[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by BlackYear

I've never been a fan of this building or block, except maybe the Flat Iron triangular building.

In any case, the building in question has always been an eyesore for me. There is nothing here that appeals to me. There is no significant historical value here in my opinion. The Flat Iron yes, this one, no.

The whole block has inconsistent curb appeal. From a unique triangular building, a run down ugly building which is on the verge of being condemned, a small semi modern 80's building with solarium front, another ugly small building with unappealing horizontal metal siding, and a nice modern corner brick building.

I would like to see this building torn down and replaced with a common area filled with trees, water fountain and park benches.

This will open up the hidden Flat Iron building and allow it to shine. Yes, some updates will be needed to Flat Iron, but that should encourage the building owner. It would compliment a common area filled with a couple of food cart vendors, tables with umbrellas, maybe a musical busker and so on.

If the heritage group want to save this piece of junk building, then buy it from the owner and fix it. Good luck. If not, then the city should buy it from the owner at market value, tear it down and do it up with the above common area.

I agree with you that of the two buildings, I am much more of a fan of the Flat Iron Building than the Subway Block.

I am not 100% adverse to the idea of knocking down the Subway Block and replacing it with public space. I'm sure something creative could be done with it (like food vendors in the summertime, or maybe even a beer garden like Euston Park Social). If a vibrant public space were created, this would enliven the area, keep the vagrants away and improve public safety.

As for the Flat Iron Building, this is a relatively small building that perhaps could be repurposed into a city tourism bureau, perhaps with a small art gallery (the civic art gallery at city hall could be relocated here for example).

This is a municipal problem that should not be left in the hands of the property owner. Like I said above, Seville Properties currently are left with a stranded asset because of the 30M development rule. Their hands are tied. I agree that the city may have to purchase this property from them at fair market value in order to deal with this problem.

It is vitally important that pedestrians feel comfortable traversing this short block next to the CNR overpass so that the east and west ends of the downtown core remain interconnected.

[jonny golden]

Well so much for all the speculation about a big downtown infrastructure announcement. Granted, water treatment is important.

MonctonRad said in another post that his sources told him there's something big on the horizon for downtown this year, and he wasn't referring to St. Bernard's Square.

So.....

Would Ashford be doing something with their land south of Main Street, or are their hands full with the two projects they have in the Highfield Street area? Possibly something on the land where they demolished the Paramount Theater? Also they still have the building that used to house the Business Development Bank on Main Street. Prime location, and sitting vacant.

Or (forgive me for even mentioning it) could we finally see something happening on the land next to Staples.

Then there's 1222 Main Street and the land beside it. Crombie are more than capable of doing a signature project here. Interestingly the old telegraph building is apparently vacant now, clearing the way for something to finally happen on this land.

Any other thoughts?

[MonctonRad]

My source was a second hand source, so I can not vouch for the reliability of the information, but I think the intimation was that it was going to do with Ashford's land south of Main Street. We will find out in due course............

[lirette]

I like the idea of turning the flatiron building into a tourism office. I've always felt like it should be in the centre of downtown where most of our events are

I can't tell you the amount of times I've been walking downtown and been asked a question by someone unfamiliar with the city looking for certain shops/services etc even in the phone age.

My second pick for the tourism office would be the parcel they had originally planned on putting in front of Avenir as a cafe / skate rental spot.

[josh_cat_eyes]

I have a solution! What if you tear the whole thing down and start from scratch. You realign with Foundry, Lutz south of Main then becomes Eaton Street after the Eaton catalogue centre. Then you redevelop the whole area.

Two 6-10 storey residential buildings, a restaurant on the prominent corner of Main Street, a 6+ storey parking structure and the re-integration of Robinson as a through street. Fill all of this in with ground floor retail, and upper floor residential, set back from the street to meet the 30m restriction.

[MonctonRad]

An innovative solution!

It would mean the loss of the Flat Iron Building and the Subway Block, and a blank slate with the reconstruction of the majority of the block, but sometimes it is best to start anew.

Extending Lutz to Foundry will help to maintain the 30M boundary by converting it into a roadway - a pretty ingenious solution actually. This might actually improve traffic flow across Main Street in this portion of the downtown. One of the things that the city actually wants to do in the future is re-establish the street grid in the core. This is what they want to do south of Main Street. They also actually want to convert Robinson Court back into Robinson Street as well, just as you propose. Your solution is in line with what they want to accomplish.

I like your inclusion of a multi-storey parking structure in the back, on the SW corner of Queen/Robinson. A mixed use building just south of this is also a good idea.

Bravo!

PS - I also like how you renamed Lutz south of Main to Eaton Street (in homage to the old catalogue warehouse).

You should send this idea to the city..............

[C_Boy]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

I have a solution! What if you tear the whole thing down and start from scratch. You realign with Foundry, Lutz south of Main then becomes Eaton Street after the Eaton catalogue centre. Then you redevelop the whole area.

Two 6-10 storey residential buildings, a restaurant on the prominent corner of Main Street, a 6+ storey parking structure and the re-integration of Robinson as a through street. Fill all of this in with ground floor retail, and upper floor residential, set back from the street to meet the 30m restriction.

Woah, I really like that idea! Like MonctonRad said, definitely ingenious. I know we have lurkers from media, developers, and even from the city but you should really forward this idea. It may get minds thinking outside of the box a little more. Your design makes me think of a few options. Great contribution! If the city is serous about trying to find a solution with the property owners, this is probably amongst the best options to move forward.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

I have a solution! What if you tear the whole thing down and start from scratch. You realign with Foundry, Lutz south of Main then becomes Eaton Street after the Eaton catalogue centre. Then you redevelop the whole area.

