The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[random11]

Originally Posted by kwajo

I agree, and I have been hearing rumblings about an Irving wind project for a couple years now, so it's nice to have them finally go public with it.

I always envisioned the old Gold mine at Cape Spencer being the ideal place for a large-scale wind farm (not just one or two turbines, but a dozens of them). It's extremely windy, virtually no-one lives out there to be disturbed by it, yet it is only minutes from the city, and it is on land that can't really be used for anything else right now. Plus I think it would look really cool for the cruise ships coming in to see a rocky, ragged coats lined with graceful wind turbines to contrast our large industrial base.

You are bang on the money about Cape Spencer. What a terrific location. I have been out there 4 times this year and each time the winds off the Bay are incredibly impressive. There are several miles of untouched coastal land stretching North East just waiting to be tapped.

[random11]

Saint John Airport Gets High Marks for Customer Service

07 December 2007

A national survey conducted this summer by InterVistas Consulting Inc. ranks Saint John Airport as second in the country for customer service, next to first-placed Comox BC, and slightly ahead of Victoria.

Ten airports across the country participated in the survey, which was conducted over a one-week period in late August. In Saint John, the methodology involved face-to-face interviews and self-administered questionnaires with 300 departing and arriving passengers.

An impressive 94% of those interviewed reported being very satisfied or satisfied with the Airport’s overall facilities and services. The Airport last participated in the survey in 2004, and ranked third overall at that time.

The Airport ranked first in the categories of speed of check-in, speed of processing at security screening, speed of baggage delivery, value for money of food/beverage, and signage to/from the parking lots, and ranked second in all categories related to cleanliness and courtesy. Forty-four items were rated in total.

The demographic profile of those interviewed was nearly equal male/female ratio and nearly equal business/leisure travel purpose and is considered accurate within 5.7%, 19 times out of 20.

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by random11

You are bang on the money about Cape Spencer. What a terrific location. I have been out there 4 times this year and each time the winds off the Bay are incredibly impressive. There are several miles of untouched coastal land stretching North East just waiting to be tapped.

Tell me about it. I remember one time I went to Cape Spencer in the middle of the afternoon, and it might have been the only time I've ever been in a wind gust that actually knocked me off my feet. I've been outside during tropical storms, Hurricane Andrew and various blizzards, and I swear Cape Spencer was windier - on a day where the winds Uptown were only a light breeze

[Wishblade]

Originally Posted by kwajo

Tell me about it. I remember one time I went to Cape Spencer in the middle of the afternoon, and it might have been the only time I've ever been in a wind gust that actually knocked me off my feet. I've been outside during tropical storms, Hurricane Andrew and various blizzards, and I swear Cape Spencer was windier - on a day where the winds Uptown were only a light breeze

Heh, theres no way you were in the center of Andrew then. That hurricane was one of the worst in history. I wasn't there though as I was 6 when it happened

[PersonPlaceorThing]

I don't think this has been posted before:

The city of Saint John website now has oblique aerials of the city from 2007 (http://saintjohn.ca/maps/AirPhotos_2007/07Index_En.html). Also, on the Maps page (http://saintjohn.ca/services_maps.cfm) are increased "development controls" details including floodway illustrations.

[Smevo]

Renewal planned for Reversing Falls Development: Waterfront partnership aims to redesign entire visiting area for popular phenomenon and to brand site like Magnetic Hill

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership wants to reverse the law of diminishing returns at Reversing Falls.

"It's one of the most popular tourist destinations, but over the years it's been looking a little bit tired," general manager Ross Jefferson said Monday.

The partnership plans to redesign the entire Reversing Falls visiting area, as well as Fallsview Park on the eastern side of the river. Jefferson and president Bill MacMackin say the development will send Harbour Passage westward, allow for private investment, increase access for boaters, make the science of the phenomenon clearer, and allow the site to be branded as an attraction like Magnetic Hill in Moncton.

"It's not high on people's lists for promotion, including [for] the province," Jefferson said. "It's time for a renewal in that area."

A request for proposals will go out in January, asking for a grand vision for the area, as well as a brand to be built on. The partnership will then work with the concept designs, primary stakeholders and the public to come up with smaller, manageable projects that can be completed on the way toward the master plan. It's essentially the same process that led to the creation of Harbour Passage.

