The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[thefishingnut]

They should either renegotiate their lease to an appropriate level, or make a commitment to a developer who would take a currently sub par property up to appropriate standard. I don't see how the city building it's own office facilities would do anything other than drive up the overall office occupancy rate and demotivate developers for properties like the Coast Guard site.

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by nwalbert

This isn't really accurate. I own a couple of properties on Germain around the same quality and get similiar rent to this and have no problem at all renting. If you have quality properties in the right part of uptown you can do very well.

There may be some cheaper places but they wont be the same quality.

Maybe my post was a wee bit short and cryptic, but we are essentially saying the same thing: there are lots of cheaper apartments in the neighbourhood, but they won't be of the same calibre.

[Fischbob]

The oft-mentioned Jellybean Buildings on Wellington Row are in the news again, and it's positive this time! A local development group (the same one that purchased the former Adanac building on Canterbury last summer, and these buildings on Princess just recently) has expressed interest in acquiring the properties. This is very good news: I know one of the main partners involved, and he's very passionate about urban revitalization in SJ.

More details in today's paper (which I haven't got my hands on yet).

[WharfRat]

Originally Posted by Fischbob

The oft-mentioned Jellybean Buildings on Wellington Row are in the news again, and it's positive this time! A local development group (the same one that purchased the former Adanac building on Canterbury last summer, and these buildings on Princess just recently) has expressed interest in acquiring the properties. This is very good news: I know one of the main partners involved, and he's very passionate about urban revitalization in SJ.

More details in today's paper (which I haven't got my hands on yet).

The list seems to be growing at a steady pace for trendy condos, both new and old buildings, repurposed warehouses for apartments or revitalized century old homes. This has to be drawing people back to the core. It's fantastic to see more developers with this passion. Again...it would be a real sin to lose these buildings, fingers crossed!

[WharfRat]

Originally Posted by thefishingnut

They should either renegotiate their lease to an appropriate level, or make a commitment to a developer who would take a currently sub par property up to appropriate standard. I don't see how the city building it's own office facilities would do anything other than drive up the overall office occupancy rate and demotivate developers for properties like the Coast Guard site.

Agree 100%

[WharfRat]

CBC

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunsw...ine-in-first-stage-of-approval-1.2560482

"TransCanada Corp. has taken an initial step toward obtaining regulatory approval for its proposed $12-billion, 4,600-kilometre Energy East oil pipeline by filing a project description with the National Energy Board Tuesday.

The Calgary-based company wants to convert 3,000 kilometres of existing natural gas pipeline and build about 1,600 kilometres of new pipeline in Quebec and New Brunswick. It is expected the west-east pipeline would transport 1.1 million barrels a day of crude oil from Alberta to the Irving Oil refinery in Saint John.

Also planned are new pumping stations, oil storage terminals and a joint venture with Irving for new $300-million
deep-water marine terminal."

A step in the right direction.

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by WharfRat

The Calgary-based company wants to convert 3,000 kilometres of existing natural gas pipeline and build about 1,600 kilometres of new pipeline in Quebec and New Brunswick. It is expected the west-east pipeline would transport 1.1 million barrels a day of crude oil from Alberta to the Irving Oil refinery in Saint John.

Also planned are new pumping stations, oil storage terminals and a joint venture with Irving for new $300-million
deep-water marine terminal."

The impact on Saint John specifically and New Brunswick in general would be very significant, if this comes to fruition. Both are hurting pretty badly right now and could use a shot in the arm.

[Chadillaccc]

That is great news about Energy East and the potential developments for Saint John! Looking forward to hearing more. Maybe it could have an effect on some of the residential tower proposals downtown, since... isn't the Irving refinery and oil port in the inner city, just across the bridge?

[MountPleasant]

Remember the foresight within the early plans for Peel Plaza?

[Wolkenkratzerliebhab]

[QUOTE=MountPleasant;6480440]Remember the foresight within the early plans for Peel Plaza?




I was just thinking of this yesterday. If only it could be, it would be great.

[MountPleasant]

I like the look of that tower. Would go great in the parking lot across from the jellybean buildings

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by MountPleasant

I like the look of that tower. Would go great in the parking lot across from the jellybean buildings

For all the berating the new parking garage has gotten about vacancy rates, at the very least its existence should [I hope] put to rest any argument that might exist for keeping surface lots such as that one. I wouldn't care if all we started with were a few simple 3-4 storey buildings with minimal setbacks and functional street frontages, the improvement to Union ad the neighbourhood would be undeniable. In terms of residential proximity to offices, cultural amenities, shopping, the market, et cetera, that location is better than most of the peninsula.

