The Official Moncton, NB Project Thread

[Sony500]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

That is where it's going, as far as I know. It'll connect Killam, Waverly, Collishaw and Russ Howard Dr.

The city tossed around a bunch of ideas like building a second lighted intersection, but I think they opted for the big circle.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong though.

OK good thing, it would be awful for them not to include Collishaw, but as I was saying, I don't think Waverly should be included in the circle. The only reason there is a lot of traffic is because people coming down Purdy don't want to make the left turn on to Killam Dr. so they go to Waverly to go through the lights. It should connect Purdy, Collishaw, Killam, and Russ Howard if need be.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Helladog

Upon exiting the highway...is this going to be the casino?

Yes Helladog, that is the casino. The tower crane is located where the hotel is going to be. The casino itself and the "Palladium" are going to be further in.

[C_Boy]

Originally Posted by Helladog

Upon exiting the highway...is this going to be the casino?

Yeap, there she is!


Edit: Oops sorry, I did not notice there was another page with a reply haha.

[ErickMontreal]

Originally Posted by @Champlain

They are building this is Rimouski!? Wow. Is this real and going ahead or a vision? I wonder how a little city smaller than Fredericton can sustain a project of this size and it looks quite nice & high-end actually. Unfortunately, Moncton doesn't even have anything close to this in the residential sector. It looks like something very appropriate for the, er, "dead mall" Highfield Square area. Very nice find!

The projet is already approved by the city council, the only thing remaining is the approval from differents residents associations,process sucessfully completed at 90%, hence it safe to say as the Montreal-based promoter will be able to break ground by the summer.

[ErickMontreal]

YMCA of Greater Moncton eyes possible expansion
Over five years, facility has seen tremendous growth in membership, community partnerships



Published Wednesday March 25th, 2009
By Cole Hobson
Times & Transcript Staff

Stumble Upondel.icio.usDiggFacebookPrintEmailSpeak UpWhen the YMCA of Greater Moncton opened at its new location on War Veterans Avenue in 2004, there were less than 1,000 members carried over from the old location.

YMCA of Greater Moncton is looking to expand as its membership continues to grow. The YMCA has 7,100 members to date and will look at designing an outdoor track as one way to meet the demand from the Metro Moncton residents. In this photo, people enjoy the pool. The new facility opened with a modern building and big plans and now, five years later, those plans have become reality as membership has grown to over 7,100 members.

In addition, the group's place as an active community partner remains stronger than ever as they contemplate further expanding operations.

"We wanted to make sure that people know what we're all about," said YMCA of Greater Moncton CEO Zane Korytko. "We're not just a fitness centre, we're so much more. We're out in the community, we have international partnership and we have community partnerships."

The YMCA of Greater Moncton held its annual general meeting last week and discussed the 2009-2014 strategic plan, which includes short-term plans to build an outdoor track at the facility and a longer-term goal of examining possible expansion in the building, which would add 1,000-1,500 square feet to the wellness centre.

"You look at the parking lot in January and people are parking on War Veterans (Avenue) and going all the way down," Korytko said. "With this kind of expansion, we felt comfortable we could grow the membership to about 8,500 and not have to worry."

However, that expansion is merely in the preliminary stages of discussion and likely wouldn't begin until at least 2010, the CEO said.

With its goal of being "much more than a fitness centre", the YMCA of Greater Moncton has certainly done its fair share of work in the community in the last several years. Bertha Darling, the community development manager at the facility, noted the number of successes that the YMCA has had recently in initiatives such as literacy programs for adults or English second-language programs for those new to the Greater Moncton area.

YMCA also offers a youth tutor program in conjunction with Sunny Brae and Beaverbrook schools and Riverview High, which matches tutors in Grades 9 to 12 with students for instruction from Monday through Thursday.

"It's amazing; the young tutors learn so much, they develop leadership skills," Darling said. "Some of them are enjoying it to the point that now they tell us that they're thinking of becoming school teachers.

"We see the young people really opening up too, because they form a special bond and it's just wonderful watching that."

YMCA's Reconnect Program is also in place to help homeless or near homeless people with anything from finding food or shelter to looking for a job. Last year the program helped over 2,600 people find resources.

