The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[kwajo]

I'm still hesitant about everything at UNBSJ, but that's mainly because I curse the fact that it moved out of Uptown.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by kwajo

I'm still hesitant about everything at UNBSJ, but that's mainly because I curse the fact that it moved out of Uptown.

Yes, but I think they have a pretty good thing going on at Tucker Park right now. When I started attending UNBSJ two years ago it seemed smallish, and since then they've been building and adding and I think it's coming along quite nicely. The Medical Centre is going to fill in that side of the Campus quite well, and I appreciate the fact that it's as close to the hospital as it can be, without actually being on the property. One thing that UNBSJ is very fortunate of is that it is right next to a large hospital, which benefits not only the current nursing students but also the new medical students which will be coming from Dalhousie.

The Commons is something different, as it will be providing a new home for the library and resource centres, among others. I'm not entirely sure how it's going to come together and function. I'm sure it will look nice, but it needs to be practical and functional.

One thing I wish they would do is increase the parking for the CG Stadium. Perhaps that's what they're doing on the north side of the stadium, at least I hope that is the case. Parking is a big problem at UNBSJ right now, and that needs to be resolved.

[nwalbert]

I agree, UNBSJ has really come a long way and feels much more like a University campus these days. There is a lot of potential to continue the growth and the addition of the Medical school is good for long term alumni sponsorship.

[Helladog]

Originally Posted by michael_d40

New Restaurant Coming to East Saint John

Can't add a pic from the iPhone so here's the link to the picture.....

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_DwG2WG2QbOk/S9CDVsC6d8I/AAAAAAAADCk/wMCkCpvc3g8/s1600/wok+box

  (Wox Box Restaurant Coming to East Point Shopping)
                   (Supplied Photo)
There is a new face coming to the restaurants that call East Saint John home.


The Wox Box Fresh Asian Kitchen will set up shop in the East Point Shopping Center.



It's the first restaurant in the franchise to open in the Province.


The owners say everything is made fresh to order, nothing pre-packaged and MSG is added to the food.


The new restaurant will be set-up next to Starbucks and if everything stays on schedule, should be open by the first week of July.



POSTED BY CHSJ NEWS AT 2:13 PM

Looks like a busy spot... Also a good place to meet the ladies...no guys anywhere.

[JHikka]

New apartment complex going up on Pokiok


North End skyline


The Boulevards


Another decent skyline shot


Photos by myself.

[Helladog]

Credit: Helladog

[Helladog]

Helladog

[Archimand]

Originally Posted by Helladog

Helladog

"Piece of crap"

There fixed it for you.

[Helladog]

Originally Posted by Archimand

"Piece of crap"

There fixed it for you.

Hey...on the road longer than most Toyotas...

You are right though, but still a piece of history.

[JHikka]

Courtesy CHSJ News:

Saint John is on the verge of losing another one of it's land-marks.

Businessman Paul Daeres owns the former Paramount Theater and tells CHSJ News, after exhauating every possible lead for a new owner or tenant in the past five years, if he can't find someone by next month, the building is coming down.

Daeres says it is becoming too expensive to mantain with plenty of damage being caused by people who know the building is vacant.


Daeres says he would be willing to hang on the building for another year if someone comes forward with a solid proposal with-in the next month.

This could either be really good or really bad. Demolishing the theatre could lead to a massive development opportunity if the right people get their hands on it.

ahem

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by GregHickman

Courtesy CHSJ News:



This could either be really good or really bad. Demolishing the theatre could lead to a massive development opportunity if the right people get their hands on it.

ahem

How long have you lived in Saint John? We all know demolished building Uptown = parking lot, that's just the way things work around here.

[Archimand]

Originally Posted by kwajo

How long have you lived in Saint John? We all know demolished building Uptown = parking lot, that's just the way things work around here.

Or burned down buildings turned to empty lots. Remember that huge fire on Union street next to the old Wendy's (I believe its Saigon Noodle now), the building was completely destroyed by the blaze and its been an empty lot ever since.

[GUB]

Another prime piece of land will sit empty for years upon years...
Or maybe another dollar store will pop up to compete with the one in the old Woolco bldg?

[nwalbert]

Originally Posted by Archimand

Or burned down buildings turned to empty lots. Remember that huge fire on Union street next to the old Wendy's (I believe its Saigon Noodle now), the building was completely destroyed by the blaze and its been an empty lot ever since.

