The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Originally Posted by kwajo

(my god that racino idea was awful).

Do you mean in your line of work you wouldn't support a proposal that included a Tin Can beach salt water spa?

[PersonPlaceorThing]

Originally Posted by kwajo

I agree with Uptown SJ's opinion of the downtown core. Right now, what sets Saint John apart from Moncton and Fredericton is our urban core and our port. With all the sprawl and East Side development it seems like we're trying to become Moncton (who themselves are trying to create a downtown core). I say we play to our strength and make Uptown the premiere urban centre on the East coast.

There was an interesting letter to the editor proposing that the city try to attract Big Box retail to the Sugar site. While I don't know if Costco or anyone else would bite (with them being so far from the clearcut and blasted hills and piled swamps of east Saint John), that could be an interesting way to get people downtown.

Obvisously you don't want a retailer who's going to kill small boutiques uptown, but something might do more good than harm.

[ErickMontreal]

Originally Posted by PersonPlaceorThing

There was an interesting letter to the editor proposing that the city try to attract Big Box retail to the Sugar site. While I don't know if Costco or anyone else would bite (with them being so far from the clearcut and blasted hills and piled swamps of east Saint John), that could be an interesting way to get people downtown.

Obvisously you don't want a retailer who's going to kill small boutiques uptown, but something might do more good than harm.

Yes, this is a great idea. The city have to get a firm retail base to attracts new citizens in this area. How would you attract citizens from Ontario, Quebec or something to come in Saint John without services they used to be ? Moncton has a decent advantage in this issue and I really hope Saint John will be able to fix the problem up. They need Chapters and Costco and much more than that.

[kwajo]

I was having a conversation with a friend a week ago and I said we need to get Chapters to buy in to the Lantic site. I think it'd be perfect. It's a big store that will draw people to it no matter where it goes, and it is the perfect kind of retailer for the uptown because it will help spawn more of an educated/creative core. If Chapters came uptown, then numerous other related small retailers could grow up around it, along with good mixed income housing (both apartments and condos), a few bars and restaurants (casino if you're into that sort of thing), and then put a Bay of Fundy marine life centre at Tin Can beach (maybe link it to the university or the Huntsman marine centre in St. Andrews), that would cap it off beautifully. We also need to get a movie theatre back uptown. Maybe instead of trying to fix the awful old Paramount on King Square, Empire could be convinced to put a 3-4 theatre venue on the sugar refinery site.

Moncton downtown is the Main street.

I use this same line all the time

[Seely32]

Originally Posted by kwajo

I was having a conversation with a friend a week ago and I said we need to get Chapters to buy in to the Lantic site. I think it'd be perfect. It's a big store that will draw people to it no matter where it goes, and it is the perfect kind of retailer for the uptown because it will help spawn more of an educated/creative core. If Chapters came uptown, then numerous other related small retailers could grow up around it, along with good mixed income housing (both apartments and condos), a few bars and restaurants (casino if you're into that sort of thing), and then put a Bay of Fundy marine life centre at Tin Can beach (maybe link it to the university or the Huntsman marine centre in St. Andrews), that would cap it off beautifully. We also need to get a movie theatre back uptown. Maybe instead of trying to fix the awful old Paramount on King Square, Empire could be convinced to put a 3-4 theatre venue on the sugar refinery site.



I use this same line all the time

Loving your idea but the thing is how do you get the gears rolling on any of this. These ideas need to be pushed past the 5 or 6 who share the same thoughts here. People May want it but there needs to be a little more pushing whether what happens economically hurts us or helps us. The city is on the brink what's going to push it over.

[someone123]

Originally Posted by HalifaxMtl666

Moncton downtown is the Main street. However, they have done some things to get this street decent.

Saint john has the structures to get something great and to transform Uptown.



Get underground the wires and rebuild the pavement could give another look to this amazing street. This kind of streets are great but not enough welcoming

I agree. Nice buildings, terrible streetscape. The city needs to resurface the street and paint on line markings, put in new curbs (preferably granite) and nice sidewalks made out of at least concrete, plus add decent street furniture and lighting and possibly bury the overhead wiring.

The other nice thing about Saint John is that it has a very well-defined, contained core. It is realistic to restore the buildings that remain and to fill in the holes with small-scale buildings so that there is a cohesive whole. A lot of younger cities have wide streets and downtowns that cover such a large area that they will always appear kind of stretched out and underbuilt.

[Seely32]

In this city some paint and Holding the buildings owners a little more responsible would go a long way. But the way the fix streets around here I would Scared to see them fix the uptown streets. If only there was a mass movement to raze alot of these house and still had affortable living for the people whose homes would be lost. Alot of the house are barley livable.

[nero1979]

I think Chapters would benefit if it were built in the plans for the coast guard site (if it ever happens). The lantic site should be developed more as a tourist attraction for cruise ship visitors and drive-in visitors. like what kwajo said previously maybe some sort of marine center and casino. But face the facts if chapters/costco etc. decide to go anywheres I image it will be east

[ErickMontreal]

Originally Posted by Seely32

Loving your idea but the thing is how do you get the gears rolling on any of this. These ideas need to be pushed past the 5 or 6 who share the same thoughts here. People May want it but there needs to be a little more pushing whether what happens economically hurts us or helps us. The city is on the brink what's going to push it over.

Very agree with that. Moreover, wheter this kind of idea does not work, they could try to push update Mcalister place more like both Champlain place or Mic mac mall. Its could be great to attract retailers like Gap, Mexx etc..

Wiht that my girlfriend will be agree to move out Moncton to Saint John lol

[ErickMontreal]

Originally Posted by someone123

A lot of younger cities have wide streets and downtowns that cover such a large area that they will always appear kind of stretched out and underbuilt.

