Official Fredericton, NB projects thread

[OliverD]

The Greenwood Drive apartments on this month's PAC agenda are partly being financed by CMHC under one of their affordable housing programs. 50% of the units (99 out of 198) will be designated as "affordable" (note that is distinct from the province's subsidized housing program) and the developer is keeping the building modest for lower construction costs and rents. There's no underground parking and it appears that all the units are under 1000 sq ft.

On another note, the Fredericton Volkswagen property was sold last month. It's been on the market for quite some time; presumably the franchise owner is leasing it back from the new owner until a new facility can be built. Also, the vacant land between Acorn and Avonlea was also sold recently.

[shazapple]

Originally Posted by FreddyGuy

Respectfully, being that this is a site about building more so than politics, I'd say it hits the mark. When companies consider expansion and they scroll down through the list of candidates, it's good to have an accurate picture when they google population size. Those not from the area dont understand the traveling dynamics. The reality is, the larger the city the more expansion simply because it is large and people see it as a better opportunity. Expansion brings expansion. There is no point in handicapping yourself in this regard.

That makes sense, but what I am getting at is that all these ideals of a 'Super-Fredericton' are part of the white paper, but via the RSC level of governing. Economic development, tourism, community dev, etc are under the RSC mandate. It's messier, but the backlash from large scale amalgamations would kill this reform otherwise. The big cities obviously don't want to administrate large swaths of land as evidence from the boundaries in the white paper.

[MonctonRad]

So, Nobody has mentioned this proposed mosque project???



That tallest minaret, at nearly 30m would be the equivalent of a nine storey building. That should be visible from good parts of the city.........

[Taeolas]

Looks good to me. I saw some comments on facebook that seemed to be less than positive; but if our Muslim community is big enough to support that now, then all the better for all of us.

I did see one legit concern, that the location isn't really near transit. And IMO it highlights a problem with Freddy Transit in general; that it is slow as molasses to respond to the city changes. IMO the routes should be reviewed much more often than they seem to be, and adjusted to get closer to hubs (like the new mosque) as they are developed.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by Taeolas

I did see one legit concern, that the location isn't really near transit. And IMO it highlights a problem with Freddy Transit in general; that it is slow as molasses to respond to the city changes. IMO the routes should be reviewed much more often than they seem to be, and adjusted to get closer to hubs (like the new mosque) as they are developed.

The Saint John mosque (I think it's for NB as a whole?) isn't near any sort of reasonable transit at all, but that's due to its location outside of the city as it's wedged between Saint John and Rothesay.

Nothing really wrong with the mosque as long as it's adhering to build and design rules. I live down the street from a pretty large mosque here in Toronto and...it's not a big deal? I don't know why it would be...

Well, I know why it would be, but I think Freddy can survive a skyscraping 30m minaret. The Christ Church Cathedral's spire is 60m, fwiw.

[Pugsley]

It is a shame it is all the way out on Allison Blvd in the middle of nowhere. I'm assuming it is a land cost issue but it is hard to create a sense of community and integration/acceptance when it is in a place like this, given all of the issues we've seen in places like London. When something so important to the Muslim community is sitting alone out in an industrial park it segregates the community from others. Having recently moved from Toronto, many mosques have been built in strange and isolated industrial areas outside of the city, many along freeways or near factories.

Personal opinion, but if we want people to be more informed and accepting, perhaps even visit and learn more about the Muslim faith, it helps if these facilities are more accessible to the broader community. I've always felt like these places of worship have been strategically moved away from others, which to me is a lost opportunity to build a more inclusive community.

[Bishop2047]

Originally Posted by Pugsley

It is a shame it is all the way out on Allison Blvd in the middle of nowhere. I'm assuming it is a land cost issue but it is hard to create a sense of community and integration/acceptance when it is in a place like this, given all of the issues we've seen in places like London. When something so important to the Muslim community is sitting alone out in an industrial park it segregates the community from others. Having recently moved from Toronto, many mosques have been built in strange and isolated industrial areas outside of the city, many along freeways or near factories.

Personal opinion, but if we want people to be more informed and accepting, perhaps even visit and learn more about the Muslim faith, it helps if these facilities are more accessible to the broader community. I've always felt like these places of worship have been strategically moved away from others, which to me is a lost opportunity to build a more inclusive community.

