The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[Wolkenkratzerliebhab]

Originally Posted by JHikka

I seem to recall someone earlier in this thread saying it was being renovated for a different car dealer? I honestly don't know.

There is a used car dealership on part of the site now, maybe they are planning on taking over the whole property?

Whatever they are planning it is nice to see it being developed at least.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by CHSJ News

Plans Unveiled For New Seniors Complex In Millidgeville

Common Council being asked to approve rezoning to allow construction of a seniors complex in Millidgeville being proposed by Shannex.

The project, described as a campus style layout, would be constructed at 80 University Avenue behind Wendy's and Tim Hortons stretching along Millidge Avenue.

It would consist of a five story building with lifestyle apartments for seniors who are more active......A four storey building for traditional retirement living with two meals provided daily......A two storey building for special care and a one storey building for people suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia.

There's no word yet on a construction schedule.
http://country94news.blogspot.ca/2013/03/plans-unveiled-for-new-seniors-complex.html

According to the plans brought forward by Shannex in tonight's Council Agenda, the tallest building will be 6 storeys and not 5 as reported by CHSJ.

https://www.documents.saintjohn.ca/weblink8/0/doc/54407/Electronic.aspx

The six storey building will be facing Millidge Avenue with a four storey behind that. The two and single storey facilities will be located behind the Tim Horton's & Gorman Arena.

[nwalbert]

Originally Posted by JHikka

According to the plans brought forward by Shannex in tonight's Council Agenda, the tallest building will be 6 storeys and not 5 as reported by CHSJ.

https://www.documents.saintjohn.ca/weblink8/0/doc/54407/Electronic.aspx

The six storey building will be facing Millidge Avenue with a four storey behind that. The two and single storey facilities will be located behind the Tim Horton's & Gorman Arena.

This seems like a nice little project... will certainly add some density to the area.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by nwalbert

This seems like a nice little project... will certainly add some density to the area.

A lot of land in Millidgeville is quickly being infilled.

[Fischbob]

Here's the proposed site plan for the Shannex development, from the Council agenda linked above. There are also a number of floor plans and elevations for the proposed buildings, starting on Page 19.



It's an interesting project and certainly a step above vacant land at this prime site, but when I look at the site plan, I see wasted space rather than density. Its land consumption could easily be reduced by modifying the building configurations and placing some of the parking underground, which would free up more of the site for further development and/or public use.

I'm glad to see a "wet storm pond" on the site, but I also think there's the opportunity to increase pedestrian connectivity and permeability to Woodhaven/Tudor Lane with a walking trail/passive greenspace between the Woodhaven playground, past the proposed pond and over to Millidge Avenue along the periphery of the lot. Though there seems to be greenspace provided on the site, it looks to be set up for private use only.

[Fischbob]

Highlights from this month's PAC agenda:


- Proposal for 16 townhouses in two blocks of 3-storey buildings at the corner of Waterloo and Golding, on the lot where those brick buildings were torn down a couple years ago. Staff recommends approval of the requested lot subdivision and a modified suite of variances and conditions, while cautioning that the garage entrances fronting Waterloo Street are not a desirable design feature in an urban context (I agree). Site plan and elevations below:










- Proposal for the SJ Fire Department to construct a new training tower on the Municipal Operations property off of Boars Head Road. Fairly unremarkable except for this tidbit of information from the report:

"It is Staff's understanding that one of the reasons why the new tower was not erected [at University and Millidge as previously approved] is that, given the prominence of the site's location, in conjunction with the fact that a significant portion of the property is underutilized, a number of unsolicited inquiries had been received from private developers concerning the future development potential of the site."

More development may be on the way for this area of Millidgeville.


- As discussed in the thread previously, a proposal to expand the Airport Irving to accommodate a NBLC outlet.


- Scholten's plans to rebuild the former Petro Canada site at McAllister and Loch Lomond as *drumroll* a gas station and convenience store. Some discussion as to the appropriate locations for driveway access to the property.

[CdnEh]

Originally Posted by Fischbob

It's an interesting project and certainly a step above vacant land at this prime site, but when I look at the site plan, I see wasted space rather than density. Its land consumption could easily be reduced by modifying the building configurations and placing some of the parking underground, which would free up more of the site for further development and/or public use.

I'm glad to see a "wet storm pond" on the site, but I also think there's the opportunity to increase pedestrian connectivity and permeability to Woodhaven/Tudor Lane with a walking trail/passive greenspace between the Woodhaven playground, past the proposed pond and over to Millidge Avenue along the periphery of the lot. Though there seems to be greenspace provided on the site, it looks to be set up for private use only.

Why, pray tell, do you imply there should/could be public use greenspace on the property of a private development?

[Fischbob]

Originally Posted by CdnEh

Why, pray tell, do you imply there should/could be public use greenspace on the property of a private development?

Of course Shannex has the right do do as they see fit with their property... but that doesn't mean I'm going to be reserved in my critiques of their development plans. My opinion is all in the interest of citybuilding and creating spaces that are unified and continuous rather than fragmented and ad-hoc.

