The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[KnoxfordGuy]

What's the Golden Ball?

[UptownJeff]

Originally Posted by KnoxfordGuy

What's the Golden Ball?

The current Irving oil head office building.

[KnoxfordGuy]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh well that's cool!

[Franco401]

Would this mean the demolition of any existing buildings at Union/Waterloo? In particular the one-storey shop on Union could conceivably be demolished.

[UptownJeff]

Originally Posted by Franco401

Would this mean the demolition of any existing buildings at Union/Waterloo? In particular the one-storey shop on Union could conceivably be demolished.

No idea but as far as I know they only bought the vacant piece at the corner. There is a building right next door on Waterloo for sale.

[kwajo]

Ugh, more park? That's a waste of a prime building lot.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by UptownJeff

I hear that Irving Oil has bought the triangle of land at Union and Waterloo and will be turned into a park. Also the Golden Ball will become the Irving Museum.

Is the Triangle piece of land the one where Union Deli, and the Pawn shop(Previously Sunshine Market) use to sit?

If so I am a little sad that there is not going to be another building there but am glad that the land will be used for something at least.

[UptownJeff]

Originally Posted by Scarface

Is the Triangle piece of land the one where Union Deli, and the Pawn shop(Previously Sunshine Market) use to sit?

If so I am a little sad that there is not going to be another building there but am glad that the land will be used for something at least.

Yes, that is the space.

[kwajo]

Some renderings shared by Acre Architects this week, not sure how likely they are to see construction, but a fun way to imagine this classic building between Prince William St. and Water St. being revitalized.

[OliverD]

Not sure how feasible it would be but I think that building with a modern addition on top like that would make for a cool boutique hotel.

[UptownJeff]

Originally Posted by OliverD

Not sure how feasible it would be but I think that building with a modern addition on top like that would make for a cool boutique hotel.

When the full fundy parkway is opened I believe tourism will explode in Saint John. This may expand the need for a boutique hotel.

[WharfRat]

Originally Posted by UptownJeff

When the full fundy parkway is opened I believe tourism will explode in Saint John. This may expand the need for a boutique hotel.

Tourism is up in Saint john this year already, partly due to the great cruise ship season but hotel stays are also up.

http://huddle.today/2016-good-year-for-tourism-in-saint-john/

[JHikka]

J.D. Irving Ltd. looks for hundreds of new uptown parking spaces
Company's 750 headquarter staff spread across 16 parking lots
By Connell Smith, CBC News Posted: Nov 21, 2016 7:30 AM AT Last Updated: Nov 21, 2016 7:30 AM AT

J.D. Irving Ltd. is in talks with the City of Saint John to create hundreds of new parking spaces near the company's uptown headquarters.

About 750 people work at the company's corporate offices at 300 Union St.

JDI spokesperson Mary Keith says that represents a 20 per cent increase over the past three years. "Parking is currently spread out over 16 locations with some employees walking more than [a] kilometre," said Keith. "This is a challenge ​— especially during winter months."

Parking availability has tightened over the past year following a city crackdown on unregistered parking lots, and some new construction on land that had been used for parking. But the online monthly parking space map maintained by the Saint John Parking Commission still shows more than 400 spots available in the area between City Road and Queen Street.

With construction underway on the Irving Oil headquarters building just a couple of blocks away from J.D. Irving Ltd. that may change.

The building will be home to 1,000 employees.

"We are currently in discussion with the city about resolving this matter," said Keith, adding that the company does not want the issue to become "a recruitment or retention problem."

Saint John Mayor Don Darling and Ward 1 councillors Donna Reardon and Gerry Lowe recently met with representatives of JDI to discuss the matter.

"They have a problem and they're trying to solve it," said Lowe, who suggested a new parking garage might be the solution. "We've suggested that, and they've talked a little bit about it."

In 2015 Saint John council deeded a block of Elliot Row to J.D. Irving. The company had plans at that time to close the street to traffic to create a 130-space parking lot. To date no construction has taken place.

Uptown Saint John executive director, Nancy Tissington said she hopes other potential solutions are also being considered to deal with the parking issue. "I think it's more that just looking at building parkades and building parking lots," Tissington said. "I think it's looking at the picture a little more holistically."

Tissington said improved public transit to the uptown or a shuttle that continuously loops past existing central peninsula parking areas might be a simpler way to get workers to their offices.

She's not opposed to a parkade.

"Of course we want to get those employers in the uptown," said Tissington. "I think there's a good balance, if we build it right."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/irving-uptown-parking-1.3857933

[kwajo]

New ownership of the Buckley building on Germain and some [crude] renderings of the work intended to renovate it, another great improvement to our Uptown building stock and urban population density.

https://sjcommercialre.com/2016/11/21/buckley-building-has-new-owners/

[kwajo]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-john-selling-property-1.3864584

The city's real estate department is also trying to get fire code restrictions lifted to allow construction of wood-frame buildings six storeys or higher.

Irving said this would make a city-owned property at Princess and Canterbury streets far more attractive to developers, who are now restricted to four storeys for wood-frame buildings.

"If we can get an amendment to allow two more storeys of floor, it adds value to the land as well as value to the tax base that we'll ultimately receive," said Irving.

The property is currently a parking lot.

The move to allow a taller building on the site was hailed by Morgan Lanigan, an urbanist who sits on the board of Uptown Saint John.

'It's really exciting to see, or even imagine the potential that, you know, a six-storey building, new construction, can provide for us on one of the best blocks in the city.'
- Morgan Lanigan, urbanist
​Lanigan predicts there would be a lot of interest in the property with other new businesses, including shops, apartments and a pub already on Canterbury.

"All of a sudden this becomes a very desirable area for development," Lanigan said.

"It's really exciting to see, or even imagine the potential that, you know, a six-storey building, new construction, can provide for us on one of the best blocks in the city."

In the meantime, Saint John Non Profit Housing is preparing to issue a request for proposals for an architect to design a mixed-income housing project of 30 to 40 units at the intersection of Union Street and Wellington Row.

Narinder Singh, the group's general manager, said the organization will exercise an option to purchase four city-owned buildings, including two of the so-called Jelly Bean houses on Wellington Row.

It also has an agreement of purchase for the third Jelly Bean house, which had been in private hands.

"We will try to incorporate the facades," said Singh.

The three historic houses are often photographed and have attracted a lot of attention over the years from visitors to the city.

GREAT news on both fronts, the Jellybean buildings should be used as a large residential draw and the height restriction lifted will open up development (I have heard at least three developments are on the sidelines waiting for this change)

[Ire Narissis]

I've heard that a couple is purchasing the recently-vacated Cox Electronics building on the west side to turn it into a health centre (upstairs) and a pair of gyms (downstairs), one co-ed and one women-only. They're purchasing all the equipment from the west side Curves, which is closing soon.

[Wolkenkratzerliebhab]

A few frames, from my Flipcam, of the progress of the Reversing Falls Restaurant refurbishment.
Reversing Falls Restaurant Refurbishment Progress by I'm Me, Who are You?, on Flickr
Reversing Falls Restaurant Refurbishment Progress2 by I'm Me, Who are You?, on Flickr

[Franco401]

Wow! I haven't been to that part of town since June, great to see progress. I don't like that second shot facing the street however.

[CdnEh]

The street facing side is a bit... foretressy. What does he have against windows?

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by CdnEh

The street facing side is a bit... foretressy. What does he have against windows?

I'm wondering if it had to do with the sharp turn - concern of vehicle going through glass window and striking people ?