[Saint John] Uptown Thread

[ColSJ]

The Wentworth has topped out at 7 stories tall. The façade looks great IMO and fits in okay with the surrounding area. If the housing boom continues it would be nice to see the parking lots across the street on Leinster developed to a similar height. It could create a small cluster of buildings behind the IOL HQ.

[ColSJ]

Excavation appears complete at The Wellington. Construction on underground utilities will likely begin this coming week.

[Fischbob]

That awkward side yard/shed and strange, underutilized Union Jack public art plaza next to the Loyalist House is just crying out for some infill.

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by Fischbob

That awkward side yard/shed and strange, underutilized Union Jack public art plaza next to the Loyalist House is just crying out for some infill.

I was thinking about this. A 4-storey white clapboard building, proportionally similar to the Loyalist House, would be good to see. A bit of a transition. What exactly is the Bell structure, and would they ever consider giving it a faux facade?

[cdnguys]

The Wentworth from Fort Howe. The Wellington will appear prominently from this location - most likely same height as Mercantile Centre with the incline of Union St

[IMG][/IMG]

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[Franco401]

That Bell building is home to switching equipment, the same as the blank windowless buildings you see in many cities. The structure is nearly 100 years old, but I have no idea how necessary it is today.

[cdnguys]

[IMG][/IMG]

[adamuptownsj]

Prominent set of lots listed on corner of Harding and Charlotte. No one has made an offer for the lot just across the street on Queen Square South, which is quite a bit smaller but comes with plans.

https://www.remax.ca/nb/saint-john-real-estate/277-279-charlotte-street-wp_id293949874-lst

Nothing to do with me, but given the increased infill I wonder how long this will be on the market. I had long been wondering when these lots would be listed, since they border a heritage area but are not in it. I believe the owner is quite elderly and has a lot of other decrepit properties, so maybe he's cashing in.

[cdnguys]

PAC denied Mike Cavanagh’s variance request for metal cladding! David Hickey (appearing as a resident) and councillor Sullivan made some astute points.

[905er]

The Wellington looks really promising from the renders. Very Montrealesque..
Saint John is a really attractive looking city from what I can see.

[adamuptownsj]

Good on the PAC. Industrial siding has no place uptown.

Regarding King... that's worrying. Windowless. Pediment is decent.

[ColSJ]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Good on the PAC. Industrial siding has no place uptown.

Regarding King... that's worrying. Windowless. Pediment is decent.

I think this just a conceptually scale drawing. Not a chance they wouldn’t put any windows in it.

[darkharbour]

Originally Posted by ColSJ

I think this just a conceptually scale drawing. Not a chance they wouldn’t put any windows in it.

Yeah it’s an early sketch not a full design. You can’t sell 9 floors of window-less residential

[cdnguys]

CBC article about The Atlantic
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-john-the-atlantic-metal-siding-1.6013957
I have serious concerns that city staff felt this change (without permission) is acceptable. Calls into question whether they work for developers or for the best interest of the city. Does city staff feel metal cladded buildings are the standard for our city now?

[Cityspaces]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

CBC article about The Atlantic
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-john-the-atlantic-metal-siding-1.6013957
I have serious concerns that city staff felt this change (without permission) is acceptable. Calls into question whether they work for developers or for the best interest of the city. Does city staff feel metal cladded buildings are the standard for our city now?

Committee IMO made the right decision. But you may not know why/how they come to their position and why. Disagree if you wish - but until you are in their seat, you don't know. Plus, if the rule is there - how would it be a standard?

[ColSJ]

Today at The Wellington I noticed a gravel pad had been made adjacent to the police station parking lot. I'm wondering if its for the placement of a mini tower crane like the one on Canterbury.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by ColSJ

Today at The Wellington I noticed a gravel pad had been made adjacent to the police station parking lot. I'm wondering if its for the placement of a mini tower crane like the one on Canterbury.

Sounds like it would be. I think they would heed some sort of crane based on the size of it.

[shazapple]

There's nothing wrong with metal as a siding material and I agree with the developer that metal would be a better choice in our climate.

The problem here is the bait and switch of showing one aesthetic and delivering another. The approved aesthetic can be accomplished with metal, but I suspect cost and availability was the major driver behind this attempted aesthetic.

[darkharbour]

Originally Posted by shazapple

There's nothing wrong with metal as a siding material and I agree with the developer that metal would be a better choice in our climate.

The problem here is the bait and switch of showing one aesthetic and delivering another. The approved aesthetic can be accomplished with metal, but I suspect cost and availability was the major driver behind this attempted aesthetic.

Metal can be a great cladding material, I love some of the new 3D textured panels available, corten steel, or the many colour options in aluminium these days, and you are right that it was the unauthorized switch that caused so many ruffled feathers, but I would say it is also the type of metal cladding used, which is not the style typically seen on residential buildings and especially not in an urban setting.

[adamuptownsj]

My issue is explicitly with corrugated sheet metal, not the 'cool stuff'.