The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by Helladog

Exciting times ahead
Housing New $50-million, 350-home subdivision proves city is engine of N.B.'s economy

SANDRA DAVIS
Telegraph-Journal

SAINT JOHN - A new 60-acre, $50-million east side housing subdivision going up off Old Black River Road is proof that Saint John is becoming the province's economic engine.

Contractors, developers and realtors all agree that the city should get set for some exciting times.

Builders Claude LeBlanc and Guy Lajoie, partners in Moncton-based GCL Developments, are building the subdivision's 350 homes, all duplexes.

They travel back and forth to Saint John from their homes in Moncton, where the housing boom seems to be slowing, says Lajoie.
*sic*

350+ homes?? i hasn't even *heard* of this one until today; any website for it, or aerial view of where exactly this is going????

i think we'll be seeing more and more of a "fluid" workforce in the province and atl. region as the months and years go by. . . i.e., ppl shifting to one area for increased commercial / residential projects & work for awhile, then on to the next when things start to cool off in any given area . . . either way, it's nice to see what seems to be more and more of a regional instead of simply a "silo" approach to development happening

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

They may have turned them down, there is no longer that glow in the western horizon after dark as seen from Moncton.

lmao....agreed, those lights were a *little* on the "LOOK AT ME!!! LOOK AT ME!!!" side....

[thefishingnut]

Originally Posted by PostModernPrometheus

Chilibeck's article does have some well balanced points in it - true transformation isn't all about how many new buildings, or projects or surface scrubbing that happens; there's a number of deeper logistical, economic and social issues that have to be ackowledged & effectively dealt with as well

Absolutely, I really appreciate your posting it. I saw a lot of change done along Quebec City's waterfront for the 400 anniversary celebration, the creation of a lot of green space, planting of trees, and making everything pedestrian friendly. The more of that that can be done, the better. Some parts of the South End just fit the "mean streets" feel, a lot less pavement and lot more people friendly areas would make everyone feel better. Harbour Passage has created a lot of usable space where previously no human-friendly activity took place, and I think the City is much better for it. Extending it to the South End would be incredible. When you add the skateboard park, the Irving headquarters at Long Wharf, downtown could be a really exciting place to be and work in with the trail tying it all together.

Nice to see positive effects of the Ward system as well.

[thefishingnut]

Originally Posted by PostModernPrometheus

350+ homes?? i hasn't even *heard* of this one until today; any website for it, or aerial view of where exactly this is going????

i think we'll be seeing more and more of a "fluid" workforce in the province and atl. region as the months and years go by. . . i.e., ppl shifting to one area for increased commercial / residential projects & work for awhile, then on to the next when things start to cool off in any given area . . . either way, it's nice to see what seems to be more and more of a regional instead of simply a "silo" approach to development happening

There was also word of a similar very large development that is under consideration in Rothesay, on both sides of Riverside, that the developer is looking to get fast tracked. There is a huge forested area just past Riverside if you're driving from the City along Hwy 1.

[Helladog]

I heard that Courtney Bay GS is currently being demolished; this would likely remove those huge stacks from the skyline...

[thebrad]

Just a couple of points...

1. I was discussing the Sobeys issue with my wife the other day... Why would they be upgrading the McAllister Sobeys and make it into a more efficient store with what looks like a multi-thousand dollar upgrade if they were going to abandon that spot?

2. I still do not understand how the mile one will get truck traffic out of the lower cove loop. Most of the trucks turn at the intersection of crown and union and the ones coming North on Crown have not travelled the entire loop. I am for it but I think the facts are a little foggy.

3. I noticed a lot of construction going on in front of the Golden Ball on Union. From the looks of it, they are putting in stop lights and crosswalks there and moving the island around to install proper curbs on all four corners.

[Helladog]

As for the Sobey's renos, it would take a couple of years to prepare and build a new store, so any issues with the current location need to be dealt with in the shorter term. Since the new store isn't a done deal (just a rumour), it makes sense for them to have a business as usual approach. Just an idea...I have no clue what the intentions are there.

I'm not up on the truck routes that will supposedly change, but I get really annoyed with the jack brakes going off all hours. I've been tempted more then once to wait at the corner down there with a Louisville Slugger.

