The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread - Page 193

Wrightguy0 · #**3841** Posted **Jan 20, 2009, 1:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwajo

This isn't going to go over well...

Does anyone else think this may be one of the least sustainable development proposals in the country? I mean they're proposing a hundred suburban homes located in a rural area with no services that requires a cable ferry ride for people to commute to work.

People live on Islands with no services an hours Ferry ride away from cities like Seattle, Vancouver and Victoria. There is an appeal to live in rural areas, but the Infrastructure out on Peninsula isn't that great, and I doubt people want to be the last ones to be plowed out after a storm

kwajo · #**3842** Posted **Jan 20, 2009, 1:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PersonPlaceorThing

If you get that many new people on the peninsula, it won't be long before the fight for a bridge is full blown.

'Fight' is the right word; I could definitely foresee that any serious bridge proposal would see an opposition group be vocal to the levels we saw over the pipeline through Rockwood Park. People on the peninsula are very protective of their way of life, in particular the isolation offered by the ferries.

That being established, I would be a very happy man if I saw a bridge like Rotterdam's Swan spanning the Kennebecasis at Gondola Point. Anything less would be an affront to the beauty of the area.

kwajo · #**3843** Posted **Jan 20, 2009, 1:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrightguy0

People live on Islands with no services an hours Ferry ride away from cities like Seattle, Vancouver and Victoria. There is an appeal to live in rural areas, but the Infrastructure out on Peninsula isn't that great, and I doubt people want to be the last ones to be plowed out after a storm

You're right, I was using hyperbole a bit in my last statement of that post, but only because these types of things annoy me. They are just moving the city further and further from what I feel it needs to concentrate on. More suburban sprawl - especially when it comes at the cost of both our beautiful rural areas and the density of our urban areas - is sometimes too frustrating to bear.

It would be more acceptable, and exciting for me if the developer came out and said "We want to build one hundred new zero-footprint homes on the Kingston Peninsula, offering shared community gardens and workshops" or anything that offered some hope that this won't turn out like the thousands of generic, wasteful, and car-dependent homes across the river in KV.

PersonPlaceorThing · #**3844** Posted **Jan 21, 2009, 7:19 PM**

Has anyone heard details about the Fundy Solid Waste Commission testing new technology that will speed up the waste degradation, and provide a source of power?

I was at a breakfast this morning where someone in the know indicated that this might be a possibility.

Helladog · #**3845** Posted **Jan 21, 2009, 7:34 PM**

The yet unnamed hotel..."Chateau Saint John"

Helladog · #**3846** Posted **Jan 21, 2009, 7:54 PM**

Quote:

44-Million For NBCC-Saint John Comes At The Right Time

January 21, 2009 - 5:52 am
By: Denise Barkhouse News 88.9 Staff

SAINT JOHN, NB - The president of the Atlantica Centre for Energy says a 44 million dollar expansion at the New Brunswick Community College in Saint John is very important to ensure the future of the "Energy Hub".

Tim Curry tells us if the province hadn't invested in the college, it would miss out on the next round of investments.

He says, "Unless we have the skills and the talent that goes with the ideas and the investments that come and help us do this, then we won't be successful."

Curry says the 44 million has come at the right time to ensure the province has the skilled workers in place when the projects start up.

Quote:

Spending outlined
Education NBCC to get new building on its own campus and one at UNBSJ

SANDRA DAVIS
Telegraph-Journal

SAINT JOHN - The $44-million that the province is investing in the city's community college campus - adding 600 seats - isn't a one-time, fly-by-night investment, Donald Arseneault said Tuesday.

"This is a starter," the province's minister of post-secondary education, training and labour told a news conference.

"We'll continue to add on when needed. It's strategic and long-term."

The cash will be used to add a new 9,000-square-metre building to the main college campus on Grandview Avenue to house training programs related to energy and construction.

A second, 2,250-square-metre building will be built on the UNBSJ campus for the college's health-related programs including medical laboratory technology, respiratory therapy, pharmacy technology and licensed practical nursing.

Shovels are to be in the ground by fall, which means that program decisions must be made by next month so architects can get to work and the new seats available for students beginning college in September 2011, college principal Annette Albert said.

"We're huddling right now to try to make those decisions," she said.

The additional seats raise the campus's capacity to 1,800 seats, but with more than 3,000 students often on waiting lists each year, not everyone will be accommodated.

But campus said it's "an excellent start.

"It allows us to look at the more immediate needs," she said.

"We know we have programs where many students want in and we have had some limitations, but we're always very mindful not to flood markets with individuals so we have to try and balance the supply and demand."

Programs are constantly changing to meet workforce needs, she said.

"As we go on, the picture is going to change.

"We hope that down the road there will be other opportunities for us to get other investments to develop in some new areas that we're not even thinking about."

