The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread - Page 81

PostModernPrometheus · #**1601** Posted **Jan 12, 2008, 1:08 PM**

WestJet beefs up service at Saint John airport
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Bruce Bartlett
Telegraph-Journal
Published Saturday January 12th, 2008
Appeared on page B1
SAINT JOHN - WestJet announced Friday it will return to an expanded daily schedule of flights between the city and Toronto beginning May 18.

As it stands, the Calgary-based company provides three direct flights a week between Saint John and Toronto, but in May will return to the six day-a-week schedule it was running last summer, with flights available every day except Saturday.

"It shows that WestJet is seeing what we are seeing, which is a reliable and growing market for fights to and from Saint John," said Nathalie Godbout, chair of the Saint John Board of Trade.

The announcement was part of a list of expanded service to cities across the country. WestJet is very strategic in its planning, so having Saint John on the list of expanded service is a good sign, said Godbout.

"With time I have no doubt the schedule will be maintained full time," she said.

Airport officials were also pleased.

*sic*

At the end of the first six months in the city WestJet agreed to keep flying out of Saint John three days a week over the winter. The six-day-a-week schedule for 2008 is again only planned for the summer months, but if business continues to pick up the airport expects the service to continue next winter for at least three days a week and possibly more, she said.

*sic*

The WestJet announcement follows the release this week of passenger figures for Saint John showing a 25 per cent increase in the number of travellers through the airport in 2007.

When year-end figures from across the country are released by Transport Canada, Saint John expects it will lead all airports in the Atlantic region for domestic growth.

Earlier, the airport reported that by the end of the third quarter of 2007, it ranked second in the country for domestic passenger growth, next to Fort McMurray, Alta., and set new one-month records during each of the summer months

PostModernPrometheus · #**1602** Posted **Jan 12, 2008, 1:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJTOKO

With the American economy about to collapse in a MAJOR way I doubt the Cruise Ship Terminal will get built. I expect a new announcement coming soon.

While you may be right, I think that even though the US is heading for an economic recession (and we weill follow suit 6-18 months after that), the terminal will still get built....the cruise industry wont completely collapse, even in the face of a recession, and SJ is still in a good position to capitalize on any cruise traffic coming out of new england

While i hope your prediction is wrong, there is no denying that hard exconomic times are coming for everyone...

PostModernPrometheus · #**1603** Posted **Jan 12, 2008, 1:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helladog

...the Starbucks was supposed to be open by Xmas; the Coast Guard Development was supposed to begin in 2006; oh yeah, and the terminal was going to be done years ago prior to the re-announcement...it'll get done eventually...

We should take wagers on what'll break ground uptown/SE first...

My guess:

1.Cruise Ship Terminal
2.Skate Park
3.Rocca Condos
4.Police/Justice Complex
5.Coast Guard Site Development
6.City Road Apts
7.Irving HQ

If I had to take a guess at the order re: groundbreaking from this list........I'd say:

1 & 2, 6, 3, 4 followed by a distant 5 and 7...

kwajo · #**1604** Posted **Jan 12, 2008, 1:57 PM**

Quote:

My guess:

1.Cruise Ship Terminal
2.Skate Park
3.Rocca Condos
4.Police/Justice Complex
5.Coast Guard Site Development
6.City Road Apts
7.Irving HQ

It's not quite "Uptown" (though very close), but the 9-story hotel at the site of the old St. Paul's (Valley) church is supposed to begin construction this year as well.

As for whether the the Cruise Ship Terminal will get built, I have no doubt that it will eventually. The money has all been approved and set aside for its construction, it's just a matter of getting it done - though admittedly the delay on breaking ground has me a bit concerned and disappointed.

PostModernPrometheus · #**1605** Posted **Jan 12, 2008, 5:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwajo

It's not quite "Uptown" (though very close), but the 9-story hotel at the site of the old St. Paul's (Valley) church is supposed to begin construction this year as well.

As for whether the the Cruise Ship Terminal will get built, I have no doubt that it will eventually. The money has all been approved and set aside for its construction, it's just a matter of getting it done - though admittedly the delay on breaking ground has me a bit concerned and disappointed.

the 100+ room hotel at the old st paul's site, to the best of my knowledge, is still pending council's OK re: rezoning

as for the terminal....maybe if we all show up with shovels and rent out a dumptruck for the day, it might entice the port to actually start working on it?!?!??!

