[Moncton] Downtown Developments - Page 41

NBNYer · #**801** Posted **Jul 24, 2013, 5:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

What's going to happen to the current CBC building then?

No idea, the article didn't mention it.

I kinda liked their current location, it's much more part of the urban fabric of the city center then the new one. The new location, although still technically downtown, is just as suburban as it gets, in a mall surrounded by a huge parking lot. A new CBC/RadioCan building on one of those empty St-George street lots would have been great! Another missed opportunity I guess...

habs33 · #**802** Posted **Jul 24, 2013, 5:51 PM**

I read on twitter that they plan on selling it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

What's going to happen to the current CBC building then?

mylesmalley · #**803** Posted **Jul 24, 2013, 6:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

What's going to happen to the current CBC building then?

$20 says it'll be a new surface lot for the Dumont by Christmas.

Monctoncore · #**804** Posted **Jul 24, 2013, 7:30 PM**

I don't like to complain or growl, but this has to be the dumbest thing I have ever seen anyone do, there is a tonne of empty office space in the Downtown core and they were located in a good spot to begin with... I'm starting to think that people don't care about Downtown at all..... I think it is time the City and owners of these buildings downtown start offering incentives and deals to businesses, stores etc. to come set up downtown. everybody seems to be slowly moving to the out skirts or further. Look at all the call centers that could be occupying space downtown, the companies that could have there head offices downtown... what next the R.C.M.P. move to the Coliseum Parking lot or close to the TCH ... I'm sorry, just starting to get fed up with all of these businesses and offices moving further away from the core.

MonctonRad · #**805** Posted **Jul 24, 2013, 7:47 PM**

I must admit that I am very disappointed about this too. Is this just a Moncton thing or what? I don't think you would see CBC Halifax relocating to vacant space in the old West End Mall. Nope, they would stay in a more prestigious location in the downtown. That would be guaranteed. This is sad news indeed.

And I don't think I'll take Myles bet on the surface parking for the Dumont. Given the dire parking situation around there, I imagine that's a fait accompli........

Edit - I was wrong about CBC Halifax. Read this article from the Chronically Horrid from last year:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/101687-cbc-informs-staff-of-plan-to-move-to-west-end-halifax

Good2go · #**806** Posted **Jul 24, 2013, 8:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monctoncore

I'm starting to think that people don't care about Downtown at all

I seriously doubt the CBC brass in Toronto cares about anything but the CBC's bottom line.

CBC in Saint John recently moved from Main Street into Brunswick Square, which surprised me. I would have thought Brunswick Square would be more expensive.

mylesmalley · #**807** Posted **Jul 25, 2013, 12:05 AM**

Given the support the current government gives the CBC (none), and given the perennial budget cuts both CBC and Radio-Canada have been faced with, I'm not really surprised to see this move. I think it's pretty telling that Radio-Canada is in a building that's less than half full today. Combine that with the programming cuts they've made in the past two years, and closure of facilities like CBC's shortwave operations out of Sackville, it's inevitable that operations out in 'the colonies' out east were going to be forced to scale way back.

Now, all that said, I don't think this is all bad news. Given the topography of that piece of land, I daresay it's pretty unlikely that we'll see a better use for it than retail and parking at least for a couple decades. As a retail location, that mall has been eclipsed by better areas. And now you've got a big empty unit thanks to Zellers pulling out. The CBC presumably needs big empty rooms for studios and the like...which means a store-type layout is pretty good for them.

Obviously it would be better that the place be right on Main or closer to the built-up parts of downtown, but it's not as though it's being put 1.5km away next to something weird like a hospital.

MonctonRad · #**808** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 12:55 AM**

They are already starting renovations for Terra Verde in the old Scholar's Choice location on St George Blvd.

MonctonRad · #**809** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 1:46 PM**

La Butte - Arts de France, a high end European porcelain store will be opening in the old Atthea Tea Shop location at 886 Main Street within the next few weeks. This will be a good addition to the downtown core.

BlackYear · #**810** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 4:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

La Butte - Arts de France, a high end European porcelain store will be opening in the old Atthea Tea Shop location at 886 Main Street within the next few weeks. This will be a good addition to the downtown core.

High end? You're not kidding! http://www.labutte.com/

NBNYer · #**811** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 5:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Budyser

High end? You're not kidding! http://www.labutte.com/

A $255 ''repose-couteau'' (knife rest) ... you gotta have a pretty fancy table cloth to justify those!

mylesmalley · #**812** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 6:42 PM**

The repose-couteau makes the $120 salt and pepper shakers seem downright lowbrow by comparison.

