The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[kwajo]

The convention centre is definitely in need of expansion and modernization (I recall a TJ article about this a few months ago), and my ideal solution would be to build a brand new convention centre on the Coast Guard site as part of the hotel development there, and convert the existing space in Market Square into offices or retail space, or whatever it wants to be (I have visions of an indoor version of the boardwalk, so that the Uptown concerts have a place to continue in the Winter as well). The Coast Guard site is due to be connected to the pedway system anyway, so it won't make much difference to the Hilton I would imagine, and if it does bother them, tell them to build an arched bridge across Market Slip

[kwajo]

Property values soar in city's heritage areas
Published Friday August 29th, 2008


Housing Hot market spurs renovations of historic properties to unprecedented levels
SAINT JOHN - The city's hot housing market has driven renovations of heritage properties to unprecedented levels this year, says the city's heritage planner.

The boost in renovations has increased property values in heritage areas, inflated the city's tax base and improved the look of the city, Jim Bezanson said.

"Consistently, year-over-year, since the (city's heritage conservation) program was put in place, property values (in heritage areas) have increased more than in other areas of the city," he said.

"These conservation areas, like the historic streetscape on Prince William, are the equivalent to (Sydney, Australia's) Opera House, the Eiffel Tower. They are major tourist attractions, for cruise passengers especially."

The city's heritage areas stretch from King's Square to Queen Square. They also include two blocks of Orange Street, the Red Rose Tea building on Smythe Street, King Street East, one block of Princess Street, one block of King Street West and parts of Douglas Avenue.

The heritage conservation program allows property owners within the designated areas to apply for grants that account for up to 40 per cent of large renovation projects, or a maximum of $10,000.

As of the end of June, the number of grant applications reached an all-time high of 121 and the program's annual budget of $200,000 was wiped clean.

Common council provided the program with an additional $200,000 during its last meeting earlier this month and Heritage Development Board chairman Bob McVicar says it was a welcome development.

"The critical point for me, aside from what this means for the economy, is that the folks who live in the designated areas have to ask permission to make improvements and those improvements have to meet the standard of the bylaw," said McVicar.

"The effect of not having provided funding would have been to say to people in the neighbourhood 'you can't get the grant money to improve your building for the rest of this year.' "

During the last council meeting, Coun. Bruce Court said he was concerned the heritage board would continue asking for larger budgets every year, but he voted in favour of doubling this year's funding allocation.

Council also approved the heritage board's plan for its Upper Floors Program, which is being designed to provide property owners with alternative means of satisfying national building codes.

The program's goal is to renovate buildings in a way that retains their heritage character, achieves safety goals for the buildings and their occupants, and ensures the developments are cost-effective.

The problem is there isn't a policy book developers can use for these renovation projects.

That's why the city is temporarily subsidizing the design and construction costs of these projects in a bid to identify a series of policies that can be passed on to other developers.

"We don't have an endless pot of money, and, to use the old expression, rather than giving people fish, we teach them how to fish," said Bezanson. "If we can do that, we don't have to use taxpayers' money."

More good news for the city centre (unless you're poor)

[random11]

Originally Posted by PersonPlaceorThing

This is the listing for the property I think you are referencing:
http://www.prop2go.com/ViewCommercial.aspx?id=1278

Yes. Correct - This is the building I was referring to. I chatted with the construction workers this week and they tell me it's a Call Centre moving in. Don't know who.

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by kwajo

The convention centre is definitely in need of expansion and modernization (I recall a TJ article about this a few months ago), and my ideal solution would be to build a brand new convention centre on the Coast Guard site as part of the hotel development there, and convert the existing space in Market Square into offices or retail space, or whatever it wants to be (I have visions of an indoor version of the boardwalk, so that the Uptown concerts have a place to continue in the Winter as well). The Coast Guard site is due to be connected to the pedway system anyway, so it won't make much difference to the Hilton I would imagine, and if it does bother them, tell them to build an arched bridge across Market Slip

kwajo - do you know what the preliminary thoughts are on what the pedway extension to the coast guard site would look like / where it's planned to connect to market sq.?

[Helladog]

There was a building demolished near the corner of Loch Lomond and Westmorland Roads, anyone know if something is planned for this spot?

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Originally Posted by Helladog

There was a building demolished near the corner of Loch Lomond and Westmorland Roads, anyone know if something is planned for this spot?

Not sure. It makes the neighbour's building far more visible. Maybe they bought it and took it down.

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by PostModernPrometheus

kwajo - do you know what the preliminary thoughts are on what the pedway extension to the coast guard site would look like / where it's planned to connect to market sq.?

From what I understand, the plan is to have the pedway go underground from Market Square, underneath where the Volleyball courts are now, to the buildings on the Coast Guard Site.

