The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[thefishingnut]

Originally Posted by nwalbert

I have been through this a couple of times and the changes on the other side of the border should improve traffic flow as well. They have added a second lane as well as a traffic circle.

I'm looking forward to improvements. We went to Boston Thanksgiving weekend, waiting over an hours at customs both ways was pretty tiresome. And the congestion downtown St. Stephen must be horrible to businesses and residents.

[Helladog]

TANNERY COURT
Carmarthen Street - 51 Apartments

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by Helladog

TANNERY COURT
Carmarthen Street - 51 Apartments

I know South End standards aren't very high, but that's not an attractive building to me at all.

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Originally Posted by kwajo

I know South End standards aren't very high, but that's not an attractive building to me at all.

I think the developer has done a decent job at mirroring facade width andI like the I like the varied roof heights. I see why the neighbours are objecting though: this project is going to be very dense, and due to it requiring only variances, and not rezoning, there has been very little opportunity for the community to have input. I support density in general, but know the community must buy into large developments for them to move the area forward.

[nwalbert]

SJ Mayor Not Worried About HQ Cost

November 06, 2008 - 10:46 am
By: News 88-9 staff Andrew Cromwell


Click here to find out more!



SAINT JOHN, N.B.- A five million dollar increase in the cost of a new police station does not come as a surprise to the mayor of Saint John.

The original pricetag of 18 million dollars has already been bumped to 23 million.

Ivan Court says the original estimate was never a fixed number. "You have to remember we've changed the footprint, we've changed the location after public consultation" says Court. " We really won't know the final cost until we go out to tender".

Construction is expected to begin in April


I would love to see Mr Court's comments on this if he was still a councilor and Norm was the mayor. Its funny how quickly people's attitudes change. Good to see that construction is scheduled to start in under 6 months. Hopefully anyway.

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by Telegraph Journal

SAINT JOHN - The redevelopment of Pugsley Park - at the foot of Princess Street - will move ahead next year.

ENLARGE PHOTO


Noel Chenier/Telegraph-Journal
Dan Glenn of the Glenn Group at Thursday night’s update on the redevelopment of Pugsley Park, with a drawing of how the park will look.
Or, at least, the first phase will.

"The reason (for that) is that's it's still unknown how the port authority will develop that parking lot," he said. "Some type of development agreement is in the works, so we are scaling the project so the first phase won't compromise development opportunities for the port authority land."

As a result, he said the first phase of the park will only be about 20,000 square feet in size, or about half of what was first envisioned. Plans still call for a clock tower, readily visible to anyone looking down Princess, and water access to a pier that borders the Coast Guard property.

Glen made the comments in giving an update of the $21-million vision plan for the city's Water Street district put forward by the Saint John Waterfront Development Partnership in 2006.

Glenn said the fate of the second phase of the park hinges on what the port authority decides to do.

"The port authority went out for requests for proposals to develop the parking lot for possible development, be it a restaurant or hotel," he said. "They accepted some proposals and I assume they are under review. My understanding is that until they know what they want to proceed with, that we don't want to do development that would have to undergo an edge being ripped up. Or on land they may need for construction activity."

Pugsley Park redevelopment is the last of five major components included in the 2006 vision plan that hasn't been competed, or nearing completion. The others were the redevelopment of Water Street itself, including putting overhead wiring underground; the Three Sisters of St. Patrick's Square; St. Andrew's Square, across from City Hall, now home to the Barbour's General Store; and the $8 million Cruise Ship Welcome Centre, which is nearing completion.

With final design work for the $400,000 first phase of Pugsley Park to be done this winter, followed by a tender call in the spring, it is hoped it will be complete within a year's time.

Glenn engaged in a polite, low-key dialogue with those on hand, fielding their questions, noting their concerns and cajoling them to let him know what they thought about certain elements of the design. However, he said interpretative panels have already been done, including those that speak to the old harbour ferry service, the coming of the British, the Great Fire and "you are here" maps.