Helladog · #**1606** Posted **Jan 12, 2008, 6:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJTOKO

With the American economy about to collapse in a MAJOR way I doubt the Cruise Ship Terminal will get built. I expect a new announcement coming soon.

Well, it's already paid for and with a record cruise season coming, I'm sure it'll happen...those unable to afford a cruise to the Bahamas will likely take a cheaper cruise North.

Seely32 · #**1607** Posted **Jan 13, 2008, 5:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PostModernPrometheus

the 100+ hotel at the old st paul's site, to the best of my knowledge, is still pending council's OK re: rezoning

as for the terminal....maybe if we all show up with shovels and rent out a dumptruck for the day, it might entice the port to actually start working on it?!?!??!

I will buy a shovel and see if i can get some dirt whose in?????

Seely32 · #**1608** Posted **Jan 13, 2008, 5:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helladog

Well, it's already paid for and with a record cruise season coming, I'm sure it'll happen...those unable to afford a cruise to the Bahamas will likely take a cheaper cruise North.

The US typically does well during election periods but this upcoming election will decide the future of the american economy. How it effects our tourist economy remains to be seen. The majority of tourists come from cities and have apartments which wont be quite affected as the suburbs. A lot of these people also have saved for these trips for a couple years and if anything still want to get out of thier country. Hopefully we can get some ships from britain and get them to spend a couple quids over here most british like to travel it would be nice to see some of tourist direction be pointed towards them.

PostModernPrometheus · #**1609** Posted **Jan 14, 2008, 2:16 AM**

Has anyone heard / seen any conceptual drawings of this project? I'm not even sure what the status is re: rezoning, applications, etc...

SJTOKO · #**1610** Posted **Jan 14, 2008, 2:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seely32

The US typically does well during election periods but this upcoming election will decide the future of the american economy. How it effects our tourist economy remains to be seen. The majority of tourists come from cities and have apartments which wont be quite affected as the suburbs. A lot of these people also have saved for these trips for a couple years and if anything still want to get out of thier country. Hopefully we can get some ships from britain and get them to spend a couple quids over here most british like to travel it would be nice to see some of tourist direction be pointed towards them.

I still don't think it will get built, and the English will get a far better deal in the States as far as money goes, so why take a cruise to Canada? Does anyone have any info on that new 9 story hotel or the apartments on City Road? City road has potential if they got rid of a lot of garbage. especially that damn popsicle factory and those garages, replace them with restuarants and apartments.. It would make Harbout station look better.
It's also time for that old Via rail station to go aswell...

ErickMontreal · #**1611** Posted **Jan 14, 2008, 3:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJTOKO

Does anyone have any info on that new 9 story hotel

I know that the developers is Cyr Holding, this company owns Chateau Moncton, Best Western Moncton and plenty office spaces around the city as well. The company is a subsidiary of Doolys corp.

SJTOKO · #**1612** Posted **Jan 14, 2008, 1:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HalifaxMtl666

I know that the developers is Cyr Holding, this company owns Chateau Moncton, Best Western Moncton and plenty office spaces around the city as well. The company is a subsidiary of Doolys corp.

And where will it be located exactly can somebody post up a map or something...

Phantomtib · #**1613** Posted **Jan 14, 2008, 4:51 PM**

What kind of development is coming up for the old sugar site (the bottom end of germain). Do you guys think people will actually pay 2000-3000 for a brand new 2 bdrm townhouse located on the waterfront (Germain and Ross st.)?

Helladog · #**1614** Posted **Jan 14, 2008, 9:44 PM**

New home for tax office call centre
Relocating Canada Revenue Agency workers move into McAllister Drive building

Bruce Bartlett
Telegraph-Journal
Published Monday January 14th, 2008
Appeared on page C2

SAINT JOHN - An attractive new professional building on McAllister Drive will soon be home to Canada Revenue Agency's call centre employees.

The 135 workers, who have been crammed into improvised spaces at the tax office at 126 Prince William St. since 2005, will move today.

For nearly three years Saint John has been home to one of three national call centres dealing exclusively with business enquiries.

Last year the Hardman Group put forward a proposal to add two stories to Market Square to accommodate the call centre, but the bid was turned down by the federal government. Last March Public Works decided to go with a bid from Protos Development, a company in Windsor, Ont., to build the new centre on McAllister Drive.

