The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[kwajo]

Flurry of projects means tough decisions ahead
Development Holding city's tax rate could require cuts in jobs and services
JOHN MAZEROLLE
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
Published Monday March 31st, 2008
Appeared on page C1
SAINT JOHN - Buildings will be built. Pipes will be laid. Sports fields will be improved. Water will be purified. There's a lot going on in the city of Saint John.

With so many public projects underway, will this May's newly elected common council have any wiggle room to make decisions with taxpayers' money?

Yes and no. There are lots of decisions to be made, but officials say holding the tax rate could require cuts in jobs and services or delays in some of the projects.

City manager Terry Totten said that if the next council decides to hold the tax rate, "we'd have to have the discussion: Where do you want to have fewer people and fewer services?"

The city's plans include harbour cleanup and the improvements to drinking water (paid for through water bills), as well as a new police headquarters, a parking garage, a public space, a new Saint John Transit headquarters, and refurbishments to the Canada Games Stadium (paid for through property taxes). There are also plans for continued development of the waterfront and Harbour Passage West, redevelopment of Rockwood Park, an initiative to renovate the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre and hopes for a multiplex. Then there are the usual costs of cars, roads, building upgrades and smaller investments in recreation.

All told, the city would borrow approximately $221 million from now to 2012 if it moved forward with everything it wants to do. Debt can eventually hit taxpayers' wallets, which is why lots of projects can get people antsy in the city with the highest tax rate in New Brunswick.

When a new council is sworn in this May, a city that keeps growing could save council from the toughest choices. But if the upswing doesn't go as hoped, council will be starting at a number of unpleasant options - a tax increase, service cuts, job cuts or a delay in projects.

Finance commissioner Greg Yeomans discussed a document with council in secret last summer that projected a combined 14-cent increase in the tax rate over the next council's term - an approximately eight per cent increase to homeowners' bills. But Yeomans stressed recently that the numbers are only projections based on a conservative financial outlook.

He noted, for instance, that the 14 cents included a 3.55-cent increase in 2008, which didn't happen because the actual numbers were better than the projections.

Yeomans has also projected a potential three-cent increase in the tax rate because of the north of Union development.

Nathalie Godbout, chairwoman of the Saint John Board of Trade, said the board's support for the north of Union Street development is contingent on a steady tax rate. "The board of trade is going to be keeping an eye on the bottom line," she said, adding that Yeoman's information "has to be fleshed out."

Yeomans said council will always have the option to stop these projects because most haven't reached the tender phase: only harbour cleanup is well underway, and the new bus depot has to get underway because the transit commission has sold its current site.

Unless the next council is more penny pinching than the current one, most of the projects are likely to get the go-ahead.

Even Coun. Stephen Chase, arguably council's most fiscally conservative voice, still supports most of these projects as part of "essentials for a livable city."

He says the real opportunity to save money is on the operating side.

"If we clearly identify that capital projects are a priority, what are we prepared to do on other operating costs?" said Chase, who has pushed consistently for partial privatization and contracting out of services.

Bob Manning, head of the so-called Benefits Blueprint meant to deal with rapid growth in Saint John, says he supports the city's public projects as necessities in a city that will soon have more than 5,000 temporary workers because of projects such as a second oil refinery, a second nuclear reactor and the liquefied natural gas terminal.

Improving the infrastructure will be key to attracting and retaining workers, Manning said. And timing is key.

"The longer we wait on these things, the more expensive they're going to be," he said.

At the same time, Manning believes the economic upswing will be enough to avoid a tax hike.

"I truly believe we can do this without raising taxes," he said.

Why is the TJ so anti-development sometimes? Wouldn't the logical thing to do, be to call for municipal reforms to reduce the wasteful, or overlapping operational spending within the city, rather than stifling development or laying off employees, which could eventually lead to an increased tax-base?

[Seely32]

Why no consultation?
Development Head of Enterprise Saint John raises questions about rezoning process

Dave MacLean
Telegraph-Journal
Published Tuesday April 1st, 2008
Appeared on page C1

SAINT JOHN - The new chairman of Enterprise Saint John found himself in the rare position of appearing at a public hearing opposing the new Saint John Transit headquarters on MacDonald Street.

