[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[Monctoncore]

The condos on 25 dominion are starting to sell, as of today, they have sold 22 of 46 condos available, this is a good sign seeing as how we were worried that this project wasn't getting any interest from buyers.

Down below are the level plans which allows you to see which have been sold and which are still available.

http://25dominion.com/level-plans.html

[Monctoncore]

Also now on the 55 queen st. site you can sign up to be invited to the opening of the module suite, which should open in the next month or so.

http://www.fivefive.ca/

[Lrdevlop]

Originally Posted by Monctoncore

Also now on the 55 queen st. site you can sign up to be invited to the opening of the module suite, which should open in the next month or so.

http://www.fivefive.ca/

Should open Friday!

[MonctonRad]

I see that the UPS Store has opened a location on west Main Street next to Merle Norman Cosmetics. I think this might be their third location in metro Moncton…….

[BlackYear]

I really like the idea of an old fashion trolley running back and forth from Blue Cross to the Heritage Court building. It would make a very nice nostalgic summer attraction. Hope on, hope off type of complimentary service provided by the city.

This could easily been done today because the line running from both points is still undeveloped. It would make it a very cool thing to see during Saturday morning farmer's market hours.

[BlackYear]

I don't mind the roundabout in this situation. It will slow down traffic and eliminate the need for traffic signals. The only other alternative would be something similar to what we have on adjacent Mechanic, which is horrible.

Looking at the success of the new roundabout on Killam Dr. and looking ahead 20 years, it makes sense to me. Plus, have you not noticed the nice fountain in the middle?

[MonctonRad]

It actually is a neat idea, and would be a very unique concept in Atlantic Canada.

If you look at this historic aerial photo of the downtown core (from just after Assumption Place was built), you can actually see a train shunting on the old spur line that used to connect the waterfront warehouses to the CNR mainline.



A trolley line could be resurrected on this old ROW. I could see three stops:
1) - Downing Street (Blue Cross, public library, city hall)
2) - Heritage Court
3) - Events Centre

This would span the length of the downtown core and would provide a unique and convenient way for pedestrians to move back and forth between the eastern and western anchors for the downtown area (Downing Street restoration and the events centre).

An added bonus would be that a downtown trolley would help to disperse patrons from the events centre after concerts and sporting events and would be of benefit to people getting to and from parking spots throughout the downtown area.

[David_99]

"It’s already been in the works for three years, and there are still a number of hurdles to clear, but plans are afoot for a $10-million, six-storey office complex that could one day serve as one of the gateways to downtown Moncton.

Developers want to build the office and retail complex at the northeast corner of Vaughan Harvey Boulevard and Assomption Boulevard, a development that would greet visitors travelling into Moncton from the Gunningsville Bridge.

The City of Moncton owns part of the land, which is bound on the west by Vaughan Harvey, on the south by Assomption, on the east by Albert Street, and on the north by CN’s national rail line.

A $10 million office building would provide the city with roughly $300,000 per year in property tax.
The developers must have the project completed by the end of 2016"


Today's Time & Transcript

[Monctoncore]

Very interesting, I like the idea of this project, lets just hope it happens and doesn't disappear like some past projects have. I also wonder what these hurdles would be?

[ErickMontreal]

Originally Posted by Monctoncore

Very interesting, I like the idea of this project, lets just hope it happens and doesn't disappear like some past projects have. I also wonder what these hurdles would be?

They might need to find tenants to secure financing for this to occur.

[Monctoncore]

Thanks Erick, that would make a lot of sense.

[NBNYer]

Originally Posted by David_99

"It’s already been in the works for three years, and there are still a number of hurdles to clear, but plans are afoot for a $10-million, six-storey office complex that could one day serve as one of the gateways to downtown Moncton.

Developers want to build the office and retail complex at the northeast corner of Vaughan Harvey Boulevard and Assomption Boulevard, a development that would greet visitors travelling into Moncton from the Gunningsville Bridge.

The City of Moncton owns part of the land, which is bound on the west by Vaughan Harvey, on the south by Assomption, on the east by Albert Street, and on the north by CN’s national rail line.

A $10 million office building would provide the city with roughly $300,000 per year in property tax.
The developers must have the project completed by the end of 2016"


Today's Time & Transcript

This development has been talked about here a few years back. I really don't like this location. It is technically within the boundaries of downtown but it's not in the core by a long shot and has no pedestrian connection to the rest of the core. This will end up being another Emerson Park type development with some lawn in front and a giant surface parking lot right next door serving only to siphon off offices and workers from the real downtown core. The net impact on Main street businesses may even be negative.

