Official Fredericton, NB projects thread [Archive] - Page 14

cl812

Oct 21, 2009, 11:18 PM

$100M in projects by year's end
Published Wednesday October 21st, 2009
Construction | Bullish market continues in province's capital city
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

While cities across Canada have struggled through 2009 with the economic bumps and grinds of trying to recover from a global recession, Fredericton has ended its third quarter with $99.8 million in new construction.

While that's below 2008's record-breaking level of $157 million, it's a good showing in tough times, says development committee chairman Coun. Dan Keenan.

"The year is looking very positive,'' he said after the January-to-September numbers were released Tuesday.

"We are on the threshold of exceeding $100 million in building permits again for this year. I think it bodes well for the year, as well as for the future.''

He said there's still lots of optimism out there.

Residential construction dipped to $45.5 million between January and September, but total housing starts of 384 so far this year are close to figures for each of the last three years.

Included in residential construction are multiple units in townhouses, duplexes and apartments.

Different types of housing and opening up land for new development is important to the city, he said.

Since 2005, the cost of a new single-detached dwelling has continued to rise from about $110,000 in 2005 to $171,621 for the average family home on its own lot.

Fredericton's quality of life is making it a desirable city in which to live and that fuels prices, he said, and so does a shortage of land that can be used for housing.

That's where council can help by promoting services and the development of new housing subdivisions and ensuring there's a mix of housing types from entry level to upscale homes, Keenan said.

"We need to ensure that there's a good balance there to keep housing affordable for our residents.''

This year, for instance, only 93 lots were created in new subdivisions, the lowest level since 2005.

For the first time in a long while, more housing starts occurred on the north side of the St. John River in Fredericton, with 268 units built compared to 116 on the south side.

Typically, development is almost even between the south and north sides, but Keenan said councillors are aware that there's a need to expand land development on the south side, east end of Fredericton.

Fredericton isn't immune to economic bumps, Keenan said, but the city has to continue to work with other levels of government to make sure they understand that the capital region is one of the province's economic drivers. Job creation and population growth need to be sustained, he said.

Deputy mayor Bruce Grandy told the development committee that he doesn't become alarmed by a drop among commercial, residential and institutional construction in any one year.

Commercial development went through an upswing and is now moving forward, while municipal and institutional construction projects nudged ahead this year.

"That's a sign of a balanced community with sustained growth," he said.

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Projects in capital
Published Wednesday October 21st, 2009
A2

Here's a list of projects that the City of Fredericton anticipates could start this year or in 2010.

* 46 single family lots in Phase 5 of Brookside West

* 20 mini-home lots, 23 single-family lots, 8 townhouse lots and one apartment building in North Brook subdivision off Brookside Drive

* 40-unit apartment building, 30 townhouses, four semi-detached units at Rainsford Gardens off Sarah's Lane

* 80 townhouse units at 850 Kimble Dr.

* 48 single-family lots, two medium density lots at The Meadows at Neill Farm Phase 1.

* 30 single family lots and 18 semi-detached lots at Morning Gate Drive

* Two 16-unit apartment buildings on Lian Street Extension

* 44-unit apartment for 362 Victoria St.

* 92 mini-home lots, 18 single-family lots and 18 R-3 lots

* Continued residential construction at High Point Ridge

* Apartment building at 198 York St.

* Gilridge Estates development

* More tenants for Corbett Centre development

* Building #4, Knowledge Park Drive

* Two Nations Crossing commercial expansion

* West Hills Phase 2 commercial on Brookside Drive

* N.B. Community College

* York Street Train Station rehabilitation

* UNB Currie Center work ongoing

* Shannex Senior Complex ongoing at Patience and Rainsford lanes

* Grant*Harvey Centre

* York Care Centre ongoing expansion

* York House repairs

* Seniors complex at Harold Doherty Court

* Marysville School proposed

* Repairs to city-owned York House

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Talks on for return of flights to London
Published Wednesday October 21st, 2009
D1
By MICHAEL STAPLES
staples.michael@dailygleaner.com

Negotiations are underway to secure the return next year of the direct flight link between the Fredericton International Airport and London Gatwick in England.

Airport president and CEO David Innes said the airport is hopeful the connection provided by Air Transat will return in 2010.

Innes said that growth in the service between the two locations this year was not what the airport had hoped for.

But, he said, that had a lot to do with the recession.

"Early in the season was tough (but), later in the season, we seemed to get a rebound in the traffic," Innes said.

"We are trying to understand what that means and we are trying to get the right aircraft. It very much involves getting the right aircraft with the right capabilities in place right now."

The inaugural 259-seat Air Transat Airbus A310 flight from Gatwick to Fredericton touched down in Fredericton in May 2008.

Kathryn Munro, Canadian Affair communications and marketing director, speaking on behalf of Transat A.T. Inc., confirmed that negotiations are underway with the Fredericton International Airport.

"We haven't made a final decision yet ... likely to be made in the next few weeks," Munro said in an email.

The flights run from spring through to mid-October.

The U.K. connection, meanwhile, represents an important tourism element for the province.

It is believed that if 2,000 tourists from the U.K. stay in New Brunswick, visit its attractions, eat and drink and stay in hotels, the province can expect to earn $1.6 million in additional tourism revenue.

With regard to other charter flights in and out of the Fredericton International Airport, two are on schedule to once again provide weekly service this winter to the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

Both CanJet Airlines and Sunwing Airlines are returning to offer direct flights from Fredericton to those locations.

"The convenience of being able to fly from Fredericton is great," said Melodie Beal, public relations and marketing manager for the Fredericton International Airport Authority Inc.

"It's nice to be able to step off the plane and only have a 15-minute drive home."

CanJet Airlines is once again flying to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic every Monday beginning Feb. 22 and ending May 3, 2010.

Packages can be purchased through Transat Holidays, Sunquest Vacations, or Signature Vacations.

Flights to Varadero, Cuba can be booked through Sunwing Vacations for travel every Monday from March 15 to April 26, 2010.

cl812

Oct 22, 2009, 11:19 AM

Train station renovation clears another hurdle
Published Thursday October 22nd, 2009
A6
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

J.D. Irving Ltd. brought revised design documents to the city's planning advisory committee Wednesday night as it sought the committee's approval on a municipal plan amendment to allow for the addition of a liquor store to the York Street train station.

Less than a month after it presented its schematic for the liquor store, company officials have met with representatives of the federal government's Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, who made a trip to Fredericton for a site visit. Based on the federal body's recommendations, additional tinkering was done to the design.

The planning advisory committee has recommended the project and it now goes forward to city council for a public hearing and three bylaw readings as part of final zoning approval.

At the meeting Wednesday night, questions were raised about whether the addition - to be attached to the rear portion of a restored train station - should mimic the 1923 design.

Rick Davis, representing J.D. Irving, said the federal officials - who must give their approval to the design - don't want the liquor store to replicate the historic train station, but rather to have a similar theme.

So that means the proposed 947-square-metre (10,000-square-foot) retail liquor store will have modern windows and a different roof line, but it will have complementary design features.

"We're happy to be where we are now," he said of the design.

Fredericton Heritage Trust president Liz Burge attended to support the development, but questioned whether brick work could be duplicated and whether a green roof, said to be part of the station's original design, would be restored.

"If you'll pardon the expression, this is a project that carries huge emotional baggage in the city and we're one of the organizations that tends to get all the bullets flung at it when people don't like what they see in a plan," Burge said. "We're very pleased to see this development, of course."

"This project with the train station has attracted national attention for the neglect of the building, but now we're hoping to help turn this around and make Irving look like heritage angels (and) make the city look good."

Burge said if the project is done well, it could earn a national heritage award.

"We've looked at quite a few records from the CPR archives about this building ... and we've also discussed them with the Historic Sites and Monuments Board Authority," Davis said.

"In their review of the original roof, they concluded that a black colour was utilized "¦ We didn't give any preference, we just asked them what colour do you want us to go with and black was the colour they chose."

The pattern on the brick can't be replicated because the brick used on the train station is no longer manufactured, he said.

"We're trying to make the liquor store integrate with the train station as best we can "¦ without replicating it," Davis said. "The train station will be restored with all that brick work intact, but the brick on the liquor store will probably not even be the same colour as the brick on the train station."

Alex Forbes, assistant director of development services, said the city can discuss how the two buildings can be married in design, but the power over the design will rest with the federal government.

After languishing in disrepair for years, the train station seemed destined to collapse until J.D. Irving and New Brunswick's Liquor Corp. reached a deal and announced in mid-September that they would partner up on the development.

The Crown corporation will sign a 20-year lease on the train station and use the 292-square-metre (3,000-square-foot) ground floor area of the historic component of the building for an events and promotion space, for wine pairing events and staff training. About 46 square metres will be used for specialty liquor sales and that space will connect the old building with new liquor store.

There will be a parking lot for 80 vehicles, more than the city requires for the development, but J.D. Irving is working with neighbouring businesses that are have parking deficiencies.

"It's just really nice to see this happen. It's been something that everyone has wanted to see happen," said Coun. Scott McConaghy, who sits on the planning advisory committee.

cl812

Oct 23, 2009, 1:04 AM

Overview of Proposed Southwood Park Housing Development to be Presented on October 28

Fredericton (October 22, 2009) – Dr. Avi Friedman, co-founder of the Affordable Homes Programme at the McGill School of Architecture in Montreal, will unveil plans for a proposed new residential development in Southwood Park during a public meeting on Wednesday, October 28 at the Bliss Carman Middle School located at 615 Kimble Drive.

Dr. Friedman, whose consulting firm has already worked on several affordable housing projects in Fredericton, will present a series of options with different site plans and housing configurations for the 1.6-hectare property on Limerick Road.

The development features up to 107 units consisting of two-bedroom single family rowhouses, one and two-bedroom triplexes, and apartments. Approximately 20-25 per cent of the units provided for this development will be targeted for affordable housing.

The two-hour meeting, organized by the City of Fredericton’s Development Services Department, will begin at 7 p.m. and will be of interest to both residents and the city’s development community.

-30-

Media Contact: John White, Communications, City of Fredericton (506) 460-2227.

http://www.fredericton.ca/en/ecodev/2009Oct22LimerickRd.asp

cl812

Oct 23, 2009, 10:56 AM

Committee OK's college project
Published Friday October 23rd, 2009
A5
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Another major construction project in Fredericton has been given the all-clear by the city's planning advisory committee.

The committee has approved the subdivision of University of New Brunswick land at Duffie Drive to create a building lot for the new community college campus.

The $15-million, 4,552-square-metre (49,000-square-foot) building will house 400 students and be open by the fall of 2011.

It's being designed by ADI Ltd. as a two-storey, red-brick structure between the Wu Conference Centre and Marshall d'Avray Hall on the UNB campus.

Geoff Colter, a citizen member of the planning advisory committee, suggested it's probably time for the university and city to talk about the shortage of parking on the UNB campus.

"The University of New Brunswick is currently undertaking a study to deal with that very issue. They've already hired ADI and ADI is looking at a comprehensive plan with respect to the parking for the university and that would include this parcel," said Marcello Battillana, a senior planner with the city.

Alex Forbes, assistant director of development services, said UNB is also trying to preserve green space, but with construction on the campus, its recognizes it has to address parking concerns.

"The demand there is significant and anybody who has been to the Wu Centre ... it's busy in there. We're working with them to make sure there isn't a (parking) problem there."

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cl812

Oct 24, 2009, 11:28 AM

Committee OKs proposal to develop property off Hanwell Road
Published Saturday October 24th, 2009
A3
By The Daily Gleaner

Residents of Golf Greens Lane may soon have new neighbours.

TC Land Holdings Inc. has received planning advisory committee approval to amend its development proposal to build a 39-unit townhouse development on the property off Hanwell Road.

City council's final approval is needed for the project to go ahead.

The developer is proposing to construct the townhouses in blocks of two and in four different types of buildings to avoid creating a long, linear mass of buildings.

The townhouses will be near the 69-unit condominium backing onto Fredericton Golf Course.

The developer weighed apartment building versus townhouse development and came back to the townhouse notion given the steep grade of the site, which slopes steeply to the west of Hanwell Road.

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Canadian Tire planning changes
Published Saturday October 24th, 2009
A5
By The Daily Gleaner

Canadian Tire will be adding a gas bar and convenience store to its Two Nations Crossing location with city council approval.

The city's planning advisory committee has given its thumbs up to a conditional use variance and subdivision to allow the additional services to be added to the property on the north side of the city.

The Canadian Tire gas bar and car wash at 1025 Prospect St. wants city approval to add a convenience store to its facility.

The committee also approved a zoning amendment for the enlarged store operation. City council approval is required as well.

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Company rebuilding after devastating fire
Published Saturday October 24th, 2009
A6
By MICHAEL STAPLES
staples.michael@dailygleaner.com

Hard work and determination are allowing Oak Ridge Manufacturing Inc. of Keswick to recover from a devastating fire last month that destroyed its main building.

Adam Hanson, co-owner of the cabinet and countertop manufacturing company, said it has been a busy month and a half but everything is on schedule to have the operation back to normal by the end of November.

It has been accomplished without having to lay off any of the company's 14 full- and part-time workers.

"It's been difficult, but we're highly motivated people," Hanson said.

"We have got a mission in front of us and we plan on fulfilling the mission as soon as possible. It's not only myself, but a lot of the big guys that work here. You can see the motivation to get through this as fast as possible and get everything back up and running."

The Sept. 11 fire destroyed what's estimated to be more than $1 million worth of equipment, resources and products.

Two teenagers - aged 13 and 14 - were arrested by RCMP following the blaze and are expected to appear in youth court Nov. 5 to answer charges.

A third youth, 11, will not be charged because of provisions contained within the Youth Criminal Justice Act, which deals with young people 12 to 17 years old.

Hanson said the recovery is happening without rebuilding the main structure destroyed in the fire.

Other buildings on site that were not being fully used have been converted, including one that will replace the sawmill. That's still a work in progress.

The cabinet door part of the business is still down, but the equipment needed to get it functional is due to be on site within a couple of weeks.

Hanson said the company's cabinet shop rebounded well and was running again within 12 working days following the fire.

"We were able to get machines quicker than we thought," Hanson said.

"They had been in stock in Vancouver and that worked out well."

Oak Ridge's new showroom/office is also close to completion.

"By the end of November, we should be pretty well back where we want to be," he said.

Hanson said it's amazing how people, including other companies, have come to their assistance.

"In the first four weeks that we were down, we installed four kitchens," Hanson said.

"That's attributed to the help that we've had. Different businesses came and cut kitchens for us and did everything that we needed. All we had to do was put them together and install them."

There has been one setback from the fire, however, Hanson said, and that has hit workers hard.

While no one was hurt in last month's blaze, RCMP members had to force their way inside the burning structure during the height of the fire to rescue Sheba, the family's German shepherd.

Sheba became ill two weeks after the blaze and died.

"I think it was the trauma of the whole thing," Hanson said. "That was a hard blow. We didn't want to lose her right then. She was right on our hips every day. It is a noticeable, noticeable loss."

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Business digest
Published Saturday October 24th, 2009
D1

Partners buy city office building

A Toronto-based real estate company and a partner are buying the building housing the Department of Social Development's offices on Fredericton's north side for $9.7 million.

Whiterock Real Estate Investment Trust will have a 40 per cent equity interest in the property, a long-term property management contract and a right of first opportunity to purchase the partner's interest in the asset.

Whiterock did not name the partner on this acquisition but said it is an established institutional investor that focuses on high quality properties, with visible growing cash flow streams backed by solid covenants and longer term leases.

The 50,945-square-foot (4,860-square-metre) building at 460 Two Nations Crossing opened last year.

Provincial offices occupy the entire building.

The lease term held by the province on the property is good for another 19 years.

The transaction is scheduled to close in November. Whiterock's will now own a total 3.4 million square feet across 45 properties.

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UNB ignoring woodlot promise - student
Published Saturday October 24th, 2009
A4
By JENNIFER DUNVILLE
dunville.jennifer@dailygleaner.com

A group of concerned citizens wants the University of New Brunswick to honour its promise to protect wetlands and marshes on the university's woodlot with 80-metre buffers.

Anne-Drea Allison, a St. Thomas University student and former UNB student, said she was shocked and saddened to learn that the buffers being used by the university are about 30 metres.

She said development so close to wetlands and marshes is harming wildlife and important water sources.

"The woodlot, which is about 3,800 acres (1,537 hectares), is a beautiful, serene place that we should be protecting," Allison said. "I understand that the university has to make money for research and development and to keep tuition low, but there are other ways to develop the woodlot without harming wildlife and wetlands."

The university's conservation boundaries as defined in its land management strategy include 30 metres under provincial legislation, 30 metres for a conservation buffer to protect ecologically sensitive areas and 20 metres designated as limited-access areas to provide opportunities for low-impact public use.

The management strategy suggests the 80-metre buffer is an interim boundary to be confirmed and fixed following environmental studies.

It's unclear if these boundaries have been set in stone.

No one at the university was available for an interview Friday, but officials said in a statement that UNB is continuing to ensure all environmental legislation is met or exceeded.

"UNB's woodlot, or heritage lands, is a valuable resource, one that we are managing responsibly," the statement said.

"As part of our land management strategy, we are protecting at least 50 per cent of the heritage lands in perpetuity. The UNB heritage lands are many things to many people and the feedback we receive from them helps us to balance how we manage this resource."

The woodlot is part of 3,356 hectares (8,295 acres) of land owned by UNB across the province.

Allison said she believes the university isn't managing its land well and should work more closely with environmentalists, conservationists and other concerned citizens.

"I'm working with Friends of the UNB Woodlot not just because it's part of my school work, but because I believe the wetlands need to be protected," Allison said.

"If enough people stand in solidarity and raise awareness about what's going on, we can make sure this area is better protected."

Friends of the UNB Woodlot is a group that's been trying to stop development on the woodlot until more environmental studies are completed.

Allison said the group plans to hold a demonstration on the woodlot Monday at 12:15 p.m. near the Corbett Brook marsh, which is next to the piece of land set aside for the development of Costco.

"The developers have already started infilling and the area for Costco is taped off," Allison said.

"What we plan to do Monday is tape off what it would actually look like if they were honouring the 80-metre buffer. That way people can see that the area is not being properly protected."

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These people should get their facts straight before accusing the university of breaking promises, because the 80 m buffers apply to the conservation lands not on the land being developed and that has been stated several times by the University. The plans for the Corbett Centre have always had 30 m buffers, not 80 m and these plans were developed when UNB announced it was developing portions of the woodlot.

cl812

Oct 27, 2009, 11:15 AM

Conservation group wants ecological buffer at site leased to Costco
Published Tuesday October 27th, 2009
Tour | Friends of UNB Woodlot have concerns about wetlands
A5
By DON MACPHERSON
macpherson.don@dailygleaner.com

Members and associates of the Friends of the UNB Woodlot trekked along a muddy path and over small streams to mark off the property where they feel the upcoming Costco facility is going to be constructed.

The University of New Brunswick has leased land from its woodlot near the Corbett Marsh to Costco, which is expected to set up shop on the property in 2010.

The Friends of the UNB Woodlot oppose development in the area because it's near so many wetlands and because the land was meant for educational purposes, not as a source of revenue.

Anne-Drea Allison and Jess Cusack, St. Thomas University social-work students who are doing a work placement with the woodlot-conservation group, organized Monday's event.

They said the UNB board of governors, in its land management strategy, promised the development would be at least 80 metres from the wetland.

They, along with members of the woodlot group, were in the area Monday afternoon to measure and stake off that buffer zone.

"What we're doing is demonstrating what the 80 metres looks like," Cusack said.

"We expect the University of New Brunswick to live up to their promise to protect these woodlot's wetlands with 80-metre buffers."

Allison said Monday's exercise wasn't meant as a protest but rather as a reminder to the UNB board of governors about its 80-metre promise.

Whether the 80-metre buffer as marked off by the conservation group will be respected remains to be seen.

At some points, the 80-metre zone came within just a few metres of a parking area at Home Depot in the Corbett Centre.

Allison said UNB hasn't broken its promise yet about the 80-metre buffer zone but she seemed leery of its ability to keep it.

"I would like to give UNB the benefit of the doubt as regards their woodlot practices, but UNB president Dr. Eddy Campbell has been so far unavailable to meet with us," she said.

The group said 80-metre buffers would create wildlife corridors between the larger conservation areas and increase the area of the woodlot that's being conserved.

Information about UNB's land management strategy found online states the following about the buffer zone to which the environmentalists referred Monday:

"Interim boundaries totalling 80 metres have been established as follows:

"1. Baseline Buffer located 30 metres from watercourses and wetlands as required by provincial legislation.

"2. 30-metre wide Conservation Buffer, that will allow for the protection of ecologically sensitive areas.

"3. 20-metre wide Limited Access Area to provide opportunities for 'low impact' public uses."

Whether UNB meant for all three of those different buffers to apply in all the same locations isn't clear.

Allison said she realizes there's little chance that the Costco development won't proceed, but she wishes the development would be located somewhere else that's not so close to wetlands, which serve as a natural environmental filter.

"There are other places," she said Monday afternoon.

UNB also needs to consider other methods of revenue generation than leasing woodlot land, she said.

"There are also alternatives to making money," Allison said.

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Train station project is one step closer to becoming a reality for city
Published Tuesday October 27th, 2009
Restoration | Historical building may be converted into liquor store if council and residents approve
A3
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Another procedural step in the approval of the York Street train station restoration made it across the desks of city councillors Monday night.

Councillors have set Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. as the time for publicly presenting the proposed bylaw to amend the municipal plan to allow both the restoration of the former train station and to clear a path for an attached NB Liquor Corp. retail store.

J.D. Irving Ltd. struck a deal earlier this fall with the Crown corporation for a 20-year lease that will allow the front portion of the station to be retained and refurbished, while the freight storage shed attached will be demolished and replaced by a downtown liquor store.

A total of 33 conditions are attached to the development proposal, but most are technical requirements. For instance, a site grading and storm water plan and landscaping plan have to be produced. The developers must also seek confirmation from the Department of Environment that the train station site has been cleaned up of any potential contaminants, particularly petroleum products.

The city is also asking the developer to maintain a public walking path through the site and to agree to sell the city a five-metre parcel of land along Regent Street for future street widening purposes.

Still ahead for the project is a date for a public hearing of objections and first and second reading of the bylaw.

Coun. Stephen Chase was going to comment favourably on the project, but then halted his remarks. He said Monday that he wanted to respect the fact that the public hearing of objections is still ahead.

So far, however, there's been positive comments on the prospect of the train station's rehabilitation, although there was some quibbling at the planning advisory committee meeting Oct. 21 on whether the new liquor store should mimic the train station design.

