The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by 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...

Any photos/renderings? I too have really been looking forward to this project, but I'm out of town and don't have the same access as you guys have.

If what you say is true, that is very sad that they've wasted such an opportunity and location, but it is Saint John, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

[SJTOKO]

Originally Posted by kwajo

Any photos/renderings? I too have really been looking forward to this project, but I'm out of town and don't have the same access as you guys have.

If what you say is true, that is very sad that they've wasted such an opportunity and location, but it is Saint John, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

The rendering is in today's paper, you can look it up online if you want.... terrible just terrible...

[kwajo]

Ahh I see it now, thanks for the heads-up.


That's better than you had me thinking. When you said 'box' I thought you meant like those eyesores they built on the General Hospital site

Still disappointing though, you're right about that.

[michael_d40]

Port issuing tender call for terminal
Development Agency also looking for proposals to develop nearby Pugsley Park

Sandra Davis
Telegraph-Journal
Published Thursday November 1st, 2007
Appeared on page C1

SAINT JOHN - A call for tenders to build the city's new $8-million cruise ship terminal is going out "immediately."

At the same time, there is a request going out for proposals to develop Pugsley Park, the area between the Coast Guard site and the cruise terminal.

The decision to call for tenders and seek proposals was made during Tuesday's meeting of the board of directors of the Saint John Port Authority, says board chairman Stephen Campbell.

"We're anxious to see what we get back," said Campbell. "I'm delighted to go forward. It'll be well broadcast because we want as much response as we can get."

The 16,000-square-foot cruise terminal, to be completed next summer, will stand on the waterfront at Pugsley terminal, surrounded by walkways and green spaces for cruise ship passengers and citizens to enjoy. Its main entrance will be at the foot of Duke Street.

Pugsley Park, which now consists of a parking lot on Water Street, will include trees and benches snaking their way south along the water and eventually private development such as restaurants, coffee shops and waterside shopping - they're all possibilities depending on what the call to proposals turns up.

A clock tower will stand at the entrance to Pugsley Park, at the foot of Princess Street and the area will become the permanent home of some much-loved sculptures by the late John Hooper.

"We know that there are at least three significant developers, if not more, that are anxiously awaiting that request for proposals," said Campbell.

"I'm delighted to go forward with those."

Last month, the three levels of government announced an investment of $3.5 million in waterfront development for design, construction and landscaping of pedestrian areas around the new terminal.

Directly across from City Hall, in what is now a bus turnaround area, the plans call for a larger, more developed St. Andrews Park, which will also be the new location of Barbour's General Store as well as the Little Red Schoolhouse.

At the other end of Water Street, by the Three Sisters lamp, will be a larger and more developed Three Sisters Park.

The whole area will be called The Bay of Fundy Cruise Welcome Centre and is expected to directly benefit rural communities throughout Southern New Brunswick by injecting more than $17 million in revenue over the next five year

[michael_d40]

Originally Posted by kwajo

Ahh I see it now, thanks for the heads-up.


That's better than you had me thinking. When you said 'box' I thought you meant like those eyesores they built on the General Hospital site

Still disappointing though, you're right about that.

In all honesty its not THAT bad. It just looks like something you would see in Moncton or Fredericton.
Time will tell how it all pans out I guess

[kwajo]

In all honesty its not THAT bad. It just looks like something you would see in Moncton or Fredericton.

lol ouch.


You're right, it's not horrible, and I think it will look better in its real setting, not in a rendering that doesn't show the surrounding buildings or even Harbour Passage, let alone the new Pugsley Park. That being said, the building needs not only a more Saint John flair, but also needs to incorporate architectural features of a harbour-side building, not a generic in-land piece of design.

At least it's better than a big tent...

[Seely32]

I dont mind brick buidings it should fit in with uptown but the design isn't something to be desired for. I was hoping for more glass to be honest some of previous rendering showed up that way. It looks like the cruise ship passengers are coming into ellis ilsand more with this building. This would be a creat office building uptown but not a new age welcome center.

[michael_d40]

Originally Posted by kwajo

lol ouch.


You're right, it's not horrible, and I think it will look better in its real setting, not in a rendering that doesn't show the surrounding buildings or even Harbour Passage, let alone the new Pugsley Park. That being said, the building needs not only a more Saint John flair, but also needs to incorporate architectural features of a harbour-side building, not a generic in-land piece of design.

At least it's better than a big tent...

haha yeah, anything is better than the big tent, and yes, I think it will look fine once all the surroundings are finished as well. I find it odd that they didnt show us the whole overall conception of the area,

[Helladog]

I was disappointed to se it was so plain too, but at this point, I'm happy to see something on the agenda being started.

For 8 million bucks tho? I'd think 8 million could do more...

[PostModernPrometheus]

I'd agree with Helladog.....the plan is a little bit of a letdown, BUT.....its much better than what is currently there....AND....it is quite difficult to conceptualize this building without the surrounding park/etc...

[random11]

Personally, I find the latest rendering to be cheesy-supremo. However, I am not totally convinced that this is the final rendering. It has extreme limits in terms of feel and substance and let's face it, 8 million for a modern day, 16,ooo sq ft building on the downtown waterfront is not a serious amount of money in today's market. Perhaps it's just me hoping that they went cheap on the rendering in an effort to save money, lol! I just don't think this is the final deal - The city is all too well aware of what happened when they permitted that God awful "Drake" building to be built on the former General Hospital site land and I am terribly optimistic that they will under no circumstances allow such an eye-sore to shape our landscape again. For me, the jury is out on this one gang: I need to see more. I am confident we will see more. This is a major deal on a major piece of waterfront and I just don't think we have seen the final picture. I think the rendering in the newspaper was essentially "rushed" out to provide an 'idea' of what it might be. *sigh* - here's me keeping my fingers crossed.

