[Saint John] Uptown Thread

[adamuptownsj]

Brick façade reconstruction at 38-40 Sydney, kitty-corner to IOL HQ, started recently and has progressed quickly. I think IOL owns this or leased it during construction, but it was in pretty grim shape.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Brick façade reconstruction at 38-40 Sydney, kitty-corner to IOL HQ, started recently and has progressed quickly. I think IOL owns this or leased it during construction, but it was in pretty grim shape.

They don’t want eyesores near their properties. Always thought that building would make a great space

[ColSJ]

Originally Posted by ColSJ

Someone affiliated with the project said they were getting new estimates on costing October 31st. If it was feasible they would start foundation work ~Nov 21 and move onto construction in the spring.

Maybe this is a sign the cost estimates were favourable.

Confirmed with the source construction will start in the spring.

[UptownJeff]

Does anyone know whats happening with Barbour's store? ServiceMaster has been there quite a bit and they've built a plywood fence around the back and have covered some of the walls with plywood as well. I had heard there were plans to move it but haven't heard anything lately

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by UptownJeff

Does anyone know whats happening with Barbour's store? ServiceMaster has been there quite a bit and they've built a plywood fence around the back and have covered some of the walls with plywood as well. I had heard there were plans to move it but haven't heard anything lately

I believe it’s an insurance job, and should not be reflective of its future in that location. Again my hope is it’s put on a barge and sent to Gagetown where it’s more historically relevant and free up that lot for an apartment building.

[UptownJeff]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

I believe it’s an insurance job, and should not be reflective of its future in that location. Again my hope is it’s put on a barge and sent to Gagetown where it’s more historically relevant and free up that lot for an apartment building.

I had heard that it was being moved by the Barbour family and that the lot would be developed into a tourist info/public space building.

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by UptownJeff

I had heard that it was being moved by the Barbour family and that the lot would be developed into a tourist info/public space building.

If Saint John wants a tourist info space here, I'd be speechless. This is marquee real estate. Besides, the province just closed most of theirs. Unless this is a 'pop up' temporary location like the container village, I would be deeply disappointed. We're not a rinky-dink tourist town awash in urban real estate, and deserve something better on this location. The government will just build an overpriced two storey modernist box oriented towards King St, if this is correct.

Not normally a downer but this is a horrendous idea.

[UptownJeff]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

If Saint John wants a tourist info space here, I'd be speechless. This is marquee real estate. Besides, the province just closed most of theirs. Unless this is a 'pop up' temporary location like the container village, I would be deeply disappointed. We're not a rinky-dink tourist town awash in urban real estate, and deserve something better on this location. The government will just build an overpriced two storey modernist box oriented towards King St, if this is correct.

Not normally a downer but this is a horrendous idea.

As it was explained to me the building would be quite unique from an architectural perspective and I'm no expert but I don't know if the footprint of that property could support an apartment complex? I haven't heard anything in months so I have no idea if/when anything is planned or moving forward. I do agree though that it is prime location and deserves something special.

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by UptownJeff

As it was explained to me the building would be quite unique from an architectural perspective and I'm no expert but I don't know if the footprint of that property could support an apartment complex? I haven't heard anything in months so I have no idea if/when anything is planned or moving forward. I do agree though that it is prime location and deserves something special.

It's over 7,400 square feet, slightly larger than the Telegraph (basically 7,000 exactly). And you could go much taller here.

I hope by 'unique' they don't mean a modernist asymmetrical box that would have been impressive in like 2005, before every midsized city thought such a project would be their saving grace. Or 'unique' as in made out of shipping containers. I guess I am not confident in the city playing to its own strengths. This should be an opportunity to fill in the Prince William street wall with something appropriate for the most photographed block in the city. Instead we'll get something consultants think is cool or trendsetting... which means it'll be something that was cool or trendsetting a long time ago, somewhere else.

[ColSJ]

Looks like 24-26 Paddock is getting some TLC. Not sure if this is directly correlated with the building next door that’s getting fixed up as well.

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by ColSJ

Looks like 24-26 Paddock is getting some TLC. Not sure if this is directly correlated with the building next door that’s getting fixed up as well.

It's being converted from a ~20 room rooming house to a 9(!) unit apartment. It's huge. Not related to 22, which is being converted from an extremely vacant duplex to a single-family.

[adamuptownsj]

Bulldozer and dump truck depositing and moving around fill on the vacant lot at 47-49 Broad. It was purchased in August for $50K. Someone bought the three vacant lots to its east (51, 57, and 59) in February for $150K. If the same person owns all 4 now, that's like 110' of street frontage and 11,700 sf.

[ColSJ]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Bulldozer and dump truck depositing and moving around fill on the vacant lot at 47-49 Broad. It was purchased in August for $50K. Someone bought the three vacant lots to its east (51, 57, and 59) in February for $150K. If the same person owns all 4 now, that's like 110' of street frontage and 11,700 sf.

Would be a good spot for some town houses.

Exciting news about the building on Paddock. That street is really densifying. Good to see

[ColSJ]

TJ is reporting the temporary exhibit for the NB museum is indeed the building on Lancaster Avenue. A temporary boutique will open in Brunswick Square on Nov 19.

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by ColSJ

TJ is reporting the temporary exhibit for the NB museum is indeed the building on Lancaster Avenue. A temporary boutique will open in Brunswick Square on Nov 19.

Here's the new press release mentioning this: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/thc/news/news_release.2022.11.0644.html

"FREDERICTON (GNB) – Legislation introduced today aims to give the New Brunswick Museum’s board of directors the authority to manage the design and construction of the museum’s new home in Saint John.

“Empowering the board of directors of the New Brunswick Museum to manage the design and construction of the museum’s future home is the right decision,” said Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace. “It ensures the new museum meets the institution’s needs and opens more opportunities for the public to participate in the project.”

The amendments to the New Brunswick Museum Act would allow the board to direct all aspects of the museum’s management, renovations, maintenance and construction. The board would also be required to meet all standards necessary to remain eligible for provincial and federal funding, as well as any trade agreements.

The New Brunswick Museum is a Crown agency administered by a board of directors.

“The board of the New Brunswick Museum welcomes the opportunity to review this proposed legislation and to understand more fully its significance for the process of designing and building a new home for the museum in Saint John,” said board chair Kathryn Hamer. “We share the goal of creating a transformational space in which to house the museum's impressive collections, while supporting the dedicated staff in their ongoing commitment to the research and conservation that ensure preservation of New Brunswick's heritage while sharing it with the world.”

As part of the project, an interim collections and research centre will open on Lancaster Avenue next year. The interim facility will be available to the public, by appointment, while a permanent exhibition and collections centre is built.

More than $8 million was allocated by the provincial and federal governments earlier this year to support planning work for the museum’s new home.

The museum’s online store continues to operate, and a new boutique will open in Brunswick Square on Saturday, Nov. 19."

[ColSJ]

So… do these powers give the board the authority to pick the location?

[UptownJeff]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

Here's the new press release mentioning this: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/thc/news/news_release.2022.11.0644.html

I understand that the Boutique will be going into the old Aitken's Pewter location in Brunswick Sq.

[KnoxfordGuy]

When will the two new crains be fitted at the container port?

[ColSJ]

Originally Posted by KnoxfordGuy

When will the two new crains be fitted at the container port?

Sometime early in the new year. They’ll probably announce a week in advance when they are scheduled to arrive.

[DyAm00394]

I just saw that Telegraph Journal has an article out talking about work is set to begin next year to extend Harbour Passage all the way down to Tin Can Beach. https://tj.news/greater-saint-john/102012300