[Saint John] Uptown Thread - Page 85

cdnguys · #**1681** Posted **Oct 31, 2023, 12:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailor734

Regardless of the name is there anyone else that thinks the Loyalist Plaza reboot has been taking a ridiculously long time to complete? I mean 2 full years and it doesn't look even close to completion. Stage, patios, tidal steps and even just the paving stones all have a way to go. Is it the fact that government is involved? I mean, skyscrapers have been built in less time.

(Look at the Empire State Building.....102 stories in 1 year and 45 days start to finish)

Supply chain issues, legitimately. Anyone working down there will tell you. In fairness, government is not involved in the construction, funded yes, but not involved in management of the construction.

adamuptownsj · #**1682** Posted **Oct 31, 2023, 1:58 PM**

Unanimous approval from city council. Pathetic to see. No comments allowed from our vital public broadcaster of course. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fundy-quay-space-named-ihtoli-maqahamok-1.7013411

They have the gall to call it lyrical. Unbelievable.

darkharbour · #**1683** Posted **Oct 31, 2023, 3:50 PM**

I like it, I wasn't sure at first just because I was worried about the pronunciation, but it has really grown on me the more I hear it. It's also just the name of the public space, not the slip itself, the buildings on either side, Harbour Passage, or anything like that. This was a good move and engaged more people in the pre-colonial history of the harbour and the Wolastoquey language - I don't think anyone will care 5 years from now that a few people had a hard time with it at first.

sailor734 · #**1684** Posted **Oct 31, 2023, 3:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Unanimous approval from city council. Pathetic to see. No comments allowed from our vital public broadcaster of course. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fundy-quay-space-named-ihtoli-maqahamok-1.7013411

They have the gall to call it lyrical. Unbelievable.

This council seems to throw any form of common sense out the window when they are rushing to jump on the latest progressive, feel good, PC bandwagon.

Look at some of the decisions they have made around bike lanes.

cdnguys · #**1685** Posted **Oct 31, 2023, 5:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Unanimous approval from city council. Pathetic to see. No comments allowed from our vital public broadcaster of course. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fundy-quay-space-named-ihtoli-maqahamok-1.7013411

They have the gall to call it lyrical. Unbelievable.

I think we’ll really lose our sh%t if they rename King’s or Queen Square. It will be attempted within 20 years IMO

sailor734 · #**1686** Posted **Oct 31, 2023, 8:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdnguys

I think we’ll really lose our sh%t if they rename King’s or Queen Square. It will be attempted within 20 years IMO

Probably sooner than that you'll cranes taking down Champlain's statue in Queen Sq or the Loyalist Cross in King's Sq. I can hear it now........." blah blah blah glorification of oppressive colonialist settler culture blah, blah blah".....

JakeNB · #**1687** Posted **Nov 1, 2023, 12:10 PM**

Anyone have an news on the status of the County Courthouse theatre project? Seems to have gone quiet.

darkharbour · #**1688** Posted **Nov 1, 2023, 12:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JakeNB

Anyone have an news on the status of the County Courthouse theatre project? Seems to have gone quiet.

The last update was that because of supply chain issues they were on track but delaying start until the new year, so I'm not worried at all given the Theatre Company's track record and the government funding involved.

They just unveiled the interior renderings in August and planned interior conservation work starting October/November. There are details here: https://saintjohntheatrecompany.com/wp-c...er-courthouse-article-TJ-Aug-20-2022.pdf

DyAm00394 · #**1689** Posted **Nov 7, 2023, 9:28 PM**

Posted this over on the retail thread, but thought I share it here too (since it's Uptown).

Quote:

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

Sources are saying that Lawtons Drugs inside Brunswick Square will be relocating from the 1st level to the 2nd level, (directly above where they are at right now).

This move will happen in January 2024.

Helladog · #**1690** Posted **Nov 7, 2023, 11:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

Posted this over on the retail thread, but thought I share it here too (since it's Uptown).

Shame 99 King wasn’t yet a thing. This would be ideal for the street level retail of that development.

gtsoc · #**1691** Posted **Nov 8, 2023, 12:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

Posted this over on the retail thread, but thought I share it here too (since it's Uptown).

Making way for a grocery store in the bottom level.

sailor734 · #**1692** Posted **Nov 8, 2023, 2:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

Posted this over on the retail thread, but thought I share it here too (since it's Uptown).

Well, there is certainly no lack of empty space for them to move into.

DyAm00394 · #**1693** Posted **Nov 8, 2023, 2:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtsoc

Making way for a grocery store in the bottom level.

Would be awesome if true.

adamuptownsj · #**1694** Posted **Nov 8, 2023, 2:44 PM**

Has the city ever pressed Brunswick Square's ownership over the lack of lease renewal? Or even made an attempt to find uptown homes for departing tenants? Personal preferences aside, it's crazy Deluxe and McDonald's totally vacated the area. Or is this just something else we pay Envision Saint John to shrug at?

