[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[benvui]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

Yes, good point. Driving by this morning I was stopped at the lights so I could get a good look at this side of the building. I don't think there will be stairs because the balconies completely fill out the area of the steel structure. It looks like there will be doors leading out to the balconies. Also they've constructed an extension of some kind at the back of the building. It's an interesting project. A big improvement over the eyesore that the building was before. Especially in this prominent location.

I think the extension on the back might be an elevator, but I'm just guessing

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by benvui

I think the extension on the back might be an elevator, but I'm just guessing

Hard to say what they would be building the extension for. It isn't very deep because of the building behind it, but looks kind of wide for an elevator. Overall when they're finished it will be a big improvement from the condition the building was in before.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by benvui

I think the extension on the back might be an elevator, but I'm just guessing

Hard to say what they would be building the extension for. It isn't very deep because of the building behind it, but looks kind of wide for an elevator. Overall when they're finished it will be a big improvement from the condition the building was in before.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by FarmerTom

It looks like the glass area is only gonna be a small staircase now. It doesn’t span half the side of the building, just a small area in the centre.

Glass is now installed. It looks like it's just balconies inside, can't see any stairs. It looks nice, but fully enclosed balconies?

[Mattyyy]

I received notification of where I park downtown that they will be losing 1/3 of the parking lot because a new road will be built between Main & Assumption. The parking lot sits between Robinson & Lutz. I have no idea on timeline. Does it perhaps mean the city is going ahead with this road this year?

[benvui]

Originally Posted by Mattyyy

I received notification of where I park downtown that they will be losing 1/3 of the parking lot because a new road will be built between Main & Assumption. The parking lot sits between Robinson & Lutz. I have no idea on timeline. Does it perhaps mean the city is going ahead with this road this year?

I wonder where the road would lie between Heritage Court and ALC, would it run through the green space and they would have to move the backup generator or would it run south of the green space and take up the heritage parking? In either case I can see a reconfiguration of the parking for both ALC and Heritage, removing the entrances off Foundry and having them off this new street. Will the street stop at Foundry or continue parallel to the train tracks, connecting up with Albert in front of the new Police station? Where does the road go east of Robinson? This will open up huge amount of land for development that were basically land locked and only good for parking until this road gets built.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by benvui

I wonder where the road would lie between Heritage Court and ALC, would it run through the green space and they would have to move the backup generator or would it run south of the green space and take up the heritage parking? In either case I can see a reconfiguration of the parking for both ALC and Heritage, removing the entrances off Foundry and having them off this new street. Will the street stop at Foundry or continue parallel to the train tracks, connecting up with Albert in front of the new Police station? Where does the road go east of Robinson? This will open up huge amount of land for development that were basically land locked and only good for parking until this road gets built.

I was thinking it would start at Downing and stop at Lutz. Never thought of the possibility of going through to Foundry. It would be great to hear some kind of an announcement from the Ashford Group as to what their downtown plans are for this spring/summer.

[tmacdougall]

According to the 'Downtown Core Community Development Plan', there is street proposed (p.25) that runs east to west from Downing St. Foundry. Surprisingly, the street will built through part of the city market.

The city would also have to expedite land from business owners to make this happen.

I'm sure someone can post this plan.

Originally Posted by jonny golden

I was thinking it would start at Downing and stop at Lutz. Never thought of the possibility of going through to Foundry. It would be great to hear some kind of an announcement from the Ashford Group as to what their downtown plans are for this spring/summer.

[MonctonRad]

Here's a conceptual plan of what the city has in mind for the lands south of Main Street.



And yes, the new street running east/west just south of Main would necessitate the removal of the city market. The city however plans on relocating the market to Downing Street at some point.



This is what the city has in mind for a relocated Moncton Market on Downing Street.

Why did Mattyy suddenly receive a notice about his parking spot? I have no idea, but with Ashford recently consolidating all the land behind Assumption Place, the city is closer to achieving it's dream than ever before. The lynchpin properties necessary for this grand vision in reengineering the downtown core are now under the control of a single developer, which should simplify the negotiation process infinitely. There may be big things happening in the next year or two........

