Official Fredericton, NB projects thread

[cl812]

Costco on track to open in August in city
Published Tuesday June 14th, 2011
C1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
[email protected]

Construction on Fredericton's Costco store is chugging along steadily and the opening date for the business is still expected to be about the third week of August, says Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd. spokesman Ron Damiani.

"We're moving along right on schedule," Damiani said. "Everything seems to be perfect."

Damiani said a date isn't set in stone because as with any project there can be last minute construction glitches, but despite a soggy May, the project is keeping pace.

Marketing for Costco has already started. An on-site sales office for the members-only wholesale grocery and household goods chain has already been set up. Fans of the bulk shopping store can drop by Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. to buy their memberships. The sales office is also open Saturday's from 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.

Costco has three types of memberships: individual for $55 per year and covers the primary card holder and his or her spouse; business owner's membership with free spouse card costs $50 per year; and the $100-per-year executive membership comes with a free spouse card and pays two per cent in cash-back rewards at the end of the year on all products purchased with the exception of tobacco, pharmacy and gas.

Costco members can shop anywhere in the world with their membership card, Damiani said.

The next steps on the pathway to the store's opening will include a community job fair, where an estimated 150 retail workers will be recruited to staff the new store, he said.

Damiani expects a date to be set soon for the hiring fair.

Former New Brunswicker J.P. Bernier will manage the business.

Fredericton's Costco will have all the chain's typical services: bakery, meat, a photo and optical area, and pharmacy. The store has approval to build a gasoline bar.

The store will be between 12,600-13,500 square metres (140,000-150,000 square feet). Moncton had the first Costco in the province. Saint John has the largest Costco in the province, but the Fredericton store will be comparable in size to the Hub city's location.

Costco has nearly 600 warehouses across the globe, including 80 in Canada. The bulk of Costco's locations are located in the United States.

[cl812]

City seeks input from public on riverfront development plan
Published Tuesday June 14th, 2011
A4
By The Daily Gleaner

The City of Fredericton will host open houses today and June 21 to collect public input into a proposed long-term development plan for the southside riverfront stretching from the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge to Government House.

The public meetings will be held in the city hall council chamber from 4-9 p.m. A staff presentation will be given both days at 7 p.m.

"We will be presenting a draft plan that looks at the potential for protecting and improving this very important and valuable asset over the next 20 years and we are asking the public for their input," said Coun. Stephen Chase, chairman of the city's development committee.

"We have collected comments and suggestions from the major stakeholders and now it is time for the public to add their voices."

The plan proposes expanding water-related programs at the Small Craft Aquatic Centre, improving the Victoria Health Centre property, adding public art and encouraging the development of a sculpture garden to the west of Government House.

It suggests a feasibility study into a second pedestrian and bicycle crossing of the St. John River either built on the piers of the former Carleton Street Bridge or the addition of a cantilevered sidewalk on the Westmorland Street Bridge. The plan also proposes other uses for the old piers, including construction of a lookout deck.

Other improvements in the proposed plan are already underway as part of a trails and bikeways master plan, including trail improvement, lighting and landscaping and the addition of an amphitheatre-style natural seating area.

Development of the Lighthouse on the Green and Regent Street wharf area could include clustered tourism and retail development, a special events area, increased marina capacity and links to parking and the convention centre. A satellite marina below the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge is a possibility along with a riverside boardwalk along The Green. The draft plan for the area takes into account the flood plain and foresees people-friendly, water-front commercial development.

The plan also suggests several complementary projects that could be undertaken by the private sector, such as river cruises, water taxis and fishing and naturalist excursions.

"The vision presented in this plan takes a balanced approach to improving the riverfront," said Frank Flanagan, the city's director of development services. "It recognizes that there are sensitive areas that need protection, but it will also allow for commercial uses in appropriate areas and improved access all along the riverfront. Come to our public meetings and give us your comments. We are open to your ideas and welcome them."

The proposed strategy will also be available for review and input online at www.fredericton.ca.

Following the public input phase, the southside riverfront development plan will be revised and taken back to city council for adoption later this year. The city will also be developing a similar plan for the northside riverfront in the future.

