Official Fredericton, NB projects thread [Archive] - Page 15

cl812

Jan 8, 2010, 12:43 PM

Home prices rising - survey
Published Friday January 8th, 2010
A6
By JENNIFER DUNVILLE
dunville.jennifer@dailygleaner.com

Consumer confidence is growing in Fredericton, according to a survey by Royal LePage.

The market forecast and house price survey released Thursday showed increases in average prices for detached bungalows and standard condominiums - both outpacing the national averages.

The survey also found that low interest rates and increased confidence in the recovery have continued to attract buyers.

"We find that consumer confidence is edging towards normal levels," said Lincoln Thompson, broker and owner of Royal LePage Gardiner Realty.

"Canadians clearly believe that the worst of the recession is behind them and that the real estate market is on the path to sustainable recovery."

As a result of the improved outlook and increased price levels, Phil Soper, president and chief executive of Royal LePage Real Estate Services, said the forecast for the first half of 2010 is strong.

"The Canadian real estate market enters 2010 with considerable momentum from an unusually strong finish to the previous year," Soper said.

"The stimulus effect of low borrowing costs has contributed to a sharp rise in demand that has driven activity levels to new highs."

In Fredericton, detached bungalows in the fourth quarter were selling for an average of $182,000 - an increase of 12.3 per cent over the fourth quarter 2008.

The average price of a standard condominium was $145,000 - up nine per cent.

Standard two-storey home prices remained unchanged year-over-year at $210,000.

Sean Daly, vice-president of the Real Estate Board of the Fredericton Area Ltd., said there are a number of factors contributing to the growth in consumer confidence.

"I think it's a perceived turnaround of the economy and the fact that the interest rates are still reasonable," he said.

"Also, spring is coming and it's on people's minds a little more. People are starting to look around and do more shopping."

Daly said the fact that the city is expecting another busy construction season is also helping to improve confidence in the market.

"Home builders and contractors are moving forward with their projects and showing confidence in the market, which has to help consumers feel more confident too," he said.

"I think it shows things are improving with the market. At least that's the perceived feeling."

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Coming soon
Published Friday January 8th, 2010
a6

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=429321&size=500x0
Two excavators were busy this week preparing the ground for the New Brunswick Community College campus being built between Marshall d’Avray Hall and the Wu Conference Centre on the University of New Brunswick campus.

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They know jack
Published Thursday January 7th, 2010

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=428681&size=0x400
The new office tower on King Street is part of the convention centre project. Above, two construction workers put a jack into place to help build the next floor.

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Almost there
Published Friday January 8th, 2010
a4

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=429322&size=500x0
A construction worker uses hand signals to let the crane operator know if the next piece of the wooden beams for the Richard J. Currie Center is in the right place.

xxFamilyGuyxx

Jan 8, 2010, 9:44 PM

I noticed that the City of Fredericton website has a webcam of the old train station now.

http://www.fredericton.ca/en/TrainStationWebcam.asp

cl812

Jan 9, 2010, 1:26 PM

City says it's examining four proposals for downtown hotel
Published Saturday January 9th, 2010
A5
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Four proposals to build and operate a new name-brand hotel next to the city's $78-million downtown convention centre and office complex development are being analyzed by city staff.

"We're starting the evaluation process now. They all look interesting," said Don Fitzgerald, executive director of strategic initiatives with the city.

The convention centre is being designed so pedways can connect the centre to the Crowne Plaza Hotel and the new hotel.

"What we'll do is we'll rank them and then take the results of that to council-in-committee and ask them to confirm our ranking and give us walking orders to enter into negotiations," Fitzgerald said.

If negotiations are successful, then Fitzgerald would expect to put a final deal before city council for approval.

The city is looking for an upscale hotel for the downtown and the responses to the city's pre-Christmas development proposal call are falling in line with that goal, Fitzgerald said.

The convention centre development will include environmentally friendly features, including recycling water collected off the facility's roof, and the city will keep an eye out for environmentally positive features in the hotel submissions.

At least one of the hotel prospects has initiated 'green' hotel construction in other centres.

"I think, generally, hotels are starting to recognize we need to be environmentally friendly," Fitzgerald said.

Fredericton had sought developers for a hotel development in the downtown in 2008, but the proponent who emerged on the first proposal call was a victim of the credit crunch as financiers grew worried about lending money in a recession.

The property is part of land and buildings the city acquired at Camperdown Lane. The remnant of purchased land that's not needed for the convention centre is suitable for a hotel development.

Downtown Fredericton Inc. has endorsed the proposal to develop a new downtown hotel.

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Unemployment rate in Fredericton up in December
Published Saturday January 9th, 2010
A3
By ALEXANDRA DAVIS
davis.alexandra@dailygleaner.com

A slight increase in Fredericton's unemployment rate for the month of December isn't a cause for alarm, says the president of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce.

The unemployment rate in Fredericton for December was 4.7 per cent, according to a Statistics Canada report.

That's an increase from the months leading up to the end of the year. In November, the unemployment rate for the capital city was four per cent. In October, it was 4.1 per cent.

It's also an increase from December 2008, when Fredericton's unemployment rate was four per cent.

Lee Winchester, president of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, said there are several reasons why the unemployment rate may have risen in December.

"We did see the closure of some businesses in December in the Fredericton area, such as the call centre (Avis-Budget Group)," he said. "I would imagine that has been incorporated in the number.

"Also, we've seen an increase in our population, with a decrease in the labour force as more people move into retirement."

Winchester said there's no reason to be alarmed about December's higher rate.

"There are a lot of projects in the capital region continuing in 2010," he said. "It's not surprising that we're experiencing some fallout from the tail end of the economic recession. Fredericton is not immune to the downturn; we don't live in a bubble."

New Brunswick's unemployment rate went from 8.8 per cent in November to 8.9 per cent in December. Employment in the province fell by 3,600 in December.

Fredericton maintained the lowest unemployment rate among the province's major cities.

In Saint John, December's unemployment rate matched November's at six per cent. Moncton's rate was down to 5.5 per cent in December, compared with 5.6 per cent in November.

Fredericton's rate is also well below the national unemployment rate, which held steady at 8.5 per cent between November and December.

Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Donald Arseneault said although some New Brunswick industries showed slight declines in employment, others are on the rise.

"Construction season tends to die down over the winter months," he said. "We're seeing growth in other sectors. Natural resources sectors are growing. It's nice to see growth in areas such as the forestry industry."

Arseneault said New Brunswick is doing well and continues to experience year-over-year employment growth.

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Freddypop

Jan 10, 2010, 4:06 PM

According to Rick Miles (via Twitter), MLA for Fredericton and Minister of Environment, the long-awaited RIM to Freddy announcement is to come on Monday. Will be interesting to see if there is a link between this and the Knowledge Park expansion

See here;

http://twitter.com/RickMiles

cl812

Jan 11, 2010, 12:16 PM

Here is the article from todays gleaner:

Research in Motion to create 50 jobs in city
Published Monday January 11th, 2010
A1
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

Research in Motion, maker of the BlackBerry mobile device, will be hiring 50 people to work in Fredericton.

The Daily Gleaner has learned that the Waterloo, Ont.-based company will announce the new jobs this afternoon at the University of New Brunswick.

"This is a good news day for Fredericton and New Brunswick," said Environment Minister Rick Miles, the MLA for Fredericton-Silverwood.

"We've been in discussions with them for the last little while," Miles said.

Rumours began swirling last February that the company commonly known as RIM might expand its presence in Fredericton.

That's when RIM acquired local company Chalk Media, which develops software that allows businesses to deliver training and video messages via BlackBerry devices.

Late last year, RIM advertised for a senior project manager to be based in Fredericton. The company already has operations in Halifax.

Premier Shawn Graham stoked the speculation a year ago by suggesting RIM may have bigger plans for New Brunswick.

"I've heard those rumours and I'm hoping they are true," said Don Fitzgerald, manager of the City of Fredericton's economic development agency in February 2009.

The logic that saw RIM anchor itself in Waterloo, home to one of the best universities for engineering and computer science, should naturally lead it to Fredericton, Fitzgerald said.

Thanks to the University of New Brunswick's engineering and computer science programs, he said, the community would be a good fit.

At the time, then Business New Brunswick Minister Greg Byrne confirmed the province was meeting with the company and "finding out what their needs are."

"They're interested, and the premier had some good discussions with (RIM co-CEO) Jim Balsillie," Byrne said.

"They recognize Fredericton has a strong base of IT industry companies," he said.

Byrne said the company's international reputation would be a boon for the province.

Attracting the company to the city would pay dividends because other companies and subcontractors might be drawn to cluster around the operations, Byrne said.

Graham and Business New Brunswick Minister Victor Boudreau will participate in the job-creation announcement at the Wu Conference Centre at the University of New Brunswick this afternoon.

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Districts expect 2010 to be a big year
Published Monday January 11th, 2010
Progress | Officials say a lot in the works
A1
By JENNIFER DUNVILLE
dunville.jennifer@dailygleaner.com

School district officials are expecting 2010 to be a busy year filled with new initiatives, new construction and new programs.

District 18 Supt. Alex Dingwall said there's so much going on its hard to pinpoint one project as the district's focus.

"One of our priorities is the school improvement planning process with a continued focus on literacy and an emphasis on mathematics and science," Dingwall said.

"Schools will be looking at their outcomes and achievement levels, especially from kindergarten to Grade 8, but there's so much going on besides that. It's going to be a very busy, but exciting year."

The situation is no different in District 17.

Officials are expecting to hire teachers for the implementation of the new Grade 3 French immersion, meet with parents to discuss new programs, train teachers in new curriculum and continue with its fight against vandalism.

"On top of everything else, one of the challenges we've got to deal with in the coming year is our aging infrastructure," said District 17 Supt. Marilyn Ball.

"Our buildings in Oromocto, especially, were built around the same time and are all facing deficiencies at the same time.

"It will be a priority for us to create a multi-year infrastructure plan."

In District 18, construction is wrapping up at the New Brunswick Central Academy for the Boiestown and Doaktown area just as planning for a new school is getting underway.

Funding was announced recently for a school to replace Alexander Gibson Memorial and South Devon Elementary schools.

"The school will be a private partnership, which means we'll lease the building once it's constructed," Dingwall said.

"In the meantime, there are a lot of steps in between and that's something we have to start planning for."

Teachers in both districts will be busy this year with professional development in mathematics.

With new curriculum coming from the Education Department, there are a lot of changes to accommodate.

"There's continuous training so teachers can instruct students better," Ball said. "We want our students to have the top literacy and numeracy achievement levels possible, so that's another priority for us this year."

District 18 has hired new staff and is implementing a number of programs to support First Nations students.

And while it's busy with those initiatives, District 17 will be looking for new ways to support its military community.

"What's unique about our district is many of our children have parents who are (in) or will go to Afghanistan throughout the school year, so we have to make sure there are additional supports in place for them," Ball said.

"Some students will need a bit more TLC or words of encouragement at that time, while at the same time understanding that they are in school to learn."

Both districts have begun their staffing process for the fall, which involves taking a closer look at enrolment numbers, tallying kindergarten registrations, and finding replacements for retirees or those on leave.

"Even as we consider how much is going on at the district level, we have to consider there are many more initiatives going on at the school level," Dingwall said. "It's good to see so much happening. It's a positive thing.

"We just hope as we move through the year that all students are actively engaged and happy in our schools and that our teachers are supported in the way they want to be and that we continue as we are now to move forward and progress as a district."

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Public hearing of objections tonight
Published Monday January 11th, 2010
Train station | Project already underway
A3
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

It may seem a bit moot, but city councillors will hold a public hearing of objections tonight on a proposal to amend the city's municipal plan to allow for the construction of a new liquor store on York Street.

Construction has been progressing on renovating the heritage component of the former railway station in the city's downtown core.

But councillors still have to pass the necessary bylaw that will allow a new building to be attached at the rear of the heritage structure.

J.D. Irving Ltd. and the province's Crown-owned liquor corporation have inked a lease that would restore a free-standing downtown liquor outlet, while providing the Irvings with a revenue stream to rehabilitate the city's landmark.

NB Liquor Corp. had a King Street liquor outlet, but closed it in the winter of 2008.

Heritage buffs, the city, and province have been enthusiastic in embracing the York Street railway redevelopment proposal, which has spared the railway station from collapsing in disrepair.

Councillors also plan to hold a hearing of objections on an unrelated zoning for Cafe Ole.

The cafe, located in Le Centre communautaire Sainte-Anne is hoping to obtain the needed zoning to apply for a liquor licence.

No objections to the rezoning were raised by elementary and high school officials who share the same complex on Priestman Street, but the city's planning advisory committee did receive an objection from owners of Luther Place on Regent Street.

Councillors will also pass amendments to Bylaw No. W-3, which regulates water and sewer rates, in order to reflect 2010 budget changes.

Those changes will see water and sewer rates increase five cents per cubic metre to 0.66 cents from 0.61 cents.

The budget measure will mean an additional $42 per year to the average city homeowner.

This rate hike is the second increase in a five-year plan to move rates upward.

In 2009, the annual water and sewer bill for a family of four cost $538 in Fredericton, $680 in Moncton and $830 in Saint John.

Councillors will consider a tender to name a contract caterer to provide services to the new downtown conference centre expected to open by the end of 2010.

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cl812

Jan 12, 2010, 12:22 PM

RIM says more jobs on horizon
Published Tuesday January 12th, 2010
BlackBerry | Firm to get $800,000 from N.B. government
a1
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

A senior executive with hightech giant Research in Motion (RIM) says there could be a lot more well-paying jobs coming to Fredericton beyond the 50 that were announced Monday.

“RIM has grown a lot in the past 10 years since the Black- Berry came to be,” said Dave Jaworsky, RIM’s senior director of corporate relations Monday.

“At that point in time, we had 400 people in Waterloo, Ont. Today, we have about 9,000 people in Waterloo.”

On Monday, the Liberal government announced that it’s providing $800,000 to help Fredericton-based Chalk Media Corp., a subsidiary of RIM, hire 50 employees.

Jaworsky said RIM already has a lot of alumni from the University of New Brunswick working for the company in Ottawa and Halifax and the company has a partnership with UNB.

“We found the city to be very welcoming and the seeds are set for future growth for sure,” said Jaworsky.

He said the Liberal government’s tax-reduction plan is important for the company and for its future employees.

“Hearing this government is going to do things that in effect will be a net benefit to our top staff is very important to us.’’ Jaworsky said the vast majority of new jobs in Fredericton will be in software development as well as quality assurance and project managers.

He said hiring started in December and should be complete in 24 months.

The $800,000 government payroll rebate will go to defray the costs of recruiting, training and buying new equipment for the new employees, said Jaworsky. The company only gets the money after it hires the employees, he said.

“It is a partnership that really helps entice a company like Research in Motion to give New Brunswick the upper edge over other locations,” he said.

Chalk Media specializes in audio and visual products for smart phones, which will soon be as common as text messages, said Jaworsky.

“The goal is to make sure the product is a highly stable, high-quality offering,” he said.

Mike LeBlanc, director of development for Chalk Media, said becoming a subsidiary of RIM a year ago has opened new doors for his company.

“It is like opening the flood gates of the opportunities around the world for our products,” he said. “We just have to manage that opportunity.’’ It’s also making it easier for the company to recruit quality employees, said LeBlanc.

“When we were (just) Chalk, the company was not really well known,” he said. “Now that we are recruiting under the RIM banner, it is lot easier.”

The company is getting job applications from across the country, he said.

Chalk Media is located in the former post office building on Queen Street. LeBlanc said the company is looking for more space to double its employees to 100.

“We are close to capacity now.’’ LeBlanc said he doesn’t know how long it will take to hire 50 new employees.

“We do want to manage the growth,” he said. “The plan is to take it gradually.”

Fredericton Chamber of Commerce president Lee Winchester said the new jobs are a great affirmation for the capital’s business community.

“For a company like RIM to have the confidence to be able to bolster their workforce here in Fredericton is nothing but great news,” he said. “I think a heavy hitter like RIM looked at the quality of our workforce here and also the quality of our universities.”

Fredericton deputy mayor Bruce Grandy said the announcement solidifies Fredericton’s reputation as an engineering and information technology centre.

“We are in a growth mode,” he said.

“I am just elated. There are probably more (jobs) to come in the future.”

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City council gives first, second reading to zoning changes
Published Tuesday January 12th, 2010
a2
By The Daily Gleaner

City council has given first and second reading to the zoning changes necessary to permit the construction of an NB Liquor outlet as an annex to the renovated downtown railway station on York Street.

Councillors were unanimous in supporting the municipal plan amendment, subdivision and terms and conditions needed for the project.

Third reading will be in two weeks.

NB Liquor has signed a long-term lease with J.D. Irving Ltd., which owns the historic train station.

Work has already begun to renovate the original train station waiting area, which will become a boutique wine store and provide training and meeting space for the liquor corporation.

The liquor corporation will then construct an annex to the station for a stand-alone liquor outlet.

NB Liquor Corp. had a King Street liquor store, but closed it in the winter of 2008.

The only other downtown liquor outlet is attached to the Atlantic Superstore property on Smythe Street.

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Third reading of southside rezoning application
Published Tuesday January 12th, 2010
a5
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Fredericton city council will postpone for one month the third reading of a rezoning and subdivision application on McLeod Avenue at the behest of ward Coun. Jordan Graham and members of Queen’s Square Neighbourhood Association.

Graham and the neighbourhood group are asking city council to look at purchasing the property at 746-792 McLeod Ave. from Abraham Khoury and rehabilitating the site’s pockets of petroleum contamination.

Khoury had been hoping to sell his land to local developer John Kileel, who planned to build a row of Victorianesque homes along the front of McLeod Street and an apartment building closer to the Beaverbrook Street side of the property. That plan had the support of Queen’s Square residents.

During research for the land transaction, it was discovered that portions of the land are contaminated with oil products.

The city’s planning advisory committee — when it initially reviewed Khoury’s application to revert the property zoning to allow for office development — was told that the provincial Environment Department wouldn’t support the site’s use for residential development without a significant cleanup, but wouldn’t object to non-retail commercial uses.

“If there is contamination to the extent that it prohibits residential use, then the site should be remediated, not simply paved over,” said neighbourhood association spokesman Don Dennison. “The site is within the wellfield protection zone and is, in fact, barely 100 metres from the nearest city well and a playground.”

The city’s water supply is drawn from deep underground wells in the downtown east and west ends.

Dennison urged city council Monday night to buy the property and hold it for remediation and then return it to the open market for sale.

“This alternative approach would assure that the drinking water supply is protected, that the owner gets fair market value for the property and that the development goals of the municipal plan are respected and eventually achieved,” Dennison said.

Graham said the city’s drinking water supply faces no imminent threat from the petroleum on the property, but he sees merit in city staff taking a look at the suggestion and that’s why he wants third reading of the rezoning stalled until February.

“There’s a lot of information that came forward and we have to protect our water. I think that it’s going to be necessary for us to look at what Mr.

Dennison said and see what types of options, if there are options available, with regards to this land,” Graham said.

Any rezoning back to non-retail commercial uses could be a permanent decision and Graham said the councillors should weigh all the alternatives before casting their final vote on the rezoning.

“The Department of Environment has stated that it’s OK for commercial zoning and doesn’t pose a threat to our wellfield,” Graham said.

But he said he wants to be sure that when a final decision is made, there’s no future risk to the wellfield.

Dennison said the city zoned the property as R-5 and R-9 to fit in with municipal plan policies that suggest seniors housing, apartments and townhouses for the property and the city should persevere in trying to meet the plan’s objectives.

cl812

Jan 13, 2010, 12:56 PM

$55M for bridge, bypass
Published Wednesday January 13th, 2010
Projects | Department announces spending plans for 2010-11
A1
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

The Liberal government will spend $30 million finishing repairs to the Princess Margaret Bridge and $25 million to continue work on the Marysville bypass in 2010-11.

The Liberals are also building 29 kilometres of moose fencing along Route 2 south of Oromocto between Burpee Brook and the St. John River.

It's part of Transportation Minister Denis Landry's nearly $500-million capital budget tabled in the legislature Tuesday.

"Since taking office, our government has made unprecedented investments to improve New Brunswick's highways," said Landry.

"This year, we are continuing to build on our record achievement with a $493.3-million capital budget for 2010-11, bringing total investment in transportation infrastructure to $1.3 billion since 2006."

The Marysville bypass is located in the riding of Fredericton-Fort Nashwaak Liberal MLA Kelly Lamrock.

He said the funding will take the 36-kilometre project past the two-thirds completion mark. Lamrock said he smiles every time he drives past the work site.

"For 30 years, people tried to convince government to do that road and get the trucks out of Marysville where our kids are waiting for buses and where people are driving their families," he said.