If the city is going to grow, for example, training programs will be required in areas other than energy, she said.

"It's a holistic approach to developing a community to support the economy that we need to be there for."

The $44-million influx will allow the college to concentrate on training workers for the energy hub, for jobs in areas such as construction and engineering.

"We're looking at expanding programs that would support the construction and ongoing maintenance of projects," Albert said.

"We have no final list yet because we're still studying it."

Ninety-two per cent of last year's college graduates are working and 90 per cent of them are employed in the province, Arseneault said.

"We're building an energy hub and we want our people to work here," he said.

"The Benefits Blueprint identified the need. When you have a clear plan, that's how you get $44 million."

The Benefits Blueprint is a community plan designed to capture the potential economic growth involved with the anticipated energy boom.

Quote:

Energy Minister "respectfully disagrees" with SJ councillor

January 21, 2009 - 1:44 pm
By: News 88-9's Denise Barkhouse

SAINT JOHN, NB - Energy Minister Jack Keir is taken aback with comments a city councillor made about upcoming Energy projects.

Patty Higgins said a second refinery and nuclear reactor would make the city the armpit of the world and insists it's irresponsible to allow this type of development.

Keir respects her opinion, but disagrees with it.

" I don't think for a second that everybody's going to agree with where we want to go. I was born and brought up in the North end of this city, I believe in this city and I'm working extremely hard to make sure that we move this city ahead. I believe we're headed in the right direction." said Keir.

Keir says stringent regulations are in place and all environmental issues will be addressed in the process.

^There's one in every bunch...

Helladog · #**3847** Posted **Jan 21, 2009, 11:19 PM**

Quote:

West side turning into the happenin' place

JEFF DUCHARME
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

SAINT JOHN - After watching the dizzying development on the other side of the city, people on the west side felt they were being left in the construction dust billowing up from the east side.

Now development is coming across the bridge and to the west side.

The new Sobeys has already opened off Fairville Boulevard and the Saint John West Business Association says the old Sobeys site will be developed as a super Lawtons, but the drug store giant hasn't confirmed its plans yet.

"The evidence is out there that it's starting to come this way," association president Owen Boyle said. "We feel it's all going to gel here in the spring."

Plazacorp has already begun work behind the current Saint John Transit building, which will be torn down by mid-summer. The project is being done in three phases.

Ground was broken at the new east side home of Saint John Transit on the corner of Loch Lomond Road and McDonald Street last March, with completion of the $22-million project slated for the end of June. The old facility is slated for demolition and then Plazacorp will build the other two phases of its project.

Plazacorp president Michel Zakuta wouldn't divulge what stores will be located in his company's development, but there will be at least 12 stores that will run the retail gamut and include a restaurant.

"What you're seeing is the larger building going up," Zakuta said of the current construction.

There will be approximately 60,000 square feet of retail space when all three buildings are finished.

"We're under construction," Zakuta said. "We've leased some space and the first doors will be opening in the fall."

Development started to shift to the west side when Counsel Corp. of Toronto bought the Lancaster Mall in 2006 and then began a $13-million facelift.

The renovations included a 17,000-square-foot, stand-alone store in the parking lot of the mall for Shoppers Drug Mart, and a 12,000-square-foot expansion of Zellers.

A new Canadian Tire is also slated to replace the current one on Fairville Boulevard.

"It's obviously going in the right direction," Zakuta said.

While developers question the state of the economy in the rest of the country, Zakuta said Atlantic Canada is a stable market because the expectations aren't as grandiose as the rest of Canada.

"We're very bullish about the area."

Zakuta said retailers are looking toward the east coast.

"I'm here with national retailers and they're positive about Atlantic Canada," Zakuta said.

"I can't say that they're positive about other areas of Canada."

Now if only uptown could be made a "happinen" place we'd have it made.

Sabien · #**3848** Posted **Jan 21, 2009, 11:25 PM**

How did Patty Higgins get elected? I don't know her personally, she could be a very nice person, but I haven't heard her make one intelligent comment since the election. She reminds me of George Bush...

Helladog · #**3849** Posted **Jan 22, 2009, 2:25 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabien

How did Patty Higgins get elected? I don't know her personally, she could be a very nice person, but I haven't heard her make one intelligent comment since the election. She reminds me of George Bush...

I couldn't have said it better. She seems to be of the "keep things the way they are" mentality...as if the status quo was good to begin with.

Wrightguy0 · #**3850** Posted **Jan 22, 2009, 12:00 PM**

Reminds you of bush? as in the no clue how he got elected but by god is he dumb sense. Yeah I can see that, Saint John was already the armpit of the world, so how will Eider Rock effect that?

