This is great news for Moncton. As a lifelong Saint Johner I always thought Moncton lacked any kind of cohesive "downtown". Recent developments seem to be moving to correct this and build towards that critical mass in one. Congrats! Exciting times to be a Monctonian.
Now, if SJ's developers could only take lessons from Moncton's about how to not only propose a project and get it approved but also how to actually move on to construction and completion in a timely manner....
Agreed with your take on Moncton's downtown. Unfortunately there's been a few developments in the last few years that are downtown or downtown adjacent that are quite suburban or quasi-suburban in nature. In terms of what is being built downtown I feel like Moncton is unfortunately a bit behind Fredericton and Saint John in that sense.
I'm not familiar with Moncton's zoning or growth strategies, but is there a framework of regulations akin to Fredericton's City Centre Plan?
one of the most striking features of the uptown peninsula in SJ is it's heritage built form. It is unique in Canada in many ways. Especially with certain streetscapes, great care should be taken in the stature, form and cladding of any new developments that might be considered.
This does not imply that SJ should be frozen in time. There are many areas in the uptown when large developments of considerable stature would be most welcome, but, there are certainly heritage streetscapes as well that should not be monkeyed with.
The right balance definitely needs to be struck there. Some people will decry any contemporary looking buildings as detracting from the stock of heritage buildings. Personally I'm of the mind that a well designed contemporary building can look quite good next to a heritage one. There's also the argument often heard from architects that buildings should look of the time they were constructed. It's a tricky subject.
Agreed with your take on Moncton's downtown. Unfortunately there's been a few developments in the last few years that are downtown or downtown adjacent that are quite suburban or quasi-suburban in nature. In terms of what is being built downtown I feel like Moncton is unfortunately a bit behind Fredericton and Saint John in that sense.
I'm not familiar with Moncton's zoning or growth strategies, but is there a framework of regulations akin to Fredericton's City Centre Plan?
The city does have a downtown vision/plan, I remember seeing it along time ago. Some of the newer apartments that have gone up over the last few years, definitely have a more suburban feel, but it seems to be changing. What needs to be done is getting more developers building downtown to invest in having ground floor commercial. This isn’t of course the right thread for this, conversation, but, it’s a good one to have. I think the city needs to push developers to make more pedestrian friendly and street friendly designs. Icon development here has it and so will the St. Bernard development. Interesting to see what the designs on Downing will look like.
Last edited by Monctoncore; Jan 25, 2024 at 7:44 PM.
The city does have a downtown vision/plan, I remember seeing it along time ago. Some of the newer apartments that have gone up over the last few years, definitely have a more suburban feel, but it seems to be changing. What needs to be done is getting more developers building downtown to invest in having ground floor commercial. This isn’t of course the right threat for this, conversation, but, it’s a good one to have. I think the city needs to push back on developers
They need to make sure this happens not just in downtown. There was a unique opportunity to make Millennium Blvd have a nice urban feel, but instead the developer is building giant parking lots between each building.
Even the infinity building has a separation from the edge of the building and the sidewalk which is a disconnect you don’t like to see in urban environments. I understand that it’s on a little bit of raised land, so perhaps at some point the roadway gets raised to meet it.
They need to make sure this happens not just in downtown. There was a unique opportunity to make Millennium Blvd have a nice urban feel, but instead the developer is building giant parking lots between each building.
Even the infinity building has a separation from the edge of the building and the sidewalk which is a disconnect you don’t like to see in urban environments. I understand that it’s on a little bit of raised land, so perhaps at some point the roadway gets raised to meet it.
Exactly, the small patches of grass and large parking lots need to stop. I am curious as to why developers create that set back, leaving a larger area between the building and the side walks and road. If you go on Apple Maps as it’s most up to date. You can see that this is a continuous trend across downtown, most buildings, especially apartments have been build with a set back from the road and side walk.
Last edited by Monctoncore; Jan 25, 2024 at 7:59 PM.
The post saying that the Moncton downtown really ends at the King Street/Bore Park area really rings true - and that the ICON building will extend the downtown eastward. It would be even more clear-cut if that large adjacent lot were also developed with a major building(or two).
What would also make a major impact is development across the street. There's a nice piece of land between the Parkhouse Inn and the Running Room strip mall. However, if you want to extend the downtown vibe, the worst thing that could happen on this land would be another strip mall. Residential above commercial/retail would be ideal imho.
However, if you want to extend the downtown vibe, the worst thing that could happen on this land would be another strip mall. Residential above commercial/retail would be ideal imho.
I think this lot is within the designated downtown zone so I don't think we'll see another strip mall. When developed, it will be high density.
Its crazy to think that behind the Assumption we will likely have 1x Icon, 1x St Bernard, 2-3 "sisters" and likely more once you include the "roger call center" + "market" lot. This is just the beginning and super exciting!!!
Last edited by MonctonGoldenTri; Jan 26, 2024 at 12:15 AM.
- Assumption Place - 20 storeys
- Three Sisters - 3 x 15 storeys
- Two Brothers - 2 x 22 storeys
- St Bernard Place - 18 storeys
- Infinity Tower - 30 storeys
- Ashford/Downing - unknown, but likely 15-20 storeys
Can't wait to see renders for those! If all these projects are built, it will give Assumption blvd. a totally different feel. Like a miniature NB version of the Gardiner expressway through the highrises.
I think this lot is within the designated downtown zone so I don't think we'll see another strip mall. When developed, it will be high density.
Yes it is. It wasn't in the original zone, but the city subsequently expanded the incentive area. Retail/services would be fine on this property, as long as it's the main floor of a mixed use development.
Any business that would occupy the ground floor will have a lot more potential customers once Infinity is full of tenants, and would offer amenities for the Park House guests next door!
- Assumption Place - 20 storeys
- Three Sisters - 3 x 15 storeys
- Two Brothers - 2 x 22 storeys
- St Bernard Place - 18 storeys
- Infinity Tower - 30 storeys
- Ashford/Downing - unknown, but likely 15-20 storeys
And there will be most definitely more to come
Assumption Place will end up looking like a monolithic tombstone after these other projects are complete.
If all these projects are built, it will give Assumption blvd. a totally different feel. Like a miniature NB version of the Gardiner expressway through the highrises.
I never thought of Assumption as an analog to the Gardiner but now that you mention it, it would be once all the slated high rises are completed.
What's especially great about it is that it already breaks the idea that downtown Moncton is just the main street. Now if only we could also get development creating more urban corridors between Main and St. George. St. Bernard Place is a start, but we have long ways to go.
Assumption Place will end up looking like a monolithic tombstone after these other projects are complete.
Assumption Place needs no help in looking like a "monolithic tombstone."
Personally, I think the addition of eight new skyscrapers will do much to hide, mask and otherwise mitigate the effects on the Moncton skyline of this misbegotten, hideous, brutalist concrete monstrosity.
We will need at least another eight skyscrapers to complete the eradication of Assumption Place from the consciousness of the city.
(sorry, not a fan of brutalism as an architectural style)
What architectural styles would you like to see in our future skyline? Personally hoping for at least one glass box.
I would like to see a mixture of styles. As for glass boxes, they are usually office buildings aren't they? With modern work from home culture, I don't think we will be seeing one of those built in Moncton for quite a while.
I realize that glass faced apartment buildings are quite popular in some jurisdictions (like Vancouver), but, Spitfire seems to have a stranglehold of the local market as an architectural design firm, and it does not seem like they do glass boxes. It's just not in their armamentarium.
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