"It is a nice little way to know you can make a difference in your community and I am grateful all my colleagues supported me on this."

The Marysville bypass is scheduled to open in 2011.

Lamrock said the $30 million for Phase 2 repairs to the Princess Margaret Bridge will complete the renovations.

"The repair work will require some closures of the bridge this year. That will mean some inconveniences.

"We've worked very hard on signage and made some improvements so we don't lose any of the tourist trade."

Lamrock, who takes the bridge to work daily, said there will be the least possible disruption from the closure.

He said once the bridge repairs are complete, the next big project in the Fredericton area will be realigning Ring Road and the Princess Margaret Bridge.

The provincial government will consult with the city on that project, said Lamrock.

Other Department of Transportation capital projects in the Fredericton area in the upcoming year include: nine kilometres of resurfacing on Route 10 from the Noonan Brook Road area to the Acadia Forestry Research station; 6.8 kilometres of paving on the Peters Road area on Route 105 to the city limits; a new sound berm along Vanier Highway; and six kilometres of paving along Route 102 from the city limits to Thatch Road.

The province will also upgrade 4.8 kilometres of Carlisle Road.

"This is a high-density area with a number of busy streets and subdivisions," said Fredericton-Nashwaaksis Liberal MLA T.J. Burke.

Route 7 is getting 13.4 kilometres of upgrading, including 4.4 kilometres on the southbound lanes in the Hurley Brook area, and nine kilometres between the Route 2 interchange and Broad Road area.

The Hugh John Flemming Bridge near Hartland will get $1.3 million worth of repairs.

Landry also announced the government is buying 85 new school buses.

The province operates more than 1,200 school buses and has purchased 342 since 2006.

There's also $45.3 million in Landry's budget for a new 82-vehicle Grand Manan ferry.

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City gets $1.4M for infrastructure
Published Wednesday January 13th, 2010
A3
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The City of Fredericton will be taking $1.4 million and burying it beneath the ground.

That's what it will take in federal-provincial-municipal funds to rebuild two blocks of Victoria Street's 70-year-old, cast-iron water and sewer lines and then repair the street.

Provincial Environment Minister Rick Miles, Fredericton MP Keith Ashfield and Fredericton deputy mayor Bruce Grandy made the three-way funding announcement at city hall Tuesday.

Each level of government will contribute $470,601 to rebuild the Victoria Street trunk line between Westmorland and Smythe streets.

The city has invested $500 million in water and sewer lines beneath the surface of the earth, Grandy said, and it's important for the city to continue to annually renew pipes to keep the city's water and sewer system in good order.

"The municipality is committed to sustainability. When this work along Victoria Street is done, you will not see this $1.4 million investment in infrastructure. It will be buried beneath the pavement, but that doesn't make it any less critical to the future development and sustainability of our city," Grandy said.

"Investing in infrastructure is an investment in our future," Ashfield told city officials Tuesday. "We're working together with our provincial and municipal colleagues to provide these important investments in infrastructure in a way that will deliver the best stimulus possible for New Brunswick and for Canada."

The upgrade will improve water flow to and from three new fire hydrants, enhancing public safety, Ashfield said.

"We are here today to provide funding to protect our water source here in the city of Fredericton and it's much needed," Miles said. "This will be used to replace one drinking water distribution main, reducing the potential for water main breaks and improving flows to the area."

Mile said the project will also improve wastewater maintenance by reducing the piping from two sanitary mains to one."

"These infrastructure investments are important to make sure that communities like Fredericton continue to be places where people can live in a healthy, clean and safe environment," he said.

Murray Jamer, the city's director of engineering and public works, said the city has already done a portion of the upgrade between York and Westmorland streets.

"But we had to break off it due to lack of funding, basically," Jamer said.

The trunk sewer line on the street is a major collector for smaller lines in the neighbourhood. In order to do that work, he said, it just makes sense to upgrade water lines that are old cast iron, which tend to accumulate corrosion and mineral residue. Newer pipes have cement lining, which improves water quality, Jamer said.

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Home construction up slightly in December
Published Wednesday January 13th, 2010
A5
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Residential construction increased moderately in December, says Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

In New Brunswick, there were 182 housing starts recorded last month, compared to 123 for the same month in 2008.

A total of 81 multiple starts were recorded in December, which was almost double the total of 41 units recorded during the same month in 2008, it reported.

Despite the showing in December, overall multiple starts were down 14 per cent to 1,259 units provincewide in 2009.

"The overall year-over-year decline in both single and multiple starts was not unexpected, as reduced demand throughout the year curbed residential construction activity in some provincial urban centres," said Claude Gautreau, the corporation's senior market analyst for New Brunswick.

Fredericton turned in a solid performance with 52 multiple and single-family housing starts in December.

Moncton had 178 housing starts in December, while Saint John had 68 housing starts for the month.

Nationally, housing starts in December were up to 12,262 units, compared to 10,488 in December 2008.

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Renovation delay on new store working out for the best, Picaroon's brewer says
Published Wednesday January 13th, 2010
A4
By ADAM BOWIE
bowie.adam@dailygleaner.com

The brewmaster behind Picaroon's Traditional Ales said plans for a downtown beer-making attraction and retail outlet are progressing, but likely won't be ready for a few months.

Contractors have revised the storefront's design several times since last summer. Sean Dunbar, owner and operator of the Northampton Brewing Co. and producer of Picaroon's Traditional Ales, said he now expects renovations will begin in a few weeks.

"Our contractor has told me he's going to finally start construction no later than the 18th," he said.

"I expect it will take a couple of months ... But the delays are kind of good for me. It lets me double-think, or triple-think, a couple of things. He was cautious about some of the design elements, and I think it worked out for the best in some cases."

He said the new location - 418 Queen St. - will feature a beer-making demonstration that should interest local beer lovers and tourists, and a retail operation that will sell bottled beer, Picaroon's clothing and other merchandise.

Dunbar said the establishment won't be licensed.

"We'll be filling beer to take home, but not to drink (at the store)," he said. "We can give samples so people can taste the beer before they buy it, and do a little sampling for tourists."

The Fredericton-made suds have grown considerably in popularity over the past few years.

Last year, the brewery produced 3,000 hectolitres of beer - which is distributed through nearly a dozen different styles of traditional ales.

Dunbar said the popularity caught him by surprise over the holiday season, leaving the brewery temporarily out of labels for its popular seasonal brew called Winter Warmer.

He said a sales run on the strong, English barley wine-style beer has forced Picaroon's to scramble for a new run of labels.

"It's a packaging thing. I ordered last year's full-season sales, plus 30 per cent, and we used it all up by (Jan. 1)," he said.

"I guess it's an affirmation of our work. But it's a business thing. I guess I should have seen this coming, but we didn't expect to move this much product this quickly. We sold a massive amount of beer between the week before Christmas and New Year's Day."

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OliverD

Jan 13, 2010, 1:43 PM

Does anyone know why so many people, including the article above, call the Barkers Point/Marysville Bypass the Ring Road?

cl812

Jan 13, 2010, 2:10 PM

Pugsley

Jan 13, 2010, 2:41 PM

Yeah it is kinda funny because the Route 105 is also referred to as the Ring Road. As far as the Barkers Point By-pass, I have heard it referred to as the Ring Road as long as I can remember, I guess maybe because it kinda forms a ring (around Barkers Point) same the other ring road.

I believe that in some VERY VERY old plans, the road was actually supposed to loop and align itself with the ring road. I remember years ago a master plan where the current ring road eastbound, where it now aligns with Two Nations Crossing would have continued across the north end and then link up with the barker's point road. I always thought that this was a great plan but on my last visit, it was clear it had been long abandoned. It was supposed to allow for truck traffic to loop around the city as opposed to going through it...but this was back in the 1980s.

Freddypop

Jan 13, 2010, 7:49 PM

I believe that in some VERY VERY old plans, the road was actually supposed to loop and align itself with the ring road. I remember years ago a master plan where the current ring road eastbound, where it now aligns with Two Nations Crossing would have continued across the north end and then link up with the barker's point road. I always thought that this was a great plan but on my last visit, it was clear it had been long abandoned. It was supposed to allow for truck traffic to loop around the city as opposed to going through it...but this was back in the 1980s.

You hit the nail right on the head. I remember my Dad talking about the Marysville Ring Road many years ago. The Ring Road realignment that is referred to in the article however is the construction of the south-bound exit to Two Nations. The 2nd priority will be the realignment of the approach to the PM bridge

kirjtc2

Jan 13, 2010, 8:24 PM

I've seen those plans too. Would have crossed the Nashwaak just above Royals Field. As late as the early 90s, there were still plans to build a high-speed road at least as far as Canada Street. They abandoned plans for another Nashwaak crossing sometime around then in favour of upgrades to Bridge Street.

Marysville/Barkers Point people still call that bypass the "Ring Road", though the only official Ring Road is the 105.

cl812

Jan 14, 2010, 12:26 PM

Craft college to take over Soldiers' Barracks
Published Thursday January 14th, 2010
A1
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

The New Brunswick College of Craft and Design is about to get bigger.

The Daily Gleaner has learned that the downtown college will be taking over the nearby Soldiers' Barracks as the college embarks on a five-year plan to increase programs.

The school will benefit from an additional $500,000 in provincial funding. Details are to be provided at an official announcement this morning.

The college will also be designated the province's Centre for Artistic and Creative Excellence.

"We feel the college has enormous potential," said Donald Arseneault, minister for Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, on Wednesday night.

He said a board will also be named to advise the college on opportunities for future growth.

"This is a unique opportunity for this college. We believe there is an excellent opportunity for growth through the structure we are announcing," Arseneault said.

Soldiers' Barracks had to be closed for part of last year while the building's wooden balcony was replaced. Before then, it housed the heritage branch of the Department of Wellness, Culture and Sport.

While the historic building is owned and operated by the province, the city leases ground-level space in the casemates to local artists for craft and gift sales.

----

Bridge to be closed for two months
Published Thursday January 14th, 2010
Summer | Plans to redirect traffic are being studied
A1
By ALEXANDRA DAVIS
davis.alexandra@dailygleaner.com

Drivers beware: It's going to be a long, hot summer as Fredericton will be down to one bridge during tourist season.

Transportation Minister Denis Landry announced Wednesday that the Princess Margaret Bridge will be closed in June and July for construction.

The statement followed the release of the department's 2010-11 capital budget Tuesday.

A total of $30 million will be invested to complete the second phase of upgrades on the Princess Margaret Bridge.

Landry said the bridge will be closed to all traffic during those two months.

"This will be one of the biggest projects in this area," he said. "We have to connect with the municipality and be in constant discussion with them just to make sure that if we move the traffic somewhere else, that it won't affect the city.

"It will be at the same time good for the people that are used to using the bridge."

Darren Charters, traffic engineer for the City of Fredericton, said the project will be a huge undertaking. He said plans to redirect bridge traffic are already underway.

"The city has formed a steering group with engineers, representatives from emergency services, police, fire, etc.," Charters said.

"We have a meeting coming up at the beginning of February, and we'll be developing a plan to cover traffic and emergency services."

Landry said the bridge repairs are necessary and he hopes Fredericton commuters will understand.

"I am asking people to be patient," he said. "It will change the course of their route, and it will have an impact on them.

"On the other end, we have to fix that bridge. We don't have any choice."

Landry said the bridge will likely be closed for another two months during the summer of 2011.

The Marysville bypass is another major project in the area.

The capital budget has allotted $25 million toward ongoing work on the bypass, which is scheduled to open in 2014.

Landry addressed the New Brunswick Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association on Wednesday at the group's annual meeting.

He said this is the third consecutive year the Department of Transportation has presented a record capital budget.

"This brings the Graham government's investment in transportation infrastructure to over $1.3 billion since taking office," Landry said.

"The brisk pace of construction activity is showing no signs of slowing down. Folks who travel on New Brunswick roads will see plenty of heavy equipment and construction again in 2010."

Roger Leger, president of the New Brunswick Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association, said the budget will have a positive impact on workers.

"Our industry is real excited with this budget that's coming out in 2010," he said. "Our members will be able to retain a lot of our labour force in the province of New Brunswick that over the years has gone out to Alberta.

"It's real exciting to know that we'll be able to keep our workforce in the province of New Brunswick."

----

Regulator OK's bus station move from city's downtown
Published Thursday January 14th, 2010
A4
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

New Brunswick's Energy and Utilities Board says the decision to move Fredericton's intercity bus station out of the downtown doesn't violate Acadian Coach Lines' operating licence.

The EUB said the bus company's temporary station at Hubbard Road in the Industrial Park and a planned future location at Woodside Lane, off Hanwell Road, are appropriate locations for the station because they are both within city limits and serviced by Fredericton Transit.

"The board finds that both Hubbard Road and Woodside Lane can still be reasonably accessed by the residents of Fredericton, and placing a terminal in either of these locations would be in compliance with the licence issued by the board to Acadian," said a written decision issued Wednesday by the provincial regulator with authority over motor coaches.

Board members said they believe Acadian has conducted its affairs in a reasonable and prudent manner in relocating its Fredericton terminal.

The board accepted Acadian's submission that its move out of the downtown was the result of a contractual issue with the landlord at its longtime Regent Street location, that the company would have preferred to stay in the downtown and that it sought a suitable location in that area.

Critics of Acadian's move said it would hurt those who rely on it the most - seniors, university students and people on social assistance.

The board said that no matter where the terminal was moved, some riders would have found themselves farther away from the terminal.

"The complainants have not demonstrated that low-income residents of Fredericton, as a group, would no longer be able to access Acadian's services," the board wrote.

The board said the temporary and proposed sites for the Acadian terminal are within the city limits and in developed areas served by public transit.

Three individuals challenged the bus company's move out of the downtown.

Dan Weston of the Fredericton Anti-Poverty Organization, Julie Michaud of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick and Melynda Jarratt, who operates Maven New Media in the downtown, filed complaints over the move.

Acadian Coach Lines also recently asked the board for approval to eliminate two New Brunswick routes - one between Fredericton and Miramichi, which also stops in communities along Route 8, and the one between Saint John and Bangor, Maine, which also serves communities in Charlotte County.

While it's looking to cut routes, Acadian also wants to increase the number of express buses on more lucrative runs between Halifax, Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton.

----

OliverD

Jan 14, 2010, 1:45 PM

This PM closure is going to be brutal. I use that bridge daily. Time to find a job on the northside, haha.

cl812

Jan 15, 2010, 12:37 PM

Craft college expansion a boon to downtown, cultural community
Published Friday January 15th, 2010
A1
By ALEXANDRA DAVIS
davis.alexandra@dailygleaner.com

A government initiative will separate the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design from the province's community college system.

Donald Arseneault, minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, talked about some of the plans for the college Thursday.

The government is investing $500,000 to expand the school as part of the province's plan to transform post-secondary education in New Brunswick.

The expansion will include upgrades to the Queen Street facility. The school will also become larger, taking over the adjacent Soldiers' Barracks.

Arseneault said the college will continue to operate within the department.

He said separating the institution from New Brunswick's community colleges will pave the way for growth.

"We're in a period of time where we believe that it needs to be on its own, outside the structure in order to have growth," Arseneault said.

"The new operating structure will help the college improve infrastructure, forge formal and informal partnerships with universities and other colleges to share expertise, offer joint programs, transfer credits and help undertake applied research and international activities."

The college will be designated as a centre for artistic and creative excellence when the expansion is complete.

Arseneault said a five-year plan is being developed, which will identify potential new programs, as well as improvements to existing ones.

He said the college and the department will work together to create a consultative board.

"(It) will include individuals from the public, private and the cultural sectors to provide advice on the future growth of the college," Arseneault said.

"You've got to have the right mix of people at the table."

The expansion will continue to emphasize Fredericton's label as a cultural capital, he said.

"This aligns with the plans to promote downtown Fredericton as a tourism destination, showcasing N.B. artists and artisans," he said.

Principal Michael Maynard said the school has been working toward expansion for many years. He said the plan will be beneficial to the school and to New Brunswick's artistic community.

"We are moving forward in a very strategic, very exciting and very powerful way," he said. "It means a lot to not only the staff and students in the college, but to the broader community of the culture sector."

Maynard said the announcement is evidence of New Brunswick's dedication to culture and the arts.

"The culture sector in this province is amazing," he said. "It's a powerful segment of our economy and our social development."

----

cl812

Jan 16, 2010, 2:42 PM

York Arena group to make pitch to council Monday
Published Saturday January 16th, 2010
Council-in-committee | Mabie believes there's a need to save ice surface
B3
By BILL HUNT
hunt.bill@dailygleaner.com

The group bidding to preserve the life of the York Arena makes their pitch to Fredericton city council at the regular council-in-committee meeting Monday night.

Co-chairs Jerry McBride and Chris Mabie will both address the council staff and present the contents of a document more than 20 pages in length; the nuts and bolts of which makes what they believe is a pretty good case to keep the York Arena in circulation past it's September 2012 date with the wrecking ball.

City fathers have said they plan to close the York Arena once the Grant*Harvey Centre, the dual ice complex on the south side, opens in September 2011.

Mabie says the research he has conducted among various user groups demonstrates enough demand for ice time to make it viable to keep the York Arena open, even without factoring in potential growth in women's hockey, ringette and other ice sports.

"Parents are very concerned about safety and having to travel outside the city for games and practises," said Mabie. "That's on the forefront. The ability of the city to address the needs of emerging groups is a big concern as well...girls and ladies hockey in particular."

Mabie said access to ice time for female hockey players is an issue across the country. But he said Fredericton is in a rather unique position in being able to address it.

"Some communities can't address it," he said. "We've got a two-plex going to be built, and if we keep the York Arena in circulation, we've added two ice surfaces. Does that fix the problem completely? No it doesn't. But it takes us quite a way down the road. I look at it as an opportunity."

He said keeping the York Arena -- originally opened in 1948 and refurbished in 1972 -- "is going to be a whole lot less expensive than building another facility in four or five years after the Grant*Harvey opens."

Mabie believes there is some support among councillors, "but whether or not we have enough to be successful in this, I don't know. We've simply asked them to come hear our presentation with an open mind. We've asked them not to formulate their final decision until they've heard our presentation. We think what we have to say is fairly convincing. We'll see where it goes from there."

Should their case fall on deaf ears, Mabie said "there's probably nothing else we can do. We've made our case, we've done our research, and that will be the end of it."

A public meeting at Willie O'Ree Place in April drew an overflow crowd of some 100 people supporting the cause.

Mabie and Tim Gillies, the president of Fredericton Sports Investments, the local group which supports amateur sports organizations in the city, chaired the meeting, at which a clear demand for additional ice time was identified.

Construction on the Grant * Harvey Centre on the Kimble Road is currrently uderway. One surface will be a regulation 200 x 85 foot hockey rink which will serve as the home of the St. Thomas Tommies men's and women's hockey programs and the Fredericton High School men''s and women's teams.

Seating capacity for that rink will be 1,500 as it is at Willie O'Ree Place, the rink which serves as home to Leo Hayes High School and the Fredericton Darcy Simon Midget AAA hockey programs

The other ice surface in the Grant*Harvey Centre will be a 200 x 100 foot Olympic size ice surface. The Fredericton Amateur Speedskating Club will be the primary user of that surface.

The group successfully lobbied council for the larger ice surface, with N.B. Power chairman David Hay presenting the case to city fathers in 2007, noting the local club needed the surface in order to continue growth.

xxFamilyGuyxx

Jan 16, 2010, 7:42 PM

Vote for Fredericton on the New Monopoly Canada Game Board

Fredericton (January 15, 2010) - Fredericton is in the running of Canadian cities to be included on the new Monopoly Canada game board.

The City is one of 65 cities listed, and will only make it to the list if residents log on and vote. Voting runs until February 7.

“Wild card” cities may get added to the list. Log on today and vote at www.monopolyvote.ca. You can vote once each day of the competition.

fredericton.ca

cl812

Jan 18, 2010, 3:39 PM

Mayor ponders new fire station for model town
Published Monday January 18th, 2010
A3
By MICHAEL STAPLES
staples.michael@dailygleaner.com

Oromocto Mayor Fay Tidd says she would like to know within the next couple of years what the town is going to do with regard to building a new fire station.

The town has two stations: one on Miramichi Road, where its full-time firefighters are based; and a smaller location on Doyle Drive, which is home to its part-time members.

The mayor cautioned, however, that a new station would be expensive.

"It's going to take a lot of budgeting to do this," Tidd said. "You're talking an awful lot of money."

One of the things to be ironed out over the coming months is where would be a good location for a facility.

"The spot where the fire department is now is actually a very good location. It's just that they don't have the space that they really need," Tidd said of the Miramichi Road base.

"Maybe the decision will be to rebuild."

