[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[Taeolas]

Originally Posted by habskilla

Can't be a Costco. All Costco stores must be visible from a highway.

I doubt that's the actual rule (Freddy's isn't visible from either highway unless you really squint); but Costco's justifiably need acres of parking space which you generally don't want in a downtown core. Downtowns don't really want CostCo's, and CostCo's don't want to go downtown.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Sunnybrae

Something tells me people should start thinking about what to do with the land if the events center falls through. I say this half jokingly but give part of the land to Costco and part to Cineplex for an Imax with an indoor/outdoor amusement park. I know, dreaming, but it would get some people downtown.

The most likely fate for the old Highfield Square site given the impending demise of the events centre concept is a park (or a parking lot). This is quick and easy to do, but would do nothing to catalyze downtown development.

As for your proposal of a privately financed retail and entertainment centre:
- Costco would not be interested. If they move, it will be to Day&Ross on the corner of the TCH and Mapleton.
- I do like the entertainment centre concept though. It could become "Crystal Palace 2". Speaking of which, has anyone heard anything recently about what the Jelly's have in mind for all the old rides from the original Crystal Palace? I haven't heard a thing.

A replacement for Crystal Palace, especially with a Cineplex four plex (including an IMAX) would be good for the city and would stimulate hotels and restaurants in the core, but I doubt that it would happen without significant government funding. If I recall, ACOA was heavily involved in the original iteration of Crystal Palace.

[tmacdougall]

I have a source that says there will be a major announcement made this week for a new hotel to be built on the corner of Main and Vaughan Harvey Blvd.

[MonctonRad]

Interesting.....

It would be especially interesting if this announcement were made contingent upon the announcement of funding for the downtown events centre.

Nothing like turning the screws on our ineffectual Premier to kickstart the events centre project.

[pierremoncton]

Reposting the plans:



http://cwatlantic.com/properties/the-junction-urban-village/
http://cwatlantic.com/wp-content/uploads...lage-Marketing-Package-Final-June-18.pdf

Announcements are exciting but shovels in the ground are better.

[mylesmalley]

I wouldn't get too excited. Projects tend to start off looking like that and end up looking like
http://www.super8.com/hotels/new-brunswi...eckin_date&teens=0&affiliate_id=&rooms=1

[Shift]

Originally Posted by Taeolas

Downtowns don't really want CostCo's, and CostCo's don't want to go downtown.

There is an urban format Costco downtown Vancouver that's been quite successful.

[riverviewer]

What's with the fancy entrance on the back of the Main street Superstore?
Nice location, but it can only be accessed by a pothole ridden back lane.
It's visible from the Wheeler Roundabout and looks new. There's a satellite dish in its lot. Is this for a TV/ radio station?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by riverviewer

What's with the fancy entrance on the back of the Main street Superstore?
Nice location, but it can only be accessed by a pothole ridden back lane.
It's visible from the Wheeler Roundabout and looks new. There's a satellite dish in its lot. Is this for a TV/ radio station?

It's the new location for CBC/Radio Canada

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Application for rezoning:



This is on Terris St, just off of Mountain Road from R2 residential to SC suburban commercial to allow for a combined office/retail complex.

There two lots will be combined with the already vacant lots on Mountain Road (located just to the east of Arby's) to allow for the proposed commercial development to proceed.

I don't have any idea what is planned for this location........

Further to the above, I have just watched the city council meeting dealing with the rezoning of these two properties and now have some further information that I can convey:



This screen capture from the video of the council meeting shows the actual site plan for this development. It will be a commercial/retail strip containing six units, with parking at the back and commercial frontage facing the street. There will be a row of trees planted facing Mountain Road. The unit at the east end of the building is intended to be a restaurant with an outdoor patio.



This screen capture shows a somewhat blurry rendering of what the building is proposed to look like. You can see that it will be a two storey building, with the second floor proposed to be leasable office space. The design is modern, and with the parking in behind, the building will have a street presence generally absent from most parts of that area of Mountain Road. The application for rezoning was approved by city council with no objections. I approve.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by Shift

There is an urban format Costco downtown Vancouver that's been quite successful.

I was in Boston recently and there was a Walmart with the parking lot underneath the building, making it a two level building.

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I like the look of this, pretty urban, with the parking in behind and the building along the road. Moncton could use more developments like this, especially on Mountain Road or St. George.

[BlackYear]

The house at 12 St-George street has now been demolished. Took a year, but hopefully this project will get started asap!

[NBNYer]

Originally Posted by Budyser

The house at 12 St-George street has now been demolished. Took a year, but hopefully this project will get started asap!

I was wondering about this project. Regular NB development speed I guess. At this pace, maybe we'll see a building on this lot in 3 years.

[MonctonRad]

CBC reports that Harrison Trimble High School will be receiving a $7M midlife upgrade. If you combine this with the new artificial turf playing field built at the school last year, that's some pretty major changes.

Harrison Trimble High School, which would cost about $33 million to replace, will undergo $7 million in upgrades to the mechanical and electrical systems, building interior and building envelope instead, said Rousselle.

The work on the 53-year-old building is expected to be completed by 2018, with $1.6 million earmarked for the first year, he said.

[MonctonRad]

According to the T&T, the condo conversion of Castle Manor is in very serious trouble.

Recent changes to the provincial building code mandates a certain number of "accessible" units be included in any residential condo project. For Castle Manor, that would mean one accessible unit, but since this is a conversion of a heritage building, the cost is quite high and the developer thinks that it is enough to prevent him from making a profit.

He has stopped construction and subcontractors have been let go. The building has been gutted and apparently one more winter of no maintenance may be enough to result in the structure being condemned.

Geez - it just seems as if downtown Moncton can't catch a break recently......

[Taeolas]

It's rough, but it seems like the sort of thing that should have been pretty obvious from the start. How recent were those code changes made? (before or after he officially started the project?) Was the contractor seeking an exception that got recently denied, or did he go right to the papers?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Taeolas

It's rough, but it seems like the sort of thing that should have been pretty obvious from the start. How recent were those code changes made? (before or after he officially started the project?) Was the contractor seeking an exception that got recently denied, or did he go right to the papers?

According to the T&T, the province has just recently decided to adopt the national standards and is one of the last jurisdictions to do so. I don't know if the developer has applied for an exemption or not.

[Taeolas]

*nod* Not that the government (at all levels) doesn't deserve all the knocks it can take, but I have a feeling there's more to this than just "Government Bad, so I'm leaving".

This sort of situation should be a no brainer for getting an exemption for, if the developer so much as asked for it; One accessible unit isn't going to make or break the city and it's a (full scale) reno not new construction; classic Exemption reasons. If he'd asked for an exemption and failed to get it, I'm sure the paper would be trumpeting that too.

Honestly, unless/until we know more, I'm feeling the Developer was looking for an escape clause that would make him not look bad. :/

[L'homard]

The story notes that there is no avenue of appeal in the national building code (I suppose you could ask a court for a judicial review, but.....)
It's not like he can seek a variance, or a zoning change. The law is the law, and there are no exceptions except for single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes, and no avenues for seeking an exemption, according to the story anyway.

[Taeolas]

Ah ok, in that case, I'll cut him more slack and toss it back to the government. Not having an exemption process seems like a bad oversight and a bad limitation.