The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[Wolkenkratzerliebhab]

Originally Posted by RaginRonic

Does this mean that the Universal Truck location that's under the Crown Street overpass has been closed?

A worker at the site told me that he's not sure if the facility across the street will be closed or not, but I'm thinking that the new location is for truck sales only. It's possible that repairs, etc, will still be at the old location but I can't say any more than the worker on site.

[RR Drummer]

Originally Posted by RaginRonic

Does this mean that the Universal Truck location that's under the Crown Street overpass has been closed?

Good to see this building get a new life.

[magee_b]

Feb 26, 2016 - by Huddle Staff
SAINT JOHN – Saint Johners will soon have a new location to get their booze uptown.



New Brunswick-based property development and management firm Commercial Properties Limited announced Friday it will be building a new NB Liquor store on the corner of Wellington Row and Union Street. The property is currently a vacant lot used for parking.

“Working with our architect Malcolm Boyd of Murdock and Boyd Architects, we have come up with a design that extends the heritage character of the uptown but also allows for a modern retail environment,” said Commercial Properties’ vice president and general manager Paul Moore. “This exciting project is in keeping with the historic architecture of Uptown Saint John, and will feature brick and sandstone construction, as well as convenient on-site customer parking.”

The new store will replace the one currently located nearby at Prince Edward Square, with construction starting early this spring.

Commercial Properties will be hosting an open house March 1 at CenterBeam Place where residents and businesses can check out the new stores’s design and to learn more about the project.

Source: http://huddle.today/commercial-properties-building-new-nb-liquor-store-in-uptown-saint-john/

[JHikka]

Interesting spot. Two birds with one stone on this one...new building and structure and it reduces surface parking in the Uptown.

Also Huddle breaking stories on developments in SJ now.

[ErickMontreal]

Proposed Millidgeville development may be expanded
If approved, Jean Coutu pharmacy would be first phase



CBC News Posted: Feb 12, 2016 6:00 AM AT Last Updated: Feb 12, 2016 6:00 AM AT

Cobalt Properies dropped plans for a larger shopping centre in the area after strong objections from neighbours.

Much of of the property is currently home to a training center for the fire department. Plaza Retail has formally applied to re-designate the land from a residential to a retail classification to allow construction of a Jean Coutu pharmacy.

In 2014 another developer, Cobalt Properies dropped plans for a larger shopping centre in the same area after strong objections from neighbours who were concerned about potential noise, lighting and traffic.

The current development proposal includes a half-acre parcel, also owned by the city, that is covered by a covenant restricting its use to park or green space.

'This one isn't as disturbing.'
- Gina Wilkins, neighbour
That covenant can only be lifted by a private act of the legislature, and a spokesperson for Plaza Retail reaffirmed this week the company intends to apply to have it lifted, a process expected to take as long as a year.

On application documents made public by the city this week, the parcel is labelled "future development."

In the meantime, neighbours such as Gina Wilkins, of Candlewood Lane, are more open to the pharmacy development than to the earlier Cobalt Properties proposal.

"This one isn't as disturbing," said Wilkins. "At this point, there's not going to be any drive-thru restaurants and not quite as much traffic, I don't think, from just one establishment being there."

Wilkins says her neighbours, many of whom are seniors, will likely be more open to having a pharmacy nearby.

She's less sure about plans to have the covenant on the green space lifted, she said.

"It's nice to have some green space on the corner," said Wilkins. "If they could modify it as little as possible I think that would be better for the neighbourhood."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/millidgeville-development-expanded-1.3444501

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Interesting spot. Two birds with one stone on this one...new building and structure and it reduces surface parking in the Uptown.

Also Huddle breaking stories on developments in SJ now.

Too bad the building doesn't meet planning guidelines for various reasons, such as having the entrance on the back side of the building [facing the parking lot], and the windows along Union are all fake, but otherwise, yes it is great to see an in-fill project

[CdnEh]

Originally Posted by kwajo

Too bad the building doesn't meet planning guidelines for various reasons, such as having the entrance on the back side of the building [facing the parking lot], and the windows along Union are all fake, but otherwise, yes it is great to see an in-fill project

From the looks of the picture, the entrance is facing the street. I believe the rendering is from the corner of Union and Wellington.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by ErickMontreal

Proposed Millidgeville development may be expanded
If approved, Jean Coutu pharmacy would be first phase



CBC News Posted: Feb 12, 2016 6:00 AM AT Last Updated: Feb 12, 2016 6:00 AM AT

Cobalt Properies dropped plans for a larger shopping centre in the area after strong objections from neighbours.

Much of of the property is currently home to a training center for the fire department. Plaza Retail has formally applied to re-designate the land from a residential to a retail classification to allow construction of a Jean Coutu pharmacy.

