[St. John's] The Official Project Thread

[yelphie]

Originally Posted by Marty_Mcfly

We got mega trolled. Not our proudest moments

That's too bad. That would've been REALLY great to see that!

[Architype]

Originally Posted by yelphie

That's too bad. That would've been REALLY great to see that!

Well, it never made any sense from the beginning, being totally in the wrong place, so never could have happened. It would have been entertaining though.

[AllBlack]

There's quite a bit of activity throughout the old Grace General site. Heavy excavation and a huge amount of storm drainage and water/sewer pipe stockpiled.

Anyone know what's going on?

[SignalHillHiker]

I haven't heard a word. And there's no sign or anything up. I'm assuming they're just increasing the amount of that site used for parking?

[J_Murphy]

Originally Posted by AllBlack

There's quite a bit of activity throughout the old Grace General site. Heavy excavation and a huge amount of storm drainage and water/sewer pipe stockpiled.

Anyone know what's going on?

I have a feeling it is just a laydown area for the the infrastructure upgrades that are going on in the area. Craigmillar Avenue is supposed to see a massive upgrade this year and they are also currently replacing some sewers on Lemarchant and Water Street.

[AllBlack]

Originally Posted by J_Murphy

I have a feeling it is just a laydown area for the the infrastructure upgrades that are going on in the area. Craigmillar Avenue is supposed to see a massive upgrade this year and they are also currently replacing some sewers on Lemarchant and Water Street.

Re: laydown, I was thinking the same thing. Doesn't explain the huge hole they're digging though. I felt a quick flush of optimistism that they're preparing for something, well something other than a parking lot.

[niccanning]

I was hopeful that would be the site for the new courthouse, and that it would be an amazing looking building. You could fit quite a lot there.

[Horsell]

Tweet alert! Just saw a tweet on the CBC site about a proposed 6 story (600 spaces) parking garage next to the Delta. I hope they don't go cheap and propose something ugly....I'm all for "pretty" parking garages...lol

[J_Murphy]

Originally Posted by Horsell

Tweet alert! Just saw a tweet on the CBC site about a proposed 6 story (600 spaces) parking garage next to the Delta. I hope they don't go cheap and propose something ugly....I'm all for "pretty" parking garages...lol

Tom Hann was on CBC this morning talking about it. He didn't really have much else to say other than they have received the proposal.

[grovesNL]

Cecil Haire's tweet about it:

Originally Posted by @cecilhaire

St.John's has an application to put a six storey parking garage next to the Delta, at Springdale St, for 600 parking spaces

[PoscStudent]

This idea sounds horrible.

Although increasing parking spaces is excellent for the downtown, isn't it? *sarcasm*

[Townie709]

I guess parking is necessary.. but in that location it should be put underground with an office building built on top of it. Basically this means that the Delta parking lot will forever stay a parking lot.. yay #sarcasm

[cam477]

I don’t like the sound of that at all. I think the city (or whoever is behind this proposal because I’m pretty sure Fortis owns the lot?) is being a little premature. There is about to be a flood of parking spaces on the market between 351 and metro park. Not to mention Fortis place has a sizeable underground lot as well and Deacon (if it’s still alive) has a fair amount of parking too.

As far as placement goes I don’t mind it, just because it is at the end of the highway and it will keep cars out of the main area of DT. This could help promote more pedestrian activity as people walk from this lot to other areas of DT. It also may spur on office or condo development in the west end of DT given that is should reduce complaints about parking for future proposals.

But overall, I just don’t think we need another parking garage. At least this one isn’t being built on our waterfront… that’s a change for us.

[Townie709]

Originally Posted by cam477

I don’t like the sound of that at all. I think the city (or whoever is behind this proposal because I’m pretty sure Fortis owns the lot?) is being a little premature. There is about to be a flood of parking spaces on the market between 351 and metro park. Not to mention Fortis place has a sizeable underground lot as well and Deacon (if it’s still alive) has a fair amount of parking too.

As far as placement goes I don’t mind it, just because it is at the end of the highway and it will keep cars out of the main area of DT. This could help promote more pedestrian activity as people walk from this lot to other areas of DT. It also may spur on office or condo development in the west end of DT given that is should reduce complaints about parking for future proposals.

But overall, I just don’t think we need another parking garage. At least this one isn’t being built on our waterfront… that’s a change for us.

I agree with everything you said. With all the parking developments oging on in the downtown, I'm not sure that we "need" another 6 story parking garage (maybe we do, I'm certainly no expert) but if we must have another this is probably one of the better spots to put it. Like you said, it could spark increased pedestrian activity in the west end even if it's just people walking to their cars, that's qualifies as a start in my books haha! And the other positive thing about the location is that it can easily be hidden by the taller buildings around it and hopefully won't stick out like a sore thumb.

One thing though, Fortis: Please don't let it take up the whole lot! Let it take up half the lot and leave the other half for a future building

[Copes]

I'm 100% on board for the 6 storey parking garage!!!!














































...if they put a 10+ storey condo / office tower / apartment on top of it.

[tch1005]

I'd fancy it if they tied in a transit hub some how.
It's a perfect spot for a park and ride, and if Metrobus keeps up this "Trolley" dealy, it would allow existing workers downtown a easy place to park and get to work, relatively quickly, tourists a cheap and convenient place to get to most local attractions and they get to enjoy some of the scenery whilst not having to worry about driving the confusing streets, and locals an easy way to enjoy the downtown.

With the convention centre and all the other work being done in the area, it has the potential to be developed as the "Gate to the Downtown"

Now, is there a will for such a thing, who knows?

[SC1986]

we need this parking garage i approve of it and the location!

[PoscStudent]

I don't really see why we need the parking garage.

[Horsell]

Lots of good comments re: proposed “Delta” Parking Garage, I think I’ll throw in my two cent’s worth…no wait, pennies aren’t accepted, I’ll make it a nickel.

I agree, to a point, about some of the concerns as to whether or not more parking will be needed in this area with the other parking that will be coming on stream in the near future, but I think it will be good in the long run.

As for the structure itself, I agree with a few of you that the more levels that can be put underground the better. I would not like to see it simply as 6 stories above ground.
Hopefully the developer will be forward thinking and build it in such a way that in the future an office or residential component (oh let’s say another 10 stories maybe..right Coopes) could be added on top at some point when market conditions are favourable. I’d like to see that portion angled such that it would NOT be a continuation of the “Delta Wall” that is there now.

I agree with another post (I’m very agreeable today) about the possibility of a transit connection that would allow users of this, and the other parking structures, to park and hop on a bus that would loop around the downtown on Duckworth and Water St. Your parking stub could be your free ride ticket as well.

One other argument for this garage would that it could provide for better long term parking that hopefully would reduce the “meter feeding” that takes up so many on street parking spaces, freeing them up for short term visits to the downtown.

I’ll be very interested in seeing how this unfolds in the weeks and months ahead

[ed0797]

Is there a way to send in letters to city councilors or the proposers to give your comments? Some of your guy's ideas are really clever and I doubt the designer already thought of them. There must be some way to share your opinion without waiting for the public hearing!