It will be leased by the government for 10 years with options for two extensions of five years each. The value of the lease cannot be released until it is registerd with the provincial government, said Rory Matchett, a spokesman for Public Works.

Although the call centre currently has 135 employees, the new building has space for 177, said manager Joelle Smith.

"Right now we are recruiting, we are continuously recruiting and we expect to fill all the seats here eventually," she said. "We don't have dates, but our business is continuing to grow."

At one time, tax centres in each province answered all types of questions, but it was found to be more efficient to set up three specialized units to deal with business questions, she said. The other two are in Toronto and Edmonton.

Smith, who has been working in the uptown for nine years with the agency, said she will miss the area but is excited by the new building that was specifically built to meet their needs.

The centre of each floor of the two-storey building has been set up with meeting rooms and washrooms, leaving the outside walls for call centre work stations with access to natural light.

People will miss the uptown but it is a fresh new building close to a lot of amenities on the east side, Smith said.

All the other divisions of the Canada Revenue Agency will remain at 126 Prince William St., including the counter service, where people can walk in to make payments, said spokeswoman Heather Cameron. The audit and collections sections will also to continue to operate out of Prince William Street.

"So for our clients it is business as usual," she said.

Moving the call centre to McAllister Drive won't free up a lot of space in the Prince William Street location because the workers in that section were squeezed into meeting rooms, boardrooms and training space.

The call centre jobs require an introductory accounting course and pay between $43,500 and $49,000.

kwajo · #**1615** Posted **Jan 14, 2008, 11:13 PM**

"Attractive new building?" If that is the benchmark for an attractive building these days, then I don't have much optimism for architecture in Saint John

PostModernPrometheus · #**1616** Posted **Jan 15, 2008, 12:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwajo

"Attractive new building?" If that is the benchmark for an attractive building these days, then I don't have much optimism for architecture in Saint John

agreed...well, i guess it's not a horribly UNattractive buliding.....it just seems nondescript to me...then again, i suppose if revenue canada had built a beautiful modern spacious pricey home, i'd be questioning where the funding came from, and if tax payers had any input !!

PostModernPrometheus · #**1617** Posted **Jan 15, 2008, 3:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantomtib

What kind of development is coming up for the old sugar site (the bottom end of germain). Do you guys think people will actually pay 2000-3000 for a brand new 2 bdrm townhouse located on the waterfront (Germain and Ross st.)?

Firstly, welcome to the forum

If the question is will people buy new townhouses in the 200 - 300K range for a harbour view, I'd say that they most certainly will...Look at the going prices for other recent developments (eg: robertson wharf units going in the several 100 thousands to low millions, if i remember correctly). . .

PostModernPrometheus · #**1618** Posted **Jan 15, 2008, 3:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HalifaxMtl666

I know that the developers is Cyr Holding, this company owns Chateau Moncton, Best Western Moncton and plenty office spaces around the city as well. The company is a subsidiary of Doolys corp.

Cyr's is being fairly tight lipped thus far about the project (which I think makes total sense....better to line your ducks up in a row and get the necessary permits, rezoning, etc before making any serious kind of announcement)....it is nice to see that it's a local NB company developing this site

PostModernPrometheus · #**1619** Posted **Jan 15, 2008, 3:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJTOKO

And where will it be located exactly can somebody post up a map or something...

The proposed site is where St. Paul's valley church used to be....I can't tell you the exit number, but when coming into the city, heading east towards the harbour bridge, take the exit near where colonial inn is...to your right, before you hit the main intersection and overpassinto the uptown, you'll see a big pile of dirt where a (? maroon) church used to be for many years (on a map, very near spring and winter streets).....hope that helps.

Seely32 · #**1620** Posted **Jan 15, 2008, 4:04 AM**

I still wish to this day that the market square expansion had gone through and not another box out east adding to our sprawl and taking away from new offices uptown. With our relatively low office vacancy they ould had built an additional 3 stories and leased out prime new office space. Similar to centerbeam.

Still no word on the waterfront but I would like to see rocca's development started as well soon and hopefully its not garbage like some of his other projects.

phantomtib welcome as well, and to answer your question. Hell yes, its all about location when people are paying triple that price for other waterfront locations across north america it looks like a steal. People are trending to move back into citie for jobs, work, and retirement and to live essentially within a 10 minute walk from all places uptown (nightlife,shopping,restaurants,and work) why not.