[Moncton] Centre Avenir Centre | 26.65m |~6 Fl | Completed - Page 26

pierremoncton · #**501** Posted **Jan 10, 2015, 3:33 PM**

On another note (I don't think it was ever mentioned here): I had heard from a reliable source last year that the city was considering moving the public library to the new events centre in order to satisfy the cultural component required to unlock federal funds. Now that the funds are coming through another arrangement, I don't know if this is still an option.

I suspect that the library will stay put given that the city has ~40 years left on its 66-year lease at Blue Cross and that subletting may be difficult to accomplish with today's high vacancy rate. The upcoming Downing development also gives the library a good fit at its existing location.

MonctonRad · #**502** Posted **Jan 10, 2015, 4:27 PM**

I like the current library location, and the Downing Street project will be good for the library. I hope it stays put.

The Moncton Public Library may not be as iconic as the new library on SGR in Halifax, but it is modern and well located and will contribute to the ambience of the Downing Street redevelopment.

bigrivernb · #**503** Posted **Jan 13, 2015, 4:51 PM**

Looking at the demolition of the old highfield square location, I've noticed that they seem to be avoiding the rest of the old sobeys structure....I'm wondering if there is plans to save this part and rebuild it into something else? Anything on this?

MonctonRad · #**504** Posted **Jan 13, 2015, 5:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigrivernb

Looking at the demolition of the old highfield square location, I've noticed that they seem to be avoiding the rest of the old sobeys structure....I'm wondering if there is plans to save this part and rebuild it into something else? Anything on this?

That part of the mall wasn't included in the sale to the City of Moncton. It is still owned by Crombie REIT. It lies adjacent to other Crombie properties such as the Terminal Plaza complex. I imagine they do have plans for this property, but I don't know what the plans are, and I suspect that the plans will not proceed unless the events centre gets built.

Again, we're all waiting to see what Brian Gallant plans to do.........

MonctonRad · #**505** Posted **Feb 21, 2015, 3:43 PM**

Thought I would bump this thread to keep it from falling off the bottom of the page.

The silence on this file from the provincial government has been absolutely deafening. This is most disconcerting. What I find even more perplexing however is the equivalently deafening silence from the civic administration. One would think that Mayor LeBlanc would be pounding the drums to get the provincial governments attention on this issue, especially since the RFP's have been received and are waiting to be responded too. I'm sure the prospective developers are becoming very frustrated and/or nervous about all this, especially given the money they would have already spent on preparing their proposals.

George LeBlanc however is a Liberal and I'm sure he does not want to embarrass the new (Liberal) premier over this. The fact that he is seeking the federal Liberal nomination in Moncton further complicates things.

The silence on this file therefore could be completely political or (more hopefully) perhaps could indicate that the province has given "private" assurances to the city that the funding will be made available at some point in the future, but only if the city "plays along" and doesn't make any waves in the meantime.

I hope the latter scenario is the more accurate one. If there is still no news by the summer, then I think the events centre will be in very deep trouble........

josh_cat_eyes · #**506** Posted **Feb 21, 2015, 7:07 PM**

If public financing can't be reached, do you think a private party will step up?

Mattyyy · #**507** Posted **Feb 21, 2015, 7:36 PM**

I hear you on that one MonctonRad. I find the silence very concerning, however I'm also hopeful that the silence simply means there is a lot of discussion going on in the background. I would hope the city wouldn't remain quiet on the issue and be actively pursuing the provincial government in order to have a spring start on the project. I would be surprised if there was no discussion going on at all and the city was simply waiting back for an answer - but what do I know. With a planned Spring start the city should be involved in a massive amount of planning and discussions at this point - and I would think the companies who will be part of the project are not on the sidelines remaining silent at this point which leads me to believe something must be happening behind closed doors at this point. Also, there must be a lot of other anxious developers in the city who are waiting for this project to get off the ground in order to firm up their own plans. This project just seems to be too massive to have nothing going on at this point. Let's hope for the best.

