| |
Posted Feb 20, 2008, 4:37 PM
|
 |
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Grand Bay-Westfield :: NB
Posts: 3,088
|
|
$30M seaside condo project planned for Cap-Bimet
Four-phase development to see 167 units built on site of former fish plant over next four years
The former Paturel lobster plant in Cap Bimet will undergo a $30-million renovation to become part of a 167-unit condominium complex
By Craig Babstock
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Wednesday February 20th, 2008
Appeared on page A1
Moncton developer Denis Arsenault was enjoying a meal in a Toronto restaurant the night of Nov. 27 when he got an alarming phone call from a colleague in Moncton.
Arsenault, who's partners with Alvin Leger in Cap Bimet Developments Ltd., had recently signed a purchase agreement for the old Paturel seafood processing plant in Cap Bimet, which is about 30 kilometres (18 miles) northeast of Moncton. The plan was to turn part of the building that housed the plant into condominiums, and then add three new condo buildings to the property over the next few years.
But now Arsenault was on the phone, learning that the structure he'd agreed to purchase was engulfed in an inferno, with 50 firefighters trying to save it.
He quickly lost his appetite.
"I was full of disbelief and confusion as to where this left our transaction," he recalls.
Thankfully, he says the firefighters managed to save half the building. That worked out well for Arsenault because he needed only half the building for his development project, which is worth more than $30 million.
"It would have cost another $1.5 million if the building completely burned to the ground and there's no doubt it would have created delays," he says.
Arsenault says half the plant was built in 1980 and the other half was built in 1990. He had only intended to use the newer section for his condos, but half of each section was destroyed. They adjusted the plans and the design, and now the artist's rendering shows the plant-turned-condo building will be a backwards L-shape.
Arsenault says Cap Bimet Developments has major plans for the 28-acre (11.2-hectare) property and, if all goes according to schedule, the proposed date to start construction is June. By May 2009, the remaining processing plant structure will be a 56-unit building.
Phase two construction will begin in fall of 2009, followed by two more phases. By the time work is complete in June 2012, there will be four buildings and as many as 167 condo units, give or take some units that could instead be made into apartments.
The property overlooks the Northumberland Strait and has an expansive view of the water.
"There's no other location like it in the Atlantic provinces," says Arsenault.
He says they're looking to create an "active community" that will include tennis and squash courts, a gymnasium, a rooftop patio with a gazebo and several pools, including an indoor pool in a standalone structure on the property.
Arsenault says they also plan to build a marina on the coast where a wharf used to exist. Plans for this aren't finalized yet, but it could hold 50-75 boats.
Sixteen acres (6.4 hectares) of the land will be left untouched as a wooded, marshland conservation area.
The individual condos will range in size from about 1,000 square feet to 1,800 square feet but it's too early to know what they will cost. A marketing company has already been hired to sell the homes and Arsenault says local buyers will be targeted as well as possible buyers in places like Quebec, Ontario and Europe.
"We're confident we'll have a product people will be drawn to," he says, adding he plans to move his family in once it's ready.
Cap-Bimet is part of the rural community of Beaubassin East that was incorporated on July 31, 2006 and includes Shemogue; Saint-André; LeBlanc Office; Grand Barachois; Boudreau West; Haute Aboujagane; Cormier Village; Trois Ruisseaux; and Petit-Cap.
Arsenault contacted the local council before Christmas about his plans and appeared at its Monday night meeting to make a presentation. Council seemed to like what it heard and saw.
"It was very impressive," says Mayor Ola Drisdelle.
The mayor says the vision they saw on Monday was far beyond what they'd expected.
"We didn't think it would be that big, but it's the right thing for the right place," says the mayor. "It will be nice for people who want to stay in the area year-round and with a nice project like that, usually other projects come up."
Drisdelle says pending some minor issues that should be easily taken care of, council voted to approve the rezoning to allow the condo development. The developer will work closely with the Beaubassin Planning Commission to make sure the project meets proper specifications and has all the right permits.
Drisdelle says the condo project will be on the agenda for Beaubassin East's March meeting, so if anyone in the community has any questions or objections, they can be heard at that time. The mayor says so far he hasn't heard any objections to the idea.