[Smevo]

I can't remember who it was, but someone was asking about a picture of a building's heating plant. I was just sifting through my photos preparing to post my thread and found this...is it the one you asked for...whoever asked for it?



Anyway, as for the other stuff, we work better as a region (I've been saying that since I joined about 5 years ago...when it was just me and one other forumer outside of Halifax) and that kind of bickering shouldn't ever show up in development threads, because, left unchecked, that bickering gets threads locked and nobody wants to see a development thread locked for that reason.

I'd have to say I'm disappointed with the Cruise ship terminal as well, looks like the heritage groups dictated what it looked like (short, brick, and not even a hint of a glass curtain). I wish heritage groups could start seeing how well true modern and true historic blend together (and how crappy faux historic is). As long as the historic buildings are kept up, and aren't torn down or adversely affected by the new development, there's nothing wrong with a modern design going in next door. Anyway, that's my two cents. I'll be (kind of) more active again...I've got a lot to catch up on in the Sydney thread which I can hopefully start this weekend. Good to see a number of new forumers since my last posting on this thread...like I said, five years ago it was me, a forumer named Kelvin, and five or six from Halifax.

[PostModernPrometheus]

Hmmm......what do you guys think of this? I'm not a fan of either casinos or racinos - whats the overall consensus?




Details on Saint John racino expected Friday
Last Updated: Friday, November 2, 2007 | 9:29 AM AT
CBC News
Plans for a new gaming and entertainment centre in Saint John are set to be unveiled Friday, even though the New Brunswick government has yet to present its policy on racetrack casinos.

Racino venues — which combine harness racing and video lottery terminals — are part of a pending provincial policy on gaming.

The Exhibition Association of Saint John has set a news conference for 11 a.m. Friday for a centre at the Exhibition Park Raceway.

Willard Jenkins, the president of the association's board of directors, is set to show renderings of a restaurant, an agriculture and sports dome and a soccer field, as well as space that can be converted to a concert venue.

Saint John Mayor Norm McFarlane is also expected to express support for the project from the city.

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by Smevo

Anyway, as for the other stuff, we work better as a region (I've been saying that since I joined about 5 years ago...when it was just me and one other forumer outside of Halifax) and that kind of bickering shouldn't ever show up in development threads, because, left unchecked, that bickering gets threads locked and nobody wants to see a development thread locked for that reason.

That old building is such an eyesore....and it's in such a prime spot....does anyone know the status on this building (There used to be a sjwaterfront.com sign on it and/or a for sale sign, but i think it's since come down).....if i recall, there are plans for a string of townhouses in this area - has that developer (?Rocca) purchased this building in as a prelude to that project??



Totally agree on the bickering point

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by Haliguy

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

*Group Maritime Hug*

[Helladog]

Originally Posted by PostModernPrometheus

Hmmm......what do you guys think of this? I'm not a fan of either casinos or racinos - whats the overall consensus?




Details on Saint John racino expected Friday
Last Updated: Friday, November 2, 2007 | 9:29 AM AT
CBC News
Plans for a new gaming and entertainment centre in Saint John are set to be unveiled Friday, even though the New Brunswick government has yet to present its policy on racetrack casinos.

Racino venues — which combine harness racing and video lottery terminals — are part of a pending provincial policy on gaming.

The Exhibition Association of Saint John has set a news conference for 11 a.m. Friday for a centre at the Exhibition Park Raceway.

Willard Jenkins, the president of the association's board of directors, is set to show renderings of a restaurant, an agriculture and sports dome and a soccer field, as well as space that can be converted to a concert venue.

Saint John Mayor Norm McFarlane is also expected to express support for the project from the city.

I'd rather see locals spend their time/money in areas that'll do some good; with any luck a racino will bring tourists. I'm not totally for it, but with competition with Moncton for development, we shouldn't be caught second guessing for fear they'll get it instead.

If it gets done, I hope it has a classy casino feel to it with tables as well as slots.

As for the cruise ship terminal, I also don't think it is a final drawing; it's just an artists conception. It needs something more to make it unique. I don't think it fits well with the concept they were going with for the vision thingy with blue arches and all.

[Seely32]

Down with the racino, If you have been to bars in saint john we already have a bit of a gambling problem thank you vlt's. Take that money and try and improve our waterfront. At one point they wanted to put it uptown which was god awful, I find that casinos are just cheap ways to get people into their city and if its not kept with strict standards and built nice we could see the wrong type of crowd coming here.

I am also keepingmy fingers crossed that the rendering was completely conceptual and does not speak anything of the suspected project.(welcome centre)

Anyone have any ideas when the skatepark is supposed to start.

Just one more thing aren't they suppose to raze the Y this month I hope its not delayed.

[Helladog]

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by Helladog

That actually doesn't look too bad (a hundred times better than that stupid concept of a racino on the Lantic sugar site). I'd support it, but I want $0 dollars from taxpayers to go into it. After all the time we spent trying to get money for Harbour Cleanup, and numerous other truly-needed projects, I don't want to see a bunch of horse owners get big bucks to support their hobby.

[Seely32]

Originally Posted by Helladog

Kids playing hockey and people betting on horses and playing slots???

anyone see a contradiction here.