MacMackin said he hopes the first actual work to begin in 2009 at the latest, and he holds out hope it could begin as early as next year.

The partnership - the city and provincial governments, the port authority, the board of trade, Enterprise Saint John, Uptown Saint John, and the Saint John Development Corporation - recently held a planning session that reviewed 30 possible projects listed in the Saint John [area].

The Reversing Falls area is quite nice, and has a great view of the city, but the absolute worst piece of planning next door! Who in their right mind allows a pulp mill you can see for miles to be built there?! Not sure the timing for the mill being built vs the park, but still, what a horrible eyesore beside your main tourist attraction!

The Harbour Passage extension will be a nice addition though. Signs on the eastern side of the river claim the land to be owned by OSCO though, is the city planning to buy the land or have they bought it already? It'd be nice if they could swing at least an arm of the passage by the New Brunswick Museum, the only reason I even knew it existed was by being stuck in traffic during the construction on Harbour Bridge (once I saw the building, I had to get a photo of it and see what surrounded it).

[ErickMontreal]

:: Saint John Uptown ::


By GregHickman :: http://www.flickr.com/photos/greghickman/1768888003/

[mmmatt]

Wow! nice! We all know which city is the real urban mind in NB!

1. SJ
2. Freddy (downtown is just very urban...even though Moncton has more height)
3. Moncton

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by Smevo

The Reversing Falls area is quite nice, and has a great view of the city, but the absolute worst piece of planning next door! Who in their right mind allows a pulp mill you can see for miles to be built there?! Not sure the timing for the mill being built vs the park, but still, what a horrible eyesore beside your main tourist attraction!

The Harbour Passage extension will be a nice addition though. Signs on the eastern side of the river claim the land to be owned by OSCO though, is the city planning to buy the land or have they bought it already? It'd be nice if they could swing at least an arm of the passage by the New Brunswick Museum, the only reason I even knew it existed was by being stuck in traffic during the construction on Harbour Bridge (once I saw the building, I had to get a photo of it and see what surrounded it).

Well that's not really fair given that some sort of mil has existed on Union Point (the land that the current mill is built on) since before the idea of Tourism was even invented - well not quite, but you get my point.

Funny you should say that about Harbour Passage, because that's exactly where it goes; up toward the NBM and along Douglas Ave to Fallsview Park.

[xxFamilyGuyxx]

Originally Posted by PersonPlaceorThing

I don't think this has been posted before:

The city of Saint John website now has oblique aerials of the city from 2007 (http://saintjohn.ca/maps/AirPhotos_2007/07Index_En.html). Also, on the Maps page (http://saintjohn.ca/services_maps.cfm) are increased "development controls" details including floodway illustrations.

Wow. They evan have some from 1927..

[random11]

The cruise schedule for next year has been posted here:

http://www.cruisesaintjohn.com/visitsaintjohn/cruiseschedule.asp

Currently, there are 187,680 total visitors scheduled - up from just over 138,000 in 2007. This is a significant increase. Oddly, there is still no movement on the "new cruise terminal" for Pugsley A/B. By movement I refer to the fact that ground has not even been broken and it's almost January. The first ship arrives May 31st. Next year, there are 6 day's when 3 ships will be in port on the same day and on September 30, 4 ships will be port. Get your cameras ready on September 20th as the Queen Elizabeth (Qe2) will be in port. This is the final time we will ever get a chance to see her as she has been sold and will become a floating hotel following next years cruise season.

[Seely32]

It's wierd the qe2 is the largest ship that will be in port but will only have 1800 passengers?? doesnt really add up. The hull of the ship always kind of creeped me out when I was a little kid I would see it in new york alot it would remind me of the titanic minus the smokestacks.


I wonder is freedom of the seas will ever make a landing here. Has anyone ever seen the size of thing its enormous.

[Wishblade]

Originally Posted by Seely32

It's wierd the qe2 is the largest ship that will be in port but will only have 1800 passengers?? doesnt really add up. The hull of the ship always kind of creeped me out when I was a little kid I would see it in new york alot it would remind me of the titanic minus the smokestacks.


I wonder is freedom of the seas will ever make a landing here. Has anyone ever seen the size of thing its enormous.

