The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[nwalbert]

Sales up at McAllister Place

December 03, 2008 - 5:00 am
By: Denise Barkhouse News 88.9 Staff


Click here to find out more!



SAINT JOHN - According to retailers, the global economic meltdown doesn't seem to be effecting Christmas shopping habits of people in Saint John.

Nationwide, retailers have seen a 4% increase in sales over last year, but here at McAllister Place, sales are up a whopping 13%.

Cadillac-Fairview spokesperson Heath Applebaum says part of the success in Saint John may be attributed to the low canadian dollar which is trading at 80 cents U-S.

"What we are going to see is fewer cross border shopping, there is a greater loyalty to our shopping malls here in Canada this year," Applebaum said. "So we're seeing not only more sales, but more people at our mall."

Applebaum says the hot seller's this year are electronics, unisex clothing, jewellry, and gift cards.



Some good news for McAllister Place. I am curious to see how the Costco affects sales at the mall. Clearly it will draw many more people to the area, but will also likely take away sales from the mall.

[Helladog]

Millions more to spend
Finance Saint John posts largest tax-base increase of any city in New Brunswick

ANDREW MCGILLIGAN
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

SAINT JOHN - The city of Saint John saw the biggest increase of any city in the province in terms of the provincial tax base assessment this year.

Saint John's tax base increased 9.08 per cent, or $458,654,993, from last year's figures.

That means approximately $8.2 million more money in city coffers for the current budget deliberations should the city maintain its tax rate.

The reason for the jump is the anticipated energy boom and more people in the uptown area, Mayor Ivan Court says. The tax base is the assessed value of all property in a municipality.

"We're seeing more buildings going up in the downtown and people are moving back into the downtown and that's a positive sign," Court said.

As for the region's becoming an energy hub, he said the potential projects demonstrate the city as a place to do business with increased stability for the workforce.

"If the projects go online, staggering them one after another will guarantee stability and do away with the boom-and-bust cycle for the city," he said. "We don't need boom and bust, we need stable workforces allowing people to have stable careers and know they can raise a family here."

The mayor points to Irving Oil Limited's recent decision to build a second refinery in two stages as a way to ensure jobs in the community for a long period of time.

"It means 2,500 to 3,000 people will be pretty well guaranteed work if this project goes forward and they will have work for an eight- to 10-year period."

While the increased property assessment number is good news for city coffers, it doesn't necessarily mean Saint John will go on a spending spree. In fact, it could be anything but.

Court said the number of requests for funding in 2009 is higher than previous years.

"We have so many people and groups asking and at the end of the day we could never meet all the wants," the mayor said. "The most important needs have to be dealt with first and then wants, if there's room there, will be divided up."

Court said common council will be holding meetings with various departments to hear their budget numbers for the upcoming year. Saint John is also dealing with funding requests from groups the city has never heard from before.

"We're being requested to do things other levels of government used to provide services for," he said. "Kindergartens and so on are applying for funding from us and that's a provincial responsibility."

As for what effect the increase in the tax base will have on the city's rate, Court said he hopes to hold the line this year and into the future.

"We're hoping to hold the line for the next three years, but it's going to be a difficult period of time."

Other municipal politicians, including Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase and councillors Gary Sullivan, Peter McGuire, Joe Mott, Bill Farren, Donnie Snook and Carl Killen, campaigned to cut the city's tax rate during the spring election.

During Monday's common council meeting, McGuire said he identified some services that could be cut to reduce the property tax rate by one cent, but didn't provide details.

The city wasn't the only municipality in the region seeing tax base increases. Grand Bay-Westfield, Hampton, Rothesay and Quispamsis all had double-digit percentage increases while Sussex's assessment jumped by 8.87 per cent.

[Helladog]

It's down to two sites
Fitness The new home of the YMCA-YWCA will be built below or above the Peel Plaza area

SAINT JOHN - The new Y will be built within the north of Union stretch, below or above the Peel Plaza area, YMCA-YWCA CEO Pat Davis says.

"We have two tentative locations and are working with stakeholders on how best to proceed," she said.

"We're really waiting on other people to make some choices and decisions so that we make the right one.

"It's the city that's holding up some of the decision-making," she said, citing parking as one of the variables that has to be decided.

"Let's see some movement here."

Davis hopes to see the new facility open in 2011. The Y has been operating in a leased space at Prince Edward Square for the past 18 months and has a four-year lease on the property.

"I always look at the site where the Y used to be and think that would have been a nice play to stay," she said. A new justice complex is planned where the Y used to sit.

Meanwhile, Davis said she has heard nothing of rumours that the Irving interests are planning on pitching in to build the new Y, but an Irving Oil spokeswoman didn't rule out the possibility.

