The Official Moncton, NB Project Thread

[mmmatt]

The city better take this the right way and get to work partnering up with investors for a convention center/casino/hotel! (obviously the city would only put funds toward the convention center part)...but it would be sweet to have them combined into a big building...could take up the whole beaver lumber property!

[JasonL-Moncton]

Why don't they get on the horn to some of these BIG developer's in the casino/destination business and get them in the game!

[mylesmalley]

Retail complex to open next summer
Few Mapleton Power Centre retailers named yet but project 85 per cent leased

By Brent Mazerolle
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Wednesday November 21st, 2007
Appeared on page A1
Consumers will be shopping at the new Mapleton Power Centre by next summer or early fall, says one of the project's developers.

Patrick Gillespie said yesterday the utilities are going in on the land at the northeast corner of Mapleton Road and Wheeler Boulevard, a key requirement of getting the permits to start construction of the retail complex which will be more than half the size of Dieppe's Champlain Mall when it is completed.

Gillespie, of Ashford Properties, said the completion would come in the spring of 2009, but some parts would be open for business by next year.

In the competitive world of retailing where there is great pressure to generate a public buzz, Gillespie was reluctant to share much about what the facility might look like when it is done and refused to steal any thunder from the launch plans of any retailers coming to the centre by revealing their identities.

One of them, The Brick, has already disclosed its plans to set up shop on Mapleton Road, but the rest are largely a matter of speculation.

The hottest retail rumour, being reported as fact in youthful Metro circles, is that Mountain Equipment Co-op will be among the stores. Sadly, a company spokeswoman said last night the next Mountain Equipment Co-op would open in Burlington, Ontario, not Moncton.

"We have no plans right now for New Brunswick," said Nadia Beaupré, adding the co-operative has been focusing on acquiring standalone buildings at any rate. Typically the company has chosen old buildings for its stores and restored them to more environmentally friendly standards.

For the uninitiated, the Vancouver-based co-operative has a brand appeal for outdoor enthusiasts the way Lee Valley Tools has for the good-with-their-hands crowd. On that topic, Lee Valley is also a hot rumour, but perhaps bit of wishful thinking for Mapleton as well. Lee Valley could not be reached for comment yesterday.

There are two big tenant representative firms co-ordinating about half the space and they plan to make a joint announcement for their tenants. The rest are expected to make individual announcements.

The development has been described as a site intended mainly for 'high-end' retail along three main lines -- fashions and apparel, home furnishings and service stores with a restaurant or two folded into the mix.

Gillespie said the plan is to build the entire complex at once, rather than completing phases as is often done with large-scale development.

With more than 85 per cent of its available space already leased, there seems little worry about the site's success.

[mylesmalley]

Convention centre business worth $13M annually
Report suggests a 24,000-square foot facility for Moncton, built in city core

By Brent Mazerolle
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Wednesday November 21st, 2007
Appeared on page A1
A convention centre is all a matter of balance, judging from a report prepared for the City of Moncton by PKF Consulting, Ltd.

It must generate enough economic spin-off in the community to justify the municipal spending of tax dollars to run it. That economic impact, on the hotel business especially, must be positive enough that hotels can lose bookings to the convention centre and still come out ahead thanks to growing the city's convention and meeting business.

PKFs Brian Stanford, speaking to area hoteliers yesterday, said the most successful convention centre projects have tended to be initiated and championed by the hotel industry.

And, of course, the tangible costs of building and operating the convention centre must be balanced against the overall economic impact of such a facility, a side of the balance sheet for which it is not always so easy to calculate dollar figures.

The city must pay the bills, but the management of the facility is best left to an arm's length board, the consultants say, another balance that will have to be struck. "You don't want councillors getting calls if someone went to an event at the convention centre and didn't like their chicken dinner," PKF's Brian Stanford quipped, though he said that is not so far-fetched.

Finally, the facility must be big enough to raise Moncton's game but small enough for the city to find its realistic competitive niche. While Moncton tied for second place with St. John's Newfoundland and behind Halifax on what the city can really offer conventioneers in safety, friendliness, air connections, facilities and the like, PKF's survey of the perceptions of 65 Canadian meeting and convention planners found they ranked the city fourth of six destinations in Atlantic Canada.

