[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[MonctonRad]

Apparently a cocktail bar will be moving into the former antique shop at 149 John Street:

https://tj.news/times-and-transcript/102132088 (paywall)


T&T photo

Kind of an odd location for this, but it is just down the street from Tire Shack Brewing. I wish them well.

[MonctonGoldenTri]

Thats awesome! any news/info on the New York Subs across the street?

[Seely32]

Originally Posted by MonctonGoldenTri

Thats awesome! any news/info on the New York Subs across the street?

The NY Subs building needs to be torn down or majorly overhauled there is big structural issues. The NY Subs business has moved to Collishaw St and they are inside of The Moncton Wine Cellar.

[jonny golden]

It was just over a year ago that city council voted to sell the Main/Vaughn Harvey land to the current developer. At that time they were proposing a 9 floor mixed use building, which they later changed to 10 floors. A few months ago, the developer stated that "we listened to the community" and scaled back the plans to 6 storeys.

It's been crickets ever since. I really hope the developer has had a change of heart, and is listening to the broader community (including mayor Arnold & Chamber of Commerce CEO John Wishart.)

What are the odds that they're re-considering their plans, and are now designing a more appropriate and taller building at this important location? The ICON development is rumored to be causing other developers in the city to amend their planned projects and go taller.

[new kid in town]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

It was just over a year ago that city council voted to sell the Main/Vaughn Harvey land to the current developer. At that time they were proposing a 9 floor mixed use building, which they later changed to 10 floors. A few months ago, the developer stated that "we listened to the community" and scaled back the plans to 6 storeys.

It's been crickets ever since. I really hope the developer has had a change of heart, and is listening to the broader community (including mayor Arnold & Chamber of Commerce CEO John Wishart.)

What are the odds that they're re-considering their plans, and are now designing a more appropriate and taller building at this important location? The ICON development is rumored to be causing other developers in the city to amend their planned projects and go taller.

There were 2 excavators (small ones though) on that lot sometime last week. Yesterday I saw another heavy machinery but I couldn't quite see specifically what it was.

[Philbilly]

Originally Posted by new kid in town

There were 2 excavators (small ones though) on that lot sometime last week. Yesterday I saw another heavy machinery but I couldn't quite see specifically what it was.

Probably has to do with the current drain and resurfacing on vaught Harvey. Just parking them there during off hours

[BlackYear]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Apparently a cocktail bar will be moving into the former antique shop at 149 John Street:

https://tj.news/times-and-transcript/102132088 (paywall)

Kind of an odd location for this, but it is just down the street from Tire Shack Brewing. I wish them well.

Cocktail bars seems to be hip and trending these days. $15 to $19 for hand made cocktails are being sold and people are buying them, including myself.

The 55 Queen st Palette Urban Rooftop Bar is really busy and their prices are $$$$$.

Antlers Whiskey Bar on Main is another cocktail lounge with prices at $$$$$.

You're essentially paying for high quality service and drinks that takes 5 minutes to make by hand. Example, Antlers only allows one Mai Tai drink order per customer.

I'm all for it. They are great small lounges that offers great friendly service, nice atmosphere and different type of ambiance music. Buddies of mine all think the same way, it's a once a month gather a few friends and go out for an easy relaxing evening.

[lirette]

Originally Posted by BlackYear

Cocktail bars seems to be hip and trending these days. $15 to $19 for hand made cocktails are being sold and people are buying them, including myself.

The 55 Queen st Palette Urban Rooftop Bar is really busy and their prices are $$$$$.

Antlers Whiskey Bar on Main is another cocktail lounge with prices at $$$$$.

You're essentially paying for high quality service and drinks that takes 5 minutes to make by hand. Example, Antlers only allows one Mai Tai drink order per customer.

I'm all for it. They are great small lounges that offers great friendly service, nice atmosphere and different type of ambiance music. Buddies of mine all think the same way, it's a once a month gather a few friends and go out for an easy relaxing evening.

I went to this place in Toronto last summer and it was an incredible experience. When I was there I was realizing it was something Moncton is missing, so its nice to see at least something comparable come to town. I doubt will ever see anything to the level of bar chef (theres $40 cocktails with edible components, scent components) but like you said I think these places will do well.

https://www.barchef.com/

This area of town is now 1 trendy restaurant and coffee shop away from having its own distinct hip neighborhood feel.

[MonctonGoldenTri]

I'm assuming if NY Subs gets torn down then so does the attached house. This would be a big opportunity to create another bistro/bar or a wine bar to complement the neighboring bars.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by MonctonGoldenTri

I'm assuming if NY Subs gets torn down then so does the attached house. This would be a big opportunity to create another bistro/bar or a wine bar to complement the neighboring bars.

