The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by Helladog

This is a conceptual image of the view from Forest Hills showing the 152,000-square-foot Costco, which will be East Point Shopping’s newest tenant. Costco is the world’s largest membership-only warehouse shopping company.

It kinda looks like a beautiful retail Stairway to Heaven.......

Hmmm...geez...powering this evolving little empire will make a great argument for Lepreau 2.......hey....wait a minute.....hmmmmmm....

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by Helladog

Education Saint John posts fifth-largest gain among Canadian communities: national studyC1
Ben Shingler
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

SAINT JOHN - Saint John ranks as one of the five most improved communities in the country in terms of lifelong learning, according to a study released Wednesday. .

Encouraging.

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Commercail properties has some info about the Somerset Square development on their website. If this is something we already knew, I apologize.

[Helladog]

.:SOMERSET SQUARE:.

Here is a good rendering of the finished product...thx for the link!

[Helladog]

Finish the twinning: Zed
May 23, 2008 - 2:16 pm
By: Denise Barkhouse - News 88.9 Staff

SAINT JOHN - Saint John MP Paul Zed wants the federal government to move on releasing cash to complete the twinning of highway one.

He said with mega projects like Lepreau, a second refinery and other projects throughout the Atlantic Region, this cash needs to be released now.

"Route one, the twinning of Saint John to St. Stephen, is something that the premiers have just come out in favour of and I believe that my job as the National representative in Ottawa is to make sure we keep the feet to the fire of the national government to reinvest our tax dollars in our region."

He said the government has committed to funding the project but it is a bit of a mystery as to whether the money will come from the Atlantic Gateway Strategy or infrastucture budget.

Zed believes the cash should come from the Atlantic Gateway Strategy pot.

[Helladog]

Accommodations: Best Western targets corporate world, shoppers and sports groups



BRUCE BARTLETT
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL B6

SAINT JOHN - The city's newest place to stay, Best Western Hotel and Suites, is expected to open within the next two weeks, says general manager Craig Nickerson.

Cindy Wilson/Telegraph-JournalCraig Nickerson stands outside the new Best Western Hotel and Suites, which will be opening on the city’s east side early next month. Located in the expanding retail area of east Saint John on Majors Brook Drive, it will add 77 rooms, including 17 suites, to the array available in the city. The suites all have separate living and sleeping quarters, said Nickerson.

Best Western is a franchise-like operation providing architect-prepared designs and a central booking service, but each hotel is run by local owners. The new hotel in Saint John is owned by Bryan Lee of Fredericton, who has owned several hotels across the country, said Nickerson.

The Best Western is targeting two main groups - corporate travellers throughout the week and shoppers, leisure travellers or sports groups on the weekends.

"We will be offering packages that include shopping and dining," he said.

The hotel will employ 20 to 25 people, said Nickerson. It will not have a dining room, but there is a space where complimentary breakfasts will be served to guests.

All the guest rooms are hard wired for free Internet connection. As well, there is also free wireless Internet throughout the building. The lobby has a business centre with two stations providing computers with the commonly used business programs.

While not set up for convention business, the hotel does have three small meeting rooms that can be opened up into one space of about 2,000 square feet, capable of hosting banquets or meetings of up to 80 people.

The hotel also has an indoor pool and fitness centre.

Nickerson is not new to the accommodation business in the city. He managed the Hotel Courtney Bay for about eight years and before that was corporate sales manager for the Saint John Hilton.

[thebrad]

Talking to a contractor who lives in my building, he said that there are 97 more stores yet to be built in East Point. Just thought I would throw that out there.

[Helladog]

Coast Guard site development continues as a work in progress
Published Monday May 26th, 2008
Construction: The project is expected to include a 130-room hotel and a 36-unit condominium tower
C3
BRUCE BARTLETT
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL



SAINT JOHN - Plans to develop the Coast Guard site on the waterfront next to Market Square are inching forward, even though the final deal with Ottawa has yet to be inked.

Development on the Coast Guard site on the Saint John waterfront will change the city’s look forever.

Colliers International, a realty firm, has been hired to assist the city in structuring the deal with the Hardman Group, which will oversee construction once the land is finally transferred into city ownership, said Ross Jefferson, of the Saint John Waterfront Development Corporation.

In March, city manager Terry Totten announced an agreement had been reached with the federal government to purchase the land after eight years of on-again, off-again talks. The city chose the Hardman Group to oversee development, which is expected to include a 130-room hotel, a 36-unit condominium tower and an underground pedway connection to Market Square, in the first phase.

Totten was unwilling to comment on the status of negotiations with Ottawa until he has time to brief the new council.

"I don't want to get out in front of them," he said. "I want to be courteous to them."

Jefferson, who is overseeing the work on the other end of the project, with the Hardman Group through Colliers International, had a few more details, but said it is still a work in progress.

"We do expect this summer to start the public consultation on the public spaces which would include Loyalist Plaza and Harbour Passage," he said.

