The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[saintjohnirish☘]

Originally Posted by JHikka

I disagree. The secret to keeping historic buildings is to recognize their value and to prevent their removal.

The most interesting thing about the article to me is that he contrasts a very dark and gloomy 1970s Saint John with a brighter, more upbeat SJ that exists today. Anyone in the city over the age of 50 will lead you to believe the exact opposite.

You're right. And strange eh? The 1970s were a pretty booming time for SJ, with a much more diverse economy, less Irving monopoly

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by JHikka

I disagree. The secret to keeping historic buildings is to recognize their value and to prevent their removal.

The most interesting thing about the article to me is that he contrasts a very dark and gloomy 1970s Saint John with a brighter, more upbeat SJ that exists today. Anyone in the city over the age of 50 will lead you to believe the exact opposite.

A lot of people will remember the past with rose coloured glasses, completely ignoring the advancements that have been made in the past few decades. As an example, I subscribe to a Facebook page that posts historic photos of SJ and it angers me every time there is a photo of Uptown pre-1980 and see a comment stream of people claiming "I wish Uptown was like this now" or "how sad to see what our city core looks like today," when meanwhile those of us who have lived in the neighbourhood for a long time can see the improvements, can feel the renewed optimism, and how much cleaner and safer the area is that it was in the past. It particularly bothers me when the complaints come from those who also claim to "never come Uptown anymore" which marks a fervent hypocrisy to their own subjective observations of it being quiet or under-developed. I never understood how anyone can form an opinion of something and not even consider revising that opinion after decades have passed.

[saintjohnirish☘]

Decades ago Saint John, and especially its core, was much more populated. I imagine that's the vibrancy people would refer to. We got a lot going on uptown now, no question. Best downtown around.

The new Falls restaurant is looking very cool. Owner wants Saint John to start imagining the city without the pulp mill over west. He is spot on when he says it's gotta go. With all the subsidies Irving gets I don't think its unreasonable. Especially when you consider how radical it is to have large pollutants in dense urban areas leading to SJ having 82 per cent higher rates of lung cancer than the national average as CCNB pointd out years ago. That's horrifying.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/reversing-falls-update-1.3932655

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by kwajo

A lot of people will remember the past with rose coloured glasses, completely ignoring the advancements that have been made in the past few decades. As an example, I subscribe to a Facebook page that posts historic photos of SJ and it angers me every time there is a photo of Uptown pre-1980 and see a comment stream of people claiming "I wish Uptown was like this now" or "how sad to see what our city core looks like today," when meanwhile those of us who have lived in the neighbourhood for a long time can see the improvements, can feel the renewed optimism, and how much cleaner and safer the area is that it was in the past. It particularly bothers me when the complaints come from those who also claim to "never come Uptown anymore" which marks a fervent hypocrisy to their own subjective observations of it being quiet or under-developed. I never understood how anyone can form an opinion of something and not even consider revising that opinion after decades have passed.

All good points.

One thing I feel the need to add is that downtowns aren't necessarily bustling with people at night. Places like Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, Halifax don't have uber busy downtowns at all times of day. They have separate areas for bars and restaurants, of course, but their CBDs are desolate (Ottawa is especially dreadful). Walk down Barrington or Laurier or Queen or Rene-Levesque at 9PM on a Friday and let me know what you find.

I get the feeling a lot of people simply make judgments by driving down Union or King and assume there should be people around. It seems to me at least that these same people also don't have comparable downtowns to compare SJ to. Their expectations aren't based on anything real.

Venturing down Prince William or Germain or Princess in 2017 is a hell of a lot better than it was in 2005 or 2010, all things considered. Things are headed in the right direction.

[Helladog]

New liquor store and crane...

[CdnEh]

Originally Posted by saintjohnirish☘

Decades ago Saint John, and especially its core, was much more populated. I imagine that's the vibrancy people would refer to. We got a lot going on uptown now, no question. Best downtown around.

The new Falls restaurant is looking very cool. Owner wants Saint John to start imagining the city without the pulp mill over west. He is spot on when he says it's gotta go. With all the subsidies Irving gets I don't think its unreasonable. Especially when you consider how radical it is to have large pollutants in dense urban areas leading to SJ having 82 per cent higher rates of lung cancer than the national average as CCNB pointd out years ago. That's horrifying.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/reversing-falls-update-1.3932655

The entire pulp mill would have to burn to the ground before anybody would consider moving it. JDI has billions invested in that operation and to consider moving it would be ridiculous. It's akin to tearing down the Empire State Building because the neighbours don't like the view.