Fredericton Heritage Trust president Liz Burge raised the issue of mimicking brickwork and other design elements of the train station at the meeting, but was told that has already been given the thumbs down by representatives of the federal government's Historic Sites and Monuments Board, which controls the design fate of the federally-designated heritage site.

A J.D. Irving representative said federal officers with the board have told the company they want the liquor store to have a similar theme.

But the designers are to try not to replicate the original design of the train station.

The city doesn't have authority to contradict the federal decisions about the heritage building, but it may make design suggestions as construction on the project moves forward.

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City already marketing convention centre
Published Tuesday October 27th, 2009
Construction | Convention centre expected to open in December 2010
A3
By DON MACPHERSON
macpherson.don@dailygleaner.com

While the city's new convention centre won't be open for business until December 2010, it's already marketing the facility to national organizations.

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=388317&size=500x0
A construction office, at right, for the new convention centre, at left, sits where a hotel may be some day. Marketing has already begun for the building, despite the fact that it isn’t finished.

The City of Fredericton has hired someone on contract to sell the convention centre to groups outside the city as a destination for national conferences.

Cathy Pugh started as the director of sales and marketing for the Fredericton convention centre in May, and she's already drummed up interest in the facility, which is under construction.

She said Monday she's landed eight tentative bookings for conferences, set to take place between 2011 and 2013.

"No one is booked and signed with a contract," Pugh said, but she expects to have the deals finalized in about a month.

So how did these groups find out about a convention centre that doesn't really exist yet? Pugh said she's been spreading the word.

Part of her job is to travel to industry trade shows to illustrate that Fredericton is now a viable destination for national conferences, she said.

Pugh also contacts and meets with organizations that she knows are planning conferences in Atlantic Canada in the not-too distant future.

"We're trying to bring in new business to Fredericton," she said.

Most of Pugh's travels take her to Ottawa and Toronto, since that's where most associations and organizations have their national headquarters.

She said she's working to book groups now in advance of the convention centre's opening because these national conferences tend to be booked two to four years in advance.

Fredericton Tourism manager Dave Seabrook said the city has budgeted $75,000 in 2009 for marketing and sales of the convention centre, and that includes Pugh's salary, travel, promotional materials and other costs.

Greg Cook, project manager for the Fredericton convention centre and downtown office complex, said another promotional component - a logo/branding contract for the convention centre - comes under his construction budget because it will impact signage.

That contract was worth $19,250, he said, and was carried out by Fredericton design firm Orange Sprocket.

Cook said the convention centre is still on track for an opening at the end of 2010.

As for the office building, he said, the schedule is really tight. Frequent and abundant rain has slowed that aspect of the project, Cook said.

"It's not helping any," he said, noting that if there's a lot of snow this winter, "It'll definitely impact us."

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Meeting about Limerick Road property to be held Wednesday
Published Tuesday October 27th, 2009
A6
By The Daily Gleaner

Avi Friedman, co-founder of the Affordable Homes Program at the McGill School of Architecture in Montreal, will unveil plans for a proposed residential development in Southwood Park during a public meeting Wednesday at the Bliss Carman Middle School on Kimble Drive.

Friedman, whose consulting firm has already worked on several affordable housing projects in Fredericton, will present a series of options with different site plans and housing configurations for the 1.6-hectare property on Limerick Road.

The development features up to 107 units consisting of two-bedroom single family rowhouses, one and two-bedroom triplexes, and apartments.

Approximately 20-25 per cent of the units provided for the development will become affordable housing.

The two-hour meeting, organized by the city's development services department, will begin at 7 p.m. and will be of interest to both residents and the city's development community.

cl812

Oct 27, 2009, 11:41 PM

noticed tonight that there was some activity at the former petcetera location, must be getting ready for the new petsmart location to open there.

cl812

Oct 28, 2009, 11:50 AM

U.S. company, UNB to create jobs
Published Wednesday October 28th, 2009
Technology | CEO of Fantastic Network Solutions says partnership could create about 100 jobs
A3
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

An American high-tech company is teaming up with the University of New Brunswick and creating 20 new engineering research jobs in Fredericton.

But Dennis O'Leary, chief executive officer of Fantastic Network Solutions, said that total could grow quickly to about 100 positions.

"That is a conservative number," he said to The Daily Gleaner on Tuesday.

Fantastic Network Solutions is based in Atlanta, Ga., and has created a New Brunswick-based subsidiary called Fantastic North America to commercialize fibre optic and telecommunications technology developed by UNB, said O'Leary.

"We've actually signed the agreement with UNB already," he said.

He said the hiring for the new hardware and software positions will begin in November and be finished by early in the new year.

The new company already has lab and office space in Head Hall at UNB. But O'Leary said Fantastic North America would be looking for commercial space off campus as it expands.

He said his company has seven years worth of contracts in the United States that will employ nearly 1,000 people. Most of those will be trained in Fredericton, he said.

"We have pending contracts that can use this technology and we hope this is just the start of a much bigger project for our company and for New Brunswick," he said.

O'Leary said he found out about New Brunswick through a mutual friend in Chicago who referred him to the government agency Business New Brunswick.

He said he appreciates the support and encouragement the company received from investment staff at Business New Brunswick

It's much easier dealing with Business New Brunswick than it is with government agencies in the United States, said O'Leary.

He said he's also looking to form partnerships with Fredericton-based companies.

"We want to give back to the province for what they have done for us," he said.

O'Leary, an American with no previous ties to this region, said he may even become a Canadian resident.

Business New Brunswick Minister Victor Boudreau said there's no provincial money being invested in the Fantastic North America project.

"We facilitated the partnership," he said Tuesday. "We happened to be in the right place at the right time."

In a press release, Greg Kealey, vice-president of research and provost at UNB, said that partnerships such as the one with Fantastic North America are what allow research and development to thrive at universities.

"UNB conducts over 75 per cent of New Brunswick's university research and is constantly seeking commercial outcomes for the research we do," he said.

"This would not be possible without the collaboration and support of our partners."

----

Local architecture recognized
Published Wednesday October 28th, 2009
Heritage | House, rink, art gallery and former NB Power building added to Historic Places Register
A6
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The City of Fredericton is adding four properties to its Local Historic Places Register that are modern examples of local architecture.

Local architect John Leroux said the city is to be commended for taking a look at modern heritage and post-war architecture for inclusion on the list.

"These things that we're looking at, which may seem still contemporary, are 50-60 years old and they're historic and they're significant," Leroux said.

"The rest of the world has really caught on that modern heritage "¦ is a real critical part of our history and it's not something that we should just cast aside.

"In Fredericton, we have some wonderful examples."

A residential home designed by Saint John architect Stanley Emmerson has made the list.

The house, located at 260 Kings College Rd. between York and Smythe streets, was built in 1965 by local builder Howard Tims.

It's reflective of its era with large rectangular windows and a low-pitched roof. The house was commissioned and is still occupied by its original owner.

Emmerson was the designer for Simonds High School in Saint John and also the Saint John city hall in 1970 and 1971.

The Lady Beaverbrook Rink at 411 University Ave. was designed by Fredericton architects was completed in 1955.

The indoor hockey arena was a gift to the city from Lord Beaverbrook.

Beaverbrook turned to Neil M. Stewart, one of the designers of the Lady Beaverbrook Rink, in 1959 when he wanted to give the city the Beaverbrook Art Gallery.

When it opened, the gallery was praised for its modern, functional appearance and for its interior design which allowed for art to be displayed.

"Its architecture is a real under-appreciated gem," Leroux said.

The former NB Power head office at 527 King St. also made the listing.

Designed by John L. Feeney, a former City of Fredericton engineer, who later became chief engineer of the then New Brunswick Electric Power Commission designed the four-storey brick and stone building which was completed in 1949.

"He was really one of the most important people in the modern history of New Brunswick," Leroux said.

The local architect said the city is showing leadership by recognizing the modern architectural history.

Deputy mayor Bruce Grandy said it's important for the city to mark its history and preserve it for future generations.

"We've got some really amazing examples of modern architecture in Fredericton," said Juan Estepa, the city's manager of heritage and cultural affairs, who worked on the selection of the modern heritage examples.

"There's some real gems scattered in amongst the older architecture and it's time to recognize them. What we have is quite good."

A sub-committee of the city's preservation review board oversees the nomination process for local historic places. Property owners must consent to being added to the list and the history of the property must be documented for registration.

The Local Historic Places Register was established by the federal government to raise awareness of historic places and encourage conservation.

Leroux is the author and photographer of three books on New Brunswick Architecture, including Building New Brunswick: An Architectural History.

Local residents interested in participating in a free tour of five buildings are invited to meet behind city hall on Saturday at 1 p.m. for a two-hour free bus tour of the city, Leroux said.

Buildings on the tour list include the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Centennial Building, UNB Alumni Memorial building and two local churches.

----

Researcher given money for high-speed impact lab
Published Wednesday October 28th, 2009
A3
By The Daily Gleaner

A University of New Brunswick researcher has received $500,000 from the New Brunswick Innovation fund to support the construction of a high-speed impact laboratory and technology facility.

John Spray, directory of the university's future planetary and space science centre, and research chair in planetary materials, is conducting research into the impact of shock waves on a variety of materials.

"Whether it's space junk hitting satellites or birds striking airplanes, this facility will allow Dr. Spray to better understand the damage it does and develop new materials to prevent damage," said Roger Gervais, innovation fund vice-president of research.

"Dr. Spray's track record and deep ties with the aerospace industry ... shows the importance of this applied research and its potential for industry in New Brunswick."

The lab will offer services to other researchers and companies who require analysis of the high-speed impact of objects.

"Canada currently has no high-speed impact research technology or launch equipment that covers a comprehensive range of impact velocities," Spray said. "With this new facility, we will."

The new facility will house four launchers that can fire projectiles at subsonic speeds. Firing of the items will be inside protective ballistic tanks. Spray hopes the research will help him develop new technologies to facilitate exploration in remote terrains on earth and for the exploration of planet surfaces.

Spray is a co-investigator on science teams for two rover missions to Mars and is interested in researching the cratering processes and products on Earth, the Moon and Mars.

Freddypop

Oct 29, 2009, 4:38 PM

noticed tonight that there was some activity at the former petcetera location, must be getting ready for the new petsmart location to open there.

Yep. Was by there this AM and they have removed all former Petcetera signage from the exterior and there was a full crew working on the inside.

Freddypop

Oct 29, 2009, 4:43 PM

There is a large building going up on Royal Ct, beside Heritage Kitchen & Bath. Any word on its builder/owner and the business going in ?

cheers
Bill TGH

That is the new ServiceMaster building. They are relocating there from their current facility on Gibson Street.

cl812

Oct 30, 2009, 12:14 PM

Officials say Fredericton jobs are safe
Published Friday October 30th, 2009
A1
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailyglenaer.com

Fredericton will not lose any jobs in the $10-billion deal to sell NB Power to Hydro-Quebec.

Premier Shawn Graham said Thursday that if the deal is approved, NB Power will become a subsidiary of Hydro-Quebec and its head office will remain in the capital.

“For NB Power’s customers, the white and orange vehicles stay on the road and regional customer service offices remain throughout the province, including the headquarters here in Fredericton,” he said.

The NB Power building on King Street is a landmark in Fredericton.

The premier said he understands if some of NB Power’s 2,600 employees are feeling anxious because the province has signed a memorandum of understanding to sell most of NB Power’s assets to Hydro-Quebec.

All employees will keep their jobs, he said.

“It was important to us that NB Power’s employees remain in place, their collective agreements be recognized and, for our existing employees, our government will continue to hold their pension plan,” said Graham.

Hydro-Quebec will handle the pensions of future employees.

NB Power president David Hay said Thursday he’s pleased that the deal recognizes the value of the utility’s employees.

“NB Power employees will still be at work,” he said. “The collective agreements of unionized workers will be respected.

“NB Power people will keep the lights on. They will still go into fierce winter storms to restore power and heat.”

While it appears that Fredericton won’t be affected, other communities won’t be as lucky and jobs will be lost.

Hydro-Quebec isn’t buying three of NB Power’s fossil fuel power plants in Coleson Cove, Belledune and Dalhousie.

Dalhousie is scheduled to close next year when its contract for cheap Orimulsion fuel from Venezuela runs out.

“It is also very important for me to speak to the community of Dalhousie, which will see its generating station phased out,” said Graham.

“We will stand by your community and we are already hard at work to find a variety of new opportunities for you.”

Under the memorandum of understanding signed Thursday, Hydro- Quebec also has the right to close Coleson Cove and Belledune with one year’s notice.

Ross Galbraith, business manager for Local 37 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which represents 2,200 of NB Power’s 2,600 employees, said he’s bracing for job reductions.

“We have a history with NB Power when we’ve had some reductions in the past, that we’ve done it the right way,” he said Thursday.

“A lot of people have gone with dignity and I think that that would be my goal right now.

“If we do have to have some reductions, we do it exactly the same way.”

Graham said he wants to finalize the deal before March.

----

wonder how much truth there is to this?

cl812

Oct 31, 2009, 1:55 PM

Committee members tour housing developments
Published Saturday October 31st, 2009
A6
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The traditional single-family bungalow in Fredericton is being displaced in favour of affordable housing and upscale homes on smaller lots.

The city's planning advisory committee members and local business leaders held their annual bus tour Friday to see many of the developments that have sprung up from approved zoning applications.

Andrew Colter's first eight of 22 condominiums at 160 James St. is an example of a mid-range project that consists of conjoined townhouse-style units, but with condo amenities.

"You own your backyard and you own your building and you own your front yard," Colter said, as committee members toured one of the open-concept units.

For a monthly fee, you get your grass manicured, your trees trimmed, your snow plowed and liability insurance to cover mishaps in shared common areas.

It's hard to tell that the pre-fabricated homes by Maple Leaf Homes aren't built from scratch on site, Colter said. They feature common wall spaces, all insulated to create sound barriers, energy-efficient windows, stubbed-in plumbing for a basement bathroom and R-50 insulation in the roof, he said.

The average price of a detached single family bungalow in Fredericton is $171,621.

The homes sold for between $152,550 and $159,085 at first, but as demand has grown and Colter has opted to replace carpet and laminate with hardwood flooring, it's upped the price to about $167,000, depending on the final finishes.

Colter said his market is middle-aged women who are rebuilding their lives after divorce, retirees who don't want to move into a seniors-only complex and middle-aged couples.

"I am quite surprised," Colter said. "They sold a little faster than I thought."

Another example of the growing trend towards pre-fabricated homes can be found on Gibson Street.

Rows of townhouses - four units to a building - are smaller with a living room-kitchen area downstairs and two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. They are government subsidized and will be rent subsidized as well to provide housing for off-reserve aboriginal woman and their families.

Hospitality Homes units show attention to fit and finish, including details such as crown moulding, said Gary Gould, general manager of Skigin-Elnoog Housing Corp. Inc.

"It's a beautiful project," he said.

"I think that the perception of affordable housing is changing, and I think that the product that is out there now has certainly gone a long ways," said planning advisory committee chairman Dan Koncz outside the Skigin-Elnoog development.

"A lot of people have the perception that affordable housing is income assistance, and certainly there's a component of that. But the other component of that is for single-parent families who are working and certainly when you take a look around, a lot of the townhouses and smaller homes that are being done won't be within the range of single families."

Soaring housing costs are driving developers to find alternatives to the traditional detached bungalow on the standard 18-metre by 30-metre (60-foot by 100-foot) building lot, but Koncz said it's more than that.

Some buyers are bypassing previously owned homes because they want to put their money into a new home, rather than a home that probably needs updating, he said.

On the south side of the city, builders Tony George on Rankine Street and Colpitts Developments' Willow Valley at Kimble Crossing have built homes on small lots.

George said he's giving his buyers more house and less lot, which means he can concentrate on the interior finishes. Because he's moving his $200,000-plus homes closer together, he's also changing the traditional orientation of the narrow-lot houses to combine kitchen, dining and living areas toward the privacy of the rear of the home.

It's an idea he has borrowed from visiting larger cities and it's gaining ground in the capital city, he said.

At Willow Valley, spokesperson George Mitchell said the 25 townhouses, 31 garden homes and 20 townhomes without garages range from about $208,000 to $300,000.

But unlike old-style developments, where finishing the landscaping, fencing, lighting and other amenities were left to property owners, Willow Valley does it all - street lights, grass, flowers and garage door openers, Mitchell said.

"It's designed to make it feel like a community," he said.

In a 16-unit Ross Ventures Ltd. apartment on Dundonald Street - the company's first such project - spokeswoman Carol Anne Booker said the company hasn't had any issues with providing rent-subsidized units alongside tenants who pay the full $850 per month.

The development has been full since it opened in April and Booker said Ross Ventures is looking to do a similar affordable-housing mix in a new apartment project soon.

Alex Forbes, assistant director of development services with the city, said the tour illustrated that the concept of mixed housing is catching on.

"People are not adverse to living in a community with different housing types, whether they be duplexes or townhouses or small apartment buildings," he said.

"What people are looking for today is a nice quality house and, instead of having a large lot, if they have to give up something, they're giving up the large lot in favour of more living space. It is a trade off, but a positive trade off."

---

cl812

Nov 2, 2009, 3:04 AM

just noticed the design of Southview Condos seem to have been changed from 5 to 6 floors, I know when it was originally proposed it was supposed to be 6 floors but I thought they scaled it back to 5 but now it seems to back to six

http://www.kdl.ca/images/stories/southview.jpg

I guess that would make it the tallest building on the northside just above windsor court (at 5 floors)

mylesmalley

Nov 2, 2009, 3:26 AM

nice to see some more height, but i certainly hope the river side is better looking :P

Smevo

Nov 2, 2009, 4:12 AM

mylesmalley

Nov 2, 2009, 4:13 AM

I've come to see brick as a fact of life on the east coast. I just find the look is drab.

Freddypop

Nov 2, 2009, 11:33 AM

^I thought the river side was sticking with the original look, at least, that's what was said when this render of the Union St side first came out. I certainly hope that's still the case, because this side looks horrible imho, and really cheapens out the look of the building as a whole. I'm not a huge fan of brick as it is, but the original rendering of the river side looked a lot better than the two renderings of this side.

I have a neighbour who has purchased one of the 2nd floor units. Says that it won't be ready until late summer 2010. Also says that the river facing side has a panoramic glass view from each unit. Thus this pic is the back side facing Union Street

cl812

Nov 2, 2009, 11:34 AM

I think they still have the same design for the river side of the building

http://www.kdl.ca/images/stories/river-elev-052307.jpg
http://www.kdl.ca/site-plan-elevations

cl812

Nov 2, 2009, 11:36 AM

Positive reviews for York Care Centre expansion
Published Monday November 2nd, 2009
A1
By ALEXANDRA DAVIS
davis.alexandra@dailygleaner.com

York Care Centre hasn't completed Phase 2 of its expansion project, but the public is invited to come and see the future of senior care.

The redevelopment of the nursing home began in 2005. The first phase resulted in the opening of a new wing and a new Alzheimer's unit. That phase was completed in 2007.

Phase 2 is the $23.3-million development of a three-storey building, currently known as the tower. The tower will house 120 residents, with 40 people on each floor.

Some of the features of the building include spacious, well-lit dining areas, activity rooms with balcony access, libraries, a games room and large, brightly coloured resident rooms, with railings that can accommodate automated lifts.

Margaret Bannister, the campaign manager for the centre's fundraising effort, the Transforming Care campaign, says the York Care Centre's new addition is indicative of the direction senior care is headed in New Brunswick.

With mostly single rooms, the new building will better accommodate personalized care for each resident. The large size and open layout of the tower will help seniors feel more at home.

"It's all about providing excellent care for our parents, our families and perhaps, one day, ourselves," Bannister said.

"We've already given tours to the families of some of the residents and they love it. They see it as a breath of fresh air."

Bannister said any member of the public is welcome to participate in a tour of the partially constructed building.

"People can come in on Friday afternoons and see the future of long-term care," she said. "They just have to give us a call to book a tour."

A grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony has been planned for the beginning of April. Bannister said she expects the construction will be complete by that time.

In the meantime, tours can be booked by calling the York Care Centre at 444-3880.

cl812

Nov 3, 2009, 1:03 PM

Housing starts expected to rise in 2010 - report
Published Tuesday November 3rd, 2009
A3
By The Daily Gleaner

Total housing starts in New Brunswick are expected to nudge up to 3,535 units in 2010, following a decline to 3,400 units so far in 2009, says Canada Mortage and Housing Corp. in its new housing market outlook.

The government outlook dovetails with word from the New Brunswick Real Estate Association that the number of multiple-listing service home sales in September was down 11 per cent from levels a year ago. In September, 589 housing units were sold in the province.

Of the homes that sold, the average residential price increased in all regions of the province. Saint John saw an 11 per cent price hike. Moncton posted a 10 per cent hike in average price and Fredericton saw a two per cent increase.

The average house price in New Brunswick in September was $151,728. That's the highest average price for the month of September on record, said the real estate group.

"Consumer sentiment about making a major purchase such as a home or car strengthened through the third quarter, which bodes well for the months ahead," said Dwayne Hayes, president of the New Brunswick Real Estate Association.

"The number of new listings on the MLS (multiple-listing service) continues to decline, so sales activity will draw down inventories over the rest of the year if current trends continue."

The dollar value of all residential multiple-listing service sales in New Brunswick hit $89.4 million in September, compared to $88.4 million in September 2008.

Claude Gautreau, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.'s senior market analyst for New Brunswick, said the home market is expected to see stronger price growth next year and increased sales.

"Although housing activity has diminished in 2009, the province's economic fundamentals remain strong," said Gautreau.

Employment levels in New Brunswick are at historic high levels, he said.

With construction starts trailing this year, Gautreau said the housing market is poised for a moderate rebound, predicting price growth and increased sales next year.

"The number of new listings on the MLS continues to decline, so sales activity will draw down inventories over the rest of the year if current trends continue," Hayes said.

Provincewide, there were 5,416 units up for sale to the end of September.

The New Brunswick Real Estate Association represents more than 1,000 agents, sales people and affiliate members in the province.

----

Lots of call centre jobs at fair later this month - group
Published Tuesday November 3rd, 2009
A5
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

The head of New Brunswick's contact industry association says he expects many of the workers who are losing their jobs at the Avis Budget Group customer contact centre later this year will find jobs at a job fair this month.

Avis Budget Group recently announced that 130 employees in its truck rental call centre will be laid off Dec. 18. The remaining 90 jobs will be transferred to Tulsa, Okla., by July.

ContactNB and Enterprise Fredericton are holding a job fair for the affected employees Nov. 12.

