[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[SaintJohner]

It will be Korean BBQ, I have cupbob is a type of Korean BBQ, and I'm sure you can guess it, they will serve it in SURPRISE a cup. I have had it in the Boston before and in Montreal, obviously it won't be the same place, but the food is usually really good and affordable, very great for lunch rushes and people looking to get dinner and run.

[Scarface]

I was reading about the Moncton DOD Garrison Base Gym Being Possibly being turned into a food bank, and they have been at this for a few years. But they don't seem to be releasing anymore then that. Has anyone seen anymore about this anywhere it was my first time seeing anything about it.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Scarface

I was reading about the Moncton DOD Garrison Base Gym Being Possibly being turned into a food bank, and they have been at this for a few years. But they don't seem to be releasing anymore then that. Has anyone seen anymore about this anywhere it was my first time seeing anything about it.

Yes, this has been in the works for at least the last couple of years. The Garrison Gym has been surplus ever since the last regular forces unit left the city a few years back. The feds wanted fair market value for the building, or else they were going to tear it down at a cost of $100K or so. The metro food bank couldn't afford the asking price and through the combined efforts of city hall and ex-MP Robert Goguen, they were able to haggle out a reduced price for the building. It's a good new story that this building is being repurposed.......

[habs33]

Moncton Buys Garrison Building, Flips It To FDA
http://www.c103.com/news.asp?mn=3&id=2396&cc=86&pg=1

Originally Posted by Scarface

I was reading about the Moncton DOD Garrison Base Gym Being Possibly being turned into a food bank, and they have been at this for a few years. But they don't seem to be releasing anymore then that. Has anyone seen anymore about this anywhere it was my first time seeing anything about it.

[MonctonRad]

Abridged, from CBC.ca

Campaign to save Moncton's Assomption Cathedral hits $5M
The historic church on St. George Street is in need of millions of dollars to pay for repairs
CBC News Posted: Nov 16, 2015 11:58 AM AT Last Updated: Nov 16, 2015 12:12 PM AT

People working to save the Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption Cathedral have reached a major milestone in their fundraising campaign, having just passed $5-million.

The campaign was launched just seven months ago, with a goal of reaching $7-million to save the landmark building and pay for much-needed repairs to the roof, windows, stone, mortar and foundation.

The historic church, which celebrates it's 75th anniversary this year, links the past with the future.

"It marked a milestone of the Acadian presence in the heart of Moncton, but it's the cathedral of everybody. It's been standing there as a beacon of hope and resilience for everybody living in Moncton."

Donations have come in from the corporate sector, but have also poured in from individuals, not only in New Brunswick was also from Quebec, Ontario and even Louisiana.

"We are still $2-million short of our objective… so one has to understand that a campaign like this is like a marathon, it is not a sprint."

Lord says the building's needs are dire. She said during a recent bout of heavy rain, the cathedral's pipe organ had to be covered with tarps to protect it from the leaky roof.

Personal note - With $5M raised already, out of a total goal of $7M, I would say that the fundraising effort will ultimately meet it's goal quite easily. This is good news. As far as I'm concerned, there are three Gothic pillars in downtown needing to be saved. Two of them are now well on their way to being preserved (Castle Manor and the Assomption Cathedral). The only one left at risk is Moncton High School. Hopefully we'll hear something on that file in the next year.........

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by habs33

Moncton Buys Garrison Building, Flips It To FDA
http://www.c103.com/news.asp?mn=3&id=2396&cc=86&pg=1

Thanks for posting it.
This explains all the attacking of Low income families on Facebook that I've seen on groups, and even on peoples personal pages. Most of it has been deleted but the internet will never forget I'm sure screen shots of the comments are lingering somewhere.

I'm wondering if the other food banks are going to close or not. I pass by the mark avenue food bank, and the manager (I think is her title) say's they don't know from one month to the next if they are going to stay open or not, and the only time there potential closure was made public was when the shelves where almost bare. But there are a lot of issues with the building there in.

[HanSoloCup]

Has anyone heard any news/rumours that the second office building at 1234 Main Street is to be torn down as opposed to it being refurbished as it's sister building was?

[Mattyyy]

Originally Posted by HanSoloCup

Has anyone heard any news/rumours that the second office building at 1234 Main Street is to be torn down as opposed to it being refurbished as it's sister building was?

I have now!

[Scarface]

It seems the project at 55 Queen St. may not be fully underwater as of yet they are still looking for Tenants for the Commercial/Retail space on the main floor of the building.

http://www.realtor.ca/Commercial/Retail/15856716/55-Queen-Moncton-New-Brunswick-E1C4S5

I find it strange how we are not hearing anything more about the project since it hit a massive bump in the road.

On a personal note I think it might be the prices that scared the majority of people off. Look at the town homes built off Millennium Blvd. I do believe most unit prices dropped almost half to be able to sell in the first Phase, and there new section (Phase 2) is semi/duplexes instead of townhomes with siding instead of brick.

[David_99]

Originally Posted by HanSoloCup

Has anyone heard any news/rumours that the second office building at 1234 Main Street is to be torn down as opposed to it being refurbished as it's sister building was?

I haven't heard that, but looking at their site, they do have a lot more vacancies then I thought between the two buildings. They could easily move it all into one and repurpose the 1222 land for something better suite for the post-event centre area.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by David_99

I haven't heard that, but looking at their site, they do have a lot more vacancies then I thought between the two buildings. They could easily move it all into one and repurpose the 1222 land for something better suite for the post-event centre area.