While I appreciate what this guy is doing for the Falls site, some of his ideas and opinions have me thinking he's a bit of a crackpot.

[saintjohnirish☘]

Originally Posted by CdnEh

The entire pulp mill would have to burn to the ground before anybody would consider moving it. JDI has billions invested in that operation and to consider moving it would be ridiculous. It's akin to tearing down the Empire State Building because the neighbours don't like the view.

While I appreciate what this guy is doing for the Falls site, some of his ideas and opinions have me thinking he's a bit of a crackpot.

An office building and a pulp mill aren't quite the same, obvious reasons. And NB citizens, government tax policy and crown land allocations have in fact been subsidizing Irving (billionaires) for decades.

Anyone know whatever happen to the Medical Arts Building that was announced at Tucker Park by the last government?

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2460377293

[cdnguys]

Anyone know what announcement Brian Gallant, Ed Doherty and Wayne Long is going to make next week ? He tweeted "hundreds of jobs coming to Saint John" with a picture of Loyalist Plaza with port in far background.
Hopefully an announcement for long-term good paying jobs. I'll be disappointed if it's job announcement for port expansion - how many times can you make a new announcement for something that's been announced twice before ?

[CdnEh]

Originally Posted by saintjohnirish☘

An office building and a pulp mill aren't quite the same, obvious reasons. And NB citizens, government tax policy and crown land allocations have in fact been subsidizing Irving (billionaires) for decades.

So what? Do you want the taxpayers to kick in another billion so that they can rebuild somewhere else? Do you know how many people are employed by that mill and its various related organizations?

I agree it is ugly and unsightly, but to even consider a move would be ridiculously unrealistic.

[saintjohnirish☘]

^We kick them out, they pay every penny of it too

[saintjohnirish☘]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

Anyone know what announcement Brian Gallant, Ed Doherty and Wayne Long is going to make next week ? He tweeted "hundreds of jobs coming to Saint John" with a picture of Loyalist Plaza with port in far background.
Hopefully an announcement for long-term good paying jobs. I'll be disappointed if it's job announcement for port expansion - how many times can you make a new announcement for something that's been announced twice before ?

Can't think of anything but port related either.

Other key files we wait on?

NB Museum
Partridge Island
Fort La Tour
Medical Arts Building at Tucker Park?
Shipyard reopening??

..Might be missing a few in there, but those are some potentially transformative ones.

Cape Spencer too, if developed properly with good marketing could be our own Peggy's Cove. Pretty stellar and seriously under used.

[UptownJeff]

I have it on pretty good authority that it's not the coast guard site announcement but we'll see!



QUOTE=saintjohnirish☘;7679202]Can't think of anything but port related either.

Other key files we wait on?

NB Museum
Partridge Island
Fort La Tour
Medical Arts Building at Tucker Park?
Shipyard reopening??

..Might be missing a few in there, but those are some potentially transformative ones.

Cape Spencer too, if developed properly with good marketing could be our own Peggy's Cove. Pretty stellar and seriously under used.[/QUOTE]

[UptownJeff]

I understand the announcement will be made at Sears - yes Sears, Friday morning and although Wayne Long will be there it is apparently a Provincial announcement. If it's a Sears call centre subsidized by tax dollars I will not be happy!

Originally Posted by UptownJeff

I have it on pretty good authority that it's not the coast guard site announcement but we'll see!



QUOTE=saintjohnirish☘;7679202]Can't think of anything but port related either.

Other key files we wait on?

NB Museum
Partridge Island
Fort La Tour
Medical Arts Building at Tucker Park?
Shipyard reopening??

..Might be missing a few in there, but those are some potentially transformative ones.

Cape Spencer too, if developed properly with good marketing could be our own Peggy's Cove. Pretty stellar and seriously under used.

[/QUOTE]

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by UptownJeff

I understand the announcement will be made at Sears - yes Sears, Friday morning and although Wayne Long will be there it is apparently a Provincial announcement. If it's a Sears call centre subsidized by tax dollars I will not be happy!

They announced a Sears call centre in Edmundston just the other week, so you never know.

A couple of hundred minimum wage jobs working for a company likely to be insolvent in the next 3-4 years. Way to go NB!!!