[cl812]

City to spend $80,000 on pool feasibility study
Published Tuesday June 14th, 2011
A5
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
[email protected]

The co-author of a report handed to the city by the Capital Region Aquatic Facility Team says a $40-million price tag for a new indoor swimming pool for the city is out of touch with reality.

Jennifer Adam, who helped research a report handed to the city's community services committee in June 2010, said they talked with Vic Davies Architect Ltd. of Victoria, B.C., a company which has designed public multi-use pools in British Columbia and received far different cost estimates.

For instance, a 52-metre pool built for the City of Nanaimo, B.C., cost $15 million in 2001, or about $20 million now allowing for inflation, Adam said.

She's questioned how much the city is spending on a pool feasibility study. The Vic Davies group said a pool needs-assessment report should be in the $10,000 to $25,000 range and take three months, she said.

"This is a company that's built all these facilities all over the country," Adam said.

City council Monday night awarded a pool feasibility study to dmA Planning and Management Services Inc. for $79,992. Six other companies bid for the contract. The lowest bid was $74,322.

Only one city councillor, Steven Hicks, voted against awarding the tender to dmA consultants. He said it's not that he doesn't believe in the merits of the project, but it's too early to do the study.

"The major capital projects that we've recently completed took eight years of record tax base growth and we know the next four or five years down the road, that's not going to be the case. The forecast isn't so rosy ... There's a need for this facility definitely down the road, but it's way premature to get individuals excited about something that may or may not happen for five to 10 years down the road," Hicks said.

Coun. Scott McConaghy said with the University of New Brunswick pool closing soon, something needs to be done and a study needs to be done.

"This is going to be something that's going to be a partnership not just with the city, provincial and federal governments hopefully, but with the university community and the community at large," he said. "This is potentially going to be a very, very expensive piece of infrastructure and we need to bring a lot of people to the table."

Coun Dan Keenan agreed.

"The timing is right to start to move and start to engage that process and get the information that we need so that when we do move forward, we've got the proper information and have vetted it in the right ways," he said.

Coun. Mike O'Brien said more people use aquatic facilities than ice surfaces and the number will grow as the population ages.

"Within our own (20-year) fiscal plan, it does envision moving ahead with a project like this within our fiscal means and along with our partnerships. It's a needed piece of infrastructure. This is just the first step," O'Brien said.

Coun. Bruce Grandy's only concern was that council not build expectations with the public that won't be fulfilled in the short term.

"We just have to be cautious," Grandy said.

Coun. Marilyn Kerton, who voted against funding the feasibility study in the 2011 budget, voted for it Monday night. She said investigating partnerships is what's key because the city can't go it alone.

The group advocating for a new indoor pool in Fredericton attended the meeting, applauding O'Brien's comments.

Adam, who's also a past president of the Fredericton Aquanauts Swim Team, said the city needs a pool that meets international competitive standards and is deep enough to allow dive training.

Fredericton's indoor pool adjacent Nashwaaksis Middle School doesn't meet the standard. Nor does the YMCA's new indoor pool. The University of New Brunswick's Sir Max Aitken pool, at six lanes and 25-metres, has more user demand than space and time available. The university has said the pool has outlived its lifespan and it won't rebuild it after it closes, possibly as early as 2014 or 2015.

The Capital Region Aquatic Facility Team would like the city and its partners - if that's the route the city pursues - to develop a 50-metre, 16-lane pool, but also make it a multi-use public facility to maximize revenue returns.

"The city talks about an eight-lane, 25-metre pool, but the pool at UNB is a six-lane, 25-metre pool, but we've already way outgrown that," she said.

"The Capital Region Aquatic Facility Team represents over 1,000 people using that pool and we're using that pool every day to the point where we've even approached the new Y for a pool time and they won't rent us any time.

"Many of the groups have waiting lists. I was approached in the stands one day by a lady who is a cancer survivor and she said they had money from the federal government that they could use for rehabilitation, but they couldn't find any pool space, so it's not just the groups that are already using the facility."

