The Official PEI Project Thread

[pei guy]

Full article from The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/...813/Montague-museum-expansion-underway/1

Montague museum expansion underway
Published on August 17, 2011

The expansion at the Garden of the Gulf Museum in Montague is underway.

The government of Canada, the province of Prince Edward Island, the Town of Montague, and the Garden of the Gulf Museum have shared the cost of this project totalling $283,600.

Through this investment, a new 3,600 square foot building will be built, designed and equipped to store artifacts. The museum's current storage space will be renovated for public access, allowing visitors more of the museum to enjoy.

"The Garden of the Gulf Museum is delighted to be expanding its community outreach with a new storage facility to care for its growing collection, and subsequently to maximize the use of its 1888 heritage museum building," said Edgar Dewar, representative of the Garden of the Gulf Museum.

"The ultimate benefits go to the community in preserving P.E.I. heritage, in education and in visitor attraction to the area. This project also opens the door to potential exciting museum expansion in the future."

Could the last part refer to the Canada Tree? Hmmm...

[pei guy]

Full article from today's Guardian: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/...12/APM-plans-new-mall-in-capital-city-/1

APM plans new mall in capital city
Published on August 18, 2011
Dave Stewart

He won't say who the anchor tenant is but Tim Banks confirmed Thursday an up-and-coming construction project is underway in Charlottetown.

The chief executive officer of APM says the development will be called the Northcom Business Centre and will be a service mall to house 10 new tenants, giving Charlottetown and Sherwood more options for incoming businesses.

The business centre will be built on the former Shamrock Truss land, located at 410 Mt. Edward Road. Demolition of the two older buildings is underway by Bulldog Construction, who were the lowest bidders for that phase of the project. It will cover a total of 2.2 acres and host 10 units for potential businesses such as retail, light manufacturing or offices.

Banks said the mall will measure 35,000 square feet with the anchor tenant taking up 8,000 square feet.

All he would say about the anchor tenant is that it is "a national tenant'' and that they would be making the announcement likely in November.

"It will be ready for occupancy March 1.''

Banks said he is especially pleased about the investment possibilities that will come to P.E.I. with this new development.

"There is huge potential for this business development. The units are on the ground floor and will be built to suit for potential clients. We have already had quite a bit of interest from tenants already."

APM is completing this project for a private vendor who has purchased the property from the developer, but the company will design, build and be responsible for leasing the units.

2 words: Princess Auto.

[braymondg]

Charlottetown, PEI

This photo was taken on a hazy August day from across the harbour at Fort Amherst. This a rare perspective of the City of Charlottetown as I haven't seen many photos from this location.

[Architype]

Nice photo. I didn't know there was a Fort Amherst there (St. John's has one too).
How do people like the way the Holman Grand turned out?

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by pei guy

Full article from today's Guardian: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/...12/APM-plans-new-mall-in-capital-city-/1



2 words: Princess Auto.

I can't see Princess Auto going anywhere other then in one if the power centres. Either by Sears, Future Shop, or the new Sobeys.

[billy1]

PA isn't really a Power center type of business. They cater to the do it yourself and the commercial crowd. I've read online somewhere that this will be a PA location.

[MonctonRad]

I was in Charlottetown today and took a couple of pics of the new Holman Grand Hotel, which is now open....





I must admit to having conflicting emotions as far as this building is concerned. I really like how they preserved and restored the original Holman's Department Store facade, but the tower itself seems a little plain and avant garde. The combination doesn't really work for me but I spent some time looking at this building from different perspectives and I imagine that it will grow on me.

What do other people think?

BTW - Redwater is a posh looking restaurant off the main lobby, which also has a streetfront patio on Grafton Street. It looks quite interesting. I'll have to try it!

That's one of the best things about Charlottetown, they have a really good restaurant scene (no doubt facilitated and encouraged by the Culinary Institute of Canada). We ate at Gahan's Brew Pub and I had one of the best hamburgers that I've had in several years. Even pub fare is superlative.....

[MonctonRad]

I've been doing some further thought on this and I think what bothers me most about the Holman Grand is that the proportions of the building aren't right. The tower overpowers the "podium" created by the original storefront.

It's not the height I'm talking about. They could have made the building 12-15 stories for all I care. It's the fact that the tower seems to miniaturize the original facade!!

They could have combatted this effect by slightly recessing the tower or perhaps by using smaller windows in the tower. This would have helped maintain the scale of the podium.

It's too late now, but it's a little unfortunate. I find the effect a little offputting.

[pei guy]

Thanks for the great pics MonctonRad and braymondg! The skyline shot really shows the recent changes in Charlottetown, and there are more to come soon with the convention centre / hotel, where the crane is already going full steam ahead.

Originally Posted by Architype

Nice photo. I didn't know there was a Fort Amherst there (St. John's has one too).
How do people like the way the Holman Grand turned out?

As you may have guessed from some of the comments, the hotel is not quite what anyone expected (or hoped). As MonctonRad pointed out, there is something wonky about the proportions of the building. I thought it would seem more suiting to the area, instead of almost monolithic.

