The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread - Page 454

ErickMontreal · #**9061** Posted **Aug 8, 2013, 12:27 AM**

Here's some more pictures taken recently :

todspe67 · #**9062** Posted **Aug 8, 2013, 4:29 PM**

I'm hearing Horse Racing New Brunswick met with horsemen/women in Saint John yesterday, announced to them that ALC would be building a facility somewhere in the area.

nwalbert · #**9063** Posted **Aug 8, 2013, 4:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by todspe67

I'm hearing Horse Racing New Brunswick met with horsemen/women in Saint John yesterday, announced to them that ALC would be building a facility somewhere in the area.

This seems quite substantial to me. Has ALC done anything like this in NB before?

thefishingnut · #**9064** Posted **Aug 8, 2013, 8:40 PM**

Ah, maybe the Racino lives. Never been there, but PEI has one. (Can't imagine ever going to one, but different strokes for different folks)

I'd take with a grain of salt this "announcement", as the same folks have spoken of (and put up signs for) a fieldhouse and other projects which, if they're going somewhere, sure aren't going there fast.

UptownJeff · #**9065** Posted **Aug 8, 2013, 9:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefishingnut

Ah, maybe the Racino lives. Never been there, but PEI has one. (Can't imagine ever going to one, but different strokes for different folks)

I'd take with a grain of salt this "announcement", as the same folks have spoken of (and put up signs for) a fieldhouse and other projects which, if they're going somewhere, sure aren't going there fast.

I've been to the one in Charlottetown - very nice - and a good restaurant. If we could get something similar it would be a great addition to the city and a good tourist attraction.

ErickMontreal · #**9066** Posted **Aug 9, 2013, 1:46 PM**

Racino for Saint John being discussed
Proposed harness racing, video gambling complex would resemble Red Shores in Charlottetown

CBC News
Posted: Aug 9, 2013 10:08 AM AT
Last Updated: Aug 9, 2013 10:06 AM AT

New Brunswick's harness racing industry is abuzz with news of a possible racino for Saint John.

Harness Racing New Brunswick president Mitchell Downey told CBC News discussions are underway with the provincial Department of Finance.

If approved, the facility would be operated by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation and would resemble the Red Shores racino in Charlottetown, the region's most successful track, horsemen were told at a meeting in Saint John on Wednesday night.

"It's worked everywhere else they've tried them so I can't see why it wouldn't work in Saint John," said one of the horsemen, Mike Downey.

"With the blue-collar workers we have here, I think it would be a win-win situation," he said.
Costs to be studied

Gerry Lowe, a board member of Saint John's Exhibition Park Raceway (EPR) and a city councillor, says a six- to eight-week study of costs will be undertaken by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation to ensure a racino would not incur any hidden costs to the province.

But he believes a complex combining harness racing and video lottery terminals (VLTs) would be a positive.

"Anything that brings people into town puts money into the economy, simple as that," he said.

A racino would not conflict with existing plans to build a field house at the EPR, Lowe added.

The Finance department and Atlantic Lottery Corporation could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

JHikka · #**9067** Posted **Aug 9, 2013, 1:48 PM**

As long as it's not on the Lantic Sugar Site or below sea-level out east they can put a Racino wherever they please.

I'm trying to understand if they're planning on building the Racino and Fieldhouse on the same property or build a new horse-racing facility elsewhere.

Whaler · #**9068** Posted **Aug 9, 2013, 1:59 PM**

Horse racing is pretty much dead. As it has been for the last 20 years.
I am not against this project but.........really?
I think this may just be something for this government to push as we get closer to an election. You watch, this talk will go along and nothing will happen and then a promise just before the election.

By the way, I have sat on the exhibition board for 10 years and yes harness racing is not going to survive.
I thought of paving that track and put car racing in there.....now that would work!

JHikka · #**9069** Posted **Aug 9, 2013, 2:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whaler

I thought of paving that track and put car racing in there.....now that would work!

Oh hey, speaking of dying sports...

Report from Connell Smith on Twitter states that the Finance Department has confirmed talks about a Racino at the EPR. Two conditions: 1)No gaming tables and 2)It cannot cost taxpayers any money.

So, essentially, we're not really getting a Racino...we're getting a horse racing track upgrade with VLTs.

Fischbob · #**9070** Posted **Aug 12, 2013, 7:24 PM**

Racino? Energy Hub? Is it 2005 again?