The Community Caring Food Bank is also a YMCA initiative which, each month, serves at least 300 clients and, last year, helped 1,800 families put food on their table while serving more than 34,000 meals.

Amongst the other programs offered by the YMCA are the Heating up the Holiday program which helped 34 less fortunate families with their heating bills during the holidays, and a community garden program which is in the works for the near future.

As Darling explains, the YMCA's mission is to foster the growth of people and communities in "spirit, mind and body".

"We want people to live and not just exist," Darling said. "When you've got no money and you're poor, it's pretty tough and we can all attest to that when you go to a grocery store and you see the prices going up and up all the time."

The YMCA also employs an Open Door Program, which allows all people -- regardless of financial means -- to be able to obtain a membership and use the facility's services and programs. Last year, more than 1,400 people were helped to afford memberships through that program. Korytko said that over the next five years they hope to continue the massive growth the facility has seen in its first five years.

"What I like to say often is fitness gives us the opportunity to be able to offer more and more programs out there. We're blessed with great community partners," he said.

"Our vision for community outreach and community involvement in the next five years is to be even more present and work with our partners ... We want to work with the groups close to our heart and be able to expand it and help out even more."

[MonctonRad]

Great news about the proposed expansion of the Moncton YMCA.

What a tremendous success story this facility has been, and it's a beautiful building to boot with a prominent location on Vaughn Harvey Boulevard.

What a contrast when compared to the mess the Dieppe Aquatic Centre has become. An unattractive building, hugely overbudget with an unnecessary stainless steel pool from Italy, with detrimental last minute design changes necessary to decrease the cost of the building and stuck on a sidestreet off of Dieppe Blvd.

The Moncton YMCA was built on the strength of a broad based community fundraising effort and with only modest government participation. The Aquatic Centre meanwhile is a testament to bureacratic incompetence and meddling of epic proportions from Dieppe City Hall. I know Dieppe is trying to define itself as seperate from Moncton but cripes, it is only a suburb of 20,000 people. The aquatic centre has been a tremendously overambitious project!!

Dieppe could learn something from this. The Aquatic Centre reminds me of the "Big Owe" from the 1976 Montreal Olympics. I think that the Olympic Stadium was finally paid off in 2006 and ended up costing over a billion dollars. Now it stands forlornly, an empty shell most of the year waiting for the next chunk of concrete to fall off.

Way to go Moncton YMCA!!!!

[ErickMontreal]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

An unattractive building, hugely overbudget with an unnecessary stainless steel pool from Italy, with detrimental last minute design changes necessary to decrease the cost of the building and stuck on a sidestreet off of Dieppe Blvd.

No offence but the Dieppe Aquatic Centre is certainly much more attractive in term of architecture than most of the "kitchy/faux-heritage or just plain out-of-date" 4-story apartment/office buildings that have been built throughout Moncton city over the last 5 years.

The new federal office building along Weldon street is a good example of that, a boring 3-story rectangular big-box without glass.

The project itself could be labeled as a fiasco but it certainly helps to change the trend in the region in regard of architecture.

Yes, Dieppe could learn of it, but I hope Moncton could learn about the Verdiroc fiasco, they set aside a major urban development proposed by Assomption-Vie for what ? It still to be seen.

[Jerry556]

i agree, dieppe is a bit full of them selfs, i know moncton is int that big but were still a decent size, dieppe is only 19000 and they think they can build every little necessity in there city.

[@Champlain]

I would have to agree with Erick regarding Moncton and their kitschy-kitsch constructions, the Casino New Brunswick is another not even built yet example of that.
Moncton is a great city on certain aspects, but enough with the cheap & kitsch stuff, why can't they build high quality edgy-urban design stuff?
The Casino in Halifax (NS) is not doing well, the Racino in Bangor (ME) is not doing well and it just opened, and yet we go and decide to build one, we didn't even want or need a casino in NB, but that's a whole other story...

[brod3211]

Ah! so I see its time to rip into Moncton again. Maybe someone should make a page based on how much the city sucks, come on people nothing good can happen with that attitude. Me and my friend had a talk before about this Moncton in my opinion is a "young city" where Fredericton and Saint John are "Old cities", Moncton has so much that can be done just give it time they are growing up but it takes time. Anyways I rant to much, point is stop complaining its just an aquatic center , Dieppe Is also in a huge debt for a small city so what does that say.