Alex Buchanan, a retired captain with 33 years experience with the Oromocto Fire Department, said a new fire station is needed in the municipality.

He said the department has a lot of equipment but little room for it.

"The main floor, you've got equipment all over the place - up in the rafters," Buchanan said.

"If you need it, you have to work to get it. It makes your job harder as such."

A new station would also boost morale for firefighters, giving everyone a little more space, the retired firefighter said.

As far as a location, the former captain said he would like to see the Miramichi Road site used.

Not only is there plenty of room at the rear of the building, there would be an opportunity to create another bay that would allow for a truck to come around and drive in, thus eliminating the need to back vehicles inside.

"I think the location is a good one because you are right in the middle of the PMQs," Buchanan said.

"I think the location is right. It's just that the building has to be updated."

Last month, the town announced that construction had begun on an expansion to the town's Station 2 vehicle bay on Doyle Drive.

Once finished, the upgrade will allow a pumper currently located at the Miramichi Road station to be taken to the secondary bay.

The $150,000 cost of the project will be split equally between the 2009 and 2010 town budgets.

"The renovation work is contracted out, and it will give them the space they need to store their equipment," Tidd said.

"There is no sense having this equipment if it has to sit outside. They can't work at it and do the mechanical repairs that are necessary with it outside."

The town has about 30 volunteers and 14 full-time firefighters.

----

OliverD

Jan 18, 2010, 4:08 PM

Does Oromocto really need more than one fire station? Seems like one would be sufficient.

mylesmalley

Jan 18, 2010, 6:48 PM

44 permanent and volunteer firefighters for a town of 10,000 does seem pretty high. But then again, I don't have a clue what the optimum number would be.

cl812

Jan 18, 2010, 7:03 PM

yeah does seem like alot, however a couple things to keep in mind that may make a difference are they probably serve a larger population (since they are as close or closer to Lincoln (and Burton for that matter) than Fredericton is) also they are the closest fire dept to the airport as well, but even then nearly 50 seems like alot and I really have no idea how many there typically would be for a town that size.

mylesmalley

Jan 18, 2010, 8:32 PM

Even with three shifts of 10 on, plus say 14 on off days, holidays, sick leave, etc. seems like a lot of manpower.

cl812

Jan 18, 2010, 8:35 PM

actually now that I think of it the Base has its own fire dept as well, so that really does seem like alot people.

cl812

Jan 20, 2010, 1:20 PM

Councillors take aim at rural tax rates
Published Wednesday January 20th, 2010
More expensive | City living has its benefits but it costs more
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Fredericton city councillors say the provincial government is making it too easy for people to build outside of municipal boundaries through cheap taxes and fewer rules on housing development.

"People in rural areas are not paying their fair share," said Coun. Stephen Chase as city councillors reviewed year-end construction figures for 2009 on Tuesday.

Fredericton nabbed 37 per cent of all the single-detached housing built in 2009 in the regional housing market, while 54 per cent of new homes were built in unincorporated communities.

Even Oromocto and New Maryland are losing housing share to rural areas.

A taxpayer in Fredericton will pay $1.42 per $100 of assessed property value, while a resident in an unincorporated area of the province will pay a base rate of 65 cents per $100 of assessed property value.

Local service districts add on additional taxes to cover extra services they may choose to offer.

Tax rates are higher in villages and towns because of the additional services they provide.

Coun. Jordan Graham told the committee it's a figure he wants the city to monitor closely because urban sprawl puts pressure on city services and unchecked growth isn't a good thing.

Chase said while the city needs to continue to market itself to potential homeowners as the better choice because of the amenities that come with city living, residents of unincorporated areas aren't paying enough property tax.

"The province is screwed up when it comes to development," said Coun. Scott McConaghy.

By allowing unchecked rural growth, the provincial government isn't creating sustainable housing and is letting good forest and farm land be eaten up by residential housing, he said.

Alex Forbes, assistant director of development services, said the appeal of unincorporated areas is that people can acquire bigger lots for less money and put more money into housing.

"We can't control that," Forbes told the councillors.

At the same time as environmental problems surface with well and septic systems or when oil prices rise driving up the cost of long-distance driving, the economies of living a rural lifestyle might not seem as attractive, Forbes said.

Deputy mayor Bruce Grandy said government has to wake up and tackle issues raised in the Finn report on local government finance and governance.

That report, commissioned by the province, recommended more regionalization of government and services, but its findings have been indefinitely shelved by the province.

Grandy said the city is on the right track by introducing mixed housing types, including condominiums, that will appeal to an aging population.

With an aging population, older rural residents will be drawn to city living because they will be closer to medical care, shopping and other services, Grandy said.

Coun. Eric Megarity took a different tack, suggesting the city should manage its own affairs and not worry about finger-pointing at the provincial government.

"Put your (city) money into infrastructure. People will come to the city. We're going down the right path."

----

Group submits report on future of York Arena
Published Wednesday January 20th, 2010
A5
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Fredericton city council has handed a 20-page report on the future of York Arena to the city's community services director for a review and report in a month's time.

Council sent the report to Wayne Tallon after Jerry McBride and Chris Mabie, co-chairmen of a Save the York Arena citizens group that wants to retain and repair the arena, made their pitch to council-in-committee this week.

"I have to say that this committee, the Save the York Arena committee, have put a tremendous effort and a lot of work into researching this whole issue of facilities," said Mayor Brad Woodside on Tuesday. "I was very impressed by their presentation. It was very thorough, very factual."

Woodside said he wants a report back from city hall staff and pledged a constructive debate. He said he'll invite the group back to city hall to hear staff's recommendations.

"We have to ensure we have all the information available to us and that we look at everything very carefully," Woodside said Tuesday.

Mabie said council and staff were good to their word and came with an open mind, and he feels the city will consider the request without prejudging the outcome.

"We've spent the last several months talking to the different user groups and research what ice ratio standards should be throughout the country," said Mabie.

Everyone involved in sports in the region understands how significant the ice shortage is, Mabie said.

The group has gathered data on use and need, along with interviews from sports groups which support retention of York Arena, and is asking city council not to demolish the arena in 2012 when the Grant * Harvey Centre is built near Alison Boulevard and Knowledge Park Drive.

"It was a beautiful presentation, very well structured," Tallon said. "They stated their position. They're passionate, they want the arena to stay open and they've presented the need."

ADI Ltd. which conducted an engineering assessment of all the city's arenas and swimming pools in a 2005 report, estimated that it would take $1.5 million to bring York Arena up to building code standards.

The group trying to save York Arena, built in 1948, doesn't quibble with ADI's repair figures and has adjusted the numbers to 2009 dollars, reflecting inflation increases.

Tallon said the group is suggesting that with an extra ice surface in the city, participation in hockey programs would grow, especially with more women participating in the sport.

Meanwhile, the construction of the Grant * Harvey Centre is inching closer to a spring tender call.

The city sent design work back to Ottawa's CentreLine Architects

"We've completed design development," Tallon said.

The next step will be for the rink's architects to meet with subcontractors and start drafting the construction drawings.

At that point, the anticipated costs of the arena will be narrowed down, but the rink itself is expected to cost $23 million. With site preparation, services installation, architect fees and other costs, the final tally is likely to be close to $29 million.

The new arena will be the second new indoor ice hockey facility for the city. Willie O'Ree Place has dual ice pads and an indoor walking track. Nashwaaksis Arena was torn down after Willie O'Ree Place opened and the city has been proposing to demolish York Arena once Grant * Harvey Centre opens in 2012.

----

City's 2009 construction worth $122 million
Published Wednesday January 20th, 2010
C1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Fredericton might not be 100 per cent recession-proof, but the city weathered 2009's financial meltdown with a hot, hot, hot building season.

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=435935&size=0x400
Construction workers put siding on one of the buildings of the Shannex Parkland Seniors Complex Tuesday afternoon. In 2009, the city had its third-best year on record for construction and the fourth year in a row that it’s topped the $100-million mark.

The city posted $122 million in construction to the end of 2009, its third-best year on record and the fourth year in a row that it's topped the $100-million mark.

Fredericton had $157.1 million in new building in 2008 and had another stellar year in 2006 when construction hit $132.4 million.

"When you think about what happened in the world around us in the last year, it is quite a remarkable story," said Coun. Dan Keenan, chairman of the city's development committee. "We have been able to maintain our momentum through a very difficult economic climate and that says a lot about the confidence of developers in our community."

Alex Forbes, the city's assistant director of development services, said the city drove part of the economic strength in 2009 when its planned $78-million downtown convention centre started turning into a reality. A mega health and fitness facility, the Richard Currie Center on the University of New Brunswick campus continues to sustain the institutional construction market.

It's unrealistic to expect those types of government and institutional sector projects to continue year over year, Forbes said.

"Residential is still doing very, very strong and the other sectors are doing well," Forbes said. "In light of what happened with the world economy last year, we were very fortunate that our development community was able to sustain their developments."

Residential housing accounted for $61.4 million of the city's total construction, topping the $57.2 million posted in 2008.

The city saw 506 new dwelling units in 2009, compared to 470 for the same period in 2008.

The construction of 169 new detached houses with a value of $25.5 million led the way followed by the construction of 270 new apartment units with a value of $15.6 million. There were also 47 new townhouses and 20 new duplexes constructed in 2009.

Commercial construction in 2009 came in at $8.98 million, slightly below the $11.8-million figure recorded in 2008. Some of the major commercial projects included renovations to the Aitken Centre on the UNB campus and new commercial buildings on Bishop Drive and Alison Boulevard.

Municipal government construction projects were worth $35.6 million compared to $10.2 million in 2008. Federal and provincial construction projects totalled $995,132 in 2009, down from $3,438,445 in 2008.

Institutional construction, while significant, was also down at $11,710,928 in 2009 compared to $61,347,325 in 2008.

Government and institutional projects included work on the downtown office building, parking structure and convention centre project, a N.B. Ambulance building on Harold Doherty Court, the Shannex senior living complex and a new church hall on Main Street.

The city received $906,754.46 in fees for the 1,392 building permits it issued in 2009.

The outlook remains bright for development in 2010. Anticipated residential construction projects include Phase Five of the Brookside West project with 46 single, detached units expected. A 40-unit apartment building, 30 townhouses and four-semi-detached units are expected to be developed in Rainsford Gardens and 80 townhouse units will be constructed on Kimble Drive. An additional 48 single, detached units are expected as Phase One of The Meadows at Neill Farm project rolls out.

Major commercial projects anticipated in 2010 include continued development of the Corbett Centre, the construction of a new building on Knowledge Park Drive as well as projects at Two Nations Crossing and West Hills.

Government and institutional projects in 2010 include the construction of a new N.B. Community College on the UNB campus, on-going work on the UNB Wellness centre, a new south side fire station and renovation of the old railway station on York Street.

"We expect 2010 to be another strong year of development with many projects anticipated from both government and private sectors. We look forward to these contributing to our continued growth," Keenan said.

----

OliverD

Jan 20, 2010, 1:49 PM

This issue about rural tax rates is just silly, and Eric Megarity is right: It's none of the city's business.

It's not as if rural tax rates are lower by some huge magnitude. Most people live in LSDs and are paying far more than .65%. And with that lower tax rate come fewer services and more inconveniences (in terms of being further away from where you work/shop/play).

Also, while I have no problem with sustainable development, not everyone wants to live on a 500 sq. m. lot in the city with their neighbours 10 feet away. Some people want to live on one acre or more. It's not as if Fredericton has no room for constructing more residential housing within the city limits. There's room for thousands of homes of all kinds, on both sides of the river. City council needs to drop this issue.

mylesmalley

Jan 20, 2010, 7:40 PM

You're right. The city has plenty of land for more residential development. But their point is that lower taxes encourage people to move to unincorporated areas around the city. This is a fair issue for council to be concerned about.

People who live just on the other side of the municipal border still commute into the city, use the city's services etc. This has a direct cost to the community which they don't contribute towards. More importantly, the city gets stuck with the bill for improving infrastructure like widening roads that go to these unincorporated areas because of the traffic caused by this type of sprawl.

And you're absolutely right that not everyone wants to live close together. Unfortunately, giant lots lead to far more problems than benefits for everyone - including the people with the big lots. Big cities (geographically) mean big infrastructure, impossible to implement mass transit, more police and fire stations, higher school bussing costs, etc etc etc. The only way we can get the best service as cheaply as possible is by encouraging density and discouraging sprawl.

OliverD

Jan 20, 2010, 8:25 PM

You're right. The city has plenty of land for more residential development. But their point is that lower taxes encourage people to move to unincorporated areas around the city. This is a fair issue for council to be concerned about.

Sure, if you think a lot of people are really making the decision to live outside of the city simply due to property taxes. I highly doubt that is the case.

People who live just on the other side of the municipal border still commute into the city, use the city's services etc. This has a direct cost to the community which they don't contribute towards. More importantly, the city gets stuck with the bill for improving infrastructure like widening roads that go to these unincorporated areas because of the traffic caused by this type of sprawl.

This argument is full of holes. The vast majority of people who live in Fredericton's outlying areas work and shop in the city so they most certainly are contributing to the community. Assuming ONLY Fredericton residents shopped and worked inside the city limits means a much smaller commercial tax base.

Regarding improving infrastructure, many of the outlying areas are reached via provincially designated routes. Just look at Hanwell Road. It's a terrible road and the city doesn't seem interested in upgrading it, because they want the province to pay for it.

And you're absolutely right that not everyone wants to live close together. Unfortunately, giant lots lead to far more problems than benefits for everyone - including the people with the big lots. Big cities (geographically) mean big infrastructure, impossible to implement mass transit, more police and fire stations, higher school bussing costs, etc etc etc. The only way we can get the best service as cheaply as possible is by encouraging density and discouraging sprawl.

Like I said, I have no problem with encouraging density. But at least give people the choice: Live inside the city, with a lot of density and a lot of services and corresponding higher tax rate, or live outside of the city with lower density and far fewer services and a lower tax rate. We shouldn't penalize people for wanting to live in rural areas.

Pugsley

Jan 20, 2010, 8:47 PM

In reading the last two points, I cannot help but think that maybe it is time for Fredericton (along with the other cities in New Brunswick) to begin thinking about a third level of governement to deal with these issues. Transportation, taxes, and related services are difficult for a city to support and in Fredericton, it is clear (to me anyway) that the issue is the city's current tax base competign with expenditures being driven up by non-residents. It is the same issue everywhere, even here in Toronto (put down the rocks and listen - LOL).

Maybe it is time for amalgamation of the service districts, villages, and towns under one authority to manage overall infrastructure while allowing the towns and villages to manage their own planning and services. Taxes would need to be adjusted for rural areas participating, but only by the degree in which the services are delivered. It could also play a role in planning at a larger level - makes me think of the post earlier of the fire station in Oromocto and trying to determine the true need for this level of service. Maybe it is excessive and if a regional body was responsible for the decision making, they might have placed it in Lincoln.

For example, New Maryland could see expansion of public transit to the village along with police and fire but not loose their local by-laws and services currently under their own tax structure, plans and budgets. A modest increase would allow certain services to be shared with them. They could keep their own look and feel as towns - the last post is right...people move to New Maryland for more than just taxes...but that doesn't mean they should expect the same services. If another body existed to maage and share these services it would be off the city's hands and they would be less inclined to complain if everyone was pullign their weight - within reason.

cl812

Jan 21, 2010, 12:26 PM

Work begins on new NBCC campus in capital
Published Thursday January 21st, 2010
A1
By DON MACPHERSON
macpherson.don@dailygleaner.com

Another major construction project is underway on the south side, as site preparation has begun on Fredericton's new community college.

Supply and Services Minister Ed Doherty announced Wednesday construction has begun on the New Brunswick Community College campus, which will be located on the University of New Brunswick campus.

Philson Ltd. has been awarded a $299,817 contract for site preparation for the Fredericton project, and Castle Rock Construction Services Inc. has been awarded a $1,639,800 contract for the foundation and structural steel work.

The $15-million facility will cover 4,840 square metres (52,115 square feet) and accommodate programs in health, business administration, information technology, engineering technology and social services.

Doherty said the facility will not only offer new opportunities for learning, but will generate 130 jobs in Fredericton during the construction phase.

Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside said the new NBCC campus is great news for the city.

"There has been a need now for a good many years," he said.

Every new piece of infrastructure in Fredericton brings more people to the city, the mayor said, and in turn, that means more money is coming to the city because those people spend locally.

"It's a tremendous investment that's being made," Woodside said.

The Fredericton NBCC campus isn't the only project breaking ground in the province.

Doherty also announced Wednesday that construction will start soon on a planned expansion at the Saint John campus.

In the port city, Phase 2 of the Centre of Excellence for Energy and Construction will soon begin.

Avondale Construction Ltd. has been awarded a $2,023,900 contract for foundation and structural steel work.

The $25-million facility in Saint John will house engineering technology programs.

"With the establishment of a new community college campus in Fredericton and expansion of the Saint John campus, the provincial government is increasing student capacity," said Post-Secondary, Training and Labour Minister Donald Arseneault in a news release.

"The government is making this investment for current and future students in New Brunswick."

Both projects are scheduled for completion in spring 2011.

----

Project would increase traffic danger - Lincoln residents
Published Thursday January 21st, 2010
A6
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Fredericton's planning advisory committee said yes to a rezoning against the wishes of Lincoln Heights and Lincoln Road-area residents on Wednesday.

Edouard Gebrael asked the committee to grant his request for R-2B zoning on a piece of land at 1520 Lincoln Rd. near the corner of Adams Street and Lincoln Road. He wants the zoning change to be able to subdivide seven lots on the land that will be longer and narrower than most of the neighbouring properties.

The city's planning department recommended the R-2B zoning with a condition that Gebrael agree not to include basement apartments in any of the houses.

Committee members voted four to two in favour of Gebrael's request, which must go to city council for final rezoning approval.

Lincoln-area Coun. Scott McConaghy sided with residents who said seven driveways that close to an already problematic intersection at Adams Street and Lincoln Road is unsafe.

Jim Quigley, speaking on behalf of a group of neighbours, said they want Gebrael limited to three single-family lots in the R-2 zone.

But committee member Jim McElman said that Gebrael might be entitled - as a development right because the land is already in an R-2 zone - to proceed with at least six lots given how much land there is. Since basement apartments are automatically permitted in an R-2 zone, that could mean the neighbours would end up with fewer houses, but more people living in them.

"We could have a heavier density with more vehicles with the existing zoning than what we have now," McElman said.

A petition with 76 signatures opposing the R-2B zoning change was handed to the committee by George Lumsden.

"It's our view that the proposed rezoning neither enhances nor maintains the local character (of the neighbourhood) in this particular case," Quigley said. "The project is located at the intersection of two neighbourhoods (Lincoln Heights and Lincoln Road) and that it negatively impacts one and doesn't enhance the character of the other."

He said while the city's plan to encourage diverse housing is appropriate in the larger context, an R-2B zoning at the site is disturbing to some residents."

"Adding six driveways in a space of 400 feet can't be seen as safely accommodating traffic flows," he said.

Joel Richardson of Lincoln Heights, speaking on behalf of residents of that area, said the city has to consider that there are three main accesses to Lincoln Heights - Adams, Goodine and Leisure streets - and that the area already has heavy traffic and more Lincoln Heights housing is foreseen.

"Over the next few years, there's not going to be any more entrances built onto the Vanier or Lincoln Road to flow that traffic at any new homes that are going to built in and off Goodine Street. That to me is a major concern ... that use that particular access coming in off Lincoln Road," Richardson said.

"My primary concern is that stretch of road right there. We've had issues with Adams when it comes to speed ... speed is a bit of an issue right there," said McConaghy.

There are sight-line issues at Adams Street and Lincoln Road and cars tend to nudge out into traffic, a situation that gets worse in winter, he said.

"What bothers me the most with this particular application is the five different driveways (on Adams Street), along with two extra on Lincoln Road, which has seen a couple of serious accidents either at that intersection or near to it," McConaghy said.

Coun. Marilyn Kerton supported McConaghy, saying she has travelled that area on a regular basis and has noticed the same safety issues.

----

mylesmalley

Jan 21, 2010, 2:51 PM

This argument is full of holes. The vast majority of people who live in Fredericton's outlying areas work and shop in the city so they most certainly are contributing to the community. Assuming ONLY Fredericton residents shopped and worked inside the city limits means a much smaller commercial tax base.

Regarding improving infrastructure, many of the outlying areas are reached via provincially designated routes. Just look at Hanwell Road. It's a terrible road and the city doesn't seem interested in upgrading it, because they want the province to pay for it.

Your points are valid, Oliver. But you haven't really refuted mine entirely. While I won't argue that outlying areas do contribute to the city to a degree. I shouldn't have been quite so black and white. However, someone living just outside of the city who is effectively a city resident costs the city the same, but contributes far less than the guy just on the other side of the line by nature of the fact that he's not paying property taxes to the city.