I concur. The original plan was to refurbish 1222 Main in the same manner as 1234 Main. This might still be the case.

Right now, it would be easy to relocate all the offices in 1222 Main to 1234 Main to allow for a forklift upgrade. This might be the source of the rumour that HanSoloCup heard. If 122 Main is refurbished in the same manner, it would almost be a demolition. Alternatively, Crombie might have new plans for that property now that the events centre has been approved. There have been rumours for something in behind these two office buildings, possibly including a parking garage.

Only time will tell.........

[Sunnybrae]

Originally Posted by David_99

I haven't heard that, but looking at their site, they do have a lot more vacancies then I thought between the two buildings. They could easily move it all into one and repurpose the 1222 land for something better suite for the post-event centre area.

Interesting that Numeris moved from 1234 to 1222. I was told that the layout they had at 1234 was purpose built for them and they were very proud of it.

[David_99]

Originally Posted by Sunnybrae

Interesting that Numeris moved from 1234 to 1222. I was told that the layout they had at 1234 was purpose built for them and they were very proud of it.

But 1222 is the crappy building...

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Sunnybrae

Interesting that Numeris moved from 1234 to 1222. I was told that the layout they had at 1234 was purpose built for them and they were very proud of it.

Actually, the information on that list is incorrect. One of my sons is currently working with Numeris, and he says that they are located on the 6th floor of 1234 Main Street.

Also, they list one of the tenants of 1222 Main as being ING Bank but ING is now Tangerine Bank (which is located in 1234 Main). Something screwy here......

In any event, I expect the remaining tenants of 1222 Main to relocate to 1234 Main next year, with 1222 Main then either receiving a forklift upgrade (like 1234 Main), or being demolished as part of a larger redevelopment including the space in behind the Sobeys building.

This is the current situation:



This is what has been proposed:



In this proposal, 1222 Main is a slightly smaller version of 1234 Main, but with identical architectural style and cladding. I personally expect that this is still the plan, but that both buildings will be physically connected with another (new) building in behind, including an indoor parking structure. I have no inside knowledge on this - just some vague rumblings and rumours........

[J81]

I heard that 1222 will be demolished from someone in the demolition business who will be working on that project. He couldnt specify if that meant bringing the entire building down though. 1234 was basically a complete demolition aside from the skeleton so who knows?

[Sandbagger]

FYI there's an excavator starting some digging on the new Zio's property today beside the old Moncton High building.

[pierremoncton]

Originally Posted by Scarface

On a personal note I think it might be the prices that scared the majority of people off. Look at the town homes built off Millennium Blvd. I do believe most unit prices dropped almost half to be able to sell in the first Phase, and there new section (Phase 2) is semi/duplexes instead of townhomes with siding instead of brick.

Moncton isn't a condo market yet (and won't be for quite a while). 25 Dominion is no longer marketing the building as condos; they're now apartments as per the patched-up sign and their website. I don't have high hopes for 55 Queen.

For the vast majority of people, it makes no sense to pay as much or more for a condo (on top of fees) as you would for a detached home. Even if you want to live in a multi-unit building downtown, you're better off renting; you then save yourself the headache and financial risk of having to resell in a tough buyers' market.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by J81

I heard that 1222 will be demolished from someone in the demolition business who will be working on that project. He couldnt specify if that meant bringing the entire building down though. 1234 was basically a complete demolition aside from the skeleton so who knows?

That could very well be the case that they would demolish all but the skeleton of the building for 1222 as they did for 1234.

Talking to some friends who work in both buildings, and they all believe the tenants at 1222 may be well on there way to moving into 1234 Not sure if it would be a temporary move(while the renovations go on), or permanent, and try for new tenants in 1222. Either way it would leave a lot less vacant square footage in 1234 Main Street unless all the businesses from both buildings decided to take up all the square footage of 1234.

Originally Posted by Sandbagger

FYI there's an excavator starting some digging on the new Zio's property today beside the old Moncton High building.

That excavator had been parked on the empty lot for a little while I was starting to wonder if they where delayed again, or not. Glad to hear that the work on the site itself has begun finally.

Originally Posted by pierremoncton

Moncton isn't a condo market yet (and won't be for quite a while). 25 Dominion is no longer marketing the building as condos; they're now apartments as per the patched-up sign and their website. I don't have high hopes for 55 Queen.

For the vast majority of people, it makes no sense to pay as much or more for a condo (on top of fees) as you would for a detached home. Even if you want to live in a multi-unit building downtown, you're better off renting; you then save yourself the headache and financial risk of having to resell in a tough buyers' market.

I tend to agree with you there I see even older generations either buying smaller single family homes or renting. I don't see very many people jump on anything in this city that has Monthly fee's attached. Especially apartments. Condo town homes are not as hard of a sell but still harder then single family residences from what I have seen of the real estate market in the area anyway.

[Nashe]

Re: Moncton condo market

Big part of the problem is probably general affordability of single family detached dwellings... condos would have to pose some significant cost advantages to compete and I don't think they do right now, once you add the fees in.

[Sandbagger]

Originally Posted by Scarface

That excavator had been parked on the empty lot for a little while I was starting to wonder if they where delayed again, or not. Glad to hear that the work on the site itself has begun finally.

We may have spoke too soon. Whatever they were digging yesterday is already all filled in and the excavator is now gone. Waiting until spring for the real action, maybe.