The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[bridgeoftea]

Originally Posted by nwalbert

Really fantastic in-fill project!

I was just thinking about this project driving by this site a few weeks ago thinking it's a shame it never got approved or funding. Glad to see it on it's way to being a reality!

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by bingun

There are a few buildings down that way with nice architecture (290 Crown, for example); it's too bad about the rest of the area. I always think it's ripe for infill, though, or even demolishing some buildings in poor condition.

They'll get a front row seat as they raise the causeway, which will inevitably take multiple years.

290 Crown belonged to the onetime owner of the Saint John Drydock for over 50 years. Luckily it has had a series of owner's largely sympathetic to it's heritage since it was sold by that family in the early 80's

[darkharbour]

Originally Posted by sailor734

It'll have a killer view of the mudflats.

If it's good enough for Moncton, it's good enough for us





In all seriousness, I actually really love the views of Courtenay Bay.

[KnoxfordGuy]

I like the industrial grit of the bay. I'd buy that view haha

[sailor734]

Does anybody know if the sale of the city owned property at the end of Sydney to Lafford ever went through?

[irisheyes]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Does anybody know if the sale of the city owned property at the end of Sydney to Lafford ever went through?

Just to be clear this is not the Landmark project. Very curious where both of these projects are at as well. Tin Can Beach would really be transformed for the better.

I know Parsi is still very much active in the region.

https://parsidevelopment.com/portfolio-item/300-sydney/

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by irisheyes

Just to be clear this is not the Landmark project. Very curious where both of these projects are at as well. Tin Can Beach would really be transformed for the better.

I know Parsi is still very much active in the region.

https://parsidevelopment.com/portfolio-item/300-sydney/

That may be but there has been zero activity on this since approval and I have it on good authority (a bone fide Saint John developer who was actually approached) that this project was being shopped around as an approved build ready project (land- engineering-plans etc) within days of receiving city approval as a quick flip. People I've talked to doubt there was ever any serious intent to build

It may still happen but I'm not holding my breath at this point. Maybe if Lafford does something down there he might eventually be interested in this property as well.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Does anybody know if the sale of the city owned property at the end of Sydney to Lafford ever went through?

I have been keeping an eye out, but so far nothing on the property assessment tool showing a sale. We may get an update at the next council meeting, as the previous extension was until the end of June.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by irisheyes

Just to be clear this is not the Landmark project. Very curious where both of these projects are at as well. Tin Can Beach would really be transformed for the better.

I know Parsi is still very much active in the region.

https://parsidevelopment.com/portfolio-item/300-sydney/

Welcome to the forum.

Parsi is active in the Saint John Region? I wasn't aware of them breaking ground on any projects yet, but I'd be interested to learn more.

I'm still confused as to the situation with Landmark... are the developers local, or from out of province? Parsi Development seems to be based out of BC, but CDNguys said in another thread that Landmark was being developed by a local developer from Rothesay. You seem to know a bit about Parsi, has there been a change with the developer of Landmark?

Their West Side proposal looked quite nice from the renders, but the Landmark project at 300 Sydney would be absolutely transformational for the south end of the Central Peninsula... and is something that hopefully gets done.

I think I remember hearing something about a sunset clause that if no work starts within 5 years the city can revert the zoning back to what it was before... which would be a shame to see.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Welcome to the forum.

Parsi is active in the Saint John Region? I wasn't aware of them breaking ground on any projects yet, but I'd be interested to learn more.

I'm still confused as to the situation with Landmark... are the developers local, or from out of province? Parsi Development seems to be based out of BC, but CDNguys said in another thread that Landmark was being developed by a local developer from Rothesay. You seem to know a bit about Parsi, has there been a change with the developer of Landmark?

Their West Side proposal looked quite nice from the renders, but the Landmark project at 300 Sydney would be absolutely transformational for the south end of the Central Peninsula... and is something that hopefully gets done.

I think I remember hearing something about a sunset clause that if no work starts within 5 years the city can revert the zoning back to what it was before... which would be a shame to see.

