[Moncton] Centre Avenir Centre | 26.65m |~6 Fl | Completed - Page 83

josh_cat_eyes · #**1641** Posted **Jun 21, 2017, 12:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

If you're referring to a parking garage at the Moncton Hospital, then yes, Scarface is correct.

Back at about the time that planning was going on for the new ambulatory care centre at the Moncton Hospital, a proposal was floated to build a parking garage across the street in the public parking lot on the other side of MacBeath, and connect it to the hospital via an elevated pedway.

Unfortunately, the neighbours on Edgett avenue took great umbrage to the idea of a parking garage across the street from them, and petitioned city hall to prevent a building permit from being issued.

That's so stupid!! It wouldn't really need to be that big anyways, one level down and one level up would do.
There also should be parking structures south of Assumption Place, behind city hall and another near the events centre.

flyer99 · #**1642** Posted **Jun 21, 2017, 2:14 PM**

I have read a lot of posts on here regarding parking on the other side of the tracks as if this is almost a foregone conclusion . Okay, so who owns this property, are they willing to have event goers park there, how much (if anything) will they charge, how do you get from one side of the tracks to the other???

Why wasn't the issue of parking in this location brought up by these "consultants"? Can they or City Hall answer the above questions? I agree there are lots of spaces available there BUT this area is privately owned is it not? Have the owners of this area even been approached?

We need a large parking structure built on the land the city is attempting to sell. They could recuperate the funds in parking fees. I would bet that the garage would be full on event nights! But the city seems to abhor any type of structure of this sort. Why? I have no clue, every other major city has them. We have one.

MonctonRad · #**1643** Posted **Jun 21, 2017, 2:26 PM**

The large lot to the south of the CNR line belongs to Heritage Developments, and yes, they are open to having this lot available in the evenings for the use of the events centre (AFAIK)

How will this happen? - I'm not sure

Will there be a cost? - almost certainly

Will the lot be reserved for Wildcats season ticket holders? - possibly

Lots of questions yet (and almost no answers).........

Scarface · #**1644** Posted **Jun 21, 2017, 2:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The large lot to the south of the CNR line belongs to Heritage Developments, and yes, they are open to having this lot available in the evenings for the use of the events centre (AFAIK)

How will this happen? - I'm not sure

Will there be a cost? - almost certainly

Will the lot be reserved for Wildcats season ticket holders? - possibly

Lots of questions yet (and almost no answers).........

If I do recall I did say that land was for sale(Not sure if it's all the lots there, or just a few). Not yet sold. So yes Maybe Heritage Development would be keen on having people park there it does not mean the purchaser(if one would happen to show) would feel the same.

MonctonRad · #**1645** Posted **Jun 21, 2017, 3:08 PM**

I think the land for sale is a little to the west of the Heritage Place lot, on the other side of the DOH building.

L'homard · #**1646** Posted **Jun 21, 2017, 3:26 PM**

One must consider that the cost of the average parking garage is $11,500 PER PARKING SPOT. They are also uglier than your dead Aunt Edna.
While I'm all for easy parking and for parking garages, any discussion about it without considering these factors is just pissing against the wind. I bring this up because I haven't seen any posts mentioning them yet. Both are significant factors that must be considered.

MonctonRad · #**1647** Posted **Jun 21, 2017, 3:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by L'homard

One must consider that the cost of the average parking garage is $11,500 PER PARKING SPOT. They are also uglier than your dead Aunt Edna.
While I'm all for easy parking and for parking garages, any discussion about it without considering these factors is just pissing against the wind. I bring this up because I haven't seen any posts mentioning them yet. Both are significant factors that must be considered.

There is no question that a parking structure would be expensive, but if the ultimate goal is to densify the core and to remove surface parking, then the surface parking will have to be replaced with something, and I presume this something would be one or more parking structures.

Ideally, costs would be recovered by parking fees in the daytime from downtown employees, and fees in the evening from the patrons of the events centre, Capitol Theatre and downtown restaurants. This would give a high occupancy rate.

Finally, not all parking structures are ugly (most are, but hopefully we could have some creativity here). You could even hide the parking behind some streetfront commercial/retail if you wanted.

Patapouf26 · #**1648** Posted **Jun 21, 2017, 4:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

There is no question that a parking structure would be expensive, but if the ultimate goal is to densify the core and to remove surface parking, then the surface parking will have to be replaced with something, and I presume this something would be one or more parking structures.

Ideally, costs would be recovered by parking fees in the daytime from downtown employees, and fees in the evening from the patrons of the events centre, Capitol Theatre and downtown restaurants. This would give a high occupancy rate.

Finally, not all parking structures are ugly (most are, but hopefully we could have some creativity here). You could even hide the parking behind some streetfront commercial/retail if you wanted.

