The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[adamuptownsj]

Macon's about three hours west of Savannah, but that's definitely an interesting connection.

If it is related, maybe a bulk terminal? Lower Cove is already used for bulk and unusually shaped cargo sometimes, and AFAIK the existing west side bulk terminal is for liquids.

I posted months ago that SJ was in the middle of consolidating land for development at TCB, as it's a tangle of city, rail, and port-owned turf. I assumed this was for Cooke at the time, but am likely wrong according to this new news. Maybe the Eider Rock-era Irving plan of land swaps will come to fruition: City gets Long Wharf, PSJ or a partner gets the lands between Tin Can and Lower Cove. Having more land in one place would make sense if you're making big investments, and this site plus Lower Cove is close to 1.2M square meters, almost double the size of Long Wharf alone.

[DyAm00394]

Saint John's capital spending over the next two years proposed at $62.5M

“2023 and 2024 draft capital budgets approved Monday much different from budgets during tough times.

The City of Saint John has approved draft capital budgets for 2023 and 2024 that would see $62.5 million in infrastructure spending over the next two years.

City staff hopes more than half that money can come from other levels of government or other sources.

I love this budget," Mayor Donna Reardon said Monday night.

"I like the new investments in it, the asset renewal in it, it covers a lot of your priorities, but the opening line's my favourite," she said, pointing out the city's share was $29.9 million, less than half the total of the two budgets.

Some of the projects Saint Johners can expect for 2023 include work on the refurbishment of Loyalist Plaza-Fundy Quay, with the city fully funding the work.

The area will get new seawall railings at a cost of $500,000.

The city will also begin work on the outdoor patio and will purchase a Zamboni for the proposed outdoor rink as part of the Fundy Quay project.

The 2023 budget has more than $1.5 million for six electric buses for Saint John Transit.

An additional $230,000 will be needed to build four charging stations and to renovate the transit building to provide for fast-charging.

Those transit projects all depend on funding approval under the federal zero emission transit fund.

The city is setting aside $1.5 million toward building protected bike lanes along Main Street in 2023.

It is also putting almost $1.5 million to realign the Ashburn Lake Road/Retail Drive intersections on Rothesay Avenue”.

Coun. Gary Sullivan, who heads up the finance committee, said most of the budget is aimed at fixing older infrastructure.

"You know, we have 80 per cent renewal in this budget and only 20 per cent is new items," he told council.

"We gotta make sure we take care of the roof before we buy the couch."

He said the city is also borrowing less money than it had to in the past to pay for capital projects.

"Our financial plan has us reducing the need to borrow more and more money by — we do capital every year — so it makes sense to have some [extra] in our operating budget," Sullivan said.

"We do that to save on the interest expenses, and gosh, where interest rates are right now, aren't we glad that we've been doing that the last couple of years."

It's a far cry from the tough financial times the city faced in recent years.

In 2016, council approved a $21 million budget. It cut about $15 million in capital requests to make the budget work, including a new Paratransit bus.

As well, city councillors of the day worried that more than half of the money, $11.7 million, was being borrowed".

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-john-capital-budget-1.6619878

[ColSJ]

Seabird suites complex is progressing, estimated completion is Spring 2023



I didn't snap a picture but they have a portion of the pedway system constructed. I am not familiar with
any other project in the area that has a pedway linking two residential buildings.

[ColSJ]

Also in the Millidgeville area... The Arlington is starting to build up 89 units in total

[ColSJ]

Heatherway Way Complex is progressing very rapidly! They are on building 3 out of 11 and I saw a lot of excavation
going on in preparation for the 8 future buildings.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by ColSJ

Heatherway Way Complex is progressing very rapidly! They are on building 3 out of 11 and I saw a lot of excavation
going on in preparation for the 8 future buildings.

Yes this developer is on a roll - congrats to them. They sold their first building off to a local corp. Second one not sold though, or for sale. I’m quite sure it was not in original plans to have 30 unit buildings for second and third one (plan was 24 unit I believe like first one) so they must have confidence in rental market.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by ColSJ

Seabird suites complex is progressing, estimated completion is Spring 2023



I didn't snap a picture but they have a portion of the pedway system constructed. I am not familiar with
any other project in the area that has a pedway linking two residential buildings.