When the UNB pool closes, Fredericton would be the only provincial capital in the country that wouldn't have a pool that meets international standards.

The pool attached to the Nashwaaksis Middle School isn't deep enough to put in diving blocks and it's also at capacity at certain times, she said.

"If the UNB pool were to close, there would be a huge shortage as far as recreational facilities for swimmers," Adam said.

She said it's also frustrating the group's members didn't know about the city's plans for the feasibility study until they read about them in The Daily Gleaner.

[cl812]

Riocan has updated the site plan for the Corbett Centre on their website. Some new stores are listed: Best Buy, Bouclair, GAP and Carters/Oshkosh.

I know some these were previously listed on the Trinity site, but were not listed at Riocan's.

http://www.riocan.com/Content/PDF/sitePlan/271A.pdf

[Freddypop]

Originally Posted by cl812

Costco on track to open in August in city
Published Tuesday June 14th, 2011
C1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
[email protected]

Construction on Fredericton's Costco store is chugging along steadily and the opening date for the business is still expected to be about the third week of August, says Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd. spokesman Ron Damiani.

"We're moving along right on schedule," Damiani said. "Everything seems to be perfect."

Damiani said a date isn't set in stone because as with any project there can be last minute construction glitches, but despite a soggy May, the project is keeping pace.

Marketing for Costco has already started. An on-site sales office for the members-only wholesale grocery and household goods chain has already been set up. Fans of the bulk shopping store can drop by Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. to buy their memberships. The sales office is also open Saturday's from 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.

Costco has three types of memberships: individual for $55 per year and covers the primary card holder and his or her spouse; business owner's membership with free spouse card costs $50 per year; and the $100-per-year executive membership comes with a free spouse card and pays two per cent in cash-back rewards at the end of the year on all products purchased with the exception of tobacco, pharmacy and gas.

Costco members can shop anywhere in the world with their membership card, Damiani said.

The next steps on the pathway to the store's opening will include a community job fair, where an estimated 150 retail workers will be recruited to staff the new store, he said.

Damiani expects a date to be set soon for the hiring fair.

Former New Brunswicker J.P. Bernier will manage the business.

Fredericton's Costco will have all the chain's typical services: bakery, meat, a photo and optical area, and pharmacy. The store has approval to build a gasoline bar.

The store will be between 12,600-13,500 square metres (140,000-150,000 square feet). Moncton had the first Costco in the province. Saint John has the largest Costco in the province, but the Fredericton store will be comparable in size to the Hub city's location.

Costco has nearly 600 warehouses across the globe, including 80 in Canada. The bulk of Costco's locations are located in the United States.

Gleaner has a an error here....The Freddy store is 142000 SF same as the SJ store. Layout is similar to SJ store as well. The gas bar is being installed as we speak and the job fair is being held both today and tomorrow at the Currie Centre

[cj6286]

Great... what we really need is more box stores. I'm surprised it hasn't had a bigger effect on downtown businesses.

[Freddypop]

Originally Posted by cl812

Riocan has updated the site plan for the Corbett Centre on their website. Some new stores are listed: Best Buy, Bouclair, GAP and Carters/Oshkosh.

I know some these were previously listed on the Trinity site, but were not listed at Riocan's.

http://www.riocan.com/Content/PDF/sitePlan/271A.pdf

Gap is also has a store under construction in Charlottetown. They had stopped expanding due to the economic downturn in the US a couple of years ago but looks like they have started up again. Surprised though that they have opted for a Gap store here and not an Old Navy

[cl812]

City hopes riverfront projects set sail
Published Wednesday June 15th, 2011
Proposals unveiled | Lots of plans to develop waterway in city
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
[email protected]

Riverfront bistros? Fishing charters and tour boats plying the waters of the St. John River? A pedestrian-bicycling bridge built atop the Carleton Street Bridge piers?


The city unveiled several concepts for enhancing the area along its riverfront, including this deck on one of the old Carleton Street Bridge piers.

These ideas were presented as part of a new city-prepared southside riverfront vision for Fredericton. The city unveiled the proposals Tuesday night at city hall.

