[Moncton] Downtown Developments

[NBNYer]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

No other province in the federation is hamstrung like this. It's why the safest decision for the provincial bureaucracy is no decision at all. This is why nothing gets done in this province and this is why we're falling behind everyone else.......

I agree.

It can be sad to see some smaller communities' population dwindle in some regions but overall, the migration of people from the North to the South is likely beneficial to this province as a whole and helps to shift the balance of power to centralized urban areas. Other regions of Canada all experienced rural exodus decades ago but this event was delayed and much weaker in Atlantic Canada and particularly in NB. I always wondered why this was so. I assume the early settlement of multiple areas in the region, each with its own history and identity may be a resisting factor. Or the lack of the emergence of a single large urban area becoming the de facto ''central city'' for the province as an obvious destination for migrants and industry.

[L'homard]

I hate to see the old sports field go, but I have to be honest - it wasn't used hardly at all and the Dumont folks need somewhere to park other than in front of folks' houses in the residential area to the west. It is not far at all from the Dumont. You can walk to the hospital from the field in 5 minutes.
That being said, I too much prefer a parking structure but they are hugely expensive when compared to surface parking in this city. Just a few years ago a group of Halifax investors came to Moncton to build a downtown structure, rubbing their hands in glee at the investment opportunity. Once they saw the plethora of parking downtown at a cost of just a few dollars a day that was the end of that.
Seems to me TMH had a proposal for a structure ready to go about 10+ years ago but some sort of scandal broke out over how it was going to obe funded and that nixed it. I can't remember shit these days as old age continues its ravages, but perhaps someone else can recall the details now that I've jogged all your memories.
Bottom line for sure if Moncton's addiction to surface parking (40 per cent of the entire downtown is surface parking, an astronomical number) is brutal and getting worse. There are ways to make a parking garage work at hospitals. It is done successfully in every city except here.

[Taeolas]

Would take a council with some backbone to pull it off; but seems to me a solution would be to have limits on the size of the parking area (while also still mandating the minimum number of parking spots available for servicing a lot).

Something akin to "Surface parking may not exceed the total area of the buildings the lot services for buildings over X sq ft", and give bonuses/breaks for multi-level parking structures.

Any remaining space must be set aside for green space or "green" uses (Bike trails, pedestrian paths, etc...)

[MonctonRad]

Like I said, there have been several (at least two) serious proposals to build a parking garage at TMH over the last 20 years or so. The one that you are probably referring to wasn't a "scandal". They wanted to build the structure on the current visitor's parking lot, but the neighbours across the street objected because it would spoil the view from their front porches (as if the current view of the surface parking lot is ideal). Small town thinking.

As for a downtown structure, I think the tipping point will be the events centre. Parking will be necessary for that facility and I imagine that before too long you'll see a parking garage built to service the events centre. Perhaps this will change the downtown parking paradigm......

[NBNYer]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Like I said, there have been several (at least two) serious proposals to build a parking garage at TMH over the last 20 years or so. The one that you are probably referring to wasn't a "scandal". They wanted to build the structure on the current visitor's parking lot, but the neighbours across the street objected because it would spoil the view from their front porches (as if the current view of the surface parking lot is ideal). Small town thinking.

The correct response from the health authority or government should have been that facilitating access to a major healthcare facility in this province is more important than the view from your living room.

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

As for a downtown structure, I think the tipping point will be the events centre. Parking will be necessary for that facility and I imagine that before too long you'll see a parking garage built to service the events centre. Perhaps this will change the downtown parking paradigm......

I don't remember seeing this as a required part of a proposal, although one of the early renders had a parking structure on the south side of the train tracks. I wonder if this will be included or if they are banking on a private developer for parking.

[Nashe]

The amount of surface parking in Moncton is pretty ridiculous. I think there should be times when council can override the NIMBY's. Oh wait... they can, they just chose not to. The existing parking garage at TMH (while too small) is frankly... awesome. I use it whenever I can, because that other surface lot across the road is terrible. Really bad.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by Vorkuta

The amount of surface parking in Moncton is pretty ridiculous. I think there should be times when council can override the NIMBY's. Oh wait... they can, they just chose not to. The existing parking garage at TMH (while too small) is frankly... awesome. I use it whenever I can, because that other surface lot across the road is terrible. Really bad.