In 2014 another developer, Cobalt Properies dropped plans for a larger shopping centre in the same area after strong objections from neighbours who were concerned about potential noise, lighting and traffic.

The current development proposal includes a half-acre parcel, also owned by the city, that is covered by a covenant restricting its use to park or green space.

'This one isn't as disturbing.'
- Gina Wilkins, neighbour
That covenant can only be lifted by a private act of the legislature, and a spokesperson for Plaza Retail reaffirmed this week the company intends to apply to have it lifted, a process expected to take as long as a year.

On application documents made public by the city this week, the parcel is labelled "future development."

In the meantime, neighbours such as Gina Wilkins, of Candlewood Lane, are more open to the pharmacy development than to the earlier Cobalt Properties proposal.

"This one isn't as disturbing," said Wilkins. "At this point, there's not going to be any drive-thru restaurants and not quite as much traffic, I don't think, from just one establishment being there."

Wilkins says her neighbours, many of whom are seniors, will likely be more open to having a pharmacy nearby.

She's less sure about plans to have the covenant on the green space lifted, she said.

"It's nice to have some green space on the corner," said Wilkins. "If they could modify it as little as possible I think that would be better for the neighbourhood."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/millidgeville-development-expanded-1.3444501

It's a little unfortunate that the first development plans got such negative feedback it would have been a positive boost for the area. But at least there not giving up 100% just changing tactics.

[UptownJeff]

Originally Posted by magee_b

Feb 26, 2016 - by Huddle Staff
SAINT JOHN – Saint Johners will soon have a new location to get their booze uptown.



New Brunswick-based property development and management firm Commercial Properties Limited announced Friday it will be building a new NB Liquor store on the corner of Wellington Row and Union Street. The property is currently a vacant lot used for parking.

“Working with our architect Malcolm Boyd of Murdock and Boyd Architects, we have come up with a design that extends the heritage character of the uptown but also allows for a modern retail environment,” said Commercial Properties’ vice president and general manager Paul Moore. “This exciting project is in keeping with the historic architecture of Uptown Saint John, and will feature brick and sandstone construction, as well as convenient on-site customer parking.”

The new store will replace the one currently located nearby at Prince Edward Square, with construction starting early this spring.

Commercial Properties will be hosting an open house March 1 at CenterBeam Place where residents and businesses can check out the new stores’s design and to learn more about the project.

Source: http://huddle.today/commercial-properties-building-new-nb-liquor-store-in-uptown-saint-john/

Fantastic news. I am 100% confident that with the track record of Commercial Properties ie: Centerbeam Place, this will be a showpiece for Uptown. As with the IO HQ this development will be a game changer for uptown!

[RaginRonic]

I'm just wondering what the status of Haymarket Square is?

It's just that I was on Google Maps StreetView, and saw what looked to me like the spaces where both KFC and the Kacey's-Crowes' Place bar empty and closed, and am also wondering if the bowling centre and bingo hall are still operating?

[WharfRat]

Nice design on the liquor store but not sure on the location. Closer to the Peninsula for walkability and or King Square for foot traffic would have been better IMO

[UptownJeff]

Originally Posted by WharfRat

Nice design on the liquor store but not sure on the location. Closer to the Peninsula for walkability and or King Square for foot traffic would have been better IMO

I was also originally hopeful for a king square location but I do believe this will be better. The location will draw people through the pedway and market hopefully increasing the foot traffic significantly turning into the need for more businesses.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by UptownJeff

I was also originally hopeful for a king square location but I do believe this will be better. The location will draw people through the pedway and market hopefully increasing the foot traffic significantly turning into the need for more businesses.

How will the location on Wellington & Union draw people through the pedway and market? If anything it'll draw more people to Brunswick Square and to Union Street as a whole. It depends on if ANBL thinks they receive more business from Waterloo Village/Mount Pleasant or from the Peninsula. I'd also like to see some sort of comparison of revenue between customers who walk versus customers who may park. A lot of that block right now is parking so i'm interested to see if how much parking the building takes up and how much they leave. As well, if ANBL takes over all of the parking on that block or if the Parking Commission will still operate.

It's a new business for Union, which is refreshing, but I agree that a King's Square location would have been better for centralizing pedestrian traffic in the Uptown. I'm curious if they did indeed try for King's Square North/Market Square prior to this location. The requirement that always stuck out to me was the transport truck requirement. I wonder how Wellington/Union meets this better than the other two locations that (at least we on SSP) mused about.

[UptownJeff]

Originally Posted by JHikka

How will the location on Wellington & Union draw people through the pedway and market? If anything it'll draw more people to Brunswick Square and to Union Street as a whole. It depends on if ANBL thinks they receive more business from Waterloo Village/Mount Pleasant or from the Peninsula. I'd also like to see some sort of comparison of revenue between customers who walk versus customers who may park. A lot of that block right now is parking so i'm interested to see if how much parking the building takes up and how much they leave. As well, if ANBL takes over all of the parking on that block or if the Parking Commission will still operate.

