The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[bingun]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

upload

Great to see how quickly they are moving on this project. This is the view from Germain Street West?

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by bingun

Great to see how quickly they are moving on this project. This is the view from Germain Street West?

Correct

[bridgeoftea]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

upload

Where exactly is this going to be on the port? I can't remember and looking it up didn't provide any nice map shops.

[Ottawa]

It's #10.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by Ottawa

It's #10.

What's #9? Crosby's?.....or is it outside the plan by the ferry?

[bingun]

Originally Posted by sailor734

What's #9? Crosby's?.....or is it outside the plan by the ferry?

Crosby's is the blue; Ferry is the green; Americold is going roughly where the red is.

[bingun]

Also, in yesterday's Growth Committee meeting, there was a discussion around tariffs, and Brent Harris had a typical long-winded monologue.

However, as part of this, he talks about advanced manufacturing and said -

We've had proposals come to this city around the advanced assembly of batteries and EV stuff.

To me, this confirms the previous rumours that someone was interested in setting up something EV-related in Lorneville.

With all the trouble tariffs are causing in the auto sector, I think this is probably no longer going anywhere, but interesting nonetheless.

[darkharbour]

Originally Posted by bingun

Also, in yesterday's Growth Committee meeting, there was a discussion around tariffs, and Brent Harris had a typical long-winded monologue.

However, as part of this, he talks about advanced manufacturing and said -

To me, this confirms the previous rumours that someone was interested in setting up something EV-related in Lorneville.

With all the trouble tariffs are causing in the auto sector, I think this is probably no longer going anywhere, but interesting nonetheless.

Well the rumour was related to a subsidiary of VW making battery materials for its previously announced St. Thomas, ON battery plant, so with the increased attention to EU trade, maybe it isn't all that far fetched.

EDIT:
https://lobbycanada.gc.ca/app/secure/ocl/lrs/do/vwRg?cno=378158&regId=953053

The rumour was based on past press releases and lobbying (see lobbying registration link above that clearly lists Port SJ) by Ionway, a joint venture of Volkswagen’s battery maker, PowerCo, and global technology and recycling company Umicore.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by darkharbour

Well the rumour was related to a subsidiary of VW making battery materials for its previously announced St. Thomas, ON battery plant, so with the increased attention to EU trade, maybe it isn't all that far fetched.

EDIT:
https://lobbycanada.gc.ca/app/secure/ocl/lrs/do/vwRg?cno=378158&regId=953053

The rumour was based on past press releases and lobbying (see lobbying registration link above that clearly lists Port SJ) by Ionway, a joint venture of Volkswagen’s battery maker, PowerCo, and global technology and recycling company Umicore.

I hope the project is still in play; I think it would be a great opportunity.

The TJ put out an article on the meeting - https://tj.news/saint-john-south/saint-john-already-feeling-the-effects-of-trade-war-envision-ceo

Uncertainty, Beckett said, is already starting to stifle business investment and attraction.

“Last year we had 22 active files of companies and businesses in terms of potential investments and that’s almost non-existent now,” Beckett said. “A lot of these companies are putting their decisions on hold until they get more certainty in terms of where things are heading.”

“But in terms of broadening the export market, in terms of looking at other markets and trying to align ourselves more with Europe and other areas where there could be export opportunities, I think the federal government is going to be looking for investments in trade, enabling infrastructure as a way to stimulate some of the economy over the next little while.”

It could be a good time, he added, for the region to go after funding for improvements to the Simms Corner area by framing it as a key part of the national trade corridor.

[Pugsley]

Originally Posted by darkharbour

Well the rumour was related to a subsidiary of VW making battery materials for its previously announced St. Thomas, ON battery plant, so with the increased attention to EU trade, maybe it isn't all that far fetched.

EDIT:
https://lobbycanada.gc.ca/app/secure/ocl/lrs/do/vwRg?cno=378158&regId=953053

The rumour was based on past press releases and lobbying (see lobbying registration link above that clearly lists Port SJ) by Ionway, a joint venture of Volkswagen’s battery maker, PowerCo, and global technology and recycling company Umicore.

OR, god forbid, a new venture for recycling or re-purposing batteries by AIM. I'd love to think that it is making batteries for VW. That would be much better!

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

A battery plant would be quite an improvement over AIM… and maybe there’d be the possibility for workers dormitories to built as part of such a project.