Bob Manning was very adamant that as chairman of the economic development agency he is in favour of development in the city and he specifically mentioned the transit headquarters as a good project that will benefit Saint John.

But he appeared before common council at a public hearing Monday night to voice concerns about the project.

"I'm very positive about this development, but we have a few concerns that haven't been addressed," said Manning, who noted that there has not yet been any public consultation on the $22-million project.

Manning called it "quite ironic" that a public notice advertisement for Monday's public hearing was on the same page of the newspaper as a story announcing last week's groundbreaking ceremony for the facility.

He also noted that while the developers are allowed to proceed with minimal site preparation work before formal approval is granted, work has moved along much further. Armed with photographs of the site, Manning showed that excavation has far exceeded the one-metre depth allowed.

Manning, whose wife operates a dental clinic at a property adjacent to the proposed facility, said council "did the right thing" by holding public consultation on the north of Union project, but he wondered why the same procedure wasn't followed with the transit facility.

One of the variances being sought by Saint John Transit would allow for the construction of a 115,000-squar- foot facility, one that would occupy 35 per cent of the lot, when the bylaw limits it at 20 per cent. Manning said he would prefer that the transit company simply acquire more land so that it falls within the regulations.

He is also worried about what will happen to Tiffany Street, which the city has decided to close off.

"Will it be turned into a cul-de-sac? Will it have a turn-around area for snowplows and other large vehicles?" he asked.

Manning also said that Loch Lomond Road is the busiest thoroughfare in the city except for the Mackay Highway and it is also the street with the most accidents.

"I am pro-development and we would love to see a fantastic facility," said Manning. "We are concerned it has not been designed to be the best it can be."

Coun. John Ferguson said he, too, had concerns the sod-turning had occurred before the public hearing.

"I certainly don't like cart before the horse," he said. Ferguson also wondered aloud whether council had any authority over variances. City solicitor John Nugent agreed council had no jursidiction.

"You haven't followed any of your own rules so far," Manning quipped.

Coun. Bill Farren also wondered why an arm's-length organization of the city was coming before council with a number of variances.

"Why did we buy such a small lot?" Farren asked.

Coun. Peter McGuire noted the objections served as a reminder to council that it must work to improve its consultation process.

Coun. Stephen Chase agreed it appeared a double standard existed.

"How can we enforce standards when we are willing to break them ourselves?" he asked.

Saint John Transit general manager Frank McCarey said the sod-turning ceremony was held before the public hearing because it was difficult to co-ordinate the schedule of the proincial and federal politicians whose governments are funding partners.

He said he expects any traffic disruption to be minimal during peak traffic hours.

Council gave first and second readings to Saint John Transit's rezoning application for its operations centre.

Council earlier passed first and second readings of a proposed rezoning that would allow for the construction of a 112-room hotel on the site of the former St. Paul's Church at 369 Rockland Rd. Moncton-based Cyr Holdings Inc. wants to build a hotel on the site and is hoping to move forward with the project as soon as possible. The company already owns and operates a hotel known Chateau Moncton, on Main Street in that city. Coun. Glen Tait said he supported the motion, but wondered if the applicants had considered the north of Union site as a possible location for such a development. Company president Bernard Cyr noted that he hadn't, but indicated that he would be willing to speak with staff about possible options at the future home of a new police-justice complex.

Council denied a rezoning request from Lesley and Pat O'Neill, who were proposing the establishment of a day-care facility at 990 Sand Cove Rd. A number of residents spoke against the proposal, noting concerns about traffic and drainage issues.

Council tabled a rezoning application from Dooly's billiards parlour at Loch Lomond shopping centre to permit the establishment of a separate licensed lounge next to the billiards hall.

Pierre Lariviere, vice-president of Dooly's said the facility is already licensed as a lounge. The company wants to alter the facility's licence to allow it to apply for an extra five video lottery terminals.

Tait moved the rezoning be tabled until residents have an opportunity to meet with city staff to discuss the proposed recommendations.