The proposals for riverfront development and river-based activities will be available online today at www.fredericton.ca for viewing and comment throughout the summer.

Some of the ideas are new, some are old, but for businesses facing the river, there's opportunities along the waterway dubbed the Rhine of North America.

"It's all great and it's a huge part of tourism," said Sara Holyoke, manager of the Delta Fredericton Hotel, after taking a look at schematics of proposals at city hall Tuesday afternoon.

The hotel has already been thinking along the same lines and Holyoke has been working on plans and proposals she hopes to bring to the city for discussion.

The public walking trail ends on the east side of the Delta and doesn't wind its way across the riverside of the hotel property.

"What I'm proposing is partnering with the city to expand the (walking) trail past the Delta because it's a private entity and they probably didn't think it was a possibility. But we also have been working on a plan, mostly because we've had some shore erosion.

"We've been working with an engineering and a design company for the past year and we have artist renderings with some potential options for us and we thought we would take this to the city to see what the possibility would be of partnering on extending the trail system," Holyoke said.

The hotel is also interested in seeing the river used more.

"We're potentially looking at a docking system, but it's very preliminary," she said.

The hotel would like to see a boating company cater to its guests and other people.

Holyoke said Delta management is reviewing the proposals and she'll make a pitch to council on the hotel's concept plans.

In developing a southside riverfront vision, the city looked to nine reports prepared over the past 30 years, including the riverfront master plan, said development services director Frank Flanagan. The city has also looked at 16 other communities in Canada and the United States to see how they transformed their river frontage.

The city's plan is divided into five areas: the west end, Westmorland Street Bridge area, central downtown riverfront, the Regent Street wharf area and the east end near the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

In the west end, the city sees potential for more water-related opportunities, for instance, naturalist-themed tours of the rivers and islands, food services, improved public washrooms and public art projects.

Near the Westmorland Street Bridge, there could be a Carleton Street pedestrian-bicycle crossing or a cantilevered sidewalk on the Westmorland Street Bridge, Flanagan said.

Shaun Bartone, a doctorate student in sociology at the University of New Brunswick, said she liked both concepts.

Bartone said a growing northside population is creating crowds at times on the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge.

"The walking bridge from Devon and Marysville is getting crowded. There's so many people walking, biking, taking their kids in strollers, skateboarding ... so we definitely need more pedestrian facilities.

"I'm pretty much 95 per cent in favour of almost everything they've got planned here because I think it's a wonderful waterfront and to have more access and more uses will be better for the city, for tourism and for the people who live here who love the river," she said.

Bartone said local architect Ian Ross has created a Facebook page called Carleton Street Bridge Project Fredericton for people interested in rejuvenating the Carleton Street Bridge for walking or cycling.

Ross challenged a group of University of New Brunswick engineering students to design options for such a structure and they've posted their findings on the page.

In the central downtown, the city proposal suggests amphitheatre-style seating areas, better landscaping around parking lots, public art, drinking fountains, a picnic area, more bike racks, benches, banners, better lighting and a seasonal playground.

Even if the city found it couldn't move ahead with a pedestrian crossing over the old Carleton Street Bridge piers, there's a modified proposal that would take pedestrians from the Carleton Street pedway to the first bridge pier, where people could stroll out and view the waterway.

In the Regent Street wharf area, the city proposal calls for increased marina capacity, a special event area and defined walking areas from the conference centre to The Green.

Near the Crowne Plaza, the planning gets more ambitious. Some of the suggestions include building another tower on the hotel to increase room space, riverfront condominiums behind the federal courthouse building, add a cafe to the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, and construct a marina east of the walking bridge. Flanagan said private-sector participation is essential.

The city might look at issuing proposal calls or working with the private sector on houseboat rentals, float plane tours, fishing charters, bass tournaments, seasonal concessions, and extended river boat tours to Oromocto, Gagetown and Saint John.

The plan is looking ahead two decades and contains both modestly priced proposals as well as big-ticket expenditures. After public input is gathered, the city will refine the plan and present it to council.

