[Saint John] Uptown Thread

[Itme]

I find it interesting that in the last video like this they released had mock buildings in the background, now the video shows a blank space for fundy quay. The city sees the writing on the wall, otherwise they would have included the buildings.

But hey, at least they can now shop this video around to future developers of Fundy quay! It will be a more desirable space for development once the public portion is actually complete.

[bridgeoftea]

Originally Posted by Itme

I find it interesting that in the last video like this they released had mock buildings in the background, now the video shows a blank space for fundy quay. The city sees the writing on the wall, otherwise they would have included the buildings.

But hey, at least they can now shop this video around to future developers of Fundy quay! It will be a more desirable space for development once the public portion is actually complete.

Yeah I thought the blank space was quite ominous looking during the video. But the project outside of Fundy Quay looks great!

[adamuptownsj]

I wish they'd actually commission some statuary instead of the 'prow' which looks like damaged playground equipment. We have very little commemorating the arrival of the Loyalists on the waterfront now, and there's a couple perfectly good old paintings to crib from.

It could be that the previous render video came from the developer, and this came from the city. They wouldn't have each others renders and mashing them together would be VERY hard.

[Helladog]

I hope the finished project doesn't look so bland. Except for the stage, and a bunch of pavers, there isn't much going on; hopefully it's just a preliminary design. I wonder if they plan on returning the moose statue.

It's a shame to lose the volleyball courts; I never used them, but having that energy in the background was nice. Anyone know if there are plans to put them somewhere else?

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by Helladog

I hope the finished project doesn't look so bland. Except for the stage, and a bunch of pavers, there isn't much going on; hopefully it's just a preliminary design. I wonder if they plan on returning the moose statue.

It's a shame to lose the volleyball courts; I never used them, but having that energy in the background was nice. Anyone know if there are plans to put them somewhere else?

No, they wanted the courts replaced with random concrete islands- a consultant must have told them to do it. I don't get it either. I have zero interest in playing but it was a cool thing to have in the middle of downtown. Neat ambiance.

[bridgeoftea]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

No, they wanted the courts replaced with random concrete islands- a consultant must have told them to do it. I don't get it either. I have zero interest in playing but it was a cool thing to have in the middle of downtown. Neat ambiance.

I think some of the islands will be setup for ice skating in the winter. But hey, if Fundy Quay is gonna be in a pit of waiting. There's a shit ton of dirt sitting there, let's throw 100 volleyball courts.

[sailor734]

I'm not sure I get the idea behind the Tidal Steps? Sure, they look kind of cool but I can't help but wonder if late nights+booze or drug induced stupidity won't equal somebody drowning sooner or later. The harbour water is cold and there are strong tidal currents in market slip.

[sailor734]

Has anybody heard anything about 99 KIng? The hole is becoming quite the eyesore. If nothing else the city should require sidewalk remediation and a less unsightly fence.

[JakeNB]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Has anybody heard anything about 99 KIng? The hole is becoming quite the eyesore. If nothing else the city should require sidewalk remediation and a less unsightly fence.

This project is not happening under current ownership. And it will be very difficult for another developer to acquire the site, as Wilbur vastly overpaid for the property and incurred significant demolition costs. I would suggest that we get used to seeing Percy’s Hole.

[JakeNB]

Why is nothing happening in Uptown SJ. There are many initiatives that seem to have stalled:
1. Barbours General store.
2. 91 King
3. City Market strategic plan.
4. Renaming of Market Slip.
5. Fundy Quay.
6. Side entrance to City Hall.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by JakeNB

Why is nothing happening in Uptown SJ. There are many initiatives that seem to have stalled:
1. Barbours General store.
2. 91 King
3. City Market strategic plan.
4. Renaming of Market Slip.
5. Fundy Quay.
6. Side entrance to City Hall.

The fact that nobody answered your post speaks volumes.

[gtsoc]

Originally Posted by sailor734

The fact that nobody answered your post speaks volumes.

Side entrance to City Hall had construction activity happening on Wednesday.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by JakeNB

This project is not happening under current ownership. And it will be very difficult for another developer to acquire the site, as Wilbur vastly overpaid for the property and incurred significant demolition costs. I would suggest that we get used to seeing Percy’s Hole.

Somebody suggested we could flood it. Then we'd have a new attraction called Percy's Pond. We could build a sluice/step waterfall down the northern sidewalk on King (I mean it's not like anyone is using it for walking to or from Brunswick Square) going to a tidal pool at Fundy Quay with pumps to return the water back up the hill via underground piping.

Now that's a water feature! ......and about as likely to happen as a 12 story building going up there this year.

[DyAm00394]

Saint John waterfront revitalization on schedule for end-of-year completion

“Former Coast Guard site ready for private Fundy Quay project to begin.

City officials proudly showed off progress made on Saint John's long-awaited waterfront development.

The revitalization between Market Square and the cruise terminal has been talked about for decades without any real progress.

Standing in the middle of the construction site on Thursday, Ian Fogan, the city's commissioner of utilities and infrastructure, said the project "is the city's No. 1 public-space priority."

And, thanks to favourable weather throughout the winter and spring, it's also on time and on budget, said Chris Travis, a project manager with the Glenn Group.

In fact, the reopening of the boardwalk restaurant patios is a month ahead of schedule.

Despite being on the fringes of an active construction site, the boardwalk restaurant patios are schedule to open on Saturday.

"We're so excited right now for our patio to be opening on June 3," said Jesse Vergen, owner of the Saint John Ale House.

"This is going to be the cornerstone of the uptown area in Saint John, and we're just super excited to have one of the best festival areas in Atlantic Canada right here."

He said it's been rough riding out the construction phase of the project, but they've been "trying to stay positive."

"And we're super excited that we have temporary patios and that the whole project is going to be tied up within this year."

Travis said they're looking at Dec. 31 to have things completed, "and at this time, there's no reason to think that we're not going to meet that timeline."

Connected to private Fundy Quay project

The city's revitalization of the public space along the water ties in with a private development nearby.

The Fundy Quay is a five-building project planned for land adjacent to the city's project.

One of the conditions for Fundy Quay was that the city of Saint John prepare the site for development, including shoring up the seawall, before Fundy Harbour Group took over.

That site-prep work was completed in January, said Gerry Mattsson, the city's project engineer, so it's ready for Fundy Harbour Group to begin their project.

Messages left with the Saint John-based company went unreturned on Thursday.

The Fundy Quay development, which has been called a "catalytic project" for the city that will help spur other growth, will eventually see five buildings constructed on the former Coast Guard site.

The first is a 16-storey building planned for the southeast corner of the property — along Water Street at the corner closest to the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal. The ground floor will be commercial space, while the upper floors will be apartments.

Each of the buildings will be constructed in separate phases and each is estimated to take about two years to complete.

Combined, the five buildings will add 677 residential units on a total floor area of 69,700 square metres. The complex will also include 400 internal parking spaces.

The city's redesign of the waterfront will extend roughly 12 to 15 metres around the private Fundy Quay buildings and will include a public amphitheatre and lookout.

Travis said the perimeter work will go ahead independent of the construction of the building, so the Fundy Harbour Group "can build out to us."

'Reopening the space'

Blake Creamer, a landscape designer with the Glenn Group, said a lot of thought and effort was put into the design to help incorporate the history of the site, including reflecting how much things have changed over the years.

Roughly 20 feet from Water Street, toward the harbour, a visual marker will show where the original high-water line used to be before the area was filled in to create the existing property.

He said the design also helps return the site to its original openness.

"This has been a place of gathering and trade for hundreds of years and we've tried to maintain that, especially through our reopening of the space and decluttering of the space.

"There is a historic connection up to King Square that was always present in the past when trade ships would come into this area. And we've reopened the space to allow that … visual connection to happen again."

He said the area was "always envisioned to be the centre point of the Harbour passage."

"And now that is kind of coming to fruition with an extension being added on to Harbour Passage."

Creamer said that addition will connect both sides of the walking trail.

He said a set of granite steps will also help re-establish public access to the water. Construction of the steps is expected to begin in three weeks, he said”.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/saint-john-waterfront-revitalization-1.6862073

[ColSJ]

Major error in this article. The 16 storey building is not being constructed first.

As side form that I enjoy the pictures of loyalist plaza. Nice to see it moving along.

[ColSJ]

There is a building permit for a single-family home at 142 Mecklenburg. It would be nice to fill in these kinds of gaps around the peninsula with middle housing.

[Helladog]

Originally Posted by ColSJ

There is a building permit for a single-family home at 142 Mecklenburg. It would be nice to fill in these kinds of gaps around the peninsula with middle housing.

It seems odd to put new single family homes on the peninsula at this point.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by Helladog

It seems odd to put new single family homes on the peninsula at this point.

Appears to be a narrow’ish lot. You could do an approx 17’ x 2 semi-detached

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

Appears to be a narrow’ish lot. You could do an approx 17’ x 2 semi-detached

Or a single family that uses some of the frontage for a garage. Parking is one thing that causes many empty nesters to hesitate to sell the suburban family home and move into town. After 40 years of having one i can't imagine being without a garage in our climate.

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by Helladog

It seems odd to put new single family homes on the peninsula at this point.

I'm building two this year, one 18' wide and one 16'6" wide, on Harding. There's many places nothing else will really fit, plus it's a seller's market. There's tons of people who will pay a premium for it.