The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread - Page 414

CdnEh · #**8261** Posted **Jan 13, 2013, 3:31 PM**

The Mercantile Centre really added some much needed infill to that section of uptown.

What is going on on that site in the first picture? It looks like there is excavation happening but I thought the Mercantile Centre wasn't built until the 90s?

What was on that site before?

cdnguys · #**8262** Posted **Jan 13, 2013, 3:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CdnEh

The Mercantile Centre really added some much needed infill to that section of uptown.

What is going on on that site in the first picture? It looks like there is excavation happening but I thought the Mercantile Centre wasn't built until the 90s?

What was on that site before?

I believe it was the orginal site of the Grand Union Hotel - a 5 story brick building.

cdnguys · #**8263** Posted **Jan 13, 2013, 4:03 PM**

New Public Art on Harbour Passage - the figures are looking directly down the midle of the harbour (symbolism??)

Parking Garage - Colour Panels Started

Sneek Peek Lobby of Law Courts - you can partly see the replica of the old police station facade from King Street East

JHikka · #**8264** Posted **Jan 13, 2013, 4:42 PM**

Colour panels on the Parking Garage? Yessss!

News:

According to City Council's Agenda for January 14th we're going to have another signalized intersection on Rothesay Ave, this one located near the Mediterranean Restaurant and TD Insurance. The City received correspondence from a few in the area who noted that the current problems with traffic lights at the Rothesay Avenue/Ashburn Lake road intersection should be resolved first before installing yet another intersection. The City really dropped the ball on this area of Rothesay Avenue, IMO.

The Saint John Board of Police Commissioners released a report stating that it is not "feasible, lawful, or ethical" to be more proactive in removing sex trade workers from streets in the Uptown.

The meeting will start with a Call to Order followed by a presentation by a Mr. Oland representing Moosehead Breweries Limited.

https://www.documents.saintjohn.ca/weblink8/0/doc/53807/Electronic.aspx

Peter_johnns · #**8265** Posted **Jan 13, 2013, 5:12 PM**

I wonder if all three levels of government would fund a exact replica of the Marco Polo. That would be an enormous boost to tourism and could rival the Blue Nose II lol IMAGINE seeing that grand ship docked in the harbour once again...

cdnguys · #**8266** Posted **Jan 13, 2013, 5:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_johnns

I wonder if all three levels of government would fund a exact replica of the Marco Polo. That would be an enormous boost to tourism and could rival the Blue Nose II lol IMAGINE seeing that grand ship docked in the harbour once again...

A replica (although scaled down) is already built however it does not have a place to dock. It is under shrink wrap on west side port land. Other levels if govnt were involved - but a full size replica was not feasible.

Peter_johnns · #**8267** Posted **Jan 13, 2013, 7:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdnguys

A replica (although scaled down) is already built however it does not have a place to dock. It is under shrink wrap on west side port land. Other levels if govnt were involved - but a full size replica was not feasible.

The scaled down one is to be land locked. To me you either do it right, or not at all. Like the Bluenose II the Marco Polo II should be exact replica bound for sea.

JHikka · #**8268** Posted **Jan 13, 2013, 10:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_johnns

The scaled down one is to be land locked. To me you either do it right, or not at all. Like the Bluenose II the Marco Polo II should be exact replica bound for sea.

http://blog.halifaxshippingnews.ca/2012/07/bluenose-ii-late-and-over-budget.html

Quote:

The latest news on the Bluenose reconstruction is that it is behind schedule and over budget. This could be forgiven if the work was actually a restoration, and conditions were found to be worse then expected, however, for all purposes the Provence of Nova Scotia decided to build a completely new boat.

Since The vessel is all new construction from the Keel up, the only reason this project could go over budget and run late is poor planning. I suspect the only reason all this is coming to light now was that there was an expected launch date in July, and we are now in July, and there is no launch date.

The launch date is a critical piece of information. The RCMP Project 100,000 people could show up to witness the launch, and I am sure businesses in Lunenberg would like a long lead up to the launch to allow as many people to come as possible. No date means no one can make plans, and people will book their vacations elsewhere. At this point, the worst case would be a fall launch, out side the prime tourism season.

The cost so far is 16+ Million Dollars. Joan Roue had plans in 2009 to build the Bluenose IV at a cost of 7 Million. That projects website has gone dormant, and the cost would have surely increased since 2009, but Her price was always cheaper then the numbers the provence floated. I think all Nova Scotian's and even a majority of Canadians want the Bluenose to be Sailing, but as the project continues, it becomes more clear that the whole Project has been mismanaged by the Provence.

