The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[dhottawa729]

Originally Posted by Fischbob

The new draft zoning bylaw has been released for public comment! You can find the draft bylaw, along with a 22-page summary document, here: http://www.saintjohn.ca/en/home/cityhall/developmentgrowth/communityplanning/zonesj/default.aspx

What a great-looking document! But why is the maximum allowable building height in the commercial core only 60m (~20 stories)? Also, would this zoning permit a high-rise building with segments of hotel, office and residential space as is the trend in larger cities? (i.e. office/commercial on bottom 10 floors, with 10 floors of residential above?)

[GUB]

Originally Posted by dhottawa729

What a great-looking document! But why is the maximum allowable building height in the commercial core only 60m (~20 stories)? Also, would this zoning permit a high-rise building with segments of hotel, office and residential space as is the trend in larger cities? (i.e. office/commercial on bottom 10 floors, with 10 floors of residential above?)

It will be many decades before SJ gets another 20 story building...
Would love to see one, but being realistic counts too.

[Fischbob]

Since this is SSP after all, here are the more urban zoning types in the new draft bylaw along with prescribed maximum heights:

Residential zones:
RC [Urban Intensification Areas]: 14m
RH [Highrise]: 30m - higher (unspecified) with increased side yard setbacks
RM [Midrise]: 11m - or 14m with side yard setbacks
RL [Low-rise]: 9m - or 11m with side yard setbacks

Commercial/Mixed-use zones:
CU [Uptown]: 60m*
CW-ID [Waterfront]: Case-by-case
CRC [UNBSJ Plateau]: 24m*
GC [General Commercial]: 14m
CM [Urban Intensification Areas]: 18m

Other:
ID [Integrated Development]: Case-by-case

Selected less urban commercial zones, for comparison:
CBP [Business Park]: 24m*
CC [Auto-oriented Corridors]: 14m - up to 24m for hotel use
CR [Regional Retail Centre]: 14m - up to 24m for hotel use

*"Buildings that are more than 4 storeys in height shall incorporate a step-back at the third storey level to a minimum depth of 1.5 metres on any façade that faces a public street."


Based on this handy zoning map, we can glean the following about general height maximums in storeys (assuming ~3m per floor) for our urban intensification areas:

Uptown:
-Up to 20 storeys in most areas; potentially higher for waterfront developments. However, note that several blocks are located in Trinity-Royal and would be subject to the restrictions of the Heritage Bylaw.

South End:
-Up to 4-5 storeys on most streets. Mixed Commercial nodes like Charlotte above Queen and Queen/Carmarthen up to 6 storeys

Waterloo Village:
- Up to 6 storeys for core Waterloo/Prince Edward Square Area; up to 4-5 for other streets. A few lots around Union/Waterloo up to 20 storeys.

Old North End:
- up to 6 storeys on Adelaide Street; up to 4-5 elsewhere.

Lower West:
- A real hodgepodge - RM (3-4 storeys) seems to be the norm for its historic core; 4-5 on King Street West; lower density zones elsewhere.

Crescent Valley:
- 3-4 storeys generally, 4-5 around Churchill/Somerset intersection

[Peter_johnns]

Originally Posted by GUB

It will be many decades before SJ gets another 20 story building...
Would love to see one, but being realistic counts too.

30 storys would be a more appropriate limit

[Fischbob]

Some thoughts from what I've read so far:

I think 20-ish storeys is a reasonable top tier of building heights for our particular context. I'd love to see one signature ~30 storey tower for our skyline, but I think any more than one of those would be kind of excessive and economically speaking we'd probably have to strike oil in the Bay of Fundy for something like that to happen.

My biggest concern is in the height maximums of the RC and CM zones. At first glance seeing an entire neighbourhood zoned for 4-6 storeys seems decent, but considering that the majority of new development in our urban neighbourhoods is likely to take the form of infill on vacant lots rather than extensive demolition and redevelopment, this degree of restriction may get in the way of achieving intensification targets.

One way to deal with this would be to keep the base maximums (since they suit many of the residential sidestreets well), but introduce a density bonusing system in UC and CM zones to allow developers to go higher in exchange for public amenities and/or affordable housing (you could also introduce an additional zoning type RI [Residential Intensification/Infill] on key properties to a similar end). Some excellent examples of what can be achieved at the 8-ish storey scale are currently being proposed in Halifax's North End and I think this would be a good point of departure for infill development on the Uptown peninsula.

