The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by McKay

I'll be glad to see something done with that corner, but why is this being described as a "restoration"?

I'm assuming the use of the word restoration is due, in part, to bringing back the second floor windows. The building used to be something before a bargain shop after all.

[RaginRonic]

You know, I was thinking...why can't the former Paramount Theatre/Famous Players/Empire Theatres property uptown become a new Saint John Transit Uptown Terminal space?

Take the buses off King Square North, have the buses pull in behind the former Dominion/Mr. Grocer building, and improve traffic patterns there?

[McKay]

Originally Posted by JHikka

I'm assuming the use of the word restoration is due, in part, to bringing back the second floor windows. The building used to be something before a bargain shop after all.

I'd always wondered about that. I don't think Brenda McDermott's book about urban renewal in Saint John has any pictures of that corner before that time. It would be nice to find out that there's some trace of a historical building behind the current exterior.

[MountPleasant]

Should quickly bring up the issues the City is having with the police.

Within some of the rhetoric from Reid in today's TJ shows a bit of a 'take hostage' situation. The majority of police officers in SJ live outside the city and do not pay taxes to support their own employment.. yet they continue to pester the city taxpayers for more money.

I am lost on this-- baffling. I think it may be time to grandfather in the 'work for the city, live in the city' clause.

If these people truly understand the role of unions, I think it is time they take a look at how they operate. The answer is in the title-- unite. Support your employment, contribute to the whole: live in the city. Do not take SJ citizens to the poor house. Simple solution.

What is more unethical: compromising an entire city, or having employee's live within it, helping themselves and their city?

cons of expat employee's majorly outweigh the pro's (which only exist on a micro level)

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by RaginRonic

You know, I was thinking...why can't the former Paramount Theatre/Famous Players/Empire Theatres property uptown become a new Saint John Transit Uptown Terminal space?

Take the buses off King Square North, have the buses pull in behind the former Dominion/Mr. Grocer building, and improve traffic patterns there?

Interesting you mention that, as there was discussion at Council this week about the need for increased space at the King Square North bus stop if SJ Transit is to try and get ridership numbers back to pre-2010 numbers.

[Ottawa]

Originally Posted by McKay

I'd always wondered about that. I don't think Brenda McDermott's book about urban renewal in Saint John has any pictures of that corner before that time. It would be nice to find out that there's some trace of a historical building behind the current exterior.

I don't know how much of an interesting historical building it is but it had been a Woolworth's store for a long time. I believe they changed hands in 1994. Here is a link to the best picture I could find of it. It looks like it is from the 50's.

http://images.stampwants.com/bw6ng.img

[RaginRonic]

Originally Posted by kwajo

Interesting you mention that, as there was discussion at Council this week about the need for increased space at the King Square North bus stop if SJ Transit is to try and get ridership numbers back to pre-2010 numbers.

For the record, the following buses stop at King Square North in the run of a day.

Main Routes

1-Lancaster Mall V-Rothesay Ave.(Only bus in Saint John to stop at all 5 major transit points on route)

3-Regional Hospital/UNB V-Courtenay Bay Causeway.

Local Regular Routes

15-Harbour Bridge

20-Wright Street-Fort Howe

21-South End/St. Joseph's

23-Crescent Valley

25-North End/Millidgeville

Local Express Routes

33-Champlain Express

35-Red Head

COMEX Routes

50-Grand Bay-Westfield

51-Hampton

52-Kennebecasis Valley

53-Quispamsis

[Whaler]

The scanner was a choice by the board. However, there was pressure from the government.
The new project planned for UNBSJ is just that....Planned. An election ploy. I really don't think this will happen...I do hope it does but very sceptical.
The Repsol project has legs. With Europe moving away from Russia for dependence on oil and gas, Saint John is perfectly situated to send ships to Western Europe. Of all the projects that have been talked about in previous posts, this has the best chance to happen.

[MountPleasant]

Originally Posted by Whaler

The scanner was a choice by the board. However, there was pressure from the government.
The new project planned for UNBSJ is just that....Planned. An election ploy. I really don't think this will happen...I do hope it does but very sceptical.
The Repsol project has legs. With Europe moving away from Russia for dependence on oil and gas, Saint John is perfectly situated to send ships to Western Europe. Of all the projects that have been talked about in previous posts, this has the best chance to happen.