I do agree with you... My sister in law uses the parking garage when there are doctors appointments at the Moncton Hospital, and she hopes they wont have to remove it given that it seems the city, and province are both against parking garages... I wonder if it was built to look like a building from it's surrounding if it would be a different story. I was in Toronto, and seen a few parking garages that look like the brick buildings surrounding them Along with having "windows".

[L'homard]

Thanks for that MonctonRad. I couldn't remember the situation for the life of me.

[Scarface]

Anyone know what is going on opposite the Vaughan Harvey Sobeys on the old CNR property... I know that property was sold but din't hear of anything potentially being built there.

[NBNYer]

Originally Posted by Scarface

Anyone know what is going on opposite the Vaughan Harvey Sobeys on the old CNR property... I know that property was sold but din't hear of anything potentially being built there.

Do you mean the Southwest corner of Main and Vaughan Harvey? Have you noticed any evidence of site prep or construction? There's a major commercial and residential development planned for that corner and a couple of weeks ago another forumer mentioned a possible hotel.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by NBNYer

Do you mean the Southwest corner of Main and Vaughan Harvey? Have you noticed any evidence of site prep or construction? There's a major commercial and residential development planned for that corner and a couple of weeks ago another forumer mentioned a possible hotel.

I din't see any Machines but seen as they had part of the road blocked off they seem to be updating water, and sewage in that area, and seen employees in vest measuring out areas on that land... Same with down West Main I seen employees out there too. So not sure if it's just repaving or if they are building up that area...

[tmacdougall]

It the Junction.

http://cwatlantic.com/properties/the-junction-urban-village

Originally Posted by Scarface

I din't see any Machines but seen as they had part of the road blocked off they seem to be updating water, and sewage in that area, and seen employees in vest measuring out areas on that land... Same with down West Main I seen employees out there too. So not sure if it's just repaving or if they are building up that area...

[MonctonRad]

Yes, The Junction, one of the three (or so) downtown developments supposedly waiting on approval of the events centre before proceeding.........

[Scarface]

Thanks guys... As I said I knew CNR sold the land but din't know to whom or for what purpose... I will say if it looks anything like the render that will be lots of brick, stucco, and glass...

[MonctonRad]

A request for variance is being made at July's meeting of the Moncton PAC to allow for a three unit residential building on this lot on Church street across from the old MHS:



And while we're in the neighbourhood, does anyone know the status of the proposed restaurant project that Zio's was planning on the NW corner of Mountain & Church? I haven't heard a thing in the last six months and I have seen no activity on the site........

[bigrivernb]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

A request for variance is being made at July's meeting of the Moncton PAC to allow for a three unit residential building on this lot on Church street across from the old MHS:



And while we're in the neighbourhood, does anyone know the status of the proposed restaurant project that Zio's was planning on the NW corner of Mountain & Church? I haven't heard a thing in the last six months and I have seen no activity on the site........

I purchased a pizza from him a couple of weeks ago... and asked about this, he said he was still dealing with his lawyer on it....said shovels should be in ground soon he was also working through some stuff on the new Restaurant, he is still working on planning this when we spoke.... , I'm guessing next building season....

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by bigrivernb

I purchased a pizza from him a couple of weeks ago... and asked about this, he said he was still dealing with his lawyer on it....said shovels should be in ground soon he was also working through some stuff on the new Restaurant, he is still working on planning this when we spoke.... , I'm guessing next building season....

Glad to hear that this is still in the works, thanks.

[MonctonRad]

I see the city has just issued their first set of tenders for the Downing Street redevelopment project.

[MonctonRad]

I see the issue of renaming Robinson Court is coming before Moncton city council again. There apparently is some rush to consider this as the proponents want this done in time for the 125th anniversay celebrations of civic incorporation.

To quell the controversy, Councillor Pierre Boudreau is proposing that Robinson Court be renamed "Place Gerald LeBlanc sur Robinson/Gerald LeBlanc Place on Robinson" , which is quite a mouthful.

The sign on Robinson Court currently looks like this:



With the new proposed name by Councillor Boudreau, the lettering will be so small that nobody will be able to read it!!

I have no problem honouring M. LeBlanc, but I think there must be a better way somehow.

[BlackYear]

So they want to rename Robinson Court to an Acadian author. Ok!

Robinson Court - A section of downtown Moncton which is occupied by 1/2 bars, a smoke shop, a place which has had it's fair share of stabbings, and it's monitored 24 hrs a day by security cams! Really?