The Official Moncton, NB Project Thread - Page 384

JasonL-Moncton · #**7661** Posted **Oct 19, 2010, 12:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

Not sure what to make of that particular building. With the exception of the Pump House, they seem to have a tough time keeping tenants in there.

The Main St. portion of that building is 'astronomically' expensive and the guy that owns it apparently won't lower it just to get a tenant...but it has sat empty for 2+ years so I don't know how that's smart either.

It's a wicked location...

JL

MonctonRad · #**7662** Posted **Oct 19, 2010, 11:56 PM**

UdeM's indecision on sewer line 'unacceptable'

Moncton councillor angry over university's lack of response on sewer line project
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 | 7:55 AM AT
CBC News

Seven years of delay is causing some Moncton city councillors to grow frustrated by a perceived lack of cooperation from the University of Moncton over the location of a major sewer line.

The city wants to put a sewer line through a northern part of the campus but the university's administration still hasn't made a decision on the so-called vision lands project.

A Moncton developer is looking to build a subdivision of solar and geothermal-heated homes with more than a third of the space being left as natural woods or paths.

'At a time where we desperately need their cooperation we're still not getting any satisfactory answers. I find that totally unacceptable and I'm getting very upset'
— Coun. Pierre BoudreauBut the project is stalled because the city can't get permission to put a major sewer line through some of the university property, which is next to the proposed subdivision.

Coun. Pierre Boudreau is one of the Moncton politicians who is expressing his frustration about the delay.

"I know the process of decision making in those large institutions take time but I think we're on the verge of the ridiculousness," Boudreau said.

Boudreau said the university needs to be a closer partner with the city.

He said the city donated $2 million to the university's last fundraising campaign and now the councillor said he wants the university to move a little faster.

"At a time where we desperately need their cooperation we're still not getting any satisfactory answers," Boudreau said.

"I find that totally unacceptable and I'm getting very upset."

Boudreau said the developer wants to start building in June.

He said if the university hasn't moved by then, its relationship with the city could be in trouble

Councillor Boudreau has obviously been given the job of being the "bad cop" with U de M over the Vision Lands issue. The city obviously wants U de M to become cooperative as soon as possible!

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/s...ity-moncton-sewer-637.html#ixzz12nyCYg71

MonctonRad · #**7663** Posted **Oct 20, 2010, 1:01 AM**

Dieppe sets record for September
Published Tuesday October 19th, 2010

The construction boom continues in Dieppe with the best September on record for building permit estimates. A total of 53 permits were issued by the city's building inspection department for $11,727,697 worth of construction. The next highest total was 71 permits worth $10,705,310 in September 2005.

"Excellent news," said Dieppe Mayor Jean LeBlanc after learning the final tally.

Most of the permits were for residential construction. The total number of units for the month is 140, more than three times the number (40) in September 2009 when the total value of permits was $5,632,937.40.

The total value of permits to date in 2010 is $62,075,932 compared to $56,518,431.20 over the same period last year.

A total of 522 permits, one more than in 2009, have been issued to date to create 537 units, compared to 392 last year.

The September figures include one modular home; 15 multiple dwellings totalling 128 units, and nine single-family houses.

There were 11 permits for commercial work totalling $559,037 and one for industrial work totalling $691,000.

A break-down to date in 2010 has 60 permits for commercial work worth $7,402,445; eight permits for demolition work worth $57,200; four permits for industrial work worth $4,670,000; one for institutional work worth $43,000, and 449 for residential housing worth $49,903,287.

benvui · #**7664** Posted **Oct 20, 2010, 12:14 PM**

Looks like the last piece of land where Beaver lumber once was is now set to be developed. This also eliminates one of the contenders for the downtown arena.
Its good to see this get developed. I wonder if it is going to use up some of Rogers parking lot and maybe include a parking structure. It will be interesting to see.

http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/1270537

MonctonRad · #**7665** Posted **Oct 20, 2010, 12:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by benvui

Looks like the last piece of land where Beaver lumber once was is now set to be developed. This also eliminates one of the contenders for the downtown arena.
Its good to see this get developed. I wonder if it is going to use up some of Rogers parking lot and maybe include a parking structure. It will be interesting to see.

http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/1270537

This is an intriguing development, especially since they are using terms like "mixed use" and "residential component". This is exactly what the downtown needs. I wonder how tall it will be?