Having grown up in Millidgeville, this is a parcel of land that's particularly important to me and I had hoped that a more urban, mixed-use development plan would be in store for it. It's at the natural commercial focal point of Millidgeville in spitting distance of the University bus route, and as such would be perfect for a new urbanist town centre style of development. Now I'm willling to bury that vision if the city truly favours expediency, but I still want the developer to do as much as they can to keep this from being just another generic suburban development.

[JHikka]

Just as a point of note I can't see how seniors would appreciate the public walking through their area on a consistent basis. I agree that it would be nice to have connectivity with the surrounding streets but I can't see it happening, unfortunately.

As stated before it's better than vacant land at this point and although it is not urban, per se, it's still infill. Although it would be nice to have a sort of urban community near to the University & Hospital I would rather the city focus on density on the peninsula whilst letting surrounding areas (such as Millidgeville) infill. When there comes a time for there to be enough demand for density then it will come in these outer non-Uptown areas.

- - -

The Waterloo & Golding proposal, as underwhelming as it is, would appear to mostly be replacing what was torn down a few years ago. It's not brick but it's a development. Three storeys seems to be the norm for that area.

In terms of Millidgeville on the corner of University & Millidge next to the fire station...I certainly hope they're not referencing private developers in the sense of fast food or retail of that nature. Given the Anchorage Apartments across the street and the future 6-storey Shannex further down on Millidge a four to five storey development on that corner would certainly add a bit more height and density to that intersection, if designed properly.

[Fischbob]

A guy can dream, anyway...

On the Waterloo/Golding proposal: I'm personally just happy there's any developer interest in this area at all: Waterloo and environs is a neighbourhood with plenty of vacant land and run-down buildings that sorely need reinvestment, and hopefully this project can help to kick-start a wider revitalization effort. 3-4 storeys is okay for this corner, IMO. I hope that if the Diocese ever looks to sell or redevelop their Cliff Street land, that something a bit higher will come along.

I am hoping for a bit of a redesign since I'm not particularly satisfied with the garages on Waterloo or the treatment of the Golding side: I'd rather see the units in more of an 'L' configuration fronting onto the streets with a single, shared garage entrance around the middle or far end of the Golding frontage (sort of like how Abbey St. Andrew did it).

And I'm certainly not opposed to an ad-hoc high rise at University and Millidge, especially if Shannex isn't going quite as dense as I'd have liked

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by Fischbob

And I'm certainly not opposed to an ad-hoc high rise at University and Millidge, especially if Shannex isn't going quite as dense as I'd have liked

I'd be pleased with anything at or above four floors on that corner as long as it's designed in a way that it appears to add height and density to that area. There's no sense building a four storey building if it's 200 feet from the corner.

Something similar to what was built on the corner of Somerset & Wellesley would be great, actually (Somerset Square). That building is only two floors but the street presence it brings certainly makes it feel larger than it really is.

[thefishingnut]

Seniors housing is going to be the highest growth area on the housing market, and not all seniors want to live in a high rise box where they can't go outside to get a breath of air. Personally I like the Shannex designs with a spread out parkland approach, they're not all that institutional for a group of people who don't want to spend the last years of their life in something that feels like a hospital.

The Waterloo St. proposal, although I'm not crazy about the garages facing Waterloo, I'm just glad a developer is stepping up to maybe help get things turned around. I suppose that for those units, that having living space ground floor street level right against the street wouldn't be the most appealing thing.

[CdnEh]

Anybody know the official height of the Saint John Regional Hospital towers?

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by CdnEh

Anybody know the official height of the Saint John Regional Hospital towers?

I don't know answer - but I do know there is a floor between the active floors.

[Wolkenkratzerliebhab]

Originally Posted by CdnEh

Anybody know the official height of the Saint John Regional Hospital towers?

There are five public floors, five mechanical floors between them, and two extra mechanical floors for a total of twelve. I used to walk up-and-down them for close to two years visiting mother before she was transferred to a nursing home.

[Whaler]

Originally Posted by Wolkenkratzerliebhab

There is a used car dealership on part of the site now, maybe they are planning on taking over the whole property?

Whatever they are planning it is nice to see it being developed at least.

There is a new car repair shop going in there. Possibly Shurfit automotive.
The Downey's couldn't sell this location so they are moving back in.
You might see something new at the old Shurfit location?

[Wolkenkratzerliebhab]

After returning from Fredericton I snapped this photo of the new Peel Plaza parking garage and I'm beginning to really like the added color panels! At first, I thought they looked hideous, but now I'm warming up to them.


IMG_0658 by I'm Me, Who are You?, on Flickr

[Peter_johnns]

Perhaps the garage won't look all that bad in the end

[JHikka]

I'm not too worried about that side...i'm still concerned about the side facing west

[Peter_johnns]

Originally Posted by JHikka

I'm not too worried about that side...i'm still concerned about the side facing west

I know what you mean. Looks pretty bad haha
The city should get a some local artist to do a mural. It is a perfect canvas.