The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[reddog794]

My only question out of all these posts is, where is the involvement of the kids who are going to use the new skate park? If none of them invest either time money or enrgy to get it off the ground, it will be vandalized to no end because, it was given to them, and not fought for. There will be no sense of ownership, and responsibility, and it will just be there for them to USE. It seems as if there is no idea of making the future generations responsible for their own community.

[davehook_729]

Originally Posted by Helladog

I actually did a feasibility study for a cafe/washroom facility on harbour passage for my engineering senior report at UNB a few years ago and determined that it was crucially needed. i circulated the report to all the major players but had very little interest. I do know, however, that if Fort LaTour ever gets developed that they've included some in their preliminary concept designs, but that was back in 2004. My proposed plan included a building at the far edge of the Fort with a patio restaurant, washrooms and dock for a water taxi to facilitate quicker movement between market slip, the Fort and the Falls. Hopefully they'll consider some of my ideas someday...

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by davehook_729

My proposed plan included a building at the far edge of the Fort with a patio restaurant, washrooms and dock for a water taxi to facilitate quicker movement between market slip, the Fort and the Falls. Hopefully they'll consider some of my ideas someday...

The water taxi idea is a significant one, IMHO....this, combined with (even a small) bona fide marina in or around market slip would add more diversity to the area...on the days when there are a number of pleasure craft in the harbour, things look sooo much more alive and dynamic....

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Originally Posted by reddog794

My only question out of all these posts is, where is the involvement of the kids who are going to use the new skate park? If none of them invest either time money or enrgy to get it off the ground, it will be vandalized to no end because, it was given to them, and not fought for. There will be no sense of ownership, and responsibility, and it will just be there for them to USE. It seems as if there is no idea of making the future generations responsible for their own community.

It's been such a slow moving project we can easily forget the hard work some youth have put into this. A few years back a group of skateboard and bmx enthusiasts held the Saint John X-Fest, a huge event that acted as a fund raiser and awareness builder for the skate park.

[Helladog]

Simms Corner facelift won't come cheap

Published Monday July 7th, 2008
JOHN MAZEROLLE
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL C4

Common council Open session of tonight's meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

SAINT JOHN - Common council will have the opportunity Monday to begin the huge overhaul of the Simms Corner corridor, including Fairville Boulevard, Bridge Road, and the infamous intersection itself.

But it's going to be costly.

Commissioner of operations and engineering Paul Groody is recommending that council approve an estimated $1.35 million in spending on Phase 1 of the plan, which would eventually see a complete reconfiguration and reconstruction of everything from the Reversing Falls Bridge to Catherwood Street.

The entire project is expected to eventually cost $8.4 million or more.

Phase 1 would see work done on the intersection between Lancaster Mall and Harding Street, the intersection at Fairville Boulevard and Catherwood Street, and the lower section of Fairville Boulevard. It is meant to improve the access to the Lancaster Mall and the flow of traffic in the area.

It may or may not start this year, but it would not be completed any earlier than next summer.

The final plan would eventually see continuous two-way traffic on Fairville Boulevard through a lighted Simms Corner, which would include access for cyclists and pedestrians. The plan would also align roads in the area better and improve the truck access to the Irving Pulp and Paper mill.

The Toronto-based Counsel Corporation owns Lancaster Mall and plans to extensively redevelop the property with a new Shoppers Drug Mart building, a possible expansion of the Superstore, and an improved bus stop. With those improvements in mind, the company has asked the city to improve the entrance to the store and the traffic flows in the area.

"A signal controlled intersection to better co-ordinate the safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians at this location is particularly important," Groody's report states. Counsel Corporation would be contribute $70,000 toward the lights.

"It is our understanding that the timing for a commitment to Phase 1 is particularly crucial because of development plans for the area," the report states. "This is one of those situations where the city is being asked to be proactive, to take the initiative and work with those committed to investing in Saint John West."

The open session of common council begins at 7 p.m. Other highlights:

* Coun. Gary Sullivan will ask the city manager to consider a city land-banking program. By buying up land in advance of the coming energy boom, the city could save costs for Saint John Non-Profit Housing or reap benefits if making sales to private developers, he writes. (This item may be set aside because Sullivan will be absent from the meeting.)

* Mayor Ivan Court wants to know when the problems with the traffic lights at Ritchie's on Rothesay Avenue will be improved. He says accidents have already occurred at the location and wants to know if staff has a timeline to fix it.

* Coun. Donnie Snook will ask for a presentation at a later date from city police about "Safer communities and neighbourhood" legislation, as already exists in Nova Scotia. Getting similar legislation in Saint John was one of Snook's campaign promises.