JHikka · #**508** Posted **Feb 21, 2015, 10:42 PM**

Perhaps the Province will have some extra funds to move around next election after they raise taxes in the coming year.

Nashe · #**509** Posted **Feb 23, 2015, 4:32 PM**

On the private side, I really am disappointed in Irving, as I believe their team has the most to gain from all of this. I know the Cats are only "one thing" to consider of many but seriously... this is a chance to really showcase.

Mattyyy · #**510** Posted **Mar 10, 2015, 2:38 PM**

Hey, with the snow melting pretty soon we'll be looking at the giant hole in the ground that will be a landmark in downtown Moncton for the foreseeable future!

MonctonRad · #**511** Posted **Mar 10, 2015, 2:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattyyy

Hey, with the snow melting pretty soon we'll be looking at the giant hole in the ground that will be a landmark in downtown Moncton for the foreseeable future!

The city should erect a sign proclaiming it the Brian Gallant Memorial Mudpit.

Maybe next year they could relocate the snow dump here. We wouldn't have to truck the snow so far and we could have the added benefit of a downtown ski hill. This could benefit winter tourism numbers!

Mattyyy · #**512** Posted **Mar 10, 2015, 2:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The city should erect a sign proclaiming it the Brian Gallant Memorial Mudpit.

Maybe next year they could relocate the snow dump here. We wouldn't have to truck the snow so far and we could have the added benefit of a downtown ski hill. This could benefit winter tourism numbers!

I bet the province would throw money at that idea!

josh_cat_eyes · #**513** Posted **Mar 11, 2015, 1:17 PM**

We already have a downtowb ski hill next to shoppers!!

riverviewer · #**514** Posted **Mar 12, 2015, 12:08 PM**

Now that the land is purchased and the mall removed, have the tests to verify the extent of the contaminants been completed? Will the clean up efforts be started this spring so the land is safe to build on?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/moncton-s-highfield-square-site-contaminated-1.1148504

MonctonRad · #**515** Posted **Mar 12, 2015, 2:12 PM**

Soil testing is complete AFAIK, and the purchase price included a soil remediation budget, so there is no reason why this wouldn't continue after the snow melts.

Of course, given the glacial pace of this development and the lack of any commitment of provincial funding, there is no particular rush. They could probably use a teaspoon and a plastic toy bucket for their "heavy equipment" during the soil removal phase and not impact on the expected construction date for the events centre.

Taeolas · #**516** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 1:45 PM**

Possibly a good omen for the future?

George LeBlanc loses bid for Moncton Liberal nomination

Quote:

The former chair of the the New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women, Ginette Petitpas Taylor, easily defeated Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc for the federal Liberal nomination in the riding of Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe over the weekend.

MonctonRad · #**517** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 2:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taeolas

Possibly a good omen for the future?

George LeBlanc loses bid for Moncton Liberal nomination

Potentially, yes.

George LeBlanc is an excellent mayor and now he will be able to concentrate totally on the task at hand of getting Brian Gallant to get off the pot and cough up some funding for the events centre.

FWIW, this is probably a good news story. George will be far more effective as mayor than he would be as a Liberal backbencher in Ottawa. He would never be a cabinet minister in any Trudeau government as Dominic LeBlanc has the NB cabinet position already all locked up.

This certainly does change the political dynamic somewhat. George won't have to pussyfoot around the issue any more - that's for sure.......

Mattyyy · #**518** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 2:26 PM**

Any chance the provincial budget being released tomorrow will hold any surprises?

David_99 · #**519** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 5:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattyyy

Any chance the provincial budget being released tomorrow will hold any surprises?

Like allocating the original Events Centre funds for purchasing more school buses and hiring more drivers to make sure each mostly empty bus will be unilingual? That kind of surprise?

L'homard · #**520** Posted **Mar 30, 2015, 5:51 PM**

Like $26 12-packs, $95 cartons of smokes, and another per cent or two on the HST?