At that time there should also be a more detailed revision of the plans first proposed by the Hardman Group for the public to examine, he said. It will still be a pre-development design proposal but will give people a clearer idea of what it might look like.

"It will focus in on the details of the public spaces and the logistics of how traffic will work, and how pedestrian traffic will work through the site," he said.

By September, the details of the deal between the city and the Hardman Group will be worked out and the public consultation on that phase will be completed, he said.

All the options are still on the table as to whether the city will sell the site to Hardman or make some type of long-term lease arrangement.

Although no details have been revealed about how much the city will pay for the site, it was confirmed earlier by Totten to be in the vicinity of the $3.4 million set aside in the capital budget for the project.

In the long-term, having new buildings in the city centre will increase the property tax collected each year.

The Coast Guard site is just one of three major projects announced, or under construction for the waterfront area, that will substantially change the look of city. Work is now underway on the cruise ship terminal and John Rocca is currently selling condominiums to be built on nearby land between Prince William and Water Streets.

The Rocca project, worth $25 million, is to be constructed in two phases, with one building rising four floors above Prince William Street and the other rising six storeys. There will also be townhouses on Water Street. A sample suite will soon be open for viewing by people who have registered with the company.

More information on the project is available at www.harbourfrontnb.com.

[Seely32]

We are going to see a lot of people come out of the woodworks to oppose the height of the towers and the overall density. We may need to come out in full force to maintain that these buildings come out quite well, I hope the property hope can keep some of the more vocal a bit quieter.

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Originally Posted by Seely32

We are going to see a lot of people come out of the woodworks to oppose the height of the towers and the overall density. We may need to come out in full force to maintain that these buildings come out quite well, I hope the property hope can keep some of the more vocal a bit quieter.

I think Rocca's proposal has already gotten through PAC with his new design.

I hope there won't be too many people opposing height and density for the Coast Guard site (unless of course they have valid reasons); NIMBYism should be less with the site not being in too many back yards.

[Kablooie!!]

The news today has an item that Irving's studying tidal power for their proposed second refinery. Anyone have thoughts on this?

My first impression is that NB Power should be involved on the forefront of this work. With the highest tides in the world, it seems to me that some serious power could be generated in an environmentally-responsible way.

Just a thought.

[Helladog]

Province on fire
Published Tuesday May 27th, 2008
Real estate Report says hotter-than-usual housing market pushing prices beyond the reach of average New Brunswickers
A1
michelle porter
telegraph-journal

SAINT JOHN - Tom and Wendy MacDermott didn't know it when they decided to move to Rothesay from Saskatchewan, but they are part of the latest housing market trend pushing prices out of reach of the average New Brunswicker.

Wendy and Tom MacDermott at their new home in Rothesay, Saint John. Tom says as more people flood to the province to work on the coming energy projects, the entire area will likely see house prices soar, just as they did in Saskatchewan from the spillover effect of Alberta’s economy. ‘It leaves a lot of people out of the market,’ he says.

According to this year's RE/MAX Atlantic Canada Market Trends Report, New Brunswick's housing market is being fuelled by money made from the boom of other provinces: retirees looking to live their last years in their home province, young families who return for the jobs that weren't available before and families in which one member "commutes" to Alberta for months at a time to make money.

One thing is clear, says Gordon Breau with RE/MAXX Professionals Saint John, we are seeing the last days of an era during which owning a house was an option for the majority of people.

This hotter-than-usual market is on the cusp of even more heat: instead of relying on trickle-down from other booming economies, New Brunswick's economy will take off in a big way if all the energy projects come through as planned. And that, said Breau, will push prices up even higher.

"Everyone right now is looking to get into a home right now because prices are going to go up," said Breau.

In fact, investors are entering the market place, picking up properties - particularly in the Saint John area - that are expected to appreciate quickly and earn them some profit.

First-time buyers are rushing into the market before it heats out of their reach, the report showed, resulting in an increased demand for entry-level priced housing. Another result: mortgage deals which offer little-to-zero down payments and a long-term mortgages.

"It used to be that 20 to 25 years was the longest term you could get a mortgage. Now there are 35 and 40 year mortgages being negotiated," he said.

When the MacDermott's decided to sell their house in Saskatchewan to buy a bigger, cheaper house in Rothesay, they did so largely because Wendy's family lives in the area. Having lived in Saskatoon for ten years, the couple with two young children had just witnessed the spillover effect from Alberta's economy which sent housing prices soaring across Saskatchewan.

While Tom says he saw many people pushed out of the market entirely in Saskatoon, the end result was good for them: they found a bigger, cheaper house in Rothesay during a five-day house hunting trip in November. The house cost $175,000. The family moved in by the end of December.

Both found jobs: she works with Vibrant Communities Saint John and Tom, an engineer by trade, works with Efficiency New Brunswick.

