The Official Moncton, NB Project Thread

[MonctonRad]

Moncton shows strong consumer confidence
Published Tuesday October 21st, 2008

Close to $100 million in construction permits issued to date in 2008
By Yvon Gauvin
Times & Transcript staff

Construction activity in Moncton has reached "a new plateau" with the construction sector "not about to cool off anytime soon," Ben Champoux, Moncton's Business Development Specialist, said this week after reviewing the 2008 building permits for the city.

The total value of construction permits issued to date in 2008 exceeds $99 million, with several important construction projects expected in the near future.

Housing construction remains an important segment of the building boom, in spite of the housing crisis and financial uncertainties being experienced in the United States, says Champoux.

"The construction activity in Moncton remains strong," he said. "Housing affordability and employment opportunities in many industries continue to attract people to Moncton and to fuel construction activity.

Last month, more than 74,000 people were employed in the community, a record high, he said.

So far this year, the residential sector accounted for $49 million worth of building permits, half of the total to date. Commercial and industrial construction permits totalled $40 million to date.

That means the private sector is responsible for more than 90 per cent of all construction permits so far this year. "(That's) another indication that consumer confidence remains strong," he said.

The average annual value of building permits for Moncton in the 1990s was $58 million. That has more than doubled to $128 million in the years since 2000.

Among the large commercial projects on the horizon for Metro are the casino, a downtown Metro Centre, hotels, a stadium and the retail centre on Mapleton Road.

Statistics released for September 2008 for the City of Moncton show 116 building permits valued at $11,362,000, an increase in comparison to September 2007 which had a total of 114 permits valued at $8,337,000.

The total number of permits to date this year is 927 with a value of $99,682,000.

[JasonL-Moncton]

Any more news, rumors on where the justice center is going?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by JasonL-Moncton

Any more news, rumors on where the justice center is going?

We are all waiting with baited breath and keen anticipation for the announcement, which should come before the end of the month. Of course, it has already been delayed about a half dozen times.

We should get people to vote where they think the Justice Complex will go! My guess is that it will go on the site of the present Subaru dealership on Main. It's kitty-corner from the existing police station and there have been rumours that it could be connected by pedway across Main, perhaps via a second building to be constructed next to Bore Park in front of the Treitz Haus.

Of course I could be wrong....

[Sony500]

I would like to see the Justice center go in the old Beaver Lumber lot, handy to the detention center. As far as Highfield Square goes, that whole "mall" should be torn down, and use that property for a new convention center, hotels, just a really big building with a ton of useful stuff. You could drive a car in that mall blind folded and not have to worry about hitting anyone.

[Mistymel]

I was born and raised in Toronto and have been living here in Moncton for the past 5 years. I came across this forum a few months ago and love it! I miss all the shopping and restaurants available in Toronto and am really excited about all the new development here (Thank you KEG!). Five years ago my husband and I found it difficult to get used to the lack of choice, but things are looking better! I'm really excited about the new Cora's that will be built in or near the Mapleton Power Centre (500 Mapleton). I also emailed Swiss Chalet and told them we need one in North Moncton. I can't stand driving all the way to Dieppe for chicken.

Keep up the good work guys ... love the info you provide.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Mistymel

I was born and raised in Toronto and have been living here in Moncton for the past 5 years. I came across this forum a few months ago and love it! I miss all the shopping and restaurants available in Toronto and am really excited about all the new development here (Thank you KEG!). Five years ago my husband and I found it difficult to get used to the lack of choice, but things are looking better! I'm really excited about the new Cora's that will be built in or near the Mapleton Power Centre (500 Mapleton). I also emailed Swiss Chalet and told them we need one in North Moncton. I can't stand driving all the way to Dieppe for chicken.

Keep up the good work guys ... love the info you provide.

Welcome Mistymel, we seem to have a flurry of new members on the forum all of a sudden. Looking forward to you input!

The news about Cora's is a surprise to me. I had not heard that. That would be the third Cora's in Greater Moncton.

There may in fact be a Swiss Chalet going into the Mapleton Power Centre. On one of the maps of the development from earlier this year, one of the pads was clearly labelled "Swiss Chalet".

[mylesmalley]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Welcome Mistymel, we seem to have a flurry of new members on the forum all of a sudden. Looking forward to you input!

