[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[Taeolas]

Considering the stories I've heard through the years of new neighbourhoods popping up next to airports, farms, railyards, etc.... and then the residents consequently complaining (and sometimes winning) cases complaining about the noise and/or smell from the industries that were there first, this does seem to be prudent move on CNRs part.

Especially when you have dishonest realtors looking to unload the property who claim "It's just one small train every other day around noon. You'll never notice it...."

That doesn't mean some residents 10 years from now will file a complaint to try and shut the line down; but at least CNR will have its notes on record to hopefully bolster their case.

[JHikka]

Generally "hipster" areas don't pop-up with new developments and buildings. Usually they repurpose older buildings primarily. They take run-down buildings at low cost, put money into them, and then repurpose them into coffee shops or skateboard stores or artisanal places or whatever. You can't really build a hipster neighbourhood out of greenspace.

That being said, Moncton's issue is that there are still wide avenue streets with vehicles carrying high speeds, which effectively kills most pedestrian traffic and people considering crossing them. Developing the surface parking in the Downtown would be a better goal that expanding Downtown's footprint, IMO.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

So, if I'm reading this correctly, CNR is concerned that future residents of this building might complain about the noise from passing trains? Sounds like CNR is just trying to cover their ass on this one. I think you could just as easily argue that any reasonable person moving into a property like this close to a railway track should expect to hear noise form passing trains. It's a bit like a new suburban neighbourhood building up next to a pig farm and then complaining about the smell. The pig farmer was there first!!!

Yes, and No. You don't have to look any further then 237 Robinson, 25 Elmwood Drive, and also 6 Donald Avenue. Some people in those buildings have complained but they moved into a building that backs onto tracks. These Complaints should be laughed at. But unfortunately people do sometimes win. as Taeolas said.

[L'homard]

I lived in that apartment building next to the tracks on Robinson many years ago. Also I lived near the tracks in different areas of the city at different times in my life for many many years. People who complain about train noises after moving near the tracks need a good poke in the eye. What did they expect Also, it's really not that bad at all.
But I do know these issues exist. Is anyone here old enough to remember the poor pig farmer near Edmundston who was driven to suicide after newcomers came to his area and had him shut down 30 or 40 years ago? It was horrible!

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by L'homard

I lived in that apartment building next to the tracks on Robinson many years ago. Also I lived near the tracks in different areas of the city at different times in my life for many many years. People who complain about train noises after moving near the tracks need a good poke in the eye. What did they expect Also, it's really not that bad at all.
But I do know these issues exist. Is anyone here old enough to remember the poor pig farmer near Edmundston who was driven to suicide after newcomers came to his area and had him shut down 30 or 40 years ago? It was horrible!

This used to be Farm https://www.google.com/maps/place/%C3%89...b827493fb!8m2!3d46.1060892!4d-64.8643541

I feel like this guy was bullied into selling his farm for Residential, and Schools to be built, and now the new North End Community centre(YMCA).

I remember this because we moved Animals from there up past Berry Mills.
Not sure if he was still selling products thought.

[gehrhardt]

Originally Posted by Scarface

This used to be Farm https://www.google.com/maps/place/%C3%89...b827493fb!8m2!3d46.1060892!4d-64.8643541

I feel like this guy was bullied into selling his farm for Residential, and Schools to be built, and now the new North End Community centre(YMCA).

I remember this because we moved Animals from there up past Berry Mills.
Not sure if he was still selling products thought.

I heard that the farmer in question held off until he died. His family finally relented and sold the property. I can't verify this, though.

[L'homard]

I was at a city council meeting decades ago when the subject of rezoning that guy's farm for residential came up. I can't recall the year but Al "The Walking Councillor" Galbraith, who was the longest continuously serving city councillor in Canada at that time, argued against it. I think he was the only one who wanted the farm to stay farmland but you can't trust my memory. I do know all served from 1963 to 1995 tho.
I cannot recall any other circumstances, what prompted the discussion or any decision that came of it as it must have been 25 years ago, but it shows how long they've considered the future of this neighbourhood farm anyway.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by L'homard

I was at a city council meeting decades ago when the subject of rezoning that guy's farm for residential came up. I can't recall the year but Al "The Walking Councillor" Galbraith, who was the longest continuously serving city Councillor in Canada at that time, argued against it. I think he was the only one who wanted the farm to stay farmland but you can't trust my memory. I do know all served from 1963 to 1995 tho.
I cannot recall any other circumstances, what prompted the discussion or any decision that came of it as it must have been 25 years ago, but it shows how long they've considered the future of this neighbourhood farm anyway.

They had thought just about building housing, and potentially building commercial as well but never thought of the ramifications of dumping more dirt in the swamp land. *cough* Flooding in Berry Mills Heights, and Centennial Place areas. *cough*

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by L'homard

I was at a city council meeting decades ago when the subject of rezoning that guy's farm for residential came up. I can't recall the year but Al "The Walking Councillor" Galbraith, who was the longest continuously serving city councillor in Canada at that time, argued against it. I think he was the only one who wanted the farm to stay farmland but you can't trust my memory. I do know all served from 1963 to 1995 tho.