[Helladog]

I was reading on the Moncton forum microsoft has updated aerial photos, so I had a look and noticed they have better ones than google does right now. The SJ image looks as if it was taken last Summer and even has a cruise ship...

LINK

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Originally Posted by Helladog

I was reading on the Moncton forum microsoft has updated aerial photos, so I had a look and noticed they have better ones than google does right now. The SJ image looks as if it was taken last Summer and even has a cruise ship...

LINK

Based on the level of completion at Leinster Court we are guessing late summer.

[Helladog]

Is this still supposed to be done this year?

Skateboard park gets go-ahead, additional funding from common council
Published Wednesday July 9th, 2008
NATALIA MANZOCCO
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL C3

SAINT JOHN - After seven years of fundraising and lobbying for a place to call their own, the skateboarders of Saint John will finally have the skate park they've been wishing for.

Common council gave the go-ahead Monday evening for construction on the proposed uptown park to proceed, and upped the city's contribution to the project to $350,000 from $265,000, in order to satisfy skaters' desires for the best possible park.

"With regard to the extra funding, if we're going to do it, let's do it well," Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase said. "It's an exciting project. Skateboarding has waited a long time for this."

The Saint John Skate Plaza project has been assigned several tentative start dates over the years, but city manager Terry Totten was "very confident in saying it will be this summer".

Outside the meeting, none were as pleased, or as relieved, as the skaters.

"It's about time," said Syndicate Skate and Snow owner and longtime skater Nick Vincent.

"I'm tired of seeing kids getting kicked out of spots, getting their boards taken away, getting fines because they don't have anywhere to go. Now we've got our own central location, and we're going to skate it as much as we can and just enjoy it."

The contract to build the skate park under the Mill Street viaduct was awarded last year to Langley, B.C., firm New Line Skateparks. The preliminary designs for the park, as drawn up using input from community skateboarders, would have cost $607,000.

The plans were redesigned to stay within a $500,000 budget, a move some skaters weren't happy with. A report submitted Monday to council by commissioner of leisure services Bernie Morrison recommended that additional funds be donated to the project from the 2008 leisure services budget.

The green light for the skate park may not be the ideal situation for all involved, however. At the meeting, council reviewed a letter from the Harbour Station Commission, stating that the facility stood to lose 35 parking spaces - and an estimated $35,000 a year in revenue - if the park went ahead as planned.

"Harbour Station has some legitimate concerns," city manager Terry Totten said.

"It's adjacent to the parking lot. Obviously, there are security issues."

But he believed the arena could use other parts of its property for parking, or use the skate park's presence to make up the difference in business.

"These venues attract spectators," he said. "I think when the parties get together, it can be a big win for Harbour Station as well."

The facility had already agreed to the construction of the park after the city confirmed it would install fencing between the two properties and replace an exit at the corner of Station Street and Smythe Street that would be lost.

Vincent outlined a number of ways the two facilities could work together to bring business to the area, including holding extreme sports competitions or hosting a date on the Vans Warped Tour skating and music festival.

"The possibilities are endless," he said.

[Helladog]

Green Light Given To Phase One Of The Simms Corner Reconstruction

July 08, 2008 - 5:37 am
By: Terri Wallace News 88-9 Staff

SAINT JOHN, NB - Council has agreed on an early start and approved an estimated 1.3 million dollars in spending on roads near Simms Corner because of interest from the owners of Lancaster Mall and plans for a major mall renovation.

Phase one will see work done on the intersection between Lancaster Mall and Harding Street, the intersection at Fairville Boulevard and Catherwood Street.

City Manager, Terry Totten says, "It's exciting and the right thing to do."

The plan for the entire Simms Corner corridor will eventually see the re-design and reconstruction of everything from Reversing Falls Bridge to Catherwood Street, including traffic lights.

[PostModernPrometheus]

from the news889.com site


America's Under Secretary of Energy applauds NB for energy efforts

By: News 88-9's Denise Barkhous



SAINT JOHN, NB - America's Under Secretary of Energy is visiting Saint John today.

He's very impressed with what's going on in the province's energy sector and is evaluating how Canada can play a role in his country's energy crisis.

Energy minister Jack Keir and Premier Shawn Graham spent the day with Under Secretary Bud Albright, touring energy facilities and discussing energy opportunities.

Albright says he's impressed with how the province is handling this hot topic, adding New Brunswick isn't just talking the talk, its walking the walk.

"Energy is playing an increasingly important role as demand for energy is expected to increase world-wide by 54 percent by 2030. To meet that demand we're going to have to do things differently, and make some decisions. And I think New Brunswick is a good example of how to implement." said Albright.