Im actually going on a cruise in late Feb/early March on the Liberty of the Seas (exact replica of the Freedom).

And your right, they are enormous. Their actually longer than the empire state building is tall.

[kwajo]

We might not have the Freedom of the Seas, but the Queen Mary is coming back to SJ and it's a much nicer vessel IMO - and is nearly as large:

Freedom is 2.4 meters narrower than QM2 at the waterline, 6 meters shorter, and has 1.5 meters less draft. Freedom however is the larger ship in gross tonnage.

link

[Seely32]

Originally Posted by kwajo

We might not have the Freedom of the Seas, but the Queen Mary is coming back to SJ and it's a much nicer vessel IMO - and is nearly as large:

link

we are getting the queen elizabeth II i thought which is smaller than both by about 45 meters or so and the gross tonnage is almost in half of qm2.

[Seely32]

Bank latest addition to commercial boom

Bruce Bartlett
Telegraph-Journal
Published Saturday December 8th, 2007
Appeared on page B6
QUISPAMSIS - One of the last remaining pieces of undeveloped land in the commercial centre of town will be home to a new Royal Bank in 2008.

Equipment has moved onto the lot at the corner of Hampton and Pettingill roads to begin construction over the winter.

"We have been looking for a site for awhile and definitely think this is one of the best, if not the only remaining site in the area," said Glen Kelsey, the bank's regional vice-president.

He expects the outside of the building to be completed by April, followed by interior work which should see the bank ready for business in August.

There will be more staff at the new branch, which will be full service. It will have account managers for business, financial planning and branch services.

Quispamsis has long been an expanding residential area, but now construction of commercial properties is on the rise.

"We used to get one every few years, but now we are getting several every year," said Mayor Ron Maloney.

The Quispamsis end of Millennium Drive is continuously expanding, he said. There is an office building and a furniture store under construction. "We are very quickly running out of space up there."

There is another stretch along the Pettingill Road not far from the Royal Bank site being primed for commercial development, he said. The people who own the land have put in storm sewers to get it ready for potential sales.

"I'm not aware of anything that is going in there yet, but I know some people are interested," he said.

Rothesay has a couple of projects on the go, said Mayor Bill Bishop. Phil Broderson, who already has three commercial buildings on the Clark Road near the Hampton Road, is adding two more.

In the spring the mayor expects the proposal by Nova Scotia-based Shannex, to build a multi-million dollar retirement living complex in Rothesay, will go ahead on Millennium Drive at the corner with Donlyn Drive.

There has already been a public presentation, and the next step will be a public hearing because it requires rezoning, but he doesn't expect it will be a problem.

"All the people who live up there endorse it strongly," he said.

The three-phase development will include apartments for seniors who are completely self-sufficient, as well as a setting where people could have their own apartments, but meals and some care would be provided. Finally, there would be a setting where full nursing care is available.

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by Seely32

we are getting the queen elizabeth II i thought which is smaller than both by about 45 meters or so and the gross tonnage is almost in half of qm2.

Actually both the Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Elizabeth 2 are coming to the Port next year, making 2008 extra special (and meaning that they had damn well better get the cruise centre under construction ASAP).

[kwajo]

Well it looks like some of us on this forum aren't the only ones opposed to the East Point spotlights. There's now a facebook group against them: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6372029190

[thefishingnut]

Originally Posted by kwajo

Well it looks like some of us on this forum aren't the only ones opposed to the East Point spotlights. There's now a facebook group against them: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6372029190

I have a view down the Kennebecasis River to the city from Gondola Point area. Most of the time, the lights are not very intrusive. You can see them on the horizon, but you really don't care too much because they're mostly smothered by the overall light smudge from Saint John. But sometimes, I think a mid-level cloud, they dominate the sky and can be seen for 10's of miles and look like they're lighting up clouds above the house. They might make everyone a lot happier if they just shut the lights off when conditions are such that they're going to be seen in a 30 mile radius from the city.

You know, I'd be comfortable with Harbour Station having lights like these running just before an event. Then there would be a reason to follow them. I know if I was driving past Saint John and actually followed the lights, my reaction as a tourist would be "oh crap, it's a shopping mall!".

[michael_d40]

Anything new and exciting today?