Unfortunately this is a symptom of living in New Brunswick. In all cases companies want to be located as close as possible to the largest number of people possible. In large urban areas that means the downtown core. In New Brunswick the same is not true. There are more people on the West or East side than uptown so why would a retailer pay a premium to occupy that space.

It is a shame however.

[nwalbert]

Originally Posted by Helladog

Helladog

Interesting story that occurred recently. My occupation keeps me all over the US about 50% of the year, and international travel about 10% of the time. Anytime I am asked where I am from I respond "Eastern Canada". The response is either Toronto? or Montreal? To this I respond, further east, close to Nova Scotia. That either sinks in or confuses them enough to drop it.

Anyway, about two weeks ago I was in Hartford and had to hand over identification. The guard responded "St John's" I was there once. I figured he was probably either talking about NFLD or confused, lol. I asked what for and he told me that he had a car built and the owner of the company invited him up to see it come off the assembly line. Turned out this guy had purchased one of the first 74 Bricklin's to come off the assembly line and Malcolm had invited him up to see it completed.

Not too relevant but thought some might get a kick out of it.

[Archimand]

Originally Posted by nwalbert

Unfortunately this is a symptom of living in New Brunswick. In all cases companies want to be located as close as possible to the largest number of people possible. In large urban areas that means the downtown core. In New Brunswick the same is not true. There are more people on the West or East side than uptown so why would a retailer pay a premium to occupy that space.

It is a shame however.

I agree with that statement and the thing is the city is focusing all of its development on Peel Plaza and then giving permission for companies to develop retail out east. I myself being a west sider see all of the "major" retail opportunities going out east. e.g. Costco and East Point (not saying that it has made an impact) and with the mall out there it has become one decentralized retail space. The only "major" retail items that has gone to the west side in recent memory are Staples and Papa John's (which was a good choice of location).

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Originally Posted by GUB

Another prime piece of land will sit empty for years upon years...
Or maybe another dollar store will pop up to compete with the one in the old Woolco bldg?

I think discount stores belong in a community where most residents are renters. If we had a higher median income in the south end there may be fewer Bargain Shops and more specialty stores. Until that time, these lower cost stores fill a need.

[nwalbert]

Originally Posted by Archimand

I agree with that statement and the thing is the city is focusing all of its development on Peel Plaza and then giving permission for companies to develop retail out east. I myself being a west sider see all of the "major" retail opportunities going out east. e.g. Costco and East Point (not saying that it has made an impact) and with the mall out there it has become one decentralized retail space. The only "major" retail items that has gone to the west side in recent memory are Staples and Papa John's (which was a good choice of location).

Although I now live in Millidgeville, I grew up a West sider and will always think of myself as one. My Dad makes the same point about East side development as you do. Personally I think that it works as West siders would complain non-stop about the traffic.

Couldn't agree on your point on Peel Plaza. I for one hope that that project does not go forward. It just does not seem to me to be in the best interest of the city and the citizens. Use the money to make the city a better place to live which will draw more people and you may one day have the money to build such a fancy Police Headquarters. Instead we are spending the money now, which will make the city less desirable as other services are trimmed down and we will have less tax revenue to use plus a huge bill. Just doesn't make sense to me, but there is no stopping it now despite the opposition.

We already have the courthouse project. If council truly believes the development will kickstart development, why not allow that project to finish and put it to a test. I believe it is because they know the response will be limited.

Lets face it, if a large developer wanted to make something happen in the city, land acquisition would not be the limiting factor.

[Pugsley]

Originally Posted by GregHickman

Courtesy CHSJ News:



This could either be really good or really bad. Demolishing the theatre could lead to a massive development opportunity if the right people get their hands on it.

ahem

Here is a thought, why not convert this space to a new library location and move it out of Market Square...as a native Saint John resident, I always felt that Market Square was a bit too centralized for all your services. In my new home, Toronto, they did a great job converting an old theater into a Chapters Book store in Bloor West Village. This spot would be great for a downtown chapters OR a new location for the library. Preserve the exterior and any historical interior features, and re-use it. Of course, if nothing historic remains in this space oputside of the exterior, maybe it does not matter.

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Originally Posted by nwalbert

Lets face it, if a large developer wanted to make something happen in the city, land acquisition would not be the limiting factor.

This is a point too often missed. The city seems to think they can make a killing selling off Rockwood Park even though there are many hectares of land in Millidgeville that could be developed first.

As to uptown development, I'm sure a private developer could put together a package of land to do a development without the City's help.