The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[southieSJ]

I had read before that the legislature was going to be built fronting on Queen Square.





Carleton was a sissy who hated the poor!

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by southieSJ

I had read before that the legislature was going to be built fronting on Queen Square.





Carleton was a sissy who hated the poor!

I'm guessing Fronting onto a larger Queen Square Central location surounded by all in case of Invasion.

[kwajo]

There were suggestions that it be in Queen Square, around an 1880 attempt to move the capital back to Saint John.

A special meeting of the Common Council on 28 February was characterised by 'unusual calm'. The only frivolity was an outbreak of laughter at the information that Saint John had lost the seat of government a century earlier because it had been thought vulnerable to enemy attack. By 1880, the prospect seemed risible, although it was barely a decade since fortifications had been upgraded against the Fenians. The Council voted unanimously to provide sites for public buildings 'and give to the province a suitable residence for the Lieutenant Governor.' Edward Willis, proprietor of the Daily News, and a fervent supporter of the campaign, argued that the legislative building should be located in Queen Square, whose sloping site would provide an attractive view and good drainage, with plenty of surrounding space for all-day sunshine and effective ventilation (presumably a hit at Fredericton's notoriously stuffy parliament). To doubters who grumbled that the site would involve expensive excavation costs, Willis replied that much of the material could be re-used as part of the project or sold as gravel.

You can read all about it in this paper by Ged Martin, a former Edinburgh University professor who held the United Kingdom's first chair of Canadian Studies.
www.gedmartin.net/index.php/martinalia-mainmenu-3/231-fredericton-versus-saint-john

[Fischbob]

So the plans to renovate St. Vincent's into mixed-income apartments have fallen through: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunsw...velopment-apartment-saint-john-1.4533701

However, the proponent of the project will be using the monies raised so far to fund a smaller mixed-income development next door (presumably on the the former Sisters of Charity site). Four storeys, 24 apartments (12 market, 12 subsidized) and a daycare.

Plan to redevelop St. Vincent's High School shelved, but 'rejuvenation' effort arises
Turning century-old Saint John high school too costly to proceed
By Rachel Cave, CBC News Posted: Feb 13, 2018 5:12 PM AT Last Updated: Feb 13, 2018 5:12 PM AT

After investing three years and $400,000 on plans to convert one of Saint John's oldest high schools into 58 mixed-income apartments and a daycare, organizers say the project won't fly.

"Financially, it's just not going to happen at this time," said Kevin McDonald, board chairman of the non-profit St. Vincent's Apartments Inc.

McDonald said it would cost at least $12 million to redevelop St. Vincent's High School, which opened in 1902 and has sat vacant near St. Joseph's Hospital since 2002.

"When you start to get into the components of what's in that property that you have to eliminate in today's society — the asbestos, the piping. That cost alone was $1 million," he said.

While the group did manage to raise $9 million and obtained charity status so benefactors could get tax receipts for further donations, the final funds never came through.

...

As a result, the $9 million will be redirected into new construction on the empty lot next door.

McDonald said it's enough for 24 apartments in a four-storey building called Conway House. Half of them will be subsidized and the other half offered at market rent.

The new design will also incorporate a daycare to be operated by Heather Hamilton, who owns a licensed daycare on the city's west side.

...

McDonald said there's still hope that the old high school will get another life. He thinks a commercial development might be a better fit.

He said he doesn't know how much the property owner, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint John, has to pay to cover expenses from property taxes to heating and insurance.

"As it sits there, it's costing something," he said.

"But it's a million dollars to tear it down."

...

I'm glad they're going to proceed with some type of project for the area, and hopefully an alternative use can be found for St. Vincent's itself before it's too late.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by Fischbob

So the plans to renovate St. Vincent's into mixed-income apartments have fallen through: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunsw...velopment-apartment-saint-john-1.4533701

However, the proponent of the project will be using the monies raised so far to fund a smaller mixed-income development next door (presumably on the the former Sisters of Charity site). Four storeys, 24 apartments (12 market, 12 subsidized) and a daycare.



I'm glad they're going to proceed with some type of project for the area, and hopefully an alternative use can be found for St. Vincent's itself before it's too late.

The project was a hopefull one. It's great that they are going to build a mix rent building next door but it's not even close to the same level of design then renovating an old building from 1919.

[Fischbob]

New vision for UNB Saint John calls for doubling enrolment to 4,000
UNB president Eddy Campbell says campus has to figure out how to double student population
By Joseph Tunney , CBC News Posted: Feb 15, 2018 6:15 PM AT Last Updated: Feb 15, 2018 6:15 PM AT

University of New Brunswick president Eddy Campbell wants the Saint John campus to double its enrolment to 4,000 students, primarily by focusing on graduate programs.

Campbell, who oversees both UNB Fredericton and Saint John, outlined his desire for a new path for the Saint John campus in a letter to the university's board of governors.

