[Moncton] Riverview Developments

[MonctonRad]

Extending Cleveland would also open up more land in Findlay Park for future development.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Extending Cleveland would also open up more land in Findlay Park for future development.

That's true. There's that big chunk of undeveloped land on the east side of Cleveland Avenue. I wonder if they'd put another east-west road through there from Pine Glen to Cleveland. Would that make sense?

[MonctonRad]

A new Kent warehouse store at the NE corner of Findlay/Gunningsville is confirmed.

https://www.townofriverview.ca/sites/default/files/21-2611_pac_package.pdf

It will include a large garden centre and an even larger lumberyard, with lots of room for contractors and trucks and three access points (two off of Findlay and one off of Gunningsville).

I'm at work, but I will post some screen captures when I get home later this evening.

[MonctonRad]

As suspected:

In 2019, Cordova Realty (now Thrive Properties) made a conditional use application for a 10-storey
mixed use development at the current location of the Chocolate River Station. A copy of the staff
report, including site plans, elevations, renderings, and design summary are attached to this report.
This application, as well as 5 variances, were approved by PAC at their April 10, 2019 meeting.
Condition (9) of that approval involved a timeline requirement: “That a building and development
permit be obtained within 3 years of this approval.”

Due to several factors, including delays with the
sale of the building as well as COVID, the developer recognizes that it will be impossible to meet this
condition. As such, they are applying to amend the previous approval in order to remove the timeline
requirement.

Riverview town planning is recommending that Thrive be granted it's request removing the time constraints on their proposed development (The Current).

Personally I see no problem with this. I have every confidence that Thrive still intends on proceeding with The Current within the next couple of years.

[jonny golden]

At the August PAC meeting there was a submission for a 12 unit apartment at 180 Hillsborough Road. The lot previously had an older house that was in bad condition and that had been demolished. About a month ago I saw a couple of men walking around the property. Today I noticed a piece of heavy equipment working, so site prep has obviously started. Not a big project, but there's been a lot of these smaller infill buildings constructed in Riverview over the last few years. I'm sure the town doesn't mind the tax base increasing when they don't have to supply new water/sewer infrastructure.

[MonctonRad]

Front elevation and site plan for the new Kent store at Findlay/Gunningsville in Findlay Park:

[Monctoncore]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

As suspected:



Riverview town planning is recommending that Thrive be granted it's request removing the time constraints on their proposed development (The Current).

Personally I see no problem with this. I have every confidence that Thrive still intends on proceeding with The Current within the next couple of years.

I agree with you, I think they are showing they are trustworthy developers and they can be given the request they want.

[jonny golden]

I wonder of there'd be any chance that Wal Mart would consider Riverview? Even the current Kent location. It would be smaller but that would reflect the smaller Riverview population.

[riverviewer]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Riverview town planning is recommending that Thrive be granted it's request removing the time constraints on their proposed development (The Current)..

Update from Thrive - A reply on Facebook to comments in Retail Talk and Share about the riverbank stability

John McManaman
.... being the owner, I can let you know this is not the case. There are no issues with the River and this property is actually located on bedrock. We hire geotechnical and environmental consultants to do thorough and professional assessments of all of our properties. About 12 drill samples were completed, and this property is supported by bedrock. We will also be keeping the trail in place and adding abundant landscaping. We are simply asking for more time to complete and lease-up our current riverfront project, The Tides before we launch into this one. In the mean time, we have gone out of our way to support current tenants like the Holy Whale and food truck, local produce vendors, etc. We remain super excited about this project and contributing to the vibrancy of Riverview’s Riverfront and downtown. I hope this provides clarity.

[MonctonRad]

Thanks. I think the key point in McManaman's response is:

We are simply asking for more time to complete and lease-up our current riverfront project, The Tides before we launch into this one.