[BlackYear]

Originally Posted by David_99

A $10 million office building would provide the city with roughly $300,000 per year in property tax.

$300k a year in property taxes? I can't see this figure being correct.

[josh_cat_eyes]

It's one step towards Moncton having a complete downtown that doesn't rely on only Main Street.

[NBNYer]

Regarding the 6-storey office building proposal on Vaughn Harvey. When was the last time an office building of that size was built in the downtown? Probably going on 2 decades now, right? When is the next time the city will have an opportunity to add new offices to that Downing street proposal? I understand that this office building has been in the works for some time and that the Downing street project is recent. Still, there are plenty of other empty lots on the eastern half of Assumption blvd that need development, doesn't the city have a say? Can't the city press this issue more? Incentivize the sale and development of these lots? Missed oppertunity after missed oppertunity.

[MonctonRad]

Excellent points NBNYer.

I agree, while this proposal is "technically" within the downtown core, it is really only on the fringe and will be cut off from the remainder of DT by the railway overpass on Vaughan Harvey. This development might indeed make it harder for development along Downing Street to proceed.

The office vacancy rate in Moncton is not that bad, but any new development will only serve to flood the market with more unused space. Perhaps it would be best if we were strategic about where new office space were allocated.......

[David_99]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Excellent points NBNYer.

I agree, while this proposal is "technically" within the downtown core, it is really only on the fringe and will be cut off from the remainder of DT by the railway overpass on Vaughan Harvey. This development might indeed make it harder for development along Downing Street to proceed.

The office vacancy rate in Moncton is not that bad, but any new development will only serve to flood the market with more unused space. Perhaps it would be best if we were strategic about where new office space were allocated.......

Don't forget the mix-use buildings proposed for the current Rogers parking lot. The newly reno'd 1234 Main also needs to be filled.

[NBNYer]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Excellent points NBNYer.

I agree, while this proposal is "technically" within the downtown core, it is really only on the fringe and will be cut off from the remainder of DT by the railway overpass on Vaughan Harvey. This development might indeed make it harder for development along Downing Street to proceed.

Yes, and watch this being touted by council as ''bringing more people and jobs downtown'' when really I'm afraid it may only serve as another barrier to urban development which just can't seem get off the ground in this city.

The other thing that is starting to concern me is the apparant perception that the events centre is the be all and end all for all of downtown's problems. I am eager to see this great project move forward, but it must be accompanied with an equally great desire to move the whole city out of this small town mentality planning and embrace a more contemporary urban vision. Moncton is, in all likelihood, the largest city in NB and largest CMA by a good margin, but we look more like a distant second. I understand that there are historical reasons contributing to this effect, but still, it just seems so blatant.

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Perhaps it would be best if we were strategic about where new office space were allocated.......

Yes absolutely, but that's part of planning is it not? This should not only be considered, it should be among any canadian city council's primary focus to direct growth in a sustainable way.

Moncton is one of the fastest growing CMAs in Canada. This kind of growth doesn't last forever and also doesn't come around very often, especially in Atlantic Canada. This is a golden oppertunity to direct this growth in as efficient and sustainable way possible by trying to promote downtown investments and urbanization. I used to be very optimistic about Moncton's future and I think we still might do okay, but the optimism is fast eroding.

[Monctoncore]

I was reading more into the 10 million dollar office complex and was in contact with a very good source, that the issues for this project are indeed, purchasing the land, which they purchased part of the land from the city last night and now just need to purchase the rest of the land from the province, once that is finished, they do plan on moving forward with this project.

I was told that they already have a few interested leasers and that there would be underground parking, and a street front presence on Assumption and Albert street, I know a lot of people don't like the idea of placing something here at this moment, but it really will change the area, giving it a more friendly feel and with the new arena project soon to be happening just across the tracks, it is going to become a popular area for growth downtown. There are a lot of spin off projects waiting on this arena to get the full green light and this is just on of I can promise many that are just getting a head start.

Preferably this would be located of the new downing street project, but this is a key development on a run down side of the tracks, Albert street needs something like this at the bottom of it, giving it new life.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Honestly between Vaughan Harvey, Main Street and foundry, there is probably only a handful of buildings I'd keep. I like the idea of having something on that corner. It's a very important corner and this project seems to be the right fit for it! Downing Street will have it's time.