The Official Moncton, NB Project Thread - Page 490

MonctonRad · #**9781** Posted **Jan 14, 2012, 2:40 PM**

A couple of tidbits from the "Sleuth" in the Southeastern NB newspaper behind the paywall that shall not be named:

- there is speculation about an announcement that may be made soon regarding the rumoured Wal-Mart distribution centre in the Scoudouc Industrial Park.
- there is a rumour about an expansion at Thomson/Reuters in Moncton.

-----------------------------------------------------

And for those who were wondering about my teaser of a rumour for the Highfield Square site; I'll blink, but please keep in mind that this is completely unsubstantiated and this rumour is very likely misleading or in error.

An acquaintance of mine said they were aware of an engineering firm being hired to do a study regarding the feasability of a significant "federal presence" at the Highfield Square site.

As I have said, this is the barest wisp of a rumour with no substantiation, so take it for what you will, but, it is interesting in that this could be a way to get a federal contribution to a large development on the site which might include a new events centre.....

Interesting times.

BlackYear · #**9782** Posted **Jan 14, 2012, 3:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

And for those who were wondering about my teaser of a rumour for the Highfield Square site; I'll blink, but please keep in mind that this is completely unsubstantiated and this rumour is very likely misleading or in error.

An acquaintance of mine said they were aware of an engineering firm being hired to do a study regarding the feasability of a significant "federal presence" at the Highfield Square site.

As I have said, this is the barest wisp of a rumour with no substantiation, so take it for what you will, but, it is interesting in that this could be a way to get a federal contribution to a large development on the site which might include a new events centre.....

Interesting times.

I already popped the bottle of champagne 3 days ago!

NBNYer · #**9783** Posted **Jan 14, 2012, 4:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

- there is speculation about an announcement that may be made soon regarding the rumoured Wal-Mart distribution centre in the Scoudouc Industrial Park.

Well, this rumor just doesn't seen to want to die. It keeps popping back up despite Wal-Mart stating that they have not plans for this. I think last time this was brought up it was also from "the sleuth". Where is his info coming from, I wonder?

mmmatt · #**9784** Posted **Jan 14, 2012, 5:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by NBNYer

Well, this rumor just doesn't seen to want to die. It keeps popping back up despite Wal-Mart stating that they have not plans for this. I think last time this was brought up it was also from "the sleuth". Where is his info coming from, I wonder?

I dont know really, but I can say there is a massive swath of land that is cleared at the entrance of the park, just off the highway...it has had some sporadic activity on it over the last year but never more than 2 trucks or pieces of heavy equipment at a time. This has led me to believe that its not a construction site...but hey maybe Wal-Mart is just moving slow at first?

Or perhaps they would tear down the old glass plant and build there? Thats a huge spot too...who knows

MonctonRad · #**9785** Posted **Jan 14, 2012, 5:41 PM**

the rumour about the Wal-Mart distribution centre didn't just arise from the Sleuth. There are some people on the forum here who have also mentioned it independently.

There is enough "noise" about this that I take the rumour very seriously.

Why would the provincial government suddenly invest several million dollars into the new interchange for the Scoudouc Industrial Park? It's by far the smallest and most remote of the four industrial parks in the Moncton region. There is no business case for the investment unless something "big" is going to happen. With the impending arrival of the Wal-Mart superstore concept into the region, a new distribution centre likely will be necessary. Moncton is the obvious location.

I think this rumour has a lot of legs......

If this is built, I predict it will dwarf the new McKesson distribution centre in the Caledonia Industrial Park (maybe twice the size) and will employ a couple of hundred people.

mmmatt · #**9786** Posted **Jan 14, 2012, 6:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

the rumour about the Wal-Mart distribution centre didn't just arise from the Sleuth. There are some people on the forum here who have also mentioned it independently.

A friend of mine is a supervisor @ the Champlain location, she says the Trinity location will be a super center, as there is room to expand, and they own the land. She also said they will build the distribution center in the Moncton area.

Upon further inquiry she said its what everyone there is saying...so it could just be a rumour started in Moncton, or it could be something that made its way down from higher up...who knows! We will have to wait and see.

MonctonRad · #**9787** Posted **Jan 14, 2012, 7:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmmatt

A friend of mine is a supervisor @ the Champlain location, she says the Trinity location will be a super center, as there is room to expand, and they own the land. She also said they will build the distribution center in the Moncton area.

I'm a little surprised that they would chose the Trinity (Moncton North) location for the supercentre.