In other news, there's a recommendation in tonight's Council agenda for the City to lease the former Via station to Maritime Bus (currently leased by Hockey Canada). Definitely more accessible to the Uptown than Chesley Drive, especially with the pedway connection.

I've always considered the area around Harbour Station to be the ideal spot for an intermodal passenger transport terminal, for both commuter and intercity trips. Perhaps this is the first step!

Peter_johnns · #**9071** Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 2:13 PM**

Racing can do wonders for a city, just ask Indianapolis lol
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2013/08/sports-teams-really-can-save-city/6479/

RaginRonic · #**9072** Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 2:16 PM**

From CBC News:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2013/08/13/nb-fredericton-sunday-shopping.html

Quote:

Fredericton retailers can set Sunday hours, council rules.

Stores currently only allowed to open between noon and 5 p.m.

Retailers in Fredericton can now set their own hours on Sundays.

City council passed a bylaw change on Monday night, which will allow store owners to decide when they will open and close.

Under the previous rules, they were limited to between noon and 5 p.m.

The change follows a request by the Retail Council of Canada in February.

One exception remains, however. Stores are not allowed to open at all on Easter Sunday.

Most New Brunswick municipalities limit potential Sunday openings from noon until 5 p.m.

Retailers in Fredericton have called on the city to update its Sunday shopping bylaw in the past.

Bathurst council scrapped its Sunday shopping bylaw in May and also gave stores the right to open when they want on Sundays.

This is a major move by Fredericton, that WILL have effects in the rest of the province, primarily in the other 2 large N.B. cities of Saint John and Moncton.

Saint John WILL lose retail dollars if the city doesn't, sorry to say, match Fredericton's moves.

Change is coming to Saint John retail. And I see no turning back for it.

It's really hard not to notice the writing on this kind of wall here.

And I see it happening sooner, rather than later.

Peter_johnns · #**9073** Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 2:56 PM**

It really isn't that big of a deal. I can't see anyone going to Fredericton for shopping on a Sunday because of this. It is more of an inconvenience to drive to f'ton than it is to have only 5 hours of Sunday shopping

mylesmalley · #**9074** Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 6:34 PM**

Sunday shopping bylaws are antiquated anyway. In a modern, secular society, the day of the week really shouldn't make a difference as far as opening hours are concerned. Now, the issue of making sure retail workers get adequate time off on a regular basis is another story but that should be left up to labour laws.

JHikka · #**9075** Posted **Aug 13, 2013, 8:44 PM**

Fredericton's passing of this law isn't going to have that much affect on SJ retail. I'm sure SJ will alter it's laws accordingly anyway but to assume there would be a sweeping affect from the north would be faulty. I've noticed the Sunday hours (or lackthereof) here in Ontario and although it's nice to be able to go get groceries at 8PM on a Sunday it's not *that* big of a deal. It's mostly just enabling retailers to dictate their own hours which is how it should be. It's archaic to think one can sit in City Hall and tell people when they can open their doors.

swish · #**9076** Posted **Aug 14, 2013, 12:56 AM**

Cannot wait to see Saint John again my home away from home in this case PEI.

thefishingnut · #**9077** Posted **Aug 14, 2013, 1:52 AM**

There are a couple of areas getting some work on McAllister, one right near the (soon to be) Target where a large swath of land by the road is being excavated by dozer, the other up at McAllister and Loch Lomond where I think there used to be a petro station - anyone know what these projects are?

kwajo · #**9078** Posted **Aug 14, 2013, 1:23 PM**

The dozer work by the new Target is a replacement of the culverts for the tributary of Majors Brook that runs under the parking lot.

Ire Narissis · #**9079** Posted **Aug 14, 2013, 2:13 PM**

And the former Petro site will be a new gas station with a Scholten's store, if I'm remembering correctly.

mmmatt · #**9080** Posted **Aug 14, 2013, 4:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaginRonic

WILL have effects in the rest of the province, primarily in the other 2 large N.B. cities of Saint John and Moncton.

First off Moncton hasn't had Sunday shopping limits in ages...but the main change is that grocery stores are open til 8pm instead of 5...when I worked in retail Sunday was usually a wash...it would be busy for maybe an hour (1pm-2pm) and dead the rest of the day. All retailers in freddy are not suddenly going to be open later on Sunday because of this change...people simply don't shop as much on that day.

There will be little to no impact on Saint John now...but sooner than later the fact of being the last of the "big 3" to have something will most likely pressure council to follow suit.