I am certainly disappointed with the exterior look of floors 4-9... the dull grey clashes with the beautiful stone and brick on the lower floors. The street level is fantastic, but I wish some more effort would have been put into the top.

[Dmajackson]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I was in Charlottetown today and took a couple of pics of the new Holman Grand Hotel, which is now open....

That building almost looks like it was added into the photos by a computer program.

IMO the tower portion is too basic. I think they should of aligned the windows correctly, added a few balconies (french style maybe) and used a material that was more than just gray.

So MonctonRad was in Charlottetown, I was in Moncton. I guess we need an Islander in Halifax to complete the circle.

[josh_cat_eyes]

I regret to be the first to comment on this. The ADL foods building in Summerside has burned down today. I'm estimating losses of around 5 million. It's a devastating blow to the PEI economy as ADL was the local supplier of frozen foods.

[MonctonRad]

That's a big building and will be a big economic blow to Summerside.

I presume they will rebuild....

[josh_cat_eyes]

They mostly had product losses. It was a good sized building though. No word yet where or when they will rebuild. Also it is just the Foods building in reads corner, not the cheese plant downtown.

[josh_cat_eyes]

Good news, there was a firewall in the ADL building and only half the building was lost.

[pei guy]

A few juicy new updates today!

-The new strip mall on Fraser St in downtown Montague has started construction. It will be fantastic to have more businesses in the area.

-Garden of the Gulf Museum artefactory is going up quickly, roofing started a few days ago and the walls will be closed in soon.

-Stratford Quick Stop is nearing completion, and according to the sign they have installed it will feature a Tim Horton's with drive-thru.

-Something with a pretty large footprint is U/C on University Ave in Ch'town, almost directly across from the new apartment building that went up last year. It seems like either another building like that or perhaps something commercial- I have only seen some foundation.

[pei guy]

Full article from today's Guardian: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/...ottetown-Airport-expanding-parking-lot/1

Charlottetown Airport expanding parking lot Published on September 1, 2011

The Charlottetown Airport short-term parking lot will be closed to all traffic starting Tuesday through to the end of October.

The short-term parking lot is being repaved and re-configured with 70 new parking spaces added to accommodate growing traffic demands.

The project will provide many benefits for the travelling public including; a designated bus drop-off area, improved lighting for the short-term parking area, and new direct access to the long-term parking area from the main access road.

[pei guy]

Full article from CBC News: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edw...09/01/pei-stratford-development-584.html

Stratford waterfront development begins
Project to create a 'downtown' area for the town
Pat Martel
CBC News

Sep 1, 2011 Construction crews have begun work on a new waterfront development for Stratford – a plan that's been on the table for years.

The bulldozers are at work on the 17-acre site just off Stratford Road, close to the Hillsborough Bridge.

Developers say they want to create a downtown, complete with new streets, sidewalks, street lamps, homes and hopefully new shops and restaurants.

"The big picture is to create a bit of a downtown feeling for Stratford," said Rob McCloskey, project manager with REJ Holdings, the consulting firm working on the project.

"An example to use in your mind would be, sort of lower Queen Street in Charlottetown," he said. "Probably this will be a little more residential in nature, but the idea is to create an older town feel."

Ironic that the town that has hurt rural downtowns all over PEI is now building its own.

[mmmatt]

Originally Posted by pei guy

Full article from CBC News: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edw...09/01/pei-stratford-development-584.html



Ironic that the town that has hurt rural downtowns all over PEI is now building its own.

I really love Stratford...Its sorta the Dieppe of Charlottetown...growing quick and has a real youthful feel mixed with natural beauty...If I was gonna live anywhere on PEI (and Ive seen most of it at this point) it would probably be there.

I just wish there were more proper streets there...ie with sidewalk/curb and storm drain...really makes it feel like the country a bit too much in some areas...I find that a lot with PEI though...even in Summerside only about 10% of the streets are proper city streets...

[Ross Macintosh]

Here's some pics of Holland College's new buildings. The exterior shots were taken September 2nd, 2011, and the interior ones were taken about a month ago. The larger building is known as the CAST (Centre for Applied Science & Technology) and houses various labs, classrooms, offices & meeting spaces. It will be in use tomorrow (Sept. 6) for the first time with the return of students after the summer break. I've included interior shots of the CAST's second floor lobby and a typical corridor.

The other building still in construction is known as the CCE (Centre for Comunity Engagement). It is a gymnasium with a suspended running track. The building also provides the campus with a new fitness room, dance studio, classrooms, offices, and some social spaces.

Both projects were designed by N46 Architecture, a Charlottetown-based architectural firm.

[MonctonRad]

Nice pics Ross and welcome to the forums!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Prince of Wales campus of Holland College does not look like your typical community college!!

There are community colleges elsewhere which have been converted to universities (eg Ryerson).......

In the future, could we be looking at the Prince of Wales Technical University?