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Here's a conceptual plan of what the city has in mind for the lands south of Main Street.



And yes, the new street running east/west just south of Main would necessitate the removal of the city market. The city however plans on relocating the market to Downing Street at some point.



This is what the city has in mind for a relocated Moncton Market on Downing Street.

Why did Mattyy suddenly receive a notice about his parking spot? I have no idea, but with Ashford recently consolidating all the land behind Assumption Place, the city is closer to achieving it's dream than ever before. The lynchpin properties necessary for this grand vision in reengineering the downtown core are now under the control of a single developer, which should simplify the negotiation process infinitely. There may be big things happening in the next year or two........

Maybe they are going to start in the Foundry/Lutz area and work west to east? They could be doing it one piece at a time, allowing development to fill in as they go.

[Mattyyy]

Based on what I have heard it sounds like the city is going to start this summer with installation and upgrades of any services (ie. fire hydrants) and then install the full road in summer of 2021.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by Mattyyy

Based on what I have heard it sounds like the city is going to start this summer with installation and upgrades of any services (ie. fire hydrants) and then install the full road in summer of 2021.

That makes sense. While the city is doing that, Ashford Group could proceed with their first project. They are supposed to be demolishing the old Paramount theater building on Main Street, which has had a series of failed bars over the last few years. I hope they construct something with some height and not another typical 2 story building.

[Mattyyy]

Any word on the proposed building by the Staples location? I thought I noticed some surveying work in the area recently but could be completely unrelated.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by Mattyyy

Any word on the proposed building by the Staples location? I thought I noticed some surveying work in the area recently but could be completely unrelated.

Yes there was news a little while back that said we can expect a major project to start this spring/summer in the east area of downtown. It wasn't specific as to location, but this property would make sense. There's a lot of land there and there's been many rumors over the years about it finally getting developed. Such a prime location, it would be great to see a major project there. I hope they do something prominent - at least 10 floors tall.

[pierremoncton]

What I heard from Ashford is that their plan over the next 5-10 years is building around 500 rental units downtown. Their first project would be a 3/4-storey building on Gordon St (north side; between Elm and Highfield), likely starting sometime this year. Their human resources are limited so they work slowly.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by pierremoncton

What I heard from Ashford is that their plan over the next 5-10 years is building around 500 rental units downtown. Their first project would be a 3/4-storey building on Gordon St (north side; between Elm and Highfield), likely starting sometime this year. Their human resources are limited so they work slowly.

Good news. This is a prominent vacant lot, and putting a four storey building here would continue the densification of Highfield northward towards St. George.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by pierremoncton

What I heard from Ashford is that their plan over the next 5-10 years is building around 500 rental units downtown. Their first project would be a 3/4-storey building on Gordon St (north side; between Elm and Highfield), likely starting sometime this year. Their human resources are limited so they work slowly.

That is a great location, walking distance to the Avenir Center and the whole Main Street area.

Here's a quote from Ashford Group principal Jim Dixon in an interview after they made their downtown purchase:

"Moncton grows at a certain pace, so this is a long-term, go slow, find good projects — a project next year and then the year after."

[jonny golden]

This morning I noticed some survey stakes in the ground on the land next to the Staples store on Main Street. A little over a year ago the city expanded the geographical boundaries for the development incentive program, and this property is now included. Will we finally see something happening on this land, and if so, what?

[flyer99]

Would anyone know the projected opening dates of the following:

(1) Hilton Garden on Highfield St.

(2) Hyatt on Main St.

(3) The large apartment complex on Vaughn Harvey.

Thanks in advance.

[MonctonRad]

Hilton Garden Inn - no idea, but this is progressing fast, and I suspect sometime this fall.
Hyatt Place Hotel - supposed to be open by June
Tannery Place South - this fall