Agree with you, Moncton is the best example of that...

[ErickMontreal]

Originally Posted by Seely32

In this city some paint and Holding the buildings owners a little more responsible would go a long way. But the way the fix streets around here I would Scared to see them fix the uptown streets. If only there was a mass movement to raze alot of these house and still had affortable living for the people whose homes would be lost. Alot of the house are barley livable.

Is there a law to force landlords to update their buildings?

[Seely32]

Saint John has a ton of potential in the uptown becuase of its relative small size and prime location. Huge port and soon to be a little better winters(thank you global warming). The population is weathlier than I can remeber when I was just a kid. As with the new refinery and possibilty of the new reactor, its time for as the TJ said an uptown renaissance theres nothing wrong with complete blue collar but lets make a push for some culture and growth that will last after the construction boom has dissapeared.

[Seely32]

Originally Posted by HalifaxMtl666

Is there a law to force landlords to update their buildings?

I know there was a law being pushed not sure if it went through but if it did they have a long way to go. But its a start.

[ErickMontreal]

Originally Posted by Seely32

Saint John has a ton of potential in the uptown becuase of its relative small size and prime location. Huge port and soon to be a little better winters(thank you global warming). The population is weathlier than I can remeber when I was just a kid. As with the new refinery and possibilty of the new reactor, its time for as the TJ said an uptown renaissance theres nothing wrong with complete blue collar but lets make a push for some culture and growth that will last after the construction boom has dissapeared.

The city has a lot to going for it. There is a such mix of history, character, and skylines. The key word is Pride. The citizen should be more proud about their city. I`m tired to see how citizens here in Moncton are proud, Saint John need to show more respect about their city and after to transform this respect in action. Yes there is a lot of poverty in Saint John but on the other hand, the most important families in NB are in Saint John area...

[kwajo]

My stance on development Uptown is that I want to keep every single heritage building we have that is currently in good shape, and fill in the empty spaces from there. In my opinion there are three tiers of old buidlings in Saint John: 1) those that are well-maintained jewels 2) those that are structurally fine but need some cosmetic help inside and out 3) those that were neglected and are too far gone to be restored. We need to keep Tiers 1 &2, but clear the third tier and replace them with interesting new residences or commercial spaces. Saint John has amazing architecture, and we need to keep that as a focal point, but we also need some new construction to help keep the city relevant to the young generations who seem to think there isn't enough in the city to keep them here.

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by HalifaxMtl666

The city has a lot to going for it. There is a such mix of history, character, and skylines. The key word is Pride. The citizen should be more proud about their city. I`m tired to see how citizens here in Moncton are proud, Saint John need to show more respect about their city and after to transform this respect in action. Yes there is a lot of poverty in Saint John but on the other hand, the most powerfull money maker in NB are in Saint john...

I agree, I'm one of the biggest proponents of Saint John you'll ever meet, and I just don't understand how people can continue to put-down the city. Sure we have problems, but where is the optimism? We need better leadership in the city that will set an example that it's okay to be proud of Saint John, and eventually that sentiment will trickle down into the lives of everyday citizens.

[PersonPlaceorThing]

While NBCC and UNB are slow to come to the city centre, the School of Rock is growing up near the Waterfront - it's now the Atlantica Centre for the Arts and is offering a lot of classes in different arts/entertainment fields.

I heard about it on the radio and was impressed with their website:
http://www.atlanticacentre.com/

[Seely32]

Originally Posted by kwajo

My stance on development Uptown is that I want to keep every single heritage building we have that is currently in good shape, and fill in the empty spaces from there. In my opinion there are three tiers of old buidlings in Saint John: 1) those that are well-maintained jewels 2) those that are structurally fine but need some cosmetic help inside and out 3) those that were neglected and are too far gone to be restored. We need to keep Tiers 1 &2, but clear the third tier and replace them with interesting new residences or commercial spaces. Saint John has amazing architecture, and we need to keep that as a focal point, but we also need some new construction to help keep the city relevant to the young generations who seem to think there isn't enough in the city to keep them here.

The architechture should completely be a focal point of the city. But its hard to get builders to come in with a half-decent design. There is an apartment building going up on Carmathen or wentworth its 3 or 4 storys and there putting in a brick facade should look good. These are the designs to keep younger generations here.

[ErickMontreal]

Originally Posted by kwajo

My stance on development Uptown is that I want to keep every single heritage building we have that is currently in good shape, and fill in the empty spaces from there. In my opinion there are three tiers of old buidlings in Saint John: 1) those that are well-maintained jewels 2) those that are structurally fine but need some cosmetic help inside and out 3) those that were neglected and are too far gone to be restored. We need to keep Tiers 1 &2, but clear the third tier and replace them with interesting new residences or commercial spaces. Saint John has amazing architecture, and we need to keep that as a focal point, but we also need some new construction to help keep the city relevant to the young generations who seem to think there isn't enough in the city to keep them here.

I agree ! It would be great to see a new modern highrise, a real icon. Irving could get underground a new headquarter right through Uptown, something like 1801 Hollis in Halifax.

Saint John have to provide better services like retails and recreations to keep them in town

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by HalifaxMtl666

I agree ! It would be great to see a new modern highrise, a real icon. Irving could get underground a new headquarter right through Uptown, something like 1801 Hollis in Halifax.

Saint John have to provide better services like retails and recreations as well.

Well Irving has been buying up all the property on Elliot Row behind their current office tower (as of right now they've acquired most of it), so they're either getting ready to make more parking lot space, or they're going to building something new (hopefully the latter).