[Moncton] Old Moncton High School Redevelopment (under construction) - Page 8

MonctonRad · #**141** Posted **Sep 6, 2017, 2:45 AM**

These new renderings no longer show the glass box covering over the former main entrance to MHS.

MonctonRad · #**142** Posted **Sep 6, 2017, 3:50 AM**

A couple more crappy screen shots from the council meeting, snared from the Rogers TV broadcast:

The proposal includes turning the former MHS sports field next to Wheeler Blvd into off site parking for this complex.

This shot is included only to show which portions of the building are to be developed in which order. There will be four phases:

Phase 1 - conversion of the bulk of the building into a mixed commercial development including a large call centre ( which I presume will be for TD Bank). This includes new construction filling in the former courtyard with an expansion to the building.

Phase 2 - redevelopment of the former auditorium into a performance space, likely including the Atlantic Ballet Theatre of Canada. Yes - the atrium (glass box) covering the main entrance to the building is now history. This is a good thing, but one wonders what this means for necessary lobby space in front of the theatre. Will they make up for this by reducing the seating area for the theatre? During the presentation at council, Bill Budd referred to the theatre as a 800-1200 seat auditorium. If the theatre goes down to 800 seats, I would assume that this means that some seating will have been sacrificed in order to create a lobby space while maintaining the facade of the building.

Phase 3 - redevelopment of the former gymnasium for additional space for the artistic "Centre of Excellence".

Phase 4 - a retail commercial development taking up the northern extremity of the MHS parking lot on the north side of the building. On the site plan above, you can see this part of the parking lot is a slightly darker shade of beige than the remainder of the parking lot.

josh_cat_eyes · #**143** Posted **Sep 6, 2017, 12:17 PM**

This is fantastic news!! I can totally get behind this project now that it is actually maintaining the exterior of the building!!

mylesmalley · #**144** Posted **Sep 6, 2017, 2:08 PM**

A thousand parking spaces. Gross.

MonctonRad · #**145** Posted **Sep 6, 2017, 2:27 PM**

650 jobs at the TD Bank customer service centre, as well as parking for the theatre, artistic centre of excellence and the retail component of the development.

At least the parking will be on the edge of Wheeler Blvd, and will be occupying the former sports field. No houses are being knocked down and they are planning a parkland buffer between the parking and the adjacent residential area. It's not quite the same as the blight of blocked and booted surface parking in the core........

L'homard · #**146** Posted **Sep 6, 2017, 3:48 PM**

As well, 1010 parking spaces hints at something more coming than 650 new jobs.

David_99 · #**147** Posted **Sep 6, 2017, 3:50 PM**

I'm just happy the old MHS building didn't become a parking lot.

mylesmalley · #**148** Posted **Sep 6, 2017, 4:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by L'homard

As well, 1010 parking spaces hints at something more coming than 650 new jobs.

Pretty confident that lot is targeting the Dumont, and not really anything to do with the MHS.

MonctonRad · #**149** Posted **Sep 6, 2017, 4:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

Pretty confident that lot is targeting the Dumont, and not really anything to do with the MHS.

They might lease overflow to the Dumont, but they didn't mention that at the city council meeting. They were stressing the multiple uses of the building with people occupying both permanent and transient parking spots (for entertainment and retail). Mr. Budd said that he initially thought the parking was "excessive", but after Heritage Developments explained their plans, he became satisfied that what they were planning was appropriate.

MonctonRad · #**150** Posted **Sep 7, 2017, 1:37 AM**

Naming Rights:

Now here's a thought - if the bulk of the old MHS building becomes a TD Bank customer service centre, it would be great synergy if naming rights for the auditorium could be purchased by TD Bank too.

I can see it now - TD Bank Auditorium, with a nice illuminated sign mounted on the plaza in front of the theatre.

Somebody should bring this up with Frank McKenna - I'm sure he would go for it. It could bring a tidy sum to help defray operating costs for the theatre.

MonctonRad · #**151** Posted **Sep 7, 2017, 3:17 AM**

Here's a better image (from CBC) showing the parking plan for the redeveloped MHS site:

MonctonRad · #**152** Posted **Oct 15, 2017, 3:25 AM**

The rezoning request for the MHS redevelopment is going before the PAC on October 25th.

MonctonRad · #**153** Posted **Oct 30, 2017, 11:29 AM**

MH Renaissance Inc. group feels snubbed over former Moncton High building
Group expected to work with Heritage Developments to redevelop former Moncton High School
By Kate Letterick, CBC News Posted: Oct 30, 2017 6:00 AM AT| Last Updated: Oct 30, 2017 6:07 AM AT
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-br...bbed-1.4375860

Quote:

The group that dedicated itself to saving the former Moncton High School building, turning it into an arts and cultural centre feels it's been shut out of the project.

MH Renaissance Inc. worked for three-and-a-half years to save the building and was initially pleased when the province announced in August it would be sold to Heritage Developments for $1 million.