Lloyd Ginn, who lives in the neighbourhood across the parking lot from the mall, said an approval would just increase the problems that already exist at existing location - noisy customers, music and racing cars at closing time.

Blair Crowell, another resident, said the original location was fine, but since the relocation of the establishment to the opposite side of the mall, there have been instances of patrons urinating on his property and noise issues.

Does the TJ hate this city council or what. If any thing the amount of progress they made is stunning, and its a shame that some of the poeple are not going to be returning. Probably Norm if the paper keeps up the slander on a daily basis

[kwajo]

Council earlier passed first and second readings of a proposed rezoning that would allow for the construction of a 112-room hotel on the site of the former St. Paul's Church at 369 Rockland Rd. Moncton-based Cyr Holdings Inc. wants to build a hotel on the site and is hoping to move forward with the project as soon as possible. The company already owns and operates a hotel known Chateau Moncton, on Main Street in that city.

Well at least something around here is progressing! Am I remembering correctly that this hotel might be 7 or 8 floors?

[Helladog]

Am I remembering correctly that this hotel might be 7 or 8 floors?

During council, they mentioned ten floors.

Does the TJ hate this city council or what.

Good question; that was a very small piece of the puzzle; it was already zoned industrial, instead of rezoning to make it more restrictive they could have built with no consultation at all. Actually, all the neighbours affected were consulted and forty ppl showed up at the meeting...

[kwajo]

During council, they mentioned ten floors.

Even better! Too bad it probably won't add much to the overall Saint John skyline, given that it's on the opposite side of the highway from Uptown, but still a great addition none-the-less.

[Alberta Bound]

Transit doesn't need to build a Taj Mahal
Telegraph Journal
JOHN CHILIBECK
puBlIC eYe
Published Wednesday April 2nd, 2008
Saint John Transit's general manager wants a big honkin' new headquarters to help reach the goal of increasing bus ridership from 2.5 million to four million passenger trips a year.

To accomplish this objective over several decades, Frank McCarey believes the service needs a $22-million building, one large enough for those articulated buses you see in bigger cities - you know, the two buses-in-one with the accordion-type contraption in the middle.

Construction has already started on the McDonald Street headquarters on the east side, but some people are wondering why it has to be so big - 115,000 square feet - and so pricey.

Only two years ago, McCarey told the Telegraph-Journal a new transit facility would cost around $10 million. He now insists that figure was the value of replacing the existing west side depot on the Golden Mile.

The old garage is already too small, he says, and there would be no point building another undersized building with 65,000 to 75,000 square feet. Saint John Transit has been asked to clear out because a number of developers are interested in its land on the Golden Mile.

But a building more than 50 per cent larger? McCarey argues the new building shouldn't be trimmed to save taxpayers money.

"That would be very short-sighted," he said Tuesday. "You'd be sorry you downsized the thing when the growth potential was there."

But let's do some math. McCarey says it's important to take advantage of federal funding. Ottawa has already forked over $4.3 million for the headquarters and is expected to contribute $4.2 million more. On top of that, McCarey is confident that Saint John Transit's application for $1.5 million in federal money will soon be accepted for its plans to build an energy-efficient building.

Add all this up and Ottawa is paying $10 million. Throw in the $2 million from Saint John Transit's property sale on the west side, and this leaves city taxpayers with a $10-million bill for the new headquarters.

That's still too much money for a city Saint John's size. The rush to build big has raised alarm bells - most notably, Enterprise Saint John chairman Bob Manning pounded on the development for failing to do a traffic study on Loch Lomond Road next to the site, one of the busiest and most dangerous roads in the city, and for moving ahead without proper permission. City bylaws allow Saint John Transit to build no more than 80,000 square feet on the land it acquired, so now it needs common council's OK to build bigger.

Expanding bus ridership is admirable because it would encourage people to leave cars at home and cut back pollution. But is it wise to build big before the need arises? Why not build an addition in the future once ridership is up?

Metro Transit serves the Halifax Regional Municipality. It's headquarters in Dartmouth, N.S., has more than 200 buses, and its building is 50,000 square feet. Public affairs co-ordinator Lisette Cormier says Metro Transit wants to construct another building because it doesn't have enough room, but she doubts it will be anywhere near as big as the existing headquarters. Even with a new building, Metro Transit will still have a far smaller base than Saint John Transit's, with its 50 odd buses.

