[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[Leroy321]

This is the 2026 road construction map from Moncton's website:

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/f9546aba02434811ae27c57d68dd4e2c/page/EN

Sadly, there isn't much

[jonny golden]

The city of Moncton's original plan for infrastructure work regarding the Ashford development was announced in 2021, and was spread out over 4 years.

The city's capital budget forecasts spending $7.9 million related to "Ashford's downtown development plan" in 2022. A further $10.2 million is scheduled in 2023, with $8.1 million in 2024 and $5.7 million in 2025.

If Ashford's intention was to wait for this work to be finalised before they proceeded with their plans, they were never going to start until at least 2026. Since this is such a major downtown development, it would be nice to get an update. Anything.

[Leroy321]

^^

These are the only ones on CCD I could find that's up to date, but it still conceptual.

[MonctonRad]

Infinity Aerials Photo

Current status of the Franklin Yards. The foundations of Buildings 8 & 9 on Grand Trunk Avenue are now in the ground.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Leroy321

^^

These are the only ones on CCD I could find that's up to date, but it still conceptual.

Two of the three major candidates for mayor (Crossman and Leger) have it in their platforms that a new downtown convention centre is a top priority for them. Brian Murphy's position has not been explicitly stated AFAIK.

The convention centre/city market is a necessary prerequisite for Ashford to invest in the private component of the Downing Street project. As I have said before, I have heard he is planning a commercial tower, most likely with a hotel component. A hotel and a convention centre go together like a hand in a glove. Without a convention centre, the Ashford/Downing project will almost assuredly not happen,

[MonctonRad]

Postmedia to print most N.B. newspapers out of province
Company says move will support 'long-term financial sustainability'
Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Apr 29, 2026 5:06 PM ADT | Last Updated: April 29
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/moncton-press-postmedia-9.7181864

[quote]Postmedia plans to stop printing most New Brunswick newspapers in Moncton.

Postmedia publishes the Times & Transcript, Telegraph-Journal, Daily Gleaner and other local newspapers.

They are printed and distributed from a building along Main Street in downtown Moncton.]/quote]

"Following an assessment of printing and insert packaging operations, it was determined that outsourcing these operations from Postmedia’s Moncton facility would allow us to continue serving print subscribers and advertisers while supporting long-term financial sustainability," the company said in an emailed statement Wednesday.

The printing will be outsourced out of province starting Aug. 2.

What will happen to Acadie Nouvele is less certain.

Regardless, the old Times & Transcript Building on Main Street will be effectively abandoned. It is still owned by JD Irving and is leased to Post Media. It was put up for sale in 2022.

This could be a very attractive property. A portion of the land is adjacent to the CNR mainline, but, most of the property should be suitable for development of some form. The lands next to the rail line could be used for parking.

[MonctonRad]

I see that signage has gone up for Shawarma Kingdom in the former location of Potazza on Main Street.

That was quick........

[Sunnybrae]

[QUOTE=MonctonRad;10591069]Postmedia to print most N.B. newspapers out of province
Company says move will support 'long-term financial sustainability'
Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Apr 29, 2026 5:06 PM ADT | Last Updated: April 29
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/moncton-press-postmedia-9.7181864

Postmedia plans to stop printing most New Brunswick newspapers in Moncton.

Postmedia publishes the Times & Transcript, Telegraph-Journal, Daily Gleaner and other local newspapers.

They are printed and distributed from a building along Main Street in downtown Moncton.]/quote]





What will happen to Acadie Nouvele is less certain.

Regardless, the old Times & Transcript Building on Main Street will be effectively abandoned. It is still owned by JD Irving and is leased to Post Media. It was put up for sale in 2022.

This could be a very attractive property. A portion of the land is adjacent to the CNR mainline, but, most of the property should be suitable for development of some form. The lands next to the rail line could be used for parking.

My first job, delivering newspapers in Sunny Brae. Would go down to the Transcript building to cash out and get paid. Best feeling ever for a kid. Money in my pocket and Leisure World at Moncton Mall ready to take it.

[jonny golden]

Regardless, the old Times & Transcript Building on Main Street will be effectively abandoned. It is still owned by JD Irving and is leased to Post Media. It was put up for sale in 2022.

