions and what that actually looks like. If our ambitions are successful in terms of air service development then we outgrow what this terminal is able to provide in terms of passenger experience, so we’re looking at starting that renovation discussion and really looking at what’s the future for this building.”

Edeburn said those discussions could even mean “a new development” as the 75-year-old terminal “comes with a lot of issues.”

https://tj.news/saint-john-south/ysj-working-with-tobique-first-nation-on-building-strip-mall

[bingun]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

An update on the airport's new land development project:



https://tj.news/saint-john-south/ysj-working-with-tobique-first-nation-on-building-strip-mall

That's interesting. I wonder what is behind the connection with Tobique; it is a long way from their reserve, but I know some First Nations have diversified much further away from home before. Wasn't one of the First Nations talking about a casino in Saint John at one point?

Assuming the roundabout and new road are still in play, this would presumably go where I have marked the red circle. Probably accessed from the new road or perhaps from both.

As great as this sounds, do we need three gas stations next to the airport? I know people like to fuel up there, but that seems a little excessive.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by bingun

That's interesting. I wonder what is behind the connection with Tobique; it is a long way from their reserve, but I know some First Nations have diversified much further away from home before. Wasn't one of the First Nations talking about a casino in Saint John at one point?

Assuming the roundabout and new road are still in play, this would presumably go where I have marked the red circle. Probably accessed from the new road or perhaps from both.

As great as this sounds, do we need three gas stations next to the airport? I know people like to fuel up there, but that seems a little excessive.

Tobique First Nation, who own majority share of Burchill wind farm at Spruce Lake, invest in infrastructure projects. They already have 2 travel plazas. They go where they see opportunity. They are also ones behind large solar farm soon to be built out black river road. Aside from reconciliation, there are good reasons to partner with them, with them assuming the financial risk of the build being one of them. I’d love to see them finance and build a whole new terminal.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

Tobique First Nation, who own majority share of Burchill wind farm at Spruce Lake, invest in infrastructure projects. They already have 2 travel plazas. They go where they see opportunity. They are also ones behind large solar farm soon to be built out black river road. Aside from reconciliation, there are good reasons to partner with them, with them assuming the financial risk of the build being one of them. I’d love to see them finance and build a whole new terminal.

Oh, nice, I didn't realize they were the first nation involved with those projects.

Where are the two travel plazas you mentioned?

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by bingun

Oh, nice, I didn't realize they were the first nation involved with those projects.

Where are the two travel plazas you mentioned?

Tobique and Carlingford

Shell and convenience store / Ultramar and truck stop

[bingun]

I spoke too soon about the South End school; structural steel has begun.



Also, an image from one of the local Facebook groups of the North End school. Progressing nicely.



The EIA that was just submitted for the huge solar farm near Sackville prompted me to check the EIA list, and the solar farm in Saint John is now also listed.

I've included some maps and a planned timeline below. It is actually a lot closer to residential than I expected, not far from Berryman Street and the prison.

https://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Depa...ents/documents/eia-registration-1668.pdf