Of course, with Verdiroc involved, I won't hold my breath until I see shovels hitting the ground!

David_99 · #**7666** Posted **Oct 20, 2010, 3:47 PM**

Where exactly are they talking about? In this red area? or they would just re-configure the Rogers Parking area?

Take out the old Creek restaurant and that run down IOOB Pub behind Rogers and that'd be plenty of room for the Rogers parking. It'd free up a lot of space.

MonctonRad · #**7667** Posted **Oct 20, 2010, 4:27 PM**

I imagine so David. I can't imagine how this could be developed without encroaching on the Roger's parking lot.

This is the quote from the T&T article:

"While it was too early to talk about design details, given the need for council's approval, Champoux could say it would be configured in such a way that "it would not affect the parking allocation to Rogers.""

Note that Champoux said it would not affect the Roger's "parking allocation". This does not necessarily imply that the existing parking space would be preserved. Perhaps the city will find parking for the Rogers employees elsewhere in the downtown or perhaps a parking structure would be incorporated as part of the development. It will be interesting to see..........

This is a major positive development for the downtown. Combine this with the new provincial courthouse across the street and Assomption Blvd. will look decidedly different in a couple of years time.

David_99 · #**7668** Posted **Oct 20, 2010, 5:35 PM**

Cool. I had just skimmed the article before reading it through. Didn't notice "allocation". Hopefully whatever they build will incorporate underground parking. I doubt they'll build Rogers a parking structure. They'll probably squeeze the Rogers parking around whatever they build until they run out of room.

They're also planning on developing the space next to the Court House where the jail's currently sitting. Assumption's going to look very different in a couple years!

MonctonRad · #**7669** Posted **Oct 20, 2010, 5:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by David_99

They're also planning on developing the space next to the Court House where the jail's currently sitting. Assumption's going to look very different in a couple years!

Do you know anything more specific about this? If this is going to be a significant structure then this will give a whole new face to the southern flank of downtown!

David_99 · #**7670** Posted **Oct 20, 2010, 5:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Do you know anything more specific about this? If this is going to be a significant structure then this will give a whole new face to the southern flank of downtown!

I just remember LeBlanc saying they "had plans" for that spot a few months back, in an article about the new Shediac Jail. I remember thinking "not another parking lot!". Hopefully another residential/commercial combo project.

mylesmalley · #**7671** Posted **Oct 20, 2010, 10:21 PM**

God forbid Rogers from ever giving up some of their precious sea of surface parking to some kind of actual development.

As for the argument that it's an acceptable compromise based on the number of jobs it has brought to downtown, that's silly. They could've built a building twice as tall and half as big and oriented adjacent to the street, with an equally large parking lot, and saved money by not buying as much land.

MonctonRad · #**7672** Posted **Oct 20, 2010, 10:47 PM**

Speaking of increased downtown densification.......

New apartment building slated
Published Wednesday October 20th, 2010

Council will hear public presentation in December
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

A public presentation will be scheduled for December to unveil details for a planned four-storey, 48-unit apartment building at the corner of Robinson Street and Mountain Road.

A developer wants to erect the building at 404-406 Robinson St. and requires a rezoning to do so. The current zoning only allows apartment buildings up to 24-units in ize.

This building would feature a brick and cladding exterior with 32 underground parking spots and 14 places to park above ground, which troubled some Moncton city councillors at Monday's meeting, who noted the number of parking spots leaves no parking for two tenants - perhaps more if some tenants have more than one car.

However, Bill Budd, director of the Greater Moncton Planning District Commission, noted the location of the building - bounded by major streets and on more than one transit route - means it is likely that not every resident will own a car. In fact, the location was chosen to cater to those who want to walk to work or to the downtown, or who prefer to use public transportation.