Slowest build ever lol! But will be awesome when complete

[ColSJ]

There is a white tower crane up somewheres in the vicinity behind the Pulp Mill towards Milford. I’m guessing it’s working on the waste water treatment plant. I only saw it for a second from the throughway on my commute to work.

[KnoxfordGuy]

I was driving into Saint John yesterday and the amount of shipping containers is insane!! I've never seen so many in the port.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by KnoxfordGuy

I was driving into Saint John yesterday and the amount of shipping containers is insane!! I've never seen so many in the port.

And it’s expected to be 8x that in a few years, exceeding Halifax TEUs by 250,000 if it pans out.
When you look at all the pieces, it’s almost a no brainer to ship through Saint John. Having 3 class 1 railroads, including right to Mexico ….

[UptownJeff]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

And it’s expected to be 8x that in a few years, exceeding Halifax TEUs by 250,000 if it pans out.
When you look at all the pieces, it’s almost a no brainer to ship through Saint John. Having 3 class 1 railroads, including right to Mexico ….

Exactly. It's all about time to market - By the time you ship to Halifax and CN takes the cargo and has to go from there to Central Canada, CP/NBS can do it in less time. I believe it also matters from where the containers are being shipped from as HFX may be closer to the originating port than SJ is. In that business, hours matter but no matter what, our Port is set to BOOM! This is great news not only for SJ but for our Province as well.

[KnoxfordGuy]

Going to need a second container port.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by KnoxfordGuy

Going to need a second container port.

Do you hear that? That's the sound of the Lantic site approaching.

[ColSJ]

The crane is indeed for JDI’s new wastewater treatment plant.
There is also a smaller mini-tower crane behind it.

Estimated cost is $150 million

[JHikka]

Proposed Development At Former West Side Funeral Home
Tim Herd
Oct 24, 2022 | 6:45 AM



The former Brenan’s Funeral Home building on the west side may soon be redeveloped.

A proposal for 1461 Manawagonish Road came before Saint John Common Council last week.

The developer is seeking to rezone from Commercial Corridor (CC) to Mid-Rise Residential (RM).

“The applicant is proposing to redevelop the site and lot into an 18-unit housing project, and also has expressed an intent to apply for affordable housing under provincial programs,” said Mark Reade, senior planner for the city.

Plans for the site also include removing the access from Fairville Boulevard.

Common Council approved the application’s first and second readings.

It will go back to Common Council for final approval at a later date.

https://www.country94.ca/2022/10/24/proposed-development-at-former-west-side-funeral-home/

[adamuptownsj]

So, where's the Museum going? Fundy Quay, or is it too small a site? It doesn't sound like the Lantic site is likely. Back to Douglas, after extremely extensive renos? Long Wharf? Somewhere currently VERY unexpected like the current St John the Baptist/King Edward site, which is almost 9,000 square meters? Or hopefully not the suburbs.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

So, where's the Museum going? Fundy Quay, or is it too small a site? It doesn't sound like the Lantic site is likely. Back to Douglas, after extremely extensive renos? Long Wharf? Somewhere currently VERY unexpected like the current St John the Baptist/King Edward site, which is almost 9,000 square meters? Or hopefully not the suburbs.

The Fundy Quay plans have a building labeled “cultural attraction”, so I’m guessing it’s that. The site is huge - consider you can put over 4 Brunswick Square malls on the site.

[ColSJ]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

The Fundy Quay plans have a building labeled “cultural attraction”, so I’m guessing it’s that. The site is huge - consider you can put over 4 Brunswick Square malls on the site.

I don’t think the cultural building itself is big enough for the museum. I think it would have the capacity for an exhibit space for a select theme but not all the artifacts the NB museum has.

The only way the NB Museum fits into Fundy Quay is if the Elias fore fit the northern portions of the development.

[ColSJ]

Newest rendering of the Port Saint John container terminal modernization/expansion project.

The post says the two new post Panamax cranes will be arriving in 2023.
Also take note of the size difference of the vessels. We have some big ships on the horizon.

I believe I saw a number recently that said between public and private money $500 millon has been invested for the total scope of upgrading infrastructure.

https://mailchi.mp/sjport.com/additional-upgrades-port-saint-john?e=

[ColSJ]

As I write this post there is currently 1 container ship at port, 3 container ships idling in the outer harbour and another coming up the Bay of Fundy. This expansion is seriously needed.