Tom said that as more people flood to the area to work on the coming energy projects, the entire province will likely see house prices go where prices in Saskatoon went.

"It leaves a lot of people out of the market," he said.

[Helladog]

Originally Posted by Kablooie!!

The news today has an item that Irving's studying tidal power for their proposed second refinery. Anyone have thoughts on this?

My first impression is that NB Power should be involved on the forefront of this work. With the highest tides in the world, it seems to me that some serious power could be generated in an environmentally-responsible way.

Just a thought.

I've heard others were interested in tidal power with Saint John being a possibility. I think NB Power should be involved in any electrical generation in the province; though greener energy is a good prospect, I think energy is a public responsibility.

That said, if NB Power takes too long to explore new avenues, it gives companies such as Irving the opportunity to do so. In that respect I think it's okay as long as it only powers the refinery and doesn't lead me to paying Irving for electricity.

If NB Power goes for sale and I pay the same bill for electricity, heat, gas, news, etc, I'm gone.

[Helladog]

City unveils Simms Corner design
Published Wednesday May 28th, 2008
C2
JOSH O'KANE
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

SAINT JOHN - The design is in place for a new Simms Corner, says the city's commissioner of municipal operations, but it will take provincial funding to get the ball rolling.

Paul Groody showed the final proposed design Tuesday night to the Saint John West Side Business Association.

The price tag of the project is $8.4 million, but could easily grow because of rising construction and supply costs, Groody said at the meeting.

By 2009, the project will have $4.2 million dedicated from the city, but "we need an equivalent contribution from the province to make it happen," Groody said.

He explained that if the city embraces the venture as a priority and lobbies the provincial government, the funding could be secured.

"Our recommendation to council will be that this is a high priority," said Groody.

The design that was chosen will see Bridge Road realigned to make a set of lights feasible at the Simms Corner intersection. Changes will be made along the entire corridor through Fairville Boulevard, including a realigning of the Lancaster Mall entrance closest to Simms Corner with Harding Street West. Lights will also be installed at that intersection when completed.

Some west side residents attending the meeting were concerned about the proposed design, which was selected from several shortlisted by the Terrain Group, which did the consultant engineering work for the project.

A roundabout was one design that was initially proposed, which was supported by some of the residents in attendance. Groody said the available space, combined with slope of Lancaster Avenue, made the roundabout model inefficient.

"From an engineering view, it isn't feasible," he said.

Mayor Ivan Court was in attendance, and explained to the concerned citizens that the city was trying to construct in the best interests of further development in the area.

"Businesses want easy access in and out," said the mayor.

"We need to make sure it's done right the first time," Groody said.

Construction for the first phase of the project, the realigning of the Lancaster Mall exit, could begin in 2009, if funding is available.

The cost of that phase is estimated to be $7,000. Groody said it has not been decided yet whether Harding Street will be a one- or two-way street.

[Helladog]

More jobs on the way for Saint John

May 28, 2008 - 4:58 am
By: Jeff Lansing-News 88-9 staff

The Government is partnering with a company located in the Saint John Port to help them expand.
The floating pipeline company will be adding 50 new jobs.
The company designs compressed natural gas transportation systems, and will be receiving assistance from the government to help with its working capital, and to buy new equipment.
Training and Labour Minister Ed Doherty will make the announcement later today.
A government source tells our newsroom the expansion ties into the regions energy boom.
The source says the government is also proud to invest money into the 50 new jobs.
The company currently employs 16 people.

[ErickMontreal]

Saint John Skatepark













http://www.newlineskateparks.com/concrete_projects_view.php?id=109

[Helladog]

Cool renderings; where did you find them?

Edit: Oh yeah...I see now...a link!

[PersonPlaceorThing]

MSN presented a list today of the Most Expensive Cities to Buy a Home in Canada and Saint John showed up at number 13 on the list of 16.

According the statistics on this site, which were provided by Royal LePage, the price of housing went up 14.4% in Saint John when comparing Q1 of 2008 and 2007.

[Helladog]

Originally Posted by PersonPlaceorThing

MSN presented a list today of the Most Expensive Cities to Buy a Home in Canada and Saint John showed up at number 13 on the list of 16.

According the statistics on this site, which were provided by Royal LePage, the price of housing went up 14.4% in Saint John when comparing Q1 of 2008 and 2007.

It's kinda funny, Moncton is there too, and instead of a skyline, they show snow clearing, lol! http://finance.sympatico.msn.ca/Spring/M...-a-home.aspx?dub-gallery-photo-number=16

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Originally Posted by Helladog

It's kinda funny, Moncton is there too, and instead of a skyline, they show snow clearing, lol! http://finance.sympatico.msn.ca/Spring/M...-a-home.aspx?dub-gallery-photo-number=16

Funnier still is the fact that the prices in Saint John are likely up due to the McMansions, more than because of the historic street scene shown. Thought it does make Saint John look pretty fancy.