The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[Pugsley]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

Came across this news from last year. Apparently the land the Atlantic Superstore and Staples is located on at 168 Rothesay Avenue was sold to R2 Capital Partners.

They plan to explore:

• Developing one or more Quick-Service Restaurants (QSRs).
• Renegotiation of under-market value lease rates.
• Leasing the remaining vacant space to a public corporation with a strong covenant and brand.
• Explore the potential for mixed-use, multi-family development with the abundant land area.

https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/110...s-13.2-Acres-155459-sq.-ft.-Retail-Plaza

I'm not holding my breath. If you look at their portfolio here: https://www.r2capital.ca/portfolio they are clearly not into major projects. It is a mix of houses and small apartment buildings. This would be their first commercial venture. I'd be happier if this was actually owned by Choice Properties (aka Superstore's parent company real estate group), then we'd see something like the major Loblaw store retro-fits in Ontario based on the same store footprint/design.

This brings me back to the same frustration I have brought up before - we need more reputable and financially backed development firms in this city. None of these small to mid-size portfolio dreamers who get architect drawings, approvals, and then can never get a shovel in the ground due to financing. Don't get me wrong, we have some great smaller-scale development firms doing great things on the Peninsula and elsewhere - and very successful because they know their scope of work and scale. It is these "developers" with larger-scale projects and dreams and zero track record which concern me. We need more experienced and properly financed firms to take on major mall redevelopments or larger scale projects in this city. I would not be surprised if this plaza sits as is for another decade because someone had champagne dreams on a beer budget.

[adamuptownsj]

It isn't their first commercial venture, but they aren't large. They own 1960 Prince William, which I think is reasonably well occupied, and what looks like some scattered commercial holdings elsewhere. Developing a quick service restaurant on a pad and securing a couple tenants isn't super complex stuff.

I'd be more concerned with how the city responds to random moonshot projects. It's way too over-eager and not cynical enough. The Landmark comes to mind.

[RaginRonic]

From this week's 1st 2023 Common Council meeting agenda, an interesting item related to what Saint John Transit wants to do with the current 21 SOUTH END / ST. JOSEPH'S route.

https://i.imgur.com/sJx02Nr.png

This would likely solve the problem of people in the South End and Waterloo Village getting groceries in a more manageable way.

Is this a good idea to those here? o.o

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by RaginRonic

From this week's 1st 2023 Common Council meeting agenda, an interesting item related to what Saint John Transit wants to do with the current 21 SOUTH END / ST. JOSEPH'S route.

https://i.imgur.com/sJx02Nr.png

This would likely solve the problem of people in the South End and Waterloo Village getting groceries in a more manageable way.

Is this a good idea to those here? o.o

As a south ender who drives, I still think this is a good addition. We're not getting a grocery store uptown any time soon, and this saves people the trouble on transferring to a Route 1 bus at King Square.

[ColSJ]

HERE THEY COME!!

[CharlotteCountyLogan]

The Port retwetted a post from DP showing pictures of the new cranes that will be coming to Saint John. This is very exciting news. I'm hoping the port passes Halifax in terms of TEUs over the next few years

[CharlotteCountyLogan]

Originally Posted by ColSJ

HERE THEY COME!!

Very exciting news!

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by ColSJ

HERE THEY COME!!

Excellent find! Very exciting

[JakeNB]

Originally Posted by JakeNB

Hate to be a pessimist, but would be willing to bet that there will still be a big hole at the top of King Street this time next year. Any takers?

I didn’t have any takers last year- what is the consensus now? Still looking at a hole in Jan 2024? That would be my expectation.

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by JakeNB

I didn’t have any takers last year- what is the consensus now? Still looking at a hole in Jan 2024? That would be my expectation.

I said in response I wasn't getting a great feeling from it, but thought we'd hear SOMETHING by spring. Too optimistic!

Why is Council and PAC letting him leave sidewalk-blocking trashy temporary fencing up, covered in tiny junky signage? Make him call Fundy Fencing and put in a real six foot chainlink fence with slats around the hole. People just walk in the road facing traffic down Charlotte, it looks like absolute shit.

[KnoxfordGuy]

Found this on Instagram. Very exciting!

[ColSJ]

Excavators are digging for Saint John Trojan rugby community centre.

[DyAm00394]

3 upcoming project listings on the ConstructConnect website has been updated today, (Jan.10th 2023).

• $90,826,000 mixed-use funded by the city. In "Design Development" stage with a start date of June 2024.
  
• $23,500,000 mixed-use funded by the city. In "Construction Documents" stage with a start date of July 2023.
  
• $29,225,000 mixed-use funded by the city. In "Construction Documents" stage with a start date of May 2023.

Source: https://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/...0John%20County%7CNew%20Brunswick~&stage=




Of note: I believe these are listings that have been on the site for awhile. I know the 90 million one is an existing listing that use to be over 100-million but was updated today to be now valued at over 90-million. Wonder where all three of these projects will be? The website lists the funding for all 3 to be from the city, (not private sector, province or federal).

[ColSJ]

Residents in the area of Duck Cove have been informed of an intention to build a multi building apartment development on the site of the former Seawood School. Upwards of 150 units, 200 parking spaces.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by ColSJ

Residents in the area of Duck Cove have been informed of an intention to build a multi building apartment development on the site of the former Seawood School. Upwards of 150 units, 200 parking spaces.

What a great building lot and prime for density. Unfortunately be an uphill battle for something that big.

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

3 upcoming project listings on the ConstructConnect website has been updated today, (Jan.10th 2023).

• $90,826,000 mixed-use funded by the city. In "Design Development" stage with a start date of June 2024.
  
• $23,500,000 mixed-use funded by the city. In "Construction Documents" stage with a start date of July 2023.
  
• $29,225,000 mixed-use funded by the city. In "Construction Documents" stage with a start date of May 2023.

Source: https://canada.constructconnect.com/joc/...0John%20County%7CNew%20Brunswick~&stage=




Of note: I believe these are listings that have been on the site for awhile. I know the 90 million one is an existing listing that use to be over 100-million but was updated today to be now valued at over 90-million. Wonder where all three of these projects will be? The website lists the funding for all 3 to be from the city, (not private sector, province or federal).

These three listings were updated again today now showing funding for all three is actually from the private sector.

[DyAm00394]

Telegraph Journal is reporting that a mixed-income apartment building will be breaking ground this Summer in the section of Waterloo Street down near Haymarket Square.

Source: https://tj.news/greater-saint-john/102044703

[ColSJ]

Saint John's Dominion Park to get new canteen, change rooms and 'sunset plaza'



https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6233984

The Dominion Park Facebook page has been posting photos showing an active construction site!

[cdnguys]

StatCan released population figures for July 1, 2022
Saint John grew faster than the national average (1.8%) at a rate of 2.1%
Population as of July 1 last year was 135,622, an increase of 2,861
If that growth remains constant, then as of now population should be around 137,000

Moncton was fastest growth in Canada over 3x national average.

Antidotally I do find SJ seems a lot busier compared to years before.

[bridgeoftea]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

StatCan released population figures for July 1, 2022
Saint John grew faster than the national average (1.8%) at a rate of 2.1%
Population as of July 1 last year was 135,622, an increase of 2,861
If that growth remains constant, then as of now population should be around 137,000

Moncton was fastest growth in Canada over 3x national average.

Antidotally I do find SJ seems a lot busier compared to years before.

I'm coming up to 4 years here and definitely notice a difference in rush hour traffic and people being out and about uptown on "off nights" like a Tuesday night having a restaurant nearly full.