The $650 vase covered in fish would really accent my mug-stained kitchen table though

OUIR@random · #**813** Posted **Jul 27, 2013, 6:45 PM**

Les produits de France in general are usually considered high-end and upmarket, so this is not surprising. What a great addition to the downtown retail scene!

Little niche retailers like this is what downtown needs!

However, some of their vases are 2K, 3K or even 6000$! I wonder how many people in Moncton are in the market for this kind of stuff?

MonctonRad · #**814** Posted **Jul 28, 2013, 1:24 AM**

Apparently Moncton city council is planning on revisiting the idea of reopening Downing Street.

The street currently no longer exists and is presently the exit driveway for the parking lot behind the Blue Cross Centre. The idea is that it should be reopened and serve as a link between city hall and the Riverfront Park.

The roadway would serve as a direct route front city hall plaza to the main entrance to Riverfront Park. The plan is that it would be a shared route of some form for pedestrians, cyclists and slow velocity vehicular traffic. The city is looking for appropriate landscaping, decorative plantings and a non-traditional road surface (not asphalt). It would be a signature development for the downtown core.

2015 will be Moncton's 125th anniversary of incorporation as a city, and the plan is to seek funding from Heritage Canada as a memorial project to celebrate this event.

BlackYear · #**815** Posted **Jul 28, 2013, 11:51 AM**

Good idea. While they're at it, might as well just incorporate the event centre.

mylesmalley · #**816** Posted **Jul 28, 2013, 7:00 PM**

I like the idea, but I think it's a waste of time and money at this point. Downing Street would have literally no streetscape whatsoever. The buildings closest to it all face away or to different streets. And 80% of its length on either side is surface parking. I'm all in favour of revitalizing it - particularly to make the area in front of the library more prominent in the downtown area, but unless there's a serious effort to build up the street or at least turn some of the surface parking into greenspace or a park, I think any money, time and effort toward the project could be put to much better use in the downtown. I'd much sooner see investment made in improving the streetscape of St George between Botsford and King, or to start making one of the side streets like Church look more like a prominent north-south axis.

MonctonRad · #**817** Posted **Aug 2, 2013, 2:55 PM**

The opening of the Transportation Discovery Centre and revamped Moncton Museum has been pushed back to December. According to the T&T, this is because of issues with the massive "cowcatcher" window feature on the front of the building.

NBNYer · #**818** Posted **Aug 2, 2013, 3:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

I like the idea, but I think it's a waste of time and money at this point. Downing Street would have literally no streetscape whatsoever. The buildings closest to it all face away or to different streets. And 80% of its length on either side is surface parking. I'm all in favour of revitalizing it - particularly to make the area in front of the library more prominent in the downtown area, but unless there's a serious effort to build up the street or at least turn some of the surface parking into greenspace or a park, I think any money, time and effort toward the project could be put to much better use in the downtown. I'd much sooner see investment made in improving the streetscape of St George between Botsford and King, or to start making one of the side streets like Church look more like a prominent north-south axis.

Although I'm all for reestablishing as much of the street grid network as possible south of Main, I do agree there are other more pressing projects. What ever happened to the Oak lane project from a couple years ago? The St-George streetscape project is taking forever! We seem to be hearing about one idea after another to help improve downtown with very little actual accomplishments...

Monctoncore · #**819** Posted **Aug 2, 2013, 3:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by NBNYer

Although I'm all for reestablishing as much of the street grid network as possible south of Main, I do agree there are other more pressing projects. What ever happened to the Oak lane project from a couple years ago? The St-George streetscape project is taking forever! We seem to be hearing about one idea after another to help improve downtown with very little actual accomplishments...

I completely agree, its just consistent let downs.... they also say they plan on doing a redevelopment of queen and lewis.... I fear that will end up like St.George st. or the oak lane project..

Though councilor Dawn Arnold is pushing for Oak Lane to be finished, here is the link to that story.

http://22864.vws.magma.ca/index.php?&article_id=11235

RyeJay · #**820** Posted **Aug 2, 2013, 5:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monctoncore

I completely agree, its just consistent let downs.... they also say they plan on doing a redevelopment of queen and lewis.... I fear that will end up like St.George st. or the oak lane project...

It's difficult to come up with funds for these projects when your city must commit its resources to maintaining its growing sprawl.

And it's especially difficult when your provincial government doesn't give a damn about urban density.

Expect more of the same, because your politics are the same.