[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[pierremoncton]

To support MonctonRad's post, I found this on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/phil-ripl...harper-activity-6963952831779201024-sSUg

Upcoming ICON projects Murphy Ave, Harper St, and Dominion St. Shaping up to be an busy year for 2023!

So on top of Harper St, it sounds like the empty lot on Dominion St won't be empty for long. Dominion was supposed to hold two identical buildings; let's hope that something taller appears.

[pierremoncton]

Interesting perspectives of downtown, presumably taken last fall:




Source: Realtor.ca -- https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/25032557/121-cornhill-st-moncton

[MonctonRad]

Very interesting. The other month I did notice that the Dominion Street property now sports an Icon Developments sign, just like the one on the Harper Street property. I was wondering if there was something afoot. Perhaps there is.......

[NBNYer]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I have it on reasonably good authority that the tomato people have won their fight and that the project at 1333 Main (NW corner of Main & Vaughan Harvey) will now be six storeys instead of ten.



And, to compound things, in order to keep the project financially viable, it will now be wood framed rather than concrete and steel.



This defeat is of monumental proportions. I wonder what other compromises have been made to the architectural style of this building. I hope the tomato people are pleased with themselves.



All this fuss over a tomato garden and a little bit of extra traffic. What a horrible outcome...............

How sure are you of this?

I find this quite surprising considering my initial impression of this developer. All that talk about changing the city for the better and creating a “grand boulevard”. He seemed to have a grand vision for the future of the city. Just to end up with yet another generic suburban low rise build. Hopefully it won’t be vinyl clad.

The city still need to green light this. Any hopes there?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by NBNYer

How sure are you of this?

A reliable second hand source. I know who his first hand source is, and he is really well connected, so this makes the rumour pretty solid but not absolutely iron clad. I hope I'm wrong, but I fear I am right on this.

Originally Posted by NBNYer

The city still need to green light this. Any hopes there?

The city approved the project for either six or ten storeys, so this is entirely the developers choice. The city doesn't really have a say any more.

[jonny golden]

Could the city decline the building permit, or has it it already issued? Maybe based on a wooden structure when they would have been under the impression that it was going to be concrete construction?

I put this debacle squarely on the shoulders of the developer. Their big project looked pretty good, then to come up with this plan?

[NBNYer]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

Could the city decline the building permit, or has it it already issued? Maybe based on a wooden structure when they would have been under the impression that it was going to be concrete construction?

I put this debacle squarely on the shoulders of the developer. Their big project looked pretty good, then to come up with this plan?

Indeed extremely disappointing. Especially considering the reported dishonesty surrounding the petition. Add to that the planned 10 storey building immediately across the street! Clearly the demands of the tomato crew are unreasonable.

[SevenSquared]

So if I understand correctly, Ms. Barnes went door-to-door all over the West End, pleading for signatures under the pretense that the originally-proposed upscale 10-storey building would be "low rentals", and thus compromise the safety of the neighbourhood due to an influx of.... criminals, apparently.

Now, because of the very petition they signed, they'll have a dramatically lower-quality building instead, undoubtedly with much lower rent, and their (unfounded) fears over their personal safety will be exponentially worse.

If a wood-framed 6-storey building is the end result, at least we can take comfort in the fact that Barnes will have managed to get all sides mad at her.

[MonctonRad]

Basically yes, she has created a self fulfilling prophecy. Good job!,

[Feneant]

Originally Posted by SevenSquared

Now, because of the very petition they signed, they'll have a dramatically lower-quality building instead, undoubtedly with much lower rent, and their (unfounded) fears over their personal safety will be exponentially worse.

Now wouldn't that be a kick in the pants. What a shame that the developer seemingly caved to the pressure.

From Pierre's post above, has Harper St. changed hands? I noticed the Icon sign a ways back but at this point the site is basically just vaporware and I don't know that anyone actually believes anything would ever get built there. That said, if I was to move downtown, that is the location I would consider as it seems to have the most around it for individuals to be self-sufficient by foot.

[PEI highway guy]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Basically yes, she has created a self fulfilling prophecy. Good job!,

When the city put out a RFp didn't they specofythat they wanted a prpject of ar sigificcant size/scope? If true, by allowing a smaller scale project they sort of went against the6 original request.. I could be off baase on thiis. If someone can remember the original RFP feel free to correct me as necessary

[josh_cat_eyes]

We should make a petition and give it to the city against Lori Barnes and the tomato people.

[BeeTeeOH]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

We should make a petition and give it to the city against Lori Barnes and the tomato people.

I have already contacted both the developer, and our councillor to expose the bald-faced lies being spread by this lady and her carmageddon petition.

A 6 storey wooden building isn't going to make things better. just more concentrated low-quality homogeneity. 🤦🏻 People like her seem to want Moncton to fail.

[jonny golden]

Something just doesn't smell right with this whole deal. It's hard to believe that a developer would make the effort to come to the table with such a great project, and then drastically reduce the scope because of the displeasure of a small group of residents.

The vast majority of the comments I've read on line support the original 10 floor project, and there's been a lot of disappointment expressed with the new plans.

[ColSJ]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

Something just doesn't smell right with this whole deal. It's hard to believe that a developer would make the effort to come to the table with such a great project, and then drastically reduce the scope because of the displeasure of a small group of residents.

The vast majority of the comments I've read on line support the original 10 floor project, and there's been a lot of disappointment expressed with the new plans.

I was feeling the same way and I’m glad someone else agrees. So strange a developer would willingly give up aspects of the project to appease a stereotypically opposition motion based on both falsehoods and claims taken to great exaggeration. There has to be more to this story.

[Nashe]

Kinda seems like an easy "out" for the dev, right?

[David_99]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

Something just doesn't smell right with this whole deal. It's hard to believe that a developer would make the effort to come to the table with such a great project, and then drastically reduce the scope because of the displeasure of a small group of residents.

Apparently we were all wrong and the city’s greatest need isn’t housing, but tomatoes and the reduction of traffic…

[MonctonRad]

The move to a six storey wooden box is not yet entirely official. It has not been announced. Perhaps if the developer finds out the overwhelming support in the general community for the original proposal, he may have a change of heart. This is about more than a small tomato patch. This is about the future direction of our community.

This is important. The original proposal (10 storeys) would serve as an impressive enhancement to the 10 storey building to be built immediately across the street in the Junction Urban Village. The combination of these two buildings would serve as the true western gateway to downtown Moncton.

Keep the pressure up!!

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by pierremoncton

To support MonctonRad's post, I found this on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/phil-ripl...harper-activity-6963952831779201024-sSUg

So on top of Harper St, it sounds like the empty lot on Dominion St won't be empty for long. Dominion was supposed to hold two identical buildings; let's hope that something taller appears.

Photos accompanying the LinkedIn post:


Dominion Street


Harper & Main

I would be quite pleased to see a clone of the current 25 Dominion building on the adjacent vacant lot there. If however ICON choses a different height and style from the current building, I hope the two buildings will complement each other.

[Monctoncore]

Someone should reach out to Chad Blakney and share the community support.