If Saint John Transit has $10 million to play with, it should put it into bus routes, not the Taj Mahal of headquarters. Better yet, save some of the money and avoid a tax increase. The city should ask Saint John taxpayers how big they want the headquarters to be, rather than relying solely on vested interests.

[random11]

Originally Posted by Alberta Bound

Transit doesn't need to build a Taj Mahal
Telegraph Journal
JOHN CHILIBECK
puBlIC eYe
Published Wednesday April 2nd, 2008
Saint John Transit's general manager wants a big honkin' new headquarters to help reach the goal of increasing bus ridership from 2.5 million to four million passenger trips a year.

To accomplish this objective over several decades, Frank McCarey believes the service needs a $22-million building, one large enough for those articulated buses you see in bigger cities - you know, the two buses-in-one with the accordion-type contraption in the middle.

Construction has already started on the McDonald Street headquarters on the east side, but some people are wondering why it has to be so big - 115,000 square feet - and so pricey.

Only two years ago, McCarey told the Telegraph-Journal a new transit facility would cost around $10 million. He now insists that figure was the value of replacing the existing west side depot on the Golden Mile.

The old garage is already too small, he says, and there would be no point building another undersized building with 65,000 to 75,000 square feet. Saint John Transit has been asked to clear out because a number of developers are interested in its land on the Golden Mile.

But a building more than 50 per cent larger? McCarey argues the new building shouldn't be trimmed to save taxpayers money.

"That would be very short-sighted," he said Tuesday. "You'd be sorry you downsized the thing when the growth potential was there."

But let's do some math. McCarey says it's important to take advantage of federal funding. Ottawa has already forked over $4.3 million for the headquarters and is expected to contribute $4.2 million more. On top of that, McCarey is confident that Saint John Transit's application for $1.5 million in federal money will soon be accepted for its plans to build an energy-efficient building.

Add all this up and Ottawa is paying $10 million. Throw in the $2 million from Saint John Transit's property sale on the west side, and this leaves city taxpayers with a $10-million bill for the new headquarters.

That's still too much money for a city Saint John's size. The rush to build big has raised alarm bells - most notably, Enterprise Saint John chairman Bob Manning pounded on the development for failing to do a traffic study on Loch Lomond Road next to the site, one of the busiest and most dangerous roads in the city, and for moving ahead without proper permission. City bylaws allow Saint John Transit to build no more than 80,000 square feet on the land it acquired, so now it needs common council's OK to build bigger.

Expanding bus ridership is admirable because it would encourage people to leave cars at home and cut back pollution. But is it wise to build big before the need arises? Why not build an addition in the future once ridership is up?

Metro Transit serves the Halifax Regional Municipality. It's headquarters in Dartmouth, N.S., has more than 200 buses, and its building is 50,000 square feet. Public affairs co-ordinator Lisette Cormier says Metro Transit wants to construct another building because it doesn't have enough room, but she doubts it will be anywhere near as big as the existing headquarters. Even with a new building, Metro Transit will still have a far smaller base than Saint John Transit's, with its 50 odd buses.

If Saint John Transit has $10 million to play with, it should put it into bus routes, not the Taj Mahal of headquarters. Better yet, save some of the money and avoid a tax increase. The city should ask Saint John taxpayers how big they want the headquarters to be, rather than relying solely on vested interests.

I read this article in the TJ today. I am now convinced that indeed, the TJ is anti-development in this city. I am not certain why. Clearly, every significant development that is either planned, or in some cases underway, falls under the scruiteny of the TJ who have positioned themselves as the 'watchdogs' of Saint John. Articles which should be written as a "report" are being written as editorials. This is becoming highly unprofessional and the TJ has become reduced to a rag. They are systematically backing specific candidates for the upcoming election and attempting to focus on individual issues as they see fit. One thing is interesting, however: If you read the comments section on their web site (canadaeast.com) you will find that the majority of readers do not subscribe to the TJ's views. It seems that John Queue public voter is not falling to the TJ's trap. Personally, I find the reporting to be embarrassing and shameful.

