The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[kwajo]

Untitled by darkharbour, on Flickr


Untitled by darkharbour, on Flickr


Untitled by darkharbour, on Flickr


Untitled by darkharbour, on Flickr


Untitled by darkharbour, on Flickr

[kwajo]

A few more...


Untitled by darkharbour, on Flickr


Untitled by darkharbour, on Flickr


Untitled by darkharbour, on Flickr


Bonus points to anyone who can identify all the facades on here

[philster]

Originally Posted by philster

Anyone know what they are doing in the greenspace between the Former Harbor Bridge Authority Building and the Lower West onramp? Its all staked off and there was an escavator there today.

After looking at the progress of this today I was going to report back that it looked like a better access road to the highway from the port, and then I came across an official release announced today on CHSJ News



It's going to be easier for trucks with oversized loads to get to port property on the west side -- Provincial Transportation Minister Claude Williams says a new access road is being built in the area where the Harbour Bridge toll booths once stood.

Williams says it's a cooperative effort with the Port Authority that will help to promote trade and economic development opportunities for the port and province as a whole.

Total cost of the project is approximately $240,000 and the province is sharing the cost on a 50/50 basis with the Port Authority.

Work is underway and is scheduled for completion by the end of December -- it involves relocation of some lighting - medians - and - storm sewers.

[Peter_johnns]

http://flag-designer.appspot.com/gwtflags/SvgFileService?d=11&c1=1&c2=3&c3=3&o=1&c4=2&s=6&c5=1

Saint John Flag Proposal

[CdnEh]

Originally Posted by kwajo

Yay, more roads!

So is it going to be a new highway exit?

I'm not quite sure I can visualize in my head how this will turn out.

[Wrightguy0]

Originally Posted by kwajo

A few more...


Untitled by darkharbour, on Flickr


Untitled by darkharbour, on Flickr


Untitled by darkharbour, on Flickr


Bonus points to anyone who can identify all the facades on here

Golden Ball, the old kent theater/chinese center and the masonic temple

[Gnarly]

Just a question....with all the talk about Alberta oil flowing east...will that bring back the second Irving refinery?....and all the jobs that will come with it!

[Helladog]

Originally Posted by Gnarly

Just a question....with all the talk about Alberta oil flowing east...will that bring back the second Irving refinery?....and all the jobs that will come with it!

From my understanding, it's not likely. But who knows, maybe years into the future it would become a viable option again to build another. I think it would be a matter of demand, profitability and ability to get another partner.

[JHikka]

At this point in time the city is trying to sell itself as one of innovation and diversification, and although a second refinery would be welcome having more dependence on the same industry is probably something we're trying to avoid.

[cdnguys]

A second refinery is no longer feasible. Gasoline consumption in the USA is on the decline due to ever increasing fuel efficient cars and new car buying is saturated with new sales driven by people replacing their vehicles. Refineries are closing in North America. Western oil reduces the operating costs at the Irving refinery saving it from closure, but it doesn't need additional product than its current bpd because it would not have any place to sell it.

Saint John does have an ice free port, lots of natural gas and power generation and rail links to potash - I would bet success will come from a potash processing plant.

Myself if I was head of enterprise Saint John I would literally open a street front store / sales office in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver selling this city. We have lots of office space and a historic area and lots of available workers - sell the city as a place to set up your back office operations to save money. Secondly sell the city to people with money that can move here and gentrify neighborhoods in the city - like many gay and lesbians have done to other cities. Saint John uptown offers history, uniqueness, waterfront and a sense of community - something all appealing to the gay community. We should also be selling ourselves to the French community in northern NB that are exiting the area due to mine closures and lack of jobs.

[Peter_johnns]

@cdnguys I couldnt agree more! We need Mel Norton on this forum lol

[KnoxfordGuy]

Maybe he is... :p

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by KnoxfordGuy

Maybe he is... :p

He probably reads it at least.

BTW - Norton seems like a breath of fresh air. I think he will be good for your city.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

He probably reads it at least.

BTW - Norton seems like a breath of fresh air. I think he will be good for your city.

Make sure you knock on wood after making statements like that.

This council's been good and i've been very pleased with how they've conducted thus far. Hopefully the rest of their mandate holds up.

[JHikka]

Photos by myself from today:

Noel Avenue:


Somerset & Technology:

[CdnEh]

The new self-serve car wash on Bayside Drive is taking shape rather quickly.

[hebertovich]

Originally Posted by JHikka

You know...that isn't actually a bad idea. There's enough room up there, and given the stagnation of East Point lately i'm sure they'd consider the application. There is a hotel on site, after all.

One downside would be the tremendous traffic problems which already exist in the area.

They would just solve it with 10 more traffic lights...

Sorry couldn't resist

[DizzyEdge]

Hey does anyone have any access to any sort of city stats which might indicate average income or average house value broken down into sections of the city? I don't see anything on the city website, not sure if that sort of data exists.

[Peter_johnns]

What do you all think given the situation SJ is in fiscally, with almost half the SJ Metro population living in the suburbs (Rothesay, Grand Bay etc...), the pension crisis, water, roads etc. The city is having an extreme problem trying to keep up the infrastructure. Programs are being cut everything seems to be going sour. You all know.

That being said, what do you all think of amalgamation. But not just Saint John swallowing up the suburbs, but forming a new city (perhaps called Champlain) including the city of SJ and the Metro?

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by Peter_johnns

That being said, what do you all think of amalgamation. But not just Saint John swallowing up the suburbs, but forming a new city (perhaps called Champlain) including the city of SJ and the Metro?

Nope.

Considering the areas you listed were a part of Saint John until 1999 and only became independent so recently the possibility of amalgamating again so soon is next to none. Considering that, combined with the fact that Saint John is an absolute mess right now, and I wouldn't blame the suburbs for not wanting to amalgamate. Amalgamation would lead to an even more ridiculous-sized city with even further spread out services. At this point in time Saint John is trying to cut back and limit the size of city departments and services, so taking in more land/population would be counter-intuitive to that.

One thing Saint John can do, now that we seem to have figured out our pension difficulties and after a reduction in city departments, is to begin lowering rates and taxes across the board. Make it feasible for people to live in the city rather than ten minutes outside of it. There will have to be, eventually, a sweet-spot where it's just as expensive to live and work in the city as it is to live outside and work within. With property assessments continuing to rise in Quispamsis this grey area can't be too far from reach.

Along with that, something has to be done about the widespread poverty and low-income population within the city itself.