[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by Sandbagger

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.

I do know that one of the contractors said something about the water, and sewage lines possibly needing upgrading so that might actually be what they where working on. Hopefully the Project will start sooner rather then later tho. They have had machinery there on, and off for a while tends to make me a little worried whether the project will be a go ahead, or not. According to the owner tho it's still a go ahead.

[lirette]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

There was something about this before Moncton PAC 4-6 months back. Yes, they are combining the two store fronts, and it will be for a bar/cocktail lounge. I'm thinking it's for Navigator's, but I'm not 100% sure.

This mystery is solved

https://www.facebook.com/Third-Glass-940099859398514/?fref=ts

http://www.thethirdglass.com/




There is also now something being completed in the bottom of "Gusto" called Grotto Kitchen + Bar. The reno's look really well done on their FB page. Looks like something unique for Moncton. They are currently serving drinks while people wait for tables for Gusto but will be a full service restaurant in the new year

https://www.facebook.com/TheGrottoMoncton/?fref=ts

[alienc]

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?

I worked in the 1222 main building for 5 years up to 2003 and even then it had a lot of problems. There were water leaks both in the ceiling and from the windows as well as the insulation or whatever they had in the corner posts was coming out. I don't imagine they've done anything to renovate that building since then.

From what I heard at that time the 1234 Building was in better shape which might explain why they started with that one to renovate.

They make take the approach to start stripping down the building like they did for 1234 Main and decide what the structure looks like before proceeding to renovate or demolish.

I would imagine a demolition job on that building would take some time given it's close proximity to Main St and 1234 Main and the number of stories there are to come down.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by alienc

I worked in the 1222 main building for 5 years up to 2003 and even then it had a lot of problems. There were water leaks both in the ceiling and from the windows as well as the insulation or whatever they had in the corner posts was coming out. I don't imagine they've done anything to renovate that building since then.

From what I heard at that time the 1234 Building was in better shape which might explain why they started with that one to renovate.

They make take the approach to start stripping down the building like they did for 1234 Main and decide what the structure looks like before proceeding to renovate or demolish.

I would imagine a demolition job on that building would take some time given it's close proximity to Main St and 1234 Main and the number of stories there are to come down.

I do agree with you there Alienc If they do tear back the curtain on 1222 Main street, and realize the structure is in to bad a shape I do believe they will be removing the building with surgical precision one level at a time. But from what I seen there is nothing seemingly wrong with the structure just the shell surrounding it.(Roof, walls, windows, and doors.) It had been poorly insulated it seems.

[MonctonRad]

Here's a nice write-up from Atlantic Restaurant News regarding the expanded Zio's project at Church & Mountain:

Zio’s Pizzeria planning massive expansion
Atlantic Restaurant News
by Bill Tremblay
17/11/2015 | 10:39 AM

MONCTON, N.B. — A vision 30 years in the making is about to become a reality for Sandro Speranza, owner and chief executive officer of Zio’s Pizza Kitchen.

Throughout the last three decades, Speranza has been purchasing parcels of land at the corner of Church Street and Mountain Road in Moncton, N.B., the neighbourhood where he grew up. Now with seven properties in his name, which span nearly the entire block, Speranza is planning to construct a 13,000-square-foot retail development, with a new Zio’s as the anchor.

The second phase of the development will add office space to the complex.

“He’s been working at this since 1985, accumulating one piece of property at a time on that block,” said George Bartlett, Zio’s director of operations and franchising.

As Speranza purchased the properties, he would clear the derelict buildings from the site as a first step to revitalizing the area.

“It’s his neighbourhood; he grew up two streets over,” Bartlett said. “It is a run down area; it needs some revitalization.”

The new Zio’s will feature a 220-seat casual full service restaurant and espresso bar as well as a carryout pizzeria and deli.

While the development fulfills a dream, it also fulfills a need to expand. The current Zio’s pizzeria, located on the same spot as the project, seats 22 guests and is unable to meet demand. Takeout and delivery account for 95 per cent of its traffic.

“The business has outgrown itself. It’s grown from humble beginnings to $1 million a year in a tight, cramped space,” Bartlett said. “On Friday and Saturday nights they have to take the phone off the hook for an hour. They can’t keep up with the volume.”

The restaurant will feature seafood, steak and pasta with an average check of $22 to $24. Pizza will, of course, remain on the menu including traditional Sicilian and wood-fired Neapolitan pies.

Zio’s also plans to introduce Roman-style pizza to Moncton.

“It’s a thicker, more bread-like crust pizza,” Bartlett said.

With Zio’s currently working on three new locations throughout New Brunswick, the existing pizzeria will be converted into a production kitchen for retail and franchise supply.

The project is expected to cost about $4.1 million with the pizzeria opening in April of 2016, followed by the restaurant.