Would be amazing to see electric cars made here in Saint John, and even cooler if it was a Canadian startup EV brand that specializes in cold weather EV technology. There’s millions of people in Canada, Europe, and even the US that would really like to get rid of their Teslas.

[bingun]

Rothesay Arena is getting federal money for refurbishment and repurposing.

https://www.rothesay.ca/news-release-the...ts-in-community-building-in-rothesay-nb/

[bridgeoftea]

Looks like the work on the East Point / Retail Drive lights realignment has started up again. Some trucks have been onsite the past few mornings.
I also noticed that added a new East Point Shopping sign on the north side of the Ashburn Place building.

[DyAm00394]

Saint John gets $918K boost for housing developments

https://www.country94.ca/2025/03/21/saint-john-gets-918k-boost-for-housing-developments/

"Saint John will receive $918,000 in federal funding under the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) to unlock the development of 34 new housing units over the next two years. The funding is part of a national effort to address Canada’s housing shortage by cutting red tape and speeding up the construction of new homes.

The federal government recognized Saint John as a top performer in the Housing Accelerator Fund program because the city met its housing goals for the first year and suggested new ways to speed up development. Communities must meet several criteria to be eligible for the top performer designation, according to a government release. This includes achieving their housing unit forecasts, delivering on their action plan commitments for the first year, and proposing new initiatives to accelerate housing development.

Meeting these criteria makes communities eligible to receive up to 10 per cent of the value of their original agreement in additional funding.
For Saint John, the city’s efforts in surpassing housing targets and proposing new large-scale development projects contributed to this recognition.

The $918,000 boost represents a 10 per cent increase to the $9.1 million the city announced in July 2023 under the HAF.
Mayor Donna Reardon highlighted the city’s progress, noting they are ahead of their goals.

“So 1,124 was the target with the Housing Accelerator Fund, and we’ll add another 34 doors with this new funding,” Reardon said.

She added that Saint John’s vacancy rate is currently below 2 per cent, showing the urgent need for more housing. The Mayor also mentioned the challenges developers face when working on modular housing projects.

“With modular, a lot of times they want 50 per cent upfront, and it’s figuring out how the province could help with that bridging funding to get them there,” she said.

Reardon points out that this upfront payment requirement is unusual, comparing it to building a house, where paying 50 per cent of the cost before construction starts is uncommon.
She explained the new funding will be used to support large-scale housing developments in key areas such as Saint John’s uptown core. These projects are part of the city’s broader plans to create mixed-income neighbourhoods and ensure housing options for its growing population.

The Housing Accelerator Fund is a $4.4 billion initiative launched in March 2023 to speed up the construction of at least 112,000 homes nationwide by 2028, according to the Government of Canada. The fund supports municipalities in creating housing more quickly by addressing zoning barriers and accelerating project timelines".

[bingun]

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

Saint John gets $918K boost for housing developments

https://www.country94.ca/2025/03/21/saint-john-gets-918k-boost-for-housing-developments/

"Saint John will receive $918,000 in federal funding under the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) to unlock the development of 34 new housing units over the next two years. The funding is part of a national effort to address Canada’s housing shortage by cutting red tape and speeding up the construction of new homes.

The federal government recognized Saint John as a top performer in the Housing Accelerator Fund program because the city met its housing goals for the first year and suggested new ways to speed up development. Communities must meet several criteria to be eligible for the top performer designation, according to a government release. This includes achieving their housing unit forecasts, delivering on their action plan commitments for the first year, and proposing new initiatives to accelerate housing development.

Meeting these criteria makes communities eligible to receive up to 10 per cent of the value of their original agreement in additional funding.
For Saint John, the city’s efforts in surpassing housing targets and proposing new large-scale development projects contributed to this recognition.

The $918,000 boost represents a 10 per cent increase to the $9.1 million the city announced in July 2023 under the HAF.
Mayor Donna Reardon highlighted the city’s progress, noting they are ahead of their goals.

“So 1,124 was the target with the Housing Accelerator Fund, and we’ll add another 34 doors with this new funding,” Reardon said.

She added that Saint John’s vacancy rate is currently below 2 per cent, showing the urgent need for more housing. The Mayor also mentioned the challenges developers face when working on modular housing projects.

“With modular, a lot of times they want 50 per cent upfront, and it’s figuring out how the province could help with that bridging funding to get them there,” she said.

