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Posted Aug 17, 2011, 5:12 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Grand Bay-Westfield :: NB
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Two more stores for East Point
Published Wednesday August 17th, 2011
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HILARY PAIGE SMITH
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
SAINT JOHN - An Atlantic fashion retailer is celebrating its second Saint John location.
Fashion retailer Pseudio opened at East Point Shopping last week. It is one of 24 Pseudio stores located in Atlantic Canada.
Pseudio opened at East Point Shopping centre late last week. A Pseudio store was originally located in McAllister Place but relocated to Brunswick Square a number of years ago. The East Point store joins the Brunswick Square location.
"They're one that we were very interested in bringing to the site. We've been working with them for a number of months to attract them to come to East Point," John Wheatley, said business development manager with East Point.
Tweed and Hickory, a men's and ladies' apparel store, is another new addition to East Point. The retailer, which originated in Nova Scotia and has locations across the Maritimes and Ontario, also sells kitchenware, home accessories and gourmet food.
The store is expected to open in early September.
"It really fits in with the atmosphere we're trying to create at East Point" Wheatley said. "They're both primarily clothing with some lifestyle components."
Both stores are fitting into existing space. Tweed and Hickory will be taking unoccupied space beside Le Chateau and Pseudio fits into the former Randy location. It is one of 24 Pseudio stores in Atlantic Canada.
Wheatley said the shopping centre is interested in attracting premium stores with recognized brands. East Point is "definitely" looking into expanding, Wheatley said.
"I think what these two stores do is just continue the momentum of the expansion of East Point and right now we're filling up the two existing buildings and the next step would be to move to some new construction," he said.
East Point's focus now is to fill up the existing buildings with tenants and then look into new construction between the main buildings and Costco. Wheatley said the shopping centre is talking with a number of prospective tenants and expects new construction to begin as early as next year.
Wheatley is excited for customers to experience the new businesses.
"It's an exciting time for us and we're glad to see the new stores opening," he said. "We hope they're going to be very successful."
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Project not dead: official
Published Wednesday August 17th, 2011
Funding: Deputy mayor says convention centre upgrade in doubt without Ottawa's help. But waterfront development GM calls MP's comments 'speed bumps on the way forward'
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April Cunningham
Telegraph-Journal
Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase said he doesn't believe the project could move ahead without a cheque from Ottawa.
"The project is adversely affected," he said. "It can't proceed without other government funding - I don't believe so. It's really too bad."
On Monday, the same day the federal government announced more than $50 million in funding for Halifax's new trade and convention centre, Conservative MP Rodney Weston made it clear if he gets any infrastructure funds for Saint John, it would go toward water treatment.
Weston said finding another $3 million for the trade and convention centre is not something he's "actively seeking."
City officials had been banking on getting a little more than $3 million from each level of government to pay for the renovations to upgrade the centre, which hasn't changed much since it was built in 1984. The city had earmarked money in this year's capital budget on the condition that the province and federal government also contribute.
Chase said he understands Weston is focused on getting funding for water treatment, and it is the top priority for the city. "But there are other going concerns in the community, including economic vitality, and tourism is a cornerstone of that," Chase said.
But Kent MacIntyre, the general manager of Saint John Waterfront Development, has not lost hope in the project.
"We're still working with provincial folks for their share of the project," MacIntyre said Tuesday. "The municipality is very focused on doing something."
He said if federal money is freed up, he's sure Weston would ensure the city receives funding for the renovations.
"To me, all these things are just speed bumps on the way forward," MacIntyre said, adding the city might have to alter its approach.
Trevor Holder, MLA for Saint John Portland and the provincial tourism minister, concurs with Weston. He said water is the number one priority from a provincial perspective.
He said he can't say the Trade and Convention Centre is a priority right now, adding the completion of the Fundy Trail is the province's foremost tourism funding priority.
"At the end of that day, I would certainly see the Fundy Trail being completed before we had an expansion of the convention centre. That's not to say it's not a great project and it's not to say it's not something we would look at down the future. Right now it's not the priority of government at this point in time," Holder said.
The convention facility is located in Market Square and operated by the Hilton.
With Fredericton, Moncton and other Atlantic Canadian cities enhancing or building new trade and convention centres, tourism officials have warned that Saint John could be in danger of missing out on lucrative conferences if it doesn't upgrade its facility.
The chance of getting a new hotel at the recently purchased coast guard site could also hinge on renovating the convention centre, Chase said, because conferences fill hotel rooms.
Tony Gogan, the chairman of Enterprise Saint John, said both water treatment and upgrades to the trade and convention centre are important for different reasons.
"We've got a great facility that's dated," he said. "If we look around the marketplace, other cities have either new convention centres or rehabilitated ones. For us to be competitive in the marketplace, it's the belief of the business community that it does need a refurb."
Before he heard Weston's comments, Mayor Ivan Court said the Halifax announcement was a sign there was federal money available for similar projects. The mayor was travelling to Calgary on Tuesday to attend the Canadian Association of Police Boards' annual meeting, and was not available for an interview.
Meanwhile, the city needs $172 million for a new water treatment plant and related infrastructure. Saint John has one of the oldest drinking water systems in the country.
When Weston ran in the 2008 election, and again last fall, he said getting money for water treatment was his top priority.
Chase, who ran for the Liberals against Weston in the last election, said he would like to see Weston shift his approach.
He wants the MP to keep an eye out for an appropriate funding program or source, "as opposed to, 'Look, I'm just going to dismiss it,' " Chase said.
With files from Hilary Paige Smith
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