The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread - Page 155

thebrad · #**3081** Posted **Aug 16, 2008, 12:58 AM**

Does anyone know what the strips are for on King street by Timmys? I imagine it is a traffic counter but I have known them to be for speed checks also.

kwajo · #**3082** Posted **Aug 16, 2008, 1:24 PM**

It's a Third Space Gallery art installation. When cars pass over each traffic counter, a drum stick hits a snare drum mounted on the outside of Tapps. When you walk up the sidewalk, it actually sounds kind of neat.

thebrad · #**3083** Posted **Aug 16, 2008, 3:40 PM**

hmm... that wasn't the response I was expecting but I imagine that would be pretty cool. I walk by there frequently but not since they installed the strips.

thefishingnut · #**3084** Posted **Aug 16, 2008, 3:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwajo

It's a Third Space Gallery art installation. When cars pass over each traffic counter, a drum stick hits a snare drum mounted on the outside of Tapps. When you walk up the sidewalk, it actually sounds kind of neat.

lol - and artists always express surprise when governments cut back on funding to the "Arts". Hopefully not too much of our tax money was spent on this one, although it does sound kind of fun. Seems like more of an engineering project than art though.

SJNB · #**3085** Posted **Aug 18, 2008, 12:22 AM**

after reading a post by helladog on the moncton board. I wonder if a 'crystal palace' type of venture has ever been explorered by East Point.

Helladog · #**3086** Posted **Aug 18, 2008, 2:26 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJNB

after reading a post by helladog on the moncton board. I wonder if a 'crystal palace' type of venture has ever been explorered by East Point.

I just posted there that Market Square were going ahead with the idea to the point of kicking out tenants on the 2nd floor. Scotiabank, the primary owners stopped it. I'm not sure it would have taken off there at the time, but it did find it's niche eventually.

I was thinking of approaching Northrup about using some of the space at Eastpoint. He seems to be the biggest developer at this time looking to expand onto huge amounts of land for retail, hotel, and entertainment.

Anyone want to invest?

<= My big salesman's smile

Helladog · #**3087** Posted **Aug 18, 2008, 5:16 AM**

There is a rendering update to the North of Union Thread...

SJTOKO · #**3088** Posted **Aug 18, 2008, 7:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helladog

There is a rendering update to the North of Union Thread...

This really pisses me off... I HATE IT.. that parking structure is UGLY!! And what's going to happen to all of those old buildings to the East.. ummmm yeah.. they will sit there falling apart for YEARS!!!

kwajo · #**3089** Posted **Aug 18, 2008, 10:46 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJTOKO

This really pisses me off... I HATE IT.. that parking structure is UGLY!! And what's going to happen to all of those old buildings to the East.. ummmm yeah.. they will sit there falling apart for YEARS!!!

I've got to agree, this new plan is pretty terrible. I love the courthouse, but outside of that the site plan is boring and wastes a lot of space. They still haven't added any residential or commercial space either, despite the fact that Harbour Station is right next door and this area would have been ideal for a new restaurant district; basically this whole area will be dead after 6pm.

Look at that, the whole block between Wellington Row and (Peel st.?) is completely untouched, which might be great from a heritage perspective, but the synagogue and Jewish museum will be vacant soon, so what's the point of keeping them if they will just sit there without tenants to keep them preserved? And don't get me started on all the empty lots which are going to remain surface parking

PostModernPrometheus · #**3090** Posted **Aug 18, 2008, 10:49 AM**

Common Council votes tonight, if memory serves correctly, re: selling the Lantic Sugar site........

PostModernPrometheus · #**3091** Posted **Aug 18, 2008, 10:54 AM**

Council Votes Tonight On The Sale Of Lantic Sugar

August 18, 2008 By: JeffLansing News 88-9 Staff

SAINT JOHN, NB - Common Council has a huge decision tonight.

Councillors will be voting on the sale of the Lantic Sugar site to Irving Oil.

A vote in favor of the land sale will facilitate the development of the Irving Oil Headquarters proposed for Long Wharf.

Council has heard from the public about the proposal inviting community members to make presentations to council.

Twenty-one were in favor, six were opposed.

Mayor Ivan Court says, "The message to council has been clear."

Court says, "I've told council you're hear to listen, gather information and you've been elected by the people to do the right thing and they'll do the right thing."

http://www.news889.com/news/topstory/article.jsp?content=20080818_054701_24060

PostModernPrometheus · #**3092** Posted **Aug 18, 2008, 10:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helladog

I just posted there that Market Square were going ahead with the idea to the point of kicking out tenants on the 2nd floor. Scotiabank, the primary owners stopped it. I'm not sure it would have taken off there at the time, but it did find it's niche eventually.

speaking of market square, has anyone heard about any plans the NB museum had to expand, and if so what the nature of the expansion would be?