He says there are opportunities his country may be interested in buying into and there are others that the U-S may want to duplicate.

[PostModernPrometheus]

Irving moves ahead with proposed refinery

By: News 88-9's Denise Barkhouse




SAINT JOHN, NB - Despite word that Shell Canada has axed its plans to build an eight billion dollar refinery in Sarnia, Ontario, Irving Oil and its partner B-P are rolling full steam ahead with it's proposed project.

Energy minister Jack Keir said the fact that the two companies are moving ahead is good news for this region.

"Having said that, I think that the Sarnia project is a clear example that these particular projects aren't cash cows," said Keir.

Irving spokesperson Jennifer Parker told our newsroom the second refinery, at this stage in the game, isn't a done deal.

While she said these are challenging times for the downstream oil industry, this proposed project has a lot going for it.

"There certainly is a need for additional oil refining capacity in North America," she said.

"We still think that could absolutely happen here. With that in mind, the project does have a number of strengths, including its logistical advantages and the skilled workforce here in Saint John."

Parker said that by next year both companies will have spent a total of $100 million on the engineering and permitting phases.

After that they will decide whether to move ahead with the project and whether they will extend their partnership.

[PersonPlaceorThing]

I see that there is equipment on site and fencing up at the former St. Pauls Church site in the North End. I believe there to be a hotel proposed for the site.

[Helladog]

Good to hear. It'd be nice to see a rendering.

I also noticed a sold sign on the building next to the Three sisters condos, though the Water St. sign has since been removed.

There is some equipment at the Justice complex site when I went by yesterday and I heard on the news the Crescent Valley buildings are being demolished.

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by PersonPlaceorThing

I see that there is equipment on site and fencing up at the former St. Pauls Church site in the North End. I believe there to be a hotel proposed for the site.

Indeed, I noticed the increased activity on the site as well, so maybe we'll see some steel up before the end of the Summer.

Developer wants to build hotel where Anglican church once stood
Accommodations: City council will hear application for rezoning at its Jan. 7 meeting

SAINT JOHN - About a month after a hotelier first expressed an interest in the former St. Paul's (Valley) Church property, the 26-year-old structure came down last week followed quickly by a request to rezone the parcel of land to accommodate a hotel.

The 112-room inn is expected to be built in the spring if the property is successfully rezoned, says city planner Jim Baird, who could not recall the name of the firm interested in building the hotel but said that it also runs the Chateau Moncton. (According to an employee reached at the Moncton hotel, the company is Cyr Holdings.)

"They want to build a similar sort of hotel on St. Paul Street," said Baird. "It is a multi-storey building, about nine stories."

The site, at 2 St. Paul St., is attractive to the hotelier because of its high visibility and proximity to Highway 1 and to the uptown, he said.

Bernard Cyr of Cyr Holdings could not be reached for comment.

I can't wait, this will be a very nice addition to the overall skyline (assuming it isn't horribly ugly of course).

[Wrightguy0]

The old building next door to the three sisters project is supposed to become a boutique hotel, from what the condo sales rep told me

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Originally Posted by Helladog

There is some equipment at the Justice complex site when I went by yesterday

They seem to be samples for soil testing. It's definitely a step toward getting things doen.

[kwajo]

Developer expects work to resume at west side site within a couple of weeks
Published Thursday July 10th, 2008

SAINT JOHN - Developer Norm Ganong has sold part of his interest in a townhouse subdivision on the west side and hopes he and the others can begin work within the next two weeks.

Last year, he started building 10 units of a planned 74 on the site bounded by Lancaster Avenue and Prince Street, using insulated concrete forms. The Styrofoam forms are filled with concrete to become the exterior walls and are said to be extremely energy efficient.

With the money from the sale of 23 lots, Ganong will pay his developer's bond to the city so he can carry on with the 10 units he started last year. He has also agreed to finish the road inside the lot that is part of his original plan.

Ganong said he has already spent $350,000 on the property, including work on water, sewage and drainage systems.

Tim Somerville of Royal LePage, working with a local developer, has purchased some of the lots and plans to build 12 one-level garden homes.

"We are looking forward to starting the project because the housing market in that area is very short," said Somerville.

He expects people to see the value in these plans for energy efficient homes in this time of rising energy prices.

Another developer from Halifax has purchased lots from both Ganong and a vendor on Prince Street and plans to put up two-storey homes.

"But I will be helping to market those homes," Somerville said. "It will provide a good range because the ones Norm has started are three-storey."

Over the past several months, Ganong's focus has not been on the west side project as he worked to get land on Golden Grove Road rezoned to allow for the construction of a shopping plaza. It received approval from city council on first and second readings, but was turned down on third reading, which is normally just a formality.