His proposal, leaked to CBC News, doesn't include a time frame for the campus to double its student population of 2,000, and he said a lot of details need to be worked out.

"Let's be honest," he said in an interview over the phone Thursday. "These ideas will be discussed debated and changed.

"I wouldn't want to underestimate the real challenge of trying to double enrolment in Saint John."

His plan comes more than 10 years after the last proposal to shake up the Saint John campus. A controversial report recommending the University of New Brunswick Saint John become a polytechnic institution provoked crowds of people to protest.

...

Robert MacKinnon, the vice president of the Saint John campus, is leaving following the end of his second five-year term. His last day will be July 1.

The Saint John senate would still ensure decisions about academic planning are made by the campus, Campbell said, "that way, the autonomy of the Saint John campus is protected."

But the focus of MacKinnon's replacement should be clear, Campbell said.

"If we're going to focus on the growth opportunities that we have in Saint John … I think the next leader of the Saint John campus, the vice-president there, should be very much focused on this growth agenda."

As for where these new students will come from, he said the number of Saint John high school graduates isn't increasing.

Already a third of the 1,800 graduate students across all UNB campuses are international, he said.

"I would expect we would continue to attract students from outside the country."

The letter doesn't detail specifics about what changes the school might see, but Campbell said the health-related institutions seem ripe for expansion.

The letter also suggests the rebuilding of the Ward Chipman Library in Saint John to support research.

...

As for the idea of the Saint John campus becoming more polytechnic in nature, that isn't the focus of the new vision, Campbell said. But he thinks the word "polytechnic" has been misunderstood and misused.

...

Campbell said he expects the change he's proposing will provoke concerns in the community but nothing is set in stone.

A consultation process is under way.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-vision-unbsj-1.4537154

Expanded program offerings, greater enrolment and more employment at UNBSJ would only be a good thing for the city. I hope that if this comes to fruition, serious consideration is given to increasing the school's presence in the Uptown.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by Fischbob

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/new-vision-unbsj-1.4537154

Expanded program offerings, greater enrolment and more employment at UNBSJ would only be a good thing for the city. I hope that if this comes to fruition, serious consideration is given to increasing the school's presence in the Uptown.

This was my immediate thought as well. If UNBSJ is looking at providing Graduate studies I would recommend locating them in the Uptown. There's ample office space, potential future space for classrooms, and affordable housing nearby for students. It would be a tremendous boon for the Peninsula.

[CdnEh]

Originally Posted by saintjohnirish☘

Wow Irving is suffocating our city
Remember what Saint John was like before Irving came and bought the mills, newspapers, shipyard, tugboats, trucking, radio stations, real estate, railways, and influence? better off

Love this alternative reality you've been living in.

[Fischbob]

Further to the previous UNBSJ article...

UNB looks to develop commercial properties on Saint John campus
University would focus on potential proposals for health-sector businesses
By Joseph Tunney , CBC News Posted: Feb 17, 2018 8:00 AM AT Last Updated: Feb 17, 2018 8:00 AM AT

The University of New Brunswick could be soliciting proposals for commercial development on its Saint John campus before the end of the year.

A university spokesperson said UNB is looking at developing property between the campus and the Saint John Regional Hospital.

"We envision health-related uses, such as doctor's offices and other medical-related facilities," said David Stonehouse.

In an interview Thursday, University of New Brunswick president Eddy Campbell said he'd like to make it possible for commercial properties to open shop on the Saint John campus.

Campbell said his idea is in keeping with a vision held by the late Tom Condon, the vice-president of the Saint John campus from 1977 to 1988.

"He, I'm told, articulated a vision for the campus as a kind of village, where you could not only go to work and to learn, but you could also perhaps live and play there," Campbell said. "I'm really taken by this idea."

He has already shared his vision for the satellite campus with the board of governors through an emailed letter.

While the primary goal is to double enrolment to 4,000 students from 2,000 — primarily by focusing on graduate programs — the letter says the school is "exploring the opportunity to generate new revenues through the development of commercial real estate."

It doesn't specify what types of properties might be considered, but it does mention creating a new health research institute and rebuilding the Ward Chipman Library.

"Given that there have been people in and around the university and the hospital who have been talking about the potential of commercial real estate to be developed on the campus in Saint John, I'm quite interested in pursuing that opportunity as a way of making the campus all the more attractive place to be," Campbell said.

Stonehouse cautioned that the university is still in the early stages of pursuing the possibility of commercial development.

Campbell pointed to the short and long-term visions for the Saint John campus that were approved by UNB's board of governors in 2004.

The long-term vision is supposed to guide the school over the next "30, 50 or even 100 years" and calls for examining possible expansion into northwest and northeast parts of the campus.

A separate document describes a "University Village," calling for a "mix of uses including residential, a senior life lease community, hotel and conference facilities."