And just 26 per cent of the meeting planners surveyed said the addition of more meeting spaces would secure their business in the future. The city also ranks 12th of 18 similar-sized convention and meeting destinations nationwide.

While Metro scores high with them on safety, friendliness and environmental responsibility, it does poorly when it comes to air connections and offering delegates other community attractions.

Anything from 20,000 to 60,000 square feet of rentable space has been pitched for a Moncton convention centre since the first study was done in the late 1990s. PKF suggests if Moncton goes ahead, that it build a convention centre offering 24,000 sq. feet. That would include one ballroom of 16,000 sq. feet, roughly twice the size of the largest available space at the Delta Beauséjour. The space should then be divisible by three, yielding two rooms of 6,000 sq. feet and one of 4,000. By combining them different ways, the rooms within the ballroom could also be made into spaces of 10,000 or 12,000 sq. ft.

It is critical, they said, that a convention centre be in the heart of downtown Moncton, a short walk from the city's downtown flagship hotels, the Delta Beauséjour, The Crowne Plaza and the soon-to-be-completed Marriott Residence Inn.

As well, the consultants say, $13 million hangs in the balance. PKF estimates not building a convention centre, assuming other Maritime cities go ahead with their plans, would cost a loss of about $4 million per year as delegates who would have otherwise come to Moncton start gathering in other cities. On the other hand, PKF estimates a 24,000-square foot convention centre pursuing events with a level of aggressiveness that stops short of overly competing with the hotels and other venues like the Moncton Coliseum, l'Université de Moncton and Wedgewood Hall would grow $9 million more in convention spending each year.

The building of a convention centre would cost $25-$30 million, not counting land and parking.

To Stanford's knowledge, no convention centre has been built without at least some federal funding to offset such a "loss leader" enterprise. "You'll need 300 parking stalls specific to the convention centre," Stanford said, adding they would have to be under the control of the centre to guarantee their availability when they're needed. That, of course, is not often. It's a fact of the industry, he said, that "the lights are dark in a convention centre two out of three days."

Counterbalancing those facts however, Stanford emphasized it is well established "every dollar spent on a convention centre generates $10 in positive economic impact."

That argument was echoed by Downtown Moncton Centre-Ville Inc. "A convention centre is a key component to sustaining and furthering our economic growth, and we are losing out on business opportunities and revenue because we don't have one" DMCI's President Maura McKinnon said yesterday.

What could offset the operating costs of a convention centre would be gaming or some similar entertainment affiliated in some way.

[ErickMontreal]

2006 was record year for Metro
$11M math error, now corrected, means last year was city's best ever for new construction



Times & Transcript Staff
Published Wednesday November 21st, 2007
Appeared on page A7

You know, $151,848,000 does sound better than $141,600,000, but when your numbers have that many commas, what's $11 million give or take?

It turns out a few strokes of a pen were the difference between 2006 being the penultimate and the ultimate year for construction in Moncton.

Until now, the City of Moncton had reported 2006's $141.6 million worth of building permits issued was second only to 2002's $145 million for all-time record construction. But with the permit count for 2006 missing just one very big permit, the numbers got skewed.

The permit in question was for construction of the new downtown Marriott Residence Inn and the confusion arose when two permits were issued a day apart last October, City of Moncton Building Development Specialist Ben Champoux told the Times & Transcript.

One was for the foundation and was worth about $800,000. The other, for the building itself, was valued at about $11 million. Through an oversight only the first one got counted in Champoux's tallies last year.

The mistake was caught recently as Champoux was comparing October to October construction figures.

So, for the official record, 2006 now goes down in the books as the best construction year in Moncton's history.

For now.

This year is looking promising as well, Champoux said yesterday.

The year-to-date total of permits is 1,045, for a total value of $114,639,000. That's 10 per cent ahead of last year's levels ($104,336,000) at this point.

Will 2007 finish the year ahead of 2006?

"We have many large commercial projects in the works, so it'll all depend whether permits for these projects are issued before or after Dec. 31," Champoux said. No matter what, "2007 will be another banner year and 2008 will be no exception," he said.