Services that are normally provided to users by the city are in effect being being directly subsidized for outlying areas by those within the city limits.

And you're also correct that most roads leaving the city are provincially designated. But that opens up a lot more holes than it closes. With respect to the city, it probably is less of an issue. But on a macro-level, everyone in the province ends up subsidizing rural sprawl.

Route 1 through Saint John is currently being widened to six lanes from Saint John to Rothesay. A city of 124,000 people really shouldn't be able to justify a highway with that kind of capacity - except for the fact that there's been a huge trend for people to move from the core into outlying areas creating huge demand on road infrastructure. Technically speaking, neither the city or town have paid for this project (although you could argue there are costs elsewhere), but everyone in the province has. It never would have been necessary had people stayed in the city in the first place. In fact their taxes would probably be quite a bit lower because services are cheaper to administer over a smaller area with more people.

As for your last point. Personal choice is a valid argument, no question. I'm not going to say we should forbid people from buying land in rural areas. But I will say we all need to be more aware of the broader social implications our decisions have. There's no such thing as a free lunch.

cl812

Jan 25, 2010, 1:59 PM

Quite surprising they're not keeping this one open.

Superstore liquor store to close in summer
Published Monday January 25th, 2010
Another site | Train station project underway in city
A1
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

NB Liquor plans to close a southside Fredericton location when the new store at the York Street train station opens this summer.

NB Liquor spokeswoman Nora Lacey said the liquor corporation's store at the Atlantic Superstore at the corner of Smythe Street and Waggoner's Lane is to close when the new liquor store opens.

"The Smythe Street store will close once the new train station store opens," she said.

The corporation is negotiating an early end to a 10-year lease it has at the Smythe Street store. The lease isn't due to expire until 2014.

"We're working with (the building owner) on what that looks like in terms of a sublease or them taking back over. Those discussions are ongoing," Lacey said.

She said renovations made to the space were done by the building owner.

NB Liquor spent about $120,000 on fixtures, shelving, equipment, signage and cash registers.

Lacey said all those items can be reused at other corporation locations.

J.D. Irving Ltd. struck a deal last fall with NB Liquor for a 20-year lease at the train station.

Under the agreement, the historic front portion of the station built in 1923 will be retained and refurbished, while the freight storage shed will be demolished and replaced by a new section of building.

The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada must approve

work done to the federally protected site.

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.

Julie Dompierre, executive secretary at Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada at Parks Canada, said the agency continues to work with the project's proponents.

"We know they are working on a tight timeline. But we have to be diligent too," she said.

----

Upgrades in works for school
Published Monday January 25th, 2010
Lincoln | $500,000 will come in handy
A1
By ADAM BOWIE
bowie.adam@dailygleaner.com

Lower Lincoln Elementary will soon begin work on major upgrades, thanks to more than $500,000 in funding from the Department of Education.

The investment is part of the department's $95.7-million capital budget.

The school, which provides services for 189 students, has been lobbying for financial assistance that would help it address overcrowding in classrooms and provide students with better gym facilities.

Principal Nilah Lyver said the money will help the school take a big step forward with those plans.

"It's to do some architectural designs for an addition on the school that will address our overcrowding and also to bring the school up to code in other areas," she said.

"It's exciting to know we're on our way to a new gym and we'll be able to expand space for the students."

District 17 Supt. Marilyn Ball said the money won't put the shovels in the ground right away, but it will get the ball rolling on the refurbishment project.

"Obviously, (the funding is) not going to support a gymnasium, so it's going to be an architectural study as well as additional infrastructure changes that can occur prior to, hopefully, next year's announcement of the gymnasium," she said.

The school has been forced to get creative to deal with the shortage of space - even using several portable trailers as classroom stand-ins.

Ball said she hopes that will soon be in the past.

"It's excellent news. It's nice to have some building going on in the district," she said.

"We're very hopeful that we'll be able to finally eliminate the four portable (spaces) that they have."

In addition to these upgrades, a group of parents, teachers and school administrators has been working for the past few years to raise money for a new kitchen - one that will allow the school to start hot breakfast and lunch programs.

The school's kitchen facilities have deteriorated considerably since the building opened in 1963 and significant renovations are required before

it can get the programs off the ground.

About $20,000 was raised for the project through a series of community fundraisers, a campaign spearheaded by school alumnus Donald Demmings and his family, and a grant from the Department of Education.

But Ball said the district has now committed an additional $65,000 to the school's kitchen project as part of its capital improvement fund.

"By September, those students will be able to have a full hot lunch program," she said.

"That will (include) an architectural study of what's required as well as the construction and the purchasing of any equipment and needs that the school will have, such as stoves and refrigeration units."

Funds collected in the community will go towards purchasing supplies for the breakfast and lunch programs.

----

Train station, Lincoln Road intersection on agenda tonight
Published Monday January 25th, 2010
A5
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

City council is to vote tonight on final approval on changes to the municipal plan that will allow for construction of an NB Liquor outlet as an annex to the renovated York Street train station.

Tonight's vote is the third and final reading on the zoning change. Councillors were unanimous in supporting the municipal plan amendment, subdivision and terms and conditions needed for the project after the first two readings.

The Crown liquor corporation has inked a 20-year lease agreement for a liquor store at the site owned by J.D. Irving Ltd.

Work has already begun to renovate the historic original train station waiting area, which will become a boutique wine store and provide training and meeting space for the liquor corporation.

The liquor corporation will then construct an annex to the station for a stand-alone liquor outlet.

City council will also set a date for hearing of objections to several rezoning requests, including one seeking to subdivide a property at 1520 Lincoln Rd. to allow construction of seven homes.

Residents of the area argued against the proposal at a recent planning advisory committee meeting.

They voiced concerns that the addition of seven driveways near the already problematic intersection at Adams Street and Lincoln Road will make the corner even more dangerous.

Councillors will also hold the third vote on a zoning change for Cafe Ole in Le Centre communautaire Sainte-Anne so the restaurant can obtain a liquor licence.

City council didn't receive any opposition to the proposal at a recent public hearing of objections.

cl812

Jan 26, 2010, 1:09 PM

Councillor objects to expropriation procedure
Published Tuesday January 26th, 2010
A4
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

A city councillor is objecting to the city's move to initiate expropriation procedures for land to widen part of Queen Street before the city has started to negotiate with the owner.

Coun. Jordan Graham voted against the move that involves a 205-square-metre section of land between the sidewalk on the north side of Queen Street and the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The land belongs to the Crowne Plaza. The city wants it so it can widen the street to allow for eastbound and westbound traffic on Queen Street between Regent and St. John streets, saying the move is necessary for the flow of traffic once the downtown convention centre opens.

"I don't think it's appropriate to start negotiating with a shotgun on the table," Graham said before councillors voted on the matter.

Mayor Brad Woodside said the city is simply beginning the process in case it needs to have recourse to expropriation.

"We're not holding a gun to anyone's head," he said.

Woodside said it's important that the convention centre opening be on target.

After the meeting, Woodside said the city always offers fair market value for expropriated land.

Graham said after the meeting the city should see where negotiations takes it first.

"I don't see how we're expressing confidence in our business owners when we come to them at the table with expropriation," he said.

Graham voted in favour of an expropriation of 1,000 square metres of land at 705 Clements Dr.

In that case, the city wants to acquire underground rights for a municipal services easement on part of a property so it can link essential water services in parts of the Douglas ward of the city.

Graham said he supported the latter case because negotiations have deteriorated.

----

Councillor calls for tax cut in wake of increasing house prices
Published Tuesday January 26th, 2010
Going up | Graham says homeowners looking to live in cheaper areas
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The average cost of a single family home in Fredericton has surpassed $200,000 and a city councillor says that's all the more reason to ease the tax burden on homeowners.

"This significantly changes how we look at the tax burden here in Fredericton," said Coun. Jordan Graham. "We have to be prepared to acknowledge that."

The city's development committee was recently handed year-end construction figures for 2009. In that report is the average multiple listing service resale price for a single family home.

The Real Estate Board of the Fredericton Area Inc. provides the numbers to city hall and at the end of 2009, the average detached dwelling in the city cost $202,825.

That's an 84 per cent increase in housing costs between 1998 and 2008.

"That's the transition that's happened over the past 10 years because of increased assessments," Jordan said.

Graham, who was the only city councillor to vote against Fredericton's 2010 budget because of its 0.85 cent tax rate increase, said it's the combination of tax rate hikes and escalating assessments that's hurting homeowners.

"We have to look at the cumulative dollars and cents," Graham said.

The councillor is also concerned about another statistic that shows the city's share of new housing starts in the regional market has had its second consecutive drop since 2007.

Of the new homes built in the Fredericton area - including nearby Oromocto, New Maryland and in the country - Fredericton got only 37 per cent of market share, down from 47 per cent in 2008 and 57 per cent market share in 2007.

Graham said tax burden, rising housing costs, and increased assessments are all factors.

"My concern is that single detached houses are typically families and families are sometimes the people that are most cognizant about the real tax burden on their homes. They're the most mobile people. They're the people that are looking for where they can have the most services and the most money to spend on their family.''

Graham said people are looking outside the city.

"I find it hard to believe that the cost of living in the city isn't influencing that trend," Graham said.

"We have to look at the way we're operating to make ourselves more competitive in this market. Our families are our consumers and they vote with their feet and they vote with where they go."

The city has to start to find efficiencies in programs and spending, he said.

"We've got to start with holding the line on the tax burden and show homeowners we're all in this together," Graham said.

City councillors are planning to talk about conducting a program and services review in 2010 before the new budget process for the city's 2011 budget begins next fall.

cl812

Jan 27, 2010, 12:58 PM

Train station restoration project gets nod from city
Published Wednesday January 27th, 2010
A5
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

City council has given final approval for zoning changes that will allow for the construction of an NB Liquor outlet as an annex to the renovated York Street train station.

The annex is necessary to make the refurbishment of the train station viable.

The Crown corporation has inked a 20-year lease for a liquor store at the site owned by J.D. Irving Ltd.

Work has already begun to renovate the train station's waiting area, which will become a boutique wine store and provide training and meeting space for the liquor corporation.

NB Liquor will then construct an annex to the station for a stand-alone liquor outlet.

Mayor Brad Woodside, who long lobbied for the historic train station to be repaired or razed, said he's happy to see the progress being made on the site.

"I'm delighted that the dilapidated building is being attended to," he said this week after council approved the zoning change.

Woodside and Coun. Mike O'Brien recused themselves from deliberations.

Woodside had to because he wasn't at the first two readings of the rezoning. O'Brien did so because he's a vice-president at the liquor corporation.

Coun. Scott McConaghy welcomed the work done to date.

"This is a long-anticipated restoration to an area that is near and dear to many people's hearts," McConaghy said.

Coun. Stephen Chase commended the developers, while deputy mayor Bruce Grandy thanked the mayor for his efforts over the years to press for a resolution.

Grandy and Coun. Jordan Graham also thanked city employees for their work behind the scenes.

"We would be remiss if we didn't acknowledge their hard work," Graham said.

The front portion of the station built in 1923 is being retained and refurbished, while the freight storage shed will be demolished and replaced by a new building.

The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada must approve work done to the federally protected site.

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.

----

cl812

Jan 28, 2010, 4:48 PM

Fewer flyers at airport in 2009
Published Thursday January 28th, 2010
A5
By The Daily Gleaner

Year-end statistics at the Fredericton airport indicate 263,521 people used the airport in 2009.

While the numbers are down from the record-setting 270,435 passengers in 2008, the Fredericton International Airport was one of the top-performing Atlantic Canadian airports in terms of passenger traffic in 2009.

"Overall, the airport did well and it is a good sign that the Fredericton economy remained steady. 2010 could be an interesting year and we are looking forward to the opportunities that it will bring," said David Innes, president and CEO of the Fredericton International Airport Authority.

"The airport's air carrier traffic was on par with 2008, which is remarkable considering the impact of the recession on traffic across Canada and in our province"

Aircraft traffic at the airport rose 45 per cent above 2008 numbers to 106,178 aircraft movements.

Caribbean charters will begin soon with the first departure Feb. 22.

Last year also saw the airport authority welcome NAV Canada's phasing in of air traffic control services and a new concessions kiosk in the departures lounge.

----

Freddypop

Jan 28, 2010, 6:13 PM

Hi Folks:

I am interested in knowing if any of you have access to any upcomming retail space in downtwon Freddy. I am looking for a retail street-front space in a well preserved heritage building. Ideally with some kitchen space in rear. Any specific buildings come to mind? Ideally on York or Queen...but would entertain the idea of King or Regent as well. Does anyoen know if the new buildings as part of the Convention centre will have retail space?

The former Acadian Bus Lines and Enterprise Car Rental on the corner of King & Regent space is available. Adjacent to Quiznos and in close proximity to the new Convention Centre Complex

Freddypop

Jan 28, 2010, 6:14 PM

Noticed the outside signs have been placed on the Pet Smart (PM) retrofit. Grand Opening is Feb 6. Also plenty of action at the new Shoe Company next to PM.

cl812

Jan 28, 2010, 7:31 PM

Noticed the outside signs have been placed on the Pet Smart (PM) retrofit. Grand Opening is Feb 6. Also plenty of action at the new Shoe Company next to PM.

Costco should be starting shortly as well (likely within the next couple weeks or so)

cl812

Jan 30, 2010, 1:07 PM

Brun-Way awarded $37-M contract to repair bridge
Published Saturday January 30th, 2010
A1
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

The $37-million contract for the next stage of repairs to the Princess Margaret Bridge has been awarded to Brun-Way Group, the same company that built the four-lane highway between Fredericton and Moncton.

Premier Shawn Graham announced the deal at his state of the province address Thursday night and during question period in the legislature Friday.

"(On Thursday), our government announced a $37-million investment on that one bridge alone, fixing a problem that the former Tory government ignored," said Graham.

"The money that we are investing today to fix that one bridge is more than the entire Tory road-building budget in the year 2000."

The Department of Transportation budget includes $30 million for the repairs this year, but Transportation Minister Denis Landry said there's $7 million left over from the 2009-10 repair budget.

But Opposition Transportation critic Claude Williams questioned why the contract wasn't awarded to the lowest bidder. He said Brun-Way's bid was $5.3 million more than the lowest bid.

"Will New Brunswick taxpayers be on the hook for an extra $5.3 million because the contract was awarded to Brun-Way Group?" Williams asked.

Landry said there were three bidders on the project: Brun-Way Group, Pomerleau Inc. of Saint-Georges, Que., and Frank Catania Construction Inc. of Montreal.

All three were approved in a request for qualifications issued last year and invited to tender under a request for proposals.

He said Catania submitted the lowest bid, but it was conditional and therefore disqualified. Brun-Way submitted the second lowest bid and it had a fixed cost, he said.

Landry said he wanted no surprises for taxpayers that might come with a conditional bid.

"The time to negotiate was before," he said about Catania. "They were not complying."

Controversial New Brunswick construction company Atcon was a member of the Brun-Way consortium when it built the four-lane highway.

Atcon recently received a $50-million loan guarantee from the provincial government.

But Landry said his department received a letter from Brun-Way in August, saying Atcon was no longer a member of the consortium.

Williams said his main concern is that the contract was handled properly. He said the Liberals haven't always followed the proper bidding process, such as when they tried to single source a new wind farm in northern New Brunswick.

While Brun-Way is the winning bidder, the final contract hasn't been signed. That process is expected to be completed in February.

The Princess Margaret Bridge will be closed in June and July for repairs to the deck and railings.

It will also be closed for two months in 2011 for the final stage of repairs.

Freddypop

Jan 30, 2010, 5:38 PM

Costco should be starting shortly as well (likely within the next couple weeks or so)

Hopefully that will be the case. Has been pretty quiet to date. The Saint John Costco is opening in early May. Speculation is that the construction crew that built the Saint John facility will move up river to work on the Freddy Costco. They were due to hand the buliding over to Costco at the end of this month so they should be free to start construction here.

However I still would not be surprised if construction is delayed till spring ie April or May.

Have you heard anything more concrete?

cl812

Jan 30, 2010, 5:47 PM

What ive been hearing (from a reliable source) is that it will be very likely starting in early Feb.

homebody

Feb 2, 2010, 1:31 AM

mylesmalley

Feb 2, 2010, 2:53 AM

That's too bad, but it doesn't surprise me. The retail growth in New Brunswick in the past 10 years has far outpaced population growth. All three large cities have seen large retail developments. The retail market is probably close to saturation right now. A destination store like Costco would have an even harder time since they rely on larger areas to justify stores. With locations in two cities, they'd just be cannibalizing by opening a third.

cl812

Feb 2, 2010, 12:19 PM

City wants to find new concert venue
Published Tuesday February 2nd, 2010
Remember FredRock? | People complained about the noise, traffic
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

It's time for Fredericton to find a location that can handle events such as last year's FredRock concert, says the mayor.

Brad Woodside said the city is no longer the sleepy community it once was and it's attracting more entertainment, which is great.

But he said the city is still relatively small and large events can affect many neighbourhoods.

In 1999, Fredericton hosted about 36 special events from fundraising walks to musical shows. In 2009, the city hosted 103 events that cost $71,112 in time and resources from the community services division, public works, police and fire personnel.

Woodside said on a summer night he can hear music from the downtown at his home in the Douglas Avenue area and so can Barkers Point residents.

"We know these (events) are coming. We're trying to do our best to provide entertainment for quite a large population and this city is not very big," the mayor said.

"Why don't we start looking at a location that would be the least offensive and would not have the same kinds of problems as other locations do? There are locations out there that we can look at and we're just asking staff to look at those,'' he told council Monday night.

FredRock, a three-day rock show, was held at the Fredericton Exhibition Grounds, but many residents of Sunshine Gardens weren't happy with rock music intruding on their quiet residential area.

A fireworks demonstration at the Delta Fredericton Hotel on Woodstock Road last summer also riled up people in the community.

As a result of the concerns in his ward, Coun. Stephen Kelly asked for a review of the city's special events policy and procedures on handling fireworks events or displays.

In a report presented to city councillors Monday night, community services director Wayne Tallon said the city should create a three-tiered approval process.

Level 1 events, which require only minor assistance from the city, would be approved by the special events co-ordinator Heather Brown.

Level 2 events would be cleared by Tallon as community services director.

Level 3 events would have to be approved by city council because as a matter of routine, most of those require exemptions from municipal bylaws, major street closures and the posting of a $2-million public liability bond.

Tallon said about 40 events that take place annually, from Canada Day festivities to Maritime Countryfest and the cancer society's Relay for Life, would fall into that category.

Tallon also said with the number of events growing year by year, city staff members are increasingly asked to set up portable bleachers, barricades, picnic tables and garbage bins to help the groups. Extra police are often needed for traffic control and public works staff has added duties.

This year, that assistance is likely to cost $80,000.

He said it would be realistic for the city to have a dedicated budget for special events and let departments that provide help recoup their costs from that central budget, rather than having to shave their own services to offset the costs.

Tallon said councillors might want to discuss charging some of the costs to event organizers or reducing grants in lieu.

The revisions to the special events policy are going to be examined further.

Deputy mayor Bruce Grandy and Coun. Eric Megarity urged caution on that front, since many of the events add vibrancy to the community or support worthy causes.

"We have to be very cautious about that," Megarity said of event funding cuts.

Coun. Jordan Graham said the city might want to consider funding major events only until they reach the point of self-sufficiency and then let them stand on their own.

Kelly said he was pleased with the report, but thinks there needs to be more talk about how to consult with the public on major events.

Tallon recommended that the fire department continue to vet and approve fireworks events, and the department should create an information sheet on their use. The public should also be informed in advance.

----

Bus routes important to city - mayor
Published Tuesday February 2nd, 2010
A5
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

City council has passed a resolution to support northern New Brunswick in its bid to oppose cuts to Acadian Coach Lines routes in the province.

The city will file a letter with the province's Energy and Utilities Board opposing cuts to routes between Riviere-du-Loup, Que., and Fredericton, and Fredericton to Miramichi.

The city received a request from a Bathurst city councillor asking for the city's support to keep routes between the north and Fredericton running.

Acadian Coach Lines said it lost $1.6 million over the past six years and it's looking to stop the financial bleeding in this province by retaining only its most profitable lines.

"The connection to this capital is extremely important," said Mayor Brad Woodside. "It may not be paying big bucks, but the smaller communities need that support, to have a connection to the capital city."

Woodside said the city doesn't like to intervene in a private company's business dealings, but it's important that citizens have access to Fredericton.