[Sabien]

Does anyone know if the digging along the throughway near the Rockwood park exit is related to the One Mile Interchange project? (it seems to be in the right spot for that) Or if it is unrelated, what is the most recent expected timeline for that project?

[PostModernPrometheus]

HAPPY LABOUR DAY NB'ers!!!!!

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by kwajo

From what I understand, the plan is to have the pedway go underground from Market Square, underneath where the Volleyball courts are now, to the buildings on the Coast Guard Site.

Sounds like a much more expensive option than above ground / bridging the buildings. . .

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by Sabien

Does anyone know if the digging along the throughway near the Rockwood park exit is related to the One Mile Interchange project? (it seems to be in the right spot for that) Or if it is unrelated, what is the most recent expected timeline for that project?

i'm not sure of the official timeline, but i'd guess completion by 2010-2012 would seem reasonable...there's a fair amount of bridging and pier work over the trainyards that will have to be done. . . not a simple run of the mill highway interchange by any stretch. . . .

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by Helladog

Here is a blown up image of the map above...


Noel Chenier/Telegraph-Journal

sorry...i've reposted this one before...but it does / did a pretty good idea of how extensive the one mile interchange project is....

[PostModernPrometheus]

double post

[Helladog]

There is some groundwork being done on Commerce Drive near Consumers Drive. Anyone know if this is residential or retail?

[Sabien]

Thanks, I remember seeing that diagram before (I love visuals) and that's what lead me to wonder about the digging that is currently being done. It is on the section of throughway where the diagram shows the ramps will be, but I'm not sure if it might just be something else, less exciting...

[Sabien]

My wife and I like to go for uptown walks on Sunday mornings. We were so happy to see the progress being made on the Three Sister's Park (I love to see artists' conceptual drawings actually come to life). We noticed the building on the corner of Princess/Canterbury streets (Beige stucco with army surplus store). There are sections of stucco missing, revealing the brick behind it. Some might think it looks run down, but I actually like the way it looks, very old-world, European, like it was done intentionally. I've always liked that building.

[Helladog]

Originally Posted by Sabien

Thanks, I remember seeing that diagram before (I love visuals) and that's what lead me to wonder about the digging that is currently being done. It is on the section of throughway where the diagram shows the ramps will be, but I'm not sure if it might just be something else, less exciting...

One of the newspaper articles indicated that some work was underway on the interchange. There is also pipeline work going on in that area too.

[kwajo]

The work they are doing on the side of the highway, where the tree buffer and daffodils were planted years ago, is the One Mile Interchange, I can confirm this.

Windows are finally going in on the Cruise Ship Welcome Centre, hopefully they'll have the building up and running quickly, as ships are scheduled to use the terminal this month.

[PostModernPrometheus]

Big housing project starts soon

Development Rockwood Hills planned for Millidgeville could include 350-plus units

C4John Mazerolle
Telegraph-Journal
SAINT JOHN - The city's construction numbers continue to rise, and one of the next peaks along the way is Rockwood Hills.

The development, led by Roger Burns of Caliber Consulting Ltd., will see a neighbourhood of garden homes, townhouses, and three-storey condominiums on an 18-acre site near the corner of Sandy Point Road and University Avenue.

"We think the market in Saint John, with Saint John being the energy centre of Atlantic Canada," will be strong over the next several years, Burns said.

The portion of the development involving condos was given preliminary approval by common council at its last meeting, and the portion with townhouses and garden homes was approved by council over the winter, Burns said.

Burns, who bought the land from another developer in December, says the Millidgeville development makes sense because of the city's growth and Millidgeville's location near the uptown. He also noted its convenient location to nearby amenities, including the Rockwood Park Golf Course.

Burns said the project could have as many as 356 units built over the next four to five years. Construction will begin this month, with the first homeowner moved in by spring. He plans to set up a sales centre near the Subway on Millidge Avenue.

City staff are keen to develop the area.

The report to council about the zoning proposal said the area has significant potential, and it could become a vibrant range of residential, commercial and institutional buildings. Rockwood Hills is near a garden centre and a Canadian Blood Services building.

*sic*

The start of this project is part of a much-wider boom.

There has been approximately $79 million in construction undertaken at the halfway point of this year, compared to $74 million over the same time period last year and less than half that the year before. During the rest of the decade, numbers - for the entire year - have fluctuated between $26 million and $51 million.
Other areas undergoing residential development in the city include Lancaster and Grandview avenues.



full article link: http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/city/article/402957

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by Sabien

Some might think it looks run down, but I actually like the way it looks, very old-world, European, like it was done intentionally. I've always liked that building.

Welcome & glad to have you on the forum.