[Seely32]

I beleive I have said this before but Mr. Chillibeck should be fired, he does no research and does nothing more than slander anyone who he does not support. I can't believe this stuff gets to a newspaper tabloid, we need people who report the news must of this stuff belongs in the opionion section.

[Helladog]

Originally Posted by random11

I read this article in the TJ today. I am now convinced that indeed, the TJ is anti-development in this city. I am not certain why. Clearly, every significant development that is either planned, or in some cases underway, falls under the scruiteny of the TJ who have positioned themselves as the 'watchdogs' of Saint John. Articles which should be written as a "report" are being written as editorials. This is becoming highly unprofessional and the TJ has become reduced to a rag. They are systematically backing specific candidates for the upcoming election and attempting to focus on individual issues as they see fit. One thing is interesting, however: If you read the comments section on their web site (canadaeast.com) you will find that the majority of readers do not subscribe to the TJ's views. It seems that John Queue public voter is not falling to the TJ's trap. Personally, I find the reporting to be embarrassing and shameful.

Here is a comment from a reader on the TJ site that makes a good point:

I think Mr. Chillibeck should do some additional research before he writes.

Here are the real facts regarding Metro Transit in Halifax:

Their main garage is about 200,000 sq. ft for maintenance and another 20,000 for operations administration.

They have a second garage that is about 26,000 sq. feet and they have plans for new satellite garage planned for 2010 will be about 150,000 sq. ft.

Please do some research before your aticle goes to final print next time. Your misleading your readership on a daily basis.

Doesn't the editor check any facts before columns goe to press?

[Helladog]

Looks like we have at least three LEED certified buildings now:

1. CRA
2. Somerset Offices (Below)
3. SJ Transit

Possibly the cruise ship terminal as well...

Topping out ceremony continues an ancient tradition

Published Wednesday April 2nd, 2008
Appeared on page C4



Ocean Steel worker Renald Clement watches as Jerry Gallant unhooks a beam from a crane that held a small tree as part of a topping-out ceremony for the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certified building being constructed on the corner of Somerset Street and Wellesley Avenue in the north end. Topping out is a ceremony done when the last beam is placed at the top of a building. It was signed by local dignitaries and crew and was adorned with a small tree. The ceremony can be traced to the ancient Scandinavian religious practice of placing a tree on the top of a new building to appease the tree-dwelling spirits of their ancestors that had been displaced.

[random11]

Originally Posted by Seely32

I beleive I have said this before but Mr. Chillibeck should be fired, he does no research and does nothing more than slander anyone who he does not support. I can't believe this stuff gets to a newspaper tabloid, we need people who report the news must of this stuff belongs in the opionion section.

While I agree with what you are saying, I think it's prudent to note that Chillibeck is, after all, a "reporter" and his pieces require editorial approval. It is not unusual to have a staff writer attempt to test the boundries and that is why "Editors" exist. However, it seems clear that because Chillibeck is permitted to continue to express his personal views and spread his toxic waste, one can only assume that he has full approval of the Editors. Think about this: How many articles have been written in the TJ as of late about the tax deal the Irving's got for the LNG deal? Should this not be an election issue? The TJ is ranting about saving Saint John taxpayers money with a constant rampage of articles yet seldom a word about all the Tax money lost from the LNG deal. Irving owned LNG and Irving owned TJ - and JD has the gall to state that he doesn't get involved with what the paper writes about. Yeh, whatever.

Direct from The TJ:

Telegraph-Journal
P.O. Box 2350, 210 Crown Street
Saint John, New Brunswick E2L 3V8
Canada

Publisher: James C. Irving
Managing Editor: Ron Barry
Senior Editor(s): David Stonehouse

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Doesn't JK Irving own the paper independent of the Empire. ?

[Wrightguy0]

It's all the Irving Empire man, Saint John needs some independant newspapers, The Irving Family has this town by the balls

[Smevo]

How a writer can get away with that kind of article baffles me. It's one thing for a resident to write an opinion letter and have the paper publish it, but to have one of your paid reporters write something like that is a huge black eye on the paper, and you'd think he'd be reprimanded for it.

