[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[MonctonRad]

Some new information regarding the K-8 anglophone school to be built next to BMHS.



- capacity will be 783 students.
- there will be 40 classrooms.
- there will also be "project work areas", music and performing arts rooms, science labs, multipurpose rooms, gymnasia (more than one), a cafeteria, library and resource classrooms. There will also be an athletic field and a playground.
- planned opening is September, 2024.


Land cleared for the new school (T&T photo)

[MonctonRad]

Old jail building is now just a pile of rubble:


From Mayor Dawn Arnold's Facebook page.

[MonctonRad]

Excerpt from Mayor Dawn Arnold's update on council business from earlier today:

And finally, we made the historic decision to award the tender for the new police facility (the tender came in slightly under what we anticipated — Pomerleau Inc. = $46,965,511).

So, that's it - the tender has been awarded. Construction of the new Codiac RCMP headquarters building should commence later this summer or this fall.

[jonny golden]

Also from the update by Mayor Dawn Arnold on council business: *to open Seymour Street (behind the Capitol Theatre) and to make it a one-way.

Could this have to do with the agreement between the city and Galco Atlantic Investments from 2017? The city purchased the Castle Manor lawn for cash and the downtown parking lot behind the Capitol Theater between Lutz & Robinson. The big condition in this deal was that Galco must develop a commercial building worth at lease $7.5 million within 5 years. This information was reported in March 2017. Seymour Street leads directly to the parking lot property. Coincidence?

[MonctonRad]

Yeah, maybe not a coincidence, but Galco probably has challenges with their property now that there is a development buffer around the CNR ROW which probably eats into their property. I have a sneaking suspicion that anything they may have had planned for here will be significantly downsized as a result.

[Mattyyy]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

Also from the update by Mayor Dawn Arnold on council business: *to open Seymour Street (behind the Capitol Theatre) and to make it a one-way.

Could this have to do with the agreement between the city and Galco Atlantic Investments from 2017? The city purchased the Castle Manor lawn for cash and the downtown parking lot behind the Capitol Theater between Lutz & Robinson. The big condition in this deal was that Galco must develop a commercial building worth at lease $7.5 million within 5 years. This information was reported in March 2017. Seymour Street leads directly to the parking lot property. Coincidence?

Were they not also supposed to open Robinson Court and turn this into a street? Perhaps it could be part of the overall plan?

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by Mattyyy

Were they not also supposed to open Robinson Court and turn this into a street? Perhaps it could be part of the overall plan?

I presume the un-pedestrianized half block of Robinson south of Queen will be made one-way in the same direction as Seymour, leaving the half block between Seymour and Main as-is. I can't imagine the city removing what's there for a through street, and Seymour can't be a one-way cul-de-sac.

[MonctonRad]

Fine dining restaurant Clos is closing at the end of next month.

This is a pure business decision. The restaurant only opened a few months before the pandemic hit, and never really had a chance to establish itself. This is too bad. I ate there once, having the tasting menu and it was fabulous and exotic. I'm sad this had to happen.

The owners also own three Euston Park Social locations, and the two Halo Donut locations, so they will have a chance to recoup their losses through their other businesses. Hopefully they will try again with something different in the not too distant future.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Yeah, maybe not a coincidence, but Galco probably has challenges with their property now that there is a development buffer around the CNR ROW which probably eats into their property. I have a sneaking suspicion that anything they may have had planned for here will be significantly downsized as a result.

The buffer is 30 meters. What helps them is the small street that runs parallel to the tracks. The buffer will be a factor, but they can build something on the south-east portion of the lot.

I'm not sure that we'll see a significant development here with height, but hopefully Galco will step up with something nice. If they proceed, at least there'll be less surface parking downtown as a result. If they decline to develop the property, the city has the option to buy it back at fair market value. But Mayor Arnold's comment about Seymour Street has me cautiously optimistic that we'll see something happening.

[MonctonRad]

They are clearing a large parcel of land at the west end of the Franklin Yards on Millennium Blvd. I presume this is in preparation for the construction of the first of multiple planned six storey apartment buildings intended for the site. I recall from last year that they planned to construct the first building in this development in this location.


The area in question is the distant building on the far right of the image above

[MonctonRad]

Weldon Street Apartment Buildings - construction is progressing rapidly.

[MonctonRad]

RCMP to open second location in downtown Moncton
Leased space is about 500 metres west of existing detachment
Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Mar 28, 2022 5:41 PM AT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/moncton-rcmp-homelessness-1.6399944

Codiac Regional RCMP will open a second location in downtown Moncton this year to address concerns about public safety and homelessness.

The force's community policing unit will relocate from the RCMP's Main Street detachment to 795 Main St. by the end of June.

Supt. Ron DeSilva, Codiac Regional RCMP's commanding officer, said the location is meant to offer greater police visibility in the core.

"The number one objective is to have presence, to be able to interact with not just the business owners, but the citizens downtown and our homeless population," DeSilva said.

It also will free up space in the detachment that's now considered too small for the current force.

The city will also use the space to house its community safety officers who patrol downtown. They patrol the city and enforce municipal bylaws, but don't have the same powers as police officers.

Anything to improve police visibility in the core is a good thing. I'm sure local business owners on Main Street will be thrilled to have this resource handy. I hope this initiative will include more downtown foot patrols so that potential problems can be dealt with before things get out of hand.

[mylesmalley]

Am I crazy or was there not an initiative just like this a decade ago?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

Am I crazy or was there not an initiative just like this a decade ago?

No, I don't think you're crazy. I'm pretty sure there was an RCMP office on Main Street before, and I think it was where Stile is now.

[JonHiseler]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

No, I don't think you're crazy. I'm pretty sure there was an RCMP office on Main Street before, and I think it was where Stile is now.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Stile+...0883628!4d-64.7788805!14m1!1BCgIgARICCAI

This Google Street View from 2009 shows some sort of RCMP presence in that building, so looks like you're both right.

[theshark]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

No, I don't think you're crazy. I'm pretty sure there was an RCMP office on Main Street before, and I think it was where Stile is now.

There was and that was over 15 years ago, there was also a small rcmp souvenir store in that office.

[L'homard]

Yes, they indeed had an office there.
I walked by it four times every day back then.
It was highly unusual to see an actual cop in the office or on Main St. It was an empty, locked up office, usually with the front window or door smashed.
If this is what we are going back to, they should save their money.
If they are planning on manning this station and patrolling downtown, then great.

[theshark]

Originally Posted by L'homard

Yes, they indeed had an office there.
I walked by it four times every day back then.
It was highly unusual to see an actual cop in the office or on Main St. It was an empty, locked up office, usually with the front window or door smashed.
If this is what we are going back to, they should save their money.
If they are planning on manning this station and patrolling downtown, then great.

They will relocate some members dedicated to downtown there, it will free up a bit of place in the current building.

[MonctonRad]

Photo found on the Ashford Properties Facebook page:



This photo is of the new Ashford Living building currently under construction on the NE corner of Highfield and Campbell Streets.

[MonctonRad]

This apartment building on Weldon Street has a name.

According to the T&T, the building is called Encore Residences. There are 86 units (1,2 & 3 bedroom), and amenities include heated underground parking, a rooftop terrace, fitness centre, common room and a conference room with AV support (for those who work from home and might require such facilities from time to time).

A model unit will be available for viewing this week, some units will be available to move in by May 1st, and final construction is to be complete June 1st.

The other apartment building in the background (66 Weldon) also has a name (The Suites on Weldon), and also has a demonstration unit available for viewing. They are currently leasing.