The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread - Page 192

kwajo · #**3821** Posted **Jan 15, 2009, 1:34 PM**

Quote:

Housing starts in Saint John area increase while N.B. figures decrease
Published Thursday January 15th, 2009

Construction 31 per cent more homes built in local area

SAINT JOHN - Total housing starts for the month of December in the Saint John Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) bucked the provincial trend last month.

There were 34 homes under construction in December, compared to 26 in December of 2007, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's preliminary data. That is an increase of 31 per cent.

By comparison, total housing starts in New Brunswick's urban centres for December trailed last year's starts for the month.

A total of 123 residential starts were recorded in the province in December, down from 233 during the same month in 2007 - a drop of 47 per cent.

In 2008, 488 houses were under construction in the Saint John CMA, compared to 363 last year, representing an increase of 34 per cent.

Construction of multiple units was down in the city in December, however, with 10 under construction last month, compared to 22 in December 2007, representing a decrease of 54.5 per cent.

Year-over-year, however, the news in Saint John CMA was good with 344 multiple housing starts in 2008, compared to 202 in 2007, representing an increase of more than 70 per cent.

Good news!

nwalbert · #**3822** Posted **Jan 15, 2009, 3:52 PM**

Nice to see the housing numbers.

Most people I talked to contributed the fact that NB's economy was the only province to improve in Canada was directly associated to all of the projects currently happening in Saint John and Sussex.

PersonPlaceorThing · #**3823** Posted **Jan 15, 2009, 7:39 PM**

Visit www.longwharf.ca for development plans for Long Wharf.

SJTOKO · #**3824** Posted **Jan 15, 2009, 9:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwajo

For anyone interested:

Well I just got back and i'm not at all impressed with Irving Oil's vision for Long Wharf. I was immediately stuck by the actual size of the building. It's TINY! It looks like a police station or a small municipal office building. I know some of you will probably go on and say that "it's better than a slab of concrete". I realize this, but I think Irving Oil is wasting prime real estate. I also hate building in phases. I think it cheapens the entire project. Anyway, that's my rant.

SJTOKO · #**3825** Posted **Jan 15, 2009, 11:03 PM**

I have a friend who works for Irving. It has just been decided that Irving Oil will not move into this building. They will LEASE the building!!!!

Irving oil offices will be on Bayside drive in the old school.

PersonPlaceorThing · #**3826** Posted **Jan 15, 2009, 11:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJTOKO

Well I just got back and i'm not at all impressed with Irving Oil's vision for Long Wharf. I was immediately stuck by the actual size of the building. It's TINY! It looks like a police station or a small municipal office building. I know some of you will probably go on and say that "it's better than a slab of concrete". I realize this, but I think Irving Oil is wasting prime real estate. I also hate building in phases. I think it cheapens the entire project. Anyway, that's my rant.

I like the campus-like design. Taller might be better, but the building will be pretty nice as it's designed. Being that the port is on board with this, I think it's a pretty realistic vision for the area. I'm not sure this is prime real estate, as this isn't really for sale; Irving is taking a pretty big risk dealing with a federal land swap proposal. Not a lot of developers have the know-how or will to try this. I think if the Coast Gaurd development ever happens, there will be good density in the area, helping mitigate the less-than-dense Long Wharf development.

I think the two-phased building will be larger than the original proposed one-phased version.

PersonPlaceorThing · #**3827** Posted **Jan 16, 2009, 5:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJTOKO

I have a friend who works for Irving. It has just been decided that Irving Oil will not move into this building. They will LEASE the building!!!!

Irving oil offices will be on Bayside drive in the old school.

They suggest that the second phase will be "up to the market" but I can't see them building just as an investment piece. It's not their business.

The East Side school will likely fill a roll, and be a good place to put a lot of project staff, as it will be close to the refinery, but I doubt it will be large enough to fill all of their space needs.

SJTOKO · #**3828** Posted **Jan 16, 2009, 3:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PersonPlaceorThing

They suggest that the second phase will be "up to the market" but I can't see them building just as an investment piece. It's not their business.

The East Side school will likely fill a roll, and be a good place to put a lot of project staff, as it will be close to the refinery, but I doubt it will be large enough to fill all of their space needs.