A grocery store would be awesome. Does anyone know whether it's easy or difficult for large trucks to access this floor? I have no idea.

cdnguys · #**1695** Posted **Nov 8, 2023, 4:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Has the city ever pressed Brunswick Square's ownership over the lack of lease renewal? Or even made an attempt to find uptown homes for departing tenants? Personal preferences aside, it's crazy Deluxe and McDonald's totally vacated the area. Or is this just something else we pay Envision Saint John to shrug at?

A grocery store would be awesome. Does anyone know whether it's easy or difficult for large trucks to access this floor? I have no idea.

Yes the city tried to open a dialogue with the REIT - it’s not a priority by the REIT from what I understand. I’m not concerned about McDonalds leaving - there is only so much income to be spent on food uptown and I’d rather see it go to locally branded businesses. Despite B Sq failing over the last 15 years, I can tell you overall uptown selection of shops and restaurants are 400% better over the 30 years I lived uptown. Back then the only fancier place to go was Chizzlers or Vito’s

adamuptownsj · #**1696** Posted **Nov 8, 2023, 5:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdnguys

Yes the city tried to open a dialogue with the REIT - it’s not a priority by the REIT from what I understand. I’m not concerned about McDonalds leaving - there is only so much income to be spent on food uptown and I’d rather see it go to locally branded businesses. Despite B Sq failing over the last 15 years, I can tell you overall uptown selection of shops and restaurants are 400% better over the 30 years I lived uptown. Back then the only fancier place to go was Chizzlers or Vito’s

Oh I don't disagree, hence my caveat. I was surprised to see such chains leave a growing neighbourhood instead of just departing the mall, though. Sedona AZ, Quebec City, many places in Europe have fast food chains situated in pedestrian-access-only historic buildings. And we don't have a shortage of pre-zoned, reasonably-priced, street-level, commercial space, at all.

sailor734 · #**1697** Posted **Nov 9, 2023, 12:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdnguys

Yes the city tried to open a dialogue with the REIT - it’s not a priority by the REIT from what I understand. I’m not concerned about McDonalds leaving - there is only so much income to be spent on food uptown and I’d rather see it go to locally branded businesses. Despite B Sq failing over the last 15 years, I can tell you overall uptown selection of shops and restaurants are 400% better over the 30 years I lived uptown. Back then the only fancier place to go was Chizzlers or Vito’s

The Brunswick Square situation really puzzles me. I'm obviously missing something but what is the motivation for an owner to sit with an empty facility like this for year after year?

As to uptown restaurants there have been some really good ones over the years going back to the 80's. The problem has always been that they struggled due to lack of consistent support for fine dining. The Continental in Market Square (1980's) was superb but couldn't survive here. The owner (Italo) opened a restaurant in Charlottetown and prospered for 35 years until he retired. Someone in the hospitality industry once told me the problem with Saint John was that there was no tradition of business/expense account lunches. He blamed it on Irving have such a stranglehold on business here. Without that income stream it's hard for restaurants to prosper.

DyAm00394 · #**1698** Posted **Nov 15, 2023, 10:53 PM**

The city CAO gave an update on some catalytic infrastructure projects at last night's Council Meeting. He mentioned that the boardwalk redevelopment project is in the final phases. Also mentioned was that there are slight delays of the shipment of materials for the new glass patio enclosures. (Was supposed to arrive this month), he said this is due to supply chain issues. He said the team is reviewing the project schedule details and will provide council an update by the end of this year.

And for the private sector portion update of Fundy Quay, he mentioned that as we noticed there is now a crane on site for the pile driving for the foundation of the South-West building. (Which is beginning within the next 2 weeks). He said with speaking with the developer, the pile driving work will last up to 5-7 weeks.

sailor734 · #**1699** Posted **Nov 17, 2023, 4:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DyAm00394

Glass enclosures for patios arrive in November. They said they are still on schedule to be complete the end of this year.

Heard on the radio today that the glass has been delayed. Didn't catch if there was any updated delivery date. I drove by there today.....still looks far from finished. I'm guessing next year.

You really have to feel sooty for the boardwalk businesses being at the mercy of a project like this creeping along at "government" speed.

DyAm00394 · #**1700** Posted **Nov 17, 2023, 4:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailor734

Heard on the radio today that the glass has been delayed. Didn't catch if there was any updated delivery date. I drove by there today.....still looks far from finished. I'm guessing next year.

You really have to feel sooty for the boardwalk businesses being at the mercy of a project like this creeping along at "government" speed.

Mentioned this in the comment above. The CAO said delays due to supply chain issues. The team is reviewing the project schedule and will update council before the end of the year.