I know there are many municipalities that own parking garages in their core, but I'm wondering if any of these generate profit. Or, are they money pits... ? If at a profit, wouldn't it be a no brainer for this investment? One would assume that the city has looked into this.

L'homard · #**1649** Posted **Jun 21, 2017, 4:41 PM**

I'm no expert, but I cannot imagine a parking garage making money in Moncton.
There is lots of monthly parking in the downtown at $70. That's a few pennies more than $2 per day.
Contrast that with the cost of a parking garage and no investor on Earth would invest in a garage (except maybe the city, but good luck with that one. I suspect this is the reason you hear no talk from the city of building one.)
Don't get me wrong here. I'd love to see one get built. I'm just trying to inject a dose of reality into a discussion that seems to need one.

Taeolas · #**1650** Posted **Jun 21, 2017, 4:59 PM**

The obvious solution is for the city to SLOWLY deincentivise parking lots; raise the taxes on them, require proper gates for private lots and/or paving and parking lines, and so forth. The goal being to encourage developers to do more than just knock down a building and turn the driveway into an entrance and advertise it as parking (and hire the boot-vultures to monitor it for anyone actually parking in the lot). Make it more worthwhile to build the lot, and make parking garages more viable as well.

Of course it has to be done somewhat slowly and carefully to make sure they don't kill downtown in the process; but it's probably the ultimate solution that is needed.

Does make you wonder what went differently; when Freddy has at least 4 parking garages, including a brand new one; while Moncton just went for the acres of surface parking.

As for Garages being ugly; it is all in how they are designed. Freddy's downtown plan has a section specifically on garages, and future garages (if we get any; we'll probably have at least one more in the near future) will be to encourage facades to hide the garage-ness, and/or to have the garage have ground floor retail/services so it is part of the urban environment and not just a null space.

Patapouf26 · #**1651** Posted **Jun 21, 2017, 5:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by L'homard

Don't get me wrong here. I'd love to see one get built. I'm just trying to inject a dose of reality into a discussion that seems to need one.

I have the same sentiment as you.

I'm wondering if anyone has the financial details of structures that are operated by the city of Fredericton.

Scarface · #**1652** Posted **Jun 21, 2017, 7:23 PM**

I don't have the Numbers in full but speaking to friends of mine who do work for the city where they live, and are in charge of Public Parking (City run Parking) Structures, and lots. I've had a resounding the lot first recoups cost, and then makes enough money to cover the cost of security, Utilities, and Maintenance cost. Some not all do make there perspective cities some money but it's minuscule to the cost of maintaining the structure. Seems to be why most cities opt out from building, and maintaining parking structures.

flyer99 · #**1653** Posted **Jun 28, 2017, 12:17 PM**

Still no word on the stuck webcam on the exterior of the downtown events centre?

Nashe · #**1654** Posted **Jun 28, 2017, 1:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyer99

Still no word on the stuck webcam on the exterior of the downtown events centre?

We're waiting on access via a cherry picker. Issue is not so much with the cam as with some wireless gear that hauls it's stream back to the server.

MonctonRad · #**1655** Posted **Jun 28, 2017, 2:38 PM**

In the meantime, here's a recent photo from Mayor Dawn Arnold's FB page giving an overview of the site. Work is definitely progressing on the plaza in front of the centre.......

Also, look at all that fine parking on the other side of the tracks. Now, if only we could be guaranteed that it were available (free of booters), accessible (tunnel or overhead walkway) and affordable (reasonable parking rates)...............

PEI highway guy · #**1656** Posted **Jun 28, 2017, 6:50 PM**

The Camera is working again.

flyer99 · #**1657** Posted **Jun 28, 2017, 10:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PEI highway guy

The Camera is working again.

Nice. Anyone know what that large circular structure is in the plaza near to Main Street??

CodiacCanuck · #**1658** Posted **Jun 28, 2017, 11:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyer99

Nice. Anyone know what that large circular structure is in the plaza near to Main Street??

Based on this rendering from earlier in the year, it would be the performance stage.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.284..._gen/derivatives/landscape_620/image.jpg

Monctoncore · #**1659** Posted **Jun 28, 2017, 11:35 PM**

If I'm correct the parking is owned by Heritage property management and they were planning on doing upgrades to that parking, by adding in a booth, better fencing etc. and allowing people to park their for events etc.

MonctonRad · #**1660** Posted **Jun 29, 2017, 3:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CodiacCanuck

Based on this rendering from earlier in the year, it would be the performance stage.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.284..._gen/derivatives/landscape_620/image.jpg

I would agree that it is likely the stage. Here's an interesting video fly-thru of what the plaza is designed to look like:

• Video Link