"I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see more than half (of the employees) have offers from other centres," said Mike Bacon, executive director of the industry association, ContactNB, Monday.

"Before the media even called me when the closure was announced (Oct. 20), other centres were calling to tell me they have jobs to fill," he said.

He said one Fredericton operation alone may have as many as 40 positions to fill. He said other local contact centre companies will participate, as will contact centres from other New Brunswick cities, some of which offer work-from-home opportunities.

Bacon said the industry is unique because its members are serving different industries.

While Avis Budget Group may be contracting its business, others are expanding, he said.

Bacon said he has been in contact with officials at Avis Budget Group at the company's head office in New Jersey.

"They seem really concerned about their employees," he said.

While some companies hosting a job fair will ask participating companies not to offer jobs until after a closure, Bacon said Avis Budget Group isn't looking for that restriction.

Officials with the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour met with managers from Avis Budget Group twice last week, said department spokeswoman Lori-Jean Johnson.

The department has scheduled four employment-search workshops to be held at the Avis Budget Group office over the next week. The sessions are meant to prepare employees for the job fair.

Department employees will return to the centre the next week to provide information sessions about career decision-making and training.

cl812

Nov 4, 2009, 12:53 PM

Was up at the Corbett Centre last night, and they have a sign up for Petsmart now.

cl812

Nov 6, 2009, 12:16 PM

Council will listen to group trying to save York Arena
Published Friday November 6th, 2009
B1
By BILL HUNT
hunt.bill@dailygleaner.com

The group hoping to preserve the York Arena has a January appointment with city council to make their case to save the structure.

Deputy mayor Bruce Grandy says the group will be granted a half hour on the agenda for the Jan. 18 meeting of council-in-committee to present the findings of their research study, which Chris Mabie says will demonstrate the need to keep the building open.

Mabie, the spokesman spearheading the group, says they're ready to go forward now. But Grandy said council is busy with the budget process "and everything else we have to do with the fall time frame," and the group would be better served by making their presentation early in the new year.

"Councillors have been contacted recently and there's a lot of discussion going around," said Grandy. "So they want to make sure they have an opportunity to debate this fully and understand what the group is coming with."

Mabie believes the group can make a good case for keeping the arena open. As it stands, the building will be decommissioned when the Grant*Harvey Centre opens in the fall of 2011. Mabie has contacted various user groups who he says have demonstrated there is enough demand to keep the arena open.

The city currently operates four ice surfaces, including two in Willie O'Ree Place, the York Arena and the Lady Beaverbrook Rink.

When the Grant*Harvey Centre opens, with one 200 x 85 foot regulation ice surface and one Olympic size 200 x 100 foot surface, there will be one more ice surface if the city carries through with its current plan to demolish the York Arena. Mabie maintains that's not enough.

"Our case hinges on the need requirements that we think are out there," Mabie said. "We think the need is significant, and our presentation will demonstrate that. And the good news is, we've met either directly or indirectly with the mayor and many of the councillors and they've agreed to have an open mind and not formulate their final opinion until they've heard our presentation."

Mabie said public support has been strong. An April meeting to gauge support for the initiative drew more than 100 people, and Mabie said his phone rings regularly with people expressing their support. An informal group on the social networking site Facebook entitled Save The York Arena, has 926 members.

While the arena has a rich history - it originally opened in 1948 and former National Hockey Leaguers Danny Grant and Willie O'Ree played their minor hockey there - Mabie said it's need, not nostalgia, that fuels their ambition to keep the rink open.

"One of the major issues we keep hearing is travel safety," he said, noting that several teams have been forced to play and practise in outlying areas. The District 3 Bantam AAA Caps, for instance, are based at the Keswick Valley Arena, while one of the peewee elite teams, the District 3 Caps, operates out of the Tri-County complex in Fredericton Junction.

"Travelling outside the city for games and practices . . . that's been a real concern that has been brought to us," Mabie said. He said another concern he hears repeatedly is the fact that limited ice time prohibits women's hockey to develop to its full potential.

Grandy said he will wait to hear the particulars of the presentation in January.

"I was offered a copy of the presentation because they wanted to get in early and I told them I don't want to see it," Grandy said. "I think it's important not to go in with a bias one way or another when people are making their presentation. I don't want to know up front what the data is in there. I want to hear it with my colleagues at the same time so that everyone hears the same message.

"We're not guaranteeing a decision reversal at all, but we're certainly willing to listen. We understand where they're coming from."

He said council would take the information from the presentation, staff would review the data and give councillors the necessary feedback, the issue would be debated and a decision rendered. But he gave no firm time frame on when such a decision might be reached.

He said council has demonstrated its willingness to listen in the past, noting that the Fredericton Speedskating Club made its case for an Olympic size ice surface and council promptly reconsidered and reversed its plan to build two regulation ice surfaces.

"Our job as councillors, to the taxpayers and the user groups, is to look at what the need is and what allocations we have and determine if it makes sense. We have to be very cognizant . . . the more facilities we have, the more operating costs we have. How can we sustain that as we go? We have a great responsibility to spend our dollars wisely."

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It’s lonely at the top
Published Friday November 6th, 2009
a1

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=394558&size=265x0
This view from the crane at the office tower and convention centre in Fredericton on Thursday shows Chris Nash, with Lead Structural Ltd., using pressurized air to clean the rebar on level 3 prior to the concrete being poured today.

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Bridge to close tonight
Published Friday November 6th, 2009
A2
The Daily Gleaner

The Princess Margaret Bridge will be closed today at 6:30 p.m. through to Monday at 6:30 a.m. to allow a contractor to replace four bridge bearings, says the Department of Transportation.

The bridge has been undergoing upgrades over the past few months as part of Phase 1 of the project.

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City weening itself off oil
Published Friday November 6th, 2009
A5
By The Daily Gleaner

The City of Fredericton's dependence on heating oil will be zero this year as the city divides its $3.4-million energy bill between electricity and natural gas.

Jihad Elzamer, energy analyst with the city, said corporate emissions have dropped 17 per cent since 2000 despite the fact the city has constructed facilities, including a water treatment plant, fire station and indoor rink.

The city has undertaken energy audits on 23 buildings and its water utility and is continuing to look for ways to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent by the end of 2010.

The city uses 20.2 million kilowatt hours of energy per year, Elzamer told the city's environment committee at a recent meeting.

Its natural gas bill is $280,000 annually.

The city's goal is to work with what it has and run its buildings in an optimal way, although it's continuing to look at new technology to cut energy and water use, Elzamer said.

For instance, solar panels were built on the Two Nations Crossing fire station to heat hot water for the building.

Waterless urinals are another step to cut water costs and ultimately reduce the cost of energy needed to produce water, he told the committee.

cl812

Nov 7, 2009, 12:33 PM

Woodlot supporters hail partial victory
Published Saturday November 7th, 2009
A1
By JENNIFER DUNVILLE
dunville.jennifer@dailygleaner.com

The Friends of the UNB Woodlot has scored a partial victory in its quest to have larger buffers protecting Corbett Brook Marsh.

University of New Brunswick officials have committed to using an 80-metre buffer for future development along the large wetland behind the Corbett Centre retail site.

St. Thomas University student Anne-Drea Allison has been lobbying with the woodlot group for 80-metre buffers to protect environmentally sensitive areas from woodlot development. She said the commitment is positive step, but the university has a long way to go in protecting the environment.

"I can't feel that we failed completely because we have drawn a lot of attention to issues at the woodlot, and I think the public will begin to pay more attention to what the university says versus what it is actually going on the woodlot," Allison said.

"At the same time, I am disgusted that more wasn't done in the beginning to protect the wetlands and wildlife in that area. They've really started off on the wrong foot, so it's going to be hard to trust that they'll keep their work in the future."

The Friends of the UNB Woodlot had hoped 80-metre buffers could protect the Corbett Brook Marsh, Larch Swale and other wetlands from the development of Costco and a gas bar planned for a leased lot near the Home Depot on Regent Street.

But after the group taped off what those 80-metre buffers would look like, Allison said she realized those expectations are impossible.

"If you tape off 80 metres from Larch Swale, it actually takes you basically to the middle of the New Maryland highway," she said. "And 80 metres from the Corbett Brook Marsh would take you right into the planned site for Costco, which is basically already a done deal. I feel disgusted and disappointed by it."

The Environment Department is enforcing 30-metre buffers around Larch Swale and the Corbett Brook Marsh.

And while those buffers are considered acceptable by city officials and the Environment Department's specialists, Allison said it doesn't make her feel any better about it.

"We believe that the university, in its original plans for the Corbett retail site, promised 80-metre buffers when it asked its board of governors to vote on the development," Allison said.

"I can't believe the university has gone back on its word and has been able to get away with using 30-metre buffers."

The university says minutes from the board of governors meeting on the development are confidential since the discussions took place during a closed-door meeting.

UNB officials have refused to discuss the matter until they've had a chance to review supporting documents for those board meetings.

But Greg LeBlanc, who served as a student representative on the board at the time, said he remembers being told there would be 80-metre buffers.

"I'm sworn to confidentiality because it was a closed-door meeting, but I can say I do remember talk of the 80-metre buffers," he said.

"I feel the board was misled by the administration (by implementing 30-metre buffers), and it's disappointing the university wouldn't do more to protect those areas."

LeBlanc said the nature of his career at Falls Brook Centre in Knowlesville involving sustainability and conservation could be viewed as a bias, but a section of the university's land management strategy, created at the time of the board's vote, makes reference to the 80-metre buffers.

The document, which can be found at www.unb.ca/lms/woodlot/3a.pdf, says "interim boundaries totalling 80 metres" were established to include a baseline buffer of 30 metres, a 30-metre conservation buffer and 20 metres to allow for low-impact public use.

The document also says the interim boundaries "will be confirmed and fixed" following environmental studies required as part of the development.

Dan Tanaka, a spokesman for the university, confirmed the 80-metre buffer reference is part of the land management strategy, but he said that doesn't mean the university will always use those boundaries.

"The 80-metre buffer remains an interim guideline to be confirmed on a case-by-case basis in the development area," he said.

"UNB will continue to meet or exceed environmental legislation with the goal of maintaining an 80-metre buffer when feasible as we move forward."

Jonathan Burtt, project manager for the Environment Department's project assessment section, said he doesn't know if the university considered using 80-metre buffers for the Costco and gas bar development.

But he said none of the original plans provided to the department from the university or its developer, Trinity Development Group Inc., mention the larger buffers.

"Environmental regulation is 30 metres, so by that regulation the Department of Environment cannot impose a larger buffer," he said.

"That would be up to the developer or landowner. From the original plans provided as part of the registered environmental impact assessment to the revised plans we have now, we have not seen mention of the 80-metre buffers and would only regulate the 30 metres anyway."

Barbara Nicholson, the university's associate vice-president of capital planning and property development, said since the university has been approved to go ahead with the 30-metre buffer for the Costco and gas bar, it won't be adding any additional buffers to that site.

"Since making a land deal with Trinity Development for the Corbett Centre, we've reassessed and decided to commit to an 80-metre buffer along the balance of the Corbett Brook Marsh," Nicholson said.

"I can only surmise that was, in part, due to some of the concerns we've heard about the current buffers in place."

Allison said she doesn't feel the issue is resolved and plans to continue trying to prove the university originally agreed to use 80-metre buffers on all development, including Costco and the gas bar.

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Province keeping tabs on UNB woodlot development
Published Saturday November 7th, 2009
A7
By JENNIFER DUNVILLE
dunville.jennifer@dailygleaner.com

The Department of Environment says it's keeping its eye on the development of the University of New Brunswick woodlot.

Jonathan Burtt, project manager for the department's project assessment section, said there has been a lot of public concern about development to the area but nothing has happened without the department's approval.

"As a department, we want to ensure that environmental legislation is followed, and we do that through the environmental impact assessment process," Burtt said.

"We also want to ensure that impacts to the environment are avoided, mitigated if they can't be avoided and compensated for if they can't be mitigated."

Before any development, land owners are expected to survey the area being developed and report any wetlands, marshes or other ecologically sensitive areas to the Environment Department.

At the Corbett Centre retail site, the section of woodlot UNB has leased to developers between Regent Street and Kimble Drive, there were five wetlands reported to the Environment Department.

In addition to those five wetlands, the area includes the Corbett Brook Marsh and Larch Swale, a wetland considered significant by the government.

Burtt said the development had the potential to impact wetlands greater than two hectares, so an environmental impact assessment was required.

"An EIA (environmental impact assessment) is a study that identifies all the parts of the environment in the area being developed," he said.

"It outlines the project and its potential impact. In the case of the Corbett Centre, UNB hired Jacques Whitford Environment Ltd., consulting engineers and environmental scientists, to do the assessment."

There are two types of environmental impact assessments: a determination review and a comprehensive review.

Both involve public consultation and a review by the Environment Department's technical review committee made up of provincial, federal and municipal representatives.

With a determination review, there are three potential outcomes: project approval with conditions set by the Environment Department, project rejection or a recommendation for a comprehensive review.

Burtt said a comprehensive review is a more detailed report that follows a more formal process.

In considering whether to go ahead with a comprehensive study, he said, the environment minister would look at whether there were any unknown technical and environmental factors that required further study and whether there was enough public interest to justify a comprehensive review.

UNB was ordered to do a determination review, and its project was approved with conditions set by the department, which included staying 30 metres back from Wetland 1, the Corbett Brook Marsh and Larch Swale.

The department determined a comprehensive review wasn't needed.

"Only about five per cent of all projects have to undergo a comprehensive review, so we're talking major, major projects," Burtt said.

"But it's important people understand that a determination review is not a quick, rubber-stamp process. It still requires a lot of environmental assessment, expertise on the part of consultants and a detailed review by our technical review committee. Also, as site plans are modified, all changes have to be approved by us."

The developer hired by UNB - Trinity Development Group Ltd. - was given permits to build over Wetland 4, Wetland 3, part of Wetland 5 and change the shape of Wetland 2, which drains into Larch Swale.

A field study of those wetlands was conducted in 2003 by a team that included Mary Murdoch, an environmental scientist; Michael MacDonald, a wildlife and wetland biologist; and Robert Sharp, a hydrological engineer.

In its report, published by Jacques Whitford and registered with the department in February 2006, the team described Wetland 1 as a 2.7-hectare wetland south of Knowledge Park Drive and north of Corbett Brook Marsh.

It discharges water to Corbett Brook, but doesn't contribute to the recharging of regional water supply aquifers, provide flood protection or useable surface water.

It was ruled as "having no critical value," although the possibility of the presence of rare, threatened or endangered animal or plant species couldn't be ruled out.

The university wasn't permitted to develop within 30 metres of Wetland 1.

Wetlands 4 and 5 were less than one hectare and were both considered to have low ecological and habitat value.

Wetland 5 was classified only marginally as a wetland, and Wetland 4 was a man-made impoundment 10 times larger than what was originally considered to have naturally occurred.

Both were covered over by the strip mall that includes Winners and Michaels.

Wetland 3 was smaller than two hectares and was located approximately where Eastside Mario's sits, Burtt said.

"As for Wetland 2, because it does drain into Larch Swale, the developer was given permission to change its shape, but monitor the impact on Larch Swale and keep the gas pumps for the gas bar planned for that area out of the 30-metre buffer zone," he said.

"And because there was a total loss of 0.7 hectares of wetland, we require that UNB compensate for that loss by creating, enhancing or saving another wetland of similar size."

Burtt said the construction of Home Depot didn't need an environmental impact assessment, but a watercourse and wetland alteration permit was required.

The Friends of UNB Woodlot has reported recently that it has discovered another wetland in the development area.

Burtt said he hasn't been made aware of that find.

He said public finds and concerns must be heard during the consultation process of an impact assessment.

And while that process has ended in this case, he said, the group could take the issue to UNB.

"It's sort of too late, but that said, if something comes up like this at the 11th hour, most proponents (land developers) want to do right by the community and they'll typically look at ways to address public concern," Burtt said.

"At the same time, we do follow up on projects like this and certainly will be an active monitoring presence once further development goes forward."

Burtt said as the gas bar and Costco construction moves forward, UNB will be required to monitor water quality on a weekly basis.

Once construction is complete, one-year, three-year and five-year tests will be required and audited by the department.

"The gas bar will have to undergo additional environmental scrutiny through an approvals process with us and they will have to have certain specifications for their tanks and petroleum storage, construction and design," Burtt said.

"For that site though, at this point, we are satisfied that the proponent has avoided impacting wetlands where they can and where we've asked them to and they've committed to any mitigation or compensation that we've asked of them."

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City jobless rate better than national average
Published Saturday November 7th, 2009
A1
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

The unemployment rate in Fredericton fell to 4.1 per cent in October, down from 4.6 per cent in September, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada.

The capital's unemployment rate is also well below the provincial unemployment rate of 8.5 per cent for October.

"I am very pleased that the numbers are reflecting what the economy is saying right now in Fredericton," said Mayor Brad Woodside Friday. "It has been robust.

"We held our head above the water in this recessionary period."

According to the figures released Friday, Fredericton's unemployment rate last month is also 0.5 percentage points below the same month last year.

Fredericton also had the lowest unemployment rate of New Brunswick's three big cities. Moncton's unemployment rate for October was 6.7 per cent, and Saint John's unemployment rate was 5.2 per cent.

"People have a lot of confidence in the future of this community," said Woodside.

In New Brunswick, the unemployment rate rose slightly to 8.5 per cent in October, compared to 8.1 per cent in September.

But 1,600 more New Brunswickers were working in October than in September and New Brunswick remains below the national average in unemployment for the second month in a row.

The national unemployment rate in October was 8.6 per cent, up 0.2 percentage points from September.

Employment in Canada fell by 43,000 in October.

New Brunswick's October unemployment rate is also 0.4 percentage points lower than the same month last year.

Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Donald Arseneault said he was encouraged by the latest statistics.

"These data show that our government's plan for a stronger economy is helping our province to overcome the effects of the global economic downturn that began late last year," he said in a news release.

"Jobs are being created and maintained for New Brunswickers by businesses that are benefiting from our plan for lower taxes in New Brunswick and by our $1.2-billion infrastructure initiative."

Arseneault said the Statistics Canada report shows that New Brunswick is the only province whose unemployment rate has decreased since the recession began in October 2008.

Over the same period, the national rate increased by 2.3 percentage points.

Alberta's unemployment rose by 3.8 percentage points, British Columbia's by 3.1 percentage points and Ontario's by 2.6 percentage points, according to Statistics Canada.

Arseneault said employment in New Brunswick was 369,400, which is a record high. That is up 1,600 compared to September and up 200 compared to September last year.

New Brunswick's employment growth was second only to Prince Edward Island.

The Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour said employment growth in October was strongest in accommodation and food services, construction, finance, insurance, real estate and leasing.

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Northside biz group seeks government development
Published Saturday November 7th, 2009
A8
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heaher@dailygleaner.com

Business Fredericton North says it needs a government office building on Main Street to stimulate growth of the business improvement area.

Organization vice-president Kent Brewer told city officials recently that Main Street has the ideal support businesses to provide services to government workers who want to grocery shop, run errands and take care of business over a lunch hour.

"We envision some type of government-type space needs to be located on Main Street. That would really set the tune for what Main Street needs to look like. If you build it, they will come," he said.

Brewer took the opportunity during a recent tour of city development to remind city staff of other items on its wish list.

He said both the city and the province should be concerned about the boarded-up Canadian Tire property on Main Street.

With a $3-million price tag, the property also has caveats that restrict its sale to businesses that won't compete with the new Canadian Tire store at Two Nations Crossing.

It's going to be a tough vacant property to sell, Brewer said.

"Until they (Canadian Tire) get in tune with the reality of price here for this type of development, it really isn't appealing to private developers," Brewer said.

As long as the building sits empty, its property assessment is reduced.

That impacts Business Fredericton North's budget because it raises its funds by taxing businesses located within the defined boundaries of the business improvement area, but it also affects city and ultimately provincial coffers, Brewer said.

Canadian Tire hasn't responded to The Daily Gleaner's request for comment on the fate of its Fredericton site.

The business group is also asking the city to support it and invoke its powers under the Municipalities Act to declare a fire-damaged building on the street as an unsightly premises and have it torn down.

"It's an eyesore ... It's a public safety issue," Brewer said.

"We're moving into the winter time. It needs to be addressed. It needs to come down."

Ward 1 (Douglas area) Coun. Dan Keenan, who sits on the Business Fredericton North board, said city staff will be addressing the fire-damaged property.

"We're following up, using all of the mechanisms that we have available to us now to address unsafe properties," Keenan said.

Fire inspection personnel have been asked to look into the state of the property.

"This is an unsightly property and we need to do something with it," Keenan said.

Business Fredericton North levies a special business improvement tax, over and above normal business tax rates, in order to undertake special marketing, economic development and community projects for the businesses within its boundaries.

The organization has 210 members and 82 properties stretching between Sunset Drive and the Westmorland Street Bridge.

It's proposing to add another 28 businesses to its roster by expanding the business improvement area to Union Street.

It also has associate members among the businesses in the Two Nations Crossing area.

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cl812

Nov 9, 2009, 12:12 PM

A sight to see
Published Monday November 9th, 2009

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=395874&size=0x400
City views: John Mcdonald, construction manager for adi, takes in the view from the crane on the site of the office tower and parking garage near the convention centre in downtown Fredericton recently.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/851372

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cl812

Nov 10, 2009, 12:05 PM

Council eyes green technology for rink
Published Tuesday November 10th, 2009
A4
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Fredericton city council is prepared to plunk down $2.25 million for a geothermal heat and cooling system when it builds the Grant * Harvey Centre.

Deputy mayor Bruce Grandy said the city is preparing a tender call for early 2010, with a construction start in late 2010.

Councillors Monday night awarded a sole-source contract to Ice Kube Systems Ltd. for $2,250,000 plus HST to supply and install an integrated geothermal ice plant using the company's technology.

Community services director Wayne Tallon said the city hopes to qualify for a federal energy grant to help with cost-recovery of the system.

All ice-making systems generate heat, Tallon said.

"What this system does is it captures that and it transfers it and changes it into liquid - it's not water, it's not gel, but it's a type of liquid - and stores that underground at a certain temperature," Tallon said.

When the liquid is extracted from the underground loop into a heating system, the liquid is already pre-warmed, so it takes less energy to increase the temperature.

"It's a system that is very energy efficient, it's very environmentally friendly and it's a system that will reduce costs, so it reduces the amount of energy you need to heat or cool the building," Tallon said.

The system will be designed to encompass all aspects of ice generating, heating, cooling, heat storage and energy distribution not only for the centre, but will generate excess capacity should other sports facilities be built nearby.