This area of the downtown actually has a lot of potential for street front commercial revitalization and residential gentrification. It's within walking distance of St. George Street and the downtown core, and close to Victoria Park, the bordering stately homes, and Edith Cavell School.

Downtown neighbourhoods like this can be quite appealing (as long as druggies and associated criminal activity can be controlled).

[new kid in town]

This has probably been tossed around in the previous 300+ pages (or on the main Moncton thread) but I really wish St. George and Main streets are much more connected in an urban-commercial way. In many ways, it feels like our downtown is so small because when you go north of Main, it's mostly residential or parking lots (or the businesses that do exist are in establishments that could pass off as residential). In comparison, Charlottetown's downtown vibe felt more dense and extended to many blocks. I'd love for there to be corridors of shops and some high-rise buildings on the north-south streets as well. If not all, at least three-four adjacent streets.

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by new kid in town

This has probably been tossed around in the previous 300+ pages (or on the main Moncton thread) but I really wish St. George and Main streets are much more connected in an urban-commercial way. In many ways, it feels like our downtown is so small because when you go north of Main, it's mostly residential or parking lots (or the businesses that do exist are in establishments that could pass off as residential). In comparison, Charlottetown's downtown vibe felt more dense and extended to many blocks. I'd love for there to be corridors of shops and some high-rise buildings on the north-south streets as well. If not all, at least three-four adjacent streets.

Moncton is very much hub and spoke with serveral "strips" radiating right now... Main, Mountain, Champlain and to a lesser degree, Elmwood. I think one of GREAT things about Moncton is how flat and easy to develop on it is. But that has been a drawback, as well... you can buy "cheap" land anywhere in the city and develop it. There was no real "driver" to make someone want to build down-town, really. I think that is slowly changing... cities (and downtowns) are a lot like black holes: the more mass they collect, the easier it is for them to collect more mass. Moncton's downtown has quite a bit of momentum right now. And all of those junky houses that are in the streets between Main and St. George are ripe for replacement with larger structures. They have been being replaced, actually, but here are just SO MANY of them in such a large area. It's gonna take some time.

[new kid in town]

Originally Posted by Nashe

Moncton is very much hub and spoke with serveral "strips" radiating right now... Main, Mountain, Champlain and to a lesser degree, Elmwood. I think one of GREAT things about Moncton is how flat and easy to develop on it is. But that has been a drawback, as well... you can buy "cheap" land anywhere in the city and develop it. There was no real "driver" to make someone want to build down-town, really. I think that is slowly changing... cities (and downtowns) are a lot like black holes: the more mass they collect, the easier it is for them to collect more mass. Moncton's downtown has quite a bit of momentum right now. And all of those junky houses that are in the streets between Main and St. George are ripe for replacement with larger structures. They have been being replaced, actually, but here are just SO MANY of them in such a large area. It's gonna take some time.

Ah yes, I do want for the city to have alternative commercial and development areas as well. I suppose we can think of alternatives: maybe the bigger parking lots could at least be made into multilevel parking structures? That way, you get the architectural vibes of a denser downtown while also preparing the city ahead for when there are more cars and less empty lots to park in! As you said, once the momentum happens, it can easily snowball.

[MonctonRad]

A new mobile eatery has taken up semi permanent residence in the parking lot of the Harley Davidson dealership on west Main Street.

The take out is called the Knucklehead Cafe, and their main specialty is called the "Knuckle Sandwich", which is probably only appropriate since the Harley dealership is popular with bikers.

[daveynb]

The sub shop was Collns Drug Store once upon a time

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Apparently a cocktail bar will be moving into the former antique shop at 149 John Street:

https://tj.news/times-and-transcript/102132088 (paywall)


T&T photo

Kind of an odd location for this, but it is just down the street from Tire Shack Brewing. I wish them well.

[BlackYear]

[Monctoncore]

Now imagine in BlackYear’s photo above, the 30 floor infinity, Ashfords possible 20 floor Development and then over by the Tower peaking out St. Bernard’s Square.

[Monctoncore]

Also any word on Galco’s develoment on Lutz-queen-Robinson?

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by Monctoncore

Also any word on Galco’s develoment on Lutz-queen-Robinson?

When the city traded that parking lot to Galco they had a time limit to develop it. In Dec 2022 they were given an 18 month extension by city council. But the minimum required value of the project was raised from $7.5 million to $10 million.

So by this time next year we should see something happening. Hopefully.

[new kid in town]

Some dusk/night shots of downtown from the Palette Rooftop Bar on 55 Queen