Reardon points out that this upfront payment requirement is unusual, comparing it to building a house, where paying 50 per cent of the cost before construction starts is uncommon.
She explained the new funding will be used to support large-scale housing developments in key areas such as Saint John’s uptown core. These projects are part of the city’s broader plans to create mixed-income neighbourhoods and ensure housing options for its growing population.

The Housing Accelerator Fund is a $4.4 billion initiative launched in March 2023 to speed up the construction of at least 112,000 homes nationwide by 2028, according to the Government of Canada. The fund supports municipalities in creating housing more quickly by addressing zoning barriers and accelerating project timelines".

I am happy that the city is following through on their commitments and is being rewarded for it.

I am paraphrasing, but in the Mayor's speech for the announcement, she said that these funds would help support large-scale developments, like the one at the top of King Street, which we know better as 99 King St. There was no mention that this was for affordable housing and they instead said it would boost the multi-unit numbers.

I don't think this money will go into that project specifically, but that implies other large projects uptown could be eligible for support to get moving. Perhaps the Landmark development, the developments planned near St Joe's, or even the additional buildings down at Fundy Quay?

[bingun]

From tonight's council meeting, DTI has 'committed to a re-design of Simm's Corner,' and council has invited them to present the details of this commitment next week. It all seems quite vague, but it sounds like DTI sent a letter to the city a few weeks ago with this commitment, and council wants more details.

I believe this is the same council meeting that JDI will be presenting their updated proposal (April 3rd).

Edit - A few other items -

The Reversing Falls restaurant has been subleased to - Saint John History and Nature Gallery Inc. - No details on what is planned, is the restaurant still open?

The CAO presented the - 2025 Strategic Initiatives Plan

https://pub-saintjohn.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=21305

The much anticipated green and red zones are still in the plan, but no specific dates are mentioned (Slide 9).

Simms Corner is mentioned again (Slide 10) -

GNB complete the conceptual design and commit to constructing a solution to address traffic and safety issues and while enabling growth.

An interesting item on Germain Street (Slide 14) -

Explore extension of Germain Street to connect with Lower Cove

The city's facility on Boards Head Road (Slide 15) -

Boars Head site deemed surplus and real estate opportunities to be explored.

[bridgeoftea]

It wouldn't shock me if that restaurant was closed.
Went about a year ago and was quite awful to be perfectly blunt.
It's a shame, you could totally envision like a weird piano / jazz bar that looks great at night with a view of the city. But, it'd suck for doing "nights out" where you want to hit a few places as it's not linked to anything uptown.

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by bingun

From tonight's council meeting, DTI has 'committed to a re-design of Simm's Corner,' and council has invited them to present the details of this commitment next week. It all seems quite vague, but it sounds like DTI sent a letter to the city a few weeks ago with this commitment, and council wants more details.

I believe this is the same council meeting that JDI will be presenting their updated proposal (April 3rd).

Here's the link to the letter that was sent to the mayor: https://pub-saintjohn.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=21367

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by bridgeoftea

It wouldn't shock me if that restaurant was closed.
Went about a year ago and was quite awful to be perfectly blunt.
It's a shame, you could totally envision like a weird piano / jazz bar that looks great at night with a view of the city. But, it'd suck for doing "nights out" where you want to hit a few places as it's not linked to anything uptown.

I don't think either of the restaurants post 2015 have done very well there ever since the old "The Falls" closed. I think the latest incarnation quit offering table service last year and became counter service semi-fast food only.

For many years it was it was owned by a Greek guy who also owned the Riviera on Charlotte (before it blew up in '86 ) For a long time it was seasonal only but eventually became year round. Definitely attracted an older crowd. My parents ate there a lot and often took us and our kids there for dinner. (80's 90's/2000's is what i remember) I think it also appealed to the bus tour crowd in the Summer. Always seemed pretty busy.

It's a shame nothing has worked there because the views from a window table are pretty spectacular.

[adamuptownsj]

An interesting item on Germain Street (Slide 14) -

Quote:
Explore extension of Germain Street to connect with Lower Cove

Man, I was all over the city when they rebuilt the bottom of Germain a couple years ago to do this. No interest in fixing the grid when it would have been cheaper, but, good to hear. Improving access to the south end of Germain could get that lot at 300 Germain filled in. Acre had an odd demonstrative render for it that seems to have fallen off their website.

Switch Ross from one-way westbound to one-way eastbound, and that fixes any potential weird traffic issues here.

I heard a while ago the port is entering a lease agreement for the wedge of land between Ross and Lower Cove with an unnamed business. Perhaps this is related.