[mylesmalley]

^^^ I wanted a casino, though I take issue with location etc.

The more I think about it, the more I'm starting to believe that Moncton's lack of quality architecture is partly a result of the city's very low cost of land.

If you have to pay a half-million for a piece of land, I suspect you'd be a lot more willing to invest and build a decent looking structure on it. If that same plot of land went for $50k, why not just cheap out and throw something together. I know it sounds a little counterintuitive, but at least in my mind this makes sense.

More specific to the point made about drab 4 story apartment buildings. Cheap land is exactly the reason why so many of these are going up. When you climb up above 4 or 5 stories, you can't get away with using wood and need to shift to more steel and concrete for construction. With land as cheap as it is, there's no incentive to use more expensive materials and build higher because you can easily buy a second or third lot and put up more 4 story buildings.

If prices go up and demand stays the same, I can guarantee that higher density projects will become the norm and 4 story vinyl buildings will be limited to the fringes of the city.

[@Champlain]

mylesmalley I totally agree with you, you made very good points. You seem to really know your stuff and this city.

[ErickMontreal]

Originally Posted by brod3211

Ah! so I see its time to rip into Moncton again. Maybe someone should make a page based on how much the city sucks, come on people nothing good can happen with that attitude. Me and my friend had a talk before about this Moncton in my opinion is a "young city" where Fredericton and Saint John are "Old cities", Moncton has so much that can be done just give it time they are growing up but it takes time. Anyways I rant to much, point is stop complaining its just an aquatic center , Dieppe Is also in a huge debt for a small city so what does that say.

I concur with you, but at the end of the day, the fact the city is younger has nothing to do with the fact someone somewhere at the City hall approved the Rogers call-center, or the Sobeys, labeled by some as mistakes.

I mean, the reason why I complained about Moncton does not mean as I dont like the city, I just think peoples have to step-up and say the things the way they are, in order to see them changing.

Obvisouly, I also agree with the fact Dieppe has to deal with a huge debt but we, for the most part, are not citizens of Dieppe hence we dont have to pay the bill. However we have to admit as the Place 1604, nowithstanding the price tag of it, is a great building in term of architecture, same could be said for Uptown Dieppe/Champlain business.

[ErickMontreal]

Planning commission grants variances for office project
Construction of new building at northeast corner of Main Street and Vaughan Harvey Boulevard ready to go, says spokesman

Published Thursday March 26th, 2009
A10By Yvon Gauvin
Times & Transcript staff

Construction of a new downtown Moncton office building could be getting under way soon after the project's developer, TAG Equities, was granted several variances at last night's Greater Moncton Planning District Commission monthly meeting.

TAG Equities wants to build a three-storey, 18,000-square foot office building on the northeast corner of Main Street and Vaughan Harvey Boulevard.

The plan is to complete the building before Christmas and lease to four or five tenants, who haven't been named yet.

A spokesman for the company said the total cost of the project, including landscaping and a walkway from Main Street to High Street, is about $2.5 million.

The variances granted last night included reducing the minimum setback off Vaughan Harvey Boulevard from six metres to 3.28 metres and exceeding the minimum setback from Main Street from two to 4.07 metres. The commission also agreed to remove the requirement for an entrance facing the public street.

Marc Ouellette, who appeared before the commission on behalf of TAG Equities, pointed out that while the building will be further back from Main Street, there will be landscaping to enhance the space. The building itself is to be finished in traditional materials including brick, stucco, windows and precast stone veneer.

As for parking space, the company owns two other adjacent commercial properties with combined parking for 105 vehicles.

One condition imposed by the commission is the approval by the City of Moncton Engineering Department before a development permit can be issued.

The commission also approved a variance request from Acadian Construction and John McManaman to reduce the setback for a free-standing multi-tenant sign in front of a commercial development at 500 Mapleton Rd. after he pointed out that the 10-metre high sign is similar to several signs already in use in the city and that it would in no way impede visibility or access.

The regulation is that any sign larger than 14 square metres must be 7.6 metres from the street.

Commissioner Michael Sullivan noted that there appeared to be a growing proliferation of such signs, especially when the buildings they advertised had large lettering on their facia.

Commissioner Boyd Anderson said that lots of commercial signs spell development and growth for the city.