A ploy? they have identified a lot of details about the medical centre.
I really hope it is legitimate

[Walk then Run]

Originally Posted by Ottawa

Here is a link to the best picture I could find of it. It looks like it is from the 50's.

http://images.stampwants.com/bw6ng.img

I love that photo

[nwalbert]

It may have already been mentioned but there is an article in this mornings paper where Air Canada announced an additional Daily flight to Toronto from Saint John starting on June 9th. They also confirmed the hiring of 50 more people at the AC Call Center this summer.

[McKay]

Originally Posted by Ottawa

I don't know how much of an interesting historical building it is but it had been a Woolworth's store for a long time. I believe they changed hands in 1994. Here is a link to the best picture I could find of it. It looks like it is from the 50's.

http://images.stampwants.com/bw6ng.img

Thanks; that's not bad at all.

[JHikka]

A public invitation to tweet about #91KING
http://sjcommercialre.wordpress.com/2014/05/27/a-public-invitation-to-tweet-about-91king/

Originally Posted by Stephanie Turner

#91KING TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION.

I’m super excited to be trying something new. My FOR SALE signage will be going up very soon on 91 King and will include a social media tagline. A few people are worried that the conversation could turn negative… I think anything that gets people talking is a positive thing!

What about all the other windows with the brown paper falling down? Stay tuned….we’re working on it.

UPDATE: Local Realtor To Clean Up Former Bargain Shop
http://country94news.blogspot.ca/2014/05/update-local-realtor-to-clean-up-former.html

Originally Posted by CHSJ News

Earlier today, we highlighted the sad condition of the former Woolworth's at 91 King Street--namely, the unsightly brown paper that has been sagging in the windows for years.

Local Realtor Stef Turner tells CHSJ News she just took control of the listing recently, and she's going to get rid of the paper within the week.

She says the owner, Rod Gillis, had considered spending the money to clean up the property--however, he concluded any potential buyer would be starting from scratch anyway, and it wouldn't make sense to spend the money. Mainly, she said, it was just been a case of no one taking the initiative.

They're replacing the paper with new signage advertising the building for sale. Turner says the building is zoned for mixed usage--meaning we could see commercial space on the bottom and apartments on top--and remains structurally sound despite a little water damage. Turner is inviting the public to comment on the future of 91 King Street via Twitter--for more info, click here

[JHikka]

Moved the four posts relating to the dream of a centralized airport in Sussex to the Atlantic Canada Airport Thread as they pertain more to airports than to Saint John. You can continue that discussion there.

The AC job announcement in Millidgeville is still relevant to Saint John.

-----

Currently Saint John Energy are in the process of upgrading the electrical generators at the foot of Union Street. Surely there must be options for relocating that substation and opening up that area to development..

[WharfRat]

Originally Posted by JHikka

Currently Saint John Energy are in the process of upgrading the electrical generators at the foot of Union Street. Surely there must be options for relocating that substation and opening up that area to development..

Agreed…that is a prime waterfront location, not that the city is short on undeveloped waterfront!

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New Brunswick Museum seeks $40-million expansion
Move from location in Market Square pondered as space doesn't meet current museum standards
CBC May27, 2014
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunsw...eum-seeks-40-million-expansion-1.2655246

"The New Brunswick Museum is pondering a move from its home in Saint John's Market Square and planning a $40 million addition to its facility on Douglas Avenue.
Jane Fullerton, the museum's chief executive officer, says the Market Square space limits what the museum can do."


This could be an interesting development! I wonder what would happen with the Market Square space?? Would they divide it into small stores/restaurants again or leave it as is and rent it as office space?

[MountPleasant]

Any thoughts on where city hall should go?

I say the old courthouse-- central, historic, king's square need more vibrancy

[Whaler]

Originally Posted by MountPleasant

Any thoughts on where city hall should go?

I say the old courthouse-- central, historic, king's square need more vibrancy

I would say the new parking garage!

[swish]

I agree the old court house in the square would be excellent. I love that area and always stay at Chipman Hill suites a stones throw from there.

[nwalbert]

Originally Posted by swish

I agree the old court house in the square would be excellent. I love that area and always stay at Chipman Hill suites a stones throw from there.

My only thought is would the old courthouse be large enough? Now if that option comes with reducing city staff I am totally in favor.

[MountPleasant]

I feel like it would be inevitable to expand the old courthouse.

I would say, build upward. Like NYC Hearst Tower, but obviously on a smaller scale. Halifax has done something similar to an old downtown building as well

It would make for a neat dynamic