"Similar to many other organizations in the community, we've met with the Y to understand their plans for a new Y in Saint John," Jennifer Parker said.

"We think it's a great project and fully support the important work the Y does in Saint John, but we've made no commitments at this point."

[kwajo]

Darn, I just came on the forum to post the article about the new Y, but Hella beat me to it.

Anyway, does anyone know what the two locations are that they are considering? I'm a bit muddled by the "above or below" description, as those to me mean North or South, but I'm pretty sure there are large permanent buildings in both of those directions (the corrections building and Brunswick Square's parking garage). There is that space West of the Stone Church that would likely be a possible location, and that fits with the article's mention of the city's interest, as they want that space for their new parking garage. Personally I would love to see the new Y be built over the parking lot next to the Red Rose Tea building, which I would think would be ideal with its proximity to Irving's new HQ and Harbour Passage.

Speculation can only take me so far though, so any informed knowledge would be welcome.

[nwalbert]

I was getting my hair cut this morning and the girls were talking about the new Cora's. I inquired and they said that McAllister place employees were told that a Croa';s is going into the old 'Mike's' location.

Also, took a quick stroll the mall on my way back to the car and noticed that the new Lids and Aeropostale are both open.

[kwajo]

I just heard on CBC Radio that NBCC Saint John is getting $45 million for new facilities. This is great news for the city! While I know it won't be, I'll keep my fingers crossed that the money is to be spent on a new NBCC business building on the Coast Guard site, which was an idea bouncing around a few years ago.

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Originally Posted by kwajo

I just heard on CBC Radio that NBCC Saint John is getting $45 million for new facilities. This is great news for the city! While I know it won't be, I'll keep my fingers crossed that the money is to be spent on a new NBCC business building on the Coast Guard site, which was an idea bouncing around a few years ago.

I wouldn't be surprised if Irving Oil were to buy from the province the existing NBCC campus. That money, along with the $45 million could go a long way to creating a nice campus on the waterfront.

[nwalbert]

That is a fantastic idea. I know a lot of people who wish that UNBSJ had been built on the waterfront.

[Joe]

If NBCC were to go at the coast guard site that would be great. Wasn't that proposed a few years ago? If this were to happen it just might be a catalyst to move the whole coast guard project along.

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by Joe

If NBCC were to go at the coast guard site that would be great. Wasn't that proposed a few years ago? If this were to happen it just might be a catalyst to move the whole coast guard project along.

Well the Hardman Group proposal that won them the right to develop the Coast Guard site still has an un-defined academic building in the plans (http://www.hardmangroup.ca/development/dev_coastguard.html). I was under the impression they threw that in as wishful thinking that either NBCC or UNBSJ would be interested in a new Uptown building, but had no firm commitment from either one. The site is supposed to be transfered to the city next year and then Hardman is supposed to lease the wharf for development. I know the hotel part of the proposal is still a go, but other than that I am unclear what is or is not happening. But definitely, having even part of NBCC's campus be Uptown would be a tremendous boon to the residential and commercial markets in our urban core.

[Joe]

The current location of NBCC is just wrong. Out in the industrial heartland. For 45 million, I would think that would get a whole new school. I'm comparing that money with the cost of the new Irving HQ at 30 million. Looks to me that it would get you a fair sized building.

[Helladog]

As a student of NBCC, I'd love to have a new campus at the coast guard site. I couldn't think of better use for the space. Based on the current campus and current need let alone future need, I'd like to see a ten storey campus overlooking the harbour.

[Wrightguy0]

Since UNBSJ already have a building uptown I think that NBCC Will come to the coast guard site, perhaps bringing the buisness classes to the city center and leaving the trades out in the industrial wastes.

[Joe]

Was reading on the moncton page that Saint John has lost 3100 jobs. With all the activity going on around here and it seems hard to believe.

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by Joe

Was reading on the moncton page that Saint John has lost 3100 jobs. With all the activity going on around here and it seems hard to believe.

The T&T often prints negative stories about Saint John by taking numbers and spinning them around. They probably reported that Saint John "lost" 3100 jobs while it may have "gained" 3000 for a net change of -100, but since it is the T&T, you'll only hear the anti-Saint John side of the story. The way it works is that the Times & Transcript is constant boosterism for Moncton while the Telegraph Journal is perpetual depression about Saint John. It's pathetic how twisted both papers have become, we really need some journalistic competition in this province.

I find their job number bizarre given that according to CBC Radio on Friday, Saint John had a drop in the unemployment rate last month from 6.6% to 6.1%. I don't know how you lose jobs and unemployed people at the same time, but I guess things are starting to disappear into the Fundy Vortex sooner than anticipated.