"Whatever energy the Grant * Harvey doesn't use, we can store it underground for future use either in the building or other adjacent buildings," Tallon said.

The city is moving early to acquire the system so that it can tap into the federal grant program, Tallon said.

Coun. Scott McConaghy said he's happy to see the project move forward.

"We're using technology that is green, is good for the environment and there's other facilities that are going to be on that site and possibly other developments that might be able to use some of the energy associated with this," McConaghy said.

The Grant * Harvey Centre will be built on land leased from the University of New Brunswick at Knowledge Park Drive and Alison Boulevard. It will include an NHL-size rink with 1,500 seats and an Olympic oval with 250 seats.

The Capital Region Tennis Association has had discussions with the city about attaching an indoor tennis facility to the complex. The skyrocketing price of structural steel slowed the project in 2008. The city was worried that based on a budget of close to $21 million for the facility, the hike in steel prices could add another $700,000.

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City loses direct flight to London
Published Tuesday November 10th, 2009
A1
By DON MACPHERSON
macpherson.don@dailygleaner.com

Travellers looking to fly directly from Fredericton to the United Kingdom won't be able to do so next year.

The Greater Fredericton Airport Authority announced Monday that negotiations to continue the Fredericton-to-London link in 2010 have fizzled.

Canadian Affair and Air Transat had offered the direct flight in 2008 and 2009.

The flight ran six months of the year, from spring through mid-October.

It was offered on a weekly basis with the use of a 249-seat Air Transat Airbus 310 for service to London-Gatwick.

The airport, in a news release Monday, attributed the loss of the flight, in part, to the recession.

"It is disappointing news to not see this flight next year," said David Innes, president and CEO of the airport authority.

"The recession over there (the United Kingdom) has taken hold much more significantly than it has here."

Fredericton shared the direct flight with Halifax, so it wasn't a non-stop flight.

Innes said negotiations with Canadian Affair and Air Transat involved moving the service to a direct, non-stop flight between Fredericton and the U.K., using a smaller plane.

"Finding the right aircraft for the market grew into a bigger challenge than expected," he said.

The airport reports that in 2008, the weekly flight brought more than 2,100 people to the capital region.

Traffic was down by almost eight per cent in 2009, though, and Innes said carriers tend to look for strong growth in the second year, not a drop.

"It's a real disappointment, especially after the traffic was well over projections in year one.''

Innes said the authority hopes that once the recession is behind us, the service might return.

"We will be watching for improving economic conditions," he said. "We realize the importance of having this connection to the U.K.."

Dave Seabrook, manager of Tourism Fredericton, said even after only two years of the service, it was having a noticeable impact on the tourism sector in the city.

Those in the hospitality and food-service sectors were reporting an increase in the number of British visitors, he said.

"It was just a bad time to start that flight," Seabrook said, pointing to the difficult economic times in London as a major factor in the loss of the service.

Exit surveys indicated those U.K. visitors were spending $1.6 million per year in the capital region, Seabrook said.

While the loss of the service is disappointing, he said, the city, the airport authority and other stakeholders plan to pursue other carriers to fill the void.

"We remain committed to the U.K. market as a strategic market," he said. "It was a developmental market."

Marilyn Baird, owner of Baird Travel, said the service was popular.

She booked 20-40 people on the flight in 2009, and she's a one-woman operation with no storefront.

"Certainly, there's a lot of interest," she said.

Customers saved between $400-$500 per person with the direct flight, Baird said.

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cl812

Nov 13, 2009, 1:28 PM

Oromocto soccer association real happy about fake grass
Published Friday November 13th, 2009
A6
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

The Waasis Road track and field facility is getting a $750,000 upgrade with financial assistance from Ottawa.

The improvements will include an all-weather synthetic turf field for the playing field inside the oval track.

Keith Ashfield, minister of state for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Conservative MP for Fredericton, announced Thursday that the town will receive $268,666 from the federal Recreational Infrastructure Canada program.

Ashfield said the field hasn't been refurbished for 22 years.

"Our investment of more than $268,000 through the recreational infrastructure fund will help create jobs and reduce the effect of the economic slowdown," he said.

The project will also revitalize the 400-metre, six-lane running track around the field.

Oromocto is contributing $533,000 towards the project, which is the required two-thirds under the program.

The field is used for football, soccer, field hockey and rugby by an estimated 3,000 athletes.

Oromocto Mayor Fay Tidd said the town will seek financial assistance from the province for its share of the cost of the work.

But the money will be in the town's budget for next year and tenders will be issued as soon as possible, she said.

"It means a great deal for the town," said Tidd. "People have been walking on that track, although it is in very bad condition.

"There have been complaints about sprained ankles and cracks and pieces missing (in the track)."

The mayor said the artificial turf means the field will be almost an all-season facility.

"You will be able to run on this when you can't run on anything else," she said. "They will be able to play better games."

Steven Neily, president of the Oromocto Area Soccer Association, said there are three full-sized soccer fields in Oromocto, but one wasn't available last year so the association rented space from Canadian Forces Base Gagetown.

That wasn't possible this year and that left the association searching for space for its 600 members, who range in age from three-year-olds to the over-40 crowd, he said.

"The new turf and field will be a great boost for our city," said Neily. "It will allow our athletes to play on an improved field without an increased fee structure."

The artificial turf should extend the season and improve the quality of events, he said. Soccer alone uses the field five nights a week and on weekends, he said.

"School district championships are always held in November and they are always a mud bowl," said Neily.

"They will be able to play without swimming ... Having (an artificial) turf field will be a great benefit to those athletes playing."

He said the new field may even lure more regional tournaments here.

"Having a field of that calibre will only increase our marketability in those areas," said Neily.

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Cold weather festival really hot in city
Published Friday November 13th, 2009
Winterfest | Founder says event needs permanent sponsor
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The founder of Winterfest says it's time to take the event to the next level and that's going to require a permanent sponsor.

John Antworth started planning in 1996 to host a non-profit, volunteer winter festival in the city.

He was inspired by popular winter festivals such as the Quebec winter carnival and Ottawa's Winterlude.

The first Winterfest NB Inc. event was held in 2002 and several winter festivals later, Antworth has seen attendance climb to between 15,000 and 25,000 people.

Last year, the event was so popular that traffic was backed up from the Sunset Drive field where the festival is staged, back to the Brookside Drive Irving in Nashwaaksis.

Many of the families that came to slide down huge snow slides, work their way through a snow labyrinth and slurp hot chocolate spent the day, which resulted in other potential patrons being turned away for lack of parking.

In 2010, the event will be stretched over two weekends, from Feb. 5 to 14, to try to minimize traffic congestion and ensure access to the outdoor festival.

"Our site was at capacity," Antworth told the city's community services committee Thursday.

Winterfest may expand to multiple venues with activities at Officers Square and Killarney Lake.

But Antworth said that will require additional resources for security, maintenance and the design of winter-related activities.

To haul the snow needed to build the snow mountain and slippery slides costs about $20,000.

Organizing the festival has fallen to volunteers, but Antworth said most have full-time jobs and families.

Although Winterfest is younger than the more established Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, which has a permanent staff, it's reaching the point where it's not sustainable on a volunteer basis, he said.

Antworth wants to talk with governments at all levels to find a major funding and organizing partner.

Ottawa's Winterlude, for instance, is organized and run by the National Capital Commission, and Quebec Tourism is a major player in Quebec City's carnival.

"We want to embrace winter tourism," Antworth said. "There's an opportunity to engage the entire community. The opportunity is ours to grasp or lose."

He said it may be possible to inspire the city, Oromocto, New Maryland and St. Mary's First Nation to create a single winter tourism product.

The ideas are still in the preliminary stages, he said.

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Bus routes could be cut
Published Friday November 13th, 2009
Hearing | Company wants to eliminate less profitable routes and focus on those that can make money
A1
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

Acadian Coach Lines is asking for regulatory approval to eliminate its Fredericton-Miramichi route as the motor carrier undertakes a plan to increase focus on travel between Halifax, Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton.

According to documents filed with the Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) and obtained by The Daily Gleaner, the once-a-day service to Miramichi is targeted for elimination.

Also on the chopping block, according to the documents, are Acadian's service between Saint John and Bangor, Maine, and service on the Kentville-Digby corridor in Nova Scotia.

The company plans to reduce the number of trips between Fredericton and Riviere-du-Loup, Que., from three buses a day to two.

Acadian is asking the EUB to approve the change in time for the new year.

The bus company said in its submission to the EUB that the revenue generated on major routes is no longer sufficient to subsidize those operating at a loss.

It wants to build its lucrative routes and give customers more express routes that will reduce travel time between major cities.

While it plans to eliminate some trips, the company is also looking to increase service between the core population centres of Fredericton, Saint John, Moncton and Halifax.

Acadian's plan calls for the number of trips between Fredericton, Saint John and Moncton to increase to four a day each way.

From Fredericton, that means an extra trip to and from Moncton and two extra trips to and from Saint John.

Of those four trips, three will be express service between the cities, with the first one leaving each city between 7-7:30 a.m. daily. Another express bus would depart each city between 5-7 p.m. daily.

Trips that would also service communities in between would run between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The number of trips between Moncton and Halifax will also be increased from three to five per day.

Reached Thursday, Sylvain Langis, president and CEO of Groupe Orleans Express, the Montreal-based company that owns Acadian, declined to go into detail about the company's plans.

"All I can say right now is that we submitted a plan to the EUB," Langis said, speaking in French, adding that he objected to the fact that the document had been provided to the media.

"Right now, I have no comment. What we submitted was an important document. And as long as we have not made our presentation to the Energy and Utilities Board, I think it is useless for us to comment on it.''

Asked about plans to discontinue some services he said: "No comments until we meet the board, period."

A presentation document paints a dire picture.

"The industry is in crisis," said a statement on the opening page of the presentation by Langis and Manon Piche, the company's vice-president of marketing and strategic development.

"The bus transportation industry needs to follow population movements. There has been a massive migration of population from rural areas to urban areas in the Maritimes, much like elsewhere in Canada."

The company said the dispersed population in New Brunswick makes it more expensive to service.

"The bottom line is that we are still not making a profit."

Acadian said the perception that it runs a monopoly is false, given that there are many forms of competition out there ranging from car rentals, car pools and shuttle services to planes and trains.

The company noted the Government of Quebec provides Orleans Express with a full refund on the 16.2-cent per litre provincial fuel tax.

Andrew Holland, a spokesman for the Department of Transportation, said the province hasn't yet been advised of the plans but was aware

the company was working on something.

"They indicated to us a few weeks ago that they would be planning some changes in the province," he said.

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City plans trail upgrade
Published Friday November 13th, 2009
A3
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The City of Fredericton will spend $669,500 to upgrade 8.8 kilometres of its public walking path system.

Fredericton MP Keith Ashfield was at city hall Thursday to pledge the federal government's commitment of $210,000 toward the project.

"Recreational infrastructure is vital to the well-being of our communities," Ashfield said, as he announced the funding that's coming from the federal government's economic stimulus funding.

"Investing in recreational infrastructure contributes to the health and quality of life for people in communities all across Canada."

The city's public trails are mostly gravel walkways.

With the federal cash, the city will pave parts of the trail system that feed into the downtown area, add lighting to make the trails safer for users and add benches for rest stops.

"This project will make the trails more accessible for people with disabilities, cyclists and inline skaters," Ashfield said.

Mayor Brad Woodside was thrilled by the news.

"An investment of this kind of infrastructure is priceless," Woodside said.

Fredericton's 80 kilometres of public walkways and paths earned the city a Top 3 ranking for walking trail systems of Canadian cities.

"There are a tremendous amount of people who use the walking paths, not only to be fit, but it's become somewhat of a social event," Woodside said.

"It's a great way to enjoy the natural beauty that this city has to offer with the St. John River."

The project will involve paving:

* 2.2 kilometres of the Lincoln Trail from the south end of the walking bridge to Dunn's Crossing Road;

* 1.1 kilometres of the south riverfront trail from the walking bridge to the pedway;

* 1.5 kilometres of the Nashwaak Trail from Barker Street to Young Crossing;

* 1.5 kilometres of the Northside Trail from Gibson Street to St. Mary's Street;

* and 2.5 kilometres of the Valley Trail from Smythe Street to the Town and Country Motel.

The project has to be completed before March 31, 2011, in order to qualify for the federal funding.

Downtown Fredericton Inc. general manager Bruce McCormack was on hand for Thursday's announcement.

The downtown business improvement association identified riverfront pedestrian safety as one of its top priorities in its annual report to council.

The group hopes to contribute financially to riverfront improvement projects in the future, he said.

kirjtc2

Nov 13, 2009, 1:48 PM

Acadian said the perception that it runs a monopoly is false, given that there are many forms of competition out there ranging from car rentals, car pools and shuttle services to planes and trains.

And just how many planes and trains run from Fredericton to Miramichi?

cl812

Nov 13, 2009, 7:16 PM

was wondering the same thing. They definately shouldnt eliminate that route

Freddypop

Nov 14, 2009, 1:09 AM

was wondering the same thing. They definately shouldnt eliminate that route

If there is money to be made on this route then someone else will pick it up.

theshark

Nov 14, 2009, 3:12 AM

Are they talking about the whole Miramichi, Bathurst, Campbellton route????

kirjtc2

Nov 15, 2009, 4:28 PM

No....that connects to the Miramichi-Moncton route, which is staying.

OliverD

Nov 16, 2009, 1:24 PM

I can understand why people are upset about cutting this route, but at the same time it doesn't make much sense to keep it if it is a money loser. I suppose an option would be for the provincial government to subsidize routes like these.

C_Boy

Nov 16, 2009, 2:20 PM

I can see it not worth while for a large bus like that but maybe someone will get a shuttle passenger van on the go. There is one that runs between PEI - Moncton that you see once and a while. This would probably be more profitable considering passenger volume.

cl812

Nov 17, 2009, 12:17 PM

Drive to raise $3M kicks off
Published Tuesday November 17th, 2009
New Y | Building expected to be finished in 2011
A1
By JENNIFER DUNVILLE
dunville.jennifer@dailygleaner.com

Members and staff of the Fredericton YMCA are counting on the community to make the dream of a new facility a reality.

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=400310&size=500x0

A $3-million fundraising campaign was launched Monday to help pay for the $19-million project, which will be constructed on the site of the former Albert Street Middle School.

The facility will replace the 50-year-old building on Saunders Street where the YMCA is located.

Karina LeBlanc, co-chairperson of the campaign, said without $3 million from community donors, the project can't move forward.

"It will be a challenge to raise this kind of money in a recession, but the single biggest reason why I'm not worried about it is because I'm confident the community will help us make this happen," LeBlanc said.

"We also have a team of incredible people working with us on this campaign, so I have confidence and faith in them and I'm actually hoping we'll over-deliver on our $3-million goal."

The provincial government made a 6.5-acre (2.6 hectare) site - valued at $2.8 million - available for the building.

The federal government approved a $5.3-million grant through its national stimulus program - provided the project is completed by March 2011.

The city of Fredericton is considering a municipal grant of $1 million for the project and the YMCA plans to use $3 million of its savings and endowment for the construction.

It also plans to take out a loan and sell its facility on Saunders Street to make up the final $4 million needed.

"I'm not going to think about what will happen if we don't raise that money, because we're already on our way to reaching our goal and I'm confident we can do this,'' said Kathy Russell, Fredericton YMCA CEO

The campaign, which started Monday with the unveiling of a sign on the corner of York and Albert streets, will involve volunteers canvassing potential donors in the city.

YMCA staff and volunteers also plan to host several fundraising events throughout the year.

"The reason we want to move from the location we have now is because our current building is 50 years old and we've really expanded as much as we can at that location," Russell said.

"The new location will not only be bigger and allow us to offer more pool space and programming, but it will have room for us to grow."

The YMCA will be about 60,000-square-feet (5,574-square-metres) and will contain an elementary gymnasium, a 25-metre lap pool, a warm water instructional pool, two squash courts and locker rooms.

It will also house a wellness centre, exercise and dance studios, community meeting rooms, a kitchen, a teacher training room, a child development centre and an outdoor playground.

The first phase will include parking for 180 vehicles, which can be expanded to include space for an additional 112 vehicles.

"This new facility will allow us to carry on with our mandate of servicing the community from the pre-school level to seniors," Russell said. "I hope the community will support our campaign because even if you don't use the Y, it's one of those facilities that makes the community a whole lot richer."

The campaign has already raised $500,000 and on Monday, the Epsilon Y's Men's Club presented the YMCA with $2,200 it collected from a yard sale held earlier this month.

Call 462-3110 or visit www.ymcafredericton,nb.ca to learn more about the campaign.

----

cl812

Nov 18, 2009, 1:59 PM

FYI
noticed the other day that a couple more stores will be opening soon at the Corbett Centre: Shoe Company (next to Petsmart) and Select Kitchens (Nov 24)

cl812

Nov 19, 2009, 12:50 PM

Council makes policy changes to encourage companies to build affordable-housing developments
Published Thursday November 19th, 2009
A7
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

The City of Fredericton is trying to make it easier to get non-profit organizations to build affordable housing in the city.

The city is changing policies in a bid to get more affordable-housing units built. Inducements will range from a 20 per cent discount on the price of a city-owned lot to deferring payment of development fees, and water and sewer connection costs until after the project is finished.

The city also wants to shepherd interested parties through the process of obtaining approval.

Coun. Mike O'Brien announced the move Wednesday at the city's third annual Affordable Housing Day.

"Three years ago we had nothing, now we have policies to encourage development of affordable housing.

"We want to be able to help the people who want bring these projects forward," O'Brien said.

He said the city will take a proactive role in guiding non-profit groups through the development process and educate them and introduce them to other stakeholders they need to speak with.

The city will postpone collection of upfront payments for water and sewer connection fees and land development fees until non-profits receive funding from the federal and provincial governments.

O'Brien said the city's committee on affordable housing will also begin collaborating with counterparts in Saint John and Moncton to share ideas and lobby governments for more affordable-housing programs.

Two years ago, the city began offering 12.5 per cent off the price of city-surplus lots for private developers who built an eight unit apartment with at least two affordable-housing units.

While the project garnered some interest, it has yet to lead to a development.

----

Bill TGH

Nov 19, 2009, 4:02 PM

only two walls up this morning, next to the new Fire Station. Who's moving in & will they have a lower fire insurance rate:rolleyes:

OliverD

Nov 19, 2009, 4:36 PM

I thought I read that it was Ambulance NB but I'm not sure.

cl812

Nov 19, 2009, 5:23 PM

I thought I read that it was Ambulance NB but I'm not sure.

Thats what i thought too. Although I think there is a nursing home or something being constructed in that area as well.

Freddypop

Nov 19, 2009, 10:35 PM

only two walls up this morning, next to the new Fire Station. Who's moving in & will they have a lower fire insurance rate:rolleyes:

It is Ambulance NB. A 60 unit Seniors Complex has yet to start construction

cl812

Nov 20, 2009, 1:23 PM

Station facelift starts
Published Friday November 20th, 2009
Worn roof | Building to be restored
A1
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

There are more signs of progress on the revitalization of the former York Street train station.

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=402490&size=0x400
Dana Boyd, co-owner of Urban Farmer, checks out the collapsed ceiling over top of an old luggage cart inside the Fredericton Train Station on Thursday.

Work is underway to replace the station's roof. That will help clear the way to a restoration of the historic building.

J.D. Irving Ltd. recently announced the downtown landmark would be refurbished as part of a 20-year lease agreement.

The deal will see the building used as part of an NB Liquor store that will also include a new addition to the structure.

Mike O'Brien, vice-president of supply chain and facilities for NB Liquor and a city councillor, toured the site Thursday.

He said the goal is to have the building ready by late summer.

"It's full guns ahead for an August opening,'' O'Brien said. "Depending on the weather, the winter could dictate that, but that's our target.

"I hope people are pretty excited to see the work going on here. There's been so much interest in the project.''

The deteriorating state of the building became a source of collective concern and frustration in recent years.

Fredericton resident Nick de Vries stood watching from the sidewalk as workers tore away part of the roof Thursday afternoon.

"It's been so neglected. This never should have happened," he said. "But I'm very happy to see something being done."

As a member of a military band, de Vries made regular use of the train station and, like others, he worried about the state of the building.

"I saw this morning that work had started. When I saw what they were doing, I was quite happy," he said. "So I made sure to come back this afternoon."

As he spoke, two men on a hydraulic lift cut away worn sections of roof.

The Urban Farmer, a Fredericton contractor, has the contract to complete the roof replacement.

That includes selective interior demolition, removal of the existing roof and replacing it.

"The roof will be replaced in four sections,'' said J.D. Irving Ltd. spokeswoman Mary Keith.

"As one part of the roof is removed and replaced, the next section is removed and replaced.''

The roof work is expected to be done by February.

Fundy Fencing has also been hired. The company has been widening the area of the fenced enclosure around the train station this week. That will allow cranes, boom trucks and other equipment to be brought onto the site.

The company received permission to replace the roof from Parks Canada in September.

The company has filed an application for federal approval to restore the station.

The work will involve restoration of the original 1923 railway station, the demolition of the 1940s-era baggage wing and the development of the retail store that will be attached to the original train station.

The application was made to the federal Environment minister under the Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act and the Heritage Railway Stations Regulations.

----

Mayor says lower tax rate not in cards
Published Friday November 20th, 2009
Big year | Lots on plate for 2010
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Mayor Brad Woodside says it would be unrealistic for Frederictonians to expect a tax-rate cut in 2010.

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=402453&size=500x0
This is a rendering of the design for the Grant*Harvey Centre from Centreline Architects of Ottawa. The company, which also designed Willie O’Ree Place, is completing its document preparation so the city can issue a tender call early in 2010 for the construction of the new indoor dual-pad ice hockey arena.

The capital city mayor, delivering his annual state of the city address at the Delta Fredericton Hotel on Thursday night, said the city can't accomplish what it needs to do by dropping the rate to the $1.38 per $100 recommended under a new provincial government tax accountability mechanism.

Fredericton's tax rate stands at $1.41 per $100 - the lowest rate of any city in the province.

The voluntary control suggests that the city receive tax on new construction, but that it restrict its take on reassessments to an increase of only 0.6 per cent for 2010.

"With the construction that's taking place, with the road work that's being done, with the infrastructure that's being replaced, it's been very difficult because we said we wouldn't raise the tax rate and despite all that we had going on, we haven't raised the tax rate," Woodside said.

"But there's not much of a chance that we're going to go backwards. Maybe people won't like to hear that, but that's not realistic. We can't do the kinds of things we're doing right now ... and do it by reducing the tax rate.''

The city is tinkering with the 2010 budget for presentation in late December and councillors will have to make cuts just to maintain the current tax rate.