[kwajo]

Could very well be about Sears, the news stories about the Edmundston announcement mentioned more details to follow on January 17th, which would coincide with this announcement in Saint John. Maybe they're setting up French and English call centres in different cities?

http://www.acadienouvelle.com/actualites...de-100-demplois-bientot-annonces/?pgnc=1

[UptownJeff]

Originally Posted by kwajo

Could very well be about Sears, the news stories about the Edmundston announcement mentioned more details to follow on January 17th, which would coincide with this announcement in Saint John. Maybe they're setting up French and English call centres in different cities?

http://www.acadienouvelle.com/actualites...de-100-demplois-bientot-annonces/?pgnc=1

Great....another subsidized low pay call centre for a company that is on life support.....way to go Mr. Premier.....2018 can't come fast enough!

[JHikka]

I mean, if you guys would prefer no jobs at all....low paying or not jobs are jobs, especially for an area seeking to retain youth and immigrants.

If indeed it is some sort of call centre here's hoping it's located at least somewhere near the Uptown. Probably won't be but one can always hope.

[UptownJeff]

Originally Posted by JHikka

I mean, if you guys would prefer no jobs at all....low paying or not jobs are jobs, especially for an area seeking to retain youth and immigrants.

If indeed it is some sort of call centre here's hoping it's located at least somewhere near the Uptown. Probably won't be but one can always hope.

Here's hoping I'm wrong and it's the answer to our prayers. I'm not averse to low paying jobs; I'm against low paying jobs that are subsidized by my tax dollars for a company that in all likelihood will not be around in the not too distant future. Jobs at any cost is not the answer. The answer, in part, is to attract sustainable industry to our Province that will provide a fair and competitive wage in addition to encouraging a skilled workforce. This government appears bent on just throwing money at any issue - government does not create jobs, they create the environment for private business to flourish and grow - in my opinion, payroll rebates for a call centre do not achieve this. Again, it's all speculation at this point.....we'll see Friday!

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by JHikka

I mean, if you guys would prefer no jobs at all....low paying or not jobs are jobs, especially for an area seeking to retain youth and immigrants.

If indeed it is some sort of call centre here's hoping it's located at least somewhere near the Uptown. Probably won't be but one can always hope.

I'm not against call centre jobs; I am after all from Moncton.

Some call centre jobs can be quite good, especially with the banking industry or large multinationals but Sears!!!

I mean, Jesus Christ, this company won't exist in 4-5 years time. Everyone knows this. The company is on a ventilator in the ICU and is paying off it's medical bills by selling it's house and all it's belongings. The cupboard is bare. They've sold off most of their real estate, closed many of their stores and have even bartered away their Craftsman Tools division. They're circling the drain and as they close in on the edge of the drain the coriolis force is picking up speed. The end is in sight. The average senior manager in the company lasts about 4-6 months before leaping ship. Even the rats have already gone overboard.

If this is the best that Brian Gallant can come up with for a job creation strategy in the Port City, it's a pretty sad indictment if you ask me. Saint John should be able to do much, much, much better.

It makes me feel ashamed to call myself a New Brunswicker.

I hope there aren't too many tax dollars involved in this fiasco, but then again this is the same bunch of criminals who were responsible for the Atcon affair.

I feel so dirty - I need a shower...........

[UptownJeff]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I'm not against call centre jobs; I am after all from Moncton.

Some call centre jobs can be quite good, especially with the banking industry or large multinationals but Sears!!!

I mean, Jesus Christ, this company won't exist in 4-5 years time. Everyone knows this. The company is on a ventilator in the ICU and is paying off it's medical bills by selling it's house and all it's belongings. The cupboard is bare. They've sold off most of their real estate, closed many of their stores and have even bartered away their Craftsman Tools division. They're circling the drain and as they close in on the edge of the drain the coriolis force is picking up speed. The end is in sight. The average senior manager in the company lasts about 4-6 months before leaping ship. Even the rats have already gone overboard.

If this is the best that Brian Gallant can come up with for a job creation strategy in the Port City, it's a pretty sad indictment if you ask me. Saint John should be able to do much, much, much better.

It makes me feel ashamed to call myself a New Brunswicker.

I hope there aren't too many tax dollars involved in this fiasco, but then again this is the same bunch of criminals who were responsible for the Atcon affair.

I feel so dirty - I need a shower...........

I heard today that Sears just signed a one year lease with mcAllister place.....one year! I would think most places would want a 5 or 10 year lease.....something's not right with this and I hope to God my suspicions are wrong.....