[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[BlackYear]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Very likely. Also, the old CBC building next door is being converted into a medical office building. They wouldn't mind having additional parking too.

I could see though, a hue and cry developing over the loss of yet another recreational facility from the east end of the downtown of the city. There could be pressure on the city to take over the property and maintain it as a recreational complex.

This could in fact give the city an "out" regarding their foot dragging on the east end pool. If they applied the cost of rebuilding the east end pool into purchasing Saint Pat's (about a million bucks), this could allow year round access to a pool complex in the east end of the city (rather than two months for the (outdoor) east end pool).

How St Pats managed to survive during the past 10 years is beyond me. Interesting though, my neighbor mentioned to me last week of the demise of St Pats and told me she heard that the MCA may be the new home for St Pats. I found that very difficult to believe since the MCA is pretty much condemned and the only thing worth savings could be the metal frame. Plus the story on CBC seems the indicate the complete end of an era for St Pats.

However, if you put your thinking hat on with an open budget, the old MCA would either be demolished/retrofitted into a new indoor pool facility with community centre & day care.

[L'homard]

The MCA is about the only building in the neighbourhood that is in worse shape than St. Pat's, so I'd take that with a giant grain of salt.

[MonctonRad]

Listening to the CBC this morning, it seems that St. Pat's is more "ceasing operation" than actually closing for good.

I would say that they are still holding a faint hope that a white knight of some form will appear on the horizon to help them re-establish operations at some point in the future.

How realistic this is, I don't know. The business model may not be there. It sounds that lots of maintenance has been put off and the cost of this may prevent any operator from making a go of it (unless the government throws them a lifeline).

I think the only thing that will allow St. Pat's to reopen will be government intervention,

[L'homard]

I'm positive you are correct. The building is falling apart and will require a piss-pot full of money to bring it up to snuff, something only government can do. The board certainly can't raise the kind of money required.
It will be interesting to see what the Gallant government will do as they are planning to announce very soon a multi-million-dollar contribution to a new YMCA in the city's northwest - days before an election is called - while Moncton's east end yet again is on the cusp of losing another a recreational facility.

[MonctonRad]

Politically this is a good time for the St. Pat's closure to occur.

The provincial election is rapidly approaching. If Gallant is going to announce a multimillion dollar contribution to the new northwest YMCA community centre (in a relatively affluent neighbourhood), then it would certainly be very poor optics to allow another community centre in the city's less well off east end to close at almost the same time.

I don't expect Gallant to suddenly make an emergency funding announcement for St, Pat's, but I would expect some form of expression of concern by Gallant over the status of St. Pat's, with a promise to seriously review the recreational needs for citizens of the downtown east end of the city.

I could even see the Premier making such an expression of concern at the same time he makes his announcement regarding the northwest community centre. That would make political sense.

Personally, I think the province and the city should focus on keeping St. Pat's operational rather than spend money an a new outdoor pool in the east end. St. Pat's has an indoor pool and can be used year round.

[L'homard]

I have certainly thought about the timing of this development, with an election just weeks away and days away from the big YMCA announcement. Could be just a coincidence but if it isn't, then it is pure genius to make this public now. But I think it's just coincidence.
Indeed if there would be some way to merge the visions of the East End Community Centre and St. Pat's, it would be a big win for all. I don't know enough about either group to know if that could happen or not. I grew up in the area and used both pools a LOT as a kid but that was decades ago.

[Ammn_guy]

My kids did swimming lessons there as the ymca's are simply not up to par.
We'll have to go to Dieppe.
The staff seem frustrated at the east end pool proposal. Not able to understand why the city would fund it and not them, a 12 MTH a year operation.
In my opinion I think they need a new board and name... You hear daily about fund raiser s for the boys and girls club... But nothing about st Pat's.
Too Irish for that neighborhood is my guess.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Big changes in store for Parc du Sommet in front of the Centre Culturel Aberdeen

from the mayor's FB page:



Here is an "after" photo (following renovations)



Personal note - Judging from the number of comments on the mayor's FB page already, this is going to be a very controversial project, very much akin to the dust-up in Fredericton over the rehabilitation of Officers Square downtown.

Nobody likes the idea of cutting down trees unnecessarily. The rational here is to improve visibility within the park itself by removing obstructions (berms, conifers, shrubs), thus giving addicts fewer places to hide when they shoot up. The conifers removed will be replaced by shade trees, which, in the longer term, likely would be more desirable than the original conifers. The park will unfortunately look a lot more empty in the short term, but this may be a price we have to pay for having so many vagrants and addicts in the downtown of the city.

Moncton has a real problem with panhandlers, vagrants and addicts. This detracts from the quality of life for regular citizens who want to go downtown for a stroll or to go to a restaurant. I quite literally am accosted by panhandlers at least 80% of the time that I walk along Main Street. It is a nuisance and puts our city in a poor light. Anti-panhandling rules should be strictly enforced and walking patrols of the downtown area by Codiac RCMP should be increased. This of course doesn't solve the problem, and at the same time, more public assistance should be given to homeless people and greater emphasis should be given to providing social housing in the city.