“This would be a scary project going into this with a straight-up start up,” Bartlett said. “When you have an established brand in the market and a $1 million base business, it takes a lot of that fear away.”

[mctnguy]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The project is expected to cost about $4.1 million with the pizzeria opening in April of 2016, followed by the restaurant.

That's only 4 and a half months away. Seems ambitious! How is this possible if they haven't broken ground yet?

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by mctnguy

That's only 4 and a half months away. Seems ambitious! How is this possible if they haven't broken ground yet?

Possibly looking at prefab construction. Otherwise they din't check there dates, and construction times. I've heard of Companies like Kent Home (who don't only build for residential purposes) can possibly build the building indoors in sections, and drop it on site when it's ready there are also companies who build the walls (both for basement, and above ground use) off site, and drop them on site when your ready to receive them. Even then is seems a little ambitious.

[BlackYear]

Originally Posted by mctnguy

That's only 4 and a half months away. Seems ambitious! How is this possible if they haven't broken ground yet?

From what I'm reading, the take out pizzeria will open first and the restaurant later. I assume all of the retail area are all to be finished later as well.

Seeing the pizzeria is their main moneymaker, they probably want to get that production up and running first, while the rest of the building is being worked on. The current building would still be open and producing take out pizza and having a "second location" right next door.

However, you are correct that 4 months for even that is ambitious for sure.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Budyser

From what I'm reading, the take out pizzeria will open first and the restaurant later. I assume all of the retail area are all to be finished later as well.

Seeing the pizzeria is their main moneymaker, they probably want to get that production up and running first, while the rest of the building is being worked on. The current building would still be open and producing take out pizza and having a "second location" right next door.

That was my take as well.........

[MonctonRad]

I'm sure that a lot of people who have been hanging around the forum for years remember when the first proposal for the Harper Building on East Main Street at Harper Lane came out. It was maybe four years ago.

- The first rendering showed an ultra avant garde condo and apartment tower on a podium measuring at least 12 stories or so in height.

- About a year later, the second rendering appeared, showing a rather generic looking eight storey residential building with a commercial base.

- Then silence for about two years or so..........

- I see there is now a sign on the site stating "Harper Building - will build to suit"............

Desperate times I guess.............

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I'm sure that a lot of people who have been hanging around the forum for years remember when the first proposal for the Harper Building on East Main Street at Harper Lane came out. It was maybe four years ago.

- The first rendering showed an ultra avant garde condo and apartment tower on a podium measuring at least 12 stories or so in height.

- About a year later, the second rendering appeared, showing a rather generic looking eight storey residential building with a commercial base.

- Then silence for about two years or so..........

- I see there is now a sign on the site stating "Harper Building - will build to suit"............

Desperate times I guess.............

Is this the same lot, or area where there was a proposal for an office building, and the top floor(s) where supposed to be government offices?

[David_99]

Originally Posted by Scarface

Is this the same lot, or area where there was a proposal for an office building, and the top floor(s) where supposed to be government offices?

Possibly. If so, they were competing with the proposed, 3 mixed-use buildings in the Rogers Parking Lot. Another project that never came to pass.

[habs33]

Main Street lot poised for development
https://www.telegraphjournal.com/times-transcript/story/45198616/main-street-lot-poised

[MonctonRad]

Finally. I wonder if the building proposal still looks like this:

[L'homard]

Nope they changed it some. I saw a new drawing but it was a little while ago and can't recall much except bigger glass panes and only two stories if I recall. I remember thinking that it looked nice though.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by L'homard

Nope they changed it some. I saw a new drawing but it was a little while ago and can't recall much except bigger glass panes and only two stories if I recall. I remember thinking that it looked nice though.

Thanks. Better than a hole in the ground anyway.

[MonctonRad]

Well, we're certainly in the winter doldrums as far as development related news is concerned!!!

Delightfully Delicious on Main Street has closed - apparently a victim of the Sushi Wars.........

[MonctonRad]

The Empire Block looks much nicer now that the facade has been refurbished. Manpower Placement has moved into the left side of the building. It also appears there is something moving in on the right side as well, but I can't tell what. There certainly appears to be some work going on in the inside.......

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The Empire Block looks much nicer now that the facade has been refurbished. Manpower Placement has moved into the left side of the building. It also appears there is something moving in on the right side as well, but I can't tell what. There certainly appears to be some work going on in the inside.......

It looks like the also replaced the windows above.
Either way I love the new front it looks more like 2 Commercial units

Now I wonder what is/or will be going into the old Manpower location.

[David_99]

So the Co-Operators employees on Record St were just told to not park near the old Co-Op next door as the building will be demolished end of Jan/early Feb. Now the talk is that Sobeys is planning on using the space as "parking". Whether that means a lot or a structure, not sure. Another parking lot is the last thing we need downtown, but seeing as how it's a short walk and a hop over the train tracks from the Events Centre makes it interesting.