It makes sense in that it is the power centre district, but that particular Wal-Mart seems kinda hemmed in to me. I suppose they could extend the store to the north, closer to Wheeler Blvd and/or to the south towards Plaza Blvd but there really is no option to increase the depth of the store. There is also no option to increase parking at that location.

If however they aren't going to build a brand new store, then the Trinity location would be a better choice for expansion than the Champlain Place location......

MonctonRad · #**9788** Posted **Jan 15, 2012, 6:45 PM**

I would say that Valmond Robichaud's condo complex on Dominion St. has topped off at only four floors.

Steelcowboy · #**9789** Posted **Jan 15, 2012, 7:35 PM**

This big swath of land you say being cleared out and Walmart not admitting to anything? Well do you think this could be a UPS warehouse?? afterall, I had heard that they are building a warehouse in this area somewhere, I have not heard where, there was an article about UPS in "The Gleaner" from Fredericton on Friday about UPS and its expansion into Fredericton and the article stated that UPS is going to use MONCTON as its hub and parcel will be distributed to other various warehouses in the area... Saint John, Fredericton etc etc.

MonctonRad · #**9790** Posted **Jan 15, 2012, 7:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steelcowboy

This big swath of land you say being cleared out and Walmart not admitting to anything? Well do you think this could be a UPS warehouse?? afterall, I had heard that they are building a warehouse in this area somewhere, I have not heard where, there was an article about UPS in "The Gleaner" from Fredericton on Friday about UPS and its expansion into Fredericton and the article stated that UPS is going to use MONCTON as its hub and parcel will be distributed to other various warehouses in the area... Saint John, Fredericton etc etc.

If UPS is going to build a distribution centre in the city, it will be at the GMIA, just like the Purolator and FedEx distribution centres are. It will be on the tarmac allowing access both to ground and air transportation. The only question is whether it will be built on the south side of the airport next to FedEx and Purolator or on the northside, close to Malley Industries in the new air industrial park.... Myles, do you know anything?

The Wal-Mart distribution centre will likely go to the Scoudouc Industrial Park, although in many ways I think Caledonia would make more sense.

NBNYer · #**9791** Posted **Jan 16, 2012, 2:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I would say that Valmond Robichaud's condo complex on Dominion St. has topped off at only four floors.

Disappointing considering what was originally promoted as a pretty high quality, substantial development. but not really unexpected, given the wood structure, lack of renders/fanfare. This was proposed some time back so I suspect another casualty of the recession like there have been quite a few in the area.

You'd think with the high numbers we're seeing now in the residential sector that they would have stuck with their original plans.

mctnguy · #**9792** Posted **Jan 16, 2012, 1:22 PM**

Looks like Highfield Square is closing this fall.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/01/13/nb-highfield-square-closing.html

Quote:

Highfield Square closing
Owners will seek redevelopment opportunities
CBC News Posted: Jan 13, 2012 7:22 PM AT Last Updated: Jan 13, 2012 8:01 PM AT

Highfield Square in Moncton will be closing in the fall. (Google Streetview)
Highfield Square in Moncton will be closing this fall, ECL Developments Limited announced Friday.

The decision comes on the heels of news that the mall's anchor store the Bay will be closing on April 21.

"Although Highfield Square has been a fixture in downtown Moncton for (43) years, its viability as an enclosed retail mall has become more and more challenging," ECL, a real estate company wholly-owned by Empire Company Limited, said in a written statement.

"With the growth in popularity of big-box shopping districts and the changing face of retail competition in Moncton, Highfield Square was no longer able to remain competitive."

Existing retailers were notified Friday afternoon, said Pat Martin, regional vice-president of Crombie REIT, which manages the property.

Although the statement from ECL seemed to suggest it was closing the mall in light of the Bay closing, the Bay said in a statement on Thursday that it was closing because the landlord had terminated its lease.

Meanwhile, ECL plans to explore redevelopment opportunities for the mall property. It believes the site is well located in Moncton's central business district.

"ECL will seek redevelopment alternatives that will bring the right balance of uses to the property designed to meet the needs of the community," the statement reads.

"ECL would like to thank their loyal customers and tenants for their patronage and support."

pierremoncton · #**9793** Posted **Jan 17, 2012, 1:14 PM**

Here we go -- how the province and a self-interested developer are dictating how the city's money is spent:

Proposed Moncton subdivision criticized over costs
Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/01/17/nb-moncton-subdivision-plan-553.html

Moncton city council has agreed to hold public hearings next month on whether to alter the zoning around the Royal Oaks Golf Course and allow a subdivision that would include 1,400 homes.

