[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[MonctonRad]

from News 91.9

Complex for single, young mothers to be built in Moncton
News Staff Dec 17, 2013 07:53:01 AM

MONCTON, NB–It was a win for the YWCA last night at Moncton City Council.

After much debate, and just one nay vote from Councillor Daniel Bourgeois, the city has agreed to sell a piece of land, so the organization can build a complex that will house young mothers and young mothers to be.

The piece of land is located behind NBCC on Mountain Road, in the area of Fraser Avenue, Coventry Crescent and Bancroft Streets.

Associate Director for the YWCA Beth Lyons says we can’t ignore this, and we need these services.

“We want them in a community and any community we go to is not going to be thrilled with it, but at a certain point, we suck it up. We need to provide these services, we need to be accountable to our current residents and we work the best we can with the community to make it beautiful, to make it work with them. We want this community because it is going to be absolutely inspiring to those women.”

The YWCA is buying the land from the city for one dollar and they plan to build a 27 unit apartment complex for single, young women with children to improve their lives and will include daycare and adult learning programs.

Personal note - Not really downtown I know, but since for the purposes of this forum we consider everything inside Wheeler Blvd to be downtown, this is where this post goes…….

This generated a lot of discussion at council last night. The main objections centred around the fact that this land had been designated as parkland way back in the 1950's and some local residents were upset over it's loss (although I do think there were overtones of NIMBYism here). In any event, there will be a buffer of trees around this property and not all of the former parkland is being rezoned. I think this is a worthwhile project, and the location next to NBCC and not far from Plaza Blvd and Trinity Drive makes sense…….

[MonctonRad]

from CBC:

Tranportation museum's $60K sculpture draws mixed reviews



The City of Moncton is commissioning a $60,000 sculpture that will be displayed in front of the transportation museum as part of the city's art policy.

One per cent of the cost of any new public building in Moncton goes towards public art — up to $200,000.

But some people think the money could be better spent.

The new sculpture is called Le Mascaret — The Tidal Bore. It will feature granite in brown hues to reflect the Petitcodiac River.

Local artist Andre Lapointe will create the piece for Moncton's new transportation museum.

Paulette Theriault, Moncton city councillor and chair of the arts and culture committee, said public art is important and can put a stamp on the community.

"What do we remember the most? I mean New York City, the Statue of Liberty. Paris, the Eiffel Tower. And any city — even Charlottetown it's about Anne of Green Gables. So arts, public art, is about the people who make up the community," said Theriault.

But some people, like Shawn Amberman, aren't sure about the price tag.

"For sure $60,000 could be spent in different areas there and for a piece of art $60,000 I always find it's quite expensive," he said.

Matthew Arsenault has a different view.

"Things that are beautiful enhance life quality, quality of life in an area and they generally I think make people happier and therefore perhaps more productive," he said.

Theriault said the price of the sculpture was part of the budget for Resurgo Place.

Le Mascaret will be unveiled when the new museum opens in 2014.

personal note - So, Moncton will soon have it's own "wave" sculpture, just like the one next to the Maritime Museum in Halifax, only browner and not as high……

This has generated some controversy on the CBC Moncton Facebook page, mostly because of the $60,000 price tag but really, the city has little choice on the matter given the new "public art" rules that must be followed for new public buildings. In any event, I think it isn't a bad design and should be a nice addition to the area. The only concern I have is over vandalism by graffiti artists which will occur - of this I have no doubt!!

[mylesmalley]

It's criticism from the same type of person who argues against any government spending that doesn't directly benefit them today. I'm sure they complained about the museum expansion too. Or the fact that we even have a museum. After all, those out-of-touch fatcats at city hall have nothing better to do than find stupid ways to spend our hard-earned tax dollars! Man, these LIEberals and CONservatives are just the worst! When's the next election so we can throw these bums out! Oh yeah, and screw bilingualism!

Man, I've got to stop reading CBC articles...

