[Moncton] Centre Avenir Centre | 26.65m |~6 Fl | Completed

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by riverviewer

The Bay (Eatons) is gone

Highfield Square itself is now completely demolished. There's nothing left but a hole in the ground.

It's up to Brian Gallant now whether a new events centre begins construction in the spring, or whether the hole in the ground will be around for the next 30 years.

The balls in your court Mr. Premier......

[Monctoncore]

I have full faith that they will fund the project, if anything people should be questioning the equalization program, that was released.... Moncton is receiving 3 million less and saint john is getting 1.5 million more... they are going to receive close to 20 million dollars in 2015 from this program... while the next closest is just under 6 million, that to me makes no sense and I question it.

[homebody]

Here is my thoughts on this matter. Does the province really need another events centre in the southern part of the province? I think not. This may hurt some peoples feelings, but here goes: Some of you in Moncton have to get over the idea that Moncton has to have it all. Really the only thing wrong with the Coliseum is its getting old. Look at the old Maple Leaf Gardens. It was used for hockey for over 65 years it only had 15000 seats for a city the size of Toronto. There are a lot of different things that the province can spend the money on. Yes roads are one of them. Lets face it people. The province is broke and there is only so much money to go around! If the Coliseum is no good anymore just do some renovation work or tear it down and build a condo complex for the masses. Harbour Station is a great venue and has hosted many great acts in the past and could service southern part of the province when it comes to entertainment of that sort. Why have a duplicate in Moncton. Many of us have come to realize we have to get in our car to get better shopping in Moncton. Catch a better flight in Moncton. Use that land for something else that the southern part of the province doesn't already have. Surely you people have cars and can drive an hour to use another facility in a different city. You have wanted others to do this for years! It might be finally your turn. I applaud the Premiers cautious approach in this matter. The money could be used somewhere else.

[homebody]

Originally Posted by Monctoncore

I have full faith that they will fund the project, if anything people should be questioning the equalization program, that was released.... Moncton is receiving 3 million less and saint john is getting 1.5 million more... they are going to receive close to 20 million dollars in 2015 from this program... while the next closest is just under 6 million, that to me makes no sense and I question it.

Me me me. Moncton Moncton Moncton. Im sure there is a good explanation for this. I dont think the province is out to rob the City of Moncton of what they financially deserve.

[Monctoncore]

There is more to it than just trying to steal something from Saint John... The coliseum is very far behind, it is a building on the decline and would require a lot of work for nothing, because in the end if you still wouldn't be breaking even because they can't bring in the events needed. A new facility will bring in needed help to the economy and the province, its money for taxes, money to the economy, the businesses etc... this isn't just about fixing downtown, it will benefit the province as a whole....

You don't need to be afraid... if Harbour Station is as good as it is, Moncton won't steal anything from them, they will just have a show in both cities instead of one... which is exactly how it was prior to concerts height needs in arenas.

Who says Saint John needs to develop the waterfront, why does it need to be done when you already have a nice one... Why does Saint John need cruise ships or a new cruise ship port, why did you need a new courthouse, why do you need the east pipeline... the list can go on...

Give your head a shake, every new development is needed for a reason, because it helps the economy... we live in a province with 3 even cities and each city has to compete. You can't stop development in one city because another already has one....

Just because Toronto has the ACC doesn't mean any of the cities surrounding it can't have a new arena... Just because Toronto has Eatons Center, doesn't mean London can't have a mall etc.

Cities have similar things, cities compete get over it.

[Monctoncore]

Homebody, I refuse to get into a pissing match with you over something very childish, all I did was point out that SJ is getting 20.9 million and the next closest Miramichi is getting only 5.6 ... there is a 15 million dollar difference. I am sure there is a reasonable explanation, but as a human, I will question things that are off.

I like Saint John, always have. So take your trolling and bother someone else with it.

[SaintJohner]

Homebody put your bias away, we living in NB, we have Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John. Moncton does need this new Events center, it will create short term jobs and long term, it will benefit the economy for the city and the province as a whole.
Monctoncore the $20 million is to help keep Saint John afloat, there are a lot of costs the city cannot afford at this moment. Things are starting to look up though.
Homebody there is no need to attack people for questioning expenses or any political spending for that matter, these threads are here for debate and talk about new construction, keep it that way.

Moncton will see the funding, Mr. Gallant and his staff have to look over it themselves before making any promises, just like the PC's had to do, when it was first tossed on their laps.

All is good, things will all work out, might be postponed a month or two longer, but all will work out for the best and when the event center opens I will be there!

[MonctonRad]

Thanks SaintJohner. They interviewed Mayor George LeBlanc in the T&T today and he seems to be quite optimistic that funding will still come through. I presume he has already been discussing this with Premier Gallant, so there must be some reason for his optimism.