"We have to participate, on occasion, with our neighbours, particularly our neighbours in the north. They're going through a very difficult time up there and one thing that probably is important to them is transportation for students and those who don't have cars," Woodside said.

If Acadian Coach Lines can't go it alone, then the provincial government should get involved, Woodside said.

"You can't disconnect people from the northern part of the province to the capital," Woodside said.

"That has to be looked at quite closely. I hope the province and their elected members will get involved in this issue as well."

The provincial Energy and Utilities Board will hold a public hearing on Acadian's proposed route cuts March 15 at the Rodd Miramichi River Hotel in Miramichi, March 16 at the Milltown Legion in St. Stephen and on March 17 at the Fredericton Inn. In order to speak at the public sessions, people must register with the utilities board by Feb. 11. Written submissions will be accepted up to March 4.

Acadian Coach Lines is owned by Groupe Orleans Express. The company is looking to make changes to service between Saint John and Bangor, Maine, along with altering and eliminating some bus runs in and out of Fredericton.

The company is also seeking changes to routes in Nova Scotia with its Acadian Intercity Coaches service.

----

Woodside eager to keep NRC funding in city
Published Tuesday February 2nd, 2010
A5
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside will be bending the ear of Fredericton MP Keith Ashfield about the need for Ottawa to retain federal funding for the National Research Council facility in the city.

City councillors have heard rumblings that the federally funded research group might see some of its funding cut as the federal Conservatives look at pinching pennies.

"NRC is extremely important to this city in where we are and where we're going in information technology," Woodside said. "I think a lot of people are worried about governments right now with all the stimulus money and all the grants that they're giving out. There's a real fear that when this stops, there's going to be a deficit to deal with, and I think everyone's quite rightly concerned."

While research and development in academic terms may not generate immediate financial returns, Marc-Alain Mallet, director of business development and research support, said the National Research Council makes money.

The centre located on the University of New Brunswick campus focuses on information technology and earns $3 million in licensing revenue from companies that have snapped up innovations with commercial applications.

Nationally, the business development unit of the research organization had $195 million in sales and created 978 person-years of employment between 2003-09.

Mallet said National Research Council projects are used in Bell Canada applications, animation techniques in films such as Lord of the Rings, in medical innovation and the military.

Canada's Space Agency and Atomic Energy of Canada had their birth in the early foundations of the research council after it was established in 1916.

In New Brunswick, the research council has come up with a true-to-life simulation system that allows for improved surgery by practising on a computer model.

Doctors used 3-D scanning and realistic modelling to load the map of a female patient's brain, allowing them to practice a complicated surgery the day before they successfully performed the operation on the woman.

Almost 10,000 Canadian deaths annually result from surgical mistakes and there are 7,000 surgery-related errors that could be prevented by allowing doctors to use the new computer tool.

Similar techniques have been applied to training soldiers more quickly and that technology can be extended to training other emergency responders such as police and firefighters, Mallet said.

The National Research Council has a $9-million budget in the province and it aims to take an idea from conception to application in less than two years.

"You would hope that in making decisions that the federal government and Minister Ashfield would take that into consideration. It's nice to have somebody on the government side and working for government who is actually making money. So there is a return here, but there's also a big outlay as well because of the research and development that's being done," Mallet said.

----

Also, noticed Petsmart opened yesterday.

cl812

Feb 4, 2010, 10:15 PM

I heard from an extremely reliable source within that all future Costco expansion within Canada will be put on hold until Jan 2011 at the earliest. Except for a few locations in Ontario. Until market conditions improve. Hmmm. They must feel that we dont meet market expectations. Now that they have made their mark in the larger population/economic centres of Moncton and Saint John

I wonder if this would apply to the Fredericton store though, since it is already kind of under way (it is pretty much through the planning stages, ie environmental approval which is a very costly process and council approval is complete, with construction supposed to be starting very soon)

-----

Group pushes for heritage corridor from south side to St. Mary's
Published Thursday February 4th, 2010
A5
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Fredericton Heritage Trust says it would like to see the city create the York Street Heritage Corridor, extending from the former Chestnut Canoe factory area on Dundonald Street, northward to city hall and across the St. John River to St. Mary's.

St. Mary's was once the area where passenger ferries travelling the St. John River south to north landed.

The heritage group said the landmark buildings along the proposed heritage corridor capture the range of business, transportation and residential life from the late 19th century onward.

With the ongoing restoration of the York Street train station and the city's ownership of the former York Street School, or York House as it's known, there's a good start to developing the historically rich area, the group said in a brief to city council.

Fredericton Heritage Trust president Liz Burge commended city council for being progressive on heritage issues. She said she sees the city's heritage stock through a newcomer's eyes, she moved here in 1993, and Fredericton has a beautiful supply of historic structures.

"I don't think you are being positive enough about what you have here," she told city councillors at a recent meeting.

Burge said she would like to see the city focus on heritage to the extent that it would put the city in the running for the Prince of Wales Heritage Award and that with a bit of a push forward, the city could make a splash on the Canadian heritage scene. Saint John won the Prince of Wales designation in 2002.

"We'll take a good look at the report," Mayor Brad Woodside pledged as the group made its pitch on several fronts. "Maybe more can be done."

The heritage group's brief will go to city staff to be reviewed and a report will come back to the city's development committee, the mayor said.

Coun. Stephen Chase commended the group for its willingness to work with the city on public policy for heritage projects.

Coun. Stephen Kelly called the group's brief, its first to the city in 13 years, as a dynamite document.

"These recommendations are very worthy," Kelly said.

The group had a list of other ideas for councillors to consider.

It wants the city to adopt a different approach to designating heritage areas. The group isn't happy with the process used by the city in the Queen's Square and St. Mary's heritage areas.

Juan Estepa, the city's manager of heritage and culture, analyzed each property and ranked homes and businesses based on their heritage value before calling a public meeting in response to requests for heritage protection for Queen's Square.

The group vote failed, leaving homeowners with the only option of designating individual properties for heritage protection.

That isn't sitting well with residents who wanted to see the whole neighbourhood protected, rather than splintered heritage protection.

Queen's Square property owner Don Dennison said the individual property rankings is a departure from past practice and fundamentally alters and diminishes the preservation effort.

Heritage Trust wants to work with city staff and neighbourhood groups on a different approach to protecting buildings and streetscapes and it wants to encourage the province to initiate a heritage incentives policy.

Here are some of its other suggestions:

* The group is asking that a section of wall space in the new downtown conference centre be set aside for the permanent display of Fredericton heritage icons. Each year the group selects key properties and places that it deems worthy of heritage celebration.

* No pedways from the conference centre across King and Queen streets because they would obstruct heritage views.

* Financial incentives to assist owners to maintain heritage properties.

* Councillors should be informed on the implications of a proposed piece of provincial legislation called Bill 7, the Heritage Conservation Act that shifts the mandate for conservation to municipal government.

* Fredericton Heritage Trust wants to see a tax abatement plan to increase the likelihood property owners will be able to maintain and improve heritage structures.

cl812

Feb 5, 2010, 12:21 PM

City taking another shot at developing downtown site
Published Friday February 5th, 2010
A4
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The City of Fredericton is once again preparing to call for development proposals on a piece of downtown west end property on Queen Street.

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=445346&size=500x0
A construction worker is connected to the fifth-floor level of the office building on King Street as he balances himself so he can reach for a lift chain. He was getting the chain to connect it to the form he’s standing on so the crane could lift it to the next level.

The land is located between the Queen Street legion and the former TRA cash and carry wholesale grocery outlet.

The city issued a call for development proposals in January 2003, but the newest proposal call will contain more detailed information for developers interested in bringing a project to the site.

The 9,500-square-metre (2.3-acre) property has 80 metres of frontage on the north side of Queen Street and was assessed at $1 million in 2009.

An appraisal of the property undertaken for the city in 2003 placed the market value of the property at $1.3 million, assuming the site is environmentally clean, is level with Queen Street and that soil conditions are adequate to accommodate a low-rise residential-commercial development.

The property is located in a flood-risk area of the St. John River.

"It's essentially the same proposal call, but we've updated some maps and some information. It's just been several years since it went out to the public," said Frank Flanagan, director of development services.

"We're looking for the same mixed-used development. We'd like to see retail. We're really short on vacant retail space downtown. That's what we'd like to see primarily, but that can be combined with mixed use. We're always looking too for more residential downtown," Flanagan said.

"We always want office space downtown, but we realize there's not a big market there right now because we have other developers downtown that would gladly put up office buildings if the market was there."

The site, however, has constraints, Flanagan said.

"As a result of past applications on that site, where developers have done their due diligence, it has turned up some soils information and portions of that site were formerly filled."

That information will all be provided to developers in the proposal call appendix.

"Developers (will) go in knowing it's a great location - downtown riverfront - but it does have some site constraints. That's what has deterred developers in the past from putting up larger buildings. Offices and residential, especially if you go up in height, require some pretty hefty foundations, which depending on the cost and market conditions, that may be a deterrent to development," Flanagan said.

But there are other design options and the city hopes to hear back from developers on their concept plans for the site by sealed bid by the April 6 deadline.

In 2006, Fredericton developer Khaled Moomena of Arsam Ltd. put more than $100,000 into feasibility studies, engineering and soil analysis as he prepared to build a $20-million, seven-storey office tower.

Moomena abandoned the project when he determined it would cost between $5 million and $7 million to prepare the foundations for a building that tall.

Years ago, the Queen Street parking lot facing the St. John River became a garbage-dumping spot. Moomena's research found that the site, currently used by the city as a parking lot, would be expensive to develop because it would entail digging down into layers of rotting garbage to find a building base.

In 2009, a group of Korean business people proposed a six-storey, glass and steel entertainment complex. The business group proposed a top-floor restaurant, an indoor golf driving range, which would require that the exterior of the building have protective mesh netting facing the St. John River to catch errant golf balls and prevent them from striking vehicles along the riverfront.

Part of the proposed development included a stage for musical events, a karaoke facility, a wedding boutique and a gym.

Although the city has heard the sales pitch for that project, it wants to find out what other development interests are out there.

The property is located in a flood-prone area along the St. John River.

The city says it is not bound to accept any development bid, nor is it bound to accept the lowest bid.

----

cl812

Feb 6, 2010, 2:35 PM

Unemployment rate in capital up, better than Moncton, Saint John
Published Saturday February 6th, 2010
A3
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

The Fredericton unemployment rate was up slightly in January, according to the latest figures from Statistics Canada.

But the capital still has the lowest unemployment rate of the three big cities in New Brunswick.

Unemployment in Fredericton rose from 4.7 per cent in December to 5.6 per cent in January.

The unemployment rate in January 2009 was 4.4 per cent, for a year-over-year increase of 1.2 percentage points.

Lee Winchester, president of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, wasn't sounding any alarm bells over the increase.

"When you do the drill down in the numbers, the full-time employment is actually up," he said.

"The unemployment is happening in the part-time sector and, given the time of year, that is not unexpected."

Winchester said a lot of the unemployment rate increase can be attributed to the impact of the recession in the United States.

In Fredericton, car sales are relatively strong, housing assessments are high and housing sales are up, he said.

"We are not too concerned," said Winchester.

"We are still lower than all the other cities in New Brunswick and we are still below the national average."

Statistics Canada's monthly labour force survey found a similar increase in the unemployment rates in Saint John and Moncton.

The unemployment rate in Saint John in December was 6.7 per cent, compared to 8.1 per cent in January. The unemployment rate in January 2009 was six per cent.

In Moncton, the unemployment rate in December 2009 was 5.5 per cent, compared to 5.8 per cent in January. In January 2009, the unemployment rate in the hub city was 3.9 per cent.

The provincial unemployment rate also rose last month.

According to Statistics Canada, New Brunswick's unemployment rate in January was 9.3 per cent, compared to 8.9 per cent in December.

The year-over-year unemployment rate for January in the province was up half a percentage point.

The province's labour force rose from 401,200 in December to 401,700 in January.

Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Donald Arseneault said he was encouraged by the growth in the labour force number.

"We will monitor these statistics over the coming months and will continue to utilize all government programs and initiatives to improve the situation," he said.

"Our government continues to work diligently to create employment for New Brunswickers."

Provincial year-over-year employment growth in January in New Brunswick was strongest in information, culture and recreation, other services and manufacturing, said the labour department.

"Combined with our plan for lower taxes, these measures will help the province's companies grow, and they will attract outside investment," said Arseneault.

Nationally, the unemployment rate fell to 8.3 per cent.

Employment increased by 43,000 in January, the fourth employment gain in six months, according to Statistics Canada.

"Despite the recent increases, employment still remains 280,000 below the level of October 2008," said Statistics Canada.

The agency said employment gains were driven by women aged 25 to 54 and youths.

This is the fist notable increase for youths since the start of the employment downturn in the fall of 2008, it said.

There were large increases in part-time employment in January, bringing it back to the level of six months earlier. Full-time employment was little changed in January, but has trended up over the last six months, said Statistics Canada.

----

cl812

Feb 8, 2010, 12:49 PM

Convention centre work on schedule
Published Monday February 8th, 2010
Big project | Area will be transformed
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Construction of Fredericton's multi-million dollar convention centre is progressing smoothly, says Greg Cook, the city's director of special capital projects.

The $79-million downtown convention centre, parking garage and government office building has been taking shape rapidly since the late fall when the centre was covered to permit work over the winter.

"Work is progressing very quickly inside. The duct work, the electrical, the plumbing systems, the masonry work is being done,'' he said.

"The stairwells, the fire proofing of the steel and the walls are starting to go up to delineate the various rooms on the ground floor. It's starting to look like what it's going to look like at the end of the day in terms of layout."

The convention centre roof is on and when weather moderates work will resume on exterior finishes, but there's sufficient work ongoing that the construction schedule won't be disrupted and the October target date for completion looks good, Cook said.

The $42-million downtown government office building is also progressing well.

"We have one more (concrete) pour on the sixth floor, which is the top floor. Hopefully, if the weather moderates we'll get that early next week and that will complete all the floors and then we'll just have the roof section.

"The form work is starting to go up to do the roof and when that's done, the roofing material will go up, then the mechanical equipment will go up and then the crane will come down sometime in March.''

The parking garage foundation slab is in and sections of wall were poured Friday and will continue into next week.

"Then we'll be holding off erection of the superstructure until after the spring weight restrictions (on roads) are off in May.''

That will spare having to heat the parking garage to install grout.

By November, the Supply and Services Department will be stepping into the office building to do its work.

"They're trying to decide who goes where and they'll do the fit-ups there and purchase the furniture for the fit-ups," Cook said.

Cold over the past week or so has meant a slight delay, but overall the milder winter has made it easier to keep the project moving forward.

"Things have really picked up inside since January," Cook said.

So far construction costs are tracking well, he said.

The city will be receiving $8 million in federal-provincial funding for the conference centre.

The province will pay the city between $4 million and $5 million annually in lease payments.

The six-storey, 16,071-square-metre government office building will be a replacement for the aging Centennial Building.

The province has yet to say what it will do with the 1967-era government building that houses the premier's office and key government departments.

Below the new government office building is a 68-space underground parking lot.

The seven-level parking garage will hold another 444 vehicles.

Below the two-storey, 6,800-square-metre conference centre will be parking for another 73 vehicles.

The conference centre will have ground floor and second-floor meeting rooms and a full kitchen to serve 1,000 people for dinner in the ballroom.

The city is assessing responses it received to a public proposal call for an adjoining downtown hotel.

The long-term construction plans for the building includes future provision for pedways to connect the conference centre to the Crowne Plaza Hotel and to the proposed new downtown hotel.

Those pedways won't be constructed immediately.

----

OliverD

Feb 8, 2010, 1:37 PM

I was under the impression that the Centennial Building would be renovated over the next few years and would remain a provincial government office building.

cl812

Feb 8, 2010, 3:17 PM

I was under the impression that the Centennial Building would be renovated over the next few years and would remain a provincial government office building.

Yeah, me too

kirjtc2

Feb 9, 2010, 5:09 AM

FWIW....Google Street View is now in most of Fredericton (and pretty much everywhere else in NB).

cl812

Feb 9, 2010, 12:25 PM

Rezoning application on McLeod Ave. rejected
Published Tuesday February 9th, 2010
A5
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Negotiations will continue between a McLeod Avenue property owner and the city after councillors voted unanimously Monday night to reject his zoning application for the land.

Abe Khoury owns land at 746-792 McLeod Ave. It's currently zoned R-5 and R-9A - zones that permit townhouses and a high-density apartment building. That zoning status was supported by area residents.

Khoury had been poised to sell the land to a Fredericton developer who intended to build Victorian-style houses facing Queen Square park and then develop apartment buildings toward the Beaverbrook Street side.

Property inspections and a subsequent Department of Environment review revealed three pockets of petroleum contamination, making the site unsuitable for residential homes without a major cleanup.

Ward 11 (UNB/East End) Coun. Jordan Graham has asked the city to consider negotiating a solution that would help clean up the property, allowing the high-density residential project to move ahead.

Khoury had come to the city asking that the residential zoning be scaled back to non-retail commercial, which would have allowed him to renovate an office building on the property and spared him the cost of rehabilitating his property.

Last month, Graham asked for a two-week deferral to ponder the city's interest in seeing the petroleum contamination cleaned up due to the land's proximity to new wellfields in the downtown east end.

Monitoring wells are used to ensure that the oil doesn't migrate from the property and so far it's contained to Khoury's land.

"It's an important issue to the ward and my constituents in particular," Graham said.

Residents view the municipal plan and its objectives as important in bringing consistency to their residential neighbourhood, Graham said.

"It needs to be remediated and that's the issue at hand. Do we simply Band-Aid over it and allow it to be used for a different purpose or are we going to stick to our guns," Graham said. "So, it is staying residential."

Negotiations will continue with Khoury, Graham said.

The rest of council was also adamant that city planning policies should be respected and that the land should be used for medium to high-density housing.

"What this particular rezoning here would do would revert this property back to a type of development that would counter the idea of a nice residential development there," said Ward 7 Coun. Scott McConaghy.

It's more desirable to have the land used for residential purposes because it's close to the downtown, to the park and to the university, McConaghy said.

Ward 9 Coun. Stephen Chase said altering that residential vision would be inconsistent with the municipal plan.

----

Government has no plans to subsidize bus company
Published Tuesday February 9th, 2010
A3
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

The MLA who represents communities that would lose bus service if a proposed cut goes through says the province has no plans to offer enticements to keep the routes going.

Charlotte-The Isles Liberal MLA Rick Doucet said he's looked into the possibility of providing a subsidy to have a service maintained in his area.

"At the Department of Transportation, they tell me there's nothing there and there's nothing planned," he said.

Doucet was responding to statements made last week by a former president of Transport 2000 Atlantic, suggesting the province should look at the possibility of providing operators of regularly scheduled bus service with a rebate on the provincial portion of the gas tax or the provincial portion of the HST.

Acadian Coach Lines has sought regulatory approval to cut its Miramichi-Fredericton route and its Saint John-Bangor, Maine, route. The company said it's losing money in New Brunswick and needs to cut costs.

John Pearce, past president of Transport 2000 Atlantic, said in an interview last week that New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, where Acadian's Digby-Kentville route is slated to be cut, should look at options such as forgiving provincial fuel taxes or the provincial portion of the HST.

Public Safety Minister John Foran, the regional minister for Miramichi, has sent a letter to the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board opposing the proposed cuts. He said government MLAs have only spoken informally on the matter.

"I don't know what the options are right now," he said. "All my concern is that it not be stopped."

Human Resources Minister Rick Brewer said he has also written the EUB.

He said he's concerned for communities such as Blackville, Doaktown and Boiestown that will lose all access to bus service if the cut is approved.

"I know in a convenience store, I carry a lot of products that I don't sell every day," he said.

"In a case like this, I don't believe that a company should just walk out on a route just because a route doesn't make money."

Brewer said any question of incentives for providing an intercity bus service would have to be considered by the province's Department of Finance.

"I don't know the answer to that question or how that would work," Brewer said.

"It would be a unique situation. You'd be opening up a totally new door that is not there now. I'm sure if you open up one door, there'd be someone that would come open another door."

A spokesman for the Department of Transportation said the province is involved with a working group that includes the federal government, all of the provinces and the Yukon Territory.

That group will be studying intercity bus service. It's expected to report back with its findings this fall.

OliverD

Feb 9, 2010, 1:41 PM

FWIW....Google Street View is now in most of Fredericton (and pretty much everywhere else in NB).

