The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[Seely32]

Mall gets 68th tenant

SAINT JOHN - Brunswick Square officially welcomed its 68th tenant on Tuesday with the grand opening of Print Three document centre.

Print Three is located on Level III of the shopping centre and its opening follows closely on the heels of the arrival of Pseudio and Teddy Bear Makers.

"I think it's an indication of the overall marketplace," said Sue Baxter, the regional leasing manager for Fortis Properties in New Brunswick. Fortis owns and manages Brunswick Square, which opened Levels I and II in 1977 and Level III in 1987.

While Baxter said it has been an exceptionally positive year, there is still room for four to six more stores, depending on size and specialty.

[Haliguy]

Originally Posted by kwajo

Seeing this discussion of Halifax being a co-energy hun reminds me that I rather like this new forum design where we've shuffled the Haligonians into special "camps" where they can talk amongst themselves and leave the rest of us to have productive conversations about Atlantic Canada.

Maybe we should establish a similar division in real life by building a large wall around HRM and controlling how many people enter and exit, and maybe reduce the number of children they are allowed to have so that they can be self-sustaining yet not grow outside the physical constraints of their circa-1749 ghetto.

AHH you're just jealous because we have our own forum. Productive dicussion what a joke.. from you?....that funny. It's kind of funny how you complain about being considered secondary in the Atlantic gateway but when I mention Halifax being a energy hub as well you don't like it even though Halifax is a memeber of the Worlds Enegry cities and Saint John is not.

[michael_d40]

Cant we all just come to a simple consesus, that we prefer SJ over Hfx and you prefer hfx over SJ.

Even though sj is clearly on its way to taking over the world
So either put up, or shut up

[Tone]

Hi guys! But how can somebody remotely sane can even compare SJ with Halifax?

[Seely32]

We can compare easily on growth of the energy sector, the size of the city means nothing on how much energy a city or area can provide. The fact we feel slighted is not something we can just put aside and watch us get rolled over. Just because halifax has port advantages doesnt mean we should get left behind why we sit back for another 50 years and let another city in our region take what we can produce without a fight. Halifax is only larger in population, the may have a larger port, doesnt mean with the right investments we cant do the same as them in many aspects.

[Haliguy]

Originally Posted by Seely32

We can compare easily on growth of the energy sector, the size of the city means nothing on how much energy a city or area can provide. The fact we feel slighted is not something we can just put aside and watch us get rolled over. Just because halifax has port advantages doesnt mean we should get left behind why we sit back for another 50 years and let another city in our region take what we can produce without a fight. Halifax is only larger in population, the may have a larger port, doesnt mean with the right investments we cant do the same as them in many aspects.

I know Saint John is turning around after years of decline and thats great, but I think its going to you're guys head a bit.

I think you have to accept that the port of Halifax and the port of Saint John are of two different ranks. It makes sense for the the focal point of the Atlantic Gateway to be Halifax. It has the infra structure, deep water, rail links and is closer the trans Atlantic shipping lanes. Just like you say it makes sense for energy to be produced in Saint John. Also nobody is saying that Saint John can and will not be included in the Atlantic Gateway concept or funding.

I am not against Saint John at all just discussing facts thats all.

[Wishblade]

It may sound like general boosterism when comparing Halifax with Saint John, but really its just the true fact. all Saint John has over Halifax is energy. As for everything else, its kind of a no brainer. sorry

[PostModernPrometheus]

Folks.....let's get a little perspective here, shall we? We're all adults here....perhaps we can all act like it and stick with the issues & opinions instead of personal attacks/mudslinging? It's not particularly productive, and reflects rather negatively on those engaging in it, and the forum as a whole.


Just a thought...

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by Wishblade

It may sound like general boosterism when comparing Halifax with Saint John, but really its just the true fact. all Saint John has over Halifax is energy. As for everything else, its kind of a no brainer. sorry

I suppose it all depends a great deal on what parameters one is comparing; I've lived in both cities (though much longer in the Saint John region). By virtue of it's size vis a vis Saint John, yes - Halifax does have a number of advantages (anything from the diversity of educational facilities / institutions to a broader array of cultural events, and everything in between).

However, with it's size comes what some might consider disadvantages...cost for example being one of them; I'm at the stage of building a new home, and I can tell you - to have private water frontage with a sandy beach and a million dollar view that is a 5-10 min. rush hour drive from the city core is still (relatively) affordable in the SJ area, but nearly unheard of in Halifax, or if it is available, it would command an obscene price.....Now, some people might say "who cares??", but again - it really depends on what parameters are important to the eye of the beholder.

cheers.