But Woodside did have good news to pass along in his speech.

He unveiled the design for the Grant*Harvey Centre on Knowledge Park Drive.

Centreline Architects of Ottawa, which also designed Willie O'Ree Place, is completing its documents for a construction call in early 2010.

The arena will boast an NHL-size rink and one Olympic ice oval, as well as a community room and indoor walking track.

In 2010, under a partnership between Holland College and the City of Fredericton, the 14-week basic firefighter training course will be taught at the city's new fire station and public safety training facility at Two Nations Crossing. The course will begin in April.

Woodside predicted that 2010 will be a transitional year for the city as it looks forward to the opening of its new downtown convention centre, provincial government office building and parking garage.

Construction in Fredericton, despite the recession, is expected to hit close to $120 million by year-end, Woodside said.

Local former Olympian Marianne Limpert, who was the silver medalist in the 200-metre individual medley at the 1996 Olympic Games, will be the final torch bearer for the Fredericton leg of the Olympic torch relay.

A community celebration to welcome the torch will be held at Officers Square on Thursday at 6 p.m.

"What a huge thrill. What an honour for me. I don't think it's quite sunk in yet," Limpert said. "What a special opportunity this is."

Limpert said donning her uniform and participating in the event will cause her to reflect on her career and the great experiences she had.

"How great to have this opportunity here at home where it all started," Limpert said.

OliverD

Nov 20, 2009, 1:55 PM

It is Ambulance NB. A 60 unit Seniors Complex has yet to start construction

As a resident of Devon it is interesting to see this area transform so quickly.

corda

Nov 20, 2009, 2:37 PM

The city has a new website to strum up convention business at the new centre. www.frederictonconventions.ca

This is the building's interior layout from the site...
http://www.frederictonconventions.ca/files/Seating_Plan_Diagram3_rev_2008-11-03.pdf

At first glance I didn't like the layout... the more I look at it the more I like it.

cl812

Nov 21, 2009, 2:01 PM

Will FREX site turn into residential area?
Published Saturday November 21st, 2009
Talks | City wants new location for fall fair and raceway
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The City of Fredericton and Fredericton Exhibition Ltd. are talking about relocating the annual fall fair and Fredericton Raceway to a new location.

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=402901&size=315x223Above is a concept plan for Wilmot Gardens, created by Glenn Group for the City of Fredericton. The plan represents the city’s long-term vision for the Fredericton Exhibition Grounds and the Fredericton Raceway. It’s up to Fredericton Exhibition Ltd. and its harness racing partners to decide if they want to negotiate a departure deal with the city

"We've never really stopped pursuing a better location for the Fredericton Exhibition and the raceway," Mayor Brad Woodside said in an interview.

Over the years, negotiations have proceeded in an on-again, off-again fashion, but the talks were renewed recently when Horse Racing New Brunswick approached city council to talk about the possibility of investing its money in a raceway upgrade.

The city responded by showing the interested parties - including city councillors, harness racing and exhibition board representatives - a concept rendering by local designer Daniel Glenn. It depicts Wilmot Gardens, a downtown housing and apartment complex, built around a centre court of green space that would run from Odell Park to Wilmot Park.

"It's always been our premise that the exhibition could serve their needs in a better location and that land could be developed for housing and parkland with the closure of Saunders Street," Woodside said.

The concept plan proposes a variety of housing types to replace the aging Coliseum rink and adjoining Capital Exhibit Centre used for trade shows.

The schematic proposes a high-density apartment building with ground-level retail. The rendering shows established businesses such as Tim Hortons and William's Seafood remaining at their locations.

"It's actually a very beautiful proposal. They've been working on that for quite some time," Woodside said.

Coun. Stephen Kelly, who represents Sunshine Gardens and the downtown west end, said he expects residents in his ward will embrace the housing concept.

"I'm excited about the potential for the transition of the property and the urban park and the mixed residential use it could ultimately turn into," Kelly said.

He said he thinks this could be the right time for the exhibition and raceway representatives to seek renewal that could advance their interests.

"When you've been doing something for 150 years, it's not going to be easy to say, 'Let's go find another venue,' when it's been successful there for all that time," Kelly said.

"I hope they keep an open mind and they look at the whole package and that they look at the new opportunities to evolve the FREX."

At its present location, the FREX and the raceway are limited in their ability to grow and rejuvenate their product, Kelly said.

He said there's also an opportunity to consider including an outdoor concert venue at a new exhibition-raceway site.

City administrator Paul Stapleton is leading negotiations on behalf of the city and he's awaiting feedback from the exhibition and raceway interests.

Kyle MacDonald, general manager of Fredericton Exhibition Ltd., said he can't comment on the talks.

The process isn't expected to proceed quickly and the mayor said 2010 won't bring about any changes to the property.

"We've got to identify property for them and negotiate this. I wouldn't say it's that close. It's just an ongoing process," Woodside said.

The Fredericton Exhibition Grounds, located on Smythe Street, are owned by the city and are leased under a long-term deal with Agricultural Society District #34, the parent company of Fredericton Exhibition Ltd.

The Fredericton YMCA, which sits at the edge of the exhibition site, hopes to sell its property and relocate to a new building on Albert Street.

----

Property too contaminated for residential use
Published Saturday November 21st, 2009
A7
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The owner of a McLeod Avenue property is seeking to alter the zoning and reduce the density on his land after an environmental check found the site isn't suitable for residential use.

Abe Khoury owns land at 746-792 McLeod Ave., which is zoned R-5 residential and R-9 A residential. He's asking the city to amend the zoning to comprehensive development district and non-retail commercial.

The planning advisory committee has approved his request and has forwarded it to city council for a final decision.

Khoury has declined to publicly comment on the zoning changes he's seeking.

At one stage, he was proposing to sell the land to a developer who was interested in constructing an apartment building and street-facing, Victorian-themed housing.

That project had city approval, but a subsequent investigation by environmental consultant Jacques Whitford revealed hotspots of petroleum contamination in two areas.

Khoury has since been working with the provincial Environment Department and his consultant on remediation, but there's a 16-year history of environmental contamination on the property.

"In working with environmental consultants and the New Brunswick Department of Environment, the site contaminants have been remediated to a commercial standard," says a city planning document prepared for the planning advisory committee.

"As a result, the property can not be developed as intended for residential uses, leaving the applicant with few alternatives but to seek out an appropriate commercial use of the property."

Khoury has told the city he intends to renovate a building on the site for office use.

The city's wellfield protection officer, Kathy Edwards, said control over remediation rests with the province, but the city is watchful of the process.

"The city is concerned about any contaminated site located within our wellfield-protection area," Edwards said.

The city recently drilled new water supply wells near Queen's Square. The McLeod Avenue property is within the bottom half of the wellfield-protection area, where the city imposes the stiffest rules on storage and use of a variety of chemicals, from oil and gasoline to dry cleaning fluid and pesticide storage.

Khoury's property will be subject to the wellfield-protection rules on energy sources and fuel storage, which means he has to use alternatives to oil as a heating product in an office building and can't use hydraulic fluids if an elevator is installed. Vegetable oil-based hydraulic fluids are available as an alternative to petroleum-based products.

---

EUB says people will be heard on changes to bus routes
Published Saturday November 21st, 2009
Transportation | N.B. regulator may hold joint meetings with N.S. counterpart
A1
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

The Energy and Utilities Board says New Brunswickers will get a chance to be heard in this province when it considers Acadian Coach Lines's proposal to cut some bus routes.

The board is deciding whether to grant Acadian's request for a joint hearing with the Nova Scotia regulator.

When the two boards agree to hold joint meetings, they typically alternate between the provinces. The last round was held in New Brunswick.

A date for the hearings hasn't been set.

Board spokesman David Young said there's a possibility portions of the hearing could be jointly held with the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.

But when it comes to route reductions, he said "the board wants to hear from New Brunswickers in New Brunswick."

Acadian Coach Lines wants to eliminate its daily service between:

* Fredericton and Miramichi;

* Saint John and Bangor, Maine, which includes the elimination of service to St. Stephen and communities in between;

* and the Kentville-Digby corridor in Nova Scotia.

The company also plans to reduce the number of trips between Fredericton and Riviere-du-Loup, Que., from three buses a day to two.

The bus company also wants to ramp up service between Halifax, Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton, increasing daily service between New Brunswick's three largest cities to four times a day.

Acadian requested the joint hearing in letters to the regulatory boards.

"It is proposed that this application be heard on a concurrent basis with the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board as this has worked efficiently in the past and, given the significant changes that are proposed, Acadian believes it is vitally important that the proposed Maritime network changes be heard together," reads the letter.

Paul Allen of the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board confirmed earlier this week it had also received a request for joint hearings.

John Pearce, past president of Transport 2000, said the boards should consider taking hearings to the people affected, such as those living between Fredericton and Miramichi.

"There should be local hearings," he said Friday. "In Nova Scotia, the regulator has been really good in the past about going to smaller villages to hold hearings."

Miramichi Mayor Gerry Cormier said city officials plan to attend the meeting to voice their opposition, regardless of where the meeting is held.

"I'd like to have it here, but I don't know how those things work. So whether they hold it here or somewhere else, we're going to be there. We can't let this happen."

Freddypop

Nov 21, 2009, 3:56 PM

Noticed that they began pouring the concrete for the 4th floor of the Convention Centre office building this AM. The prolonged stretch of good weather has allowed them to pick-up speed.

Let's hope the good weather lasts.

Smevo

Nov 21, 2009, 10:21 PM

RE: Frex-grounds

This is one development I would love to see happen, but make it high density, and don't just build a bunch of 3-4 storey buildings and call it high density. I'd like to see it approached this way because of the prime location:
Make each building between 5 and 7 storeys and keep the unused land temporary green space until demand picks up to justify more build out. Be firm on this density because my fear is they'll just want to fill the land and it will only be high density in name and not in reality. Oh, and don't put the new exhibition grounds on the woodlot.

RE: McLeod Ave contamination

The contamination in this case is probably an unfortunate consequence of the bylaw requiring all oil-tanks to be below-grade. While the thought behind the bylaw is nice, it makes it harder to remediate a site to high standards, because now when a tank leaks, instead of a nice shallow pool of contamination near the surface to be remediated, contractractors now have to move more soil to get to the contamination pool, adding extra expense, and will probably have to ship more soil in to replace the removed material, adding more expense again.
That said, if I was a resident near McLeod Ave, I would rather see the owner cough up the money to fix it properly, regardless of what his plans are. It should be the responsibility of the owner at the time of contamination, but we all know with the Irving Oil Tank site on the northside that this isn't always the case. I'm not overly concerned about the wellfield at this point, because it sounds like it's still localized after 16 years. If the contamination starts moving, then I'd be concerned.

cl812

Nov 23, 2009, 2:19 AM

Anybody know what is going across the new Rink on Cliffe Street? Noticed a relatively large parcel of land was recently cleared and some activity has been on going at the site.

Also, Trinity Developments has updated the Corbett Centre Page and the obviously incorrect opening/start dates have been revised to more reasonable dates. The layout has also changed slightly (now shows the Costco Gas Bar).

TENANTS
Costco (Summer 2010)
Home Depot
1. Winners
2. Michaels
3. PetSmart
4. Sally Beauty
5. Wicker Emporium
6. Easy Home
7. Dollarama
8. Montana's
9. Select Kitchens
Panago Pizza
Chinese Restaruant
Herbal Magic
10. East Side Mario's
11. Tim Hortons (Fall 2011)
12. Bouclair (Fall 2011)
13. Best Buy (Fall 2011)

http://www.trinity-group.com/index.php?q=system/files&file=images/Fredericton_Corbett_Center_SITE.gif

http://www.trinity-group.com/index.php?q=node/135

OliverD

Nov 23, 2009, 1:40 PM

I'm surprised it is going to take that long for the new Tim's to open. You would think they would want to open that ASAP.

cl812

Nov 23, 2009, 1:53 PM

Yeah it is surprising, its a prime location especially with all the traffic from New Maryland going by everyday

OliverD

Nov 23, 2009, 1:53 PM

RE: Frex-grounds

This is one development I would love to see happen, but make it high density, and don't just build a bunch of 3-4 storey buildings and call it high density. I'd like to see it approached this way because of the prime location:
Make each building between 5 and 7 storeys and keep the unused land temporary green space until demand picks up to justify more build out. Be firm on this density because my fear is they'll just want to fill the land and it will only be high density in name and not in reality. Oh, and don't put the new exhibition grounds on the woodlot.

I have to wonder how much demand there would be for units like that, though. Although the condo market in Fredericton is much bigger than it was 10 years ago (when there was only a handful of buildings), it hasn't kept up with the housing markets. The vast majority of condos currently on the market are priced under $150k (with the exception of the Southview building) and prices have certainly not kept pace with the price of single family detached homes. Given the location of the FREX grounds, I would have to assume that these units would be priced towards the higher end of the market.

The FREX grounds are large enough to support a mix of building types. I think it would be nice to see some higher-end town homes alongside 5-7 storey buildings. It will also be neat to see some loft-type condos, perhaps built on top of a ground-floor retail space. In other words, let's see some housing options that don't yet exist in Fredericton.

As for relocating the FREX, I think that the area north of the Walmart/Canadian Tire/Kents development would be a prime location. Extend the road beside Walmart further back. The land on the right could be used for retail development, then put the new FREX grounds on the left. There should be plenty of space there for FREX, a track, an outdoor concert space, etc. That would certainly spur further development in the area. Personally I would love to see a new Superstore there; the Main St. location was great 10 years ago but shopping there during peak times is painful these days.

On an unrelated note, does anyone know what is being built beside the car wash on Two Nations Crossing? Is that the Canadian Tire gas bar?

cl812

Nov 23, 2009, 2:04 PM

I think the Canadian Tire gas bar will be located along St Mary's st in front of kents, not sure what that is.

OliverD

Nov 23, 2009, 2:04 PM

I think the Canadian Tire gas bar will be located along St Mary's st in front of kents, not sure what that is.

Yeah that's what I thought too.

Smevo

Nov 24, 2009, 12:26 AM

I have to wonder how much demand there would be for units like that, though. Although the condo market in Fredericton is much bigger than it was 10 years ago (when there was only a handful of buildings), it hasn't kept up with the housing markets. The vast majority of condos currently on the market are priced under $150k (with the exception of the Southview building) and prices have certainly not kept pace with the price of single family detached homes. Given the location of the FREX grounds, I would have to assume that these units would be priced towards the higher end of the market.

The FREX grounds are large enough to support a mix of building types. I think it would be nice to see some higher-end town homes alongside 5-7 storey buildings. It will also be neat to see some loft-type condos, perhaps built on top of a ground-floor retail space. In other words, let's see some housing options that don't yet exist in Fredericton.

As for relocating the FREX, I think that the area north of the Walmart/Canadian Tire/Kents development would be a prime location. Extend the road beside Walmart further back. The land on the right could be used for retail development, then put the new FREX grounds on the left. There should be plenty of space there for FREX, a track, an outdoor concert space, etc. That would certainly spur further development in the area. Personally I would love to see a new Superstore there; the Main St. location was great 10 years ago but shopping there during peak times is painful these days.

On an unrelated note, does anyone know what is being built beside the car wash on Two Nations Crossing? Is that the Canadian Tire gas bar?

I agree with most of your post here. I'd love to see some townhouse-style development mixed in with (Fredericton standard) highrise residential, which could be condos or apartments imo. The thing I worry about is there will be such a rush to build out the property, that we'll end up with another Abbott Court on the FREX grounds. That's why I was saying keep it temporary green space until demand warrants the size and quality this site deserves. The green space keeps the nearby residents happy, but it would be reserved for the development (similar to the Frederick Square II land) and therefore there will be no leg for NIMBYs to stand on when it comes time for the area to be further developed into the reserved land.

As for the future location of the FREX and racetrack, I think the area you mentioned is perfect for it.

cl812

Nov 24, 2009, 12:24 PM

City commits $250,000 to new YMCA
Published Tuesday November 24th, 2009
A4
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Despite warning of a tight 2010 municipal budget, Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside said the city will shell out $250,000 to the Fredericton YMCA.

The city will pay out the non-repayable grant in $50,000 annual increments.

While announcements this close to budget time often wait for the finished document, Woodside said city council chose to make an exception by making a pre-budget commitment of the funding to aid the YMCA with its financial planning.

"We're very pleased that this project is going forward in our community," Woodside said.

The funding commitment falls far short of the $1 million the Y asked of the city.

But the mayor said the value of the city's contribution to the Y is actually higher than the cash donation because the city put up land for the new Bliss Carman School on Kimble Drive.

"The value of the land was appraised at over $1 million and we took a discounted rate because it was not only for the province, but it was for a school which was a good cause," Woodside said.

"The difference in that rate was a little over $300,000 which we think is a fair contribution that the city is making as part of this package," he said.

"The Y has been an institution that is very much part of the community and provides the kinds of services that if they didn't, we would have to. We have always acknowledged that and have always tried to participate with the YMCA for what they do for this community," Woodside said.

The YMCA has embarked on a $3-million fundraising program to tack onto $5 million in federal government funding intended to help the organization construct a new building with indoor swimming facilities on the former Albert Street Middle School property.

Total project cost is estimated at $19 million. The YMCA will finance part of the project cost and hopes to generate additional cash from the sale of its existing property at Saunders Street.

During Monday night's announcement at city council's regular public monthly meeting, Woodside said councillors are continuing to work their way through the preparation of the 2010 municipal budget.

"It has been and continues to be a very difficult process this year," Woodside said.

"Despite the fact that we are working diligently to hold the line, we still feel that it's very, very important to support this capital program that the YMCA has initiated."

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Property line discrepancy delays project
Published Tuesday November 24th, 2009
A4
By The Daily Gleaner

The rebuilding of an apartment building at 198 York St. has been delayed because a surveyor's report identified a discrepancy in the property lines.

Fellows and Company, architects on the project, received planning advisory committee approval recently on the request for a small front yard setback variance in order to allow the 14-unit building to move ahead.

The developer has been asked to protect the root systems of mature trees on York Street during the redevelopment of the lot.

The new construction will replace an older apartment building that was destroyed in a fire earlier in 2009.

OliverD

Nov 24, 2009, 1:44 PM

The thing I worry about is there will be such a rush to build out the property, that we'll end up with another Abbott Court on the FREX grounds. That's why I was saying keep it temporary green space until demand warrants the size and quality this site deserves. The green space keeps the nearby residents happy, but it would be reserved for the development (similar to the Frederick Square II land) and therefore there will be no leg for NIMBYs to stand on when it comes time for the area to be further developed into the reserved land.

Yeah, Abbott Court isn't laid out very well. Then again, when dealing with rental properties, developers rarely take time to make them more appealing unless they are higher priced. Keeping undeveloped land as green space is a great idea.

Freddypop

Nov 25, 2009, 2:50 AM

I have to wonder how much demand there would be for units like that, though. Although the condo market in Fredericton is much bigger than it was 10 years ago (when there was only a handful of buildings), it hasn't kept up with the housing markets. The vast majority of condos currently on the market are priced under $150k (with the exception of the Southview building) and prices have certainly not kept pace with the price of single family detached homes. Given the location of the FREX grounds, I would have to assume that these units would be priced towards the higher end of the market.

The FREX grounds are large enough to support a mix of building types. I think it would be nice to see some higher-end town homes alongside 5-7 storey buildings. It will also be neat to see some loft-type condos, perhaps built on top of a ground-floor retail space. In other words, let's see some housing options that don't yet exist in Fredericton.

As for relocating the FREX, I think that the area north of the Walmart/Canadian Tire/Kents development would be a prime location. Extend the road beside Walmart further back. The land on the right could be used for retail development, then put the new FREX grounds on the left. There should be plenty of space there for FREX, a track, an outdoor concert space, etc. That would certainly spur further development in the area. Personally I would love to see a new Superstore there; the Main St. location was great 10 years ago but shopping there during peak times is painful these days.

On an unrelated note, does anyone know what is being built beside the car wash on Two Nations Crossing? Is that the Canadian Tire gas bar?

I believe the Gas Bar is slated to be on the corner of Two Nations and St Mary's. ReMax sign indicates land has been sold "pending sale". I think CC is waiting for city council to give final approval before land purchase is complete,

Freddypop

Nov 25, 2009, 2:53 AM

I'm surprised it is going to take that long for the new Tim's to open. You would think they would want to open that ASAP.

I think that the 2011 opening for Tim's, Bouclair and BB are a typo. If you look to the left of the update they state that Phase III is due to open in Fall 2010...which is more realistic since you have 3 tenants signed and ready to go.

My 2 cents worth...

cl812

Nov 25, 2009, 7:01 PM

yeah, fall 2010 sounds more realistic for Costco as well, since it wont be started until spring (at the earliest) so it is unlikely it will be open by summer.

Freddypop

Nov 26, 2009, 2:39 AM

yeah, fall 2010 sounds more realistic for Costco as well, since it wont be started until spring (at the earliest) so it is unlikely it will be open by summer.

Also know that Tim's has been hyper to get going and were only waiting until Costco was settled. Can't see them waiting until 2011 to open ...a full year after Costco is up and running.

BTW...it only takes 3-4 months to build a Costco store once the land clearing begins as it is only pouring a slab, some steel work and the rest is all pre-fab. So let's say they start that in May...then store should be open in late August or early September

cl812

Nov 26, 2009, 12:26 PM

Also know that Tim's has been hyper to get going and were only waiting until Costco was settled. Can't see them waiting until 2011 to open ...a full year after Costco is up and running.

BTW...it only takes 3-4 months to build a Costco store once the land clearing begins as it is only pouring a slab, some stell work and the rest is all pre-fab. So let's say they start that in May...then store should be open in late August or early September

That makes sense now as to why its taken them so long after closing in the Regent Mall, because Tim Hortons was originally to be located in the Costco parking lot (where the Gas Bar is now going to be located), which is why they were waiting for Costco.

Yeah I guess Costco could be open before the end of the summer.

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Modular home sales centre to open on Bishop Drive
Published Thursday November 26th, 2009
A3
By The Daily Gleaner

A new modular home sales centre will be established at 315 Bishop Dr. on land owned by J.D. Irving Ltd.

CBCL Ltd. applied to the planning advisory committee for a similar use variance to create the show home sales centre. The concept plan will allow for four modular show homes to be placed in a landscaped setting in order to promote sale of the units. The manufacturer of the model homes was not identified at a recent committee meeting.

----

kirjtc2

Nov 26, 2009, 12:46 PM

A new modular home sales centre will be established at 315 Bishop Dr. on land owned by J.D. Irving Ltd.

The manufacturer of the model homes was not identified at a recent committee meeting.

----

If it's JDI land, it's obviously Kent Homes...you'd think the reporter would put 2and 2 together.

