The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

Interesting too see the diverging archetectural styles in Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John. Seems to me new builds and plans in Saint John are a hybrid of subdued modern paying homage to surrounding area and history. Moncton seems to be pushing the envelope with modern design like the 5-5 and new buildings along Mapleton. Fredericton is maybe sleek modern from what I see with plans.

Here is a fun question ~ if you combined Moncton Fredericton and Saint John into one city ~ maybe located in SJ combining their buildings and neighbourhoods spreading out for miles ~ would it be more impressive than Halifax ?

Still smaller than Halifax (390,000 vs ~440,000), and with fewer tall buildings than Halifax (even combined), but I am convinced that our residential neighbourhoods are overall nicer, and that we potentially have nicer public buildings (especially with a new NB Museum in the works).

Compare:

- Proposed NB Museum (Saint John) vs. the Natural History Museum in Halifax.
- Beaverbrook Art Gallery (Fredericton) vs. Art Gallery of NS
- Anglican Cathedral (Fredericton) vs. St, Mary's Cathedral on SGR.
- Law Courts (Saint John) vs. Law Courts on the waterfront in Halifax.
- Events Centre (Moncton) vs. ScotiaBank Centre in Halifax.
- City Hall complex (Moncton) vs. Halifax City Hall.
- Blue Cross Centre (Moncton) vs. any office complex in Halifax.

Also, the historic uptown district in Saint John (Centred on King Street and King's Square) blows the socks off any single neighbourhood in downtown Halifax in terms of preserved historical style.

And finally:

UNB (Fredericton) has a much nicer campus than Dalhousie University in Halifax.

[ColSJ]

Anyone else looking forward to the day we see another tower crane uptown? I know I am...

[Wolkenkratzerliebhab]

Originally Posted by ColSJ

Anyone else looking forward to the day we see another tower crane uptown? I know I am...

I can't wait, bring not only one tower crane, but many of them together to boot!

[southieSJ]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Still smaller than Halifax (390,000 vs ~440,000), and with fewer tall buildings than Halifax (even combined), but I am convinced that our residential neighbourhoods are overall nicer, and that we potentially have nicer public buildings (especially with a new NB Museum in the works).

Compare:

- Proposed NB Museum (Saint John) vs. the Natural History Museum in Halifax.
- Beaverbrook Art Gallery (Fredericton) vs. Art Gallery of NS
- Anglican Cathedral (Fredericton) vs. St, Mary's Cathedral on SGR.
- Law Courts (Saint John) vs. Law Courts on the waterfront in Halifax.
- Events Centre (Moncton) vs. ScotiaBank Centre in Halifax.
- City Hall complex (Moncton) vs. Halifax City Hall.
- Blue Cross Centre (Moncton) vs. any office complex in Halifax.

Also, the historic uptown district in Saint John (Centred on King Street and King's Square) blows the socks off any single neighbourhood in downtown Halifax in terms of preserved historical style.

And finally:

UNB (Fredericton) has a much nicer campus than Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Buds, you're kidding yourself. Maybe a few streets in Saint John can match Halifax, but Halifax blows all three cities out of the water with both its old and new buildings

[RR Drummer]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Via SJCRE:

A high profile parcel of land totaling of 4.65 acres has been SOLD. The land wraps around the existing Canadian Tire Gas Bar and has road frontage on both Rothesay Avenue and McAllister Drive. Watch for a new retail project happening soon!



https://sjcommercialre.com/2018/03/26/4-65-acres-sold-on-rothesay-avenue/

I heard from a source that this land was purchased by the Dobson family and is where they will be building & relocating their new Kia dealership. Sure to invoke added interest in this corner/area of Rothesay Avenue IMO.

[Fischbob]

Originally Posted by RR Drummer

I heard from a source that this land was purchased by the Dobson family and is where they will be building & relocating their new Kia dealership. Sure to invoke added interest in this corner/area of Rothesay Avenue IMO.

It will indeed be a car dealership, according to the permit:


Source

[Fischbob]

Originally Posted by southieSJ

Buds, you're kidding yourself. Maybe a few streets in Saint John can match Halifax, but Halifax blows all three cities out of the water with both its old and new buildings

It's true that Halifax has no real rival as the Maritimes' regional metropole (and it's reflected thus in its private sector mixed-use developments, particularly recently), but I think MonctonRad's point is still valid, at least when it comes to the public building comparisons he brought forward in his post.

However, Halifax's Central Library is a cut above any other public building in the region (though if we're lucky and the funding falls into place, the new NBM may end up rivalling it). And the Nova Centre certainly outperforms Fredericton's new downtown convention centre. If anything, I predict that Halifax's future public buildings are only going to get better as the city continues to grow.

[RR Drummer]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I like the design quite a bit.

According to this CBC article:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunsw...ew-brunswick-museum-fundy-quay-1.4768783



I think this is wise. This will preserve the historic streetscape where it needs to be protected, but at the same time presenting a fresh avant garde face towards Market Slip and Market Square.

This is precisely the proper location for the NB Museum. Right in the very heart of downtown SJ and next to the cruise ship terminal. It will be a highlight of the city.

Definitely agree! 5 years seems long but honestly it’s realistic. Someone I know is currently waiting on plans so they can do their part in the planning process. They said the timeline is accurate, given all the details yet to be decided and factored to maintain the intergrity & special considerations of all the artifacts. I also like the rendering but mindful the finished product will be different. Done right this will indeed be a masterpiece to be enjoyed for generations to come. The spinoff activity for this site will be the icing on the cake for this much anticipated development.

