[Moncton] Northwest/Magnetic Hill Developments

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

Any thoughts?

I don't think I care to speculate much on the fate of Thrive. The principal has gotten burned on some his ambitious projects in the past (such as Mapleton Crossing), and, I think because of this, he will likely take a go slow and less ambitious strategy moving forward. I wish him well, Thrive does good work, but I think he will no longer be one of the really top tier more ambitious developers in the city.

[mmmatt]

As someone who lives nearby I really hope this new development by CG reopens the conversation of connecting Twin Oaks to Casino, this would give us much better, safer access to the TCH which many here use to commute and go to Costco etc.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by mmmatt

As someone who lives nearby I really hope this new development by CG reopens the conversation of connecting Twin Oaks to Casino, this would give us much better, safer access to the TCH which many here use to commute and go to Costco etc.

Agree 10,000%.

It was preposterous in the first place that city council caved to that little group of self interested residents on that pseudo cul-de-sac.

By refusing to allow the connection to Casino, all they did was shunt traffic flow off to Augusta Terrance and then Ryan Street, making things infinitely more dangerous for students walking or biking to Northrup Frye School.

For the love of God, make the connection!!!

[MonctonRad]

From Mayor Dawn Arnold's summary of this evening's city council meeting:

We then discussed planning matters, including a new rezoning at 358 Ryan St. (from RM, Residential Mix, to R3, Multiple Unit) and had a public presentation on an urban boundary amendment for 70 Queensway.

The urban boundary amendment is of course for the Fens Market/Denny's/Starbucks/Petro Canada service centre near the Mapleton exit for the TCH.

This is what is proposed for 358 Ryan Street:

[MonctonRad]

From Amico Construction:

The groundwork is officially underway at 467 Maplehurst Dr. ������️
This 73-unit, 3-story wood frame building marks the first phase of a two-part project. Crews are busy clearing the site, with foundation work set to begin in April.
Big things ahead as we move toward a summer 2026 completion!

I like this aerial shot, not only because it gives a good overview of the construction site, but also because it demonstrates the expansive residential subdivisions in the city's northwest end.

That's Maplehurst Middle School in the background BTW.

[MonctonRad]

Confirmed that a large veterinary clinic is moving into the Horsman Centre next to Brunswick Optical.

[MonctonRad]

Also, a medical clinic is apparently opening between the vet clinic and Brunswick Optical. I thought the space was a little large just for a veterinarian.

Horsman Centre is becoming a health services plaza. Not a bad idea actually.

[drewber]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Also, a medical clinic is apparently opening between the vet clinic and Brunswick Optical. I thought the space was a little large just for a veterinarian.

Horsman Centre is becoming a health services plaza. Not a bad idea actually.

Beats another Dollarama

[jnaygull]

Originally Posted by drewber

Beats another Dollarama

In the words of the great Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother....

"Wait for it...."

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

A proposal was presented to city council for a new development on Queensway Drive (near Mapleton Road exit from the TCH) for a new highway service centre including a gas station, Fen's Market, Denny's and Starbucks. Judging from the colours, I would say the gas station will likely be a Petro-Canada.

This will likely be very popular and a major traffic generator. They will have to align the Queensway/Northwood intersection with Mapleton Road, and signalize the intersection, or, the Mapleton exit from the TCH. There is already traffic chaos here. We can't make it worse. There are already two hotels on Queensway/Northwood (Holiday Inn Express & Hampton Inn), and construction of a third hotel is imminent (Home 2 Suites by Hilton).

In any event, Denny's is finally coming to Moncton, and will be entering a crowded market for breakfast/diner food.

This was discussed at the Moncton city council meeting on Monday evening. Objections were raised over traffic concerns (not unreasonable), and it was decided to defer any further action on this matter until a full traffic study is undertaken. This is in the knowledge that the province wants to build a roundabout at the westbound on/off ramp from Mapleton. I strongly feel that Queensway and Northwood have to be fully aligned as well.

A deferral is definitely justified in this circumstance. Unfortunately, this probably means this project will be delayed by about one year.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Also, a medical clinic is apparently opening between the vet clinic and Brunswick Optical. I thought the space was a little large just for a veterinarian.

Horsman Centre is becoming a health services plaza. Not a bad idea actually.

A medical clinic has just been confirmed.

[MonctonRad]

Moncton laundry sheet maker opens new manufacturing facility
Moncton-based company makes laundry sheets for North American market
Author of the article:Alan Cochrane
Published Mar 28, 2025 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 1 minute read
https://tj.news/moncton-miramichi/moncton-laundry-sheet-maker-opens-new-manufacturing-facility (paywall)

Dizolve, a Moncton-based company that makes dissolvable laundry and cleaning sheets for the North American market, has opened a new 72,000-square-foot manufacturing facility.

The new factory is located at 48 Rideout Street in the Moncton Industrial Park. The company said in a news release that the expansion helps it maintain its position in the cleaning sheet industry while reflecting its commitment to supporting the Canadian economy.

There is a lot more manufacturing in Moncton than a lot of people realize.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

A medical clinic has just been confirmed.

To be precise, the medical clinic will be for Warren Giberson, his wife Vickie Taylor and their daughter. The specialties will be ENT, ophthalmology and dermatology. Very high tech from what I gather. There will also be a couple of NPs employed in the clinic as well (as assistants, not for primary care).

