[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[MonctonRad]

Due to popular demand (and also because of enraged neighbours on Flanders Court), Oulton's College has decided to secure an additional parking lot for their students. I presume this is the vacant land adjacent to their existing lot behind the YMCA. When paved, this lot (and the adjacent "residence" currently under construction) will mean that all the lands on Flanders Court will be completely developed.

[MonctonRad]

They were doing soil testing the other day at The Moncton Hospital in preparation for the planned construction of the new oncology clinic.

This is a roughly $10M project, and will be built at the rear of the hospital. The old lab and x-ray wings will be demolished in order to provide room for the new oncology clinic.

Construction will begin next year, hopefully with an opening in the fall of 2014 (pehaps spring 2015).

The new building will also have enclosed parking, but only about 100 additional parking spaces will be created beyond what we already have.

If the province was really serious about addressing the parking issue at the hospital, a large parking garage should definitely be constructed, but every little bit helps.

[pierremoncton]

Also on War Veterans: The YMCA will be undergoing renovations in November and December, including an expansion of 1100 sq ft to the wellness centre (gym). I don't know if that "expansion" is just a reorganization of the existing space, or if it's an actual expansion to the building.

Maybe those CFB buildings will start coming down. It's the only sizeable piece of land in central Moncton that's unused. Maybe we could place a school there if a new one were required for some reason...

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by pierremoncton

Maybe those CFB buildings will start coming down. It's the only sizeable piece of land in central Moncton that's unused. Maybe we could place a school there if a new one were required for some reason...

I can think of one school that could have gone there pierre.....

[MonctonRad]

Transportation Discovery Centre at the Moncton Museum - current status:





I'm wondering if construction is not finished for the season. The site looks pretty quiet. They may be waiting for spring to finish the job.

[MonctonRad]

Two of the newer large apartment buildings currently under construction in the city:



This is the first of two new 107 unit buildings for Sira currently under construction on Carson Blvd near St. Hubert's. This will indoubtedly be a decent building and has underground parking, but it would have been nice to see a 6-8 storey building with something other than wood frame construction.



This is the new apartment building going up on Mountain Road next to the NBCC Moncton campus. Again, this appears to be a solidly constructed but generic building. I'm sure they are counting on students extensively occupying this building.

[MonctonRad]

I don't think this was posted before, but this is the city's timeline for the downtown events centre:

http://www.moncton.ca/Assets/Business+En.../Downtown+Centre+-+What+Happens+Next.pdf

The timeline envisages the events centre being open by 2016. It will be interesting to see of this timeline can be maintained....

[Mattyyy]

From the T & T online

DMCI proposes $5M St. George investment

by alan cochrane

Times & transcript staff
30 Oct 2012 01:38PM

The president of Downtown Moncton Centre-Ville Inc. is proposing an immediate investment of $5 million into St. George Street and is urging the city to take quick action on a downtown event centre — two projects he says will bring long-term economic benefits to Metro Moncton.

“These projects will be the foundation of growth for the next 20 years and reverse the trend we are seeing of declining property assessments in Downtown Moncton,” Louis Leger said Tuesday.

In an interview with the Times & Transcript following DMCI’s Fall Business Meeting Tuesday morning, Leger said the downtown’s Business Improvement Area has seen a decline in property assessment in recent years. In 2012, the commercial property assessments were $385 million. That’s down from $393 million in 2011 but above the figure of $343 million in 2010. The figure is for commercial properties with residential numbers not included.

In his speech to the meeting, Leger said DMCI wants to bring back the focus on St. George Street, which became part of the Business Improvement Area in 2009. He said the $5-million investment from the city would include street lights, curb and gutter work, sidewalks, paving, trees and various other design elements to spruce up the area. He believes this would make the area more inviting to future investment and a destination for new businesses. The area has already seen some improvements in recent years, including new apartment buildings and new businesses like the Dolma Food market.

“That $5 million would be a catalyst for growth and make St. George a destination, bringing it to a new level,” Leger said. “We need to invest to generate revenue and that would benefit the whole city. Moncton has one of the most dynamic economies in the province and we need to feed the engine.”

On the downtown events centre, Leger urged the city to take the next step and purchase the land where Highfield Square now stands. The mall recently closed its doors and is sitting vacant. The land is seen as the spot for a new events centre, but Leger said other developers are waiting to see what will happen.

