[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

Will the remainder of the old fisheries building be connected to the new building? Hard to tell for sure by looking at the render.

It is hard to tell from the render, but I am about 90% sure that the fancy lobby with the whale skeleton mounted in the rafters will actually be located in the current Gulf Fisheries Centre building, and this will serve as the main entry to the remainder of the complex. The new building will be mostly offices and research labs.

Looking at the render, I would say that the rear of the current building will actually be integrated into the glass face of the new building.

[zostera]

I can probably provide a bit of context as a current DFO employee. Some things are still fluid, but as of now all that will remain of the original building is the facade. The construction will be done in a few phases, starting first with an initial portion of the building on the north side of the lot. After the first part is completed, those of us not working from home will be moved to a temporary space in 2025 while the rest of the building is constructed. We'll start to move back in 2027, with everything completed supposedly by 2030.

[MonctonRad]

Thanks for the input, and welcome to the forums!

Feel free to keep us up to date on construction. As I've said, once renderings become available, I will likely create a project specific thread dedicated to ASEC. First hand content would be most appreciated (we of course respect the fact that you should not include any confidential stuff that could get you in trouble).

BTW, how tall will this building be. Just looking at the initial render, and it's relation to the current building facade, it could be as much as nine storeys. Is this indeed the case???

[zostera]

Thanks! Should have specified, "long time lurker/first time poster" etc.

There's obviously lots more information than has been released yet, and I don't know how much I can share. I've seen lots of floor plans and renders, though it's worth noting that a firm has just been hired to do the exterior design, and I can say the final building won't look much like the render posted above.

As far as height, it's going to be around 7 "levels" including underground parking. Lots to cram into a pretty small footprint.

[ColSJ]

I want to a pose a question to this thread:

Looking at the photo in the 20 Record Street thread I’ve noticed the streetscapes give off a very “suburban feel”. Things like the curved sidewalks at intersections with grass on the outside and windy roads as opposed to more of a grid system and right turn yield lanes.

I should note this mainly only applies to areas of the downtown south of Main Street, whereas north of Main has a good grid system for the most part. I feel as though this may have negative effects on developers trying to build in this area. As some have pointed out the record street development lacks complete street front access and I think that is in part due to the design of the street.

My question is does anyone feel the streetscapes present a challenge to develop a dense downtown neighbourhood? And furthermore does anyone else feel this way?

I’m familiar with the fact something brewing behind the Assumption Place so I suppose this could be a starting point to develop a grid system.

[MonctonRad]

Interesting question.

The lands south of Main Street in Moncton never had a street grid. The reason for this is that this land was all formerly industrial, and whatever street network that developed began informally, and this in itself made the land difficult to redevelop once the industrial tenants moved out.

The city has done some work to improve and reconnect the street network in this area, especially in the area around 20 Record Street, which is probably why you have the impression that the streets around there look "suburban." A better description would be "modern."

Is this an impediment to development - perhaps, especially if you are thinking about typical dense urban development found in a city's core. I think 20 Record does a good job fitting into the footprint that was available.

Happily, the street network that will develop behind Assumption Place will be more grid like, and this is where the new dense downtown of Moncton will develop. Ashford apparently plans six buildings of 10-18 storeys in the old Assumption Place parking lot. This is where Moncton's dense downtown will be. 20 Record Street will be on the periphery.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Happily, the street network that will develop behind Assumption Place will be more grid like, and this is where the new dense downtown of Moncton will develop. Ashford apparently plans six buildings of 10-18 storeys in the old Assumption Place parking lot. This is where Moncton's dense downtown will be. 20 Record Street will be on the periphery.

Where did you hear this? I doubt doubt the information I’m just curious if there was some sort of master plan released by Ashford. 6 buildings of that height will, in combination with the 3 Lafford towers, and the St. Bernard’s building, completely change the streetscape of downtown. It will likely be one of the biggest changing periods for a Canadian downtown in several decades.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

Where did you hear this? I doubt doubt the information I’m just curious if there was some sort of master plan released by Ashford. 6 buildings of that height will, in combination with the 3 Lafford towers, and the St. Bernard’s building, completely change the streetscape of downtown. It will likely be one of the biggest changing periods for a Canadian downtown in several decades.

Pierremoncton (one of the other forumers) mentioned this in a post. He is a reliable contributor, and he had a source.

In other words nothing official.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Interesting question.

The lands south of Main Street in Moncton never had a street grid. The reason for this is that this land was all formerly industrial, and whatever street network that developed began informally, and this in itself made the land difficult to redevelop once the industrial tenants moved out.

The city has done some work to improve and reconnect the street network in this area, especially in the area around 20 Record Street, which is probably why you have the impression that the streets around there look "suburban." A better description would be "modern."

Is this an impediment to development - perhaps, especially if you are thinking about typical dense urban development found in a city's core. I think 20 Record does a good job fitting into the footprint that was available.

Happily, the street network that will develop behind Assumption Place will be more grid like, and this is where the new dense downtown of Moncton will develop. Ashford apparently plans six buildings of 10-18 storeys in the old Assumption Place parking lot. This is where Moncton's dense downtown will be. 20 Record Street will be on the periphery.

Regardless of whether it's on the periphery, I don't think it's going to take too long for regret to set in about how some of downtown Moncton's current developments are being built. The Record Street development and the Junction Urban Village look decidedly suburban and are going to stick out as sore thumbs as more urban developments happen in the next few years. Same with the Hyatt Place and Hilton Garden Inn.

