[Moncton] Northwest/Magnetic Hill Developments

[Patapouf26]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

They must be having trouble finding tenants for this proposed plaza on Horsman Road:



The new sign on the lot, while still showing a render of the proposed plaza, now also says "build to suit"........

Where the heck is this location? I google mapped it, but it can't be the same location I searched - way up in Stilesville (passed Gorge Road)!!?? Why would someone want to build such a complex there?

[NBNYer]

Originally Posted by Patapouf26

Where the heck is this location? I google mapped it, but it can't be the same location I searched - way up in Stilesville (passed Gorge Road)!!?? Why would someone want to build such a complex there?

This is on Horsman between Ryan and Berry Mills road next to the Tim Hortons.

[Patapouf26]

Originally Posted by NBNYer

This is on Horsman between Ryan and Berry Mills road next to the Tim Hortons.

Hehe! Thanks... I had a feeling google was leading me in the wrong direction.

[Sumater]

Originally Posted by Patapouf26

Especially since there is practically nothing done in the Vision Lands. This is a huge piece of land that could do alot for density and to help curb urban sprawl.



I wish the city could help promote the original plans of the Hall's Creek development (I know, it's private land). The website is still up, check it out.

I'd like to at least see a road connecting northern McLaughlin Rd. to Wheeler and the roads next to it.

[L'homard]

That would be great and would relieve a lot of traffic from other main roads in the northwest however there would need to be at least two bridges built to accommodate such a road and those suckers are expensive!
I anticipate we'll see the road eventually but it's going to be awhile.

[Patapouf26]

Originally Posted by Sumater

I'd like to at least see a road connecting northern McLaughlin Rd. to Wheeler and the roads next to it.

Well, Crowley Farm Rd should eventually connect indirectly to LJR (near Moxies's) and I'm assuming that Leopold-F-Belliveau will eventually connect (indirectly) to Crowley Farm. This would definitely alleviate traffic at the Morton-McLauglhin intersection, but there would need to be a lot more development progress in Hall's Creek (or Vision Lands) to justify this.

These (in red) were supposed to be the 5 villages of Hall's Creek development.

(a very rough concept I made)

So one could assume how some of these roads would connect (in blue).

[Feneant]

One has to wonder if having a link from Crowley Farm / Hall's Creek to Mapleton wouldn't have helped the development of the Vision Lands.

I'll never understand how the Ryan Rd. area ballooned into this huge suburb but yet Vision Lands didn't take off, I think it's a much better location and with the right connections you'd basically be 5 minutes from both downtown and the Mapleton area.

As someone who lives in North Moncton, I'd love to see more of these roads (Gorge to Northwood, Mapleton to Ammon, Crowley Farm to LJR, etc.), there is a lot of traffic on both Mapleton and Mountain at rush hour so this would give other road options (although no doubt it would also increase traffic on Mapleton).

Here's another road I'd like to see... Queensway --> McLaughlin --> Elmwood (via the new commercial area that isn't going anywhere).

[MonctonRad]

Here's my take on the probable main road network in the Vision Lands.



I'm pretty sure that the ultimate fate of LJR Blvd is to connect directly to Crowley Farm Road. Furthermore, I am willing to bet the farm (pun intended) that the existing portion of Crowley Farm Road will be renamed to Louis J Robichaud Blvd.

LJR Blvd was created with the intention for it to be the main east west connector north of Wheeler Blvd, and the symbolism of LJR Blvd leading directly to Universite Avenue is just too delicious to ignore (given Robichaud's importance to the establishment of the Universite de Moncton). LJR Blvd will be a proper four lane boulevard with a centre median - I can't imagine it being any less. Given it's location and course, it will draw some traffic away from both Mountain Road and Wheeler. I'm not sure how the university will feel however about commuter traffic heading downtown passing through the southern edge of the university campus.

The course of the western extent of LJR Blvd is partly governed by the (proposed) Shannex development and by that ugly NB Power ROW. The road however will have to turn sharply south so that it parallels Wheeler and then connects with Crowley Farm Rd.

As for Leopold Belliveau Blvd, it's course is governed by the adjacent university endowment lands, but again I imagine it will deviate southward to connect with LJR Blvd near the current termination of Crowley Farm Road.

[Patapouf26]

Originally Posted by Feneant

One has to wonder if having a link from Crowley Farm / Hall's Creek to Mapleton wouldn't have helped the development of the Vision Lands.

That's a lot of infrastructure to build for both ends to connect, but I also agree that it would of helped the development of this area. And, like you said, this area is prime development real estate in the core (inside the TCH) of the city. With the new Shannex complex on the Mapleton side of things, perhaps this could set things in motion for LJR Blvd to slowly creep its way towards the Vision Lands. I hope so anyways...

What would motivate the city to invest in infrastructure in the NW part of town vs the Vision Lands? Is it the simple guarantee of new residences? Support of residential developers (shared expenses in road investment)?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Patapouf26

That's a lot of infrastructure to build for both ends to connect, but I also agree that it would of helped the development of this area.

If you build it, they will come.....

Developers will not be interested in the Vision Lands until certain core infrastructure is provided by the government. Northwest Moncton developed because of Mountain Road. The Vison Lands won't develop until LJR Blvd is completed.

[Sunnybrae]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

If you build it, they will come.....

Developers will not be interested in the Vision Lands until certain core infrastructure is provided by the government. Northwest Moncton developed because of Mountain Road. The Vison Lands won't develop until LJR Blvd is completed.

