The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[davehook_729]

My Progress... I haven't worked on this in a while because I bought a house last month.


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[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by davehook_729

My Progress... I haven't worked on this in a while because I bought a house last month.

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i hear you about the new house thing....:S really drains time away...
wow - these are really quite impressive...helps to 'bring to life' some of the larger projects on the horizon...thanks!

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by Helladog

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 The 40-60's war style homes are way out of date and aren't good for attracting the more wealthy into town.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...

gawd...i'd say the 70's era stff is waaaaayyy uglier than the 40's post war buildings...

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

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

i know this much....our export sector all around is going to be full of news like this over the next 6-12 months....one of the major banks today apparently finally conceeded that we are heading into an economic recession...tough times ahead for many...and i'm not sure if rates of alcohol consumption go up in these times, but rates of depression, suicide and overall stress do....

[Helladog]

Some construction off the causeway:









Drury's Cove

[Helladog]

Looks great so far. I'll have to make a point to go out and get you those welcome centre photos...

Originally Posted by davehook_729

My Progress... I haven't worked on this in a while because I bought a house last month.


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[Wrightguy0]

^^^^Dave, you should post that in the google sketchup forums as well

[PostModernPrometheus]

I think that the annual 'vital signs' report for the city is being released today....i'll see if i can find a link....

[PostModernPrometheus]

http://www.saint-john-foundation.nb.ca/Press%20Releases.html#Anchor-October-47313

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by Helladog

[ Drury's Cove

From what I hear, the eventual plan in Drury cove is to add in kilometres of wooded walking trails . . . the area is absolutely gorgeous, facing west out onto the kennebecasis. . . don't think i even *want* to guess at some of the house prices though:S

http://www.drurycove.com/

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by davehook_729

My Progress... I haven't worked on this in a while because I bought a house last month.



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lol...i was trying to orient myself looking towards the city centre along water street and it finally clicked in...cruise terminal is missing & so is the pugsley terminal....
very nice rendering of the three sister's condos...they really seem to 'fit' into the exisiting cityscape well...

[PostModernPrometheus]

just a follow up from yesterday...from the news889 site...


Greater SJ Community Foundation annual report card released
October 07, 2008
By: DeniseBarkhouse - News 88.9 Staff


SAINT JOHN - The Greater Saint John Community Foundation's annual report card is out.

Greater Saint John is making huge strides in some areas but in others we remain stagnant.

Over 4,000 new jobs were created in Saint John between 2006 and 2007, housing starts are up, and we're attracting more and more immigrants...which shouldn't come as a surprise because on average, immigrants are making more money in Saint John than any where else in the nation.

On the flip side though, according to their research, Saint John is leading the nation when it comes to child poverty.

Human Development Council's Randy Hatfield told News 88.9 that minimum wage should be increased and it should be that if someone works full time all year round...you won't live in poverty, but he admits it wouldn't be an easy sell.

Hatfield points out the city is making great progress in at risk communities where literacy and healthy living is promoted...but he said more has to be done.


link: http://www.news889.com/news/local/article.jsp?content=20081007_184023_16188

[kwajo]

I noticed that the city crews were out digging on Princess St. (near Prince William) last night. Could this finally be the start of the Princess streetscape renewal we were promised?

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Originally Posted by kwajo

I noticed that the city crews were out digging on Princess St. (near Prince William) last night. Could this finally be the start of the Princess streetscape renewal we were promised?

I know crews have been installing natural gas lines around Queen Square. There was work on Duke St, today too.

Fun times driving in the south end.

[Helladog]

December start for housing project
Published Friday October 10th, 2008
BRUCE BARTLETT
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

SAINT JOHN - Work is expected to begin in December on Abbey St. Andrew, which will add 91 new rental units to the uptown at the corner of Charlotte and Duke streets.

"We have no need for variances and the like, so we are now just putting together the final package to present to the city to get the building permit," said Bill Thomas, the minister at the Church of St. Andrew and St. David.

The development will be owned by Abbey St. Andrew Inc., a non-profit company set up to transform the parking lot behind the Germain Street church.

In the 1990s the church borrowed money to purchase the land and paid off the loan by renting parking spaces to the city over the intervening years. Now church officials have decided to move ahead with the development, which will be mixed income, including one-third rented at market rates and the remainder to be subsidized based on the income of the tenants.

A final change to the plan is being worked on now, said Thomas. The original concept called for one level of underground parking and a second level at ground level with the apartment building on top. But recent soil sampling at the sight found there was six metres of soil above the bedrock, so there is room to put all the parking underground.

The plan calls for nine, two-level townhouses fronting on Charlotte and Duke streets, built in a style similar to homes on Horsfield and Duke streets. Each one will be unique, offering some differences in the layout, said Thomas. A major block of mixed-income apartments will be constructed on the interior area of the lot.

The units will range in size from one-bedroom to three bedrooms.

In the apartment block, the top level will be made up of two-storey, penthouse-style apartments. The townhouses and the two-floor apartments will all be offered at market rates.

Abbey St. Andrew Inc. has arranged financing through banks and is expecting to tap into infrastructure money offered by the province and federal governments which provides $30,000 for each subsidized unit constructed. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has agreed to insure the mortgage.

In the next few weeks the final drawings will be completed and a meeting will be set up to give the public a chance to see them, he said.

