The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread - Page 221

SJTOKO · #**4401** Posted **Jun 4, 2009, 12:35 AM**

[QUOTE=Helladog;4286200]Here are some pics I got from the info session tonight...sorry for the poor quality.

Parking Garage

QUOTE]

Ummmmmmmm.... excuse me...........................WTF IS THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PersonPlaceorThing · #**4402** Posted **Jun 4, 2009, 12:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helladog

The only problem I have is the lack of ability to add to the top. They were saying as it is, only three additional floors could be added. I think to keep the costs down, they should find a developer to add an apartment building to the top, and improve the structure to accomodate extra floors. Ppl like to throw out the term sustainability, well that would make it sustainable.

I think a developer could come up with a way to add more floors. They might have to add supports that take away parking stalls, so they will likely have to add another parking level. I really think that the small building in front of the garage could be purchased for more development land if something were to go on top of the garage.

PersonPlaceorThing · #**4403** Posted **Jun 4, 2009, 12:50 AM**

[QUOTE=SJTOKO;4286283]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helladog

Ummmmmmmm.... excuse me...........................WTF IS THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It will likely be toned down, but it's better than beige or a monolithic brick building.

Seely32 · #**4404** Posted **Jun 4, 2009, 2:40 AM**

I absolutely love the parking garage like that, it is better than a huge concrete block of nothing, from the highway a passerby would be intrigued over the building, god forbid this city does something to set it apart from the mold. I hope it is not toned down, and the mural looks wonderful it would be a great place to highlight artists in the city, and the multiple colors has a uniquely maritime feel. I hope the entire project goes through development is development if we sit around and wait for some huge investor to come along and put in condos, we could be waiting another 40 years, there is no reason to impede a public green space, a much needed new police facility and by the looks of it a wonderfull(I can't believe I am saying it) parking garage.

Bravo

michael_d40 · #**4405** Posted **Jun 4, 2009, 2:59 AM**

That parking garage is ace.
That whole thing is gonna look pretty slick. Cant wait for it to get started

kwajo · #**4406** Posted **Jun 4, 2009, 11:36 AM**

Love the parking garage, absolutely love it! If they tone it down I'll be extremely upset, this design finally gives us something both unique and new in the Uptown.

thefishingnut · #**4407** Posted **Jun 4, 2009, 2:36 PM**

Boy, I had previously visualized something as sterile looking as the parking garage for Brunswick Square as viewed at Union/Chipman Hill being slapped on the side of the hill. This is an immense improvement on what I was expecting, I'm completely in support of it.

kwajo · #**4408** Posted **Jun 4, 2009, 2:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helladog

Here are some pics I got from the info session tonight...sorry for the poor quality.

Justice Complex from Viaduct

I thought I would also quote the image of the Justice Complex, since this view shows that it will actually be quite a tall structure on the slope of the hill - almost as tall as the Mercantile Centre from the looks of it. I was worried that the courthouse wouldn't add much to the skyline, but now I think it will add quite a bit to it, especially when viewed from Forth Howe or the Harbour Bridge.

Pugsley · #**4409** Posted **Jun 4, 2009, 3:41 PM**

I think this looks great. Very innovative. In terms of the colors however, I would probably tone them a bit more towards grey. Keep the varying colorful scheme just change the tints so they have more grey in them like a grey green, grey blue, grey browns. These brown-based colors being proposed tend to age poorly and the last thing you want is a complex that looks good for 3 years then becomes dated. Kind of like interior house paint colors. It needs to be timeless so it can be enjoyed for many years. You also need to consider how the weather will fade them over time and the impact of pollution. Going with grey-toned colors will help here.

Bravo Saint John!

Wolkenkratzerliebhab · #**4410** Posted **Jun 4, 2009, 4:11 PM**

I agree, there should be room for an apartment tower. Didn't the paper mention they were thinking of adding a seven story tower to the garage?

PersonPlaceorThing · #**4411** Posted **Jun 4, 2009, 4:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolkenkratzerliebhab

I agree, there should be room for an apartment tower. Didn't the paper mention they were thinking of adding a seven story tower to the garage?

They can add three with the current design and foundation plan. They could add many more storeys if a developer wants to make that part of their proposal and change the garage plan around to accomodate that.

I think the developer would be wise to acquire the little brown building in front of the garage to expand the footprint. There could be a price that works for both a profit seeking developer and the current owner.

thefishingnut · #**4412** Posted **Jun 4, 2009, 5:02 PM**

There is an opportunity to provide input on the project here :

http://www.saintjohn.ca/article-details.cfm?ArticleID=AB7D0C68-F698-BFE1-BD56121798287CD3

Wolkenkratzerliebhab · #**4413** Posted **Jun 4, 2009, 9:17 PM**

While walking around Saint John today, I snapped several pics of the new Saint John Chateau (unfortunately, I can't seem to upload them - I'm new to the forums and hell if I know what I'm doing!) and I was told, that because of weather and construction delays and the resulting cost over runs, the new building will lose two whole floors, dropping to 7 from the original 9. Bummer!