OliverD

Nov 26, 2009, 1:18 PM

If it's JDI land, it's obviously Kent Homes...you'd think the reporter would put 2and 2 together.

Not to mention the fact that the reporter works for Irving!

315 Bishop is beside the Best Western, towards Hanwell.

cl812

Nov 27, 2009, 12:19 PM

Funding shortfall from city 'won't stop YMCA project'
Published Friday November 27th, 2009
A1
By JENNIFER DUNVILLE
dunville.jennifer@dailygleaner.com

The YMCA project will move ahead despite a funding shortfall from the City of Fredericton.

The $19-million community centre will be constructed on the old Albert Street Middle School property.

It will replace the 50-year-old building that houses the YMCA on Saunders Street.

Bud Bird, co-chairperson of the fundraising campaign for the project, said it's relying on a $5.3-million grant from the federal government, $4 million from a bank loan and the sale of the Saunders Street property, and $3 million from a community fundraiser.

The remaining $1 million was requested from the city.

But Mayor Brad Woodside announced earlier this week that the city will only award the YMCA $250,000 over five years.

The mayor said the value of the contribution to the Y is more than the cash donation because the city made land available for Bliss Carman School on Kimble Drive, which is replacing Albert Street Middle School.

"The value of the land was appraised at over $1 million, and we took a discounted rate because it was not only for the province, but for a school, which was a good cause," Woodside said.

"The difference in that rate was a little over $300,000, which we think is a fair contribution that the city is making as part of this package."

While the $250,000 falls short of the $1 million the YMCA campaign needed from city officials, Bird said he's confident the project can still move forward.

"We're not going to let this stop us," he said. "We understand and appreciate in these difficult financial times that even coming up with the amount they did is a difficult task. I'm confident, that through community support and negotiations with our bankers, we can still make this work."

Bird said he has no hard feelings toward city council.

He said council and the YMCA have always had a good partnership and will continue to in the future.

"The community support for the Y is very strong. The YMCA has a very high and solid reputation for community service and being a fundamental element of the community," he said.

"That's not to say we won't be turning to the city again in future years for further consideration and enhanced support to fulfil the partnership investment we had originally proposed."

Woodside attended a luncheon at the YMCA on Thursday to show his support for its programs, but he didn't commit to any further funding.

Bird said the YMCA may be able to get the money it needs in other ways, although raising an additional $750,000 will be a challenge.

The encouraging thing, Bird said, is that the $3-million fundraising campaign was launched less than a month ago and already canvassers have collected pledges totaling about $1 million - one-third of the campaign goal.

"That's incredible when you think about the fact that we actually only officially launched the campaign last week," Bird said.

"Notwithstanding the city's decision, our campaign is proceeding really well. I'm confident and determined this will all work out in the end and our new building will be up and ready by March 2011."

----

Housing units get OK
Published Friday November 27th, 2009
A2
By The Daily Gleaner

An application to create 40 low-density residential housing units in Brookside West adjacent to the Brookside mini-home and Northrup mini-home parks has been approved by the city's planning advisory committee.

An extension of Heron Drive and the creation of a new, as yet unnamed street, will be required to facilitate the development by Chippins Ltd.

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City | In brief
Published Friday November 27th, 2009
A3

Rezoning requested

Skyline Building Management Ltd. has received approval from the city's planning advisory committee to rezone a portion of property on Boyne Court to develop a new 42-unit apartment building.

The zoning change will require the approval of city council.

Briefs compiled by Heather McLaughlin

----

cl812

Nov 30, 2009, 1:17 PM

Budget to include $9.6M for new campus
Published Monday November 30th, 2009
Politics | Another tuition freeze will also be officially announced Tuesday
A1

By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

There will be almost $10 million in Tuesday's provincial capital budget for the new community college campus in Fredericton.

The provincial government will also announce that university tuitions will be frozen for another year.

The new campus is part of the government's two-year, $1.6-billion capital budget that will be announced Tuesday, along with the province's operating budget.

Premier Shawn Graham revealed the size of the capital budget Friday.

"There is $9.6 million for the Fredericton campus," said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Donald Arseneault on Sunday.

The $15-million campus was announced by the Graham government in October.

The building will be located on the University of New Brunswick campus.

The project fulfils one of the Liberals' election promises from 2006.

Arseneault said this will be the first year of two years of funding for the Fredericton project.

He also said there will be $19 million in capital funding for the Centre of Excellence for Energy and Construction in Saint John, $11.7 million for the Allied Health Centre in Saint John, $22 million for the new Edmundston community college and $3 million for the multi-trade shop at the Bathurst community college.

"We're trying to be as student-focused as possible," said Arseneault.

The university tuition freeze will be the third year in a row that the cost to attend university in New Brunswick hasn't gone up.

But Arseneault said that freeze won't come at the expense of university budgets.

"We funded that tuition freeze," he said.

Extending the university tuition freeze next year will cost the government $6.1 million, he said.

That funding prevents a situation similar to what happened in British Columbia, where the provincial government froze tuitions for several years but universities later implemented a large hike in tuition fees to make up the lost revenue, said Arseneault.

He also said tuition at community colleges hasn't increased in the last five years.

"We are not raising tuition at the community college level this year," he said.

Arsenault also announced Sunday that university operating grants will be increased by $6 million in Tuesday's budget.

That's an increase of three per cent, he said.

He said last year the government froze the operating grant of universities. Arseneault said the government knows that universities face financial challenges.

He said he was pleased by the support his department is getting from the premier and the government caucus to make these investments possible.

"We all work together," said Arseneault. "It's a great team."

----

cl812

Dec 1, 2009, 12:42 PM

City expects to receive several bids to build hotel downtown - director
Published Tuesday December 1st, 2009
A5
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

There's plenty of interest in building a hotel alongside the $78-million downtown convention centre and office complex development, says the city.

Several developers are preparing bids for a hotel in the city core, said Don Fitzgerald, executive director of strategic initiatives with the City of Fredericton.

"We've already received strong interest from a number of good developers," he said.

The request for proposals has been extended to Dec. 15, he said.

"Indications are that we should receive four or five proposals for the site."

The convention centre is designed so pedways can connect it to both the Crowne Plaza Hotel and a new hotel.

This is the second request for proposals for the project. An earlier proposal foundered in 2008, a victim of the credit crunch as financiers grew worried about lending money.

Fitzgerald said the level of interest is a good sign of confidence in the economy.

"I think we see recovery in home prices and money is starting to flow for projects like this again. Hopeful the downturn is behind us," he said.

Some of the property the city bought at Camperdown Lane wasn't used for the convention centre, so the city proposed a hotel be built.

City staff met with some of the companies intrigued by the property on a site visit this fall.

Downtown Fredericton Inc. general manager Bruce McCormack said he's anxious to learn more about the proposals.

"I don't know who these hoteliers are, but from what I understand they are experienced, they know the business and they will be good for our downtown," he said.

"As a capital city, we should have a second hotel in our downtown."

----

You could probably argue that the Delta is Downtown, very close to downtown at least.

OliverD

Dec 1, 2009, 1:09 PM

You could probably argue that the Delta is Downtown, very close to downtown at least.

I was thinking that as well. Still, it would be nice to have another option in the downtown core.

cl812

Dec 1, 2009, 2:12 PM

yeah, there definately should be another hotel downtown.

cl812

Dec 2, 2009, 1:15 PM

Busy work year ahead for capital region
Published Wednesday December 2nd, 2009
Budget | New school, new college, lots of roadwork expected
A1
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

The Fredericton region will be seeing more cranes and bulldozers over the coming year as the government pours a record amount of money into capital projects.

A new northside elementary school, a new community college campus and roadwork are part of almost $900 million in construction to keep work - and the economy - going strong.

Among the projects announced in the 2010-11 capital budget are: $24.9 million for continued work on the Route 8 Nashwaak-Marysville bypass; $9.6 million for the community college campus; and $500,000 for repairs and upgrades at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design.

Infrastructure spending for 2010-11 will set a record at $896.1 million as the government continues its efforts to stimulate the economy.

"Our record capital investment program ... will help create much-needed jobs throughout the province as work on strategic infrastructure is stepped up," Finance Minister Greg Byrne said.

He said that will create the equivalent of a year of full-time work for 9,000 people.

Among the projects previously announced is a new school for Fredericton. No value was given for work on the new elementary school that will replace the South Devon Elementary and Alexander Gibson Memorial schools.

Two other schools are getting money. The province is providing $5.2 million for the new grades 6-12 Central New Brunswick Academy in Upper Miramichi and $3 million to begin renovations at the Doaktown Consolidated School.

The province is spending $95.7 million on infrastructure for elementary, middle and high schools.

Major construction projects in the province include $30.7 million for the community college campus in Saint John, $22 million for the college campus in Edmundston, $30.5 million for the Route 1 One Mile House Interchange, $24.2 million for the Route 7 Welsford bypass and $20 million for an expansion at the Dr.-Georges-L.-Dumont Regional Hospital.

Byrne deflected criticism that the budget was delivered about three months earlier than usual in an effort to put more distance between the document and the next election, Sept. 27.

He said the government wanted the budget to be ready for stimulus projects in the spring.

The province plans to spend $15 million renewing and upgrading infrastructure at the province's four public universities.

The province also continues to make major investments in transportation infrastructure.

The province is increasing its spending on infrastructure such as roads and bridges by more than 10 per cent to $423.4 million.

While continued refurbishment work on the Princess Margaret Bridge wasn't mentioned in Tuesday's budget, details on that work are expected when departmental estimates are released.

Local community leaders say they're happy to finally see the province committing the money to build a new community college in the city.

"We're very pleased to see the investment in the community college being made," said Anthony Knight, CEO of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce.

"It's a critical component to the local economy. It's going to help us grow our workforce (and) meet our community's needs, and it means we'll have a variety of skilled workers available for new employers."

The Graham government's budget, which includes almost $900 million for infrastructure projects next year, was panned by critics because it includes a $748-million deficit that will balloon the provincial debt to more than $9 billion.

"That's obviously not ideal," Knight said, but he noted that the province saw its royalties on other commodities drop this year.

The chamber is also pleased the province continues to focus on cutting taxes for corporations and individuals, he said.

Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside said he's pleased to see that despite challenging economic times, the province is making infrastructure investments.

"There a difference between when you're told a project is going ahead and when you find out they've put the money in the budget," he said.

"It's a sign we're stepping forward. I'm looking forward to cutting the ribbon for those projects."

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Wal-Mart to extend hours
Published Wednesday December 2nd, 2009
D2
By ADAM BOWIE
bowie.adam@dailygleaner.com

Both of Fredericton's Wal-Mart department stores will offer extended hours for the holiday season.

Wal-Mart Canada announced Tuesday that 181 of its 314 Canadian stores will be open around the clock during the lead-in to the Christmas holiday.

The extended holiday hours for the Regent Street and Two Nations Crossing locations will begin at 7 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 7. Each store will be open 24-hours per day through until Saturday night at 11 p.m.

The doors will re-open at noon the next day, with regular Sunday-shopping hours of 12-5 p.m. in respect of the applicable bylaws.

Those hours will be in place between Dec. 7 and Dec. 24.

Greg Steeves, manager of the chain's Regent Street location, said the holiday hours are put in place to make life easier for customers who work irregular hours, or who have other commitments during the day.

"We did it last year and we had shoppers who mentioned they really appreciated the extended hours," he said.

"It's a busy time, so it made it more convenient - especially for shift-workers."

The chain of department stores has changed its hours for the past two holiday seasons.

Jim Thompson, senior vice-president of operations for Wal-Mart Canada, said sales statistics have shown that the most popular products sold in the wee morning hours are electronics, dry groceries and candy snacks.

"Our sales data illustrates customers are stocking up on everything from food staples to TVs and lots of midnight munchies," he said in a press release. Wal-Mart's shopping marathon clearly appeals to customers of all types."

Similar changes will be introduced at Wal-Mart stores in Bathurst, Miramichi, Moncton, and Saint John, although those hours fluctuate by location.

Wal-Mart Canada serves more than one million Canadians each day at its 314 locations.

cl812

Dec 3, 2009, 12:05 PM

Northside bus route may be on chopping block
Published Thursday December 3rd, 2009
Two Nations Crossing | City says not enough passengers using route
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Fredericton city council is preparing to scrap the Two Nations Crossing bus route effective Jan. 2 as part of its 2010 budget plan.

Word of the proposed cut is filtering out to passengers as the city hands out work assignments to transit drivers.

Prior to Jan. 1, transit drivers are allowed to submit their preferences for driving assignments on the city's 27 routes. As a unionized workforce, the senior drivers get first pick of the routes, leaving those with less seniority to take the less favoured routes.

The Two Nations Crossing run isn't on the list of routes for driver selection.

Coun. Mike O'Brien, chairman of the city's finance and administration committee, has confirmed the route's future is being considered for the budget vote Dec. 16.

"It's one of the items that could be on the chopping block," O'Brien said. "We had a trial and the ridership wasn't quite where we wanted it to be. We extended the trial to the end of December and the ridership hasn't picked up."

The route is operating at a deficit of $290,000 for the year.

"So that is definitely one of the items that has to be looked at when we try to come up with revenues and keep a line on costs," O'Brien said.

Northside councillors were strong advocates of giving the route a fair shake. In 2008, city council approved a three-month pilot project to inaugurate the bus route between Kings Place and new businesses in the Two Nations Crossing-Cliffe Street area.

Its creation was strongly urged by Business Fredericton North and supported by the manager of the northside Wal-Mart.

The route was also one the city's transit consultant, Dillon Consulting Ltd., picked as one with good potential for service.

The three-month pilot project conducted in the fall of 2008 didn't produce strong ridership, but city councillors decided a longer trial to boost passenger counts was warranted.

The pilot project was extended to April, when city council voted to keep the route until the end of 2009 and track ridership.

"Despite the fact that the run didn't reach the ridership numbers council would like to have seen during its six-month pilot, the area has potential for future ridership growth," deputy mayor Bruce Grandy said in April as he defended the need to keep the route going. Grandy couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.

The city looks for 20 passengers per revenue hour in order to recover 40 per cent of the route's cost. Over the course of the trial, the weekly high average hit 12.6 passengers per hour.

Trina MacDonald, general manager of Business Fredericton North, said its members are concerned about the potential loss of the Two Nations Crossing run and would like to talk with city officials about ways to retain it.

"We do understand that budgets are such that you can't continually operate on a deficit, but we're going to see how we can assist our members with this situation," said MacDonald.

"I would hope that it can stay, even in some capacity, maybe with less frequency. But to lose it completely, it's going to be very hard to get it back."

She said the route's success would be aided by the creation of a northside transit hub so bus passengers don't have to cross the river to make a connection that takes them back again to the north side.

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Cleaning up fire-ravaged property will help redevelopment - president
Published Thursday December 3rd, 2009
A4
By The Daily Gleaner

Business Fredericton North is commending a Main Street property owner for demolishing a fire-ravaged property.

The business improvement area organization had been pressing the City of Fredericton to take action under its Dangerous and Unsightly Premises bylaw to force the removal of the property.

"Business Fredericton North, Main Street and our members are extremely pleased with the demolition today of the unsightly and unsafe property at 219 Main St.," said Business Fredericton North president Paul Elliott.

"We commend the property owner for demolishing the property without further action required by the City of Fredericton."

Elliott predicts that cleaning up the site will go a long way to promoting sale and redevelopment of the property.

The city bylaw allows for the city to contract the removal of an unsafe property and hand the bill for the demolition job to the property owner.

----

The convention centre/office building is really coming along, they are starting to pour the fifth floor. Also, the Southview condos are really coming together as well and really stands out on the northside, they're on the fifth floor and beginning the sixth floor.

I also have heard some talk about Costco recently as well and it very likely be starting early in the spring or a bit later this winter.

http://205.174.161.52/axis-cgi/jpg/image.cgi?&Cookie=-1&PAGE=1259842296718

cl812

Dec 5, 2009, 1:41 PM

City's unemployment rate drops, tops among big 3
Published Saturday December 5th, 2009
A1
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

If this is a recession, Fredericton's business community will happily take two, said the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce CEO after Statistics Canada reported that the unemployment rate in Fredericton was four per cent in November.

"This is very positive news," Anthony Knight said Friday.

"This certainly demonstrates that the local economy remains vigilant in the face of challenging economic times."

Fredericton's unemployment rate is the lowest of the three big cities in New Brunswick.

The capital's unemployment rate of four per cent matches the same rate for November 2008 and is down slightly from 4.1 per cent in October.

In September, the unemployment rate in Fredericton was 4.6 per cent.

Knight said the statistics reflect what he's hearing in the local business community.

"It demonstrates that we have built a sustainable model that can weather challenging times," he said.

The unemployment rate for Moncton was 5.6 per cent in November, 6.7 per cent in October and seven per cent in September.

The unemployment rate in Saint John was six per cent in November, 5.2 per cent in October and 5.5 per cent in September.

Frank Flanagan, director of development services for Fredericton, said the low and stable unemployment numbers are impressive in the current economy.

"Our construction has helped maintain those employment numbers," he said. "We are up to $118 million (in building permit values) up to the end of November.

"That is a very good year. That is due to the construction we see all over the city."

Flanagan said there are more projects coming next year to maintain the momentum.

New Brunswick's unemployment rate in November was 8.8 per cent, up from 8.5 per cent in October. But Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Donald Arseneault said there were 1,000 more New Brunswickers working last month than in the same month in 2008.

"I am pleased to see that unemployment rate is holding fairly steadily," he said.

"Our government will continue to make strategic capital investments as outlined in our recent provincial budget that will help keep the New Brunswick economy moving forward."

While 1,600 fewer persons were employed in New Brunswick in November than in October, Arseneault said the province is one of only three to experience employment growth year-over-year.

The unemployment rate in Nova Scotia was 9.5 per cent in November and 9.3 per cent in October.

The unemployment rate in Prince Edward Island was 11.7 per cent in November, compared to 12 per cent in October.

Canada's unemployment rate was 8.5 per cent last month, down from 8.6 per cent in October.

According to the provincial labour department, employment growth in November in New Brunswick was strongest in the following sectors: finance, insurance, real estate and leasing; accommodation and food services; and agriculture.

But Opposition Labour critic Trevor Holder said he wants to know why New Brunswick's unemployment rate is edging up while the national rate is going down as the economy recovers.

"That is concerning," he said. "What is happening here in New Brunswick that is taking us in an opposite direction? I am starting to wonder if there is confidence in our province."

cl812

Dec 14, 2009, 1:45 PM

It's a little drafty now but it will get better
Published Monday December 14th, 2009

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=415831&size=500x0
It's a little drafty now but it will get better: The construction of the SouthView Condominiums on Union Street is beginning to change the skyline along the north side of the river. Workers can be seen working on the building recently from this view, which is from the south side.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/gallery/888920,415831

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cl812

Dec 15, 2009, 1:17 PM

Picture in a frame
Published Tuesday December 15th, 2009
a1

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=416438&size=315x223
An unidentified construction worker walks a fine line of steel at the Richard J. Currie Center at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton. Construction continues on the $50-million facility that will provide a variety of recreation and fitness spaces for students, faculty, staff and members of the public.

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Bus line asked for details on route cuts
Published Tuesday December 15th, 2009
Plans | Firm wants to increase service to larger centres
A1
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

Acadian Coach Lines is going to have to get specific about plans to cut bus routes in New Brunswick.

The province's Energy and Utilities Board is asking the company for detailed information about ridership and costs on the two routes it wants to drop.

Acadian has asked the board for approval to eliminate Fredericton to Miramichi routes, which also stop in communities along Route 8, and its Saint John to Bangor, Maine, route, which also serves Charlotte County.

"The board has asked for more specific information regarding the routes Acadian wishes to discontinue," board spokesman David Young said Monday.

A spokeswoman for Acadian said the company is preparing a response to the request.

Young said once the details are received, the board will decide how to proceed.

Mike Perry, a board member with Transport Action Atlantic - which just changed its name from Transport 2000 Atlantic - said the board should have more in-depth information before making a decision.

"I think it's very good that they are doing that. I think they do need more details about (Acadian's) decision."

Perry, a resident of Charlotte County where service is to be cut, said he blames Acadian for poor ridership on his area's line.

The once-a-day route isn't set up for day trips or commuters, he said. The bus arrives in Saint John after 5 p.m. and a traveller bound for St. Stephen can't leave the port city until 2:20 p.m. the next day.

Young said the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board has asked Acadian for the same details. A spokesman for the Nova Scotia board couldn't be reached for comment.

The bus company has asked for a joint hearing on the proposal. The boards have yet to decide whether they will grant that request.

While it's asking to cut some routes, Acadian also plans to increase the number of express buses between the communities of Halifax, Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton.

The company also plans to reduce the number of trips between Fredericton and Riviere-du-Loup, Que., from three buses a day to two.

In Nova Scotia, the bus company plans to eliminate its Kentville to Digby corridor. Unlike the New Brunswick routes, the Kentville to Digby corridor is also served by another bus company.

In documents filed to the board last month, Groupe Orleans Express said the Acadian Coach Lines service it acquired six years ago isn't profitable and it has lost $1.6 million over that period.

Scott Clowater, mayor of the rural municipality of Upper Miramichi, a community that will lose its access to bus service if the Fredericton to Miramichi route is cut, said he appreciates that the board is delving further for information.

"Definitely, they should have all the information they can get," he said.

Clowater said he remains opposed to any cut in service.

----

No objections filed over train station refurbishment
Published Tuesday December 15th, 2009
York Street | Project expected to be done by next fall
A1
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

Planned repairs and renovations of the York Street train station haven't met any formal public objection.

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=416404&size=500x0
A worker uses a skid steer to move earth into the York Street train station Monday morning as crews fill in basement crawl spaces. No objections were filed with the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada for planned repairs and renovations to the historic train station, which is protected under federal legislation.

The period to file opposition or comments to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada regarding restoration work that will see the station turned into an NB Liquor store closed at the end of November.

"I can tell you we didn't get any official opposition," Julie Dompierre, executive secretary of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada at Parks Canada, said Monday.

The historic train station is protected under federal legislation.

"We have sent the railway company a letter saying we are now moving ahead with our evaluation of their proposal."

Irving struck a deal earlier this fall with the Crown corporation for a 20-year lease.

It will allow the front portion of the station built in 1923 to be retained and refurbished, while the freight storage shed attached will be demolished and replaced by a liquor store.

Dompierre said heritage experts, engineers and architects with the federal government will review Irving's proposal for the building.

Parks Canada will then make a recommendation to Heritage Minister Jim Prentice, who will in turn make a recommendation to the federal cabinet. The cabinet must approve the work.

