[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by L'homard

The old Y could easily be integrated into a new development, ie, part of a new entrance/lobby to a hotel or convention centre, just off the top of my head.
And to backtrack a little, indeed the millions already invested by the hotel owners into the Crowne's rooms is why I've been scratching my head and generally ignoring the talk of just ripping it all down and starting fresh. I thought the investments were well known but I guess not. The rebuild of the interior only finished, like, two or three years ago. Pocket change I suppose for billionaires, but they didn't get rich flushing millions down the crapper.

What would be interesting to know is where they are with their plans for the property. Are we looking at something happening in the next 2-3 years, or are we looking longer. No way to really know I suppose.

[HanSoloCup]

I just notice that right in front of the Parcel "A" piece of land behind the Avenir Centre the side walk had been torn up and a water shut off installed. Probably just getting things in order but would be nice if it were signalling something being started there.

[jonny golden]

I really hope they can get rid of the old telegraph building. Such a prime piece of property. As someone previously stated, the redevelopment of 1222 Main Street could possibly include this piece of land.

[Audevourahn]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Yes, you're quite right. I haven't been in the hotel recently, but apparently there has been a recent major interior upgrade. I agree that the Aquillini's would thus be somewhat disinclined to anything more with the building in the short term.

In the longer term, I would like to see a major façade upgrade, incorporated into whatever else they may have envisioned for the rest of the block (including the old bus station, the parking lots in behind and the YWCA building).

This is a large parcel of land. I could see ground level retail facing Main Street, an upper level convention facility, either a second hotel tower or a condo tower on top and a large parking structure in behind.

All fanciful thinking, I know, but with the hotel cluster developing in this area of the core, this would be an ideal location for a convention centre..........

I have been to the Crowne Plaza quite a few times in the past few months for work conferences and training. The place has undergone a really great facelift. It looks like a new place inside! Very well done. Even the staff feels like they're leaning into it more- excellent service and i sense a feeling of pride from them. It has changed very much for the better in the past 5 or 6 years! The exterior very much needs a facelift, but if they did that, it would be quite a nice hotel.

[MonctonRad]

Thanks for your input and welcome to the forums!

[jonny golden]

The building on Main Street where Keating's is located now has "for lease" signage in the 2nd floor window. It seems the owner has hired someone new to put a push on and try to get tenants.

[jonny golden]

According to a story in the Times & Transcript, the Ashford Group has no concrete plans for the old Paramount Theater building at 800 Main Street. The article did say that they were likely going to tear down the back part of the building but keep the Main Street portion of the property. To me the Main Street facade of this building is an eyesore. I'd like to see them tear the whole thing down and replace it with something nicer and go taller.

[MonctonianSentinel01]

Originally Posted by jonny golden

According to a story in the Times & Transcript, the Ashford Group has no concrete plans for the old Paramount Theater building at 800 Main Street. The article did say that they were likely going to tear down the back part of the building but keep the Main Street portion of the property. To me the Main Street facade of this building is an eyesore. I'd like to see them tear the whole thing down and replace it with something nicer and go taller.

They'll probably just keep that there for now so they don't create an ugly hole on main street. They'll tear that down later when they are ready to put something else in it's place. Remember how there was a fence covering the land where the Marriott is now? Or when Goodfellas pub burned down.

[L'homard]

The Goodfellas fence was there so long, it could be argued it deserves heritage status LOL

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by MonctonianSentinel01

They'll probably just keep that there for now so they don't create an ugly hole on main street. They'll tear that down later when they are ready to put something else in it's place. Remember how there was a fence covering the land where the Marriott is now? Or when Goodfellas pub burned down.

Yeah that makes sense. Eventually they'll do something. A commercial building of some type.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by L'homard

The Goodfellas fence was there so long, it could be argued it deserves heritage status LOL

Yes that fence was there for ages! It was great to see construction of the new building that includes Keating's. I see recently there is a lot of new signage on the building pertaining to leasing the vacant units. It will be interesting to see what goes in there.