The lot would be fenced and treed and the building would feature balconies and all-in-all was "a great project for this area," according to Budd, who pointed out the 46 parking spots are in fact more than the number required by law.

Councillors were generally enthusiastic about the developers plans but had many questions which they opted to save for the public presentation two months from now.

MonctonRad · #**7673** Posted **Oct 20, 2010, 10:55 PM**

Lewis, Queen Streets to see improvements
Published Wednesday October 20th, 2010

Traffic improvements will affect entire downtown area, but not until 2012 at best
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

The City of Moncton has taken the final step needed to allow for the widening of Lewis Street, near Main Street.

As it exists now, the area is a narrow mishmash of busy streets which motorists use to get to and from Main Street, especially to head to and from east Main Street and Champlain Street in Dieppe. Over the years the city has acquired much of the land necessary to widen Lewis Street between Queen Street and Main Street, but one parcel has eluded it until this week when city council approved the purchase of the private parking lot at that intersection, a lot which lies on the south side of Queen Street, for $215,000.

"It's all about trying to manage that intersection a bit better," says the city's director of construction and design, Alcide Richard.

"Now, we'll be putting our thinking caps on."

No work is anticipated at the site until 2012, but so far plans call for realigning Queen and the Queen Street extension, which at present are just off-centre enough to make getting from one of those streets to the other, across Lewis Street, a tricky proposition during periods of high traffic volumes. It is anticipated Queen Street will veer slightly north and the extension slightly south so as to create a properly aligned intersection.

Lewis Street would be widened enough between Queen and Main streets to allow for a dedicated left-turning lane for traffic turning eastward on to Main Street. The effect of this move would also better align Lewis Street with Assomption Boulevard, in particular for traffic heading south on Lewis Street, directly across Main Street, and then on to Assomption Boulevard.

Both Queen and Lewis streets bear a lot of traffic at the best of times, but particularly so when Main Street is closed for special events when both streets end up with far more traffic than for which they were designed.

And Lewis Street is so narrow now that trucks and sometimes even cars are forced to drive perilously close to, and sometimes on, the sidewalk, when proceeding north on Lewis Street near Main Street.

If they are planning on widening and alligning Lewis Street so that it connects better with Assomption and Main, i guess that means that I'll lose my favourite parking lot downtown (the one on the corner right across from The Keg

mylesmalley · #**7674** Posted **Oct 20, 2010, 10:55 PM**

Excellent. Looks like next year might be better than this for new residential construction downtown!

It might not be 10 story towers, but the smattering of 4/5 story buildings springing up in the downtown area are starting to have a big impact on the city centre. You need only look at the huge improvements in the look and feel of St George to see what I mean.

theshark · #**7675** Posted **Oct 20, 2010, 11:34 PM**

Pinch me someone.... all this densification!!! and infill!!! Nice to see some hight on Mountain road... Hope it will be something like the 5 storey building they build a few years back.

Will have to go down more often to se all this stuff taking place

David_99 · #**7676** Posted **Oct 21, 2010, 11:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

A public presentation will be scheduled for December to unveil details for a planned four-storey, 48-unit apartment building at the corner of Robinson Street and Mountain Road.

Thank god. This empty lot's been a bit of an eye sore.

Nashe · #**7677** Posted **Oct 21, 2010, 1:36 PM**

Municipal parking lots behind Capitol Theatre will be sold if the right project comes along
BY BRENT MAZEROLLE, TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

The pieces are coming together for downtown Moncton, thanks to some city council creativity.

The City of Moncton will ask for expressions of interest in two downtown lots, one on McMonagle Lane and the other behind the Capitol Theatre. Pointing to aerial maps that show the stark differences between Moncton's barren city centre filled with parking lots and the lovely downtowns of Fredericton and Charlottetown, the City of Moncton's Ben Champoux, the director of community business development, went public with some new ideas for increasing density in downtown this week.