We went through the same thing in Fredericton and the developments in our downtown core that are happening today are of markedly higher quality than those that happened 10-15 years ago.

[L'homard]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Pierremoncton (one of the other forumers) mentioned this in a post. He is a reliable contributor, and he had a source.

In other words nothing official.

I'm getting the exact same thing from people in the development business, exactly on point with the above, from people who have consistently provided solid information in the past.
To be sure, sometimes people are wrong, and sometimes plans change, no I should say that more often than not plans will change.
So while I only believe half of what I can see and none of what I hear, I'm confident we are about to enter a new era for our fair burgh.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by L'homard

I'm getting the exact same thing from people in the development business, exactly on point with the above, from people who have consistently provided solid information in the past.

Thanks for the corroboration.

Sometimes rumours become circular, but the more often you hear the same thing from a variety of sources, the more likely it is that there is some validity to a rumour.

The Ashford lands and Downing Street are destined to be the new core of downtown Moncton. Moncton will eventually have a small dense core befitting the status of this city being the largest municipality in the province.

Will the downtown core of Moncton ever rival the central uptown peninsula of Saint John in terms of urbanity? I actually doubt it. Saint John has the advantage of a 150 year head start, with whole blocks of historically significant buildings creating a unique series of streetscapes of national importance. Moncton had a much slower start, a linear downtown, with an industrial riverfront creating a brownfield difficult to develop. Happily progress is beginning, but we will never be able to make up for Saint John's head start. I'm OK with that. Saint John has certain strengths, and we have others. We are not identical cities, and no one should expect this of us in the future.

Our future is to have a small dense urban core tying the downtown east end of Main Street around city hall plaza directly to the Riverfront Park via a pedestrianized Downing Street, extending into adjacent blocks. It won't be as large as Halifax's, nor as historic as Saint John's, but it will be impressive in its own way.

I look forward to watching this unfold over the next 20 years...........

[MonctonRad]

The evolving face of Weldon Street:


CBC photo

None of these three midsized apartment buildings existed three years ago,

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Thanks for the corroboration.

Sometimes rumours become circular, but the more often you hear the same thing from a variety of sources, the more likely it is that there is some validity to a rumour.

The Ashford lands and Downing Street are destined to be the new core of downtown Moncton. Moncton will eventually have a small dense core befitting the status of this city being the largest municipality in the province.

Will the downtown core of Moncton ever rival the central uptown peninsula of Saint John in terms of urbanity? I actually doubt it. Saint John has the advantage of a 150 year head start, with whole blocks of historically significant buildings creating a unique series of streetscapes of national importance. Moncton had a much slower start, a linear downtown, with an industrial riverfront creating a brownfield difficult to develop. Happily progress is beginning, but we will never be able to make up for Saint John's head start. I'm OK with that. Saint John has certain strengths, and we have others. We are not identical cities, and no one should expect this of us in the future.

Our future is to have a small dense urban core tying the downtown east end of Main Street around city hall plaza directly to the Riverfront Park via a pedestrianized Downing Street, extending into adjacent blocks. It won't be as large as Halifax's, nor as historic as Saint John's, but it will be impressive in its own way.

I look forward to watching this unfold over the next 20 years...........

I’m also looking forward to seeing things unfold. If the Ashford plans are true (and I don’t doubt that there is some truth to them) that would be huge for the city! There is other land that will be developed after that as well, namely along the north side of Albert Street and between Staples and King street on Main Street as well as the RCMP property. Queen street and St. George street also have a number of infill opportunities.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

The evolving face of Weldon Street:


CBC photo

None of these three midsized apartment buildings existed three years ago,

What really stands out in this picture is the abundance of wires! Will they be burying at least some of them?

[MonctonRad]

Lots of chatter on line regarding this building on the NE corner of High and John.

Apparently it has sold, and the current antique shop on site will be closing. The word (2nd hand via allnb.com) is that a coffee shop will be opening in the premises.



This is unique building in the neighbourhood, and I am glad it will be repurposed.

This isn't too far from the (soon to be expanding) Tire Shack Craft Brewery. Is this neighbourhood beginning to gentrify???

[MonctonRad]

The concrete forms for the basement/underground parking are now going in at 51 Highfield.

[MonctonRad]

Mayor Dawn Arnold has posted that Moncton city council has authorized the reinforcement of 210m of riverfront in front of Bore View park with armour stone to prevent erosion.



This image shows the section to be reinforced.

[Sumater]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Mayor Dawn Arnold has posted that Moncton city council has authorized the reinforcement of 210m of riverfront in front of Bore View park with armour stone to prevent erosion.



This image shows the section to be reinforced.

I can see why. It looks awfully precarious.

[MonctonRad]

This image from the T&T today shows the area of the riverbank to be reinforced:



The article states that the city intends to ask the province for financial help with this project. It will be interesting to see how this goes. If I recall correctly, when the province was reinforcing the entire riverfront (at the time the causeway gates were to be reopened), they offered to cover the entire costs themselves, but the city wanted this particular section of the riverbank preserved in it's natural state. The province agreed to this, but stated that if mitigation were to be required in the future, it would be the city's responsibility. I doubt this opinion will have changed.........

[bridgeoftea]

I've seen on some other threads, for the bigger cities they have a "future skyline" rendering over what looks like a google earth view. Is there one for Moncton with all of it's current builds in progress?