[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[MonctonRad]

From Ashford Properties Facebook page:



New signage for the roof of the former city hall building at Assumption Plaza, now to be known as the KPMG Tower..........

[lirette]

I saw an Ashford pickup truck parked across the the library this week, 3 guys in Ashford jackets were checking out the site where the old jail was torn down. I know this forum loves these type of insights

[bridgeoftea]

Originally Posted by lirette

I saw an Ashford pickup truck parked across the the library this week, 3 guys in Ashford jackets were checking out the site where the old jail was torn down. I know this forum loves these type of insights

Best part about this forum is the "insiders scoop" and being a little more in the know!

[josh_cat_eyes]

My suspicion with the old jail site is that it will become parking too allow them to build the second phase of Downing Street and the new street that will go behind assumption place.
After this the new market will be built and this will allow the new street to extend farther to the west. The city may also elect to build a section of it from Foundry to Lutz or even Robinson and connect the west and east section after the new market is replaced.
This seems like the most obvious timeline to me.

[Monctoncore]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

My suspicion with the old jail site is that it will become parking too allow them to build the second phase of Downing Street and the new street that will go behind assumption place.
After this the new market will be built and this will allow the new street to extend farther to the west. The city may also elect to build a section of it from Foundry to Lutz or even Robinson and connect the west and east section after the new market is replaced.
This seems like the most obvious timeline to me.

If we could take bets, I would put lots of money on what’s you just said as being correct.

[MonctonRad]

It appears that the remaining portions of the moribund Emmerson Business Park has undergone a rebranding exercise.

Behold the Railyard District.





This is being promoted by Colliers as a "retail park", although looking at the brochure, only the lots facing Vaughan Harvey will be retail oriented. The rest of the land will be zoned "business technology"

Here is the brochure:
https://listingsprod.blob.core.windows.n...502/e3c0712f-2d6b-4d09-a8e3-142730069f5d

The brochure shows the lot on the NW corner of the Vaughan Harvey/Millenium intersection containing two restaurants and a bank, but I get the impression this is only wishful thinking. I could however be wrong. Overall, I think this is simply a rebranding exercise for the remainder of the old CN Shops land.

But, in any event, the development now has a new name. I like "Railyard District" more than Emmerson Business Park. I think it's more catchy.

[Feneant]

I'm being negative as always but while it's an interesting plan, I'm not sure how much more BT office space Moncton needs when that is one sector that has been proven to work very well with its employees teleworking.

I am also dubious about restaurants working out there, maybe something fast casual to cater to their tenants, but considering they list a patio it's hard to say who they expect to see. Speaking of, that patio seems poorly thought out when you consider the traffic on Vaughan Harvey, and are they still making dog food on Collishaw? Customers get to enjoy both the road dirt and dog food smell while trying to eat a salad.

[josh_cat_eyes]

I always thought that central Moncton could use a proper retail area, the one on Vaughan Harvey & Main is essentially full, so this would allow for the expansion of some more businesses.

Where do they plan on building this new building though? It’s not really shown in the site plan. Seems like just a way to paint the same crappy business park with a bright new colour. If someone has unlimited funds, this area would work well if the whole site was redone into a mixed use neighborhood, with the offices relocated somewhere downtown. The problem however is the heavy industrial located north of this location is a major deterrent for any residential development in the area.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

The problem however is the heavy industrial located north of this location is a major deterrent for any residential development in the area.

Not to mention that this land is the former CN Shops, and is probably one of the most toxic brownfields in all of Atlantic Canada. Even with the site having been rehabilitated 30 years ago, I'm sure that residential usage would be prohibited.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Not to mention that this land is the former CN Shops, and is probably one of the most toxic brownfields in all of Atlantic Canada. Even with the site having been rehabilitated 30 years ago, I'm sure that residential usage would be prohibited.

That’s true, I never thought of that. I guess I was thinking that since there was residential built on grand trunk that it would work in this location too. The difference being that the other site was simply a rail yard as opposed to a rail shop like the Railyard District site.
Perhaps it could have been a good location for the city to relocate its public works department had they not elected to simply renovate their existing site. With a lot of people working from home now, the sites future is essentially destined to be retail or industrial.

[Philbilly]

The old deluxe location sold

https://www.facebook.com/RemaxMoncton1/photos/a.647539165588412/1733550316987286/?type=3

[MonctonRad]

Good to see. This lot has good potential. I hope to see a nice midrise mixed use building here (residential, but with commercial on the ground floor).

Let's hope my dreams are not smashed to pieces on the rocky shoals of reality..........

[BlackYear]

Sooooo, 66 Weldon is all completed and people are now living here, has anyone looked at what they offer here? I'm actually shocked by the low rent.

https://www.weldonsuites.com/info

Studios 545 sqft Leasing as low as $720* per month (including utilities)
1 bed 835sqft Leasing as low as $1,165mth including indoor parking&storage
1 bed 920sqft Leasing as low as $1,245mth including indoor parking&storage
2 bed 920sqft Leasing as low as $1,245mth including indoor parking&storage
2 bed 1125sqft Leasing as low as $1,470mth including indoor parking&storage

Some units have icemakers and wine fridges.

Call me crazy but I think these are pretty good prices for the location.

There's an article today from Halifax (Bedford) where people living at the Bluenose Inn & Suites got eviction notices. These folks are paying $1,400 a month for a room with a kitchenette and bathroom and $1,000 for a single room, which appears to be an old converted Howard Johnson hotel.

Anyway, thought I would share, even though I have nothing to do with this property.

[MonctonRad]

Chatter online that the Flatiron Building next to the CN Subway has a new owner, and that this person is also interested in purchasing the Subway Block too, with an eye towards renovating and repurposing the properties.

Something to keep an eye on.......

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Chatter online that the Flatiron Building next to the CN Subway has a new owner, and that this person is also interested in purchasing the Subway Block too, with an eye towards renovating and repurposing the properties.

Something to keep an eye on.......

Wasn't there an issue with them being too close to the tracks?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

Wasn't there an issue with them being too close to the tracks?

Yes. It will make a difference depending on what the use is. Permanent habitation is a non starter, therefore don't expect any apartments. Retail/commercial usage however is not prohibited (such usage would be considered "transient occupation").

[David_99]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

such usage would be considered "transient occupation”

Not to make light of the situation, but that’s an interesting term for that particular building.

[Ifyoubuildit]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Yes. It will make a difference depending on what the use is. Permanent habitation is a non starter, therefore don't expect any apartments. Retail/commercial usage however is not prohibited (such usage would be considered "transient occupation").

I was also wondering the same for the Delux French Fries site that recently sold on St. George Street. A residential project would appear to be impossible with new setback rules related to railroad tracks and residential zoning. It must be going to be used for purely commercial purposes.

[David_99]

Originally Posted by Ifyoubuildit

I was also wondering the same for the Delux French Fries site that recently sold on St. George Street. A residential project would appear to be impossible with new setback rules related to railroad tracks and residential zoning. It must be going to be used for purely commercial purposes.

I think someone on here did the math and it showed that they could have residential on the Robinson side and keep the back as parking and the St George facing side as commercial.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by David_99

I think someone on here did the math and it showed that they could have residential on the Robinson side and keep the back as parking and the St George facing side as commercial.

Yes, I recall that too. I believe the safety easement for the railway is something like 20m, and a good portion of the Deluxe lot lies outside this exclusion zone. The area inside the easement could be used for something like parking (enclosed or otherwise).

The best use for this lot would be mixed use residential (a mid rise apartment building over a commercial/retail podium).