[Pugsley]

Originally Posted by Freddypop

Gap is also has a store under construction in Charlottetown. They had stopped expanding due to the economic downturn in the US a couple of years ago but looks like they have started up again. Surprised though that they have opted for a Gap store here and not an Old Navy

I would bet dollars to donuts that this is IN FACT an Old Navy outlet and that the name on the register is for the owner, "Gap"...which owns Old Navy. Gap Inc. rarely uses big-box retail stores for this brand preferring downtown street-fronts or enclosed malls. Is the store in Charlottetown in a big-box mall? If so, then maybe I am wrong and they have changed their brand strategy. For many years, very few Gap stores were opened in big box settings unless they were an "outlet". So probably just a typo on their part.... or not? But either way...great news!!!! Good to see some new stores coming to Freddy! Also, not sure from the document where the Best Buy is supposed to be. I see a section noted as BBB, but not sure if that is big enough for a Best Buy.

[Pugsley]

Originally Posted by cl812

Riverfront bistros? Fishing charters and tour boats plying the waters of the St. John River? A pedestrian-bicycling bridge built atop the Carleton Street Bridge piers?

Did anyone else go on-line and see these plans? They are great! The section around the Crowne Plaza is a bit ambitious but still, good step forward overall. I question the need for an additional bike lane on the Westmorland AND a new dedicated one on the Carlton Street piers...kind of overkill. They could just build the one on Carlton and maybe add a mid-river expanded platform with a cafe and water feature (with the westmorland money)...so you could walk out to the middle of the river, sit outside, and watch the boats sail by while sipping your Starbucks! hehe

Note: Whatever additional walking bridge they create however should not impede on sailboats wanting to move up-river...it would damper their recreational plans for the West end.

[Freddypop]

Originally Posted by Pugsley

I would bet dollars to donuts that this is IN FACT an Old Navy outlet and that the name on the register is for the owner, "Gap"...which owns Old Navy. Gap Inc. rarely uses big-box retail stores for this brand preferring downtown street-fronts or enclosed malls. Is the store in Charlottetown in a big-box mall? If so, then maybe I am wrong and they have changed their brand strategy. For many years, very few Gap stores were opened in big box settings unless they were an "outlet". So probably just a typo on their part.... or not? But either way...great news!!!! Good to see some new stores coming to Freddy! Also, not sure from the document where the Best Buy is supposed to be. I see a section noted as BBB, but not sure if that is big enough for a Best Buy.

Yep....Charlotetown is getting a stand-alone Gap"big box" store that is now under construction. You can view it on the PEI thread. They have had an Old Navy now for years. That city will now have both Gap and Old Navy stores in big box format. Re your comment on Best Buy.....I believe you are correct and that BBB refers to Bed, Bath & Beyond.

[cj6286]

Originally Posted by Freddypop

I believe you are correct and that BBB refers to Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Haha, my mom practically lives in that store whenever she goes to Halifax...

[cl812]

Originally Posted by Freddypop

Yep....Charlotetown is getting a stand-alone Gap"big box" store that is now under construction. You can view it on the PEI thread. They have had an Old Navy now for years. That city will now have both Gap and Old Navy stores in big box format. Re your comment on Best Buy.....I believe you are correct and that BBB refers to Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Never thought of that (BBB=Bed, Bath & Beyond) I just assumed Best Buy becuase it was listed in the Trinity Development Group page. I must say I would much rather it be Best Buy than BBB.

[Freddypop]

Originally Posted by cl812

Never thought of that (BBB=Bed, Bath & Beyond) I just assumed Best Buy becuase it was listed in the Trinity Development Group page. I must say I would much rather it be Best Buy than BBB.

Me too!

[Taeolas]

The Geek in me would like to see a Best Buy, but I don't think Freddy is big enough to support both a BB and Future Shop, especially in spitting distance of each other. (Maybe at 2NC but then you're out of the Geek Magnet that is the University district).

A Bed, Bath and Beyond however, or any other of the Big Box home shops (HomeSense, Pier1, etc....) are long long overdue for the Freddy area.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by Taeolas

The Geek in me would like to see a Best Buy, but I don't think Freddy is big enough to support both a BB and Future Shop, especially in spitting distance of each other. (Maybe at 2NC but then you're out of the Geek Magnet that is the University district).

