Official Fredericton, NB projects thread

[OliverD]

Funny how New Brunswick has three Costcos and Maine only got its first one in November.

[Freddypop]

Originally Posted by Taeolas

Hmm, going by above, Moncton's first store was in '95 and they moved to their new store in '18, so 23 years.

SJ and Freddy are at 15 and 14 years respectively. So we're probably looking at another 5 years of each store bursting at the seams before Costco will seriously consider a renovation/new location. SJ may be ahead of Freddy in the queue, both because it is (slightly) older and its a location without a gas bar; they'll certainly want to get a gas bar down in SJ. And note that's just to get to the "seriously considering a new location" point. Actually picking and building the locations probably won't happen till the late 20's/early 30's, but the high growth rates in Freddy (and SJ's recovering rates) may push the priority a bit more.

Two things...1) Unless there has been a change, you will not see a Costco gas bar in Saint John. Irving put the kebash to that when it was built and I doubt they would want to change their minds now. This is afterall in their backyerd and they want the Irving brand to remain king and 2) when a store was built is only one component for consideration of a potential expansion. I would bet that sales rule he nest. Momcton outgrew their facility twice and now have one of the busiest stores in the nation. Any thought by Costco towards changes to the Freddy or Saint John stores will similarily be based on sales. Not pitting one city against another but I would also bet the Freddy store sales are higher than the Port City due to the troop supplies, etc to Base Gagetown

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by Freddypop

Two things...1) Unless there has been a change, you will not see a Costco gas bar in Saint John. Irving put the kebash to that when it was built and I doubt they would want to change their minds now. This is afterall in their backyerd and they want the Irving brand to remain king and 2) when a store was built is only one component for consideration of a potential expansion. I would bet that sales rule he nest. Momcton outgrew their facility twice and now have one of the busiest stores in the nation. Any thought by Costco towards changes to the Freddy or Saint John stores will similarily be based on sales. Not pitting one city against another but I would also bet the Freddy store sales are higher than the Port City due to the troop supplies, etc to Base Gagetown

This seems a bit conspiracy theory-like, no? How did Irving convince Costco not to do that?

[Nashe]

Originally Posted by OliverD

Funny how New Brunswick has three Costcos and Maine only got its first one in November.

They've had Sam's Club forever, though. (Three of them) It's basically the same thing.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by OliverD

This seems a bit conspiracy theory-like, no? How did Irving convince Costco not to do that?

I would guess that perhaps they are Costco's fuel supplier.....or at least the refiner for Costco's fuel wholesaler.

OTOH It may be as simple as Costco's SJ location and property layout is not suitable for a busy gas bar

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by sailor734

I would guess that perhaps they are Costco's fuel supplier.....or at least the refiner for Costco's fuel wholesaler.

OTOH It may be as simple as Costco's SJ location and property layout is not suitable for a busy gas bar

Could also be a circumstance of timing since the Fredericton Costco is the newest one and the original Moncton Costco also didn't have a gas bar.

[KnoxfordGuy]

Posting from the Moncton thread, haha, regarding the lot on Main, there was a house there.

Originally Posted by Taeolas

I noticed today that the lot next to Pizza Hut/Pete's Market on Main Street has been cleared off. No idea what might be planned there, but it is a nice spot to put something in, especially if they could save the trees.

Also, does anyone know what's going on with the lot on Brookside? There's a spot there with red metal fencing and a couple of excavators on it. It's been there for a few years now, and I don't think anything has been done there. Storing excavators there can't really be cheap for a lot on the edge of the Northside Core.

[KnoxfordGuy]

Regarding Bishop Dr. the traffic there gets worse with each new business and more people moving out towards Hanwell. When people need to turn across oncoming traffic, it backs up. There should be a center turn lane.

[Taeolas]

Thanks. I never even realized i was in the wrong thread.

Bishop is getting worse and worse as it develops; it is getting to the point we may need a few more roundabouts (maybe coming off the highway and/or turning in to Tims/Popeyes/Pur) and/or a centre turn lane as noted.

[OliverD]

The applicant for the demolition of that house on Main was Peter's Meat Market so that may be a clue. Hopefully they don't just expand the parking lot. The property was sold earlier this year for $260k.

[KnoxfordGuy]

I moved onto Valcour Drive in 2016 and the traffic volumes are noticeable in their increase. People passing cars that want to turn. Causing large holes on the shoulder of Bishop on the high turn areas where traffic builds up. It is illegal I assume to pass on a shoulder on a solid white line haha

[KnoxfordGuy]

Originally Posted by OliverD

The applicant for the demolition of that house on Main was Peter's Meat Market so that may be a clue. Hopefully they don't just expand the parking lot. The property was sold earlier this year for $260k.

Expensive parking lot if so.

[Taeolas]

I wonder if Petes (and/or Mikes) might be looking to build a bigger store? Their current spaces are decent enough but that area does have awkward parking. Build a new joint market there, and maybe expand their offerings a bit (bringing in a proper deli like Victory used to have would be nice) would probably be a good investment. Then their old location could be renovated for other businesses, maybe ones that could handle the tighter parking at that end of the lot better.

[OliverD]

Building permit highlights for May 2024:

- $5.4M for a 32-unit apartment building at 1748 Woodstock Rd (basically across from the Tim's/Esso)
- $3.45M for a 51-unit apartment building at 122 Wallace Ave. This is behind the KFC on Main. No details on this one as it did not require rezoning or variances, but it's great to see more units being built close to Main.
- $277k permit for the new Victory Meat Market in the former Bell Boy location on Lincoln Road
- $250k permit for the Starbucks on Two Nations
- H&R Block is moving across Regent Street into the vacant space in the new office building
- $900k for the new Swifty's on Bishop drive beside Volkswagen
- $66.3M for the new performing arts centre
- 15 new SFHs
- two new homes with basement apartments
- five new semi-detached dwellings
- demolition of the old Irving gas station on Clements Drive

Year to date there have been 238 new housing units permitted vs. 149 for the same period last year.

Total value of permits year to date is over $231M thanks to the courthouse and performing arts centre. Compare that to the $267M total for all of 2023!

[DyAm00394]

Posted this in over on the Saint John Retail Thread. Sharing here as well as it also applies to Fredericton:

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

Two new franchise opportunities are now online for Just Cuts at McAllister Place and Regent Mall. They are a salon brand with locations across Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Only Saint John and Fredericton is advertised for Atlantic Canada. This is part of their expansion into Canada.

[NB_ExistsToo]

Siding starting to go up on the Justice Building

20240615_115328 by Optimus Prime, on Flickr

[OliverD]

Yes, I believe that they need to get that side done so work can progress on the performing arts centre.

[StatelyElms]

Something's being demolished at UNB's Central Heating Plant. Not sure what all the components of the building are, but the tall, lightly-coloured rounded building in behind it is about a quarter or so demolished as of today.

[OliverD]

Originally Posted by StatelyElms

Something's being demolished at UNB's Central Heating Plant. Not sure what all the components of the building are, but the tall, lightly-coloured rounded building in behind it is about a quarter or so demolished as of today.

There's a $7.7M building permit labeled "Construct expansion of central heating plant at UNB".

[StatelyElms]

Originally Posted by OliverD

There's a $7.7M building permit labeled "Construct expansion of central heating plant at UNB".

That'd be it. Thanks!