[random11]

Originally Posted by Seely32

Has anyone seen what they have done to the building on the corner of princess and charlotte, absolutly disgusting I dont know how the owner of the building would let that happen or suggest it. They put up green metal siding over brick and then but on faux light stone stiles on the bottom of the front. It looks like something you would put on a bathroom in the garage because your friends have some extra tiles laying around.

If you havent seen it yet and you get the chance take a look.......Terrible.

I live on Germain near Horsefield and I see the building you are referring to just about daily. My word would be "Tacky".

[random11]

Originally Posted by Haliguy

I know Saint John is turning around after years of decline and thats great, but I think its going to you're guys head a bit.

I think you have to accept that the port of Halifax and the port of Saint John are of two different ranks. It makes sense for the the focal point of the Atlantic Gateway to be Halifax. It has the infra structure, deep water, rail links and is closer the trans Atlantic shipping lanes. Just like you say it makes sense for energy to be produced in Saint John. Also nobody is saying that Saint John can and will not be included in the Atlantic Gateway concept or funding.

I am not against Saint John at all just discussing facts thats all.

I understand your point(s). As for facts however, Saint John very much has a deep water port and can accomdate the largest of vessels. As for rail links, the distance to the hot-in-demand East North America market is much closer from Saint John than Halifax. Our infra structure will include - among other things - a full twinning of the Trans Canada from Saint John to St. Stephen which will be open soon. In addition, the state of Maine and New Brunswick will soon enter into an agreement to construct a new border crossing bridge to accomadate what has now become one of the busiest border crossings in the country. Time = money and there is little arguement that distance can and very will likely, be the final decision. Companies & suppliers want their goods and products to market in the quickest, most time efficient manner possible. Maybe I'm crazy on this one, but I think we have an edge.

[GUB]

Originally Posted by PostModernPrometheus

I suppose it all depends a great deal on what parameters one is comparing; I've lived in both cities (though much longer in the Saint John region). By virtue of it's size vis a vis Saint John, yes - Halifax does have a number of advantages (anything from the diversity of educational facilities / institutions to a broader array of cultural events, and everything in between).

However, with it's size comes what some might consider disadvantages...cost for example being one of them; I'm at the stage of building a new home, and I can tell you - to have private water frontage with a sandy beach and a million dollar view that is a 5-10 min. rush hour drive from the city core is still (relatively) affordable in the SJ area, but nearly unheard of in Halifax, or if it is available, it would command an obscene price.....Now, some people might say "who cares??", but again - it really depends on what parameters are important to the eye of the beholder.

cheers.

Well said.
Since we're on the topic of Hal. & SJ--From what I understand, back in the 50's the 2 cities were very similar populations & cities function wise. Then in the 60's or 70's era the Federal gov't gave SJ the ol' screw job by opening up the St. Lawrence Seaway-- making it ice free thus allowing cargo that normally passed through SJ to go into the port of Montreal instead. SJ then began an unfortunate steady decline, that only recently seems to be changing for the better.
I live in both cities depending on time of year & must say SJ is a really cool city with a ton of history & potential, and Halifax is great as well--never boring. I'm just glad SJ is looking up for the first time in decades!

[Ottawa]

Originally Posted by GUB

Well said.
Since we're on the topic of Hal. & SJ--From what I understand, back in the 50's the 2 cities were very similar populations & cities function wise. Then in the 60's or 70's era the Federal gov't gave SJ the ol' screw job by opening up the St. Lawrence Seaway-- making it ice free thus allowing cargo that normally passed through SJ to go into the port of Montreal instead. SJ then began an unfortunate steady decline, that only recently seems to be changing for the better.
I live in both cities depending on time of year & must say SJ is a really cool city with a ton of history & potential, and Halifax is great as well--never boring. I'm just glad SJ is looking up for the first time in decades!

History is what it is. The future is yet to be written. I have personally seen the prejudice against Saint John for a long, long time so I don't feel bad at all about struttin' some stuff on our own page. I don't think it should be such a problem with the HRM bunch whatever we want to call ourself. Maybe they are feeling a little insecure about losing their predominant position in the region. In that case - grow up! If you want to slam Saint John, do it in your own page please, not in my face with uniformed opinions and lack of facts. Personally, I wouldn't go to the HRM website and slam their city. I have never gone into their website and slammed Halifax. This is the Saint John page and I don't intend to sit in a corner and take that kind of crap!

People are mixing up the energy hub idea with getting natural gas out of the ocean. It is a lot more than just LNG or natural gas. The energy hub message is a selling point to the natural market in the NE US. Saint John has a history of manufacturing and industry and is the headquarters for the largest locally owned oil and gas company in the region. It is home to Canada's largest refinery. This refinery is responsible for selling more than twice as much refined gasoline to the US than all other refineries in Canada combined - and yes that includes Alberta! This is a large value added product that comes out of this city. Saint John produces a large percentage of the electricity produced in New Brunswick. Saint John has the only nuclear power plant in the Atlantic provinces. This is why AECL has set up an office here and why we are hopeful we can retain some of the skills learned here and become a training centre for future nuclear refits. Saint John is a whole lot closer by land (the major travel route) to major US markets than any other city in the maritimes.