[ErickMontreal]

Saint John - March 2014

[j1vvy]

I was looking at the colors the sun set was making over Saint John tonight and was thinking I should get out and capture it. But I had too much work to do in front of a computer. Glad you got some good shots.

[dhottawa729]

That Brunswick Square parking garage is SO ugly!! Some simple cladding could brighten up Chipman Hill and Union Street. It would of course take some cash, but relatively speaking, not that much! After 30 odd years, it's about time the owners spent a little on its appearance to upgrade it from it's rusted out utilitarian design. I was also thinking that would be a great spot for a tall, slender point tower with a new parking facility underneath and some active streetfront uses along those streets.

[MountPleasant]

I heard that the Mercantile Centre was originally closer to 20 stories. The building could be built on still. Might be something down the road..

That would be pretty impressive to see though

[Ire Narissis]

Originally Posted by dhottawa729

That Brunswick Square parking garage is SO ugly!! Some simple cladding could brighten up Chipman Hill and Union Street. It would of course take some cash, but relatively speaking, not that much! After 30 odd years, it's about time the owners spent a little on its appearance to upgrade it from it's rusted out utilitarian design.

Even just a paint job would be a big improvement from that ugly, antiquated brown colour.

I hate those hideous barrier fences they installed; it would be nice to see those replaced by something a little more aesthetically pleasing.

[Fischbob]

Originally Posted by dhottawa729

That Brunswick Square parking garage is SO ugly!! Some simple cladding could brighten up Chipman Hill and Union Street. It would of course take some cash, but relatively speaking, not that much! After 30 odd years, it's about time the owners spent a little on its appearance to upgrade it from it's rusted out utilitarian design. I was also thinking that would be a great spot for a tall, slender point tower with a new parking facility underneath and some active streetfront uses along those streets.

That whole stretch of Union (not to mention Chipman Hill and St. Patrick Street too) is a pretty messy jumble of blank walls/utilitarian buildings, and unfortunately the new police station has only turned its back on the street and made things worse! I think the block is more or less beyond repair given the amount of funds that have been sunk into making it the way it is.

IMO, our best hope for a good pedestrian environment connecting Uptown with the North of Union area is Germain/Wellington Row (with Charlotte/Coburg coming in a close second). A well-designed development on that large corner parking lot will be crucial in achieving this.

[Wolkenkratzerliebhab]

Originally Posted by MountPleasant

I heard that the Mercantile Centre was originally closer to 20 stories. The building could be built on still. Might be something down the road..

That would be pretty impressive to see though

I remember seeing the model at 11-floors, but never 20. I only wish!

[ErickMontreal]

$450 million modernization of Saint John pulp mill

Andrew Cromwell and Alison Clements Mar 13, 2014 11:10:45 AM

SAINT JOHN, N.B. – J.D. Irving says it’s the largest pulp mill investment in Canada since 1993.

Company officials have announced plans for a two phased modernization project at its west side pulp mill totalling 450 million dollars.

Six hundred full time equivalent jobs will be created totalling 1.2 million hours of construction work.

Jim Irving, the co-CEO of J.D.I. says the new allocation of wood announced in the province’s forestry strategy yesterday made this investment possible.

“There wouldn’t have been a point in investing the money because it’s a lot of money and it’s a very competitive market, which is the global market. Our investments have to be aligned to be able to compete and in order to compete, you have to have enough wood or you can’t amortize the capital.”

The first phase gets underway this spring and will involve a 24 month project to build a new chip screening and handling system as well as a new pulp digester.

Phase two will involve a new pulp dryer with construction dependent on market conditions. Engineering work, however, will begin this fall.

Close on the heels of the new forestry plan in an announcement today at the Irving Pulp and Paper Mill, JDI spokesperson Mary Keith stated the $513 million dollar investment will create 326 new jobs in Saint John. Tracy Glynn of the New Brunswick Conservation Council tells CHSJ News the idea this investment in mills will create long-term jobs is patently false--in fact, she says, modernizing the mills will ultimately reduce the amount of manpower needed.

http://country94news.blogspot.ca/2014/03/forestry-plan-denounced-as-devastating.html