[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[Walk then Run]

Don't get me wrong, this project seems exciting and full of potential. I also realize that I am living in the past for thinking how much money was wasted building a new school when it seems it would have been a fraction to have fixed what ever was ailing the poor 'ol girl. I'm more sensitive as I am a MHS grad (go Knights go).

I was very involved (mostly sports and school spirit), and had classes on all 3 levels. I can not see how moving the current library from its beautiful setting at Blue Cross to the level 1 of MHS makes any sense! Any grad would tell you that level 1 is not the "nicest" of the three levels, and a lot of money would need to be sunk into making this basement level adequate. Level 2 would make more sense as the offices and library are alread in place. Plus the MHS library overlooked the courtyard. I understand that the library may not move and it is not necessary for the project to continue, but I'll stand corrected if the plans are not to place the library on level 1 as I didn't get this from the FB video.

[Ammn_guy]

Just got notice that Downing st phase II construction starts monday apperently. Suppose to wrap up mid August

[MonctonRad]

St Jame's Gate downtown to reopen in May.

[pierremoncton]

Website for 55 Queen just changed their expected move-in date from "early 2017" to "early 2018", so it's now three years behind schedule. http://fivefive.ca/specifications/

[NBNYer]

Originally Posted by pierremoncton

Website for 55 Queen just changed their expected move-in date from "early 2017" to "early 2018", so it's now three years behind schedule. http://fivefive.ca/specifications/

At least it's not completely dead. Looks like it's still lumbering forward.

[MonctonRad]

Not dead, no, but I fear that in a year's time the website will be updated stating that the "move in date" will be early 2019.

I have every faith in the good intentions of the developers, and they have a good record with their Bella Casa condo project in Riverview, but at some point, the people who have placed deposits on condos at FiveFive Queen will start getting restless.

In addition, with the events centre project winding up in 2018, "Parcel B" will become available for development, which will also presumably have a large condominium component. There will also likely be condos as part of the Junction Village development too. These projects might have more desirability than FiveFive just because of their location close to the events centre.

It might be best if FiveFive Queen got off the ground sooner rather than later......

[David_99]

Hopefully any residential project in Downtown Moncton gets off the ground soon... We're still losing out on potential urban density to Dieppe, who keeps building more and more apartments buildings, while the Moncton projects sit and wait.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Not dead, no, but I fear that in a year's time the website will be updated stating that the "move in date" will be early 2019.

I have every faith in the good intentions of the developers, and they have a good record with their Bella Casa condo project in Riverview, but at some point, the people who have placed deposits on condos at FiveFive Queen will start getting restless.

In addition, with the events centre project winding up in 2018, "Parcel B" will become available for development, which will also presumably have a large condominium component. There will also likely be condos as part of the Junction Village development too. These projects might have more desirability than FiveFive just because of their location close to the events centre.

It might be best if FiveFive Queen got off the ground sooner rather than later......

Considering the Junction Village development had advertised as live/work space I tend to agree that it will most likely be condos. Also the fact previous planed showed new housing being built behind accessible from Vaughan Harvey. But there plans might have changed. As for Parcel B next to the event centre the city has stated they would like the new building to be commercial on the bottom level, and residential above.

[MonctonRad]

Well, I'm not sure what to make of this.......

The new Goodlife Fitness (the one being displaced from the Sobeys Plaza on Vaughan Harvey when Sobeys gets upgraded) is not going to be built between the VIA station and Shoppers Drug Mart as we all thought. (source - Moncton PAC April agenda)

It's going to be built across the street in the Junction Village development instead!

In other words, the (proposed) stately procession of buildings lining the west side of Vaughan Harvey between Main Street and the railway overpass won't be quite as stately as we had been led to believe.



The location in question appears to conform to the building on the extreme left of the image above.