For the record I think it's irresponsible to allow Patty Higgins to talk.

ricker · #**3851** Posted **Jan 22, 2009, 12:47 PM**

I have not heard Patty Higgins say one thing of any value since she has been on council. She looks on most council nights she is on drugs or something? Well i guess thats what happens in a ward system, people sometimes get elected because of there family name, or number of friends they have in a ward :

kwajo · #**3852** Posted **Jan 22, 2009, 1:21 PM**

I'm all for councillor-bashing (Saint John's official pastime), but shouldn't we talk about how great the two new NBCC buildings are going to be for the city instead?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helladog

Now if only uptown could be made a "happinen" place we'd have it made.

You said it brother.

PersonPlaceorThing · #**3853** Posted **Jan 22, 2009, 1:53 PM**

Quote:

A second, 2,250-square-metre building will be built on the UNBSJ campus for the college's health-related programs including medical laboratory technology, respiratory therapy, pharmacy technology and licensed practical nursing.

If my scaling is right the foot print of Oland Hall is around 1,500 square metres, and Irving Hall (without Rivers Institute) is around 1,250 square metres. If the new NBCC building is two storeys it will have around the same foot print as Irving Hall.

I wonder how the classes on a schedule atmosphere of NBCC will mesh with the people hanging around and going to class for 15 hours a week atmosphere of UNBSJ.

PersonPlaceorThing · #**3854** Posted **Jan 22, 2009, 1:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PersonPlaceorThing

If my scaling is right the foot print of Oland Hall is around 1,500 square metres, and Irving Hall (without Rivers Institute) is around 1,250 square metres. If the new NBCC building is two storeys it will have around the same foot print as Irving Hall.

I wonder how the classes on a schedule atmosphere of NBCC will mesh with the people hanging around and going to class for 15 hours a week atmosphere of UNBSJ.

A more meaningful example is the Student Centre, it's foot print is around 1,200 sm and the building is only two-storeys. Essentially the new NBCC building will be this size (if two storeys).

kwajo · #**3855** Posted **Jan 22, 2009, 2:17 PM**

Or maybe it will surprise us and have a small footprint and be taller than two stories!

I am happy about the NBCC investment, their existing building is a little long in the tooth, and putting the healthcare-related training next to the hospital makes a lot of sense.

Thinking of the West Side commercial developments: As much as I am an opponent of sprawling strip-malls, I think this development will be good for traffic problems in the city as it will reduce the amount of cars travelling east from the West Side and Grand Bay-Westfield.

Blast from the past: Does anyone know what happened to the City Road apartment development? They cleared those old houses and then nothing got built (not really surprising given that this is SJ, but I'm still curious about the situation).

PersonPlaceorThing · #**3856** Posted **Jan 22, 2009, 2:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwajo

Blast from the past: Does anyone know what happened to the City Road apartment development? They cleared those old houses and then nothing got built (not really surprising given that this is SJ, but I'm still curious about the situation).

They were pretty far along in their approval process too. I believe they have put the land up for sale.

Helladog · #**3857** Posted **Jan 22, 2009, 5:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwajo

Blast from the past: Does anyone know what happened to the City Road apartment development? They cleared those old houses and then nothing got built (not really surprising given that this is SJ, but I'm still curious about the situation).

I'm not sure what happened there, but I see the land beside it has been sold recently.

expofan · #**3858** Posted **Jan 22, 2009, 9:17 PM**

The lot at the top of Summerset street (@ Rockland Rd) has been cleared of a couple of old houses. The buildings were gone and the lots cleared within a day or 2. I am curious to see what goes in there. More townhomes, or a commercial building?
I don't think there are neighbours (that would have their view blocked) to worry about so the developers could potentially put in a building over a couple of storys high that could potentially have quite a nice view of the harbour and downtown.

PersonPlaceorThing · #**3859** Posted **Jan 22, 2009, 10:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by expofan

The lot at the top of Summerset street (@ Rockland Rd) has been cleared of a couple of old houses. The buildings were gone and the lots cleared within a day or 2. I am curious to see what goes in there. More townhomes, or a commercial building?
I don't think there are neighbours (that would have their view blocked) to worry about so the developers could potentially put in a building over a couple of storys high that could potentially have quite a nice view of the harbour and downtown.

The visibility would make this a great commercial site, but the view would also make for some good high-end townhouses/condos.

Not that it's the Saint John development style, but commercial on the ground with apartments up top could utilize all the best features of the site.

Helladog · #**3860** Posted **Jan 22, 2009, 11:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PersonPlaceorThing

The visibility would make this a great commercial site, but the view would also make for some good high-end townhouses/condos.

Not that it's the Saint John development style, but commercial on the ground with apartments up top could utilize all the best features of the site.

I was wondering what was going on there...does anyone know how that area is zoned? I remember there used to be both residential and commercial, so maybe it's already a mix. In any case, there is a nice view from that location, not to mention it's proximity to the other townhouses in the Fort Howe area.