[Moncton] Downtown Developments - Page 441

MonctonRad · #**8801** Posted **Feb 27, 2026, 4:05 AM**

The discussion on the previous page about the Dominion Street property remains highly speculative. Aside from the presence of a drilling rig doing soil testing, we have very little to go on.

This is what we know:

- The Dominion Street property encompasses a full city block.
- about 10-12 years ago, Valmond Robichaud built a high quality low rise apartment building on a portion of the property (25 Dominion).
- Valmond intended to build a second identical building on the remainder of the property, but this never materialized.
- About 4-5 years ago, ICON took over the Dominion Street site. They mounted a large ICON sign on the block (just like the one at the Harper Street/Infinity site).
- Soil testing is suddenly occurring leading to speculation that development of the remainder of the block may be in the works.

At the same time, I am aware of two different completely unsubstantiated rumours bubbling to the surface indicating that ICON may be planning 1-2 new buildings on the block, 17-18 storeys in height. There is absolutely no substantiating evidence that these rumours are true (although it is interesting that the rumours came to light before the drilling equiment showed up on the property. I was aware of one of these rumours about a week ago, but, elected not to post about it because I thought it entirely speculative.

Thats it. Pretty thin evidence. Really nothing at all to go on except for the drilling equipment, and there could be several reasons why that is going on, unrelated to any imminent construction plans. We should all take a pill.

Having said this however, this is a prime development site, within walking distance of the Sobeys plaza at Main/VHB and the Avenir Centre. There has already been a lot of residential infill in this neighbourhood in the last 5-6 years. People like the idea of living here. The rumours cannot be entirely discounted.

MonctonRad · #**8802** Posted **Mar 1, 2026, 3:18 AM**

There us now a mini tower crane on site in the Franklin Yards where the last of the nine large apartment buildings in this development is to be built. It appears that prep work for this last apartment building has commenced.

Leroy321 · #**8803** Posted **Mar 7, 2026, 9:36 PM**

Nothing big but I found this small development at 1576 Main Street looking to be bought. This will be a 2 story zoned as mixed use. There is no renders but just this site plan:

https://www.bbrokers.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/1576-Main-Street_Cutsheet_03.05.2026.pdf

Nashe · #**8804** Posted **Mar 8, 2026, 1:06 AM**

Better be a car dealership with that much parking!

jonny golden · #**8805** Posted **Mar 8, 2026, 1:34 AM**

That's a pretty good location, easy walking distance to the Avenir neighbourhood. And the back end of that parking lot will be near Ivan Rand Drive when it gets built -- 20 years from now!

Which reminds me: It's too bad that the Junction owners halted their development. Even if they would at least build something on the Main Street portion of land. I still dream of a stunning building there, to rescue the Main/Vaughn Harvey corner.

MonctonRad · #**8806** Posted **Mar 8, 2026, 2:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nashe

Better be a car dealership with that much parking!

Perhaps they expect a lot of clientele.

Better to plan for too much parking rather than not enough for a commercial building such as this. Most of the parking is in behind, and the land would never be used for anything else (blocked in by Hall's Creek and by Jones Lake Place next door). I am cool with this.

MonctonDowntown · #**8807** Posted **Mar 9, 2026, 2:35 PM**

1576 Main Street is a build to suit project. That site plan is just something the realtor is using as an example. This is not an actual development.

MonctonRad · #**8808** Posted **Mar 9, 2026, 8:35 PM**

Quote:

We're excited to announce the soft opening of Ivan's AV Home, a new dedicated home theatre showroom right here in Moncton. We're upstairs at the Ivan's Camera building on St. George Street. Same family, same team, just a brand new space focused on premium home audio and video.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582166484458

Come say hi to Allain, Jacob and Dave on the second floor. No appointment needed, just come on up.

181 St. George St, 2nd Floor, Moncton

Ivan's Camera is stepping into the breech to fill the void created by the closure of Sound's Fantastic earlier this year.

I wish them well!

Leroy321 · #**8809** Posted **Mar 10, 2026, 7:10 PM**

Its a nice sunny day I thought I could give some update pictures.

MonctonRad · #**8810** Posted **Mar 11, 2026, 1:29 AM**

People who are familiar with the Albert/Foundry neighbourhood, but had not been back in Moncton for 5-6 years would be rubbing their eyes in disbelief.

Leroy321 · #**8811** Posted **Mar 12, 2026, 2:10 AM**

71 Gordon Street:

I quite like this design and it will be mixed use.

Link: https://www5.moncton.ca/docs/pac/PAC/March_25_2026/4a_65_Gordon_Street_Avis_Public_Notice.pdf

Leroy321 · #**8812** Posted **Mar 12, 2026, 2:14 AM**

Debating what thread to put this in but because its so close to west main I will add it here.

Salisbury Road:

I also quite like this (no where's near as much parking as what CG wanted to do by the casino. You will be able to see this coming from Riverview on the causeway quite well.