PostModernPrometheus · #**3093** Posted **Aug 18, 2008, 10:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helladog

I just posted there that Market Square were going ahead with the idea to the point of kicking out tenants on the 2nd floor.

hell, why not just add on an additional floor to the structure as it was originally designed to accomodate and then turn that top floor into condos.....

davehook_729 · #**3094** Posted **Aug 18, 2008, 11:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJTOKO

This really pisses me off... I HATE IT.. that parking structure is UGLY!! And what's going to happen to all of those old buildings to the East.. ummmm yeah.. they will sit there falling apart for YEARS!!!

I agree... that concept is totally unimaginative and boring. They need to incorporate more mixed-use development and intensity the area. I'm not sure why they would need a parking garage when there is a HUGE parking lot surrounding Harbour Station with an indoor walkway in between. There are so many areas in the City where building height is restricted because of heritage or sight-lines; with this area being one the highest elevations in the city, and with no restrictions, it seems to me like it is an inefficient use of space. This is one of the few places in the core where buildings 15+ stories would add to the skyline and not ruin the unique geometrically perfect form of the current skyline or block anyone's view of the Harbour.

kwajo · #**3095** Posted **Aug 18, 2008, 11:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by davehook_729

I agree... that concept is totally unimaginative and boring. They need to incorporate more mixed-use development and intensity the area. I'm not sure why they would need a parking garage when there is a HUGE parking lot surrounding Harbour Station with an indoor walkway in between. There are so many areas in the City where building height is restricted because of heritage or sight-lines; with this area being one the highest elevations in the city, and with no restrictions, it seems to me like it is an inefficient use of space. This is one of the few places in the core where buildings 15+ stories would add to the skyline and not ruin the unique geometrically perfect form of the current skyline or block anyone's view of the Harbour.

That's a good point, if ever there was somewhere to build upward, North of Union was it, and we've lost the opportunity because of Public consultation and a police force which seems very much against putting their HQ anywhere but on an Uptown city block. I guess in Saint John we're doomed to monolithic downtown buildings which are no taller than 4 or 5 floors (the Irving Oil HQ, this police station, etc.)

PostModernPrometheus · #**3096** Posted **Aug 18, 2008, 12:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwajo

I guess in Saint John we're doomed to monolithic downtown buildings which are no taller than 4 or 5 floors (the Irving Oil HQ, this police station, etc.)

Have some hope people!

lol..with the presumed influx of population in the coming years, I still have hope that a tall residential structure will be built near the current north of union site....

thefishingnut · #**3097** Posted **Aug 18, 2008, 2:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJTOKO

This really pisses me off... I HATE IT.. that parking structure is UGLY!! And what's going to happen to all of those old buildings to the East.. ummmm yeah.. they will sit there falling apart for YEARS!!!

Other than the public sector buildings, I've got to think the renderings are largely meaningless until private sector projects get lined up. Are there actually any private sector projects announced for North of Union yet? Over the years as the project moves east, I'd expect those properties will go. Just having them on the rendering probably shuts up a lot of people until the inevitable point that they're torn down when no redevelopment possibilities are found.

Although the parking garage is unsightly, it might be better where it is, rather than taking up footprint in the middle of North of Union. Just how unsightly are the Union St. and Chipman Hill sides of Brunswick Square? Something similar in North of Union wouldn't be appealing. And having the garage off to the side like that will keep most vehicles out of the project, with easy access to Hwy 1.

It would be interesting to think of redeveloping the parking areas around Harbour Station into multi-level garages to handle the new parking requirements though.

Helladog · #**3098** Posted **Aug 18, 2008, 7:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by davehook_729

I agree... that concept is totally unimaginative and boring. They need to incorporate more mixed-use development and intensity the area. I'm not sure why they would need a parking garage when there is a HUGE parking lot surrounding Harbour Station with an indoor walkway in between. There are so many areas in the City where building height is restricted because of heritage or sight-lines; with this area being one the highest elevations in the city, and with no restrictions, it seems to me like it is an inefficient use of space. This is one of the few places in the core where buildings 15+ stories would add to the skyline and not ruin the unique geometrically perfect form of the current skyline or block anyone's view of the Harbour.

Well height was never an issue here, just 1001 different opinions had to be incorporated into the plan...so nothing happens.

Harbour Station doesn't have enough parking for the development alone.

homebody · #**3099** Posted **Aug 19, 2008, 12:38 AM**

Just happened to be driving down Rothesay Ave and took notice of heavy equipment digging things up across from the Canadian Tire gas bar. It looks like it may be footings for buildings of some sort. Heard any rumors anybody?

Helladog · #**3100** Posted **Aug 19, 2008, 1:12 AM**

^ I noticed that too and was wondering the same thing...

I noticed council voted almost unanimously in favour of the Irving development on Long Wharf. Only Higgins was against...she didn't seem aware that Irving had offices in like 7 SJ locations (it's called homework).