A lot of key streets and areas are missing though. No Two Nations Crossing, no Cliffe Street. Nothing in Devon minus Union Street...yet they have areas out in Hanwell and New Maryland.

mylesmalley

Feb 9, 2010, 11:39 PM

google has added newer and better aerial images of Fredericton. Much better colours.

cl812

Feb 10, 2010, 1:47 AM

Yeah I noticed that too, but I think it is only the southside that was updated. The image of the northside still doesnt show the northside walmart, kent and new Canadian Tire. Also, if you turn on the 3-D buildings all the buildings downtown are rendered, as well as some other buildings around town and on campus

OliverD

Feb 10, 2010, 1:41 PM

I'm not seeing the new imagery in Google Maps but it is in Google Earth. In Google Earth it is outlined.

I'm guessing the imagery is from spring 2008. Note that East Side Mario's only has its foundation, and the Bishop Drive Irving doesn't exist at all.

cl812

Feb 10, 2010, 8:50 PM

if you turn on one of the layers on the menu on the left (cant remeber which one) it actually shows the image date down on the lower left i believe.

----

I spy with my camera's eye ... Fredericton
Published Wednesday February 10th, 2010
Smile | Can you find your house on Google?
A1
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

You got your close-up Fredericton.

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=448105&size=500x0

The highways and byways of New Brunswick's capital city have been added to Google Maps' Street View function.

Fredericton is one of 150 Canadian towns and cities where the streets can be roamed online.

Moncton and Miramichi are among the other New Brunswick communities added Tuesday to the service that's considered useful by some and intrusive by others.

While Google caught most of Fredericton, it seems to have left much of Skyline Acres and the historic communities of Marysville and Devon out of the picture for now.

Smaller communities, including New Maryland and Sussex, saw themselves included while others such as Oromocto got only the most basic drive-through.

Some people are contemplating the feature's potential uses.

Rob Lunn, geographic information systems co-ordinator for the city's IT department, was checking out the Street View options Tuesday.

"There's definitely going to be an initial 'wow' factor," he said.

But Lunn said the real benefits will be seen as people begin to use the service.

He knows of people who use the feature when they're travelling so they can see the facade of their hotel before they arrive or walk the streets.

"People can take a virtual tour before they arrive and see what their hotel looks like," Lunn said.

David Seabrook, tourism manager for the city, said it could prove useful to people in the tourism business.

"I think it's got great potential for us in Fredericton," Seabrook said. "Fredericton is a city that benefits from being seen.

"The more you can get images of it, see what we look like, see the scale of our buildings, the built heritage, the river, the trails - all of that put together - I think the Google Street View makes us increasingly competitive with other communities that are already included," he said.

But it's the feature's knack for catching everything in its line of sight that draws the ire of some.

Fredericton isn't exempt. Among the Fredericton images caught by Google cameras: a cyclist wearing an unfastened helmet, an illegally parked car, and a television reporter picking up his tripod.

Around the world, people have criticized the fact that Google Street View shows people, cars and homes.

Google said it recognizes Canada's privacy laws.

Faces and licence plates are blurred out in Canadian images.

People who object to being shown on the site can also request that their image be removed.

Images on the site are copyright 2009 and appear to have been taken last spring.

A black car, equipped with a roof-mounted camera, was spotted at a Prospect Street gas station as the driver filled up May 4.

The car is equipped with a special 360-degree camera, installed on the roof, to provide eye-level images.

The series of images lets users go on a virtual jaunt around the streets of cities and tourist attractions.

The City of Fredericton has worked with Google in the past to have the city's transit maps and schedules included as a feature on the Google Maps transit tool.

----

OliverD

Feb 11, 2010, 2:01 PM

if you turn on one of the layers on the menu on the left (cant remeber which one) it actually shows the image date down on the lower left i believe.

Yeah but it says Dec 31, 2007. Not bloody likely with all that green. :)

cl812

Feb 12, 2010, 12:33 PM

City looks for money to build turf soccer field
Published Friday February 12th, 2010
A3
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The City of Fredericton is seeking federal-provincial funding to build a artificial turf soccer pitch alongside the proposed $21-million Grant * Harvey Centre.

Community services director Wayne Tallon gave the city's community services committee an update Thursday on the status of the project to be built this year on land leased from the University of New Brunswick at the intersection of Alison Boulevard and Knowledge Park Drive.

Geotechnical site investigations have been completed and a site plan for the location of the building, the soccer pitch and a dog park has been completed.

The city's civil engineering consultants will prepare the tender documents to allow for tender call in March.

"We'll have an award sometime mid-April and hopefully we'll see some activity on the site in late April or early May," Tallon said.

The city is awaiting word on its soccer field application. It hopes to have a lighted, fenced soccer pitch if the federal-provincial funding comes through.

The city has already awarded a $2.3-million contract to Ice Kube Systems Ltd. for the geothermal mechanical and ice plant system to heat and cool the building.

Centreline Architects is creating the design for the arena, which will include one NHL-sized ice surface with 1,500 seats and one Olympic-sized ice surface with 250 seats.

The city has received a commitment of $3.5 million from the federal government toward the rink cost. The province has pledged $1 million toward project costs.

Coun. Stephen Chase said the Grant * Harvey Centre will be more than a hockey arena. It will become a community centre for sports and recreation on the south side of the city.

The city is also undertaking a sport and art project with high school students. Six students are designing 1.2-metre by 1.2-metre panels that will be affixed to a railing inside the centre.

The first four panels will portray some aspect of sport or recreation. The students are working with a local art instructor to come up with the collages.

Another six to eight panels are yet to be designed by young artists, but that project will continue this year.

Coun. Dan Keenan has asked the city to look at creating discounts for seniors who use sport facilities.

The city discounts ice time and other fees or rates based on whether their use is during prime-time or off-prime hours.

Tallon's department is looking into Keenan's request.

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Beam me up
Published Friday February 12th, 2010
a4

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=449317&size=0x400
A construction worker in a basket on a crane guides a new roof beam, seen hanging from another crane, at the construction site of the Richard J. Currie Center at the University of New Brunswick on Thursday.

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Organizer says city should consult before picking site
Published Friday February 12th, 2010
FredRock | Another concert may be held this summer in Fredericton
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

An organizer of last year's FredRock event says if the city wants to establish a permanent concert venue, it should consult with event organizers and promoters before it picks a location.

Mike Babineau said they chose the Capital Exhibit Centre grounds for their first outdoor rock music festival last year because it has access to public transit services and was within walking distance for many show patrons.

Since the rock concert ended at 11 p.m., it also allowed the 5,300 fans to gravitate to downtown bars and restaurants, contributing to the economy of the city centre.

"Hopefully, it will be just as good (a site as the FREX grounds) and centrally located so we can still call it FredRock and not Out-of-Town-Rock. We called it FredRock because it was in the city," Babineau said.

He said organizers and promoters are willing to work with the city on a different venue as long as there's access to public transportation, it's affordable and there's policing and other essential services and amenities.

Mayor Brad Woodside has asked city hall staff to consider a permanent concert venue for outdoor shows as part of a review of the special event process.

Although FredRock was a sucessful event, there were complaints from neighbours in nearby Sunshine Gardens about noise and vehicles parking on side streets.

Babineau said there will always be complaints about noise no matter where events are held in the city.

During the annual Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, which is held in the downtown south side of the city, Babineau said he can hear music drift across the St. John River to his home on the north side.

Moncton has its Magnetic Hill venue for outdoor shows that draw big-name entertainers and 80,000 spectators.

"We're still many years away from getting to the size of what Magnetic Hill is. This isn't a concert where we're going to draw 80,000 people to the FREX grounds.

"I think that's unrealistic and a little premature," Babineau said.

He said they're hoping to bring a scaled-down version of their show back to the city again this year, but they won't be working with the same Ontario promoter.

"We're in negotiations now with different agents. The location is still up in the air," he said. "Right now, we're just in talks with the agent and starting to talk with some of the people of the city

"We're just looking at doing things a little bit differently than we did last year to make it run a little bit smoother. We'll use some of the things that we learned last year to improve on it this year and go from there.''

The date for FredRock will likely be changed to later in the summer and although the Capital Exhibit Centre was a good location, they're searching for alternate sites.

"We're in talks for a couple of different locations.''

Overall, the event went well from a public safety perspective, but some patrons waited until the last minute to purchase tickets.

By downsizing the event, the group hopes to sell more tickets in advance.

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cl812

Feb 14, 2010, 5:15 PM

Design work on new northside school begins
Published Friday February 12th, 2010
A6
By JENNIFER DUNVILLE
dunville.jennifer@dailygleaner.com

Work has begun to design a new school for Fredericton's north side.

A committee made up of District 18 staff, parents, members of the New Brunswick Education Department, and two principals has started compiling ideas for the school.

The elementary school, which will be built on 12 hectares (30 acres) near Two Nations Crossing, will replace the Alexander Gibson Memorial School in Marysville and South Devon Elementary School.

District 18 Supt. Alex Dingwall said the committee's first job is to determine how many students will be attending the new school, how many classrooms will be required and what kind of space will be needed for the cafeteria, gymnasium and other specialty rooms.

"We're looking at what components are needed and this sets the stage for the next phase which is the initial design of the school," Dingwall said. "The committee will bring issues to the table such as whether there should be community facilities involved like daycares."

Once the initial work is completed, an architect is hired and the initial costs are established, the district will wait to hear from the province about the budget for the school, Dingwall said.

The building will be a P3 school, which is a partnership between the government, the district and a private company. The company will own the building and lease it to government. Leo Hayes High School is an example of a P3 school. The district has a 25-year lease at that facility.

cl812

Feb 15, 2010, 12:48 PM

York Arena still needed to meet city's ice-time needs, says advocacy group
Published Monday February 15th, 2010
A4
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

A group that wants to save the York Arena says requirements for ice time in Fredericton aren't being met and won't be met even after the city builds the Grant * Harvey Arena.

The group's 20-page report is being reviewed by the city's community services division director Wayne Tallon and will come back to city council.

Mayor Brad Woodside said he has asked Tallon to turn around his recommendations within a month so that council can consider the document.

Woodside has publicly commended the group for its tremendous research effort.

"I was very impressed by their presenation. It was very thorough, very factual," the mayor has said.

The Save the York Arena citizens committee gathered up substantial data and conducted a survey of ice-user groups to determine how much ice time is needed within the city.

"Our investigations indicated a need for a minimum of 148 hours of additional ice time per week, which equates to two additional ice surfaces which would be accommodated if the York Arena remained open after construction of the Grant * Harvey complex," says the report handed to the city.

That figure will climb to 161 hours per week if a 6 a.m. ice time used by minor hockey is eliminated.

City council has proposed the demolition of York Arena once the new southside Grant * Harvey Centre is built. Construction on the building is to start this spring.

"We remain certain at least one additional ice surface will be required after the Grant * Harvey Centre is completed," says the report.

"The city does not meet accepted recreation standards or service ratios for the existing user population."

Demand for ice time by women is growing, the group's report says.

"There also appears to be an ongoing concern, both among potential ice users and city administrators, about the inequity in allocating ice time to high performance or elite programs versus the house leagues and other more recreational users," the reports says.

In February 2004, the city received an audit of its arenas and pools from ADI Ltd. In that report, the consultant said it would cost $1 million to bring York Arena up to modern building-code standards and that it would cost another $2.3 million to actually refurbish the building, for a total cost of $3.3 million

The group doesn't challenge ADI's estimates but says if the city only spent the funds needed to address building code deficiencies, that would allow the city to maintain another ice surface for 25 years at less cost than building a new facility.

Even assuming an increase in inflation to $1.7 million for code issues and building deficiencies, that's still one quarter of the cost of building a new facility, says the study.

"We believe the costs to repair the code and deficiencies to the York Arena could be achieved over time, thereby reducing annual budget pressures," the group's study said.

If costs were spread out over three years, the repair bill could be more easily funded and the city could seek federal-provincial funding, the group said.

"We believe even without the availability of new or additional outside capital, the city can afford to preserve the York Arena and remain fiscally responsible," the report says.

"In fact, we submit, it will be fiscally irresponsible to demolish the York Arena, wasting forever its existing inherent value and burdening future taxpayers with the cost of a new arena in the future."

The group's report also notes that the York Arena was rebuilt in 1971 and reopened in 1972.

Leo Hayes High School, Fredericton High School and Ecole Sainte-Anne all have sports teams that require ice time. Other ice-time users include the St. Thomas women's hockey team, ringette, girls and women's hockey teams, the Old Timers League, which has grown to 33 teams from four, and sledge hockey users.

The group says the Fredericton Peewee AAA teams were unable to secure ice time in the capital city to host their Atlantic championship and that event went to Moncton.

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Interest grows as Shannex nears completion
Published Monday February 15th, 2010
A3
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Diane Fletcher dropped by Shannex Parkland Fredericton's first open house to have a look at the floor plans for units that offer nursing-home style care.

"My mom is in one of the other senior apartment complexes in the city, and she's progressing to the point where she needs more care," Fletcher said as she collected information on the city's newest retirement community.

"My mother-in-law is in Shannex in Halifax and we were impressed with it, so we wanted to come and look here for my mom."

The Nova Scotia-based company is building retirement complexes in New Brunswick in Riverview, Quispamsis and Fredericton.

With a May opening date looming for the retirement residence portion of the $30-million Fredericton location, Shannex is starting to show off its facilities here.

Two information sessions will be held this week - one on Thursday from 2-4 p.m. at the Delta Fredericton Hotel on Woodstock Road and another Feb. 26 from 2-4 p.m. at the Ramada Hotel on Riverside Drive.

Located at Rainsford and Patience lanes, the Fredericton facility has three interconnected complexes.

Thomas Hall is a 72-bed nursing care home that will open Sept. 1. Governor Hall has 69 suites for retirees opening in May, and Brunswick Hall is a 60-suite special care residence that will open Oct. 1.

"We're pleased with the progress of the project and with the interest in the project (in Fredericton). We really have just started marketing," said Jason Shannon, chief operating officer of Shannex.

"We're encouraged by the number of visitations we're getting, the phone calls and the level of interest from the community."

There's no minimum age for occupying a rental unit.

Shannex locations elsewhere have accommodated adults with disabilities or chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis where an individual may need assistance.

"Our client is still someone who is at the stage of their life where living on their own is not really their preference," Shannon said.

"They're tired of having to manage going to the grocery store (and) looking after their property, and they like the concept of a secured building with someone on site 24 hours a day."

Since Shannex Parkland Fredericton has three types of units, it can assist people who have different needs.

If a spouse requires nursing-home care, for instance, the other spouse can reside in the same complex and they be within walking distance of each other for daily visits.

Each of the buildings is connected by an indoor pedway.

"Not everyone ages at the same pace," Shannon said.

"The most common experience for us is when you have one person in the nursing home and the other person is in the traditional retirement living building. That's the most common experience that we see."

Sometimes, seniors require temporary assisted care if they're recovering from a mishap or hospitalization, and they can obtain that level of help during their recovery period and then transition back to their own retirement unit again, he said.

The development offers meals, linen service and housekeeping assistance, all the way up to nursing-home care, depending on the client's need.

"They want to know if their health status changes, there's a place for them on the campus," he said. "The focus of the whole campus is to keep people living where they are at for as long as possible."

The Shannex facility in Riverview is completed and is fully occupied. The nursing home in Quispamsis will open in April and the retirement home in June and the final building in October.

A studio apartment in the traditional retirement portion of the development starts at $2,195 per month and increases up to $3,695 for two people in a two-bedroom unit, including all amenities.

Additional services - for instance, daily rather than weekly housekeeping - can also be purchased.

The cost of assisted living can be up to $4,150 for a one-bedroom unit and nursing care is handed through the Department of Social Development in New Brunswick.

Shannon said about 140 staff will be hired in Fredericton. Recruitment will begin in April.

While recruiting nursing personnel is competitive these days, Shannon said, Shannex has had good success in attracting registered nurses to work at its facilities.

"This is going to be a great place to work and it's proven to be a sought-after place for employment," Shannon said.

The company hasn't had a problem recruiting for its Riverview and Quispamsis locations, he said.

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Forest Hill Towers wing set to reopen next month
Published Monday February 15th, 2010
A4
By MICHAEL STAPLES
staples.michael@dailygleaner.com

There's good news for some displaced residents of Forest Hill Towers.

Dan Sampson, director of property management with Killam Properties Inc., said a number of tenants should be allowed back into the facility's west wing some time next month.

An exact date will depend on having elevators running, he said.

"The elevators are the key because it's a nine-storey building and a lot of seniors (live there)," he said.

A Sept. 9 fire resulted in extensive smoke and water damage to portions of the building at 700 Forest Hill Rd.

While the blaze was contained to one unit on the eighth floor, the electrical, elevator and alarm systems were destroyed by smoke and have to be replaced.

The blaze forced the evacuation of the 147-unit complex, leaving 250 people scrambling to find new or temporary accommodations.

Full occupancy of the building will not happen before May, Sampson said.

The best way to keep up to date, if one is a Forest Hill Towers tenant, is to check the company's website at www.killamproperties.com and to contact the property manager in Fredericton.

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cl812

Feb 16, 2010, 12:35 PM

York Arena gets stay of execution; council orders new cost analysis
Published Tuesday February 16th, 2010
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Fredericton city councillors are planning to rescind a motion to demolish the York Arena once the Grant * Harvey complex opens.

City councillors lifted the resolution passed by a previous council at a weekend meeting.

"There will be a motion coming forward based on consensus that we will rescind our motion to take down the York Arena and the instruction will be given to staff to bring back a report that gives us, as a municipality, the true cost of fixing it up, maintaining it and running it," said Mayor Brad Woodside on Monday.

Setting aside the resolution will give council some breathing room to do a more detailed investigation of the costs associated with maintaining a sixth city-owned ice surface in the capital city.

The Save the York Arena citizens' group submitted a detailed brief on the ice-time needs of people in the Fredericton area and said the cost of bringing the arena up to modern building codes and running it would still be cheaper than trying to build a sixth ice rink from scratch.

"We had a good presentation (from the Save the York Arena group). It's important to maintain that goodwill with the community and we'll look at the facts," the mayor said.

The city will ask ADI Ltd., which did an assessment of city rinks and swimming pools in February 2004, to update its numbers from that report.

The consulting firm estimated it would cost $1 million to bring the arena up to code and another $2.3 million to refurbish the building.

The Save the York Arena group isn't looking for a lavish retrofit, but the basics to provide needed ice time.

Woodside said council wants to hear the updated financial information and review the numbers.

"Rescinding the decision doesn't necessarily mean we won't go through (with demolition). It means that we do not want to have the pressure of a motion that was made by a previous council to restrict us from looking further and investigating further into that issue," Woodside said.

"That certainly sounds like a step in the right direction. I'm encouraged by what council is contemplating," said Chris Mabie, a spokesman for the group.

"We'd be willing, if they wanted any more information from us, to offer that," Mabie said. "They said they would listen and they did. We really can't ask for anything more than that. We appreciate their openness and willingness to hear us out."

Demolition of the arena wouldn't take place until the Grant * Harvey Centre is completed.

The City of Fredericton has opened Willie O'Ree Place with two rinks, rehabilitated the Lady Beaverbrook Arena and plans a dual-pad facility when it embarks on construction of the Grant * Harvey Centre.

Once Willie O'Ree Place was built, the city demolished of the Nashwaaksis Arena, despite pleas from residents in that part of the north side to spare it from the wrecking ball.

There are privately owned and operated ice facilities in Fredericton, including: the Coliseum on the Fredericton Exhibition Grounds; the Capital Winter Club, which is used by curlers; and the University of New Brunswick's Aitken University Centre.

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Affordable housing projects in province get boost
Published Tuesday February 16th, 2010
A3
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

Fredericton is getting $3.4 million in federal and provincial funding to renovate 164 social housing units and construct 40 units.

The funding announcement was made in the capital Monday.

Across New Brunswick, $4.19 million will be spent to build and renovate 252 housing units for low-income seniors, families and persons with disabilities.

"Through Canada's economic action plan, our government is helping Canadians during these tough economic times," said Keith Ashfield, national revenue minister and Fredericton Conservative MP.

"Here in greater Fredericton, this achievement gives a hand-up to low-income seniors, families and individuals who need safe, affordable housing that meets their needs."

The agreement includes more than $1.3 million for renovations to social housing on Doone Street and $657,185 for improvements at the Evelyn Grove Manor on Aberdeen Street.

Ena Stevenson has been living at Evelyn Grove Manor for four years and said she's thrilled her home is getting a facelift.

"It is going to benefit our building," she said. "We are going to get new fire alarms here and I believe we are going to get new cupboards for our apartments and new lighting."

There is also $1.6 million for the 40 new units for low-income seniors in the next phase of the Tannery Court project on Brookside Drive, including four units for disabled seniors.

In addition to the federal stimulus money, Tannery Court Co-operative Ltd. is getting more than $2.6 million in rent supplements from the province.