The commission also recommended approval of a rezoning request from the Parkton Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses to build a church and parking lot on land at the corner of War Veterans and John Streets, which are zoned suburban commercial.

A representative of the church group said the plan is to begin construction as soon as possible.

The rezoning recommendation will require a public hearing and final approval by Moncton City Council before work can proceed.

The commission also recommended approval of a second rezoning request, this one on behalf of Jean-Marie Roy and PJC Jean-Coutu Ltd. to expand the business on McDougall Avenue to accommodate additional office space, counselling area, a postal service depot and second-floor apartments. Moncton City Council passed a motion to approve on March 16 and referred the application to the commission to find ways to make the proposal work.

The commission staff offered several recommendations, which were approved by the commissioners.

[brod3211]

Other than my last rant, Does anyone know anything about either of Valmonds projects are they going to happen or are they just another dream ? Also what about on lewis street are they going to build anything there , and what about new rink talks just stopped talking I assume they didn't get the money ?

[Sony500]

Its not riping into Moncton, its constructive criticism. If no one criticized then people would just do whatever, however they want. Not all people will agree with what someone else does.

[MonctonRad]

So, the building they are talking about in the Planning Commission article above is the Ashford project at Main and Vaughn Harvey. It may be a relatively small office building but the render that they have posted on their billboard on the project site make it seem quite attractive. I'm glad to see this go ahead. It will enhance the western entrance to downtown.

Also brod3211, The land for Valmond Robichauds project on Gordon and High St. has been completely cleared (except for one building). I think this is good evidence that he plans to proceed with this project as soon as it is practically possible. Again, this will enhance the western entrance to downtown as this project is immediately adjacent to Vaughn Harvey.

[gehrhardt]

Originally Posted by brod3211

Other than my last rant, Does anyone know anything about either of Valmonds projects are they going to happen or are they just another dream ? Also what about on lewis street are they going to build anything there , and what about new rink talks just stopped talking I assume they didn't get the money ?

About the arena complex... the feasibility study is still ongoing, so we probably won't be hearing much more about it until the study is released. Hopefully that will be later this Spring.

[StormShadow]

Originally Posted by ErickMontreal

Planning commission grants variances for office project
Construction of new building at northeast corner of Main Street and Vaughan Harvey Boulevard ready to go, says spokesman

Published Thursday March 26th, 2009
A10By Yvon Gauvin
Times & Transcript staff

The variances granted last night included reducing the minimum setback off Vaughan Harvey Boulevard from six metres to 3.28 metres and exceeding the minimum setback from Main Street from two to 4.07 metres. The commission also agreed to remove the requirement for an entrance facing the public street.

Marc Ouellette, who appeared before the commission on behalf of TAG Equities, pointed out that while the building will be further back from Main Street, there will be landscaping to enhance the space. The building itself is to be finished in traditional materials including brick, stucco, windows and precast stone veneer.

...And the suburbanization of Downtown Moncton continues...

I love green space, but anytime the setbacks are increased, it gives the building a suburban feel. Compared to old post office and Keddy's (I don't remember what it's called now) those are built up to the sidewalk and basically have a zero setback. I don't know, maybe this is some kind of bizarre strategy to shrink the downtown into a more focused point like the tip of a needle.

The condo concept on top of the mall in Rimouski is cool, they did the same thing at Calgary's North Hill mall a couple of years ago. It's a good Plan B for Highfield.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by StormShadow

...And the suburbanization of Downtown Moncton continues...

I love green space, but anytime the setbacks are increased, it gives the building a suburban feel. Compared to old post office and Keddy's (I don't remember what it's called now) those are built up to the sidewalk and basically have a zero setback. I don't know, maybe this is some kind of bizarre strategy to shrink the downtown into a more focused point like the tip of a needle.

The condo concept on top of the mall in Rimouski is cool, they did the same thing at Calgary's North Hill mall a couple of years ago. It's a good Plan B for Highfield.

The Ashford project is at the extreme western end of downtown. The setback variance doesn't bother me in that location. If this building were to be constructed right in the downtown core, I would agree with you wholeheartedly.

re: the Rimouski project that Erick posted here, you are absolutely right. If the downtown arena gets built behind Assumption Place rather than at Highfield, something like this would be perfect as an aternative proposal for Highfield.