I'm sure that if the Premier looks at the proposal objectively, that he will see the potential benefits to the city and to the provincial economy. The only thing that really concerns me about the Premier is his youth and his inexperience. There is the potential therefore for rash and impulsive decisions that a more experienced politician might not make. There remains some cause for concern......

[SaintJohner]

Yes there is always that worry, due to age and lack of experience, this will be a tough first year for him and the liberals. I have my worries also, can they get it done its hard to say, but I feel that the way the province has been run the past 10 plus years, I can't see them messing things up much more than the past parties.

Sadly I think we just have to wait and see, I really have faith that they will use their heads and understand what these large projects really mean to the economy... I mean come on, we can't just toss all our money into roads and bridges.

I believe this project will get its funding, this will create jobs, long-term and short-term, they will need steel, they will need welders, plumbers, electricians, bricks, someone to build the seats, someone to pour the cement.. the list goes on, it benefits everyone. Once this project is finished it will breed new life to an end of Moncton that is dying at this moment, there will spinoffs creating more jobs in that area requiring more and more material and work from New Brunswickers ( trades people etc). The economic spinoffs will be amazing and that is why this project can't be tossed to the side, its very important for all of NB.... Well atleast southern NB

[JHikka]

It seems like a poor decision to tear down Highfield without confirmed funding and financing for this project on the part of the City. It looks bad having a building sit empty for a while but looks worse when it's a hole in the ground. I understand the desperation to move quickly on this project but they needed to have confirmed funding before looking like they're one step ahead.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by homebody

Does the province really need another events centre in the southern part of the province?

Other Southern parts of the Province would be St. Stephen, Rothesay, Hampton, Sussex...Do you think Quispamsis should have built the Q-Plex? I mean, Harbour Station is so close and is already the events centre for Southern New Brunswick...

Originally Posted by homebody

you in Moncton have to get over the idea that Moncton has to have it all. Really the only thing wrong with the Coliseum is its getting old.

And it's poorly-equipped to handle anything except for hockey, and even then it's beginning to wear down...

Originally Posted by homebody

There are a lot of different things that the province can spend the money on. Yes roads are one of them.

New Brunswick already has the most impressive highway network for its size in the Country, and people are still leaving.

Originally Posted by homebody

If the Coliseum is no good anymore just do some renovation work or tear it down and build a condo complex for the masses.

This doesn't solve the issue of needing an events centre in the Province's largest metropolitan area.

Originally Posted by homebody

Harbour Station is a great venue and has hosted many great acts in the past and could service southern part of the province when it comes to entertainment of that sort.

I absolutely agree. Harbour Station is a great venue with a long track record of hosting many great events. Moncton is more Southeastern New Brunswick and, quite frankly, people won't travel that far for things like hockey games and trade shows...Moncton needs to have an events centre just as much as any other city in the country.

Originally Posted by homebody

Why have a duplicate in Moncton.

Because they're both areas of more than 100,000 citizens and these sorts of places require services.

Originally Posted by homebody

Many of us have come to realize we have to get in our car to get better shopping in Moncton. Catch a better flight in Moncton.

This sounds like bitterness. There's plenty of shopping to do in Saint John, and the airport does have connecting flights if you don't like driving. In reality, you have to drive to get to any airport regardless of where you live. If you don't like driving for shopping you can always move to a more urban-intense area so that they are within walking distance.

Originally Posted by homebody

Surely you people have cars and can drive an hour to use another facility in a different city.

You people? Who, precisely? People who live in Moncton? People who don't live in Saint John? This is a pretty disheartening way to conduct a discussion.

Originally Posted by homebody

You have wanted others to do this for years!.

Was the Route 1 project, Welsford bypass, Rothesay avenue overpass, Harbour Bridge, Harbour Passage, Harbour Station all completely, entirely, financed by the citizens of Saint John? I'm fairly certain there was Provincial and Federal funding involved, as there usually is for things of those nature.

We appreciate your input on this but throwing others under the bus isn't really the best way to go about this. When you're in a province which, as you say, is broke and broken, perhaps working together would be the best way to work through it rather than pointing fingers and calling people entitled.

[homebody]

Really Monctoncore "Suck it up" thats pretty childish. I was only saying my piece. Touchy. Very touchy.

[MonctonRad]

JHikka's detailed response to your diatribe above says it all homebody. I couldn't have said it better myself.

I have no idea why you have so much bitterness towards Moncton, but it is a frequent theme in your (thankfully) infrequent posts. Looking back on them, fully a quarter of your posts on this forum are blatantly anti-Moncton. You need to get over this.......

[Monctoncore]

I care passionately about this project, growing up in Moncton and spending many days at the coliseum and other arenas, I see the need for this, I truly believe that things will work out, even if its waiting an extra few months to start. I love the city to much to ever give up on a project like this.