Two 6-10 storey residential buildings, a restaurant on the prominent corner of Main Street, a 6+ storey parking structure and the re-integration of Robinson as a through street. Fill all of this in with ground floor retail, and upper floor residential, set back from the street to meet the 30m restriction.

Great idea. Big improvement over the status quo. The city wants more downtown residential and density. I hope the parties required to make something like this happen take notice.

[Riberview]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

I have a solution! What if you tear the whole thing down and start from scratch. You realign with Foundry, Lutz south of Main then becomes Eaton Street after the Eaton catalogue centre. Then you redevelop the whole area.

Two 6-10 storey residential buildings, a restaurant on the prominent corner of Main Street, a 6+ storey parking structure and the re-integration of Robinson as a through street. Fill all of this in with ground floor retail, and upper floor residential, set back from the street to meet the 30m restriction.

This is beautiful. Well done!

[BlackYear]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

I also like this idea. But I would leave Robinson st from the back parking lot to Main st as pedestrian area only. I really like the renaming of Eaton and Heritage streets.

You could move the Flat Iron building over to the right at the new triangular corner. It would fit well. Cost...maybe too much.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by BlackYear

I also like this idea. But I would leave Robinson st from the back parking lot to Main st as pedestrian area only. I really like the renaming of Eaton and Heritage streets.

The city already wants to reopen Robinson Street. This is why they got into that tiff with the owners of the Rouge nightclub the other year over their enclosed (and unofficial) seating area out front. I don't know what the timeline is, but I expect it to become a roadway again sometime in the next 5-10 years.

I admit I have reservations about this too, but the city is very keen on re-establishing the downtown street grid.

Originally Posted by BlackYear

You could move the Flat Iron building over to the right at the new triangular corner. It would fit well. Cost...maybe too much.

I don't know how realistic it would be to physically move an old masonry building like the Flat Iron. The brick work would likely crack and crumble. Most buildings you see moved tend to be wooden. It might be possible, but could be cost prohibitive.

[jonny golden]

Originally Posted by BlackYear

I also like this idea. But I would leave Robinson st from the back parking lot to Main st as pedestrian area only. I really like the renaming of Eaton and Heritage streets.

You could move the Flat Iron building over to the right at the new triangular corner. It would fit well. Cost...maybe too much.

That's the thing, this would be very costly. But as Josh suggests, if there would be two 6-10 floor residential buildings along with commercial/retail businesses created here, the property taxes generated would obviously be much more than what's being generated now. And this plan would address the 30 meter set-back problem. But for me the big thing would be a gem of a development in the heart of downtown replacing a real eyesore. Especially since the location is an important link between east & west downtown.

It would be great if the players who could help make this happen were paying attention!

[adamuptownsj]

I was just walking past here and decided to creep around back. Man, it's a steep gradient from Main to the northern end of your adjusted Lutz. I like the idea though.

Regarding saving the structure, the masonry looks good on the building and the 'encampment' is one tent and a bile of trash. It seems salvageable without spending a ton on the outside. The developer should list it.

[jonny golden]

Apparently there is a construction trailer on the old Co-op property on Record Street. The property was purchased by Lafford Realty from Sackville. They're the company currently building the $30 million Birch Meadows apartments in Moncton catering to the seniors market.

Quote from a Huddle story in July: "Mr. Lafford hinted at another major development project in Downtown Moncton coming once Birch Meadows opens its doors to the world."

So could we see yet another major project getting under way in downtown Moncton?

[josh_cat_eyes]

I’m glad you all like my proposal. I’m usually 100% for heritage preservation but sometime there is no way around it. After it was suggested the buildings be torn down my first thought was a parking structure, but then when I looked at the area it just became obvious that if they wanted to reconnect Robinson that it would make sense to expand the block and move Lutz. The Eaton Street name was a no brainer, Heritage Street was simply picked because of the building it was next to. I also thought about Railway street since I believe there was a rail line on this ROW at one point.

[lirette]

Unsurprisingly within a week of the CBC article the RCMP has shown up sirens flashing and cleared out the encampment beside the Flat Iron Building. Curious if they'll end up cleaning up abit of the exterior now (boarded up windows).

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by lirette

Unsurprisingly within a week of the CBC article the RCMP has shown up sirens flashing and cleared out the encampment beside the Flat Iron Building. Curious if they'll end up cleaning up abit of the exterior now (boarded up windows).

It’s pretty crazy how much pull we have on public policy on this forum. I seem to recall some of the proposals for the event centre looking pretty similar to things we had proposed on here. One of them even included a transit hub we we had talked about here.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

It’s pretty crazy how much pull we have on public policy on this forum. I seem to recall some of the proposals for the event centre looking pretty similar to things we had proposed on here. One of them even included a transit hub we we had talked about here.

Let's not go crazy patting ourselves on the back here.

If we can think of it so can other people.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by OliverD

Let's not go crazy patting ourselves on the back here.

If we can think of it so can other people.

I’m just saying that there is a lot of people who pay attention to this forum. I’m sure there is lots of ideas that are the same that are thought of independently but there is probably also plenty that are influenced by what’s happening here.

[Taeolas]

Better get that project thread started.

Moncton planning committee OKs 12-storey downtown apartment building

Construction is hoping to start later this year. It is somewhat dependent on some infrastructure work on the city's part, but it was already in the works apparently.

There were apparently no objections to it either which is a good sign.