[Saint John] Uptown Thread - Page 49

bridgeoftea · #**961** Posted **Feb 16, 2022, 12:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaginRonic

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SJ.Newschaser/posts/4414022252031324/

And it looks like another building on City Road is coming down...this time, the one located at the corner of City Road and Clyde St.

I think someone in the link above said it was once an armouries facility, but that it had been owned by the Irvings for a while.

o.o

I am claiming 10% responsibility for this, as yesterday I made a post in the Saint John thread about what the future of City road will look like. Hoping that all these buildings being tore down will make room for new additions on City road.

bridgeoftea · #**962** Posted **Feb 16, 2022, 12:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdnguys

There is an article in Huddle.today with an update on the City Hall building plans

The renders look nice. Although I feel like when walking by City Hall in the pedway they should use images from City Hall looking out to the harbour. always that it was weird seeing images of different port cities lol.

DyAm00394 · #**963** Posted **Feb 16, 2022, 1:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaginRonic

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SJ.Newschaser/posts/4414022252031324/

And it looks like another building on City Road is coming down...this time, the one located at the corner of City Road and Clyde St.

I think someone in the link above said it was once an armouries facility, but that it had been owned by the Irvings for a while.

o.o

I drove by and they already started tearing it down.

ColSJ · #**964** Posted **Feb 21, 2022, 10:16 PM**

Not sure if this property has been mentioned but the owners of 37 Mecklenburg are finally finishing the refurbishment of the house. Judging by what had already been completed it will be one of the most charming houses on the peninsula.

adamuptownsj · #**965** Posted **Feb 22, 2022, 12:49 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColSJ

Not sure if this property has been mentioned but the owners of 37 Mecklenburg are finally finishing the refurbishment of the house. Judging by what had already been completed it will be one of the most charming houses on the peninsula.

Glad to hear it- I wonder if they'll tackle that garage?

Three years ago that whole side of Carmarthen was vacant or in disrepair along with 170 across the street. 170 was sold a couple times but I talked to the guy doing foundation work and he confirmed it's being done as a single family home for the owners. 133 and the one on the corner of Duke and Carmarthen have both been redone (the owners of the one on the corner are reshingling it in the spring).

It would be nice for the city to replace the three or four smashed street trees on the block and replace the asphalt medians with grass.

cdnguys · #**966** Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 1:34 AM**

There was excavation work right where first Fundy Quay building is going? Start of foundation work??

adamuptownsj · #**967** Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 2:56 PM**

Storage proposed for Brunswick Square. Self storage. Totally pathetic and should not be allowed.

MonctonRad · #**968** Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 3:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Storage proposed for Brunswick Square. Self storage. Totally pathetic and should not be allowed.

Agreed. That would be an egregious embarrassment.

RR Drummer · #**969** Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 3:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Agreed. That would be an egregious embarrassment.

Utterly ridiculous! What a colossal waste of space if this happens.

JakeNB · #**970** Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 3:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdnguys

There was excavation work right where first Fundy Quay building is going? Start of foundation work??

Does anyone know whether the proponent and the City have actually entered into any definitive agreements (such as a lease) for the property? Last I heard they had only had an option on the site.

bridgeoftea · #**971** Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 3:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Storage proposed for Brunswick Square. Self storage. Totally pathetic and should not be allowed.

If that is the plan for Brunswick Square than that might be one of the worst ideas ever. Pathetic really. Why would anyone think a self storage place in the heart of a downtown core would be useful or beneficial? Plus I swear we just had an update for a self storage place on Rothesay ave where that old motel was.

JHikka · #**972** Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 4:00 PM**

Is there a source for this Brunswick Square discussion or is this just word of mouth?

adamuptownsj · #**973** Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 5:48 PM**

TJ has ownership discussing this as an option. Not a rumour at all.

ColSJ · #**974** Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 6:30 PM**

The Area 506 container village is bringing in some high-profile tenants. First the e-scooter business and today they've announced East Coast Lifestyle. I believe this is the first location in New Brunswick.

homebody · #**975** Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 6:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColSJ

The Area 506 container village is bringing in some high-profile tenants. First the e-scooter business and today they've announced East Coast Lifestyle. I believe this is the first location in New Brunswick.

Finally some good news! Has anyone heard anything about 99 King. Anything circulating below the surface. Be nice to see some info soon!!

Taeolas · #**976** Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 6:49 PM**

I do wonder if that Brunswick Square rumour is basically an implied threat. Basically "If we can't do anything else, we'll put in self storage". Not sure what the threat would be exactly, since they're the ones who are after tenants one way or another. Unless the city or province is sitting on something to keep them from doing what they really want to do with the square.

adamuptownsj · #**977** Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 6:56 PM**

I'm not super keen on commercial rental space in the 'container village'. There's tons of vacancies in privately owned storefronts and it feels weird to have the city/a city-controlled entity leasing space it built with Albertan-taxpayer-originated, election-season-bribe money, on port lands. I know, I know, cruise traffic... but it's not exactly a vote of confidence in the existing uptown. I thought it was supposed to be a temporary event space pending the right developer.

JHikka · #**978** Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 6:58 PM**

It is a temporary event space. It provides flexibility for outlets, whether retail or food or otherwise, who either aren't convinced or don't have the resources to commit to the Uptown in a full-lease storefront. It provides further options for businesses to operate in the Uptown core, which should only be seen as a net positive.

adamuptownsj · #**979** Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 7:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHikka

It is a temporary event space. It provides flexibility for outlets, whether retail or food or otherwise, who either aren't convinced or don't have the resources to commit to the Uptown in a full-lease storefront. It provides further options for businesses to operate in the Uptown core, which should only be seen as a net positive.

I'm genuinely interested in seeing what the city is charging per square foot. It should be competitive with privately owned retail space. It's concerning if taxpayers are indirectly subsidizing commercial use of untaxed property owned by the city at the expense of competition.

And commercial landlords have definitely become more flexible since 2019 regarding pop-ups, shorter-term leases, flexible spaces, etc.

Not being a mega downer here, just a little perplexed the city is getting into commercial real estate management.

JHikka · #**980** Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 7:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

I'm genuinely interested in seeing what the city is charging per square foot. It should be competitive with privately owned retail space.

Based on what? They're shipping containers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

It's concerning if taxpayers are indirectly subsidizing commercial use of untaxed property owned by the city at the expense of competition.

Businesses will be paying tax in NB just like everyone else, as will their customers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

And commercial landlords have definitely become more flexible since 2019 regarding pop-ups, shorter-term leases, flexible spaces, etc.

Great, then the shipping container village will contribute to this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Not being a mega downer here, just a little perplexed the city is getting into commercial real estate management.

God forbid the city do something different and fun for once.