[Mattyyy]

I am under the impression the city had bought it's way out of this deal last year and new buildings were to be built by Ashford, however CBC makes it sound as though they haven't gotten out of it. After what I have read on this Ashford company, it sounds as though we shouldn't be too confident of seeing any construction here in the near future. Any takes on this?

Change to Moncton parking deal remains a mystery
Audit finds mayor, city clerk may have unknowingly signed contract for 25 years of free parking

CBC News Posted: Dec 18, 2013 2:14 PM AT Last Updated: Dec 18, 2013 2:17 PM AT


The City of Moncton has released an audit into a controversial parking contract it signed with a developer back in 2002.

That contract originally gave 385 free parking spots downtown to a Toronto developer for 10 years.

However, there is still no clear explanation as to how the deal for free parking was extended to 25 years.

"A key point in the discussion related to the parking lease agreement is whether the contract presented to city council on Feb. 4, 2002 was the same contract that was signed by the mayor and city clerk on March 26, 2002," states the auditor's report.

The 385 parking spots were given to a numbered company that is a partnership between Moncton's Ashford Properties and Toronto's Verdiroc. The same developer built the Rogers call centre in downtown Moncton.

The auditor tried to find out what a lot of city councillors have been trying to figure out — how did the deal go from 10 years of free parking to 25 years without council knowing about it?

Much of the material obtained by CBC through a request under New Brunswick's Right to Information Act has been redacted.

The city says that was done at the request of third parties

The auditor notes that Moncton's lawyer was aware the 10-year deal was not acceptable to the firm that financed the Rogers facility.

However, that information was never passed on to councillors.

"The contracts were prepared by Verdiroc and should have been presented to the city's legal services department for review," states the report. "The city solicitor does not recall being presented with the version of the final signed document."

The auditor notes that current internal measures to inform the mayor and clerk council had authorized contracts to be signed were not in place at the time.

"As a result, it is possible … the contract was presented directly to the clerk and mayor for signature," states the auditor's report.

The report concludes there is no evidence the revised parking agreement was distributed to city council between Feb. 4 and Feb. 18, 2002.

[L'homard]

I too used to think this public art program was a crock of, well, you know.
I've since come around on it. After all, it's just one per cent of the budget and eventually we are going to end up being a pretty artsy city. I'm no big fan of the arts but am more of a red neck if anything, but this stuff is pretty cool IMHO.
Now, I purposely show visitors the birds nest atop the fire hall (which I used to think was a farce) and explain to them how it came to be there. Universally, the reaction has been, "I wish our city had a program like that."

[josh_cat_eyes]

Can someone summarize what the program is? Or what projects have been created by it? What impact would it have for the events centre?

[mylesmalley]

One per cent of the cost of any new public building in Moncton goes towards public art — up to $200,000.

.

Not sure if that implies that it has to be public art on site of the new building, or if that goes into some kind of fund.

Based on that article, $200,000 of the price of the events centre would go to art installations. Which would actually be <0.2% of the project cost.

[L'homard]

Wow, can you imagine what could be done with $200,000 for art at the new events centre?
Josh, take a look at the top of the new fire station on Botsford for an example of what the money is used for.
I thought it was ridiculous at first, so I can understand how some people don't see this as good value for their tax dollars.
But now, frankly, I love it. It's innovative, it stretches the boundaries of what most of us think of as art, it's just damn cool. (To me, anyway.)

[Good2go]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

It's criticism from the same type of person who argues against any government spending...

Maybe Rob Ford could move east?

[josh_cat_eyes]

Originally Posted by Good2go

Maybe Rob Ford could move east?

We have Mike Duffy instead. That is, when he's not in Ottawa.

[BlackYear]

The old strip bar across from Moncton High school is scheduled for demolition within the upcoming few weeks.

[David_99]

Originally Posted by Budyser

The old strip bar across from Moncton High school is scheduled for demolition within the upcoming few weeks.

Sweet! For a while I thought the strip club would outlive the high school... Unless the Strip Club and Tattoo Parlours plan to move to Irishtown...