Does seem like a trend in many small to medium sized cities. It would be interesting to hear from the community if cost was the issue. Saskatoon has a mosque build way out of the way in the North West end on the other side of the airport!

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by Bishop2047

Does seem like a trend in many small to medium sized cities. It would be interesting to hear from the community if cost was the issue. Saskatoon has a mosque build way out of the way in the North West end on the other side of the airport!

Isn't there a Sikh temple in like, rural Shediac?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Isn't there a Sikh temple in like, rural Shediac?

Hasn’t been built yet, but yes, there are plans, and it is intended to be the main Sikh temple for the Maritimes

[Freddypop]

Originally Posted by OliverD

Taco Boyz is opening at the corner of Smythe and Dundonald. Not sure if that's been mentioned before. The signage is already up.

Update per the local news: Confirmed that the new Taco Boyz is indeed a second location. Owner says they had planned on opening a year ago but wanted to find the right location. Training is to begin next week with the objective to be open over Xmas. If not then early January. Will look at a 3rd location on the Northside in 2-3 years.

Construction to start on the Saint John location in January with a planned opening in April. A Moncton location is expected to start construction in the Spring with an opening planned in June

[Freddypop]

The Higgs governments' capital budget will be released this afternoon. Expect the Brookside-Ring Rd round-about to be included and additional $$$ for the new Courthouse build. Usually takes a few days before the individual departments release the spending details

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by Pugsley

Personal opinion, but if we want people to be more informed and accepting, perhaps even visit and learn more about the Muslim faith, it helps if these facilities are more accessible to the broader community. I've always felt like these places of worship have been strategically moved away from others, which to me is a lost opportunity to build a more inclusive community.

I'm not sure strategy plans into it at all – I'd guess it's purely a cost thing.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Freddypop

Construction to start on the Saint John location in January with a planned opening in April. A Moncton location is expected to start construction in the Spring with an opening planned in June

No mention of where the Moncton location might be going???

[Freddypop]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

No mention of where the Moncton location might be going???

Not at this time although my take is that they have settled on a location but will not announce until all the i's are dotted and t's crossed.

The Saint John location I believe is at Eastpointe

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by Freddypop

Not at this time although my take is that they have settled on a location but will not announce until all the i's are dotted and t's crossed.

The Saint John location I believe is at Eastpointe

Yeah, the SJ location will be at East Point Shopping Centre in the Pizza Studio building, (next to the new Taste of Egypt).

[Taeolas]

So, The Hospice Boutique is moving out of the old DG building (I wasn't really aware they existed and/or that they were in the DG building in the first place).

They are moving to the Greco building on Dundonald. Since that building is currently full as far as I know, I'm wondering where they are moving into it. There must be some empty space in there somewhere I guess.

Also if you read the comments, there's this nugget:

the building they are in now has been sold and going to build apt building there all trees are cut down '

So sounds like the DG building is going to be redeveloped quick. Building an apartment building there seems a bit off to me; it's a busy intersection with 2 busy roads on either side; not really the best residential locations even if we need the units. Hopefully the units will have good soundproofing.

[Freddypop]

I believe there was a post a few pages back that had plans for a strip mall to be built on the former DG property. This would be consistent with the current zoning. At this time I belive that has higher credibility re plans

[Freddypop]

Department of Education has released their capital project spending for next FY. Fredericton will get yet another new school. This one is to replace the McAdam and Na'sis Memorial schools K-5.

This will make 3 new schools in the Capital Region that have been approved: Hanwell K-8, the recently announced new elementary school K-5 build off of Cliffe Street (Cuffman St) and now this.

https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/news/news_release.2021.12.0896.html

[Taeolas]

I'm not 100% sure, but I do believe work for the new courthouse may be starting downtown. Site prep at least seems to be happening.

I was going to park in that parking lot next to FYEye Doctors, and I was surprised to see the entrances closed off and the area fenced off with an excavator and portapotty set up on the side nearest the parking garage. It looks like it would cover the footprint of the courthouse plans.

[Freddypop]

Originally Posted by Taeolas

I'm not 100% sure, but I do believe work for the new courthouse may be starting downtown. Site prep at least seems to be happening.

I was going to park in that parking lot next to FYEye Doctors, and I was surprised to see the entrances closed off and the area fenced off with an excavator and portapotty set up on the side nearest the parking garage. It looks like it would cover the footprint of the courthouse plans.

Makes sense. They had said that site prep would begin in late November