Dompierre said that typically involves some back and forth between the board and a project proponent.

"Our office's job is to make sure the heritage value of the station will be protected," Dompierre said.

The Urban Farmer, a Fredericton contractor, is working inside the train station. Workers are filling in basement crawl spaces with earth.

Replacement of the building's roof, which was approved by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, is expected to be complete in February.

The second phase is the rehabilitation of the interior of the train station.

"Once again, we will be seeking approvals from the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada," said Irving spokesman Geoff Britt.

"In the meantime, we are preparing the design work and getting ready for a tender call in the spring. We expect to complete the project by the fall of 2010.''

NB Liquor spokeswoman Nora Lacey was pleased to hear the process towards revitalization is making progress.

"It sounds like we've gotten through the first hurdle in the approvals for the renovation of the train station,'' she said.

"I think so many people have high expectations and are excited to see the progress not only in the physical building but the steps towards getting the station refurbished."

The vacant and run-down structure was placed on the Heritage Canada Foundation's list of the 10 most threatened heritage sites in the country in 2006.

----

Organizations lead in local development
Published Tuesday December 15th, 2009
D1
Anthony Knight

The greater Fredericton area is set apart from other communities with the great leadership that exists here to increase prosperity for all through economic development. I have observed tremendous co-ordination, participation and engagement of many organizations in the community, all with an aim to build a stronger Fredericton.

Our lead economic development organization is Enterprise Fredericton. Under the leadership of Doug Motty, Enterprise Fredericton has shown great vision and ambition in advancing economic development in our community. The establishment of the Knowledge Park, the support for immigrant investors, the opportunity to take advantage of business basics training sessions, the advice for new entrepreneurs or partnerships with existing ones: these are just some of the very critical undertakings of Enterprise Fredericton - our community's economic lynch pin.

A significant role is played by the City of Fredericton through the mayor, council and city officials in helping to build the case for new investors here in the city and in their travels throughout the world. Leadership from the City of Fredericton has had a significant impact on efforts to attract new investment.

The Greater Fredericton Airport Authority is a catalyst for growth and an undeniable partner in the effort to build greater prosperity in our community.

With expanded services and solid passenger numbers during challenging economic times, the airport authority is a critical partner in attracting new investment to the community.

Fredericton is also fortunate to have two business improvement associations on the north and south sides of the city.

Business Fredericton North has transformed the Main Street area with impressive projects such as street beautification, nature boardwalk and awareness raising initiatives to ensure that the needs of north side businesses are heard and understood.

Downtown Fredericton Inc. has lead a rebirth of Fredericton's downtown. The visionary leadership of the team at Downtown Fredericton has changed perceptions and made Fredericton's downtown a centre for culture, entertainment and shopping.

There are many other organizations and people who make a real difference including local MLAs, the member of Parliament, the National Research Council, the Research and Productivity Council and so many others. Each brings strengths and capabilities that enhance efforts to grow the economy.

The Fredericton Chamber of Commerce works with all these organizations on a frequent basis. We mobilize the business community around issues and support one another to build a better Fredericton. We seek new opportunities and develop ideas that work and make our community a great place in which to live and work. The partnerships that exist across these organizations make our community a success at a time when many are facing extraordinary obstacles.

These organizations and the people who lead them have inspired me in my work and I will without question rely upon my experiences with them as I move on in my new career.

Thank you for reading this column and the feedback that I have received from you. It has been my pleasure.

Anthony Knight is the CEO of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce. He can be reached at Anthonyk@frederictonchamber.ca.

cl812

Dec 16, 2009, 1:24 PM

Affordable housing in spotlight at development awards
Published Wednesday December 16th, 2009
A7
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

Projects that put an emphasis on affordable and community housing made up the bulk of the winners Tuesday at the city's annual development awards.

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=417077&size=265x0
Scott Ross stands in front of Frog Hollow, which won a city award Tuesday.

Eight projects and one individual were honoured. Among the recipients were a complex that has married 42 affordable housing units with an Evangelical Lutheran church; a provincial civil servant who helped secure deals that have led to several projects in the city; and a 16-unit that apartment building that devotes half of its units to affordable housing.

Scott Ross, who oversees that 16-unit Frog Hollow project, said he appreciates that the city is recognizing the effort developers are making to provide affordable housing.

"Everyone deserves a place to live," he said.

"When you see the people who are taking their kids to school and heading off to work ... you know the stereotypes are being disproved every day. They're working twice as hard as many of the people in our community."

Coun. Mike O'Brien, who has championed affordable-housing projects in the city, said it was heartwarming to see his council colleagues who helped hand out the awards recognize their value. He said that speaks to broader support for the projects.

O'Brien said the Skigin-Elnoog project and the MacFarlane Street development faced their share of opposition.

"The community really accepted these places after a bit of controversy," he said. "The developers feel good about what they're doing."

He said he's seen a marked change in attitudes in the last two years.

"But I can't wait for the day that there is no opposition to an affordable-housing project and we see people get behind it from the get go," he said.

Brice Morehouse of Philmore Housing, which built the 10-unit community housing for the disabled that faced criticism, said seeing the end result is worthwhile for a developer.

"Everyone has the right to live and breathe. I've met with the residents; they're great people," he said.

Gary Gould, general manager of Skigin-Elnoog Housing Corp., a non-profit housing company that works with off-reserve aboriginals, said having the four projects recognized is nice, but he said it's really a testament to the focus the city has put on fostering all kinds of housing.

"This city has come a long way. I remember working to convince the city fathers to do more to move the issue forward," Gould said.

"I think this city is today sending out a message that it is a friendly place to live.

Mayor Brad Woodside recognized Ashley Cummings, an assistant deputy minister in the provincial department of Supply and Services, for his work outside of the limelight.

Woodside said Cummings has been a tremendous partner for the city. He oversaw the renovation of Marysville Place into government offices and also helped orchestrate part of a land swap that saw the Knights of Columbus take up its new home on Regent Street and yield its old George Street home to Brunswick Street Baptist Church in a deal that saw the city take over York House, sparing it from the wrecking ball.

Woodside said he was pleased to see the number of affordable-housing projects honoured.

"A lot of the arguments against these projects from the 1970s are still out there, but they're changing because of the quality of development going on," he said.

The honour roll

* Ross Ventures' Frog Hollow at 515 Dundonald St. was recognized for the creation of affordable-housing units.

* Luther Place, a complex that combines a 42-unit apartment building at St. Matthews Evangelical Lutheran Church at 1039 Regent St. developed in cooperation with Avide Developments Ltd., was also recognized in the affordable housing category.

* Skigin-Elnoog's townhouse development at 362-372 Gibson St.

* Tony's Renovations was recognized for its residential development on Rankine Street for infill development.

* Philmore Housing was recognized for its development at 203 MacFarlane St. for infill development.

* Capital City Condominiums was recognized for its garden homes development on Ridgeline Crescent in the garden home design category.

* Ian and Danica Demerchant were recognized for the Victorian paint scheme applied to their home at 818 Charlotte St. which is listed in the city's historic places register.

* Simpson Building Contractors received an award recognizing its contribution to the development of the North Side Fire Station located at 500 Two Nations Crossing.

* Ashley Cummings, an assistant deputy minister in the Supply and Services Department, was recognized with the mayor's award for development for his role in facilitating development in the city.

----

cl812

Dec 17, 2009, 12:26 PM

Air traffic controllers land at region's airport
Published Thursday December 17th, 2009
A3
By MICHAEL STAPLES
staples.michael@dailygleaner.com

The Fredericton International Airport now has air traffic controllers.

The change from flight advisory service went into effect today.

Steve Hunt, general manager of the Atlantic Flight Information Region for NAV Canada, said the change was made following a review.

It was determined there was a need to shift from a flight advisory service to an air traffic control service because of the growing number of landings at the airport, he said.

In 2008, there were 73,000 movements at the facility. That's expected to jump to more than 100,000 this year.

"Because of the increase in traffic, a control service is more appropriate to the level of traffic and mix of traffic that's currently at Fredericton," Hunt said in an interview. "The opportunity in a controlled service environment is to issue instructions to aircraft in order to ensure the safety, effectiveness and efficiency of the operation."

Under the old system, instructions couldn't be issued to aircraft, just advice. The responsibility for maintaining separation of aircraft was left to pilots.

"The big difference in a control service is the controller will be providing the separation of aircraft in the control room," Hunt said.

Hunt said NAV Canada is phasing in its control service hours and will begin with eight-hour operations. That will be expanded, however, as people are transitioned and trained.

Everything will depend on traffic patterns and levels, he said.

David Innes, CEO of the Fredericton International Airport Authority, said he's pleased with the change.

"Certainly with the amount of traffic and activity that's on our airfield now, it is appropriate to have an enhanced control system. It helps us define the system," he said.

Air traffic control is well understood around the world as the preferred operating system at an airport, Innes said.

"It's a higher level of control; there's no doubt about that."

Innes said he expects traffic levels at the airport to continue to increase.

As of Wednesday, NAV Canada had 11 flight service specialists at the Fredericton International Airport.

They have all been given the option of transitioning to air traffic controllers.

"All of them have expressed interest in becoming air traffic controllers and we're putting a training plan in place to support their transition to become air traffic controller," Hunt said.

With that training comes a substantial pay increase.

An air traffic controller can earn between $57,000 and $123,000 per year. A flight service specialist can earn between $42,000 and $86,000 per year.

cl812

Dec 19, 2009, 3:22 PM

City can expect good news in the new year - premier
Published Saturday December 19th, 2009
A3
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

Premier Shawn Graham dropped another hint that there's good economic news coming for Fredericton soon.

"We are going to be making a major announcement here in the Fredericton region early in the new year, something I alluded to earlier," said Graham during his year-end interview Friday.

"That deal has been finalized."

The premier didn't give further details, but this isn't the first time Graham has hinted a big announcement is coming for the capital region.

He made the most recent comment while talking about the benefits of his government's stimulus spending and his tax-reduction plan.

"I am looking forward to showing New Brunswickers why we're making these decisions today so that they can see the benefits over the long term," said the premier.

He said the government has been receiving phone calls from major companies interested in moving to New Brunswick.

"We need to create an environment today for investment," said Graham.

"I truly do believe today that this plan is going to position New Brunswick strategically compared to other jurisdictions."

----

Developers make their pitch to build hotel downtown
Published Saturday December 19th, 2009
A8
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

A call for proposals for a new downtown hotel closed this week with a fistful of responses for the city to eye, says development committee chairman Coun. Dan Keenan.

The city, which owns property next door to its $78-million convention centre, parking garage and provincial government office building complex under construction, closed its public proposal call for development submissions Tuesday.

The city hopes to interest a private developer in constructing a hotel on land straddling what used to be Camperdown Lane.

"I'm anticipating that we'll get a good result out of that (proposal call)," Keenan said.

"City staff will evaluate the various proposals and bring a recommendation to council. The city's role in this is that we are the owner of the property."

City staff escorted some of the potential hotel developers around the downtown site in the fall.

The hotel project has the support of Downtown Fredericton Inc., which sees it as an opportunity to attract more visitors to the downtown.

Meanwhile, the city and the Royal Canadian Legion have been discussing the possibility of the municipality buying the legion's property and adding it to its downtown west end parking lot property which is the subject of a separate public proposal call for development.

The city hopes the west-end property could be redeveloped for an office complex.

"To me, that means there could be interest in developing that area. We have a request for proposals out for our land there. Anything that could expand that and get into a larger development would be beneficial," Keenan said.

He said city staff talks with owners and organizations on a variety of land ownership and development issues. There have been some renewed talks recently, for instance, on the future of the Fredericton Exhibition Grounds. The city would like to see the annual fall fair relocated and the property redeveloped for apartments and townhouses. The city owns that site, but has a long-term lease with the Fredericton Exhibition board of directors.

----

Was driving on Two Nations Crossing yesterday and noticed a foundation is all poured on the property across from the Ambulance NB site. I think it must be the strip mall that was proposed for that site by Colpitts Developments. There is also another building under construction next the Ambulance NB building under construction, this must be the 60 unit seniors complex?

OliverD

Dec 21, 2009, 12:40 PM

Was driving on Two Nations Crossing yesterday and noticed a foundation is all poured on the property across from the Ambulance NB site. I think it must be the strip mall that was proposed for that site by Colpitts Developments. There is also another building under construction next the Ambulance NB building under construction, this must be the 60 unit seniors complex?

I believe you're correct on both of those. I'm still wondering what the building across from Canadian Tire/Walmart is. It's going to be interesting to see how this area develops over the next few years. I can see Two Nations Crossing becoming a major commercial hub.

Noticed that the old Albert Street school is due to come down today.

cl812

Dec 21, 2009, 2:20 PM

Noticed that the old Albert Street school is due to come down today.

Heres the article from todays Gleaner.

YMCA project ramps up with demolition of school
Published Monday December 21st, 2009
Campaign | Money to be raised to help make dream a reality
A1
By ALEXANDRA DAVIS
davis.alexandra@dailygleaner.com

As a new year approaches, wheels are in motion for the Fredericton YMCA to move forward with the creation of its new building.

The $19-million community centre will be constructed on the old Albert Street Middle School site.

The project will take a step forward today when the former school building is demolished.

Kathy Russell, CEO of the Fredericton YMCA, said the goal is to open the new Y building in 2011. She said it's an ambitious plan, but one that she believes is achievable.

"We plan to have it open by spring of 2011," she said. "It's an aggressive timeline, but it's doable.

"We plan to have the building substantially completed by March of 2011."

The current YMCA building on Saunders Street is 50 years old.

Russell said the new centre will offer many updated features and amenities, including a warm water therapeutic teaching pool, a 25-metre lap pool with full accessibility, and multipurpose rooms with special child-friendly features.

Russell said she's excited about the location.

"The location will promote active transportation in the long run," she said. "It's very rare to have a Y downtown with six acres of land.

"We'll be set up for many years in a prime location."

Russell said the fundraising campaign that will make the building possible is off to a good start.

The campaign aims to raise $3 million by June or July 2010 with $1.2 million raised so far.

"I'm very pleased with how it's been going. We just started the campaign in October, and we're making great progress so far."

Fredericton-Silverwood MLA Rick Miles said the provincial government is providing financial assistance toward the cost of the demolition.

"The Province of New Brunswick is granting $200,000 toward the demolition," he said. "We've partnered with the federal government and with the city to make sure the Y can move forward with its project."

Russell said the Y building on Saunders Street will eventually be sold.

"We've had some interest in it," she said. "Nothing's been finalized, but we do have plans to sell it."

----

cl812

Dec 21, 2009, 6:26 PM

An update on Costco, work will very likely be starting a bit later this winter.

Freddypop

Dec 22, 2009, 1:21 AM

I believe you're correct on both of those. I'm still wondering what the building across from Canadian Tire/Walmart is. It's going to be interesting to see how this area develops over the next few years. I can see Two Nations Crossing becoming a major commercial hub.

Noticed that the old Albert Street school is due to come down today.

The building across from Canadian Tire/Walmart is the new Craig Electric building. They are relocating from Union Street

kirjtc2

Dec 22, 2009, 12:48 PM

Any plans for Kelly Tire to move out of that building too so they can finally get rid of that eyesore?

OliverD

Dec 22, 2009, 3:17 PM

Any plans for Kelly Tire to move out of that building too so they can finally get rid of that eyesore?

I doubt that building is coming down. It's a designated heritage property, as it's the old CPR roundhouse.

It would be nice to see the property restored although I'm not sure what the best use for it would be.

cl812

Dec 23, 2009, 1:13 PM

City creates piggybank for upgrades
Published Wednesday December 23rd, 2009
20-year plan | Money from tax hike going into infrastructure improvements
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Fredericton's 0.85 cent tax-rate hike will be used to take the first step toward a 20-year infrastructure repair and renewal account, says finance committee chairman Mike O'Brien.

The city councillor, who piloted the budget to approval Dec. 16, said he's heard the public flak over a tax hike to $1.42 per $100 of assessed value, especially since New Maryland cut its tax rate by 0.83 cents and Oromocto reduced its rate 2.39 cents to $1.37.

But he said the circumstances in those communities are different than in Fredericton.

New Maryland has restricted construction until it finds additional water resources to grow the community, so it hasn't had to fund and maintain much in the way of new development, O'Brien said.

Oromocto's revenues are held relatively stable by Canadian Forces Base Gagetown and it gets its water from the base.

Many Oromocto and New Maryland residents work in Fredericton and that adds to the city's costs, he said.

"We have to provide some infrastructure and services for those people as well," O'Brien said.

Fredericton remains committed to its capital construction program, he said.

The public has generally supported major projects such as the sports facility renewal program and the downtown convention centre, provincial government office building and parking garage now under construction, O'Brien said.

"We have to spend a little money to grow the city and the debt servicing on those (projects) is manageable," he said.

"We worked hard this year, really hard, to try to come in with a zero (tax increase), but one thing we couldn't ignore was the need to start investing a bit more in our infrastructure renewal. Municipalities and provinces haven't been doing that," the finance committee chairman said.

"The amount of money that was raised through the tax increase - $467,000 - all of that is going right back into infrastructure renewal," O'Brien said.

"You can rest assured that every municipality in New Brunswick is going to have to deal with this in a more concrete manner like we are. They'll be facing some very, very tough issues and decisions in the near future."

By reallocating other funds, the city will end up spending $510,00 to repair the roof of The Playhouse on Queen Street, upgrade its heating and ventilation system and to purchase a

sand and salt truck to replace one that's on its last legs.

Year over year, that dedicated infrastructure funding will stay in the budget and be used to improve roads, streets, curbs and gutters, equipment and sports fields, O'Brien said.

One of the driving factors behind creating the new infrastructure deficit funding account has been a requirement by the city to adhere to new public-sector accounting board rules.

Those rules have required the city over the past year to do inventory and determine a value on everything from vehicles to buildings to pipe buried in the ground.

While it's been a yearlong task to catalogue all of the city's assets - whether new or used - and apply values to them, it has meant that the city now has a better picture of the age and wear and tear on everything it owns, O'Brien said.

The accounting task has identified a $35.8-million infrastructure deficit.

"If not addressed, in 20 years that would grow to $136 million," O'Brien said.

"It's roads and streets, buildings and equipment and sports fields that require upgrading every now and then before they fall apart.

"Everything we own outside of water and sewer is included in that."

O'Brien said the best analogy he can make is to compare the city's infrastructure deficit to the roof over a home.

"If you have a 25-year roof and if you look at it and the tiles are starting to curl and you say, 'I'll try to get another couple of years out of it.' If you replace it when you should, you'll might spend $5,000.

"If you wait the extra year and the roof leaks, that $5,000 now costs you $5,500 because of inflation and you have another $2,000 worth of repairs because of the damage. It's easy to say don't do it, but all it will do is cost the taxpayers more down the road.''

O'Brien said the city is protecting taxpayers' investments.

"If we keep picking away at our (infrastructure) deficit, we actually start to reduce it over 20 years as opposed to letting it grow.''

The amount of the tax increase this year equals 0.6 per cent, which is the rate of inflation for 2009.

"The additional funds are going into infrastructure renewal. It's not going into new programs, new staff, new nothing. It was to start tackling the deficit.''

A five cent per cubic metre water and sewer rate hike is part of the second year of a proposed five-year plan to gradually increase rates to address the infrastructure needs of the utility, O'Brien said.

----

Keeping winter out
Published Wednesday December 23rd, 2009
A1

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=420938&size=500x0

Centre takes shape: a construction worker nails on wooden slats to keep the sheets of plastic and tarps in place at the convention centre in downtown Fredericton on tuesday.

cl812

Dec 28, 2009, 1:30 PM

Duplessis decries loss of bus service to Two Nations Crossing
Published Monday December 28th, 2009
City cuts bus route | Government urged to find solution soon
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The New Brunswick government needs to come up with Plan B now that the city has scrapped Two Nations Crossing bus service, says Brian Duplessis, executive director of Fredericton Emergency Shelters Inc.

Clients of the city's two emergency shelters and low-income residents are already expressing anxiety about how they'll get to their appointments with social workers early in the new year, Duplessis said.

The closest transit pick-up point will be at St. Mary's Retail Centre on Cliffe Street. To walk from there to the Social Development office is 2.4 kilometres.

"It's mostly uphill and the last half-kilometre has no sidewalk. It's bad enough any time of the year to do that, but now it's very dangerous and not safe," Duplessis said.

When you consider that many income-assistance clients have poor health, mental and physical disabilities, addictions issues, literacy and learning problems, it makes the lack of public transit not acceptable, he said.

When the provincial government opened its office building and relocated Social Development staff to Two Nations Crossing, the Two Nations Crossing route hadn't been created by the city.

In the summer of 2008, anti-poverty advocates criticized the building's location.

It's far from the southside downtown area where most of the city's rooming houses and the emergency shelters are located.

In August 2008, the Supply and Services Department launched a six-passenger shuttle service to and from the government office building.

It dropped the service when the city inaugurated the Two Nations Crossing run in 2008, but that route will be cut Jan. 2 due to insufficient ridership.

"At a minimum, the shuttle bus needs to be put on when the (city) bus route stops Jan. 2," he said.

Duplessis said there are other solutions. He suggested social workers go to their clients, rather than forcing them to travel to the office.

"They could have one of their workers or more than one of their workers set up regular appointments here at the shelters. Drop in and see their clients as opposed to making them go over there,'' he said.

"We would provide them with a place to meet with a person. That would also allow them to see the broad range of issues that a person deals with."

Duplessis said he has contacted Social Development Minister Kelly Lamrock on the busing issue.

"He responded and said he would have his officials look at it, realizing there's a sense of urgency.''

No one could be reached at Social Development for comment due to the government office closure for the Christmas holidays.

Duplessis said he has little hope that the city will change its mind.

"Quite frankly, I've given up on the city anyway. The city's wiped their hands of it," Duplessis said. "This is a responsibility of the Social Development Department."

The city needs to consider a dedicated east-west bus route on the north side, says Coun. Dan Keenan.

Keenan, who represents Ward 1 (Douglas), said the city continues to hope that the provincial government will fund an overpass at Ring Road that would facilitate cross-town traffic on the north side.

But if provincial help for the overpass isn't on the horizon, Keenan said, city council should tackle the issue.

"We wait to see what's in the (provincial) budget and we move from there. If it doesn't look like it's imminent, then we have to look at what alternatives we have," he said.

During the city's 2010 budget, the Two Nations Crossing bus route was scrapped over the objections of Keenan and transportation committee chairman Coun. Bruce Grandy.

The route wasn't garnering the ridership the city had hoped for and was running at a loss.