Talk about a prime development location! Although it's an odd shape, it's a large piece of land with lots of potential.

However, the fly in the ointment could be the existing building.

[Sandbagger]

Whatever happens with the building, getting the printing press out of there will be a huge undertaking.

[lirette]

Originally Posted by Sandbagger

Whatever happens with the building, getting the printing press out of there will be a huge undertaking.

Just leave it there and build around it, I can already see it. "The Printing Press Bar and Grill" or "The printing press cafe"

[Taeolas]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

Talk about a prime development location! Although it's an odd shape, it's a large piece of land with lots of potential.

However, the fly in the ointment could be the existing building.

Land remediation might be an issue as well. While not as toxic as gas-industry, I believe the Printing industry tends to have built up a bit of a toxic debt load in their building and lands. So that might be another concern for development.

Or maybe I'm just talking out of my ass; the DG building in Freddy's got 3-4 things in it now, and I haven't heard talk about any toxicity concerns with it. Just that it is a concrete bunker of a building that's basically hard to do anything with.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by Taeolas

Land remediation might be an issue as well. While not as toxic as gas-industry, I believe the Printing industry tends to have built up a bit of a toxic debt load in their building and lands. So that might be another concern for development.

Or maybe I'm just talking out of my ass; the DG building in Freddy's got 3-4 things in it now, and I haven't heard talk about any toxicity concerns with it. Just that it is a concrete bunker of a building that's basically hard to do anything with.

I've been in the building several times (not lately) and the office areas were beautiful, really top of the line. Re-purposing this building certainly would be less expensive than demolishing it in favour of an apartment tower.

There's still a lot of surface area behind for residential development.

I'd love to see a qualified developer with a great vision for the overall property acquire it. Then if the subway block were replaced by a modern building, this whole section of Main Street would be transformed, and become an excellent connection to central downtown.

[BlackYear]

The Printing Press Sports Bar

How about a real sports bar. And I'm not talking about a restaurant with 55" TVs on their walls.

Individual sections highlighting major league sports (baseball, football, basketball, hockey, golf, soccer, F1 racing, etc).

- Special Promos for Moncton Wildcats.
- Lowest prices in NB for local and domestic beers. There's no need to price gouge the public.
- Interactive sports games (pool tables, darts, table hockey, foosball, etc)
- VIP rooms for private events.
- Merchandise store.
- Optional Membership cards for daily 'Sign In' 50/50.
- Sound absorbing panels everywhere.
- Special Event outdoor tailgate parties.
- Of course a kitchen serving only quality pub food.
- A manager who knows how to run the place.

I can go on and on!

[MonctonRad]

Do you want the job???

[Leroy321]

There was some rebar dropped off at 45 Lewis St today. This would be the first time there has been activity on anything other than fencing the site off.

[Mud]

There's an extra layer of fencing and concrete barriers around St. Bernard's rectory now. Don't know if it's a sign that restoration work is set to begin or if they were just ordered to create more of a buffer.

[MonctonRad]

A new forum member sent me a DM earlier this morning. He claims he has seen soil testing going on in the T&T parking lot recently. This may mean nothing. They may simply be doing some due diligence since the property is on the market, and they want to give prospective buyers as much information as possible.

Interesting nonetheless.........

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Mud

There's an extra layer of fencing and concrete barriers around St. Bernard's rectory now. Don't know if it's a sign that restoration work is set to begin or if they were just ordered to create more of a buffer.

They were supposed to have deconstructed the tower structure over the winter to prevent it from collapsing, but, they never did.

I truly hope that they can preserve this building since it is one of the Gothic gems of downtown Moncton, but this saga has been going on for almost a decade with at least two ownership changes, and, we seem no further ahead.......

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

A new forum member sent me a DM earlier this morning. He claims he has seen soil testing going on in the T&T parking lot recently. This may mean nothing. They may simply be doing some due diligence since the property is on the market, and they want to give prospective buyers as much information as possible.

Interesting nonetheless.........

I wonder if the fact that Postmedia is moving out of the building makes the property more appealing to prospective developers?

Although it would be quite a job, the press equipment could be dismantled and removed, leaving the whole building vacant.