There is still lots of work to do on The Tides, and if they also want to get substantial leasing of The Tides out of the way with beforehand too, I doubt we will see any work begin on The Current before 2024.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

I wonder of there'd be any chance that Wal Mart would consider Riverview? Even the current Kent location. It would be smaller but that would reflect the smaller Riverview population.

I am confident that Riverview will eventually get a Walmart.

Even with the two Walmart superstores in Moncton/Dieppe, I still think there is a need in Riverview and civic pride in the town would drive loyalty to a "hometown" Walmart on the south side of the river.

I doubt they would consider the current Kent location on Coverdale Road however. The building is not purpose built, and would suffer under the same constraints for Walmart as it does for Kent.

The only logical place for a Riverview Walmart would be Findlay Park, probably on Gunningsville Blvd, immediately behind the soon-to-be-constructed Kent store..........

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I am confident that Riverview will eventually get a Walmart.

Even with the two Walmart superstores in Moncton/Dieppe, I still think there is a need in Riverview and civic pride in the town would drive loyalty to a "hometown" Walmart on the south side of the river.

I doubt they would consider the current Kent location on Coverdale Road however. The building is not purpose built, and would suffer under the same constraints for Walmart as it does for Kent.

The only logical place for a Riverview Walmart would be Findlay Park, probably on Gunningsville Blvd, immediately behind the soon-to-be-constructed Kent store..........

Yeah, I'd have to agree with that. I think the suggestion someone expressed before makes more sense for the current Kent location - some kind of a project to convert it to residential. It just isn't a customer friendly location. All the commercial action in Riverview now is happening in Findlay Park.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Even with the two Walmart superstores in Moncton/Dieppe, I still think there is a need in Riverview and civic pride in the town would drive loyalty to a "hometown" Walmart on the south side of the river.

Is that loyalty or convenience?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by OliverD

Is that loyalty or convenience?

A little bit of both. Riverview is just a tad tribal.

[josh_cat_eyes]

I’m curious if Walmart plans to do more expansions after their distribution centre opens. It would make sense as they would have the extra capacity in the region. Riverview, Quispamsis, or St. Stephen would be good potential locations.

[NBNYer]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

I’m curious if Walmart plans to do more expansions after their distribution centre opens. It would make sense as they would have the extra capacity in the region. Riverview, Quispamsis, or St. Stephen would be good potential locations.

I wouldn't discount the possibility of a Walmart in Shediac, even before a Riverview store. A Shediac location would have less of a cannibalization effect on the North side stores and would also open up a growing and untapped market in Kent county up to Bouctouche.

[jonny golden]

I do think a Wal Mart would do very well in Riverview. The thing about the Findlay Park area is that it's not just commercial. There have been several apartment buildings added over the last few years, and no doubt there's more to come. Just to the east we have the Fairways development that just keeps expanding, including the 79 unit Kensington Apartments.

The potential customer base just keeps growing in the immediate area, and by the time a new Wal Mart store would come on line, there'll be a lot more shoppers close by. I think we'll see it happen at some point.

[PEI highway guy]

Originally Posted by NBNYer

I wouldn't discount the possibility of a Walmart in Shediac, even before a Riverview store. A Shediac location would have less of a cannibalization effect on the North side stores and would also open up a growing and untapped market in Kent county up to Bouctouche.

I think a Wal Mart in Shediac is just a matter of time and would do well. With A Canadian Tire and Sobeys there presently A WalMart would attract people from places like Rexton, Cap Pele, Scoudouc (SP). I think the Riverview store would be bigger than a Shediac one, however, both will probably happen in the next 10 years.

[Irish1]

Regarding the new Kent, it is hardly a fair trade — the new building would be the size of the one in Shediac: around 30,000 sq ft. That would make it about a third of the current size.

[MonctonRad]

With the enclosed drive-thru warehouse and the enclosed garden centre, closer to 46,000 sq ft, but point taken.

How large is the current Kent in Riverview? It is certainly smaller than the two stores in Moncton.