Social housing in Woodstock is getting $509,538, Summerfield will receive $12,000, Eastwood Housing Co-operative Ltd. is getting $25,000, Perry Court will get $50,093, and housing projects in Beechwood will receive $23,820.

The federal economic plan includes $2 billion for new and existing social housing and $2 billion in loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.

The federal and provincial governments are equally funding the $75-million Canada-New Brunswick affordable housing program agreement.

The $2.59 million for renovations announced Monday is split 50/50, while Ottawa is contributing the $1.6 million for new units.

Social Development Minister Kelly Lamrock said affordable, energy-efficient housing is a key component of the provincial government's anti-poverty plan, which has a goal of helping 25,000 people out of poverty in five years.

"Nothing is more fundamental to that than having a roof over your head that is safe, that is appropriate, that is affordable," Lamrock said.

Alex Arseneau, executive director of the New Brunswick Non-Profit Housing Association, said affordable-housing advocates are pleased by the ongoing funding program by the federal and provincial governments.

He said there are 215 non-profit housing corporations in the province.

"The last three years have been very good for them and their clients," said Arseneau.

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cl812

Feb 18, 2010, 12:59 PM

Neighbours of new development voice concerns, ideas at meeting
Published Thursday February 18th, 2010
A5
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

An 85-lot single-family housing development proposed by Percy Jones of Temperance Vale has received planning advisory committee approval.

In May, area residents voiced concerns when the committee approved a proposal for the construction of 11-lots off Fairview Drive as part of the larger, multi-year development.

Over the past year, neighbours have had a chance to talk with planners and engineering staff at city hall and provide input into the subdivision's planning. The developer has reconfigured the shape of the entire housing plan to ease some of the neighbourhood's concerns.

The city will be requiring the developer to create four access routes into the subdivision so not all of the 150-200 vehicles generated by the housing development will be directed down Mooers Drive.

Carriage Hill Drive, Silverwood Terrace, Mooers Drive and Fairview Drive will share the increased traffic.

To address the concerns about surface water drainage, given that the homes will be built in a hilly area and rain water will flow north toward existing homes, the city will require the development to submit a hydrogeological report on water management issues.

Jonathan Fullerton, a civil engineer with CBCL Ltd., which is creating the subdivision design, said an attenuation pond - created as a natural wooded area - will have water-retention capacity and will gradually release water into the storm drains during heavy rainstorms.

"The storm water-retention area will be built as part of Phase 1," Fullerton said.

A couple of residents had suggestions for the developer. Mooers Drive resident John Henderson suggested making an extension of his street become a dead-end and force the extra traffic to Carriage Hill.

Robert Cyr, also of Mooers Drive, said the developer should install a sidewalk the full length of Mooers Drive since many children walk down that street to the nearby elementary school.

"This has a big impact. It's a lot of change for a quiet neighourhood," Cyr said.

He also recommended three-way stops on the street and wanted reassurance that the city would ensure water pressure is adequate for homes and for fire protection.

Planning advisory committee chairman Dan Koncz said the sidewalk issue isn't one that the committee can mandate, but would be up to council to consider. He said water pressure and traffic control will be examined by the engineering department.

Cyr wanted to know if the city could enforce a development timeline, but Alex Forbes, assistant director of development services said that's up to the developer. The city has no control over when lots are purchased and when owners of those lots decide to put up houses, Forbes said.

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New Maryland to focus on development, water system
Published Thursday February 18th, 2010
A5
By GLENNA HANLEY
For The Daily Gleaner

The Village of New Maryland hopes to maintain a "rural flavour" while still attracting housing and growth.

The council presented its first five-year strategic plan to the public Wednesday night.

The plan sets out a vision and direction for increased development and improved municipal services.

Mayor Frank Dunn said it has always been a goal of the municipality to retain a rural flavour to distinguish it from its closest neighbour, the City of Fredericton.

"We thought that was very very important because we are so close to the city itself," said Dunn.

He believes people are attracted to the community because of its rural nature and acknowledged that many of the amenities they need are close by in Fredericton.

That's not to say the village doesn't want to grow its own services, he said.

The mayor said his priority is expanding the potable water system. The goal is to have all of the village on a public water system.

Only 600 of the 1,400 homes are hooked in to the municipal system now.

Short-term goals are to complete the water tower near the elementary school this year, find new wells by 2011 and develop a self-sustaining water system by 2013 at a cost of $4.5 million.

Another objective is to grow the village's tax base through a five per cent increase in new home construction by 2014.

The two go hand in hand, the mayor said. The village can't add new subdivisions until it has increased capacity in water services.

Council began working on the plan two years ago, hiring consultant Kathleen Howard and Associates to lead the study.

Other objectives set out in the plan are to reduce reliance on residential property taxes by looking at other sources of funding, such as federal and provincial programs, and exploring public/private partnerships.

The strategic plan calls for a study on a public transit system, upgrading streets, building more sidewalks and greater visibility of the RCMP.

Only a handful of residents attended the meeting held at the community centre.

No one raised any objections. People complimented the council for developing the plan, including local MLA Jack Carr.

Carr was pleased to see the plan included a mention of seniors' housing.

Mayor Dunn said he expects to see the plan finalized by May.

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Good for city council to take another look at York Arena's future
Published Thursday February 18th, 2010
B2
Bruce Hallihan

Off the top, let's give Fredericton city councillors a hand for deciding to reconsider the York Arena's fate.

The plan was to demolish the York Arena once the Grant * Harvey Centre opens in 2011. Or so.

Councillors could have taken the easy route and said 'We've already dealt with that issue, what's next on the agenda?'

Instead, they listened and learned.

There's no guarantee the city still won't 'Stick a fork in the York, it's done', but at least they're going to look into "the true cost of fixing it up, maintaining it and running it," Mayor Brad Woodside said the other night.

The Save the York Arena group doesn't want a bells-and-whistles upgrade.

They're simply asking to keep a sixth city-owned ice surface going and came to council armed with a detailed report that reveals the ice time is desperately needed. We won't know the outcome for a while, but, for now, a crystal ball sure beats a wrecking ball.

kirjtc2

Feb 18, 2010, 8:14 PM

http://www.fredericton.ca/en/transportation/NR2010Feb18TrafficStudy.asp

Capital City Traffic Study Recommendations Presented

A third bridge for Fredericton, a Route 8 overpass to allow the extension of Smythe Street and wider use of roundabouts are just some of the $150-million worth of recommendations - to be cost-shared by the Municipality and the Provincial Government - contained in the Capital City Traffic Study presented today to the City of Fredericton’s Transportation Committee.

“This study gives us a roadmap of how to develop our transportation infrastructure for the next decade and beyond,” said Councillor Tony Whalen, Transportation Committee Chairman. “It is a logical and carefully researched document that will ensure our traffic system keeps up with the city’s current as well as anticipated growth and development.”

The major expenditure recommended in the next two years involves a $1.6 million upgrade to Regent Street and Queen Street. Among the study’s other short-term priorities are the installation of traffic signals at the intersection of Forest Hill Road and the ramp coming off the south end of the Princess Margaret Bridge, and at several other locations.

In the two-to-five-year term the report recommends a $12-million investment on the Marysville bypass within City’s limits; a $3-million roundabout at the north end of the Princess Margaret Bridge and a $2.5 million Two Nations Crossing interchange coupled with the elimination of the southbound left turn lane at the Ring-Road-Maple Street intersection.

In the five-10 year term the report calls for a roundabout at the bottom of Smythe Street and an extension of Smythe Street to Bishop Drive at the top. Other intermediate recommendations include: an eastbound right turn lane at Woodstock Road/Hanwell Road; a multi-million-dollar upgrade of Regent Street from Aberdeen Street to Brunswick Street; the conversion of Devonshire Drive to two-way at Union Street with an additional northbound through lane and westbound left turn lane; and a $3-million widening of Hanwell Road south of Bishop Drive and more.

In the longer term, the report recommends construction of a $110-million third bridge for Fredericton. It calls on the City and the Province to start developing location and configuration options. Also in the longer term, the report recommends: a $7-million upgrade of the Regent – Prospect intersection and widening of the Route 8 overpass; a northbound right turn lane at Marysville Bypass/Greenwood Drive; a southbound double left turn lane at Regent Street and Arnold Drive as well as roundabouts at Ring Road/Brookside Drive, Union Street/Gibson Street and Riverside Drive/Watters Drive.

While applauding the City for promoting the use of City Transit and its extensive trail system and the implementation of bike lanes, the report recommends the City encourage park & ride, consider subsidized transit passes for provincial employees as well as offer incentives to the private sector to do likewise. The report also concludes that the Westmorland Street Bridge is not a good candidate for a permanent reversible lane system. A review of pedestrian crossings determined that the City does a good job at providing pedestrian crossing control at high pedestrian activity areas.

ADI Limited was awarded a $150,000 contract in July 2008 to update the City’s ten-year-old traffic planning document. The study was co-funded by the Province of New Brunswick and the City of Fredericton.

---------------------------

It would be great if they could put the actual document up there....

As for the report (or what of it they decided to give us)...
* Great to see roundabouts encouraged.
* Not sure exactly how they'd go about with the one at the north end of the PM bridge, though. That whole area needs a total redesign with the TCH traffic gone, but knowing this city they'd half-ass it and still leave the lights at the end of the Barkers Point bypass in.
* No discussion of expanding city transit? All the subsidies in the world won't do a thing if it doesn't get you where you want to go without crawling to the other end of the city first.
* How is a reversible lane not needed on the Westmorland St bridge? Ever been on it at rush hour and see two lanes backed up and the other 2 practically empty?

mylesmalley

Feb 18, 2010, 11:20 PM

caveat.doctor

Feb 19, 2010, 12:53 AM

Some recent Fredericton aerial shots I received floating around - not sure if these were posted already.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2772/4368588677_77eb145d53_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/caveatdoctor/4368588677)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2770/4369345332_a9fcb88569_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/caveatdoctor/4369345332)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2795/4368598135_68528ab3fe_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/caveatdoctor/4368598135)

mylesmalley

Feb 19, 2010, 1:06 AM

Outstanding work, caveat.doctor! I think I've found some new desktop wallpapers, assuming you don't mind :D

Incidentally, I ran in to Frinkprof back in October or something and he mentioned being interested in another Fredericton meetup. Anyone interested? Last time, myself, Krjtc2 and Frinkprof had a beer or two and supper down at the Lunar Rogue. It was a pretty good time.

OliverD

Feb 19, 2010, 1:18 PM

Pleased to see more emphasis on roundabouts, but really? A third bridge? As you suggest, Krtjc2, it'd be much easier and faaaaar cheaper to reverse a lane during rush hour. In all fairness though, the traffic really isn't that bad on the Westmorland St Bridge.

Keep in mind that a third bridge would take a lot of traffic out of the downtown area. If you locate it so that it is easily accessible from Prospect Street, anyone that lives in the western part of the city's northside and in Douglas would be able to travel to and from uptown without having to drive through the downtown. I think this would be hugely beneficial. It could also bolster residential development in that area; there's a lot of space in the Gilridge Estates area there.

As for the Princess Margaret. If they're determined to remove the interchange, why not reconfigure it so that the bridge attaches directly to the bypass. by the time they get around to doing it, the extra 30km will be done. Not only will this better reflect the traffic patters of the city, I'd argue it'd take a fair bit of pressure off the other bridge because it would greatly improve access to the PMB for people in Marysville.

I believe that is the plan. The city has stated that realigning the PMB with the Barker's Point Bypass is a high priority. I had been assuming they were talking about a full interchange, but a roundabout would work just as well.

I'm curious how they'd build a proper interchange at Smythe. Is there enough room there for a safe gradient on the Prospect side of the highway?

Yeah, that area seems a bit cramped. I guess you could lower the highway a bit though.

OliverD

Feb 19, 2010, 1:34 PM

I'm liking the recommendations in this report but the timeline for some of the items seems a bit off. For example, upgrading Devonshire Drive to be two-way at Union Street should be done ASAP. It would alleviate more traffic from Union because right now, if you come down Cliffe you can't just cross Union to get onto the bridge, you actually have to turn right. A simple solution to a silly problem.

Also, improving Hanwell Road south of Bishop Drive should also be given a higher priority. That road is in terrible shape and carries a large amount of traffic.

The use of roundabouts is a great idea but I'm skeptical whether or not they will actually be implemented. It seems roundabouts are always recommended by these reports but in reality they are still quite rare in North America. There is a huge stigma attached to them. A co-worker just mentioned that he has never driven one but has only heard bad things, and my girlfriend said she is flat out scared by them.

* How is a reversible lane not needed on the Westmorland St bridge? Ever been on it at rush hour and see two lanes backed up and the other 2 practically empty?

The problem there is that the majority of traffic coming from the south accesses the bridge via Smythe and Regent – not Westmorland. Hence why the changed access to the bridge a few years back, giving Regent Street traffic a dedicated lane. With the current configuration, putting in reversible lanes is impossible.

OliverD

Feb 19, 2010, 1:36 PM

Incidentally, I ran in to Frinkprof back in October or something and he mentioned being interested in another Fredericton meetup. Anyone interested? Last time, myself, Krjtc2 and Frinkprof had a beer or two and supper down at the Lunar Rogue. It was a pretty good time.

I'd be interested. :cheers:

caveat.doctor

Feb 20, 2010, 3:21 PM

The problem there is that the majority of traffic coming from the south accesses the bridge via Smythe and Regent – not Westmorland. Hence why the changed access to the bridge a few years back, giving Regent Street traffic a dedicated lane. With the current configuration, putting in reversible lanes is impossible.

A note in yesterday's Gleaner addresses the reversing lane issue:

Reversible lanes on Westmorland bridge won't work - city (http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/search/article/959367)
Published Friday February 19th, 2010
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN

The notion of reversible traffic lanes on the Westmorland Street Bridge to handle peak morning and evening traffic has been shot down by the city's hired traffic consultant.

ADI Ltd. was hired to conduct a $150,000 traffic study update. Included in that report was a special sub-study on whether the city could have three lanes of traffic heading south in the morning and three lanes heading north in the evening.

The study was co-funded by the provincial government.

"The Westmorland Street Bridge is just not a good candidate for this type of system," said ADI engineer Peter Allaby at Thursday's city hall transportation committee meeting.

ADI mapped out how traffic would function with reversible lanes. On the bridge deck the concept is fine, but at the two ends of the bridge with the configuration of on and off ramps, the concept just won't work, Allaby said.

Darren Charters, a traffic engineer with the city, said the engineering and public works department concurred with the study's findings.

"Everybody says Halifax does it, but Halifax has five lanes. If you have an odd number of lanes, it's much easier to do ... It doesn't solve any of the problems that we're trying to address and it really impacts the opposite direction," Charters said.

"Where the ends of the bridge are, makes it very difficult for us to alleviate congestion."

Allaby said a third bridge, likely in the west end of the city, is the best solution to diverting excess demand. ADI pegs the cost of a third bridge at $110 million, without factoring in land cost and ramp approaches.

It said that a third bridge is warranted within 20 years and city councillors said that should be a provincial government responsibility.

With corridors leading to the Westmorland Street Bridge at or over capacity, ADI is urging the city to try to figure out ways to get people out of their cars to reduce pressure on city streets. That could mean park and ride locations, express buses running north-south during peak periods, bus pass subsidies for municipal and provincial employees, and making downtown parking costs more prohibitive.

The report contains $150-million worth of traffic upgrade suggestions over the next 20 years.

City councillors said that's not all on the city's dime, since many of the changes are on provincially owned routes and should be funded by the province.

The study outlines short-, medium- and long-term priorities and estimated project costs.

For the first time, the city is considering the possibility of installing roundabouts at some intersections.

For instance, a $3-million roundabout at the north end of the Princess Margaret Bridge is suggested within two to five years. Roundabouts are also recommended for Ring Road and Brookside Drive, Union and Gibson streets and Riverside and Watters drives.

"Roundabouts are very green, in that they have, in general, far less delays than traffic signals. They're very safe. There's no right-hand collisions ... They're easier to build ... They have great efficiency and they're very safe," Charters said.

He's recommending that the city find a location where a small roundabout can be built to introduce the concept to Frederictonians before the municipality considers a double-lane roundabout at a larger intersection.

In the longer term, the report recommends a $7-million upgrade at the Regent-Prospect streets intersection, widening the Route 8 overpass, a northbound right turn lane at the Marysville bypass and Greenwood Drive, and a southbound double left turn lane at Regent Street and Arnold Drive.

ADI recommends a $2.5-million Two Nations Crossing interchange, coupled with eliminating the southbound left turn lane at the Ring Road-Maple Street intersection.

A $1.6-million upgrade to Regent and Queen streets is suggested within the next two years.

Short-term priorities include traffic signal improvements at the intersection of Forest Hill Road, the ramp at the south end of the Princess Margaret Bridge, on Union Street at Devon Plaza (with provincial approval), on Smythe Street near the Smythe Street Plaza, on Queen Street at St. John Street and on King Street at St. John Street for the downtown conference centre.

I think the need to "introduce" roundabouts to Frederictoners is silly - all it's going to do is give the naysayers something to fuss about and write inane letters to the Gleaner. Just build them and get it over with. Maybe if Frederictoners can get used to flowing into double-lane roundabouts they'll finally learn how to use added lanes (free-flow lanes) properly (eg Regent south of the mall. It's not STOP, and it's not YIELD - just GO!).

-

I don't believe the convention center includes any street-level retail. I don't know about any vacant storefronts downtown either (that's not to say that there aren't any though).

That's disappointing to hear there's no street retail in the new convention centre. It would've been perfect to have something along King St facing the Centennial building, to extend that streetscape further east. Something like, say, a Starbucks would be a draw. (Why isn't there one yet Downtown?! I'm a Read's regular myself, but still, it would make a killing.)

New street-retail developments in the area the past week: a restaurant on the north-west corner of Regent at King (where the Asian convenience store used to be), and a coffee/cake place on Regent (next to the Geek Chic, where a clothes store used to be). Nice to see the gaps filling in, just in time for spring.

-

Incidentally, I ran in to Frinkprof back in October or something and he mentioned being interested in another Fredericton meetup. Anyone interested? Last time, myself, Krjtc2 and Frinkprof had a beer or two and supper down at the Lunar Rogue. It was a pretty good time.

I'd be game... but I'm out of town until 'til end-March for work. Duty calls!

cl812

Feb 22, 2010, 12:29 PM

City needs major street work
Published Monday February 22nd, 2010
Traffic study | ADI targets areas that need to be improved
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

More than $10 million in upgrades to Regent Street will be needed within the next 20 years in order to meet rising traffic volumes, says a new $150,000 traffic study conducted for the City of Fredericton.

The study, co-funded by the provincial government, outlines $150-million worth of transportation upgrades.

About $25 million of the spending plan would be under city control and the rest involves changes to provincially owned roadways.

The big ticket item is a $110-million third bridge crossing proposed for the west end of the city within 20 years. The city would ask the province to pick up the tab for the bridge.

Coun. Tony Whalen said Fredericton's record development over the past few years means the city will have to find ways to handle the traffic associated with the growth that's already occured, but also the growth expected over the next two decades.

Peter Allaby, an engineer with ADI Ltd., said between 2001-06, Fredericton experienced a six per cent increase in its population, exceeding Statistics Canada's virtual no-growth predictions.

Residential development has sprung up around Brookside Drive, Bishop Drive and Cliffe Street. Along with new housing, traffic experts have to start looking at where major commercial, institutional and recreational growth areas are occurring and how they'll impact traffic patterns.

Allaby said areas include the downtown convention centre development, the construction of a proposed new YMCA building on Albert Street and developments on the University of New Brunswick campus, including the Richard J. Currie Center and a community

college now under construction.

Allaby told the city that within five to 10 years, the lower end of Regent Street will require another overhaul.

The first upgrades on Regent Street will be done this year at Queen Street to accommodate traffic changes near the downtown convention centre and government office building.

The street upgrade cost is tagged at $1.2 million and will entail new traffic signals, intersection changes and the introduction of two-way traffic on part of Queen Street near the convention centre.

The consultant is also urging the city to spend $30,000 within the next two years to install medians on Regent Street to block through and left-turn movements at its intersection with Albert Street and to block off an entry into the Irving service station property at the corner of Regent and Prospect streets.

Vehicles heading north on Regent have a gap in the existing concrete island that allows them to turn left into the service station parking lot.

Within two to five years, the consultant says the city will need to spend about $400,000 to add a free-flow westbound, right-turn lane from Vanier Highway to Regent Street

and an additional northbound lane on Regent Street south to Priestman Street.

Within five to 10 years, Regent Street will have to be upgraded from Aberdeen to Brunswick Street at a cost of just over $1 million, says the consultant.