"All of these are in the long-term vision for Saint John," Campbell said. "I guess what I'd like to argue and [I'm] trying to say is: Let's get on with really trying to make the campus in Saint John a really exciting place."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/commericial-properties-unbsj-1.4539535

Sounds like the focus is really going to be on developing the Tucker Park campus, with no mention of UNBSJ's properties Uptown, where people can already "perhaps live and play".

On the other hand, the UNBSJ Plateau is the alternate primary centre outlined by PlanSJ and is intended to evolve into a higher density, mixed-use neighbourhood - and I would welcome measures to give the area less of a 'commuter campus' feel. Not sure the short term plan for more medical offices really accomplishes this, but the longer term visioning could bear more fruit.

[Scarface]

Can Anyone explain to me what happen to the Condo Apartments at Parks Street, and Mitchell Street? I was looking into it it seems that in 2016 Condos where sold anywhere between119,495-286,457, and not the building is boarded up, and values seem to be between 3,500-9,800$.

Also all 6 Buildings Address 20-30 Parks, and 4,8,12,16 Mitchell are for sale all together for under 1 Million. almost 3.5 times less then it's value back in 2009.

I just seen the listing go up so I'm not sure if it has indeed just gone up for sale, or has been for a while, and just renewed.

[Sabien]

Several bulldozers and excavators have started working in the field behind Wendy's/Cineplex. It looks like they've started the site prep for the SJ Field House project! It'll be a great addition to the city!

[aglie]

Originally Posted by Scarface

Can Anyone explain to me what happen to the Condo Apartments at Parks Street, and Mitchell Street?

Found these with a quick google search. I imagine there is a larger backstory here that we may never hear.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-john-tenants-three-weeks-new-place-live-1.3677439

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-john-mitchell-apartments-abandoned-1.4201732

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by aglie

Found these with a quick google search. I imagine there is a larger backstory here that we may never hear.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-john-tenants-three-weeks-new-place-live-1.3677439

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-john-mitchell-apartments-abandoned-1.4201732

There has to be something else behind it. I had seen it was a court ordered sale. So it makes sence but I'm still wondering how it got to the point where no renovations have been done, and yet the last I had seen as a rental price was a 2 bedroom apartment for rent for 750+Utilities. Unfortunatly since it's registered as Condos, and not apartments you have to check all 72 Units to see hat they where paying in property taxes if any.

I was looking into it, and it seems to be the reason they had it switched from apartments to Condos was to avoid bankruptcy earlier (Almost 9 years prior)

Originally Posted by Sabien Several bulldozers and excavators have started working in the field behind Wendy's/Cineplex. It looks like they've started the site prep for the SJ Field House project! It'll be a great addition to the city!

Well that is good news for the area, and even more so a positive change for the city.

[NB_ExistsToo]

Originally Posted by Sabien

Several bulldozers and excavators have started working in the field behind Wendy's/Cineplex. It looks like they've started the site prep for the SJ Field House project! It'll be a great addition to the city!

In case anyone else wants to go, the Field House is supposed to have its ground breaking ceremony today at 3pm!!

[Fischbob]

We now have definitive plans for what's going to replace the former gas station and car wash at the corner of Bayside and Mount Pleasant Avenue East. It's going to be (drumroll) a gas station and car wash! As well as an additional CRU that the PAC report suggests is slated to be a restaurant of some kind.

[Ire Narissis]

Not many parking spaces on the site, though... take-out restaurant, maybe?

[Sabien]

I remember a rumour, from a couple years ago, that a Bayside Drive McDonalds was in the works. Perhaps this will be another "McEsso" like the one in Quispamsis.

[MonctonRad]

So nobody's noticed the CBC article yet stating that the Premier has confirmed that the new NB Museum will be built on the Coast Guard site???

[michael_d40]

Originally Posted by Sabien

I remember a rumour, from a couple years ago, that a Bayside Drive McDonalds was in the works. Perhaps this will be another "McEsso" like the one in Quispamsis.

Based on the site layout I believe it will be a Needs for the convenience store, and a Second Cup for the "restaurant". The site plan is almost exactly the same as the one recently built in Halifax, almost the exact same amount (or lack thereof) of parking. While still remaining a Petro seeing as Suncor (Petro) still owns the property.

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

So nobody's noticed the CBC article yet stating that the Premier has confirmed that the new NB Museum will be built on the Coast Guard site???

I was at the announcement this morning, it is indeed good news that a project site has been chosen and that - as we already knew - it will be in the Uptown core. A lot of questions remain about how much the province is paying the city for the property, will the Feds add to the provincial $50 million (a large exhibition area, a climate controlled archival space and all the lab areas the NB Museum needs will all be very expensive), who the architect will be, etc. I am excited about the spin offs this could create for the other two thirds of the coast guard site, as a lot of private developers will likely find the area much more appealing now that it is seeing a large public investment.

The positive take away for me was that they finally mentioned a public and city consultation process, so we could have an opportunity to speak directly to the project planners and indicate any desired design or site characteristics. As this is a provincial museum and archives, I encourage everyone on this forum to submit comments when they do launch that consultation process.