Among the large projects pending is the Mapleton Power Centre, slated to be more than half the size of the Champlain Place shopping mall.

Construction highlights from last month include renovations to the pavillon Léopold-Taillon at l'Universté de Moncton, valued at $294,600; construction of the foundation for a new clubhouse at the Royal Oaks Golf Club, valued at $2,1 million; and construction of additional offices at Shoppers Drug Mart on Deware Street in the Caledonia Industrial park, valued at $912,000.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Murphy continues fight for river restoration
Moncton MP urges province to make public negotiations with federal transport minister

Times & Transcript Staff
Published Wednesday November 21st, 2007
Appeared on page A2

OTTAWA - Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe MP Brian Murphy made it clear yesterday that he isn't ready to give up the fight to restore the rushing waters to the Petitcodiac River, despite the federal government's rejection of the province's restoration plan earlier this month.

In a letter to the editor in today's Times & Transcript, Murphy said he will be looking to other restoration projects across the country, funded by the federal government, to ensure they met the appropriate criteria.

"My letter serves to put the province on notice that I think they need to make it clear to the public just what kind of negotiations or discussions took place (with the federal government)," he said.

In a letter to the Times & Transcript last week, Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon said the causeway project is not eligible for funding under the Building Canada plan because it does not fit the eligible categories.

The plan is a $33-billion fund that supports projects like building roads and bridges. The project was denied because the causeway is considered a designated highway and not a feeder, which would fall under federal jurisdiction.

For decades, the provincial government faced pressure by federal governments to choose an option to restore the river, which has been designated one of the world's worst ecological disasters by a number of international organizations.

After a 2005 Environmental Impact Assessment that called for the river's restoration, the province chose a plan this summer to remove the causeway and build a 280-m bridge.

Environmental watchdogs have said the federal government has a role to play in restoring the river as it originally approved the causeway's construction in the 1960s.

Murphy said that Cannon closed the door for the project under the Building Canada fund, but it may still qualify under other programs.

"We want to observe how this program was applied in other areas to be sure what he said about designated highways and feeder highways has been consistently applied," he said.

[ErickMontreal]

Downtown Moncton Inc urging city to move on convention centre

November 21, 2007 - 11:41 am
By: Rebecca Davis, News 91.9 Staff


MONCTON, NB-Downtown Moncton Inc is, again, urging the city to invest in the construction of a convention centre downtown.

Their call for action comes after PKF Consulting presented city council with three options.

One is to not proceed with a convention centre, one is to build on what the city has now, and one is to proceed with investment in a centre.

And, Downtown Moncton Inc's Executive Director says the city must act on the option of building a convention centre now.

He says business owners downtown are getting frustrated with the holdup because, they don't feel they can expand their businesses until they hear from the city on a convention centre.

[MonctonGoldenFlames]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

The hottest retail rumour, being reported as fact in youthful Metro circles, is that Mountain Equipment Co-op will be among the stores. Sadly, a company spokeswoman said last night the next Mountain Equipment Co-op would open in Burlington, Ontario, not Moncton.

"We have no plans right now for New Brunswick," said Nadia Beaupré, adding the co-operative has been focusing on acquiring standalone buildings at any rate. Typically the company has chosen old buildings for its stores and restored them to more environmentally friendly standards.

I sure hope, if MEC comes to Moncton, they follow their general strategy of locating the store in or very near the central business district. I would hate to see an enviro friendly company be located in an auto-centric development. Please, no MEC on Mapleton!

[mmmatt]

Originally Posted by HalifaxMtl666

Downtown Moncton Inc urging city to move on convention centre

November 21, 2007 - 11:41 am
By: Rebecca Davis, News 91.9 Staff


MONCTON, NB-Downtown Moncton Inc is, again, urging the city to invest in the construction of a convention centre downtown.

Their call for action comes after PKF Consulting presented city council with three options.

One is to not proceed with a convention centre, one is to build on what the city has now, and one is to proceed with investment in a centre.

And, Downtown Moncton Inc's Executive Director says the city must act on the option of building a convention centre now.

He says business owners downtown are getting frustrated with the holdup because, they don't feel they can expand their businesses until they hear from the city on a convention centre.