Also, not having ramps at the TCH and McLaughlin overpass stunted any potential growth in that area. Imagine if Mapleton didn't have ramps for the TCH?

[Scarface]

Is it just me, or people where calling for the on/off ramps at Elmwood from the TCH to be rebuilt for better use, and at the same time calling for on/off Ramps to be built at McLaughlin , an the TCH. For the sole purpose of better circulation (i.e. Less traffic needing to use Hennessey Rd.)

[Patapouf26]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

If you build it, they will come.....

Developers will not be interested in the Vision Lands until certain core infrastructure is provided by the government. Northwest Moncton developed because of Mountain Road. The Vison Lands won't develop until LJR Blvd is completed.

Has council ever expressed interest in the development of these lands since the buyout from the first Hall's Creek developer? I don't really count the new Shannex proposal, but I can agree that it could help kickstart a connection between the Trinity and Hennessey neighbourhoods. Speaking of Trinity-Hennesey, let's not forget that a group of active parents and the french school district are pushing hard for a new school in the exact corresponding area by 2020. It would certainly make sense to build a new feeder school close to l'Odyssée to replace le Mascaret for the huge demand and so that you'd have separate High and Elementary schools. So, two significant projects. So, again, is there a vision?

Edit : Should we be discussing this in this thread?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Patapouf26

Edit : Should we be discussing this in this thread?

I don't see why not. The "Vision Lands" are on the border between NW Moncton & Moncton East. Since the bulk of the vision lands fall to the west of a line drawn perpendicularly north from city hall, it probably belongs in NW Moncton.

[MonctonRad]

I've decided to revise my fanciful post regarding where the major roads in the Vision Lands should be placed.



1) - note that Louis J Robichaud Blvd still connects Frampton Lane to Universite Avenue, providing a direct commuter route for areas north of Mountain Road to the downtown core. The difference is that the proposed route of LJR now makes more sense, and there is now a proper 90 degree intersection between LJR & Leopold Belliveau on the NW corner of the university endowment lands.
2) - Crowley Farm Road now will not completely disappear, with the westernmost portion extended close to Shannex. This will allow more commercial lands to be made available behind the Four Points Hotel.
3) - I have drawn in a new interchange for the McLaughlin Rd/TCH crossing. If the Vision Lands are to really take off, a new access point to the TCH will be needed.

[Patapouf26]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I've decided to revise my fanciful post regarding where the major roads in the Vision Lands should be placed.

Have you ever tried SimCity or Cities: Skyline?
---

Slightly further North, I noticed that the land encircled was bought this April. Could this be related to :

1. the relocation of Elmwood HH development
2. a reapproriation for an eventual on/off ramp for McLauglin
3. or both?

[Ammn_guy]

in your mock up it would be great if leopold-belliveau would over pass wheeler and intersect cedar/carson.

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I've decided to revise my fanciful post regarding where the major roads in the Vision Lands should be placed.



1) - note that Louis J Robichaud Blvd still connects Frampton Lane to Universite Avenue, providing a direct commuter route for areas north of Mountain Road to the downtown core. The difference is that the proposed route of LJR now makes more sense, and there is now a proper 90 degree intersection between LJR & Leopold Belliveau on the NW corner of the university endowment lands.
2) - Crowley Farm Road now will not completely disappear, with the westernmost portion extended close to Shannex. This will allow more commercial lands to be made available behind the Four Points Hotel.
3) - I have drawn in a new interchange for the McLaughlin Rd/TCH crossing. If the Vision Lands are to really take off, a new access point to the TCH will be needed.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Patapouf26

Have you ever tried SimCity or Cities: Skyline?
---

But of course - I was a SimCity 4 maestro.

It's a well known fact that many SSP members used to play SimCity. A lot of us are amateur city planning enthusiasts. It's only natural that people who used to commune on the SimCity forum (Simtropolis) would find an outlet here too. One of my old Simtropolis and SSP friends from Dartmouth is now an HRM city councillor. There is another Halifax SSP member who is also on HRM council. Both of these individuals sadly are no longer active on SSP (no doubt a byproduct of political life - just look at Trump and his tweets; it can be dangerous stuff).

[L'homard]

Those bridges though will cost a fortune, as much as I would like all this to happen. I count three structures, make it 4 if we jump over Wheeler Boulevard which would cost milions by itself.

PS - I was king of the original Sim City. And I've actually attended a town planning meeting or two in years gone by, even though I own no property and am not in any way connected to developments. Just a groupie I guess lol.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I've decided to revise my fanciful post regarding where the major roads in the Vision Lands should be placed.



1) - note that Louis J Robichaud Blvd still connects Frampton Lane to Universite Avenue, providing a direct commuter route for areas north of Mountain Road to the downtown core. The difference is that the proposed route of LJR now makes more sense, and there is now a proper 90 degree intersection between LJR & Leopold Belliveau on the NW corner of the university endowment lands.
2) - Crowley Farm Road now will not completely disappear, with the westernmost portion extended close to Shannex. This will allow more commercial lands to be made available behind the Four Points Hotel.
3) - I have drawn in a new interchange for the McLaughlin Rd/TCH crossing. If the Vision Lands are to really take off, a new access point to the TCH will be needed.

I've seen something similar on another forum.
You forgot to extend Cedar Street, and add a foot bridge like the one in Riverview over Findlay Blvd. This was done to connect Bradford East, and Bradford West. But it would connect Cedar to a walking path that would then connect to Crowley Farm Rd.