Some of those on hand expressed concern about losing parking so close to the uptown. Richard Smith of the Saint John Parking Commission said while the situation is fluid, the short-term answer could involve running a shuttle service to parking areas further away.

Still others expressed the hope port security won't prevent the elimination of ugly chain-link fencing in the area of Pugsley Park and the hope it will be lit well enough to preclude undesirable activity.

I hope it is a hotel or restaurant, that'd be great

[Helladog]

RAINBOW PARK - SOUTH END


Glenn Group / Telegraph Journal

I kinda like the dense look behind the sketch of the splash pad. I wonder if the artist knows something we don't.

[nwalbert]

Originally Posted by kwajo

I hope it is a hotel or restaurant, that'd be great

It seems like a restaurant would make perfect sense seeing as how most of the summer it would be jam packed with cruise ship passengers. With Rocca's condos going in, would probably get a lot of business there as well.

[reddog794]

What is the material used for Tannery ct.? If it's real brick and stone, and not pre cast that would look sharp.

For the Se, this is a good baby step. I wish there was one more story to it.

I heard one guy complain about parking though, is there a chance this kind of new density, would call for more buses, so parking isn't such an issue?

[UofT23]

Does anyone have links to info/pictures of the old SJ General Hospital?

[bam63]

Just a little tidbit.
Comcast is a beautiful building and its also the new tallest in philly.One more thing would you believe me if i told you that 100 percent of the aluminum/glass facade for comcast was produced and shipped from Scoudouc nb,just outside of Moncton.

[thebrad]

Leaked memo lists safety concerns over Saint John's Harbour Bridge
Last Updated: Friday, November 7, 2008 | 10:32 AM AT Comments5Recommend11
CBC News
The 40-year-old Saint John Harbour Bridge is showing "considerable signs of distress," according to a leaked document obtained by the CBC.

Bridge engineers have concluded "the safety of the bridge is compromised if remedial work is not undertaken right away," the leaked memo says.

That finding reinforces questions about the New Brunswick bridge's safety that were raised a few of weeks ago by Steven Chase, the city's deputy mayor.

Chase was echoing statements in a letter written by engineers who had inspected the four-lane bridge.

Ken Anthony, general manager of the Harbour Bridge Authority, said the report comes as no surprise and shows why there is a 10-year plan to repair the bridge.

Repairs could cost $30M

"There are certain parts on it that need to be replaced," Anthony said. "That's what we're in the process of doing now.

"That doesn't mean that it's not safe to go across. It just means that if we don't do this work now, in 10 years it may not be safe to go across."

The anticipated cost of the repairs is more than $30 million.

The memo mentioned that crumbling concrete has fallen onto the Harbour Passage walking trail. The bridge authority's chairman said that problem is being fixed.

Anthony said the work being done is typical for a 40-year-old structure. He said investments are being made so the bridge's life is extended for an additional 40 to 75 years.

Another specific concern is the present barriers on the bridge, which are degrading and are deemed unsafe.

Peter Buckland, the bridge engineer and author of the report, said that's because safety standards have changed, not because the barriers are ready to fall off.

"The barriers themselves, they look a little rough, but they haven't deteriorated all that much. But the rules have changed," he said.

"So they haven't exactly become unsafe, but the bar has been raised."

Both Buckland and Anthony said if any part of the bridge was found to be structurally unsafe, they would shut the bridge down.

The letter was written to be shown to officials in Ottawa as the Bridge Authority made a case to suspend paying down the debt owed to the federal government.

The letter outlined the cost, and immediacy, of repairs that are needed.

[random11]

I see work underway on the corner of Canterbury and Princess. This small lot used to be utilized for parking under the Parking Commission but I have noted that the Parking Commission sign is down. Crews have removed the former retaining wall behind the Union Club on Germain and are digging quite deep. Anybody have an idea what is going here?

Also, "Dealermine" (currently on Rothesay Ave in the former Ponderosa restaraunt) are moving to the building beside Revenue Canada on Canterbury Street (between John Law and Revenue Canada). Their business is expanding and the building is being completely renovated and it looks good. This is a large, 3 story building that has been empty for at least 25 years.