Maybe if the City, or the Province, or the Feds had anywhere near the amount of money and interest to throw at a replica Marco Polo. It's not going to happen. Had the Bluenose IV not been such a significant icon of not only Nova Scotia but of Canada as well the Nova Scotia government would have mothballed it as soon as the costs starting rising and the delays started coming. The Marco Polo is 24 feet longer, ten feet wider, and 13 feet deeper. Considering those and the fact that the MP was three-masted I wouldn't be surprised if the cost was at least 20 Million. That's 20 million that no-one has sitting around right now.

dhottawa729 · #**8269** Posted **Jan 14, 2013, 2:01 PM**

Can somebody explain why there are steel grids of the windows? It seems overly conservative to me and looks horrible from up close. I would understand if it is a security thing so that prisoners don't escape on their way to court, but any other reason seems like it would be ridiculous.

ricker · #**8270** Posted **Jan 14, 2013, 3:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhottawa729

Can somebody explain why there are steel grids of the windows? It seems overly conservative to me and looks horrible from up close. I would understand if it is a security thing so that prisoners don't escape on their way to court, but any other reason seems like it would be ridiculous.

Perhaps to keep the birds out?

Ire Narissis · #**8271** Posted **Jan 14, 2013, 3:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdnguys

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_johnns

What is that radio tower to the right of Brunswick Square Tower ?

As a kid I called it "the big drum set". It was telecommunications equipment for NBTel. It was removed as technology changed.

Also the reason why that building it was perched on is still called the "Tower Building" by the Aliant employees who work there. At least, it was when I worked there as an operator some years ago.

Whaler · #**8272** Posted **Jan 14, 2013, 3:43 PM**

Saint John will be used in the building of the new ships in Halifax.
More than you may think?

JHikka · #**8273** Posted **Jan 14, 2013, 3:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricker

Perhaps to keep the birds out?

This is the only explanation I can think of.

SignalHillHiker · #**8274** Posted **Jan 14, 2013, 3:57 PM**

Thank you for the pictures!

And that public art installation is adorable. It'll look really cute once the surrounding area is built up a little more. Those folksy cute-type things, I find, are best suited for heavy pedestrian areas.

kwajo · #**8275** Posted **Jan 14, 2013, 3:57 PM**

Legal liability to prevent the chance of someone falling/jumping? No idea.

cdnguys · #**8276** Posted **Jan 14, 2013, 4:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whaler

Saint John will be used in the building of the new ships in Halifax.
More than you may think?

Sounds like you are privy to some information you can't share

It appears to be a small shipyard and staging area - hopefully the plan is to fabricate the parts in Lorneville and barge them to Halifax for assembly and finishing work. As HQ of JDI, I'm hoping we also get office jobs associated with the contract.

cdnguys · #**8277** Posted **Jan 14, 2013, 4:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwajo

Legal liability to prevent the chance of someone falling/jumping? No idea.

That's my guess too. Chipman hill was "caged in" a few years back. Hoping the new colour scheme will tie everything in place and draw your eyes away from the caged windows. Visitors will just assume its the prison facility for the police / law courts.

JHikka · #**8278** Posted **Jan 14, 2013, 4:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdnguys

As HQ of JDI, I'm hoping we also get office jobs associated with the contract.

I had heard of people packing up and moving to Halifax shortly after the bid was granted. Not sure how much truth there is to that.

Peter_johnns · #**8279** Posted **Jan 14, 2013, 4:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdnguys

Sounds like you are privy to some information you can't share

It appears to be a small shipyard and staging area - hopefully the plan is to fabricate the parts in Lorneville and barge them to Halifax for assembly and finishing work. As HQ of JDI, I'm hoping we also get office jobs associated with the contract.

Pipe dream, but I would like to see the dry dock back in action in some manner. Restore a large portion of Saint Johners' identity

cdnguys · #**8280** Posted **Jan 14, 2013, 4:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

Thank you for the pictures!

And that public art installation is adorable. It'll look really cute once the surrounding area is built up a little more. Those folksy cute-type things, I find, are best suited for heavy pedestrian areas.

Harbour Passage gets lots of pedestrian and biking traffic. Unfortunately nothing will be built behind the art because its a rail line, then highway then Main Street.