[MonctonRad]

Progress on the new physicians parking lot at the Moncton Hospital:



Pretty mundane, but a necessary precondition for the new maternal health/obstetrics/nursery/NNICU wing to be built on the current physicians parking lot:



And for the future cardiac care clinic/CCU to be built on the other physicians parking lot behind the Dr. Sheldon Rubin Oncology Clinic.

The maternal wing is supposed to start later this fall. The cardiac wing has been delayed by Premier Higgs austerity budget, but hopefully will get underway in the next couple of years

[MonctonRad]

Interesting article in the T&T today about the land acquisitions by Ashford in the downtown core.

A spokesman for the company, while non specific in his responses to questions, agreed that all of this was part of a "strategic land purchase" for the long term. For her part, Mayor Arnold stated that the city was "thrilled" that a local development company was showing so much confidence in the future of downtown. The Ashford spokesperson stated they were looking forward to future discussions with the city regarding the fate of this block of land.

Nothing too specific here, but I think it is pretty clear that conditions are now ripe for the next phase of Downing, the relocation of the city market, a new downtown parking structure and the reestablishment of the street grid south of Main. Other developments will surely follow.

All this may take years, but the table has now been set for big things down the road.........

[MonctonRad]

Excellent CBC article about the recent downtown land consolidations by the Ashford Group:

Moncton company buys swath of downtown, eyes redevelopment
Ashford Group purchases Assumption Place tower and a former downtown jail
Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Sep 19, 2019 7:00 AM AT | Last Updated: an hour ago
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/ashford-downtown-land-purchase-development-1.5287907

Not much new in the article that we didn't already know about, but it does nicely summarize what's going on. It's also good to hear the opinions of the principles of the Ashford Group and of downtown business leaders.

I found this quote by John Wishart intriguing though:

While developers often purchase property to hold for future projects, Wishart said there are signs the timing may be right for Ashford to move sooner than later.

Commercial vacancy rates in the city are low in the city, as are residential rental vacancy rates. Wishart said the cost of borrowing money is still relatively low.

"It just seems like all the dominoes are aligned for maybe a quicker transformation of some of that land," Wishart said.

The land is considered pivotal for the city's downtown vision.

[MonctonRad]

Rumours on social media that Pastalli's on Main Street has closed.

A great restaurant, although I admit I haven't eaten there in a number of years. The rumours seem to point to the business being sold, perhaps to the owners of Euston Street Social. I hope this is true.

[tmacdougall]

The rumour is confirmed on the Euston Park Social Facebook page.

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Rumours on social media that Pastalli's on Main Street has closed.

A great restaurant, although I admit I haven't eaten there in a number of years. The rumours seem to point to the business being sold, perhaps to the owners of Euston Street Social. I hope this is true.

[Monctoncore]

Originally Posted by tmacdougall

The rumour is confirmed on the Euston Park Social Facebook page.

You both beat me to it. I just posted about this on the retail page.

[RatTub]

I noticed a bit of activity outside the old jail this morning. A worker standing outside and some cones were places along the parking lot entrance.

I wonder if they will start tearing it down soon...

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by RatTub

I noticed a bit of activity outside the old jail this morning. A worker standing outside and some cones were places along the parking lot entrance.

I wonder if they will start tearing it down soon...

Interesting. It is an eyesore, and there is no point in renovating it for temporary use, since this land will be part of a larger development initiative sometime in the near to mid future. In the meantime, Ashford could reduce their property tax burden by getting rid of the building, and could create a temporary surface parking lot to help satisfy demand.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by RatTub

I noticed a bit of activity outside the old jail this morning. A worker standing outside and some cones were places along the parking lot entrance.

I wonder if they will start tearing it down soon...

I also noticed some fencing at the previous BDC location on Main Street this morning. It's A prime downtown location. The commercial vacancy rates are apparently very low. I wonder if they are renovating the space because they have a tenant.