It's a new business for Union, which is refreshing, but I agree that a King's Square location would have been better for centralizing pedestrian traffic in the Uptown. I'm curious if they did indeed try for King's Square North/Market Square prior to this location. The requirement that always stuck out to me was the transport truck requirement. I wonder how Wellington/Union meets this better than the other two locations that (at least we on SSP) mused about.

Well, in my opinion the residents in the King square area, of which I'm one, and the folks in the new Irving HQ will typically walk through the market and maybe through brunswick square to get there. I believe that many people who will frequent this live or work uptown and that typically would be south of union. On nice days yes, people may walk along union but until they clean up the sleazy bars I think most will choose king street or the market/pedway.

As far as the paramount site I had heard it was a parking issue and for all I know, maybe the current owner didn't want to build and lease back. That was a condition of the tender. I think a busy retail venture like this is better off away from the square now that io is moving in. I believe the congestion would be high and this wAy it spreads it out. I'm not an urban planner but I do live and work in the heart of uptown.

[CdnEh]

A more walkable location for ANBL likely wouldn't have worked for logistical reasons. They rely on deliveries by transport truck - their product arrives on large pallets, not in small deliveries. A store in a location that wouldn't support the direct ferrying of product on/off the trucks would've been a big no-go.

[JHikka]

Huddle interviewed Historica Development's Keith Brideau this week.

Most interesting was this:

Originally Posted by Keith Brideau

Our current projects include turning around a 15 unit residential building, an eight unit residential building, transforming the former Bustin’s building on Germain Street into eight high quality loft apartments, a couple high quality office spaces, an Italian restaurant, a pub, and a comedy club.

In addition to that, we’re also in the process of looking for more investors. We’re looking for people who want to partner with us so we can continue building on the momentum we have and make Saint John great again.

[magee_b]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Huddle interviewed Historica Development's Keith Brideau this week.

Most interesting was this:

The Italian restaurant is going to be a new location for Italian by Night

After over four years sharing a space with Urban Deli, Italian by Night will soon have its own home on the city’s historic Germain Street.

Italian by Night is owned by Michelle Hooton, who is also its chef, and Elizabeth Rowe and Gord Hewitt, who also own the Urban Deli.

Hooton said after four years, it’s clear Italian by Night needs its own location.

“I think it’s the popularity of the restaurant,” Hooton said. “A lot of nights there is a line-up out the door and there just isn’t enough seats.”

It’s a unique set-up that worked for a while. Urban Deli operates during the daytime, but in the evening, Italian by Night would take over. They used this model because back in 2011, they couldn’t find the right space.

But now they have, and Italian by Night can finally stand on its own.

“We’ve always been a little bit confined with having the restaurant in the deli space, because the restaurant there was designed to be a sandwich deli. Trying to do upscale Italian food off a deli line takes a lot of imagination,” Hooton said. “What we’ll be able to do is install a kitchen specifically designed to deliver the food exactly the way we want.”

The restaurant will moving to former home of Bustin’s Fine Furniture, which closed in August after a century of business. Italian by Night will be working with Historica Developments to revamp the building on the corner of Germain and Grannan Streets, which has become a very popular area in the city’s core.

Source:http://huddle.today/saint-john-resto-breaking-out/

The pub is going to be called "Five and Dime" a project by Jody Kliffer (one of the people behind the Queens Square market. There was an article in the TJ yesterday about it.
Behind the paywall but here's the link: https://www.telegraphjournal.com/greater-saint-john/story/45998420/column-new-uptown-bar

[magee_b]

Also on the uptown scene:

Judith Mackin announced she has teamed up with Holly & Ken Singh (owners of Thandi) to turn a small building on Canterbury into a Scotch/Whiskey Bar, cleverly named "Hopscotch". Scheduled to open in June 2016.



Source: https://www.facebook.com/judithmackin/posts/10153803876711508

The building is really interesting as its almost simply a facade. It appears to be no more than 10 feet deep as there is a courtyard behind it, yet walking by on the street you would have no idea that it was any different than the surrounding structures. You can see it on google maps
https://goo.gl/maps/rPqdeXbCzoB2

[MonctonRad]

Is that a jackalope I see?

Quite clever.

[UptownJeff]

Attended the Commercial Properties open house for the new liquor store yesterday. Spoke to the folks from CP and the architect - very impressive - I do believe this will change the complexion of that area and draw significant foot traffic. Also, with the news that the "new" parking garage sold out its' monthly passes for the first time maybe we're seeing life being breathed into it as well! I think they should expand the monthly spaces available as I'm sure they will sell them. Now, as more people use the area the daily parking should also get a foothold.....if only there was a covered walkway!! Slow but sure people! Uptown is on the move!