To clarify, there are developers and investors. Developer is local, investors may not.

[bingun]

The Retail Drive/Rothesay Avenue realignment project is starting to come together and looks more like an intersection and less like a hole in the ground. They were pouring the concrete sidewalks when I drove by earlier this week.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by bingun

The Retail Drive/Rothesay Avenue realignment project is starting to come together and looks more like an intersection and less like a hole in the ground. They were pouring the concrete sidewalks when I drove by earlier this week.

Hopefully it will wrap up on time. Having Rothesay Ave cut in half is a real pain at times but I think the results will be worth it.

[darkharbour]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Hopefully it will wrap up on time. Having Rothesay Ave cut in half is a real pain at times but I think the results will be worth it.

I do hope that the lands around it are eventually able to be developed, they cleared a lot of space for this project and once the road and intersection are completed the 'buffer' of empty space around it will seem far too big IMO.

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by darkharbour

I do hope that the lands around it are eventually able to be developed, they cleared a lot of space for this project and once the road and intersection are completed the 'buffer' of empty space around it will seem far too big IMO.

They should be more appealing to commercial developers now that the intersection is fixed. IIRC Saint John actually has a realty specialist on staff these days. Hopefully these will be sold proactively.

[bingun]

I assume they will tear up the old road and sidewalks after the new road is complete. There should be a fair-sized lot on that side; the other side, I am not so sure.

I am not sure if there is strong demand for it, though, but maybe someone likes the appeal of being on the corner.

[bridgeoftea]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Hopefully it will wrap up on time. Having Rothesay Ave cut in half is a real pain at times but I think the results will be worth it.

I think October was the estimated completed time. When it was just the double lights, Rothesay ave post 4:30pm was a nightmare and now it's even worse with the big pot holes in the gravel everywhere.

[irisheyes]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

Welcome to the forum.

Parsi is active in the Saint John Region? I wasn't aware of them breaking ground on any projects yet, but I'd be interested to learn more.

I'm still confused as to the situation with Landmark... are the developers local, or from out of province? Parsi Development seems to be based out of BC, but CDNguys said in another thread that Landmark was being developed by a local developer from Rothesay. You seem to know a bit about Parsi, has there been a change with the developer of Landmark?

Their West Side proposal looked quite nice from the renders, but the Landmark project at 300 Sydney would be absolutely transformational for the south end of the Central Peninsula... and is something that hopefully gets done.

I think I remember hearing something about a sunset clause that if no work starts within 5 years the city can revert the zoning back to what it was before... which would be a shame to see.

My knowledge could be dated by a few months but Parsi (based in Victoria BC) was or is working with someone locally yes. I really didn't get the impression that this was simply land speculation. Parsi has a relatively good reputation in BC from what I understand so I'm cautiously optimistic.

[adamuptownsj]

Parsi west side project is absolutely speculation.

[cdnguys]

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by sailor734

290 Crown belonged to the onetime owner of the Saint John Drydock for over 50 years. Luckily it has had a series of owner's largely sympathetic to it's heritage since it was sold by that family in the early 80's

Found this the other day on JDI's website.



and also looked up 290 Crown... wow. Reminds me a lot of the crazy looking Adams Family style house on Lancaster near Wolastoq Park, but this one is even nicer.



I think that would really be an amazing place to live, with such an interesting location and view, especially for people who like watching ships. Sad to see the shape of some of the other buildings around that area, because theres a lot of other nice looking buildings that just need some fixing up.

Hopefully more developments like this one on Leinster will help improve the area and we see more of the uninteresting salt boxes torn down and replaced with something newer and taller... along with all the vacant lots that could be built on within the core of the city.

Some of the salt boxes in Saint John actually have some nice architectural elements and should be preserved, but others are just hideous and detract from the character of the city. 166 Leinster isn't an architectural marvel, but it's going to be a hell of a lot nicer than many of the salt boxes that surround it.