He doesn't think there will be any major issues, given that people in the area are used to a fish plant being located at the site, with a steady stream of noisy trucks coming and going.
"This should be much quieter," he says.
Arsenault says a big selling point will be the fact it only takes about 20 minutes to drive from Cap-Bimet to Moncton's Main Street. He says it can take that long to travel from some parts of Metro Moncton to the city's downtown.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Pumphouse applies for expansion
Council sends the request to the planning commission for more input
By Brent Mazerolle
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Wednesday February 20th, 2008
Appeared on page A3
Here's a problem brewing for Moncton City Council to ponder over a glass or two of beer. The Pump House Brewery on Mill Road needs to expand its parking lot further back on its property to accommodate an expansion of the brewery.
The small problem is the extra land the Pump House owns currently has a zoning which won't allow for parking.
Owner Sean Fraser apparently has the blessing of all his residential neighbours for the project and he presented their signatures in a letter of support. He said the expansion will increase his operation's efficiencies, rather than adding more truck traffic or hours of operation to the business.
Councillors who spoke on the issue, which was most of them, made it clear they wanted to support the brewery,
"There are very few companies around Moncton that you say around the country that so immediately make people think Moncton," Ward 3 Councillor Brian Hicks said.
Ward 2 Councillor Doug Robertson agreed. "It is a crown jewel."
The big problem is not the Pump House, which everyone seems to agree is an excellent corporate citizen and neighbour and part of the social fabric of the community.
The real issue is what comes after the successful enterprise one day outgrows the site completely. When it moves on, what sort of light industry will replace it?
"It may not be a problem today but we're looking at the long term," Bill Budd, the executive director of the Greater Moncton Planning Commission, said last night. Budd pointed out the city's municipal plan calls for moving away from industrialization in the area, rather than intensifying with such an expansion.
His professional planning staff has recommended the application be denied, but it is Moncton City Council that has the final say.
Councillors voted in the end to send it to the planning commission to get the commissioners' views, as opposed to the staff's views, on the issue. This fairly standard step is essentially a way of getting further informed input before it comes back to city council. The Pump House will get to make a public presentation of its plans at a future council meeting, and then once a set period has been allowed for people to make written submissions of objection or support, it will become the subject of a public hearing. At that time, likely in April, the council will make the final decision.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
175 new hospital parking spaces all for public
The Moncton Hospital's new parking garage to open mid-May
When the new Ambulatory Care Centre at The Moncton Hospital opens later this year, the parking situation will get a little better with the addition of 175 underground parking spaces
TOOL HELP
BY ALAN COCHRANE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF
Published Wednesday February 20th, 2008
Appeared on page A1
When it opens in mid-May, a new parking garage will go a long way to alleviate the ongoing shortage of parking spaces around The Moncton Hospital. Or will it?
The new underground parking garage will have all 175 spaces designated for patients and visitors, located inside the new Ambulatory Care wing of the hospital.
The parking area will take up most of the lower level of the new wing, while the second level will be filled mainly with ventilation equipment. The third level will house the hospital's new laboratory facilities.
Hospital spokeswoman Giséle Léger says underground parking out of the weather will be especially good for patients and visitors to the hospital. The new wing will also include a drive-in garage for ambulances. Outdoor parking lots will remain for other patients, visitors and staff.
Currently, there is one large parking lot with 330 spaces for patients and visitors; and another separate lot for staff. When those are full, visitors try to find parking on the streets and other smaller lots around the hospital.
Visitors to the hospital currently pay $5.75 per day for parking if they can find a spot. If they can't, they use street spots monitored by meters. If the meter runs out, visitors to the hospital face a parking ticket with a $30 fine. Staff members pay $23 per month for parking.Léger said the new garage will lead to some shuffling and possible changes to the outdoor lots.
Quite often, the patient and visitor parking lot across from the hospital's main entrance on MacBeath Avenue is filled to capacity. Cars can often be seen waiting in line at the gate for someone to leave so they can get a spot.
The hospital is now working on new signage and better ways of directing patients and visitors inside the new Ambulatory Care wing. Although a firm date has not been set, the hospital expects it to be open in mid-May.
|
|
|
Prev
It will really look nice on that corner.
Linear Mode