He believes the downtown events centre would spur many other projects around it and actually make money for the city by hosting hockey, basketball, concerts and other special events. It would also attract other businesses like restaurants and pubs, but developers are waiting to see what happens.

Downtown Moncton Centre-Ville Inc. is a non-profit organization serving the interests of building and business owners in the downtown core.

[NBNYer]

Originally Posted by Mattyyy

From the T & T online

Definitely the most intriguing segments of that report.

More reasons why this development needs to move forward.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by NBNYer

Definitely the most intriguing segments of that report.

More reasons why this development needs to move forward.

Indeed. The single most important development on the horizon for the downtown is unquestionably the events centre. Almost everything else hinges on this.

All due respect to Mr. Leger, but if the city happens to have $5M lying around, they should put it towards buying the Highfield Square site rather than beautifying St. George Street.

We need to keep our priorities straight!

[Dmajackson]

This isn't a new new development per say but Boris Holdings is renovating the third floor of its Nubody's (Goodlife) building at 795 Main Street to include shared office space;

Work Space Moncton

Halifax has a place like this and it is quite popular with new start-ups that don't have the financial means to get their own office. It is also said to foster entrepreneurial co-operation.

Boris Holdings is behind some new developments in Halifax (Southgate Village, Nine Mile Circle, Lotuspoint Living, and Domvista). The only other property they have listed as owned in Greater Moncton is the Goodlife in Dieppe (555 Dieppe Blvd).

[Mattyyy]

There is some work going on behind the Rogers building (on Robinson St.) which I'm assuming is just for the parking replacement when construction begins in the Rogers parking lot. Not sure when this development is to start, but definitely a good sign that plans are moving forward.

[mmmatt]

A large swath of land has been cleared at the corner of Cameron and Gordon streets. Next door to Cameron Arms (large 10 floor brick apartments)...and very near to the new condos on Dominion...This corner formerly held a few cruddy houses. There is heavy equipment on site doing some digging. Hopefully this will lead to a quality mid-rise development in a quickly improving area!

[David_99]

Moncton extends option to purchase Highfield Square site

Moncton city council has approved a six-month extension on its option with Warren Gate Investment Inc. that could see the city purchase the old Highfield Square property. The city had until March 2013 to buy the property for $6 million, where it plans to build a $100-million sports and entertainment complex. But Warren Gate Investment Inc. officials asked for the extension as it finalizes internal paperwork of its own. City council agreed to the extension at a meeting on Monday night, which puts the sale off until September 2013. Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc said he does not have a problem with the delay.

"We have to be sure that council is satisfied that this is a project that we can do and we can do well and at a reasonable cost,” he said.

In order for the orginal March deadline to have been met, the actual sale would have had to happen in December, according to Jacques Dubé, the city manager. The company officials indicated to the city they could not complete their negotiations with their bank in time to meet that deadline.

Read more at: www.cbc.ca

Looks like we're now targeting 2017 for the new arena to be completed.

[MonctonRad]

This isn't necessarily a bad thing. A six month delay will give the city a little more time to get their financial ducks in a row and apparently a new federal infrastructure program may be announced for 2015. The timing may be good.

Still, 2017 seems like a long time away. Just another indication of the glacial pace of major infrastructure projects.......

[Taeolas]

Actually sounds more like a 2016 date. He said:

"It means we'll have a very large New Year’s Eve party at the new centre on Jan. 1, 2017 and perhaps we'll have the first [Moncton] Wildcats game maybe earlier than that, who knows, but that's the intent,” he said.

To have a Wildcats game earlier than that would mean completion in late 2016.

It feels a long way away, but that's only 4 years to go from securing the site and funding and finalizing plans, to having skates on the ice.

[mmmatt]

Heres hoping they can get the Feds in somehow along the way!

In other news there appears to be work ongoing inside the former RCMP community police storefront on Main st. (Oak Park). Looks like it will be filled soon

[brod3211]

Someday soon when I win the 50 million,2 weeks in a row I will give the city 60 million of it so they can start as soon as possible!

[mmmatt]

Originally Posted by brod3211

Someday soon when I win the 50 million,2 weeks in a row I will give the city 60 million of it so they can start as soon as possible!

I'll pitch in too when I win!!

Too bad some of the real people with money in town couldn't come to some kind of funding/naming agreement...The Majestic Assumption Delight Center or something

[MonctonRad]

The scaffolding around the Dominion Public Building is finally, FINALLY, Finally coming down!!