Saint John has been an energy producer for decades. Maybe NB should do for NS gas what Quebec did for Labrador hydro. I really don't think that's the way to go, but I am getting a little frustrated with the thinking process going on with some people(you know who I mean).

Saint John has a lot going for it without taking anything away from other areas. So, if you think you've got a real beef, try to change your own area and quit trying to put others down.

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by random11

I understand your point(s). As for facts however, Saint John very much has a deep water port and can accomdate the largest of vessels.

This is true, people often forget that the SJ Harbour isn't just the area between Uptown and the West Side (which is technically the mouth of the Saint John River, not SJ Harbour), but rather the whole expanse of water out past Partridge Island. Imagine drawing a rough line from Coleson Cove to Cape Spencer, and that's the harbour - quite a lot of deep water out there. For example, Canaport and Canaport LNG are technically within Saint John Harbour, not outside of it as many people think.

[kwajo]

Oh and I appologize if people took my comment badly in the last page. I didn't mean to stir up trouble, I thought it was clear that I was joking/satirising the situation.
I've lived in Halifax, and it's a great place, I just don't like Saint John - and New Brunswick - being marginalized when it doesn't deserve to be. Sometimes we get treated as the third world by Halifax, when we're all Maritimers who should be working together to better ourselves.

[Haliguy]

Originally Posted by kwajo

Oh and I appologize if people took my comment badly in the last page. I didn't mean to stir up trouble, I thought it was clear that I was joking/satirising the situation.
I've lived in Halifax, and it's a great place, I just don't like Saint John - and New Brunswick - being marginalized when it doesn't deserve to be. Sometimes we get treated as the third world by Halifax, when we're all Maritimers who should be working together to better ourselves.

Hey man, I agree.... lets work together. If we work together on the strengths of all our cities we can become a Have region.

[skyscraper_1]

Originally Posted by kwajo

Oh and I appologize if people took my comment badly in the last page. I didn't mean to stir up trouble, I thought it was clear that I was joking/satirising the situation.
I've lived in Halifax, and it's a great place, I just don't like Saint John - and New Brunswick - being marginalized when it doesn't deserve to be. Sometimes we get treated as the third world by Halifax, when we're all Maritimers who should be working together to better ourselves.

I don't think it is a matter of Saint John or New Brunswick being marginalized, its a matter of what place has the best ability to get the goods to market from Asia and Europe to the midwest of America. The east coast of Nova Scotia has that capability that Saint John doesn't have. It doesn't mean the city is out of luck, it just means that it will have to specialize on something else. Just being on the transportation corridor is a huge opportunity.

I tend to agree with Saint Johner's when it comes to energy. They have us beat big time and that is fine since they have a clear competitive advantage in that department.

[Haliguy]

Originally Posted by random11

I understand your point(s). As for facts however, Saint John very much has a deep water port and can accomdate the largest of vessels. As for rail links, the distance to the hot-in-demand East North America market is much closer from Saint John than Halifax. Our infra structure will include - among other things - a full twinning of the Trans Canada from Saint John to St. Stephen which will be open soon. In addition, the state of Maine and New Brunswick will soon enter into an agreement to construct a new border crossing bridge to accomadate what has now become one of the busiest border crossings in the country. Time = money and there is little arguement that distance can and very will likely, be the final decision. Companies & suppliers want their goods and products to market in the quickest, most time efficient manner possible. Maybe I'm crazy on this one, but I think we have an edge.

Agreed, But when I talk about infra structure I am talking about things like Post Panamax cranes.. Halifax has several and can handle Post Panamax ships currently. as well as container handling facitlites. Saint John doesn't have this capability as it stands now and I'm not sure they would have a lot of room for these large ships especially several at time where Halifax would be able to accommodate this due to the size of it's harbour. Anyway thats it, both our cities have our strengths lets work with them.

[random11]

. Anyway thats it, both our cities have our strengths lets work with them.[/QUOTE]


I do agree with that comment. As I mentioned a few days ago, this dialogue should not be about "us vs.them" or vice-versa rather, it should be about what we can accomplish together for the success of our 'region' in general.

[SJTOKO]

NOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


ANOTHER BOX uptown and it's call the Cruise Welcome Center....... That's it, this was one project I was really looking forward too and it's a giant pile of fucking garbage..... I'm done promoting Saint John,, forget it,, i'm out...