[Whaler]

Originally Posted by southieSJ

Buds, you're kidding yourself. Maybe a few streets in Saint John can match Halifax, but Halifax blows all three cities out of the water with both its old and new buildings

I respectfully disagree.
I travel to Halifax monthly. I believe Saint John has a lot to offer and can match Halifax any day.
Now fars as new modern buildings, Halifax is miles ahead.
Most folks don't remember that Saint john and Halifax were very similar in size and population years ago.
Then the politicians got involved....

[southieSJ]

Originally Posted by Whaler

I respectfully disagree.
I travel to Halifax monthly. I believe Saint John has a lot to offer and can match Halifax any day.
Now fars as new modern buildings, Halifax is miles ahead.
Most folks don't remember that Saint john and Halifax were very similar in size and population years ago.
Then the politicians got involved....

Fair points. Obviously politics has never quite been on the city's side per se as we see over the decades SJ deteriorate and as Fton and Mton developed lose its status as the NB metropolis, but also too Halifax as an economic structure (with mainstays like gov, active shipyard, large port, post-secondary institutions, etc.) think SJ won't rival Halifax again anytime soon. Things can change of course

If there is one thing Saint John has in spades it's potential

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by southieSJ

Fair points. Obviously politics has never quite been on the city's side per se as we see over the decades SJ deteriorate and as Fton and Mton developed lose its status as the NB metropolis, but also too Halifax as an economic structure (with mainstays like gov, active shipyard, large port, post-secondary institutions, etc.) think SJ won't rival Halifax again anytime soon. Things can change of course

If there is one thing Saint John has in spades it's potential

Majority people that I talked to about they they say they would never live in SJ. For some odd reason talk about the non existent smell/smog.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Scarface

Majority people that I talked to about they they say they would never live in SJ. For some odd reason talk about the non existent smell/smog.

I was going to say something about provoking a flame war, but then I saw that you had a key non in your post (ie - non existent).

There was a time back in the 70s and early 80s when smog and odour were a problem in Saint John, but since Irving cleaned up its act, this is no longer really an issue. Now it just depends whether or not you like fog or not. Fog is OK - its kinda nature's air conditioning.........

Misconceptions persist however especially amongst people who really have no first hand knowledge of the attributes of a community.

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I was going to say something about provoking a flame war, but then I saw that you had a key non in your post (ie - non existent).

There was a time back in the 70s and early 80s when smog and odour were a problem in Saint John, but since Irving cleaned up its act, this is no longer really an issue. Now it just depends whether or not you like fog or not. Fog is OK - its kinda nature's air conditioning.........

Misconceptions persist however especially amongst people who really have no first hand knowledge of the attributes of a community.

After this Summer’s heat I’m even more in favour of living in Saint John than I was before precisely because of the fog. The reprieve from the continental heat & humidity that inland NB gets is the gift that keeps on giving.

Ironically for those that moved to the Kennebecasis Valley for the “better air”, the actually numbers for things like sulfur dioxide are higher in KV than Uptown because of the direction of prevailing air currents.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by kwajo

After this Summer’s heat I’m even more in favour of living in Saint John than I was before precisely because of the fog. The reprieve from the continental heat & humidity that inland NB gets is the gift that keeps on giving.

Everyone in SJ needs to fully appreciate the affect the Bay can play on cooling things down in the summer. I was in town for a week in July and it was so nice to have temperatures floating around 20C...it's a wonderful reprieve from the 40+ humidity of Ontario.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Everyone in SJ needs to fully appreciate the affect the Bay can play on cooling things down in the summer. I was in town for a week in July and it was so nice to have temperatures floating around 20C...it's a wonderful reprieve from the 40+ humidity of Ontario.

Monctonians tend to go to Shediac, or personally I go to Grande-Digue, and can attest to the differences in Temperatures, and yes since your on the water it can split the temperature in half from what it is inland.

[Fischbob]

Originally Posted by Fischbob

An interesting permit has appeared in the City's Watch Us Grow app:



29 Canterbury is the parking structure at the corner of Canterbury and Grannan, where the City released an RFP for prospective developers last June. The H103 code means it's a heritage permit, so we're likely to get more details about what's being proposed in an upcoming HDB agenda.

UPDATE: Mysteriously, the permit has disappeared from the Watch Us Grow app

[saintjohnirish☘]

Do folks in cities like Boston, NYC, London, San Fransisco, Dublin, Halifax etc. complain about fog as much as NBers seem to?

Fog is an asset

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by Fischbob

UPDATE: Mysteriously, the permit has disappeared from the Watch Us Grow app

Might have been posted to the wrong address. I personally would not look to much into it.

















P.S. It's a conspiracy, and they're messing with our heads.

[RR Drummer]

Originally Posted by saintjohnirish☘

Do folks in cities like Boston, NYC, London, San Fransisco, Dublin, Halifax etc. complain about fog as much as NBers seem to?

Fog is an asset

Exactly! I don’t mind the fog personally. After several days of no sun it can get to you especially when 10mins away it’s sunny, however I know people who drive to the city to get a reprieve & enjoy a good foggy day in Saint John 😱😁

[ricker]

Originally Posted by RR Drummer

Exactly! I don’t mind the fog personally. After several days of no sun it can get to you especially when 10mins away it’s sunny, however I know people who drive to the city to get a reprieve & enjoy a good foggy day in Saint John 😱😁

Believe me if you lived inland during the hot spell you would welcome the fog!
I have always said we have the best weather in the province, cool on the coast and only a 5 minute drive inland if you want the heat.