The news about Cora's is a surprise to me. I had not heard that. That would be the third Cora's in Greater Moncton.

There may in fact be a Swiss Chalet going into the Mapleton Power Centre. On one of the maps of the development from earlier this year, one of the pads was clearly labelled "Swiss Chalet".

Welcome Mistymel!
Two new members in as many days. The more the merrier!
Having never been to a Swiss Chalet, I cant' say much about one going up at Mapleton. It's definitely good to see more classier places to eat in that end of town though.

I just wish something other than subway and two tim horton's would open up in the west end. now that Centennial has closed for good, the eating options are a little lacking.

[mikeohara]

The news about Cora's is a surprise to me. I had not heard that. That would be the third Cora's in Greater Moncton.

There may in fact be a Swiss Chalet going into the Mapleton Power Centre. On one of the maps of the development from earlier this year, one of the pads was clearly labelled "Swiss Chalet".

Actually from what I understand talking to various restaurant owners (the owner of coras downtown being one) the Coras on Mapleton is definite, in fact if you see the coras van driving around, it already has the address for the Mapleton road location already on it.

as for the Swiss Chalet, it is not. its going to be a St. Hubert. the current location on Mountain road has already started hiring and training staff for the new location.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by mikeohara

Actually from what I understand talking to various restaurant owners (the owner of coras downtown being one) the Coras on Mapleton is definite, in fact if you see the coras van driving around, it already has the address for the Mapleton road location already on it.

as for the Swiss Chalet, it is not. its going to be a St. Hubert. the current location on Mountain road has already started hiring and training staff for the new location.

Good to hear that Cora's is a definite. BTW, where exactly is 500 Mapleton Road? Is it as far out as the Power Centre district or is it closer in, by the old K-Mart?

The proposed Swiss Chalet is different than the St. Hubert's (which is already under construction). St. Hubie's is being built in the Home Depot plaza. The proposed Swiss Chalet is going to be further down the road in the Mapleton Power Cente proper.

[MPSE]

I found this forum the other day while googling the law courts, I am very interested in that project and waiting for an update. I thought the annoncement was supposed to come at the end of Septemeber....

[mmmatt]

Big welcome to all our new members

Always great to see new faces! (or read new peoples writing...whatever haha)

MPSE: we have all been waiting patiently for an announcement, but the delays are becoming annoying...Im hoping to see some advancement by mid November at the latest.

[mylesmalley]

Originally Posted by stu_pendousmat2

Big welcome to all our new members

Always great to see new faces! (or read new peoples writing...whatever haha)

MPSE: we have all been waiting patiently for an announcement, but the delays are becoming annoying...Im hoping to see some advancement by mid November at the latest.

Three new members in as many days!

I hate to break it to you Mat, but you've probably just jinxed it.

This begs the question though. What exactly is it that's taking so long? You would think site selection would be a pretty cut and dry task, but perhaps the private-public partnership they've been working towards has been a harder sell to business?

And I do see a bit of a silver lining in all of this. I don't particularly see the corner of Lutz and Assumption as being a good spot for a courthouse. The old design the conservatives wanted to build wasn't all that hot either. This delay has raised the prospect of the building going somewhere more appropriate. More importantly, the most recent plans called for a much larger building with more services and a law library.

I'm still tired of waiting though. This is starting to look like the casino all over again...

[JasonL-Moncton]

I believe the Cora's will actually be part of the new McManaman Orthodonist building on the ground floor in the planned retail space...but that's just a guess, but I thought I saw a diagram of that somewhere.

I also think that the Justice Center should go right behind the new Marriott, then it could be connected to the police station via Pedway/tunnel...then replace the Police station with a new one, making it larger and expand it out to the edge of Bore park. Blue Cross could also be connected via Pedway to the justice center and then you would have City Hall, Blue Cross, Justice Center, and Police station all connected.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by JasonL-Moncton

I believe the Cora's will actually be part of the new McManaman Orthodonist building on the ground floor in the planned retail space...but that's just a guess, but I thought I saw a diagram of that somewhere.

I also think that the Justice Center should go right behind the new Marriott, then it could be connected to the police station via Pedway/tunnel...then replace the Police station with a new one, making it larger and expand it out to the edge of Bore park. Blue Cross could also be connected via Pedway to the justice center and then you would have City Hall, Blue Cross, Justice Center, and Police station all connected.