Keep in mind Best Buy owns Futureshop. Apparently they like to set them up close to each other to create competition between the two, or something along those lines.

A Bed, Bath and Beyond however, or any other of the Big Box home shops (HomeSense, Pier1, etc....) are long long overdue for the Freddy area.

Agree, would love to see HomeSense and/or Pier 1 set up shop in Fredericton. Decent furniture/home decor stores are few and far between in this city.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by Pugsley

Did anyone else go on-line and see these plans? They are great! The section around the Crowne Plaza is a bit ambitious but still, good step forward overall. I question the need for an additional bike lane on the Westmorland AND a new dedicated one on the Carlton Street piers...kind of overkill. They could just build the one on Carlton and maybe add a mid-river expanded platform with a cafe and water feature (with the westmorland money)...so you could walk out to the middle of the river, sit outside, and watch the boats sail by while sipping your Starbucks! hehe

Just looked through the plans. They are ambitious but I like them. Even if half of that came to fruition, it would be awesome for Fredericton.

I think the additional Westmorland lane/Carleton Street bridge is an either/or proposition; I doubt they'd do both.

I like the idea of having mixed hotel/condo/retail development in the vicinity of the Crowne Plaza/convention centre. It's the perfect spot for it.

[cl812]

Originally Posted by OliverD

Keep in mind Best Buy owns Futureshop. Apparently they like to set them up close to each other to create competition between the two, or something along those lines.

IMO it knida makes sense to do that, I can see benefits of having competition b/w the two, provided both stores make money. I think there is probably enough of a market for both in Fredericton. Since Future Shop seems to do quite well here and always seems to be busy.

[michael_d40]

edit edit..

[Freddypop]

Published Thursday June 16th, 2011

D1 By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN

[email protected]

Plazacorp Retail Properties Ltd. has purchased the Smythe and Dundonald Plaza at the foot of Smythe Street and the adjacent vacant property that was once home to Luna Pizza and plans to redevelop the site.

"We have a large section of available land with a building that needs to get reorganized," said Michael Zakuta, president and CEO of the Fredericton-based retail property company, in an interview Wednesday.

He said the company will be making a substantial investment in the property, but declined to say how much.

Coun. Stephen Chase, the chairman of Fredericton's development committee, said he's excited about news of Plazacorp's plans to redevelop the property at the corner of Dundonald and Smythe streets. But he said he doesn't know any details of the developer's plans.

"In the absence of that, I know that they do excellent work and they are very careful about fitting in and being harmonious with the community," he said.

Plazacorp held its annual general meeting in Fredericton on Wednesday and announced it is increasing its dividend and its profits are up.

The company also said it's working on 11 different projects, including the one in Fredericton.

"We have a strong business model," said Zakuta.

"We have a very capable team who know how to do what we do and we've executed well."

The business model is based on buying land or rundown properties in good locations and developing or redeveloping them rather than buying recently developed properties.

"If we were buying new properties in today's market, which is highly competitive, you'd get into a bidding process and you'd pay top dollar, which means you're cash flow versus investment is very small," said Zakuta.

"If you develop the property, you add all the value."

"That means your cash flow versus your investment is much higher and that's how you get dividend increases."

He said all real estate companies don't do it that way because it's hard to do and requires the right skills.

Plazacorp owns 112 properties with 5.1 million square feet of retail real estate, and the company said it's worth $472 million.

The company has 75 per cent of its properties located in Atlantic Canada.

"We're an Atlantic Canadian-based business enterprise," said Zakuta.

"We know it very well.

"We've always been. We always will be. That's our business."

Zakuta said the company's core markets are Fredericton, Saint John, Moncton, Halifax, Charlottetown and St. John's, N.L.

"We think those are good, strong markets," he said.

"We love to do as much business as we can in those markets."

A strong focus on Atlantic Canada also lets Plazacorp fly under the market a little bit in terms of competition, he said.

"The big boys aren't out developing and doing what we're doing," said Zakuta.