Shortly after I started, the vote came up on our proposal to purchase our first Minicomputer and his comment (according to other staff) on it was "My wife got one of those and it won't cook worth a darn."

[L'homard]

Al was the king. We didn't always get along but he always had my respect. The shenanigans he would pull in order to get quick service from public works for residents of his ward are legendary, including sometimes tricking sidewalk plow drivers into believing they had to plow out Al's residents' sidewalks first. LOL!

[MonctonRad]

from the T&T:

Green light for Franklin Yard development
https://www.telegraphjournal.com/times-transcript/story/100828193 (paywall)

It proposes between 150 and 300 units of housing based on demand in various configurations based on demand along with smaller commercial spaces and an education development later confirmed to be a two-storey Oulton College campus.

Jim Scott, an urban designer with TRACE planning who is also working on the project, said both the college and a high-density residential building off Grand Trunk Street will move forward first.

"We know in the West End of Moncton presently there is a need for slightly upscale residential projects or product that would allow other housing stock to free-up," he said.

So, the first components for the revised Franklin Yards concept will be the new Oulton campus, and an apartment/condp building off of Grand Trunk. I wonder when construction is planned? I'm pretty sure Oulton's is in no great rush to start construction on their third campus, and this likely won't happen for a few years. The apartment/condo building may be first.

The space formerly being floated as a location for a replacement Bessborough/Hillcrest is now being floated as "commercial", although this might be subject to change depending on who occupies the Premier's chair after the next election. I'm sure Maposa Enterprises would be more than happy to revisit the issue.

Also note that the render above includes the proposed roundabout at the intersection of Millennium/GrandTrunk/Russ Howard. I wonder when the city will proceed with this? This could be a real mess for the residents of the currently built portions of the Franklin Yards development, since there is only one point of access/egress (along Grand Trunk).

[MonctonRad]

It's the wild west out there as far as booting is concerned in downtown Moncton!!!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/booting-moncton-business-parking-solutions-1.4992901

Galco Investments no longer wants the booters patrolling it's parking spots in the city, but can't stop them because PSI (the booting company) is unreachable. Galco therefore has no control over what PSI does!!!!!

PSI is out of control. They are doing whatever they want. They are flaunting city bylaws and terrorizing otherwise honest citizens.

When is the RCMP going to do the right thing and start arresting PSI employees and charging them with fraud and theft.......

[lirette]

RPL architects has been chosen for the RCMP HQ

relatively unimpressive website but if anyone wants to take a peek. Seems like the specialize in these types of buildings.

https://www.rebanks.ca/#

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by lirette

RPL architects has been chosen for the RCMP HQ

relatively unimpressive website but if anyone wants to take a peek. Seems like the specialize in these types of buildings.

https://www.rebanks.ca/#

They apparently specialize in police architecture. I guess the RCMP has specific needs and doesn't want any experimental architecture.

Here's an image of the Kingston ON municipal police headquarters, designed by RPL Architects. I imagine our station will be similar. Kingston is not that much larger than Moncton:

[OUIR@random]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

They apparently specialize in police architecture. I guess the RCMP has specific needs and doesn't want any experimental architecture.

Here's an image of the Kingston ON municipal police headquarters, designed by RPL Architects. I imagine our station will be similar. Kingston is not that much larger than Moncton:

Nothing wrong with that building in Kingston IMHO, standard civic-government type of a building. I like the Waterloo one. A police station has a function to be a police station not an architectural masterpiece, these buildings on the website are sound and timeless. Not sure what people are expecting. Glass, steel and brick is fine by me for a police station, fire station, hospital and so on.. .

[L'homard]

It has a 1950s Eastern European Airport vibe to me.
I'm expecting a young Sean Connery to come out the front door and hop into the passenger seat of an Austin Martin driven by a woman with a beehive hairdo and speed away while being closely followed by Hungarian intelligence agents.
A little harsh, perhaps, and I fully realize police stations have very specific needs, but being a plain building need not be one of their requirements.

[riverviewer]

Originally Posted by L'homard

being a plain building need not be one of their requirements.

A classic look won't get old with the times.

Better they spend the money giving the officers the tools they need to do their jobs. Flashy outfits are only a requirement to fight crime if you are a super-hero.

[Taeolas]

I have no problem with that style of look. It looks open and welcoming while still being secure. It's got windows and accents, so it isn't a wall of bricks like the Freddy Police Department.

[pierremoncton]

For comparison: the Edmundston station, built just a few years ago. Designed by another firm but similar to RPL.



Some photos here: https://www.dfsarch.com/projects/sustainable.html?project=88
And on the bottom of this page: https://www.nordicghp.com/2016/09/edmundston-police-station-achieves-leed-with-geothermal/
Street view: https://goo.gl/maps/dLh5eXuiNrt

[HanSoloCup]

Originally Posted by L'homard

It has a 1950s Eastern European Airport vibe to me.
I'm expecting a young Sean Connery to come out the front door and hop into the passenger seat of an Austin Martin driven by a woman with a beehive hairdo and speed away while being closely followed by Hungarian intelligence agents.
A little harsh, perhaps, and I fully realize police stations have very specific needs, but being a plain building need not be one of their requirements.