[Mattyyy]

I noticed today that the vacant lot with the fencing on Main St. between the TD Building and the law office now has a sold sign on it.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by Budyser

The old strip bar across from Moncton High school is scheduled for demolition within the upcoming few weeks.

Good news! Depending on how the old Moncton High School is redeveloped, this could be a very desirable property in it's own right.

Originally Posted by David_99

Sweet! For a while I thought the strip club would outlive the high school... Unless the Strip Club and Tattoo Parlours plan to move to Irishtown...

[BlackYear]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Good news! Depending on how the old Moncton High School is redeveloped, this could be a very desirable property in it's own right.

The owner, who owns the whole block except for House of Nazareth, already has plans for this corner. Stay tune.

[MonctonRad]

I was in at Colpitts Mens Wear today and I asked the salesman what was being built in that space between the new Starbucks and the Old Triangle on Main Street. He said it was going to be an Italian restaurant. He didn't know the name, but he seemed quite certain as to what the new business would be.

The restaurant district in the central and eastern portion of Main Street continues to grow and grow. Has anyone tried the new Izakaya Grill next to Mexicali Rosa's yet?

[NBNYer]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

I was in at Colpitts Mens Wear today and I asked the salesman what was being built in that space between the new Starbucks and the Old Triangle on Main Street. He said it was going to be an Italian restaurant. He didn't know the name, but he seemed quite certain as to what the new business would be.

The restaurant district in the central and eastern portion of Main Street continues to grow and grow. Has anyone tried the new Izakaya Grill next to Mexicali Rosa's yet?

Good news about that new Italian restaurant next to SB!

Main Street should be known as Moncton's very own restaurant row!

As for JapanGo, I have to say that their sushi is pretty decent, for New-Brunswick. I'd say it's probably the best I've had in Moncton. The fish is fresh and they give generous portions per roll. They also don't drench them in sauce and deep fry everything.... cough... Osaka.. cough.

It's worth a visit. Probably my place for sushi in Moncton now.

[curious]

That is for sure. It is too bad our downtown wasn't like Frederictons. It would be nice to have some individual stores. Too bad Klozet and Cara shoes didn't move downtown. I would like to think that the event centre is going to happen but it doesn't look great does it.

Originally Posted by NBNYer

Good news about that new Italian restaurant next to SB!

Main Street should be known as Moncton's very own restaurant row!

As for JapanGo, I have to say that their sushi is pretty decent, for New-Brunswick. I'd say it's probably the best I've had in Moncton. The fish is fresh and they give generous portions per roll. They also don't drench them in sauce and deep fry everything.... cough... Osaka.. cough.

It's worth a visit. Probably my place for sushi in Moncton now.

[David_99]

Originally Posted by Budyser

The old strip bar across from Moncton High school is scheduled for demolition within the upcoming few weeks.

Moncton’s last strip club to be torn down

Speranza, owner of Zio’s Pizzeria, has secured the ownership of all of the properties at the corner of Church Street and Mountain Road and is planning a new Italian restaurant for that spot.

“I want to build just as soon as I get the permits and the financing in place,” says Speranza, a familiar name in Italian culinary excellence in Moncton.

The transformation of Zio’s from humble but busy pizzeria into a premiere casual, sit-down or take-home dining destination — with live entertainment at times — could start as early as this month when Speranza orders the demolition of the former Night Magic strip club which he recently acquired. Speranza’s advisors urged him to keep the building which was at one time owned by his brother and where Sandro formerly operated Uncle’s restaurant and Sandro’s Pizza more than two decades ago, but Speranza will hear nothing of it.

“Nothing will ever work in that building,” he says. “It will always be known as the old strip club.”

Speranza plans to start from scratch with a new, one-storey building that fronts right onto the angle of the corner of Mountain Road and Church Street, with parking at the rear.

From today's Times & Transcript

[BlackYear]

Yep. I didn't want to announce 100% of the good news until he did.