The proposed subdivision would be close to the future site of the new Moncton high school.

The 1,400 homes would be added over the next 25 years, but the idea is running into some considerable opposition around the council table.

Some city councillors said on Monday night they are worried about the cost of linking the proposed development to Moncton’s sewer and water lines.

[...]

Coun. Daniel Bourgeois said the last time the provincial government opted to build a school it was also on the outskirts of town. And, he said, that costs the city too much money.

“The fiasco of the Northrup Frye School that cost us over $13.5 million,” he said.

The money was spent on roads, sidewalks, water and sewer lines.

Preliminary figures show the city's costs for this new development will be around $20 million.

[...]

David_99 · #**9794** Posted **Jan 17, 2012, 1:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pierremoncton

Preliminary figures show the city's costs for this new development will be around $20 million.

Personally, if it was one or the other, I'd rather spend the 20M fixing Moncton High...

benvui · #**9795** Posted **Jan 17, 2012, 1:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by David_99

Personally, if it was one or the other, I'd rather spend the 20M fixing Moncton High...

I totally agree. And the 20 million is just the up front cost, don't forget the recurring maintenance cost that is going to happen by increasing the number of homes in that area. The city would be better off cutting a check to the province to fix Moncton High, it would be a better investment for the city.

David_99 · #**9796** Posted **Jan 17, 2012, 4:22 PM**

Highfield Square's demise sparks development questions

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunsw...nb-moncton-coliseum-discussion-1142.html

The looming closure of Highfield Square in Moncton is making the city’s push for a downtown sports and entertainment centre more essential than ever, according to a city official.

There has been growing speculation about what would replace the Highfield Square shopping centre after the facility’s managers announced last week that it would be closing in the fall.

Many in the area believe the downtown property would be ideal for a new sports and entertainment centre that has been actively discussed in the city in recent years.

Kevin Silliker, a business development officer with the city, said Moncton has not chosen a location yet for the centre.

Read more here.

OliverD · #**9797** Posted **Jan 17, 2012, 4:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pierremoncton

self-interested developer

Doesn't that go without saying?

MonctonRad · #**9798** Posted **Jan 17, 2012, 11:27 PM**

Two tidbits of news:

They are putting up the structural steel for Oulton College's new campus on War Veteran's Avenue behind the YMCA. Looks like two stories but with a definitely larger footprint than their existing building near Assomption Blvd.

And on a less positive note, they tore down the Beijing Express restaurant on Highfield Street today for (wait for it) - more surface parking in the downtown!!!

Good2go · #**9799** Posted **Jan 18, 2012, 11:19 AM**

Hmmmm...

Vancouver developer buys Moncton properties
Speculation continues over downtown Moncton development
CBC News Posted: Jan 18, 2012 7:10 AM AT

A family of Vancouver billionaires has bought an acre of land from the Irvings in downtown Moncton, which is generating more questions about development plans in the city.

Aquilini Investment Group is a major developer in Vancouver. The Aquilini family, which is estimated to be worth $5 billion, already owns the Crown Plaza hotel and now, they've just bought the whole city block around the downtown hotel.

The block includes the old YWCA building, the former SMT bus terminal and the parking lots that link the buildings.

The family also owns the Vancouver Canucks and the stadium the hockey team plays in, Rogers Arena.

Complete article here...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunsw...nb-aquilini-moncton-development-624.html

MonctonRad · #**9800** Posted **Jan 18, 2012, 12:34 PM**

Well, this news about the Aquilini's is certainly interesting......

Marc Genuist was talking about this on Information Morning on CBC Radio this morning.

The Aquilini's are apparently very successful property developers with a stable of hotels, convention centres and office buildings as well as the Rogers Arena and they own the Vancouver Canucks!

They also now own a complete city block in downtown Moncton directly across from the soon-to-be-vacant Highfield Square......

This can't be a coincidence.

I wonder if the Aquilini's could be concocting a deal with the Sobey's for an even bigger downtown development than what even we have been speculating upon. Perhaps something that spans both sides of Main Street with an interconnecting pedway. Perhaps something that includes an arena/events centre, convention centre, hotel, office/commercial, retail, restaurants, integrated parking structures and perhaps downtown residential as well.

There is something HUGE in the offing. I can feel it in my bones!