They just bought the mercantile centre. That will be full of Irving offices. There might be a few executives in the new building but it WON'T be in an Irving Oil building.. HUGE dissapointment... I guess Irving wants everybody to DRIVE to work, DRIVE for lunch, DRIVE to the convention centre. Can't lose out on that gas money..

davehook_729 · #**3829** Posted **Jan 16, 2009, 5:50 PM**

I'm super disappointed with the chosen land use for long wharf. they could have created an urban village. For once there is a chunk of prime development land that can't be influenced by the trinity royal heritage people, so they should have planned something more modern and exciting than a little police-station style building on a huge lot. I was expecting an iconic landmark for Irving's "world headquarters"...which will now just be another general office building. The landscaping is nice, but I think there's a little too much of it considering Harbour Passage and Fort LaTour are directly adjacent.

PersonPlaceorThing · #**3830** Posted **Jan 16, 2009, 6:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJTOKO

They just bought the mercantile centre. That will be full of Irving offices. There might be a few executives in the new building but it WON'T be in an Irving Oil building.. HUGE dissapointment... I guess Irving wants everybody to DRIVE to work, DRIVE for lunch, DRIVE to the convention centre. Can't lose out on that gas money..

Commercial Properties Limited owns the Mercentile Centre - as far as I know, this company, while owned by Irving family members, isn't an IOL company. I realize IOL is renting space from them, but I wonder how long they want to continue being "tenants."

kwajo · #**3831** Posted **Jan 16, 2009, 6:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by davehook_729

I'm super disappointed with the chosen land use for long wharf. they could have created an urban village. For once there is a chunk of prime development land that can't be influenced by the trinity royal heritage people, so they should have planned something more modern and exciting than a little police-station style building on a huge lot. I was expecting an iconic landmark for Irving's "world headquarters"...which will now just be another general office building. The landscaping is nice, but I think there's a little too much of it considering Harbour Passage and Fort LaTour are directly adjacent.

I agree somewhat, and I brought this point up with a couple of the architects at the consultation yesterday. Both said that Federal charters about port lands prohibited putting residential space on the wharf, and they felt that the growth of housing on the Coast Guard site mitigated the need to put residential buildings on the wharf itself. They could obviously tell my concern about the lack of mixed-use commercial/residential/retail on the site and so they did mention that there has been interest in reclaiming the land where the electrical substation is at the foot of Union, possibly for more office or residential development. Anyway I had some very nice chats with a few of the people, about everything from the building's massing to the use of localized wetlands on-site to deal with runoff, and I was impressed with the hired firm's attention to detail.

My overall impression is that while I may have designed things quite differently had I been given the chance, the project is nonetheless a positive one and will be a high-class addition to our little post-industrial harbourfront.

Either way you slice it, its a hell of an improvement:

mylesmalley · #**3832** Posted **Jan 16, 2009, 7:32 PM**

I think it's a beautiful building for what it is. But they could have easily built it half as long, and twice as tall. The adjacent land where 'phase 3' would go could have been used for a second office building, while still maintaining the park land in behind, and the plaza-thing along the water for cruise ship passengers. All told, it's an awfully big lot for a 400,000 sq ft building, even if it's only 4 stories tall.

Maybe they've worked so hard to build something nice that wouldn't stand out, that they've ended up proposing a suburban building surrounded by parkland.

thefishingnut · #**3833** Posted **Jan 16, 2009, 8:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJTOKO

They just bought the mercantile centre. That will be full of Irving offices. There might be a few executives in the new building but it WON'T be in an Irving Oil building.. HUGE dissapointment... I guess Irving wants everybody to DRIVE to work, DRIVE for lunch, DRIVE to the convention centre. Can't lose out on that gas money..

I'm not sure I'd get too excited about this. There are a lot of projects IOL have underway, and the excess staff need someplace to work until the new headquarters gets built. All of these other actions underway to house staff don't preclude them to consolidate, once they have something to consolidate into. It'll be years before Long Wharf is ready for people to move into, and business goes on in the meantime.

Helladog · #**3834** Posted **Jan 16, 2009, 8:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJTOKO

Well I just got back and i'm not at all impressed with Irving Oil's vision for Long Wharf. I was immediately stuck by the actual size of the building. It's TINY! It looks like a police station or a small municipal office building. I know some of you will probably go on and say that "it's better than a slab of concrete". I realize this, but I think Irving Oil is wasting prime real estate. I also hate building in phases. I think it cheapens the entire project. Anyway, that's my rant.

My issue is with the "phases" idea as well, but the fact that some of the new "public space" will be removed for the second phase. I proposed designing the first phase so that the second phase could be put on top (ie: 10 stories) so that the other space can remain "green space".

Lamespotting · #**3835** Posted **Jan 17, 2009, 3:16 PM**

I think they kept the "World Headquarters" short so it wouldn't interfere with sight lines. It could have blocked the view of Ft. Howe from the uptown. It also would stick out over the harbour bridge. Maybe they feared that there would be more opposition if it stuck out.