[drewber]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

To be precise, the medical clinic will be for Warren Giberson, his wife Vickie Taylor and their daughter. The specialties will be ENT, ophthalmology and dermatology. Very high tech from what I gather. There will also be a couple of NPs employed in the clinic as well (as assistants, not for primary care).

Dr. Taylor has been my eye doctor for 20+ years now. I wonder if she'll still have her clinics at the hospital on Tuesdays or if everything will move to this new medical clinic.

[MonctonRad]

I noticed the other day that the large PPG Architectural Coatings distribution centre on DesBrisay Avenue in the MID West Industrial Park has a large "for lease" sign out front.

I did some digging and came up with this:

PPG completed the sale of its architectural coatings business in the U.S. and Canada to American Industrial Partners (AIP) on December 2, 2024, which included a distribution center in Moncton, New Brunswick.

PPG finalized the sale of its U.S. and Canadian architectural coatings business to American Industrial Partners (AIP) on December 2, 2024.

The transaction was valued at $550 million.

The sale involved the full divestiture of PPG's architectural coatings operations in the U.S. and Canada.

The business is now owned by American Industrial Partners and has been renamed to The Pittsburgh Paints Company.

The sale included various manufacturing and distribution facilities, including a distribution center in Moncton, New Brunswick.

PPG is focusing on other regions with stronger growth potential, such as Latin America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

PPG also announced a comprehensive cost reduction program, including facility closures and job cuts, following the sale.

The cost reduction program is expected to impact approximately 1,800 positions, primarily in Europe and the U.S.

It would appear that our distribution centre has become a victim of corporate downsizing.

[MonctonRad]

Jungle Jim's on Mountain Road is apparently going to be converted into an Indian buffet restaurant.

[MonctonRad]

I've seen a little activity on site this week. Nothing major - just some minimal site prep. There are stakes in the ground. I don't expect anything major to happen until they've decided how to handle traffic improvements in the area.

[MonctonRad]

Haven't reported any Magnetic Hill Zoo news in a while:

Magnetic Hill Zoo’s new lemur habitat to open in 2026
By Josh Smith, CTV News
Published: April 17, 2025 at 4:25PM EDT
https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/new-brun...o,says%20lemurs%20are%20active%20animals.

Moncton’s Magnetic Hill Zoo is getting a major upgrade with the construction of “Discover Madagascar,” a new habitat dedicated to lemurs.

Scheduled to open in 2026, the year-round facility aims to improve the care of the zoo’s lemur population and raise awareness about the endangered species.

The new habitat is a key part of the zoo’s master plan, driven by the urgent need for lemur conservation.

Marvin says one of the animal’s roles in the ecosystem is dispersing seeds and to build the forests.


“There’s a lot of destruction of forests happening in Madagascar,” Marvin noted. “That’s why it’s so essential to protect these forests.”

This new exhibit will have an outdoor habitat, but when it’s too cold for the lemurs to be outside, visitors can still see them indoors.

“They can see how our keepers interact with them and see how these groups work and we do have a behind-the-scenes area for research and studying reproductive behavior, because this is a species survival program,” says Marvin.

Marvin emphasized the zoo’s role in broader conservation efforts.

The $3-million Discover Madagascar project is a significant investment, but Marvin sees it as essential for attracting visitors year-round.

$3M is a significant investment on a single exhibit, but, any time recently that the zoo has undergone a renovation or expansion, they seem to have made the effort to ensure that the final product is of superior quality. The city has rightfully decided that the zoo is one of Moncton's leading tourist attractions and are treating it as such.

Here is a link to the zoo master plan. The lemur exhibit is included as part of phase one of the master plan. There are four phases, with the fourth phase including giraffes.
https://wdmarchitects.com/projects/magnetic-hill-zoo-master-plan/

[MonctonRad]

This is a surprise!

North end gas bar, restaurant gets approval from council
Author of the article:Alan Cochrane
Published Apr 23, 2025 • Last updated 18 hours ago • 3 minute read
https://tj.news/moncton-miramichi/north-end-gas-bar-restaurant-gets-approval-from-council (paywall)

When the proposal came to a public hearing in March, residents raised concerns about increased traffic, lack of a second access road into the area, pedestrian safety, noise and light pollution, possible water contamination, future developments and the possible health risks of having a gas station close to residential area with families. The public hearing was postponed to allow city staff to investigate more answers. The public hearing was reconvened during Tuesday’s council meeting, with city planner Sarah Anderson providing answers to the concerns.

I was under the impression that a full traffic study was to be performed, but, I guess provincial plans for a roundabout at the TCH exit was enough for city council. There was nothing in the article regarding the (legitimate) resident concerns about no alternate egress from the residential subdivision in case of emergency. It sounds like the developer can proceed with his plans as quickly as he wants.

[drewber]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

This is a surprise!

North end gas bar, restaurant gets approval from council
Author of the article:Alan Cochrane
Published Apr 23, 2025 • Last updated 18 hours ago • 3 minute read
https://tj.news/moncton-miramichi/north-end-gas-bar-restaurant-gets-approval-from-council (paywall)





I was under the impression that a full traffic study was to be performed, but, I guess provincial plans for a roundabout at the TCH exit was enough for city council. There was nothing in the article regarding the (legitimate) resident concerns about no alternate egress from the residential subdivision in case of emergency. It sounds like the developer can proceed with his plans as quickly as he wants.

Could they put in traffic lights in the meantime to better let traffic flow there?