A government press release, dated Aug. 1 states, "the developer has committed to preserving the architectural elements of the building and to leasing cultural spaces within, such as the gymnasium and the auditorium, to non-profit arts and culture organizations. They will partner with MH Renaissance Inc. to renovate the building."

But MH Renaissance Inc. president Dennis Cochrane says so far, that hasn't happened.

And this little tidbit in the article is interesting (given the preceding post)

Quote:

Moncton's planning advisory committee voted against the extra parking on Oct. 25, and that information will be forwarded to city council. A public hearing to consider written objections to the proposed rezoning changes will be held on Nov. 6.

personal note - still trouble on the horizon it would appear.......

Scarface · #**154** Posted **Oct 30, 2017, 3:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

MH Renaissance Inc. group feels snubbed over former Moncton High building
Group expected to work with Heritage Developments to redevelop former Moncton High School
By Kate Letterick, CBC News Posted: Oct 30, 2017 6:00 AM AT| Last Updated: Oct 30, 2017 6:07 AM AT
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-br...bbed-1.4375860

And this little tidbit in the article is interesting (given the preceding post)

personal note - still trouble on the horizon it would appear.......

I'm wondering if it does not have something to do with MH Renaisance Inc. menbers suposibly being the reason it took so long to sell the school. Also there plans where they had the library in it as if it was a sure thing but had never spoke to anyone who is managing the library.

If this is actualy the case I would not blame Heritage Developments, or the city for not wanting to ork with them. Despite being comprised of profesionals it seem the group was not very much on there planing, and presantation at first glance.

MonctonRad · #**155** Posted **Oct 31, 2017, 12:02 AM**

The MH Renaissance Group are good people. They have the best interests of MHS at heart.

Having said this, the school has been sold to Heritage Developments and it's up to them how to develop the property. MH Renaissance has no official standing as far as the future of MHS is concerned. Heritage Developments will have to work with the city and the province to determine how the cultural space at MHS is structured. This is no longer MH Renaissance's business unless the province delegates this authority to them. I don't believe the province has actually done this - yet.

Maybe MH Renaissance should talk to the province about what their status really is........

MonctonRad · #**156** Posted **Nov 3, 2017, 11:27 AM**

The dust up over converting the MHS sports field into a surface parking lot is getting serious.

The enraged neighbours are acquiring activist allies. Meanwhile, Heritage Developments says that they are willing to "walk away" from the MHS redevelopment project unless they get their own way - effectively an ultimatum.

This is unfortunate, but realistically, if the TD Bank customer contact centre is to be the MHS tenant, then I'm sure that Heritage Developments is working under a very tight timeline for the conversion of the property. They can't afford this process taking too long to get approved. Unless a solution can be reached in short order, expect the contact centre to relocate elsewhere in metro.......

MonctonRad · #**157** Posted **Nov 3, 2017, 11:37 AM**

CBC article:

Environmental group joins chorus of voices against paving of Moncton High sports field
Developer wants permission to pave sports field
By Tori Weldon, CBC News Posted: Nov 03, 2017 7:00 AM AT| Last Updated: Nov 03, 2017 7:00 AM AT
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-br...-lot-1.4384376

Ammn_guy · #**158** Posted **Nov 3, 2017, 1:03 PM**

If it falls through , They could renovate the other 1234 Main building for TD contact center..potentally expand it on to the vacant ground beside it. It would be nice to see all those workers downtown instead of on the fringe, great for DT business's. Right beside the transit hub.

BlackYear · #**159** Posted **Nov 3, 2017, 1:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ammn_guy

If it falls through , They could renovate the other 1234 Main building for TD contact center..potentally expand it on to the vacant ground beside it. It would be nice to see all those workers downtown instead of on the fringe, great for DT business's. Right beside the transit hub.

Tangerine in one and TD in the other.

But where will all these new 600 TD workers park? Oh boy! Here comes the parking garage topic again!

Why is it that parking garages seems to be the easiest solution in Moncton but yet we can't seem to ever make it happen?

L'homard · #**160** Posted **Nov 3, 2017, 2:12 PM**

Because they cost approximately $15,000 PER PARKING SPACE to build them. That's the only reason why but it's a valid reason.

If this project is scuttled by 6 to 12 unhappy residents, it spells doom for MHS. There are no other deals coming down the pipes, especially none that involving saving the iconic, historic structure, bringing in hundreds of jobs and putting a cool $1 million into taxpayers ppckets.
Let us be clear here. THis is NOT a flood plain, it is NOT a sports field and I have yet to have anyone show how this is suddenly a "conservation zone."
It's a field that I've driven by for half a century, on average two to four times every day, and can count on my fingers how often I've seen a human being in it in all these decades. I've also never seen it flood.
Let's stop the game playing. We either let the Carpenters develop MHS or we tear it down. If there were other options, we would have heard about them in the past several years.