"The people that want to go to Two Nations Crossing aren't at Kings Place. They're in Barkers Point and Devon and Sunset Drive,'' said Keenan.

"Those are the people that want to go to Two Nations Crossing and those are the ones that want to go to Leo Hayes High School. We need an east-west route. There's no question."

----

NB Liquor store moving to front of Brookside Mall
Published Monday December 28th, 2009
Location change | Northside operation taking over Rossy space, to open in April
A3
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

NB Liquor will move its Brookside Mall store in the new year.

The liquor corporation, which operates an outlet near the Reynolds Street access to the mall, will take over a larger space near the Brookside Drive access.

"It was an opportunity to move to the front part of the mall, which provides better access for customers and a great location that is highly visible," said NB Liquor spokeswoman Nora Lacey.

The new store will be in part of the area that was previously occupied by the Rossy department store.

The new Brookside Mall store is to open in early April. It will be 10,200 square feet (946 square metres) in size - about 1,600 sq.ft. (148 sq. metres) larger than the current store.

"The landlord is completely renovating the space for us," Lacey said.

"We wanted a larger space because the north side of Fredericton is certainly growing. This will give us a larger footprint and allow us to offer more products in that store."

Lacey said the existing store is small by today's standard. The move is also part of a retail network revamp for the corporation.

The existing Brookside Mall store recorded $3.5 million in sales to the public in 2008-09.

When sales to licensees (such as restaurants and bars) and agent locations in Mactaquac, Stanley and Zealand are included, the Brookside Mall sales were $10.6 million.

The existing Brookside Mall location is the only one of the four liquor stores in Fredericton that remains closed Sundays.

"There is no decision yet on whether the new Brookside store will be open on Sundays," Lacey said.

----

Freddypop

Dec 30, 2009, 10:40 PM

Noticed that the Rio Can site lists the Corbett Centre as 100% leased. Not sure if this is all current space or includes the new space that will begin construction this Spring.

See details here:

https://riocan.com/_bin/investor/property.cfm

kirjtc2

Dec 31, 2009, 1:27 PM

Not sure where they got that...the site plan on that site shows that not only does it not include the future phases, but some of the existing pads still say "available".

https://riocan.com/property/fileGet.cfm?property_id=271&file_type=sitePlan

Smevo

Dec 31, 2009, 5:11 PM

Rio-Can jumping the gun again? Maybe they're "in negotiations" for 100% of the leasable area. That wouldn't be surprising, remembering that they were listing tenants as signed that they were still negotiating with when the development first started. Has Marks Work Wearhouse shown up there yet? What about Linens 'N Things? :whip:

Judging by the pdf kirjtc2 linked:

Existing space available: 19,489 sqft
Leased space existing: 102,964
% leased existing space: ~84% (not including Home Depot or Costco)

Future space available: 122,850 sqft
% leased total space: ~42% (not including Home Depot or Costco)

That pdf also says the total complex is 337,000 sqft. So taking that number and subtracting the total space they list floor areas for makes Costco and Home Depot combined 91,697 sqft. This brings the leased area to 194,661 and the % leased existing to ~91% and the total % leased area to ~58%.

michael_d40

Jan 1, 2010, 4:33 AM

Smevo

Jan 1, 2010, 6:52 AM

Linens N Things went bankrupt all over North America, and Marks stopped building standalone stores.

Marks was only in negotiations and ended up building in the Smart Centres Power Centre on Two Nations Crossing. Those were the two I recalled offhand as being in negotiations but not signed when they had been advertised on the on-site sign as future tenants for Corbett Centre. There were, in fact, many others. Some ended up actually signing leases, some didn't. It was quite the fiasco for a short time there while Home Depot sat alone on Corbett Centre land, and I was living and working in Fredericton at the time. There are standalone stores of Marks here in Calgary that were built at the same time Corbett Centre was advertising them as a tenant, not to mention the expanded standalone in a new location they built at Mayflower Mall in Sydney which opened in '08 iirc, the same year they were building the Marks/Canadian Tire combo-store on Two Nations Crossing. :cheers:

Not sure if Rio-Can jumps the gun alot with its other locations, but it certainly has a couple of times with Corbett Centre. That said, I do hope they get their act together and make all the fuss somewhat worthwhile.

Freddypop

Jan 1, 2010, 2:42 PM

Marks was only in negotiations and ended up building in the Smart Centres Power Centre on Two Nations Crossing. Those were the two I recalled offhand as being in negotiations but not signed when they had been advertised on the on-site sign as future tenants for Corbett Centre. There were, in fact, many others. Some ended up actually signing leases, some didn't. It was quite the fiasco for a short time there while Home Depot sat alone on Corbett Centre land, and I was living and working in Fredericton at the time. There are standalone stores of Marks here in Calgary that were built at the same time Corbett Centre was advertising them as a tenant, not to mention the expanded standalone in a new location they built at Mayflower Mall in Sydney which opened in '08 iirc, the same year they were building the Marks/Canadian Tire combo-store on Two Nations Crossing. :cheers:

Not sure if Rio-Can jumps the gun alot with its other locations, but it certainly has a couple of times with Corbett Centre. That said, I do hope they get their act together and make all the fuss somewhat worthwhile.

Marks also relocated to a new much larger store in the Uptown Power Centre about a 11/2 years ago. This is their Freddy flagship store with smaller Marks/Canadian Tire stores on Two Nations Crossing and Oromocto

Re Rio Can/Trinity Development....Yes they need to get their act together and hopefully 2010 will likely be the year.

cl812

Jan 1, 2010, 4:52 PM

That pdf also says the total complex is 337,000 sqft. So taking that number and subtracting the total space they list floor areas for makes Costco and Home Depot combined 91,697 sqft. This brings the leased area to 194,661 and the % leased existing to ~91% and the total % leased area to ~58%.

Yeah that doesnt make sense, hard to say what they are basing the sq footage no.s on, because Costco and Home Depot combined should be more like 235,000 sq ft (Home Depot is approx 95,000 sq ft and Costco will be approx 140,000 sq ft). Come to think of it Im not sure the sq footages listed include Home Depot and Costco because the total sq footage for the site is 475,000 sq ft, but I dont think that adds up either. The numbers listed here make a bit more sense.

https://riocan.com/includes/fileGet.cfm?cms_document_id=447

One possibility I was thinking of for the % leasing could be 100% of Riocan's ownership of the property is leased? since trinity is part owner as well and maybe the unleased portion is accounted for under their ownership, but that doesnt really make sense either.

cl812

Jan 1, 2010, 4:59 PM

O'Brien: City's planned spending spree is manageable
Published Friday January 1st, 2010
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Editor's note: This is the first of two stories on municipal debt levels.

Although Fredericton has bitten off a huge chunk of long-term debt, the city says it can manage its finances without setting off alarm bells.

Coun. Mike O'Brien, chairman of the city's finance and administration committee, said the city's debt-cost-to-gross-expenditure ratio will hit a peak of 8.2 per cent in 2010.

That's far below the spending threshold of 20 per cent that the province has set for municipalities, he said.

The city's spending spree includes money for:

* new municipal facilities;

* southside arena;

* the Two Nations Crossing fire station;

* and $79-million downtown convention centre, provincial government office building and parking garage.

Critics bemoan the fact that the capital city was free of any accumulated debt load in 2005.

That was due to the city's policy of setting aside about 10 per cent of its general operating fund budget for capital improvement projects such as roads, streets, water, sidewalks and other essential infrastructure repairs in a pay-as-you-go capital account.

O'Brien said the city also knuckled down to pay off its accumulated debt, which is laudable, but it also meant that taxpayers weren't seeing new investment in facilities for their tax dollars.

After 20 years of pay-as-you-go, the city was debt-free but lagged behind on infrastructure renewal, he said.

"It was time to reinvest," O'Brien said. "We want the city to grow. We have to be able to provide work and jobs. You don't do that by not growing.

"We're confident that the debt that we have right now is the right level, the right balance and is very manageable and will help grow the city."

So how much money has the city spent to date on financing repairs to the Lady Beaverbrook Rink, constructing the new two-rink Willie O'Ree Place, repairing two and rebuilding two outdoor swimming pools and building a new fire station and firefighter training tower?

After deductions, federal and provincial government grants, HST recoveries and other factors, the city's net debt will ultimately stand at $78 million.

In 2009, the cost of servicing the city's debt was $6.4 million, which is a debt ratio of 7.2 per cent.

In 2010, the city had set a budget of $7 million for debt servicing, for a debt ratio of 7.8 per cent.

But the Dec. 16 city budget altered that figure to $7.6 million, or 8.2 per cent of the total general fund operating budget.

"In 2011, we'll be at $7.1 million, which is 7.2 per cent, and in 2012, we'll be at $6.7 million, or 6.5 per cent," O'Brien said.

Up to 2012, the city's revenue forecasts are based on a growth rate of 6.5 per cent per year, but those forecasts will have to be revised annually.

For 2009, for instance, the city's tax base growth hit 5.43 per cent, below its 6.5 per cent financing forecast.

The city also has to work under a new provincial tax rate accountability mechanism introduced by the province in November.

The mechanism allows the city to fully tax all new construction, but asks it to voluntarily collect only the value of inflation on reassessed properties.

City councillors will decide year to year whether to vote to take a larger share of the tax revenue, raise taxes or trim expenditures.

In 2010, for instance, the city's budget will claim all of the 5.43 per cent tax base growth for taxation purposes, including the 2.69 per cent which is derived from higher property assessments on existing homes.

The province had urged the city to voluntarily restrict its tax take on reassessments to 0.6 per cent.

The five-year average growth in the city's tax base - the value of all taxable property within its borders - has been 7.6 per cent.

So far, the city has sold $51.8 million worth of debt to finance its construction projects.

When a new $78-million convention centre, parking garage and provincial government office building are completed in 2010 and the $20-million-plus Grant * Harvey Centre southside arena project is done, the remaining debt gets added to the city's books.

The city will recoup the $41-million cost of building an office complex for the province to replace the aging Centennial Building on King Street by means of a 20-year lease agreement. The province will pay $4.5 million to $5 million annually to the city.

"That's designed as flow-through debt," O'Brien said.

The southside ice hockey arena will benefit from $8 million in federal-provincial grants. As well, the city expects to reap parking revenues from the downtown parking garage.

O'Brien said the first $20 million of the $51.8 million worth of debt the city has already sold on financial markets was sold at 4.45 per cent interest. The sale of $3.7 million was marketed at 4.18 per cent. The third sale of $9.7 million was sold at 3.58 per cent interest and locked in for 15 years, and a fourth sale of $18 million is expected to be marketed below five per cent.

O'Brien said the city isn't planning to take on any more big-ticket purchases until after 2012, after it retires debt for other items such as leases for transit buses and fire department vehicles.

O'Brien said the municipality is being balanced with its investment planning and will continue to take a balanced approach in the future, but he said it's virtually impossible to continue to grow a community without incurring some kind of debt load.

"You have to have rinks and vibrant sports facilities. The city purchased The Playhouse when it was in some financial difficulty, and now it's breaking even. That's the heart and soul of our downtown and it's getting an international reputation," O'Brien said.

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Landfill's $4-M plan for energy generation on hold
Published Friday January 1st, 2010
Methane | Commission must wait until NB Power matter is decided
A3
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The local landfill commission's plans to install a $4-million system to generate electricity from its methane gas management system is on hold until the provincial government makes a final call on the sale of NB Power to Hydro-Quebec.

"We're in a holding pattern. We're waiting," said spokesman Brad Janes of the Fredericton Region Solid Waste Commission.

The provincial government has until March to act on a memorandum of understanding it has signed that would sell all the assets of the Crown-owned utility to Hydro-Quebec, which would then sell power back to New Brunswickers.

The proposed sale has become a hot topic of public debate in the province.

The commission has already spent $2 million on a methane gas collection system, which burns off the methane collected. Commission CEO Gordon Wilson said in July that the landfill wants to install a 1.6-megawatt generator and market the energy collected.

The generator should be able to produce enough electrical energy to power between 1,000 and 1,500 homes.

When the economy went sour last year and friendly talks with Enbridge Gas collapsed, the commission approached NB Power about inking a contract to buy the landfill's power.

"What's come up in the last couple of months has put that on hold," Janes said. "We've got the equipment. We're just waiting to go. There's just been an unfortunate series of events over the last 16 months that have curtailed it."

A draft contract between the landfill commission and NB Power has already been prepared and is under review. The commission also had to launch talks with the provincial Environment Department to determine whether the commission has the legal authority to enter into a contract to produce and sell electricity to NB Power, minutes of the landfill commission's October meeting show.

It appears the legislative authority doesn't exist to allow for the energy sale, but the Environment Department is investigating what change would be necessary to let the Fredericton landfill market its energy.

The commission's board of directors has already passed a resolution to borrow $4.4 million over 10 years to finance the installation of the generator and associated costs.

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Look up, wayyy up
Published Friday January 1st, 2010
A4

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=425448&size=0x400

It's not likely that this tree grew on this construction crane at the convention center. It does show that the operator is getting into the Christmas spirit.

Freddypop

Jan 1, 2010, 11:50 PM

Yeah that doesnt make sense, hard to say what they are basing the sq footage no.s on, because Costco and Home Depot combined should be more like 235,000 sq ft (Home Depot is approx 95,000 sq ft and Costco will be approx 140,000 sq ft). Come to think of it Im not sure the sq footages listed include Home Depot and Costco because the total sq footage for the site is 475,000 sq ft, but I dont think that adds up either. The numbers listed here make a bit more sense.

https://riocan.com/includes/fileGet.cfm?cms_document_id=447

One possibility I was thinking of for the % leasing could be 100% of Riocan's ownership of the property is leased? since trinity is part owner as well and maybe the unleased portion is accounted for under their ownership, but that doesnt really make sense either.

I think your right. The Home Depot/Costco stores are owned by their respective companies. Rio Can/Trinity are responsible for the rest.

From Rio Cans' link above:

Corbett Centre
Fredericton, New Brunswick

"This 26 acre site, acquired by way of a 66-year long-term lease, is currently being developed into a 467,000 square foot new format retail centre. The site is
anchored by Home Depot, which owns its own store and operates as part of the overall site. A Costco, which also owns its own store, will commence operations in 2010. RioCan’s ownership interest in the property is 62.5%. This site is being developed with our partner, Trinity. "

cl812

Jan 2, 2010, 1:01 PM

Train station will return to its former glory this summer
Published Saturday January 2nd, 2010
A3
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

There's a sense of excitement as work progresses at the York Street train station.

The Fredericton landmark is getting a new roof and, by summer, the former train station that was once a focal point in the city will have a new lease on life.

The fenced-off structure that was a source of community consternation over its state of neglect is becoming part of a new liquor store.

"I was initially alarmed to see it like this," said Tim Scammell, a longtime member of the Fredericton Friends of the Railway who has been inside the station.

"They're down to the dirt. All the wood inside is gone. They've got a little mini-excavator in there."

But while that may have been shocking, he said, he understands and appreciates the work is necessary to rejuvenate the building.

"I know what's coming. I know why they did it and I know they have to do it," said the New Maryland resident and village councillor.

Scammell has been making a daily trek to the station in recent weeks, observing the work and recording the progress with his camera.

Sections of the roof have been removed, revealing graffiti on the walls.

A brick column was taken down and put back, and parts of the front roofing sit piled to the side of the worksite.

But 2010 will be a major year for the structure that was listed among the 10 most-endangered heritage sites in Canada in 2006.

Mayor Brad Woodside was vocal in calling for a conclusion to the station's misery.

He repeatedly called for the building to be overhauled or put to the wrecking ball.

Woodside, who rode to the station as a boy from Fredericton Junction, is pleased it didn't come to the latter.

"The good news is something is being done. It's been an eyesore. It was offensive to people who live nearby and those who had to drive by."

He's looking forward to cutting the ribbon when the liquor store opens, probably in late summer.

"It will be a pleasure to step inside," said the mayor.

"It has been very exciting for a lot of people seeing the crews in there doing work, reinforcing the building and getting it ready.

J.D. Irving Ltd. struck a deal earlier this fall with NB Liquor for a 20-year lease at the location.

It will allow the front portion of the station built in 1923 to be retained and refurbished, while the freight storage shed will be demolished and replaced by a liquor store.

The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, which must approve work done to the federally protected site, gave permission for the roof work.

Heritage experts, engineers and architects with the federal government will review the final proposal for the building before it's approved by the federal cabinet.

Scammell said he's keeping a close eye on the work.

"I had an interesting little scare the other day. I got there, and I noticed the red cross from the front was gone."

He said he looked all around but he couldn't find it, so he asked the workers.

"It's safe, it's safe," they told him, pointing to the spot they had stored the cross.

"It's been put back up now. It almost looks like new," Scammell said.

"I think 2010 is going to be the final resolution. It will be sorted out, it will be done and it will be nice. It's going to be a new beginning."

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cl812

Jan 4, 2010, 12:56 PM

City poised for strong construction year in 2010Published Monday January 4th, 2010
Momentum | Projects of all sizes planned
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The chairman of Fredericton's development committee says 2010 promises to be a balanced and vibrant construction year.

Coun. Dan Keenan said the capital city ended 2009 with about $120 million in new construction. That's still below the city's record-breaking year of $157.1 million, but not a bad return considering the recession.

"Anytime we can generate $120 million in development permits, it's a great year for our city," Keenan said.

"I think you can see that reflected in all the construction activity that's going on."

Although the city's overall tax base grew 5.4 per cent below the 6.5 per cent that the city had forecast, Keenan said the difference came from the general downturn in real estate values and the assessments on existing homes being impacted.

In 2009, the city had $59 million in new housing construction with 500 units of all types - single family to duplexes to apartments - coming into the marketplace.

"We saw a rebound in the number of apartment units constructed last year as well, compared to 2008," Keenan said.

What fuelled much of the building season wasn't just mega-projects, such as the city's $79-million downtown convention centre, parking garage and $41-million provincial government office building, but the smaller to mid-sized construction projects.

A new medical clinic on Regent Street built by Sobeys will be opening this year.

An office for Ambulance New Brunswick at Cliffe Street and Two Nations Crossing, renovations to the hospital and a new home on Bishop Drive for Electric Motor Service Co., which outgrew its downtown location, illustrate the scale of development, Keenan said.

The city is poised to continue another 12 months of growth this year.

Shannex Inc. will be finishing up work on its 72-bed, $11-million nursing home. The campus-style complex will also include independent living for seniors and special-care-home services.

York Care Centre on the north side applied in December for planning advisory committee approval to move forward on additional expansion to the nursing home and seniors' apartment complex.

The city plans to start construction of the Grant * Harvey Centre, its southside sports and leisure complex.

A retirement complex will be built on the north side at the newly named Harold Doherty Court.

The city is hopeful that the provincial government will move ahead with a new school in Marysville to replace the Alexander Gibson Memorial School.

A construction start on a new community college, to be developed on the University of New Brunswick campus, is expected in 2010.

"On the commercial side, we expect further development at the Corbett Centre, including the anticipated construction of Costco this year," Keenan said.

"We're hearing that construction will start on Costco."

The Costco project has cleared all approvals required by the city and is slated to be built as part of the Corbett Centre retail complex atop Regent Street at Knowledge Park Drive.

A fourth building in the city's information technology compound called Knowledge Park is being pre-leased and may be built in 2010, Keenan said.

There's optimism the YMCA can start construction on its plan to redevelop the former Albert Street School property to include a new YMCA building and indoor pool.

On the north side, a commercial development near the West Hills housing subdivision is poised to expand again.

Housing in Brookside West continues to expand and Gilridge Estates subdivision will be opening more residential building lots.

More affordable housing is planned for the city in 2010 and a new luxury apartment for the downtown is planned by developer Tony George.

"When I look at the potential projects coming forward this year, it's going to be a solid year for sure and will help us continue the momentum which has been ongoing for several years," Keenan said.

"There's lots of construction still underway and there's lots of potential residential development that could occur," Keenan said.

With the city's unemployment rate low and the information technology and research sectors strong, good employment prospects help drive the residential housing market forward, he said.

"I would anticipate that we're going to take a hard look at the Doak Road area to see what we can do to facilitate some development in that area.''

The city and other property owners are sitting on tracts of undeveloped property on Doak Road that can't be opened up until water and sewer services are installed.

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Approval process for minor variances to get easier
Published Monday January 4th, 2010
Changes | Communities trying to standardize rules
A4
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Property owners who need a minor variance in order to build a porch or move a garage sometimes find themselves at a public hearing before the city's planning advisory committee.

But this year, many of the irksome, minor issues which cause property owners grief will be resolved at the city hall planning department level.

In 2009, the provincial government adopted new provisions under its Community Planning Act, to broaden the powers of planners.

The legislative change will allow a designated development officer for a city such as Fredericton to make rulings on minor variances.

Planning departments in Saint John, Miramichi, Moncton, Rothesay and Fredericton, have been co-ordinating efforts to create a standard policy for addressing variances.

"This will ensure a consistency in the processing of variances so that developers or individuals that work in multiple jurisdictions will be familiar with the process," said Alex Forbes, Fredericton's assistant director of development services and a designated development officer.

Variance decision-making powers handed to development officers include decisions on minimal sizes and dimensions of lots, building heights, flood area, depth, size or area of yards, courts, parking areas and open spaces.

Building placement, signs, parking, access, and location of fences and landscaping also fall to the development officer.

Under the process the city intends to follow, the variance will be considered if it's reasonable and desirable to the development of a property, meets the general intent of the zoning bylaw and municipal plan and isn't the result of a deliberate flaunting of a municipal bylaw.

The development officer will provide a written decision with reasons and any terms and conditions that are applied to the variance.

The property owner will also receive a notice advising that he or she retain a right of appeal to the New Brunswick Assessment and Planning Appeal Board if he or she disagrees with the decision.

"From an administrative perspective, the new policy would have the effect of reducing workloads for the planning advisory committee," said Marcello Battilana, senior planner with the city, in a briefing to the planning advisory committee.

"We can look at some of those administrative types of variances and process them in-house as opposed to sending everything to PAC, so it frees you folks up to look at the more substantive issues, rather than working on some of the smaller ones that we can handle in-house," Battilana told the committee.

"The development officer can refer to PAC any application that comes into our office. We'll look at them and we'll review them and if they are substantive, if we feel it should go to PAC, we will make that decision and send those ones to PAC for a decision," he said.

The application process will be similar to what exists now where a formal application has to be made.

"The development officer will go to the site. If there's a perceived negative land use impact, they will send notices to the adjacent neighbours and they will have five days to make a written comment relative to whether they are for or opposed," Battilana said.

The development officer will review the comments prior to making a variance decision.

The planning advisory committee has the legislated power to rule on variances without referring the applications to city council for a final vote.

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