Helladog · #**3836** Posted **Jan 18, 2009, 4:21 AM**

Helladog

Helladog · #**3837** Posted **Jan 20, 2009, 12:57 AM**

In the news...

Quote:

Kingston Peninsula to get 1st subdivision

January 19, 2009 - 4:29 pm
By: Terri Wallace News 88.9 Staff

SAINT JOHN - A Rothesay developer is planning to build the first ever subdivision for the Kingston Peninsula. Some residents are concerned about such a project and have started Facebook groups and plan to organize a public meeting February 1st. David Peacock is the owner of Milestone Construction and Development. He said the project is in it's early stages and it stems from the unique lifestyle on the Peninsula. The proposed 127-acre subdivision would have up to a hundred lots and be located near the Moss Glenn fire hall. Peacock said if and when the project proceeds his group would be happy to meet with the residents to alleviate any concerns.

Quote:

Key funding presented to Key Industries

January 19, 2009 - 4:24 pm
By: Denise Barkhouse News 88.9 Staff

SAINT JOHN - Key Industries has received a hefty cheque from the province today. The premier presented the organization with a 450 thousand dollar cheque to help expand and renovate its new home at in the old Saint John Energy location. Key Industries board of directors' Gary Faloon said this money will also help Key Industries to enhance the services offers existing clients and allow the organization to reach out to new ones. "So that there will be more people benefiting from Key Industries, and we're going to expand for example, into perhaps more industrial activity," he said. "For example, we could go into a catering business and cater lunches to people Uptown which we couldn't do right now so the greater area gives a lot of opportunity for expansion of services." Key Industries is a non-profit organization which provides inclusive learning experiences to adults with intellectual disabilities. Today's announcement rounds out the provinces total investment in Key Industries at 950 thousand dollars.

Quote:

Good news for Imperial Theatre

January 18, 2009 - 10:34 am
By: Denise Barkhouse-News 88.9 staff

Saint John, N.B. - As the Imperial Theatre's "Keep it Alive" campaign closes in on two million dollars, the drive continues to raise cash for a number of repairs and upgrades.

The federal government kicked in 385-thousand dollars this weekend, the province has committed 250-thousand over five years.

Imperial G-M Peter Smith says the list ranges from new sound and ticketing systems to freshening the look.

"Long term we'll replace carpets, the stage flooring, the velour in the auditorium, also some more handicapped equipped seating," Smith says.

The federal cash announced yesterday will be used to retrofit the theatres leaky stage house.

Smith says the theatre is still waiting to hear back from the municipalities to see if they will be fulfilling the theatres financial request.

kwajo · #**3838** Posted **Jan 20, 2009, 11:18 AM**

Quote:

Kingston Peninsula to get 1st subdivision

January 19, 2009 - 4:29 pm
By: Terri Wallace News 88.9 Staff

SAINT JOHN - A Rothesay developer is planning to build the first ever subdivision for the Kingston Peninsula. Some residents are concerned about such a project and have started Facebook groups and plan to organize a public meeting February 1st. David Peacock is the owner of Milestone Construction and Development. He said the project is in it's early stages and it stems from the unique lifestyle on the Peninsula. The proposed 127-acre subdivision would have up to a hundred lots and be located near the Moss Glenn fire hall. Peacock said if and when the project proceeds his group would be happy to meet with the residents to alleviate any concerns.

This isn't going to go over well...

Does anyone else think this may be one of the least sustainable development proposals in the country? I mean they're proposing a hundred suburban homes located in a rural area with no services that requires a cable ferry ride for people to commute to work.

davehook_729 · #**3839** Posted **Jan 20, 2009, 1:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwajo

This isn't going to go over well...

Does anyone else think this may be one of the least sustainable development proposals in the country? I mean they're proposing a hundred suburban homes located in a rural area with no services that requires a cable ferry ride for people to commute to work.

It doesn't make any sense! The reason people live on the peninsula is to live in a rural setting but not too far from the City. People aren't going to want to live in a subdivision there because the fact that it is rural is the only thing that makes the area attractive. They're lucky the long delays at the ferry that they complain about has prevented urban sprawl up until now.

PersonPlaceorThing · #**3840** Posted **Jan 20, 2009, 1:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwajo

This isn't going to go over well...

Does anyone else think this may be one of the least sustainable development proposals in the country? I mean they're proposing a hundred suburban homes located in a rural area with no services that requires a cable ferry ride for people to commute to work.

If you get that many new people on the peninsula, it won't be long before the fight for a bridge is full blown.