If it were just this one building, It might not be so bad, but I now fear what this means for the whole Junction Urban Village concept. Will the remainder of the proposal go the same way and degenerate into yet another non descript semi-suburban strip mall? I certainly hope not. The Junction (in addition to the events centre) has the potential to really define the whole western entry into the downtown core of the city. I want the Junction to be more than just another suburban strip mall!!!

[NBNYer]

Yes, it does look very suburban, but I wouldn't say that the whole concept has changed just yet. If you look a this original concept plan, the area that shows a two-storey, L-shaped building appears to correspond with the location of the new Goodlife. It already had a significant setback from VH with plenty of surface parking facing Ivan Rand drive so it's not too much of a departure from the plan. The lots North closer to Main street have more of an urban layout and higher density. What I don't like is what appears to be another surface parking lot directly North of the proposed Goodlife facing Vaughn Harvey. Let's hope the city pressures the developers to stay true to the original concept. This area cannot be another suburban strip, it's much too close to the core and would be a huge waste of potential at a stone's throw from the Events Centre.

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

In addition to the renders that Erick posted above, I thought I would also post the site plan from the pdf marketing brochure:

[MonctonRad]

Yes, in retrospect you're right on this. I thought the lot in question conformed to the location of the last four storey building. Perhaps I overreacted then, but we both agree that the city should keep a close eye on the intents of the developer with relation to the whole Junction project.

[pierremoncton]

MonctonRad is right. I lined up the parcel property lines and here's what happens - the first image overlays Goodlife over the original plan, while the second image blends them together:





As you can see, the original 2-storey building becomes parking, while the 4-storey building turns into Goodlife & parking.

Couldn't the city at least force parking to be put out back and out of sight? I've always found odd that only a few years ago Sobeys was built with mass parking all along Vaughan Harvey. Same goes with Dieppe and the new retail strip on Champlain St. A short setback from the sidewalk would do wonders for urban feel, yet now that these parking lots exist, we'll have to accept this stupidity for another generation or more, and it appears set to happen again with this development.

[mmmatt]

Argh! They're definitely trying to capitalize on the popular notion "there's no parking for the events center" as this is easily triple the required parking for a gym. At least it's a quality looking building that has frontage on the street...if in years to come demand picks up the parking space along the sides of the building could be easily in filled...I really don't want this being a suburban development either but I'm glad to see something starting the ball rolling on that lot which has been a blight for years...here's hoping it will mean bigger and better things to come

[HanSoloCup]

Isn't the rumoured new Hilton Hotel part of this complex also?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by HanSoloCup

Isn't the rumoured new Hilton Hotel part of this complex also?

That is the rumour yes, but I have no idea about the credence of this. Perhaps others have some inside information.

[MonctonRad]

Further to the above, if there is to be a hotel built at the Junction Urban Village (and I think this to be highly plausible), and if it is to be a Hilton branded hotel, I wonder if it will be a Hilton Garden Inn similar to the one being built in Fredericton as part of their new convention centre.

That particular hotel is to be eight stories and 120 rooms. The hotel is being built by Danny Murphy from Charlottetown. I could see him being interested in building a similar hotel here.

The rendering for the Freddy hotel is below:



Obviously, a hotel built at the Junction Village could have an entirely different appearance, but could be similar in size and scale........

[MonctonRad]

New restaurant coming for downtown:


(source - https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hph...530f8cbab1d8b14fc54ff56f8710&oe=5774CA32 on the competing Facebook Moncton retail site)

I don't know anything about the establishment, but the name suggests a third Japanese restaurant for Main Street, likely sushi..........

[L'homard]

Everybody loves ramen.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

That particular hotel is to be eight stories and 120 rooms. The hotel is being built by Danny Murphy from Charlottetown. I could see him being interested in building a similar hotel here.

Actually it's being built by Francesco Aquilini, owner of the Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook and the Vancouver Canucks.

[Monctoncore]

If it's being built by Aquillini, then signs point to it possibly happening in Moncton as well, seeing as how, he own the crowne plaza and the whole block it's on.