Champoux joined Mayor George LeBlanc, three city councillors and city manager Jacques Dubé at Downtown Moncton Centre-Ville Incorporated's annual fall business meeting Tuesday morning at the Moncton Press Club.

Among those ideas, the city is expected to put out a call later this fall for expressions of interest from private developers who might want to build on two city-owned parking lots - the ones behind the Capitol Theatre and Robinson Court.

The catch, besides needing to come up with plans acceptable to Moncton city council, is that the developers must include parking structures that match the number of spaces that would be lost.

Champoux said 42 per cent of downtown Moncton is surface parking, which is both an aesthetic and an economic problem.

Not only do vast asphalt plains drain a downtown of any appeal, they represent the lowest use of land. Not only do they contribute the least possible amount to the city's tax base, in the case of the city-owned lots, the municipality is the one on the hook for the property tax bill each year.

To illustrate the economic value of development, beyond the obvious but less quantifiable value a dense streetscape brings, Champoux offered an interesting illustration.

"If our downtown, from King Street to the Subway and from Queen Street to the riverfront, all had the same density as the Blue Cross block, it would generate $20 million a year in extra property taxes for the city."

Fortunately, the current council is showing some vision when it comes to their parking lots behind the Capitol Theatre and thinking outside the box and the parking stall both.

There's also an important safeguard in issuing a call for expressions of interest rather than a request for proposals. Issuing a request for proposal can be seen as legally binding the city to accept one of the proposals. Calling for expressions of interest does not commit the city to anything.

While that means developers have to assume the risk of paying for development plans that might not be accepted, that isn't expected to be an impediment to serious developers.

Nor is the fact there's no sweetheart free land deal being offered to private interests. In the plan afoot, the city would sell the land at fair market value to the developer with the right plan.

"Developers say to us it's not that they want free land. They want access to key strategic land," Champoux explained. With key core land up for grabs, there's confidence the right developers can make the numbers work to everybody's advantage.

I like that idea. City has the land. City wants dense developments. "What can you do with this space?" is a great start.

Sony500 · #**7678** Posted **Oct 21, 2010, 2:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

God forbid Rogers from ever giving up some of their precious sea of surface parking to some kind of actual development.

As for the argument that it's an acceptable compromise based on the number of jobs it has brought to downtown, that's silly. They could've built a building twice as tall and half as big and oriented adjacent to the street, with an equally large parking lot, and saved money by not buying as much land.

The city owns the parking lot at Rogers. I am wondering if that building wasn't built at that angle for a reason. Maybe they will realign Westmorland St. so that it runs closer to the building, and down through part of the existing parking lot. Then build something where the old street meets Assomption Blvd. That building would end up on the same land as the new court house without a street dividing it. Its so hard to say what they have in mind.

David_99 · #**7679** Posted **Oct 21, 2010, 2:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sony500

The city owns the parking lot at Rogers. I am wondering if that building wasn't built at that angle for a reason. Maybe they will realign Westmorland St. so that it runs closer to the building, and down through part of the existing parking lot. Then build something where the old street meets Assomption Blvd. That building would end up on the same land as the new court house without a street dividing it. Its so hard to say what they have in mind.

From an arial perspective, the Rogers building is aligned at the back with Lutz, while Westmorland is oddly angled to begin with as semi-V shaped. It's abnormal to align the back of a building, but at least they aligned to something!

Did I just defend Rogers?

I need a shower...

MonctonRad · #**7680** Posted **Oct 21, 2010, 8:21 PM**

@ Vorkuta:

I like this idea too. There is far too much surface parking in downtown Moncton. The lack of density south of Main Street really detracts from the ambience of the city.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of the surface parking in the city resides in private (rather than municipal) hands. These lots are poorly maintained and are patrolled by jack-booted hooligans with immobilization devices just waiting for unsuspecting out-of-towners to park in the wrong place.

There must be some form of municipal taxation reform that could be used to create a disincentive so that maintaining these lands in a semi-derelict manner becomes an unattractive option for the owners. Perhaps this could be used to help stimulate new development or the creation of enclosed parking structures.............