Jason - Congrats on your 200th post!

I think you are probably right about Cora's, I drove down Mapleton today counting civic addresses (I'm off this week and have nothing better to do with my time ), and that would seem appropriate.

re: the Law Courts, I think your suggestion is an excellent one but I don't think anyone is actively promoting that particular site. There is a proposal on the table however for the Subaru site, and I think that it is a frontrunner.

[mylesmalley]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Jason - Congrats on your 200th post!

I think you are probably right about Cora's, I drove down Mapleton today counting civic addresses (I'm off this week and have nothing better to do with my time ), and that would seem appropriate.

re: the Law Courts, I think your suggestion is an excellent one but I don't think anyone is actively promoting that particular site. There is a proposal on the table however for the Subaru site, and I think that it is a frontrunner.

I've been actively promoting that site I doubt it'll end up there though. I know Dick Carpenter was quoted in the paper saying he wanted to build it between bore park and hte police station, with a pedway over that little street that leads down to the water. Even if it went to the Beaver Lumber site, I'd still much prefer to see it along Assumption.

[JasonL-Moncton]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Jason - Congrats on your 200th post!

Thanks....I didn't even notice lol!

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I think you are probably right about Cora's, I drove down Mapleton today counting civic addresses (I'm off this week and have nothing better to do with my time ), and that would seem appropriate.

lol...Go to the dentist and then have Breakfast...but I think that would be a good spot for it...near to the housing behind Trinity.

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

re: the Law Courts, I think your suggestion is an excellent one but I don't think anyone is actively promoting that particular site. There is a proposal on the table however for the Subaru site, and I think that it is a frontrunner.

Thank-you...I just think that it's a much more logical location. I understand some want to continue the buildings down Main by having at Suburu...but I'd rather see another 'assumption building' type structure built on that footprint and put the Justice Center where I suggested.

One thing no one has considered for down town that I'd love to see is an outdoor skating rink over looking the city and the river like:

Wollman Rink NYC:


Rockefeller Center NYC:


Boston Common Boston (lumierefl-flickr):


Nathan Phillips Square Toronto (Britannica):


Old Port Montreal (Quebec Tourism):


to name a few...that would be cool.

That would bring people downtown in the 'winter' and help the businesses downtown.

Jason

[Sony500]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Good to hear that Cora's is a definite. BTW, where exactly is 500 Mapleton Road? Is it as far out as the Power Centre district or is it closer in, by the old K-Mart?

The old K-Mart is 80 Mapleton Rd, the apartments of Mapleton Apts.end at 260, at the other end, Hampton Inn is 700 Mapleton, Aliant is at 555 Mapleton Rd, so 500 would be around across from Aliant somewhere

[Mistymel]

Originally Posted by Sony500

The old K-Mart is 80 Mapleton Rd, the apartments of Mapleton Apts.end at 260, at the other end, Hampton Inn is 700 Mapleton, Aliant is at 555 Mapleton Rd, so 500 would be around across from Aliant somewhere

If you look in the most recent Moncton and area Yellow Pages / phone book, you'll see their ad on page 431 promoting a new location coming soon at 500 Mapleton. That's how I discovered it.

[JasonL-Moncton]

Originally Posted by Sony500

The old K-Mart is 80 Mapleton Rd, the apartments of Mapleton Apts.end at 260, at the other end, Hampton Inn is 700 Mapleton, Aliant is at 555 Mapleton Rd, so 500 would be around across from Aliant somewhere

Guy's read the other post's...I already said, Cora's is (very likely) going in the new Orthodontic Clinic on the corner of Frampton/Mapleton which is at the bottom of the hill directly behind Costco.

Jason

[mmmatt]

Originally Posted by JasonL-Moncton

One thing no one has considered for down town that I'd love to see is an outdoor skating rink over looking the city and the river

That would bring people downtown in the 'winter' and help the businesses downtown.

Jason

Great Idea!...I never really thought of it for Moncton, but thinking even closer to home there is Officers Square in Freddy...which I have skated on many times. Its a great way to bring people downtown in the winter.


credit: downtownfredericton.ca