[mylesmalley]

Originally Posted by kwajo

The T&T often prints negative stories about Saint John by taking numbers and spinning them around. They probably reported that Saint John "lost" 3100 jobs while it may have "gained" 3000 for a net change of -100, but since it is the T&T, you'll only hear the anti-Saint John side of the story. The way it works is that the Times & Transcript is constant boosterism for Moncton while the Telegraph Journal is perpetual depression about Saint John. It's pathetic how twisted both papers have become, we really need some journalistic competition in this province.

I find their job number bizarre given that according to CBC Radio on Friday, Saint John had a drop in the unemployment rate last month from 6.6% to 6.1%. I don't know how you lose jobs and unemployed people at the same time, but I guess things are starting to disappear into the Fundy Vortex sooner than anticipated.

I think these were the numbers he was referring to. Based on the sept 07 and 08 employment figures from Statscan.

Originally Posted by stu_pendousmat2

Total Employment in Atlantic Canadian CMAs 2007-2008 (in thousands)

CMA---------Sept. 2007----Sept. 2008----Change

Halifax----------211.0--------209.4---------- - 0.8 %
St. Johns-------98.7---------101.6---------- + 2.9 %
Moncton--------73.8---------74.1----------- + 0.4 %
Saint John------67.5---------64.6----------- - 4.3 %


Data sources:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/081127/t081127d1-eng.htm
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/071128/t071128d-eng.htm

You're absolutely right about the T&T and TJ. If it's any consolation, we're all just as tired of their ridiculous boosterism as you guys are.

As for how the unemployment rate can go down, while job numbers decrease. The unemployment rate is based on the number of people working, divided by the number of people in the workforce. The UR can go down, even after job losses, if the number of people in the workforce decreases more. That can be based on a number of factors, like retirements, people no longer seeking employment, disability, etc.

I'm not saying that's the case here, but that's generally why.

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by Joe

The current location of NBCC is just wrong. Out in the industrial heartland. For 45 million, I would think that would get a whole new school. I'm comparing that money with the cost of the new Irving HQ at 30 million. Looks to me that it would get you a fair sized building.

I think the official gov't announcement is on Tues? It will be interesting to see what earmarks/strings are attached to this $$....if it's all infrastructure, over what timelines it will be spent, how much may be destined for scholarships, bursaries, hiring new teaching staff, etc, etc, etc.

That kind of heavy $$ funding into the local NBCC does raise some shades / possibilities of a move towards the 'polytechnical' concept thrown around not too long ago....

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by kwajo

Well the Hardman Group proposal that won them the right to develop the Coast Guard site still has an un-defined academic building in the plans (http://www.hardmangroup.ca/development/dev_coastguard.html).

*sic*

But definitely, having even part of NBCC's campus be Uptown would be a tremendous boon to the residential and commercial markets in our urban core.

Yes...this is really a point that can't be underscored enough; things seem to be moving in positive directions on so many other fronts that the lack of vision in terms of getting more students attending clasess & living in the uptown core is striking...with a critical mass of students, new & existing ancillary businesses (grocery, retail, service sector, etc) also thrive....

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by nwalbert

Sales up at McAllister Place

December 03, 2008 - 5:00 am
By: Denise Barkhouse News 88.9 Staff


Click here to find out more!



SAINT JOHN - According to retailers, the global economic meltdown doesn't seem to be effecting Christmas shopping habits of people in Saint John.

Nationwide, retailers have seen a 4% increase in sales over last year, but here at McAllister Place, sales are up a whopping 13%. .

nice to see some preliminary postitive numbers...that being said, my guess is there will be some yo-yo'ing in the coming months....riding out the economic instability and coming out on the other end having not lost any significant ground would be a reasonable expectation....

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by PersonPlaceorThing

From Country 94.1 FM news:


[Port Authority's Reaction to I.L.A.]

17:38:49

Captain Al Soppitt with the Port Authority tells CHSJ News they see the land swap as a good way to increase revenue.
Soppitt says the terminal on Long Wharf will still be used by cruise ships, and they will be leasing the rest to Irving Oil.
Soppitt says this will not interfere with cargo operations at the site.
He says the project is good for the Port Authority, the community and the users.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[I.L.A. Continue to Fight Irving Oil's New Headquarters]

17:37:41

The International Longshoreman's Association continue to fight to keep Irving Oil from building it's new office tower at Long Wharf.
Union spokesperson Pat Riley says Irving is short changing tax payers, by offering $1.2 million dollars for a property worth close to five times that.
Riley says the deal also violates the Canada Marine Act by exchanging properties not of comparable value, and by removing port operations.
The ILA plans to counter the Port Authority's application for sale to the Federal Courts once it has been submitted.

I respect persistance and tenaciousness...but i think these guys are a little off the mark, and are in the extreme minority with regards to the overwhelming public support for this project.