[random11]

SAINT JOHN - The city will spend $2 million on Rockwood Park this year, the first and biggest step in a proposed three-year plan for rejuvenating the municipal park.

The project's first step passed with little discussion during this week's common council meeting. It will also include an additional $1 million from Brunswick Pipeline, the company that is building a natural gas pipeline through the park. The Emera Inc. subsidiary promised council $5.35 million in endowments to the city if National Energy Board approval was given to the route through the park, and $2.15 million of that was slated for specific capital projects inside the park.

The money will be used to realign the entrance at the park to remove "an existing dangerous curve" in the road, while providing better access and parking. The pavilion will also be made accessible for people with disabilities.

"In year two, the focus would be on the Public Gardens, the connecting trails, and both the Duck Pond and Heritage Pond," a report by city manager Terry Totten states. "In year three, emphasis would be almost entirely on the campground, the public picnic area and what is known as the east trail."

(Brunswick Pipeline is also spending $450,000 on a Harbour Passage-like upgrade to the trail around Lily Lake.)

The report says this year's investment to the park will allow the city to make applications to the higher levels of government for funding, and to approach the private sector for help with benches, signage, lookouts and interpretive signs.

In years two and three the city would still receive money from Brunswick Pipeline, but would be looking for that further money from the private sector and other levels of government. The total projected three-year costs would be roughly $6.4 million, with about $2.8 million coming from the city.

Council had considered the park redevelopment plan during its budget process, but said it wanted to hear more information before making a decision. Totten set aside money in a line for unspecified capital projects.

This new plan - conducted over three years instead of the originally planned two years - means that $900,000 remains on that budget line for council to work with.

The report says that Saint John is lacking in "tourism products" at the moment. Although Harbour Passage is being developed on the west side, "potential redevelopment may be a couple of years away. As for Rockwood Park, the plan is complete and work can commence in 2008."

City staff will work with the various stakeholders to ensure that the work interferes with the park as little as possible, the report states.

[random11]

Originally Posted by Wrightguy0

It's all the Irving Empire man, Saint John needs some independant newspapers, The Irving Family has this town by the balls

My good friend was the original owner of "Here" Newspaper since it's creation. They fought hard to keep it independent however, it became extremely difficult to turn a profit, much less keep from sinking. From the very first publication ever of "Here", she told me about countless phone calls and offers from "Brunswick News" - owners of the Telegraph Journal. After 3 years of being owned and operated independently, they could hold out no longer and were bought out by you guessed .. the Irvings - who as we know, also own the paper in Fredericton and Moncton and local radio stations 97.3 The Wave and CHSJ (Acadian Broadcasting). It helps when you control the media.

[Helladog]

Originally Posted by random11

My good friend was the original owner of "Here" Newspaper since it's creation. They fought hard to keep it independent however, it became extremely difficult to turn a profit, much less keep from sinking. From the very first publication ever of "Here", she told me about countless phone calls and offers from "Brunswick News" - owners of the Telegraph Journal. After 3 years of being owned and operated independently, they could hold out no longer and were bought out by you guessed .. the Irvings - who as we know, also own the paper in Fredericton and Moncton and local radio stations 97.3 The Wave and CHSJ (Acadian Broadcasting). It helps when you control the media.

I didn't know that about the HERE paper...at least they don't own the coffee news or at least not yet...

[kirjtc2]

That's true. I've heard the exact same story about the old Northside News in Fredericton. Their editorials always blasted the Gleaner (or, as they called it, the Little Old Lady of Prospect Street) until they eventually sold out to them. It's now little more than an 8-page insert in the Saturday Gleaner, with no personality to it.

And now look what's happening in Woodstock because a former Irving employee had the gall to start a new paper.

[Helladog]

Somerset Suites Nearly Completed

[Downtown Bolivar]

Originally Posted by kirjtc2

And now look what's happening in Woodstock because a former Irving employee had the gall to start a new paper.

What's happening in Woodstock? Reading the TJ is as bad as reading a Gannet owned newspaper in the States.