"They shut down a $3-million shopping mall we were going to build for east Saint John," he said.

The city gets about $1,500 a year in property tax from the undeveloped land and would have received about that much each month if the project had gone through. He is puzzled why council members would change their minds after it was recommended by city staff and the planning advisory committee.

This Ganong guy seems a little sketchy with his developments, does anyone know anything more about him or his work?

[Helladog]

This seems to have a larger footprint than the cruise ship welcome centre...

[Helladog]

SAINT JOHN - Marsh Creek will soon reclaim its rightful status as a jewel in the centre of the city.

Published Saturday July 12th, 2008
Environment All three levels of government applaud appointment of Tim Vickers to lead the charge
SANDRA DAVIS
Telegraph-Journal B1


Kâté LeBlanc/Telegraph-Journal / Tim Vickers, right, speaks with Dr. Ed Doherty after a press conference about Marsh Creek clean-up. Mayor Ivan Court looks on and Saint John MP Paul Zed checks out details on a poster in the background.

After years of being maligned as the municipality's stinkiest body of water, the Atlantic Coastal Action Program is getting set to develop a plan to remove cancer-causing creosote that has contaminated the creek since the 1920s.

On Friday, Saint John MP Paul Zed, Mayor Ivan Court and Saint John East MLA Roly MacIntyre gathered to announce that ACAP's Tim Vickers will be leading the charge. Vickers is ACAP's executive-director.

To start, Vickers intends to apply for funding to hire experts to do the technical studies that will tell him the scope of the problem and how the creek might be remediated.

Test wells will need to be dug to delineate the creosote's boundaries, timelines have to be established and information on the state of the creek has to be brought up to date. He expects the answer may lie in dredging the creek's contaminated soil.

"With today's announcement of an action team, what we see is the potential for a light at the end of the tunnel," said Vickers.

"We will finally remove one of the last big obstacles for turning Marsh Creek into the type of natural urban infrastructure that it could be."

Vickers envisions a Marsh Creek with expanded wetlands, which will not only reduce Glen Falls flooding, but also provide a potential area for bird watching and nature photography, with walking trails and interpretive panels.

"Marsh Creek is a gold mine in terms of a city," he said.

"It runs through the heart of the city, it's the geographic centre of Saint John. There are brook trout in the upper reaches. It's just the lower section of Marsh Creek - the last few kilometres - that is really heavily polluted."

Sediment in the section of Marsh Creek that extends about 100 metres above and below the Canada Post property are contaminated with creosote.

There are spots in Marsh Creek that have 700,000 parts per million of creosote. "That means you don't have sediment that's contaminated with creosote, you have creosote that's contaminated by sediment, it's that heavy," said Vickers.

"You can touch the bottom and see the stuff bubble out."

The creosote that has been seeping into Marsh Creek for decades was left behind by a hot-bath wood treatment plant that operated in the 1920s beside the waterway. The poles and ties were stacked outdoors after soaking and allowed to drip dry in the yard. Creosote migrated from the drip pads into the creek.

The New Brunswick Department of the Environment estimates that the volume of impacted soil and sediment from both the Canada Post site and the creek bed at approximately 30,000 tonnes.

Court believes the millions of dollars it will cost to successfully remove the creosote can come from the private sector, through environmental compensation packages, although Vickers will be lobbying the federal government and the province for cash, too. Canada Post, which sits on the contaminated site, will also be approached.

"One of the impediments to having Canada Post participate as a funding partner has been the issue of Harbour Cleanup and the lack of all of us addressing that," said Zed; Harbour Cleanup doesn't deal with Marsh Creek's creosote problem.

Now that there's $88 million in place to divert the 16 million litres of raw, untreated sewage into the harbour each day, Canada Post needs to come to the table, he said, adding that the Crown corporation appears willing to contribute to a solution.

"Remediation of Marsh Creek is really the final piece of the puzzle in the Saint John Harbour Cleanup project," said Zed.

Meanwhile, Court says that removing the creosote from Marsh Creek may not cost taxpayers one cent.

He'd like to see compensation that industry must pay for projects go into Marsh Creek.

"Sometimes they can't make compensation there in the areas their projects are located but they can make compensation somewhere else," said Court. "There should be one major project in the city that benefits all citizens. Why not divert all of that money to that one problem that will open up that entire creek area from one end of the city to the other?

"There's a golden opportunity here with all these projects coming, to tackle Marsh Creek from the private sector point of view because of the compensation they have to provide."

MacIntyre, whose riding includes Marsh Creek, has been appointed liaison with the province.

[Helladog]

Pix of the Chateau Saint John construction site: