The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[ColSJ]

I have mixed feelings about this...

For starters, I agree with the post saying this is prime real estate that deserves a structure, but having said that if we look at the pace of development uptown we would be looking at 5-10 years before anything comes to fruition.

It's a property that comes with its challenges being in such a high trafficked area. There would be sidewalk and road closures and the SJE infrastructure would have to be incorporated in the design. Can all of this be worked through? Of course, but I don't have a lot of confidence it would be in a timely manner.

I would fear if we just decided to sell it to a developer right now, they would use that as an excuse to let it sit there unutilized for a long time and become an eyesore.

What I like about this proposal is it gives us an acceptable solution for a messy property for the time being. This way this property does not end up looking like a 99 King or Fundy Quay. We can still work on getting a better long-term solution in the meantime. Like previously said I would like to see a highrise structure here and if the city is dead beat on putting a tourist information center here, make it ground floor commercial.

[cdnguys]

[IMG] [/IMG]

[ColSJ]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

[IMG] [/IMG]

Where did you find these?

*edit* I see there are on realtor.ca

After comparing this to the previous drawing we saw the only difference is they made the blue darker and this time created a render that makes it look cartoonish. It's still a really visually appealing design IMO. No start date is mentioned on the listing but I hope its soon.

[Ottawa]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

[IMG] [/IMG]

As long as the finished product is portrayed here, I like it.

The ~700K price will boost the average sale price in the city. It will increase the desirability of the area. In my view, the NB Museum will be down the street. An all around bargain. I hope the heavy equipment shows up soon.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by ColSJ

I have mixed feelings about this...

For starters, I agree with the post saying this is prime real estate that deserves a structure, but having said that if we look at the pace of development uptown we would be looking at 5-10 years before anything comes to fruition.

It's a property that comes with its challenges being in such a high trafficked area. There would be sidewalk and road closures and the SJE infrastructure would have to be incorporated in the design. Can all of this be worked through? Of course, but I don't have a lot of confidence it would be in a timely manner.

I would fear if we just decided to sell it to a developer right now, they would use that as an excuse to let it sit there unutilized for a long time and become an eyesore.

What I like about this proposal is it gives us an acceptable solution for a messy property for the time being. This way this property does not end up looking like a 99 King or Fundy Quay. We can still work on getting a better long-term solution in the meantime. Like previously said I would like to see a highrise structure here and if the city is dead beat on putting a tourist information center here, make it ground floor commercial.

So, obviously I've missed (or forgotten) the announcement about the fate of Barbours General Store. Is it being moved and rebuilt? demolished?

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by sailor734

So, obviously I've missed (or forgotten) the announcement about the fate of Barbours General Store. Is it being moved and rebuilt? demolished?

The council report just says the building will be removed and the property will be transformed into a new public plaza/transit hub. Eventually they will be building a small tourist welcome center on the property.

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

The upcoming common council meeting on June.12th, 2023 has a new proposal to transform the former Barbour’s General Store site, (10 Market Square), into a new public space area.

"There exists an opportunity for a new purpose-built gateway building and transit hub that would service as a welcome centre for the Uptown and an opportunity to celebrate and showcase our diverse and inclusive heritage, arts and culture.

The proposed space could also include connection to the City’s sustainable transportation network with proposed overhead charging stations for Saint John transit buses and enhanced shelter and amenities for transit users. The interior program for the proposed space could include a small welcome information centre, interactive digital information displays, and transit amenities. The proposal will be pursued in partnership with Envision Saint John to re-establish the visitor information and welcome centre on the site from its temporary locations at the Port Container Village and the City Market".

https://pub-saintjohn.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=14796

[sailor734]

That's a shame. Barbour's Store was a little gem and quite popular with visitors from what I read on sites like Tripadvisor. Perhaps the extent of fire damage makes restoration impossible?

I agree with one of the earlier posts that building another "public plaza" directly across from a large, currently under construction public plaza seems a little odd.

[cdnguys]

Maybe in will be exhibited within the new museum building protected from the elements and folks content on letting it burn to ground. Last time I went in years ago it was worthless, 1/2 the artifacts gone and replaced with boxes of King Cole tea and a cheap ice cream freezer.

[cdnguys]

News is reporting Barbours General Store is being torn down Q-889 Saint John

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

News is reporting Barbours General Store is being torn down Q-889 Saint John

I saw that in the TJ yesterday. Barbour's CEO was quoted as saying rebuilding and relocation (sounds like the city wanted it gone) was "economically unfeasible" . Kind of sad to see it go. It was lovely when it first opened and the interior displays were well done. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever and the priorities of companies change over time.

I guess it's good they are at least going to clean the site up but I question the need to spend big $$ on another empty "Plaza". Especially with what is across the street.

[darkharbour]

Originally Posted by sailor734

I saw that in the TJ yesterday. Barbour's CEO was quoted as saying rebuilding and relocation (sounds like the city wanted it gone) was "economically unfeasible" . Kind of sad to see it go. It was lovely when it first opened and the interior displays were well done. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever and the priorities of companies change over time.

I guess it's good they are at least going to clean the site up but I question the need to spend big $$ on another empty "Plaza". Especially with what is across the street.

The same radio reports also mentioned that Acre Architects will be designing the new tourism centre for the site, so this is clearly a temporary plaza. We do have too many plazas Uptown (I’m looking at you JDI for adding a pointless playground while tearing down housing), but I don’t think this particular site would have been a contender for a great residential development given how slowly the other empty sites nearby are going.

Hiring a top flight local architecture firm to design a small building for the site seems like a good compromise to restoring a fire-damaged historic building that wasn’t built in the city in the first place.

[NB_ExistsToo]

I heard on the radio yesterday that there are plans finally in the works (or approved) that Ashburn Lake and Retail Dr are finally going to align, opposed to having two intersections 20ft apart.

That's exciting and should have originally been built that way, even though I was told it was due to the individual that has those mobile homes for sale refusing to give up the land.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by NB_ExistsToo

I heard on the radio yesterday that there are plans finally in the works (or approved) that Ashburn Lake and Retail Dr are finally going to align, opposed to having two intersections 20ft apart.

That's exciting and should have originally been built that way, even though I was told it was due to the individual that has those mobile homes for sale refusing to give up the land.

I'm told that mobile home business is owned by the Northrups. (same people behind Eastpoint) If true it makes the whole mess even more outrageous.

Retail Drive should never have been allowed to be built in it's current location and that's 100% on the city. Now taxpayers are on the hook for millions to fix the screwup.

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by sailor734

I'm told that mobile home business is owned by the Northrups. (same people behind Eastpoint) If true it makes the whole mess even more outrageous.

Retail Drive should never have been allowed to be built in it's current location and that's 100% on the city. Now taxpayers are on the hook for millions to fix the screwup.

Northrups own the mobile home site, yes.

Where would you have put Retail Dr? It can't go further north- trailer park in the way, and west of that, a gravel pit/mountain. It can't go south either- train yard and Strescon. That aside, neither of those options would come close to aligning with Ashburn Lake Rd. So we'd end up with 2 3-way intersections on Rothesay Ave anyway.

[Sabien]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Northrups own the mobile home site, yes.

Where would you have put Retail Dr? It can't go further north- trailer park in the way, and west of that, a gravel pit/mountain. It can't go south either- train yard and Strescon. That aside, neither of those options would come close to aligning with Ashburn Lake Rd. So we'd end up with 2 3-way intersections on Rothesay Ave anyway.

Are you both referring to the same thing? I think one is referring to the mobile home park, the other is the modular/mobile home business - which is next to the intersection. Or maybe I’m reading your posts wrong

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by Sabien

Are you both referring to the same thing? I think one is referring to the mobile home park, the other is the modular/mobile home business - which is next to the intersection. Or maybe I’m reading your posts wrong

I was referring to the manufactured home sales site on the corner of Retail Dr and Rothesay Ave that is across from Ashburn Lake Rd. After coming down the hill and passing Oakland St, Retail Drive should have curved left and come through this property before reaching Rothesay Ave across from Ashburn Lake Rd.

[NB_ExistsToo]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Northrups own the mobile home site, yes.

Where would you have put Retail Dr? It can't go further north- trailer park in the way, and west of that, a gravel pit/mountain. It can't go south either- train yard and Strescon. That aside, neither of those options would come close to aligning with Ashburn Lake Rd. So we'd end up with 2 3-way intersections on Rothesay Ave anyway.

I could have seen it working West as the only other place I could logical place, the road would have been built to meet at Rothesay Ave at the Splash Thai Cuisine set of lights beside Leons/behind that strip mall. It could have run from there behind Sobeys and connected at East Point Way.

This would still have created the extra intersection though (not an extra set of lights though), but at least it wouldn't have been very narrow mess currently at Ashburn Lake/Retail.

[DyAm00394]

There are 3 proposals in the upcoming PAC meeting on June 20th, 2023. https://pub-saintjohn.escribemeetings.co...-6c3b85b13ae3&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English

• 14- unit residential building, that includes 4 affordable housing units, at 49 Quinton Avenue.
  
  
• Rezone 460 Milford Road from Two-Unit Residential (R2) to MidRise Residential (RM) to allow for the construction of three, 3-storey multi-unit buildings; two 24- unit buildings and one 30-unit building.
  
  
• Rezone 21 Canon Street and 348 Rockland Road from General Commercial (CG) to Mid-Rise Residential (RM).
  

  "While the Mid-Rise Residential (RM) zoning does not contain a maximum limit on the number of dwelling units, the one-unit dwelling at 21 Canon Street will be maintained as a one-unit dwelling and 348 Rockland Road will contain two dwelling units. The reason for choosing the Mid-Rise Residential zoning over lower density zonings is to allow for potential future development along Canon Street and to harmonize the zoning of both 21 Canon Street and 348 Rockland Road with the adjacent residential properties".

[adamuptownsj]

Wowchuks (dentist father and son) converting the Diocesan office north of St Joe's to 24 senior's apartments. Diocesan office is relocating to Villa Madonna in Rothesay.

They also plan 'a landmark timber-framed building' on the land they acquired just north of Service Canada, also aimed at seniors.

They seem to be branding this effort as 'Hospital Hill'. There's a lot of development potential around the area.

[UptownJeff]

I heard today that The Hilton is in jeopardy of losing their "Hilton" status. Has anyone else heard this? Typically these properties are independently owned and have to maintain certain levels of standardized service etc to use the Hilton name.