Thats good news...a reccomendation from DM Inc. Usually carries a lot of weight with it...The more pressure the better...hopefully the city will listen up!!

[mmmatt]

Originally Posted by JasonL-Moncton

Why don't they get on the horn to some of these BIG developer's in the casino/destination business and get them in the game!

Indeed

[mmmatt]

Originally Posted by HalifaxMtl666

[FONT="Arial"]2006 was record year for Metro
$11M math error, now corrected, means last year was city's best ever for new construction



Times & Transcript Staff
Published Wednesday November 21st, 2007
Appeared on page A7

You know, $151,848,000 does sound better than $141,600,000, but when your numbers have that many commas, what's $11 million give or take?

hahaha how can they make a mistake like that? Oh well...2006 was the best year ever! And 07 is on track to be either close or past it! woo!

Nice pic too

[ErickMontreal]

Originally Posted by JasonL-Moncton

Why don't they get on the horn to some of these BIG developer's in the casino/destination business and get them in the game!

Oui je suis d`accord ! Both Verdiroc and Assumption could work together in a common project. (Convention Center/Hotel/Casino/Restaurants/Parking garage/Office). At the end of the day, without Federal funding, the Casino should be included in the convention center for sure.

[mmmatt]

Originally Posted by HalifaxMtl666

Oui je suis d`accord ! Both Verdiroc and Assumption could work together in a common project. (Convention Center/Hotel/Casino/Restaurants/Parking garage/Office). At the end of the day, without Federal funding, the Casino should be included in the convention center for sure.

Yeah! Man that would be a sweet project...it could start a real snowball too...if developers see a huge project like that goin down its only gonna bring more...and it will also be a draw for new residents! Next a new arena!

[ErickMontreal]

Originally Posted by stu_pendousmat2

Yeah! Man that would be a sweet project...it could start a real snowball too...if developers see a huge project like that goin down its only gonna bring more...and it will also be a draw for new residents! Next a new arena!

There would be a huge economic spin-off from those projects as a anera, a high-end residential complex as well as new retail stores that could be draw in the downtown core. We must not forget, the new courthouse will get started next spring and Highflied Square could get major facelift.

[ErickMontreal]

City Council supports Moncton’s efforts to host year-long cultural program

November 19, 2007
For immediate release


2010 could be Moncton’s biggest year yet!

MONCTON – During their regular public meeting this evening, Moncton City Council approved to support Moncton’s application to the Cultural Capitals of Canada program for 2010. The application, which is made to Heritage Canada, is coming from the City’s Recreation, Parks, Tourism, and Culture Department. “Moncton prides itself on being supportive of its arts and culture community in every aspect,” commented Mayor Lorne Mitton. “Our support of this application is yet another way that Council can demonstrate our commitment to the arts. We’re looking forward to receiving a favourable response from Heritage Canada.”
Cultural Capitals of Canada is a major federal funding program designed specifically for municipalities. Cities applying for this designation must submit a year-long cultural program to celebrate cultural achievements, promote the importance of culture within the community, and leave a lasting legacy in the municipality. Moncton’s proposed projects are varied, and would be presented in conjunction with a number of the city’s major arts and culture groups and organizations.

Should Moncton be designated a 2010 Cultural Capital of Canada, the projects would include an Urban Art Festival, Feast of the Arts (progressive moving arts event), expanding the Multicultural Rendez-Vous, and a Cultural Speaker Series. Perhaps the strongest piece of Moncton’s application is the effort to create synergies between the Cultural Capitals application and the IAAF World Junior Track and Field Championships.

“Moncton’s hosting of the 2010 championships is a unique opportunity to showcase our local artists and creative community to the world,” explained Colette McLaughlin, Moncton’s Community Development Officer for Arts and Culture. “Two major projects are planned in conjunction with the championships, including a major public art display on the stadium grounds, as well as a major cultural component during the opening ceremonies of the event."

For a city of Moncton’s size, the Cultural Capitals of Canada program covers 75% of the costs up to $750,000. Selected municipalities are required to cover 25% of the costs of the proposed projects. Council approved the 25% funding requirement during this evening’s public meeting. “We see this as an investment in our arts and culture community, and an opportunity to work with other groups to show the world how unique and diverse Moncton really is,” added Mitton.