[nwalbert]

Originally Posted by JHikka

It seems like a poor decision to tear down Highfield without confirmed funding and financing for this project on the part of the City. It looks bad having a building sit empty for a while but looks worse when it's a hole in the ground. I understand the desperation to move quickly on this project but they needed to have confirmed funding before looking like they're one step ahead.

Could not agree more. This never made sense to me but it is probably politics. The current mayor clearly wants the event center to be his legacy and wants this done while he is still in office.

To me the clear obstacle is not provincial funding but federal. From a pure political view, Gallant would be smart to commit the province based on the Feds coming on board. He avoids upsetting either side of the debate.

I see little doubt that this project moves forward, its the timing that will be a mystery. I don't see the funding coming together for at least another 12 months, will the city continue to move forward without that confirmation? Can the city afford to take that risk? It will be interesting to watch things unfold.

[mylesmalley]

Highfield Square had to go either way. A space that big would be impossible to repurpose and there isn't nearly enough office space demand in the city to turn it into that type of facility. I agree that an empty building looks better than an emptier lot, but I think there are more important considerations at play here.

I'm speculating, but I bet the cost of environmental remediation played a big part in the decision as well. They know fairly accurately what it will cost, including the demolition today. Regulations change though, and construction/destruction costs increase over time. Moreover, the city had already budgeted for it. Even if it was a big expense, better to do it now where you know what you're in for than to wait a while and get stuck with surprises.

Last thought is, getting to work on the site shows that the project is at least moving forward. It's easier to sit back and say 'let's put it off another year' when the public feels like no progress has been made on it anyway. Clearing the land sends the message that the city is pushing forward and that it's the other levels of government / sources of funding holding things back.

[Nashe]

It's only my humble opinion, but to me a giant open lot like that with the previous infrastructure removed (including remediation) is a pretty nice carrot to dangle in front of potential investors in a new building.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

I'm speculating, but I bet the cost of environmental remediation played a big part in the decision as well. They know fairly accurately what it will cost, including the demolition today. Regulations change though, and construction/destruction costs increase over time. Moreover, the city had already budgeted for it. Even if it was a big expense, better to do it now where you know what you're in for than to wait a while and get stuck with surprises.

Good points all around.

Originally Posted by Vorkuta

It's only my humble opinion, but to me a giant open lot like that with the previous infrastructure removed (including remediation) is a pretty nice carrot to dangle in front of potential investors in a new building.

Heh. If only this worked in Saint John.

[MonctonRad]

from CBC

MP Robert Goguen says Ottawa is willing to help fund new Moncton centre


Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe MP Robert Goguen says the federal government is ready to help Moncton pay for the proposed $107-million downtown centre, but the process is being held up by Brian Gallant's new Liberal government.


Premier Brian Gallant has not confirmed whether a proposed downtown Moncton sports and entertainment centre will receive provincial funding. (CBC)
​Goguen said the federal government won't pay for the hockey rink component of the project, but it will pay for six road, water and sewer projects in the city under the Canada Builds Fund.

The Conservative MP says that will free up millions of dollars that Moncton would no longer have to put towards those infrastructure projects and can instead put towards the downtown sports and entertainment centre.

He adds the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is also considering paying for the sound system in the proposed building as well as some bleachers and parts of the outdoor plaza that would lead to the centre.

He said that could add up to a total federal contribution of $23.5 million to Moncton.

read more:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunsw...o-help-fund-new-moncton-centre-1.2867572

Personal note - Again Mr Premier. the ball is in your court. As an ex tennis pro, I'm sure you'll appreciate the analogy.....

[NBNYer]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

from CBC

MP Robert Goguen says Ottawa is willing to help fund new Moncton centre


Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe MP Robert Goguen says the federal government is ready to help Moncton pay for the proposed $107-million downtown centre, but the process is being held up by Brian Gallant's new Liberal government.


Premier Brian Gallant has not confirmed whether a proposed downtown Moncton sports and entertainment centre will receive provincial funding. (CBC)
​Goguen said the federal government won't pay for the hockey rink component of the project, but it will pay for six road, water and sewer projects in the city under the Canada Builds Fund.

The Conservative MP says that will free up millions of dollars that Moncton would no longer have to put towards those infrastructure projects and can instead put towards the downtown sports and entertainment centre.

He adds the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is also considering paying for the sound system in the proposed building as well as some bleachers and parts of the outdoor plaza that would lead to the centre.

He said that could add up to a total federal contribution of $23.5 million to Moncton.

read more:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunsw...o-help-fund-new-moncton-centre-1.2867572

Personal note - Again Mr Premier. the ball is in your court. As an ex tennis pro, I'm sure you'll appreciate the analogy.....

Goguen seems to be aware that there is a strong economic case to fund the project. I can only assume this will put even more pressure on the Premier to fund the project on the provincial level as well.