I also think the required stepback "at the third floor" (which I interpret as anything above level 2?) is a bit too low for buildings higher than 4 storeys in the UC zone. 3-4 storey podiums should be allowed for sure, depending on the existing context.

Finally, the minimum parking requirements, despite being reduced to 0.8 spaces per dwelling unit in urban intensification areas, are still too damn high.

[Peter_johnns]

Brunswick Square was supposed to be a 40 story tower originally. I think that if the province is successful in attracting oil companies to the city we will see significant growth. Here's hoping!!

[RaginRonic]

https://www.empiretheatres.com/thankyou

Through this link, I've found out that the final day of Empire Theatres control over their cinema is Tuesday, October 22, 2013. Cineplex will re-open it under their own control on Oct. 25.

I'm hoping that some pictures of that location can be taken during the transition period, to show it going from Empire to Cineplex.

[Wolkenkratzerliebhab]

Originally Posted by Peter_johnns

Brunswick Square was supposed to be a 40 story tower originally. I think that if the province is successful in attracting oil companies to the city we will see significant growth. Here's hoping!!

Actually, it was 33 floors above ground, nine floors below ground. I was a child when it was built, and I remember my father being extremely impressed with the huge 90 plus foot hole in the ground! That said I totally agree with you. Just the smell of oil money could set real estate speculators to start building long before any of the big projects are fully under way.

[Helladog]

Here is a mobile pic of the Paramount demo someone sent me.

[pjleger]

Any truth that the St. Hubert Express in Saint John is closing?? I heard someone on Facebook say they were closing...just wondering.

The last time I heard about anything happening there was a few weeks ago, and they were going to renovate and have a full service restaurant.

[RR Drummer]

I was there just last week. Decent price, food was ok, staff was excellent. Great location for exposure, hopefully they can make a go of it. Time will tell.

[kwajo]

A dozen or so more shots [and a video] of the port and Uptown taken recently from a boat on the harbour: http://www.graemevsphotography.com/blog/2013/10/11/9cqt83gnod4rce91twefprc7b44zc9

Here's one of them:


Cruise Closeup 3 by darkharbour, on Flickr

[Whaler]

I heard the crowds at Princess Auto are crazy today.
Staying away from there for a few weeks!

[DreDay]

Originally Posted by Whaler

I heard the crowds at Princess Auto are crazy today.
Staying away from there for a few weeks!

I drove by today at 1pm to have a look, and couldn't believe the people there for that time of day. People were parked up on the grass and the curb, and anywhere else they could fit. It was Ridiculous.

[Helladog]

i checked out Princess Auto on Tuesday...

Considering how many cars were there, it was fairly easy to get around inside. I parked near Montana's, since the parking lot was a mess. The line up for the cash was all the way to the back and about half way to the opposite corner late in the AM, but it only took about 10 minutes to get through with all of the cashiers open. Late afternoon I went back with my son and it wasn't crowded at all, though the parking lot was still pretty full.

[RR Drummer]

Originally Posted by Helladog

i checked out Princess Auto on Tuesday...

Considering how many cars were there, it was fairly easy to get around inside. I parked near Montana's, since the parking lot was a mess. The line up for the cash was all the way to the back and about half way to the opposite corner late in the AM, but it only took about 10 minutes to get through with all of the cashiers open. Late afternoon I went back with my son and it wasn't crowded at all, though the parking lot was still pretty full.

I had to go to work for 8am so went there at 7am and it was crazy busy. I had to park at Home Depot They have some interesting stock. Overall a nice store, a great addition to East Point Shopping.

[philster]

A Towering Petro Canada Sign is up on the new/rebuilt Petro Can on the corner of McAllister, LochLomand. (A lot taller than the original)

It also says "Scholtens Grocery", "BMO", "Video Store" below the Petro Logo.
Hopefully someone will be able to snap a pic over the weekend, as I was driving

[ricker]

Good news on the Harbour Bridge. The East bound lanes are suppose to be open within the next week.
Bad new is that the West bound lanes will be closed for a week or more to repair the expansions joints.

[DreDay]

What was the estimated date of completion for the mile one interchange? I thought it was getting close, but can't remember.

[thefishingnut]

Originally Posted by DreDay

What was the estimated date of completion for the mile one interchange? I thought it was getting close, but can't remember.

Fall 2012. What's a year between friends.