[mmmatt]

Thats great news! Moncton has great culture for a city its size...this event would only help to make it greater...thumbs up to city council on this one!

[ErickMontreal]

Race for the casino
Gaming Groups in Moncton and Saint John pitch proposals for new —



Nathan White
Telegraph-Journal
Published Thursday November 22nd, 2007
Appeared on page A1

As New Brunswick's two largest cities fight to land a casino or racino, the province's First Nations are poised to move ahead on their own, with or without the government's blessing.

The province has said it will approve one central — venue, and groups in Moncton and Saint John are already coming forward with proposals.

The Exhibition Association in Saint John has unveiled a plan to build a $20-million multiplex that would combine a racino with hockey rinks, indoor soccer fields and other amenities.

Toronto's Verdiroc Development Corp. is working with Moncton partner Ashford Investments Ltd. on plans for a downtown casino, hotel, convention centre, restaurant and performance venue. And a U.S.-backed group is exploring other locations for a gaming destination in the Hub City.

Meanwhile, at least one First Nations leader feels the province snubbed her people when it released its Responsible Gaming Policy Nov. 8, requesting proposals from private companies to build a single — venue as a major tourist attraction. Chief Susan Levi-Peters of Elsipogtog First Nation said aboriginal leaders expected the policy would outline a partnership with First Nations.

"I really thought they were heading in that direction but they didn't, so now I'm talking with my colleagues under the Mawiw organization (which represents some First Nations in the province) and we're also going to be meeting with the (Union of New Brunswick Indians, which represents others)," she said. "I tried to develop a partnership but they closed the door on us so now we're going to develop our own (casino)."

Levi-Peters said it's too early to say if First Nations will put forward a proposal according to the province's guidelines or proceed on their own. Earlier this year, she touted a plan to build a casino in Saint John and a racino near Moncton, returning profits to the province's 15 First Nations.

Finance Minister Victor Boudreau, who oversees the Lotteries Commission of New Brunswick, doesn't believe the First Nations can act unilaterally on a casino.

"The legislation and the rules of the game are pretty clear that the province of New Brunswick issues licenses as to who can provide those types of services in the province. Right now we're calling for one destination casino in the province," he said.

Levi-Peters, on the other hand, believes the province has no authority over gaming on reserves.

"The federal government cannot delegate any jurisdiction about Indians to anybody without consulting us," she said. "We have a right to self-government. When the federal government delegated the right for gaming to the province, it had nothing to do with First Nations people."

Boudreau declined to speculate what would happen if First Nations were to proceed with building a casino outside the purview of the provincial policy.

"The rules of the game are clear," said Boudreau. "People will obviously have to fall in line with the new policy."

However, he said the province is still open to negotiating with First Nations.

"The First Nations haven't been cut out of the Responsible Gaming Policy," said Boudreau, pointing out that three of the report's 27 pages are dedicated to First Nations.

He said he hopes First Nations will be "full partners" in discussions that could see more gaming revenue returned directly to reserves. "And as for the destination casino process, they certainly can put a bid in just like any developer,."

In Moncton, speculation is rampant as to where a casino might be placed.

The City of Moncton recently received a market feasibility study from PKF Consulting that makes recommendations for building a convention centre.

A convention centre has been a city priority for years, but has been stalled by a lack of federal funding. However, Ottawa is expected to announce a major infrastructure deal with the province in the coming weeks.

The PKF study mentions combining an entertainment facility with the convention centre, which has sparked discussion that a casino could be part of any potential convention centre complex.

Verdiroc is the only private developer to go public with its desire to build a — centre.

President and CEO Kevin Green said his company would like to bring an "extremely exciting" multi-purpose development to the former Beaver Lumber property on the corner of Assumption Boulevard and Westmorland Street.

"It would make Moncton just a fantastic place to have a convention at, visit, (attract) tourism, do business, it would bring so many components," said Green. "The opportunity to make downtown Moncton completely special, one of the superstars of Atlantic Canada, is definitely in our hands."