I noticed the work near the golden ball, I sometimes joke that it's construction of the subway from Prince Edward station to the new justice complex. The stairway to nowhere at the front of the apt building looks like a Subway entrance.

[Sabien]

Originally Posted by thebrad

Just a couple of points...
...
2. I still do not understand how the mile one will get truck traffic out of the lower cove loop. Most of the trucks turn at the intersection of crown and union and the ones coming North on Crown have not travelled the entire loop. I am for it but I think the facts are a little foggy.
...

From what I understand (which doesn't amount to much), many trucks travelling eastbound on the throughway, with destinations in the Grandview & McAllister Industrial parks, the Irving Oil Refinery, etc. travel through the lower cove loop to reach the Eastside. The One Mile House Interchange will allow them to take an exit that places them directly on Bayside Drive, a route that bi-passes the Southend Peninsula altogether. This will have a profound effect on the traffic in the Southend, encouraging more residential development/improvement. Bayside drive is one of the main arteries that lead to/from the existing refinery as well as the Canaport LNG terminal, not to mention the much anticipated second oil refinery.

I believe it will be a great improvement, not just for the uptown/southend but for the entire city. It will open alternate routes to the industrial parks and the shopping district on the Eastside. With more possible routes, traffic congestion should be diminished or spread out reducing the bottleneck in certain areas...IMHO.

[thefishingnut]

Originally Posted by Sabien

From what I understand (which doesn't amount to much), many trucks travelling eastbound on the throughway, with destinations in the Grandview & McAllister Industrial parks, the Irving Oil Refinery, etc. travel through the lower cove loop to reach the Eastside. The One Mile House Interchange will allow them to take an exit that places them directly on Bayside Drive, a route that bi-passes the Southend Peninsula altogether. This will have a profound effect on the traffic in the Southend, encouraging more residential development/improvement. Bayside drive is one of the main arteries that lead to/from the existing refinery as well as the Canaport LNG terminal, not to mention the much anticipated second oil refinery.

I believe it will be a great improvement, not just for the uptown/southend but for the entire city. It will open alternate routes to the industrial parks and the shopping district on the Eastside. With more possible routes, traffic congestion should be diminished or spread out reducing the bottleneck in certain areas...IMHO.

Would also add, that the added construction traffic for building the 2'nd refinery would be substancial, Mile One would pretty much address all of that requirement with no added load to existing downtown streets.

[davehook_729]

This thread has been extremely boring the last 2 weeks. Is there absolutely nothing going on right now? Can someone just make up some news?! heh heh... How about a picture of all those ships in the Harbour today, fireworks tonight and the buzz of people from all of this and the Elton John concert...

[Wrightguy0]

I just got back from the Elton John Concert, he played for nearly three hours, oh and they have most of the first floor up on the new hotel, If anyone has any recent pics of that project. The old off ramp that never was is getting prepped for one mile as well

[kirjtc2]

Well, there was the story in the TJ today (too lazy to get the link) about the councillor that wanted to impose an $8 user-fee on all non-residents using city services.

Is common council really that short sighted?

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Originally Posted by kirjtc2

Well, there was the story in the TJ today (too lazy to get the link) about the councillor that wanted to impose an $8 user-fee on all non-residents using city services.

Is common council really that short sighted?

She's already been shut down. This is the same councilor who wanted people who were not living in the City of Saint John to self-identify at the Lantic Sugar public meeting.

Article: http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/city/article/433162

[kwajo]

A Celebration of Our 20th Cruise Ship Season



(photo credit: Cindy Wilson/Telegraph Journal)

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by kwajo

A Celebration of Our 20th Cruise Ship Season



(photo credit: Cindy Wilson/Telegraph Journal)

beautiful pic - thx.

[kwajo]

The in-fill housing project (the one that retained an existing historical facade) on Queen Street is progressing very well, it looks like it will be a great addition to the streetscape, and continue to add residential density to the Uptown core. Does anyone recall how many units will be in the finished structure?

[mylesmalley]

Moosehead Breweries lays off 50
U.S economic slowdown a factor
Last Updated: Thursday, October 2, 2008 | 9:06 AM AT
CBC News

Moosehead Breweries is temporarily laying off about 50 workers at its Saint John plant starting this week and lasting until early November.

The people affected work in production, and they will be laid off on a rotating basis, company spokesman Joel Levesque said Wednesday.