As well, I took a shot of the Irving building in Loyalist Square, and I was wondering if anyone knew what the Irving's were planning to do with the tower after their new head quarters building was finished? It's not that old, so I don't think they would demolish it - would they?

PersonPlaceorThing · #**4414** Posted **Jun 4, 2009, 11:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolkenkratzerliebhab

As well, I took a shot of the Irving building in Loyalist Square, and I was wondering if anyone knew what the Irving's were planning to do with the tower after their new head quarters building was finished? It's not that old, so I don't think they would demolish it - would they?

The Irving rep I heard speak insisted that the Irving company would not sell the Golden Ball building. I think it would be great if they donated it to some sort of post secondary education institution. This is pretty close to the Grand Hall of UNBSJ, perhaps UNB could move more into the uptown by way of donation.

michael_d40 · #**4415** Posted **Jun 5, 2009, 12:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PersonPlaceorThing

The Irving rep I heard speak insisted that the Irving company would not sell the Golden Ball building. I think it would be great if they donated it to some sort of post secondary education institution. This is pretty close to the Grand Hall of UNBSJ, perhaps UNB could move more into the uptown by way of donation.

Thats right, they did say they are keeping the Golden Ball Building. But said nothing about the Office Tower that he is referring to...
Im sure they will end up leasing most of it for more revenue.

PersonPlaceorThing · #**4416** Posted **Jun 5, 2009, 12:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael_d40

Thats right, they did say they are keeping the Golden Ball Building. But said nothing about the Office Tower that he is referring to...
Im sure they will end up leasing most of it for more revenue.

I think the tower, ie the former SMT building, is mainly occupied by JDI and related companies. Last I heard, there is only a floor or two leased to IOL and related companies.

michael_d40 · #**4417** Posted **Jun 5, 2009, 12:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PersonPlaceorThing

I think the tower, ie the former SMT building, is mainly occupied by JDI and related companies. Last I heard, there is only a floor or two leased to IOL and related companies.

Now that I think of it yeah... Most of it is mostly JDI related. Thanks for the refresher. Guess I had a bit of brain flatulence lol.

Wolkenkratzerliebhab · #**4418** Posted **Jun 5, 2009, 1:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolkenkratzerliebhab

While walking around Saint John today, I snapped several pics of the new Saint John Chateau (unfortunately, I can't seem to upload them - I'm new to the forums and hell if I know what I'm doing!) and I was told, that because of weather and construction delays and the resulting cost over runs, the new building will lose two whole floors, dropping to 7 from the original 9. Bummer!

As well, I took a shot of the Irving building in Loyalist Square, and I was wondering if anyone knew what the Irving's were planning to do with the tower after their new head quarters building was finished? It's not that old, so I don't think they would demolish it - would they?

Here goes nothing, my second attempt to download the above pics:

BUMMER - doesn't seem to be working?

PersonPlaceorThing · #**4419** Posted **Jun 5, 2009, 12:38 PM**

I am going to get a chance to check out the Cruise Terminal from the inside tomorrow at the Fundy Food Festival.

Does anyone know if a tent is going up on Long Wharf for this year's cruise season?

michael_d40 · #**4420** Posted **Jun 5, 2009, 12:45 PM**

Survey will prepare for future work on Mackay
Published Friday June 5th, 2009
ANDREW MCGILLIGAN
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

ROTHESAY - Motorists travelling on the Mackay Highway might have noticed a colourful addition to the road.
Noel Chenier/Telegraph-Journal
The DoT is carrying out a topographical survey on the Mackay Highway.

Fluorescent orange markings dot the highway on either side. Department of Transportation spokesman Matt Frye said the markings are part of a topographical survey conducted by the department.

"What's happened is before you start doing any engineering work, you have to see what you have to work with," Frye said.

Provincial engineering technician Marc Thorne said a topographical survey is a necessary step before starting design work.

"It's a survey that picks up all the elevations of a surface," Thorne said. "For example, if someone was going to do a topographical survey of Poley Mountain, when they were done you'd have a complete 3-D image or profile of what the mountain looks like."

As for what the province is preparing to do now that the survey of the highway is complete, Frye said the Transportation Department will evaluate the findings of the survey.

"In terms of what's going to happen there, I can't say yet. We're looking at what we have before we make any decisions."

Thorne said the survey could be a precursor to various projects.

"If they wanted to upgrade the highway or add an additional lane or put in a new intersection, you would go out and perform the topographical survey to measure what exists," Thorne said.

"When you know what exists, and we're talking to the millimetre, then you can start designing because then you can say, 'we've got a mountain to go through here or we have to cut x amount of cubic metres out here.' "

Frye didn't give an indication of when the province might announce what, if any, work will be done to the Mackay Highway.

I can definitely see that highway becoming 6 lanes from Mile One Interchange - Quispamsis. Its so crammed now in morning and evening rush hour, its sick.