Link: https://www5.moncton.ca/docs/pac/PAC/March_25_2026/4d_Salisbury_Road_Avis_Public_Notice.pdf

Nashe · #**8813** Posted **Mar 12, 2026, 10:34 AM**

All of the residential apartment construction that continues to be proposed makes me think developers have their finger on a different pulse than I do.

Though the few supers/landlords I've talked to indicate that a lot of their new clientele are empty-nesters and retirees who want to simplify and dump the SFH along with all of the associated strings.

MonctonRad · #**8814** Posted **Mar 12, 2026, 1:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leroy321

71 Gordon Street:

I quite like this design and it will be mixed use.

Link: https://www5.moncton.ca/docs/pac/PAC/March_25_2026/4a_65_Gordon_Street_Avis_Public_Notice.pdf

I know this block on Gordon Street. It's just west of the Ashford Living building, on the same side of the street and the land has been vacant for the last several years. It will be another great addition to the increasing density of this midrise neighbourhood. Excellent infill.

MonctonRad · #**8815** Posted **Mar 12, 2026, 1:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leroy321

Debating what thread to put this in but because its so close to west main I will add it here.

Salisbury Road:

I also quite like this (no where's near as much parking as what CG wanted to do by the casino. You will be able to see this coming from Riverview on the causeway quite well.

Link: https://www5.moncton.ca/docs/pac/PAC/March_25_2026/4d_Salisbury_Road_Avis_Public_Notice.pdf

A large project. I see that it is another "Spitfire Special" however. These are fine buildings, but, they are a little too dominant on the city's streetscape. I wish Spitfire would spread their wings a bit. They are capable of this. The Rougemont at the Dieppe Blvd/ Melanson Road roundabout shows a little inspiration.

As to which thread this post belongs in, that is debatable. The Salisbury Road area is a bit of an orphan in terms of our "artificial" divisions of the city into neighbourhoods on SSP. It is not downtown as it is beyond Wheeler Blvd, but, it similarly isn't quite "northwest" either. The [Moncton] Northwest thread however has grown to include the MID Industrial Park by default, and, since Salisbury Road is just south of MID, and is most decidedly "west", I think the best place for discussion of this might be in the [Moncton] Nprthwest htread. I will quote this post over there.

jonny golden · #**8816** Posted **Mar 12, 2026, 1:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I know this block on Gordon Street. It's just west of the Ashford Living building, on the same side of the street and the land has been vacant for the last several years. It will be another great addition to the increasing density of this midrise neighbourhood. Excellent infill.

Another great addition to the "Avenir neighbourhood", filling in yet another vacant downtown lot.

The project that seems to have fizzled was one that I really wanted to see: the 6 floor Main Street building replacing the auto detailing place across from the Avenir center. Too bad.
https://powersbrown.com/projects/multi-family/ashford#/

MonctonRad · #**8817** Posted **Mar 12, 2026, 2:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonny golden

Another great addition to the "Avenir neighbourhood", filling in yet another vacant downtown lot.

The project that seems to have fizzled was one that I really wanted to see: the 6 floor Main Street building replacing the auto detailing place across from the Avenir center. Too bad.
https://powersbrown.com/projects/multi-family/ashford#/

I think the key word in your post is "Ashford." Ashford suddenly seems to have taken a distinct disinterest in building residential properties. Because of this, I fear this interesting and unique proposal will not see the light of day.

The sudden disinterest in residential also makes me concerned about the Ashford/Downing project (although the most recent rumour is of a completely commercial tower).

Leroy321 · #**8818** Posted **Mar 12, 2026, 2:12 PM**

^^^

Commercial as in a hotel? Or like offices? I feel the first plan for the whole development should be to make large parking garage.

MonctonRad · #**8819** Posted **Mar 12, 2026, 2:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leroy321

^^^

Commercial as in a hotel? Or like offices?

All I know is that two tenants will take up the majority of the building, with one tenant taking up about 12 floors. That smells like a hotel to me, but this is only conjecture.

If I am right however, and a hotel is a major component of the development, then this whole thing may become contingent on the publicly funded projects in the surrounding area (city market, flex convention facility and even the current nebulous proposal of an arts centre as part of the riverfront redevelopment plan). If these things don't transpire, then the whole thing could collapse like a house of cards.

The market/convention facility currently does not fit in with any federal programs for funding urban redevelopment. The NB government is saddled with a billion dollar deficit. If I was to guess, the whole Ashford/Downing redevelopment proposal is teetering on the precipice.

jonny golden · #**8820** Posted **Mar 12, 2026, 2:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I think the key word here is "Ashford." Ashford suddenly seems to have taken a distinct disinterest in building residential properties. I fear this interesting and unique proposal will not see the light of day.

The sudden disinterest in residential also makes me concerned about the Ashford/Downing project (although the most recent rumour is of a completely commercial tower).

My thoughts as well. They never built the 2nd Lorentz Drive building, and that was a bit of a red flag. Why they've slowed down, who knows.

Did they pull back just to prepare for the bigger project? I hope that's all it is, but it's a bit worrisome that we've heard nothing from them about the major downtown development.