[Helladog]

I see work underway on the corner of Canterbury and Princess. This small lot used to be utilized for parking under the Parking Commission but I have noted that the Parking Commission sign is down. Crews have removed the former retaining wall behind the Union Club on Germain and are digging quite deep. Anybody have an idea what is going here?

I heard somewhere the retaining wall is being replaced. It'd be nice to have some infill there though.

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by Helladog

I heard somewhere the retaining wall is being replaced. It'd be nice to have some infill there though.

From what I now understand, it will actually be both.

[mylesmalley]

Hey guys. I'm not trying to make a statement here. I just saw this in the Transcript yesterday and wondered what the deal was. That seems like a very significant drop considering the number or projects and optimism that seems to be fueling the SJ economy. Again, this isn't a Moncton-SJ thing. I'm just trying to get to the bottom of it.

Around the province, Moncton boasted the lowest unemployment rate, falling to 4.6 per cent from 4.7 per cent a year earlier, while Fredericton fared equally well, its rate falling to 4.6 per cent as well, from 5.7 per cent in October of 2007.

Saint John shed about 4,000 jobs over the past year, its rate rising to 6.5 per cent from 5.4 per cent a year earlier.

Job growth in Fredericton was flat on a year-to-year basis.

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

Hey guys. I'm not trying to make a statement here. I just saw this in the Transcript yesterday and wondered what the deal was. That seems like a very significant drop considering the number or projects and optimism that seems to be fueling the SJ economy. Again, this isn't a Moncton-SJ thing. I'm just trying to get to the bottom of it.

I'm not sute if the month to month numebrs tell a bleak tale for Saint John. We are still seeing development and people buying homes and apartment buildings. As projects end and new ones begin there are likely gaps in employment that arise. We shall see if this is a trend or a temporary flux as numbers come out in future months.

[Helladog]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

Hey guys. I'm not trying to make a statement here. I just saw this in the Transcript yesterday and wondered what the deal was. That seems like a very significant drop considering the number or projects and optimism that seems to be fueling the SJ economy. Again, this isn't a Moncton-SJ thing. I'm just trying to get to the bottom of it.

I was wondering the same thing, and my take on it is with some of the energy projects coming to a close, some jobs are finishing but others are beginning. 4000 does seem like alot, but things are still full steam ahead so I'm not too concerned. If 4000 jobs can be trimmed without blinking an eye, how many more were created over the past few years anyway? Construction is going on everywhere...

I'm willing to bet that figure will change again shortly.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

Hey guys. I'm not trying to make a statement here. I just saw this in the Transcript yesterday and wondered what the deal was. That seems like a very significant drop considering the number or projects and optimism that seems to be fueling the SJ economy. Again, this isn't a Moncton-SJ thing. I'm just trying to get to the bottom of it.

As they say, there are lies, damn lies and statistics.....

I have often been a little dubious about the employment stats that they release every month. It seems that they frequently show wild fluctuations in employment levels that only leave you shaking your head and thinking —!

I imagine that there is a lot of inherent error in these stats based on sampling techniques and rounding off. They may be useful in demonstrating trends but I'm not so sure that they are accurate in showing precise month by month employment changes in every sector, especially in smaller jurisdictions.

[kwajo]

I'm pretty sure that the Transcript was only telling half the story. Sure we may have "lost" 4000 jobs, but we probably "gained" over 3000 new ones as well. For an unemployment rate increase of 1.1% to have meant an increase of 4000 newly unemployed people, that would mean Saint John had a labour force of 363,000 workers.


Here are the numbers from StatsCan by the way (you'll also notice a population increase over last October as well)
http://www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/lfss04a.htm


Whatever the case, I can tell you that the momentum is still strong in Saint John, there is tons of new construction and planned development, the atmosphere is the most optimistic I've seen in my lifetime, and everyone I have talked to from the provincial government recently has acknowledged that SJ and the energy boom are going to be the key economic drivers of the province going forward.