It's time we admit there is a problem in the core and it's time we come up with a strategy to solve it, especially now that the core is on the brink of increasing development and gentrification.

The mayor has this response in her Facebook feed regarding the controversy over Parc du Sommet:

There has been a LOT of discussion on this one! We are listening. So, at the Committee of the Whole (COW) public meeting on July 23 at 1:00, there will be an update from staff. After that, another public engagement session to hear from you. It will only be after that (probably the public meeting in August) that a possible tender to remove the berms will be considered. Thank you to everyone who has weighed in. Lots to consider.

So, the city is backtracking a little over their plans for the park. They will seek additional public input before coming to a final decision regarding what to do about the problem.

[Monctoncore]

That’s actually good though, I think it’s important that the city listen to the locals. It shows that they do care.

[MonctonRad]

A few images (renders and site plans) for Victoria Place (the renovated bus depot south of the east end of St. George Street).







Looks to be about 50% leased already.

[BlackYear]

Sunset piercing through the finished and not yet refurbished CN Plaza buildings on Main street. Of course, that ugly useless building between the Event Centre and CN Plaza ruining the shot.

No, that's not my vehicle!

[BlackYear]

Wasn't sure which thread this belongs to, however since the downtown core is in the background, I figured I would add a causeway update here.

[Delusio Cogno]

Originally Posted by Budyser

Wasn't sure which thread this belongs to, however since the downtown core is in the background, I figured I would add a causeway update here.

Thanks Budyser!
This view helps me visualize where they are going to put the river channel.

[MonctonRad]

from Huddle:
http://huddle.today/finally-a-moncton-restaurant-that-serves-sushi-on-a-conveyor-belt/

Finally, A Moncton Restaurant That Serves Sushi On A Conveyor Belt
Jul 13, 2018
by Inda Intiar

Kinja, an Asian fusion restaurant, is taking over the space that used to be Jean’s Family Restaurant on St. George Street. It will serve conventional Western-style breakfasts like you might have eaten at Jean’s, but it will also make things like sushi served on a conveyor belt.

“We’re doing mostly Western-themed breakfast. There will be some fusion items in there, like different takes on classics,” said Breakfast Manager Mark Mazerolle. “Lunch and supper are going to be mostly Japanese, Korean and fusion dishes.”

Kinja will serve fusion dishes like bulgogi burger and spicy pork burger, among others. It will also offer various Japanese sakes, wine, beer and other beverages.

But the unique thing about Kinja is how it serves sushi. It uses the concept of kaiten-sushi, also known as rotation sushi or sushi train, which is popular in Japan and many other Asian countries.

It allows customers to grab the sushi plates they like from a conveyor belt. Each plate has a colour that indicates the price of the dish. Consumers can take as many as they want, and the total price will be counted based on the colours of the empty plates they’ve stacked.

Personal note - There are lots of Sushi, Japanese themed and Korean restaurants in the city already, but the concept of a "kaiten-sushi" style sushi conveyor will be unique in the local market. I wish them well.

[MonctonRad]

According to the T&T, The Furnace Room, a craft beer pub has opened in the former Navigators location on Robinson Court.

The pub will feature 16 craft beers on tap, and will seat 125 inside and another 75 patrons outside on their unique outdoor patio.

The renovations were extensive and used a lot of wood rescued from dilapidated barns, and antique items.

Here are a few photos of the finished product (from the T&T)

[David_99]

I stopped by The Furnace Room today and spoke with the carpenter who rebuilt the bar from scratch. Beautiful interior!

Originally Posted by Budyser

Sunset piercing through the finished and not yet refurbished CN Plaza buildings on Main street.

Is 1222 Main officially being refurbished?

[Scarface]

LANDING AT THE BEND Has been put up for sale for 4.3 Million dollars I wonder if:

1. It will sell, and
2. What will happen to it if it does sell.

It's not every real estate developer/ real estate purchaser who will buy it to keep it as is. Despite the work that has gone into keeping the building up.

[MonctonRad]

A tender has just been awarded by Moncton city council to Avondale Construction for the replacement of the East End Community Pool, for a total cost of $2.2M.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Scarface

LANDING AT THE BEND Has been put up for sale for 4.3 Million dollars I wonder if:

1. It will sell, and
2. What will happen to it if it does sell.

It's not every real estate developer/ real estate purchaser who will buy it to keep it as is. Despite the work that has gone into keeping the building up.

The Landing at the Bend is fully leased (at least for retail), so I imagine it would be attractive to a potential buyer.

I can't imagine doing too much to the development structurally, although it would be nice to open up the buildings more to the boardwalk in behind. It certainly has been a lost opportunity in terms of commercialization of that portion of the boardwalk (compared to the harbour front in Halifax for example).

[Scarface]

They are getting to work on the Subway, and according to some friends who travel that area daily it looks like they might be doing some roadwork too. One of the workers said they where fixing the road to avoid more Large vehicle VS Subway accidents, and not just putting a new coat of paint, and lights. If this is the case the price tag seems more realistic.