The cutbacks are mainly the result of the downturn in the United States economy, where nearly 50 per cent of the brewer's product is shipped, he said.

Levesque said regular production should resume in early November and continue until Christmas. It’s uncertain what will happen in 2009.

"In the new year, we will evaluate our orders. Now, because we are shipping so much beer to the United States, it all depends on business and economic conditions in the United States," he said.

"As everybody who’s been watching the news knows things are kind of up in the air there. So, it’s one of those things it’ll be very difficult to predict until we get closer to that time."

Also contributing to the layoffs were poor beer sales locally this past summer because the weather was so cool and rainy, Levesque said.

"About 70 per cent of our sales take place between the May long weekend and Sept. 1. So, if you don’t have great weather in the summer, then people aren’t out partying, they’re not at their cottages, or on the beach or on the golf course drinking beer,” he said.



You'd think that a downturn in the economy would make people want to drink more beer...

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

You'd think that a downturn in the economy would make people want to drink more beer...

It probably does, but Moosehead is nearing contract negotiations with the union, and they're playing games in order to help the bottomline. (just personal opinion)

[thefishingnut]

Originally Posted by kwajo

The in-fill housing project (the one that retained an existing historical facade) on Queen Street is progressing very well, it looks like it will be a great addition to the streetscape, and continue to add residential density to the Uptown core. Does anyone recall how many units will be in the finished structure?

Somehow, I think the City needs to go into a massive house replacement phase. What stikes me so often as I move about the city, is how old and small many of the houses are. And of course, their low assessed value means low tax base.

To a large extent, people with higher incomes are moving to Rothesay and Quispamsis because they can buy large, and new modern homes. Or even if they are buying a small house, they can buy a new small house. Property tax rate differences don't matter much, with the cost of commuting any offset in lower property taxes is eaten up at the gas pump. However, the lack of newer and more upscale housing properties in the City is the obstacle IMO.

Heritage homes are great, and there is a group of people who want to live in classic homes. But so much of the housing stock is just old, not classic. 2 years ago I sold one of those old houses and moved to Quispam. The old house had a leaky basement, some floors slanted, and that house cost me twice as much to heat as our new place, even though it was significantly smaller. The only way to take the assessment over $100k short term on that old property, is to bulldoze it to the ground and replace the house.

Perhaps the City could do something like offer free building permits and demolition permits to developers/speculators who would be prepared to build replacement housing. The City would get it back long term in higher assessed value for property tax purposes.

For the counsellor thinking putting an additional surcharge on non-City workers (the existing charge is City owned parking BTW), put that in place and 12 minutes later Quispam council will pass reading on the first large office building in the valley. You won't need to worry about wear on downtown infrastructure long after that.

[Helladog]

Originally Posted by thefishingnut

Somehow, I think the City needs to go into a massive house replacement phase. What stikes me so often as I move about the city, is how old and small many of the houses are. And of course, their low assessed value means low tax base.

To a large extent, people with higher incomes are moving to Rothesay and Quispamsis because they can buy large, and new modern homes. Or even if they are buying a small house, they can buy a new small house. Property tax rate differences don't matter much, with the cost of commuting any offset in lower property taxes is eaten up at the gas pump. However, the lack of newer and more upscale housing properties in the City is the obstacle IMO.

Heritage homes are great, and there is a group of people who want to live in classic homes. But so much of the housing stock is just old, not classic. 2 years ago I sold one of those old houses and moved to Quispam. The old house had a leaky basement, some floors slanted, and that house cost me twice as much to heat as our new place, even though it was significantly smaller. The only way to take the assessment over $100k short term on that old property, is to bulldoze it to the ground and replace the house.

Perhaps the City could do something like offer free building permits and demolition permits to developers/speculators who would be prepared to build replacement housing. The City would get it back long term in higher assessed value for property tax purposes.

For the counsellor thinking putting an additional surcharge on non-City workers (the existing charge is City owned parking BTW), put that in place and 12 minutes later Quispam council will pass reading on the first large office building in the valley. You won't need to worry about wear on downtown infrastructure long after that.

I'm all for replacing the old stock of non-heritage buildings throughout the city. The 40-60's war style homes are way out of date and aren't good for attracting the more wealthy into town. The older townhouses from the 70's are pretty ugly too...