[Helladog]

School supporters mapping plans
Published Friday October 10th, 2008
Education Parents want valley to have francophone elementary school before 2012
ANDREW MCGILLIGAN
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

QUISPAMSIS - Parents hoping for a new francophone elementary school to be built in Quispamsis have taken the next step in making it a reality.

At a meeting held earlier this week at the Kennebecasis Valley Public Library, parents in favour of the project elected a committee to head up the lobbying effort and to meet with School District 1 officials.

Marc Mathurin was elected president of the six-member parent committee.

"We're going to try and figure out the next steps to be taken and make sure we're presenting at the District Education Council meetings," Mathurin said. "We want to keep it on the agenda and push for something to happen quicker than in 2012."

The District 1 education council added the need for a new francophone elementary school in Quispamsis to its priority list during a September meeting. The new school is fifth on the district's list, with the hope of a school being constructed by 2012. District 1 superintendent Anne-Marie LeBlanc said the district is aware of the Kennebecasis Valley region's needs, but other areas in the district - which incorporates 15 francophone schools around the province - are crying out for more space as well.

"We are in dire need for schools in all our areas," LeBlanc said. "For example, in Moncton and Dieppe we have over 14 mobile classrooms attached to our schools because of a lack of space."

As for the valley's needs, both LeBlanc and Mathurin estimate 150 students from kindergarten to Grade 5 from Quispamsis, Rothesay and Hampton are bused to Samuel-de-Champlain school in Saint John each day. A few students are bused to the school from as far away as Sussex. Mathurin said the number of students wanting to attend a francophone school in the valley could be higher.

"So many other kids would go, but staying in their community and going to the English system is easier," said the father of two.

Add to that, the fact Samuel-de-Champlain is at capacity despite a $13-million renovation project last spring that added 73,000 square feet of space to the school. The school also saw a record increase of 67 students this year.

With the population of the Greater Saint John area expected to grow with the anticipated energy boom, the need for a new school becomes even more pressing.

Mathurin said the group plans on meeting every two weeks and lobbying all three levels of government for support in one form or another. Another option is to look what can be done for the 2009-10 year. Ideas such as having a temporary school in KV, while both the parents and district wait for a new one, has been discussed.

"It's not the parents' responsibility to rent something and hire teachers," Mathurin said. "That's why we want to meet with the district as soon as possible and see what we can do until a school comes."

Mathurin said he's set up meetings with various officials including Michel Cote, executive director of Association Régionale de la Communauté francophone de Saint-Jean (ARCf), to see what is the best course of action.

[Seely32]

Originally Posted by Helladog

December start for housing project
Published Friday October 10th, 2008
BRUCE BARTLETT
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

SAINT JOHN - Work is expected to begin in December on Abbey St. Andrew, which will add 91 new rental units to the uptown at the corner of Charlotte and Duke streets.

"We have no need for variances and the like, so we are now just putting together the final package to present to the city to get the building permit," said Bill Thomas, the minister at the Church of St. Andrew and St. David.

The development will be owned by Abbey St. Andrew Inc., a non-profit company set up to transform the parking lot behind the Germain Street church.

In the 1990s the church borrowed money to purchase the land and paid off the loan by renting parking spaces to the city over the intervening years. Now church officials have decided to move ahead with the development, which will be mixed income, including one-third rented at market rates and the remainder to be subsidized based on the income of the tenants.

A final change to the plan is being worked on now, said Thomas. The original concept called for one level of underground parking and a second level at ground level with the apartment building on top. But recent soil sampling at the sight found there was six metres of soil above the bedrock, so there is room to put all the parking underground.

The plan calls for nine, two-level townhouses fronting on Charlotte and Duke streets, built in a style similar to homes on Horsfield and Duke streets. Each one will be unique, offering some differences in the layout, said Thomas. A major block of mixed-income apartments will be constructed on the interior area of the lot.

The units will range in size from one-bedroom to three bedrooms.

In the apartment block, the top level will be made up of two-storey, penthouse-style apartments. The townhouses and the two-floor apartments will all be offered at market rates.

Abbey St. Andrew Inc. has arranged financing through banks and is expecting to tap into infrastructure money offered by the province and federal governments which provides $30,000 for each subsidized unit constructed. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has agreed to insure the mortgage.

In the next few weeks the final drawings will be completed and a meeting will be set up to give the public a chance to see them, he said.

The 9 townhomes will they be street fron and if so does anyone have information on what the materiall will be. I hope to god its not siding, but I must have faith we are putting this in your hands personplacething

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Originally Posted by Seely32

The 9 townhomes will they be street fron and if so does anyone have information on what the materiall will be. I hope to god its not siding, but I must have faith we are putting this in your hands personplacething

We have been saying "appropriate" materials in line with the look of the community. I expect we'll be going with simulated stone that will be similar to what Rocca has proposed for his condos. Perhaps brick where appropriate.

Cost may cause rear buildings to be sided in less expensive material.

[PersonPlaceorThing]

double post

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Originally Posted by Helladog

In the apartment block, the top level will be made up of two-storey, penthouse-style apartments. The townhouses and the two-floor apartments will all be offered at market rates.

The upper floor two-storey apartments look so cool. I am excited to see these units, some of which will have private patios overlooking Charlotte St.