Another group called "Chateau Royale," is being represented by communications firm Couleur NB, and has been working on a proposal that would build a major attraction outside the city centre. The identity of its New England-based investors has yet to be revealed.

[mylesmalley]

Oh man, here comes the Moncton bashing...

I'm really glad things are starting to take shape downtown. Maybe Verdiroc will actually be able to pull off some or all of what they've been promising for years.

[ErickMontreal]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

Oh man, here comes the Moncton bashing...

I'm really glad things are starting to take shape downtown. Maybe Verdiroc will actually be able to pull off some or all of what they've been promising for years.

Absolument, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. At the end of the day, I think it is a good thing to see local components along Verdiroc involved in that project.

[mmmatt]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

Oh man, here comes the Moncton bashing...

I'm really glad things are starting to take shape downtown. Maybe Verdiroc will actually be able to pull off some or all of what they've been promising for years.

haha...yeah...

Well I will certainly change my opinion of Veridoc if they can pull something off like what they propose...but they have made false promises before so they better think twice before dissapointing us again!

[mmmatt]

By Derwin Gowan
telegraph-journal
Published Friday November 16th, 2007
Appeared on page A2

The property tax base in New Brunswick's two biggest cities each cracked the $5-billion mark this year for the first time.

Local Government Minister Carmel Robichaud released the 2007 tax assessment figures for the province's 102 cities, towns and villages Thursday showing an overall increase of $2.2 billion, or 7.14 per cent, over last year to a new total of $32,779,056,328.

Moncton and Saint John together account for more than $10 billion of this; adding Fredericton's $4,866,745,536 brings the three biggest cities to a whisker under $15 billion - close to half of the total for all municipalities.

Moncton's tax base increased by a healthy 9.28 per cent, or $438,783,863, to bring the new total to $5,167,775,360.

In dollar terms, Moncton's tax base grew by more than any other community in the province, and by more than Campbellton's total tax base of $380,601,477.

So, Moncton keeps it number one spot in terms of total assessments - just ahead of Saint John at $5,048,713,797. Assessments in Saint John increased by 7.57 per cent or $355,289,578.

"There has been growth in the city and there was last year," Moncton Mayor Lorne Mitton said in an interview Thursday night. He said that both housing and residential buildings are ahead of last year to the same date.

"That is good for us, it shows that we are growing," the mayor said, but he cautioned that this growth increases the areas demanding streets, lights, water and sewerage and other services.

He offered no guarantees as city council starts to put the 2008 budget together, but said the assessment figures will make it easier for Moncton to avoid increasing the tax rate for the fourth year in a row.

Communities around Moncton and Saint John grew, too.

Dieppe's tax base grew by 10.47 per cent to $1,742,129,657, Riverview's by 8.84 per cent to $1,026,490,650.

In the Saint John region, Quispamsis's tax base grew by 12.75 per cent to $1,003,627,400, Rothesay's by 8.9 per cent to $856,957,879.

Quispamsis Mayor Ron Maloney predicted Thursday that his community will overtake Riverview as the town with the biggest tax base in New Brunswick - and likely Atlantic Canada.

These two towns, like Saint John and Moncton, moved into a class of their own by passing the billion-dollar mark in total tax base.

Maloney said the increasing tax base should allow Quispamsis to pay for routine capital expenses out of revenue, eliminating the debt and allowing room to borrow for big projects.

In percentage terms, Nackawic posted the biggest increase in tax base at 20 per cent, just ahead of Florenceville at 19.61 per cent.

Nackawic can benefit from the resumption of operations of the local pulpmill - unlike Miramichi, coping with shutdowns at several mills. Miramichi's tax base increased by only 0.35 per cent, which will force hard budget decisions.

The tax base in Aroostook declined by 0.94 per cent, and in Blacks Harbour by 0.37 per cent.

Compared to last year, city tax bases increased by a total of $1.4 billion or 7.35 per cent, towns by $608 million or 7.64 per cent, villages by $179 million or 4.94 per cent.

Robichaud says this would generate $32 million in new municipal revenue based on current tax rates.




[$119,000,000 = "Just ahead" wow...I wish I could have enough money coming in to say that 119 million dollars was just a small ammount in any way hahaha]