Within 10 to 20 years, Regent Street at Prospect Street will need a $7.5-million upgrade that will create eastbound, westbound and northbound double left turn lanes plus widening of the Route 8 (former Trans-Canada Highway) overpass.

"Regent Street is really the backbone of the transportation system," Allaby has told city officials.

"Regent Street is a big issue," said Coun. Mike O'Brien, who chairs the city's finance and administration committee.

Its importance goes beyond its traffic handling capacity, O'Brien said.

Since it's a downtown business street, any widening and lane changes have to reflect that fact and work has to be done in such a way as to retain the ambiance of the downtown core, O'Brien said.

City engineering and public works director Murray Jamer said there's a limit to how much traffic can be funnelled through the mid-section of Fredericton.

The city's downtown streets were laid out in a military grid fashion during horse-and-buggy days and as Coun. Stephen Kelly said, driving and traffic in the downtown is always going to be tight.

Allaby said not only will the city have to look at ways to handle more vehicles, but it needs to start looking at travel management strategies to try to convince people to reduce their vehicle use.

Included in that concept would be express buses between north and south sides of the city, with more frequent bridge crossings during peak hours, and park and ride or carpooling strategies.

The traffic study recommends that new residential developments include more amenities that will allow people to do some of their shopping within their own neighbourhoods.

Traffic study

Here are some of the additional recommendations of a $150,000 ADI Ltd. traffic study for the capital city.

* Widen Hanwell Road from Prospect Street to Foley Court within five years. Cost estimate is $250,000.

* Reconfigure the north end of the Princess Margaret Bridge by putting in a traffic roundabout. City would ask the province to fund that project. Cost estimate is $3 million.

* Eliminate the southbound left turn at Ring Road and Maple Street when the Two Nations Crossing interchange is built. That would require provincial funding. Cost estimate is $2.5 million.

* Within five to 10 years, an eastbound right turn lane at Woodstock-Hanwell Road is needed. Cost estimate is $100,000.

* Within five to 10 years, the city should make Devonshire Drive a two-way street. Cost estimate is $250,000.

* Hanwell Road, south of Bishop Drive to Kingswood golf course and entertainment facility, should be widened with provincial government financing. Cost estimate is $3.2 million.

* Within five to 10 years, a roundabout at Smythe Street and Woodstock Road is recommended. Cost estimate is $400,000.

* Within five to 10 years, there should be a Smythe Street extension crossing the former Trans-Canada Highway and connecting to Bishop Drive. Cost estimate is $6 million.

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Public hearing of objections to be heard by council tonight
Published Monday February 22nd, 2010
Lincoln Road | Man wants to develop property
A3
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

A public hearing of objections comes before city council tonight on a rezoning and subdivision application for 1530 Lincoln Rd.

The proposal from developer Edouard Gebrael has stirred strong opposition from Lincoln Road and Adams Street area residents.

Residents object to the project because they say the developer is trying to cram too many houses onto his land.

The developer wants to create seven lots, which will be significantly smaller than most of the surrounding lots.

Besides that, the lots will create five new driveways onto Adams Street and two onto Lincoln Road.

The intersection of Lincoln Road and Adams Street is already a safety risk, area resident James Quigley has said.

With only three exits, Lincoln Heights is becoming a traffic nightmare and adding seven new driveways will add to that hazard, Quigley told the city's planning advisory committee when it heard details of the application recently.

Since then, Ward 7 (Lincoln area) Coun. Scott McConaghy has been working with residents and the developer to try to find a compromise.

Along with the hearing of objections, the rezoning application is due for first and second bylaw readings tonight.

In other city council matters, plans will be announced for the 2010 Green Matters essay contest.

A proposal to ask the provincial government to amend legislation allowing the city to beef up its own bylaw enforcement tools will be considered.

Without provincial laws enabling the city to write stricter bylaws and issue tickets and fines for breaches, the city can't step up its ability to clamp down on unsightly premises and negligent landlords.

The city also wants unpaid fines and enforcement costs to be added as a lien on a property title, effectively forcing the fines to be paid or else the sale of a property is held up.

Third reading will also be given to parking restrictions on Adams Street and Birch Crescent.

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OliverD

Feb 22, 2010, 1:36 PM

I think the need to "introduce" roundabouts to Frederictoners is silly - all it's going to do is give the naysayers something to fuss about and write inane letters to the Gleaner. Just build them and get it over with. Maybe if Frederictoners can get used to flowing into double-lane roundabouts they'll finally learn how to use added lanes (free-flow lanes) properly (eg Regent south of the mall. It's not STOP, and it's not YIELD - just GO!).

Agreed, that is silly. Roundabouts are not rocket science but people find them very intimidating. I'm not sure why. They are so much more efficient, especially in off-peak times when there is little traffic and you don't have to wait at lights when the road is empty.

I'm disappointed that this report didn't address adding more traffic signals that revert to flashing amber/red at night. It's ridiculous that we only have a couple of those in this city. They could be used in so many intersections and make night time driving so much more efficient.

mylesmalley

Feb 22, 2010, 2:56 PM

I think a lot of people's fear of roundabouts comes from Moncton's rather odd implementation of them. The causeway roundabout isn't bad because it functions exactly like a proper one - that is, everyone must merge to enter the circle. Two sides have dedicated lanes that bypass the circle, which are separated by solid white lines.

The Halls Creek traffic circle, on the other hand, is a different story. Half of it is three lanes, with the centre lane being dedicated to through-traffic going from Wheeler blvd to Route 15. Part of the problem here is that people aren't used to having to merge with traffic on a roundabout that's going 60 or more km/h. Moreover, you actually have to merge twice once your'e in if you're coming from Main St. Once to get into the through lane, then once again to get back into the centre of the circle if you want to get onto Wheeler. Getting across that through lane can be pretty difficult sometimes. It's never good to come to a stop on a highway, but it can happen when waiting for a gap big enough to squeeze in to.

Sometimes it can get even more difficult because people in both lanes of wheeler often try to merge into the one through lane at the circle so they can access Route 15.

cl812

Feb 23, 2010, 12:24 PM

City plans several traffic upgrades
Published Tuesday February 23rd, 2010
A4
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The City of Fredericton plans to move ahead on a number of short-term measures this year to start implementing recommendations contained in a new ADI Ltd. traffic study.

The $150,000 traffic report, cost-shared by the city and provincial government, is a review of all the city's key roads, streets and intersections, and has a number of short- and long-term findings.

Some of its suggestions will go into effect in 2010, including:

* a traffic signal at Forest Hill Road at the Princess Margaret Bridge southbound ramp, costing $150,000;

* a traffic signal on Union Street at Devon Plaza, pending Department of Transportation approval, at a cost of $80,000;

* a traffic signal at Smythe Street at Canadian Tire Plaza, pending a private financial contribution, at a cost of $35,000;

* and intersection changes and traffic signals at Queen Street and King Street at St. John Street near the city's new downtown convention centre. Those changes are expected to cost $1.2 million.

Darren Charters, traffic engineer with the city, said the city wants to make traffic signal heads stand out better by installing them against a bright yellow backboard.

Major intersections in the city will see oversized street name signs installed.

The city's traffic consultant recommends concrete medians on Regent Street be installed in specific spots, although the city hasn't committed to those changes for 2010.

It would cost $20,000 to install a concrete median that would prevent through and left turn movements on Regent Street where Albert Street crosses. That's near the location of the proposed YMCA.

Another median closure is recommended on Regent Street to prevent left turns into the Irving service station at the corner of Regent and Prospect streets. The estimated cost is $15,000.

Within the next two years, the traffic consultant is recommending that the northbound left turn lane at Smythe and Dundonald streets be extended and access to the plaza at that corner be restricted to a right turn in, and a right turn out.

A traffic signal for the Wilsey Road and Vanier Highway overpass is recommended at a cost of $100,000.

The city also hopes to install more countdown pedestrian signals. The crosswalk lights notify pedestrians of how much time is left in order to safely cross a street. The city has tested the countdown signals at Westmorland and Queen streets.

More speed radar signs that let drivers know how fast they're going will be popping up around the city too. The first few speed radar signs have already been installed near a couple of school zones.

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Lincoln residents oppose rezoning
Published Tuesday February 23rd, 2010
Six new houses | Stretch of road 'already dangerous'
A1
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

Lincoln Heights residents packed city council chambers Monday night to oppose a proposed rezoning that would add six houses at the intersection of Lincoln Road and Adams Street.

Local developer Edouard Gebrael wants the change so he can subdivide a property at 1530 Lincoln Rd. to accommodate seven lots. Each lot will be longer and narrower than most other properties in the neighbourhood.

Council received 40 letters opposing the rezoning.

It also received two petitions carrying the names of 344 people opposed to the proposal.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Lincoln Road resident Jim Quigley asked council to decline the request for rezoning.

"The only real issue is that this particular lot is at a critical intersection."

He said residents believe the addition of four more driveways to a short stretch of Adams Street and two more to Lincoln Road will create a traffic hazard.

"It is very simple for us to look at this, living there every day, and see that what you're basically facing is a traffic hazard, an inappropriate subdivision," Quigley told councillors.

"You're cramming seven houses on a lot that's probably designed for three or four."

Quigley said residents voiced no opposition when a previous plan called for only three or four houses on the lot, which currently has one house.

"There have been some who have said we have opposition to development in general. That, of course, is not the case," he said.

Residents have also expressed safety concerns because the location is at the foot of a steep grade on a turn.

They say it's treacherous when icy and worry that having more driveways at the location will translate into greater risk - particularly for kids playing in any of those driveways.

Larry Sovey of Adams Street told councillors that in the past year his minivan has slipped twice while

he was driving down the section of street where the driveways would be added.

"I wouldn't want to see four or five driveways with kids there. The risk would be heightened for injury or death," he said.

Gebrael, the project's proponent, didn't make a presentation to council.

The city's planning department has recommended the R-2B zoning with a condition that Gebrael agree not to include basement apartments in any of the houses.

Members of Fredericton's planning advisory committee voted four-to-two at a meeting last month to approve the rezoning.

While city councillors voted in favour of the first two readings of the rezoning Monday night, Mayor Brad Woodside told residents it's council's practice to pass the first two readings and send the matter to third reading.

The motion's success in the first two readings doesn't necessarily reflect how the vote will go when the final reading is held at the next council meeting March 8, Woodside said.

"We take what we heard tonight, and it gives us an opportunity, and third reading is when councillors and the councillor for the area express themselves as to what they heard this evening - at which time a decision will be made."

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City to look at cost of saving York Arena
Published Tuesday February 23rd, 2010
A6
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

City staff members have been asked to look into the cost of preserving York Arena.

In a motion passed at Monday night's regular council meeting, city councillors instructed employees to prepare a report into the work needed to bring the facility up to building codes, the cost of doing so and the costs associated with continuing to operate the facility.

Mayor Brad Woodside also cleared up some confusion on the status of the arena.

He said there's no motion on the books to demolish York Arena.

"I think it was a conclusion that some may have had in terms of what was going to happen to it because it certainly was the intention when Grant * Harvey opened, we would put it out to tender," Woodside said.

The Save the York Arena citizens' group has been pressing for the city to keep the facility given the demand for ice time in the city.

It said the cost of bringing the arena up to building codes and running it would still be cheaper than building a new rink from scratch.

The report is expected to update a 2004 assessment of city rinks and swimming pools conducted by ADI Ltd. in February 2004. At the time, the consulting firm estimated it would cost $1 million to bring York Arena up to code and another $2.3 million to refurbish the building.

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cl812

Feb 23, 2010, 2:03 PM

Economic Development Work Plan Targets Growth, Prosperity

Fredericton (February 16, 2010) - Cultivating economic growth and prosperity for Fredericton is the goal of an ambitious economic development work plan presented today to the City’s Development Committee of Council.

“Economic development is not just about job creation, it is about building solid platforms and infrastructure to create community economic growth like our Knowledge Park, the new Convention Centre, and our Fred-eZone,” said Councillor Dan Keenan, Development Committee Chair. “I’m pleased to see the cooperative approach we are taking with our partners to keep the momentum going.”

The City’s economic development work plan is designed to compliment the efforts of Enterprise Fredericton (the local Community Economic Development Agency), and in turn the Province’s Self Sufficiency agenda. “We compliment their efforts by way of economic development related marketing and promotions, programs, events and sector-specific projects and initiatives. We rely upon Enterprise Fredericton and refer many clients in terms of business support related requests from business counselling to start-ups”, explained Laurie Guthrie Hayes, Economic Development Officer with the City’s Development Services Department. She went on to say that, “Our collective goal is to cultivate economic growth and prosperity for Fredericton. Our successes are not the result of one organization, we work in concert with all the agencies like Enterprise Fredericton, the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Fredericton, Business Fredericton North, and the Fredericton International Airport to advance our community.”

The specific elements of the plan were summarized as follows:

The City develops and maintains marketing and promotional tools like its business card cd/promotional video, economic development website, which includes a digital relocation kit as well as links to resources for immigrants and a soon-to-be-released Business Support web page. These tools are used by the business agencies and ambassadors, who are promoting Fredericton during their meetings and travels.

The economic development advertising plan targets local, regional, national and international audiences. Its primary objectives are: to recruit and retain residents (complimenting population growth and workforce development initiatives); market and promote the RUNWAY Business Park Network to attract more investment opportunities within this major business corridor; enlist more citizens in the Business Ambassador Program to help attract opportunities to Fredericton; and to position Fredericton as a world leader in terms of smart and sustainability.

A major element of the work plan is the Fredericton Business Ambassador Program. With limited resources, the City had to be more creative in terms of potentially attracting investment. In 2003, the Fredericton Business Ambassador concept was introduced through the recognition of 30 honourary ambassadors. In 2005, a comprehensive Ambassador training program was launched, and the Ambassador Team has since grown to 270 people. There is no cost to participate, and the concept is as simple as promoting Fredericton during meetings and travels. The main goal is to help attract new businesses, residents, conferences, and opportunities to the City by sharing knowledge and distributing the City’s promotional tools.

Due to the varied nature of economic development, sector-specific initiatives arise on occasion. One major ongoing initiative, which is benefiting many sectors, is the RUNWAY Business Park Network. The RUNWAY is a key piece of economic development infrastructure to help advance the City’s major growth corridor and its strategic industry clusters. Comprised of hundreds of businesses in key sectors like: information and green technologies, education/advanced learning, R&D, engineering, retail, light manufacturing, aerospace & defence – the City is well poised for future development. The Development Committee of Council will be hearing more about the RUNWAY at its April meeting.

Fredericton will continue to work with its partners to advance the community, build upon its long-standing reputation as a “smart city”, and promote its sustainability initiatives, cost competitive business environment, and balanced lifestyle!

-30-

Media Contact : Laurie Guthrie Hayes, Economic Development Officer, Development Services, City of Fredericton (506) 460-2942.

http://www.fredericton.ca/en/ecodev/NR2010Feb16EconPlan.asp

cl812

Feb 24, 2010, 12:43 PM

Building permits up
Published Wednesday February 24th, 2010
A3
By The Daily Gleaner

The City of Fredericton is starting the year off right with building permit values at $2.6 million to the end of January. In January 2009, construction totals were less than $1 million.

Driving up the value of the figures in January was a $1-million repair contract for an apartment building at 700 Forest Hill Rd. that was damaged by fire. J.W. Lindsay Construction is doing the repairs to the building.

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mylesmalley

Feb 25, 2010, 1:21 AM

Looks like they've got the structural steel going up at the community college site. Can't believe how quickly they've started. I'll try to get some shots tomorrow.

cl812

Feb 25, 2010, 12:39 PM

Looks like they've got the structural steel going up at the community college site. Can't believe how quickly they've started. I'll try to get some shots tomorrow.

I noticed that too, quite surprising how quick it is going up.

cl812

Feb 25, 2010, 1:00 PM

This is going to be painful this summer, might be quicker to travel the Dam or Burton Bridge.

Group worried about bridge closure
Published Thursday February 25th, 2010
Princess Margaret | Bridge will be closed for two months this summer; motorists, businesses affected
A1
By ALEXANDRA DAVIS
davis.alexandra@dailygleaner.com

Municipal and provincial representatives say a traffic plan is in the works for the upcoming closure of the Princess Margaret Bridge.

But a business association manager said he's concerned about the impact on local vendors.

Bruce McCormack, general manager of Downtown Fredericton Inc., said a lot of planning needs to take place before the Princess Margaret Bridge is closed this summer for two months to undergo repairs.

During that time, all traffic between the north side and the south side will rely on the Westmorland Street Bridge.

McCormack said he has been in touch with representatives from the city. While a number of traffic solutions have been suggested, he said none of them has been confirmed.

"We've talked about a lot of things, but nothing's officially set in place," he said. "Will there be a different transit schedule, or flexible hours for municipal employees, or new signage in certain areas? Right now we don't know."

McCormack said he would also like to know the dates the repairs will occur. So far, the Department of Transportation has announced that the bridge will be closed for about two months in June and July.

"It would be nice to have the dates nailed down," McCormack said. "Traffic patterns are going to be very different during that period."

Trina MacDonald, general manager of Business Fredericton North, said the bridge closure will affect northside businesses as well.

"It will have a major effect on the businesses on Riverside Drive," she said. "They're definitely going to feel the impact."

MacDonald said she's satisfied with how the issue has been handled thus far.

"We've spoken with the city to discuss what will happen regarding traffic," she said. "I believe the city plans to work with businesses and citizens as a whole."

Andrew Holland, a spokesman for the Department of Transportation, said more information will be available soon. He said the department has been collaborating with the city and ADI Ltd. to form a committee and develop a traffic management plan.

Darren Charters, a traffic engineer with the City of Fredericton, said more discussions are needed before plans can be announced. He said city representatives will communicate with local vendors and address their concerns when information is available.

"It's a little premature right now," Charters said. "We'll be meeting with the Department of Transportation again in a couple weeks and that's when a plan will likely be presented."

Gloria Nickerson, marketing co-ordinator for Westminster Books on King Street, said she doesn't think the bridge closure will prevent customers from reaching the store.

"The bridge will certainly be congested, but hopefully that won't affect us too much," she said. "I don't think it will affect tourism, since most tourists are already in the downtown area."

Nickerson said the business wasn't especially impacted during other occasions when the Princess Margaret Bridge was closed. She said she doesn't expect to see much of a difference this summer.

Shane Fraser, co-owner of Garrison District Ale House, said he thinks the closure will have more of an effect on vendors who operate only during traditional business hours.

"Our hours aren't exactly standard, so I can't see it affecting us too much," he said. "It will probably change the way some businesses work. They might need to think about changing their hours and so on."

McCormack said he hopes members of the government will stay in touch as traffic plans continue to unfold.

"The transportation committee is supposed to meet in March, so hopefully we'll have more information going forward."

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Construction work to begin at Lincoln school this summer
Published Thursday February 25th, 2010
A3
By JENNIFER DUNVILLE
dunville.jennifer@dailygleaner.com

Olivia Morehouse hopes to be one of the first students to play in a new gymnasium planned for Lower Lincoln Elementary School.

The overcrowded facility has received $500,000 to design new classrooms, a multi-purpose room and a gymnasium, and $65,000 to renovate its kitchen.

Construction on the kitchen is expected to begin this summer.

The design work by ADI Ltd. is slated for completion by 2012.

Olivia stood outside the 47-year-old school Wednesday to thank and high-five Finance Minister Greg Byrne and Premier Shawn Graham, who visited the school to announce plans for the funding.

"We're saying thank you cuz he (Graham) got us a new gym and we can't wait to see it," Olivia said.

"We're going to have a new kitchen too, and that means we will have hot lunches and maybe hot breakfasts."

Graham and Byrne couldn't commit to future funding to make the school's new design a reality because it would fall under the next provincial budget.

But school principal Nilah Lyver said the $565,000 investment is a good sign more funding is on the horizon.

"We're just very excited. This is my fourth year here at the school, so I've had time to see just how desperately we need renovations and an addition at this school," Lyver said.

"We're at full capacity and we're in an ever-growing community, but we don't want to see students bused elsewhere. It just got to the point where we knew we had to lobby for change and we're excited to see things moving forward."

The school staff, with the help of its parent committees and the Lincoln community, lobbied to become District 17's No. 1 priority for funding.

Once it achieved that goal, the school group began fundraising to help kick-start the renovations.

It raised $20,000.

"Our first goal was to try to fund the renovations in the kitchen, because we can't even have a hot-lunch program for our students with a kitchen that doesn't meet code," Lyver said.

"We also lobbied for financial assistance because we have no storage space and already have six modular classrooms to accommodate our students."

Byrne and Graham toured the school Wednesday and chatted with students about their hopes for the new space.

Byrne said the improvements will provide more modern, spacious facilities to meet the needs of students and teachers.

"In the (current) gymnasium, for example, a child can't shoot a basketball without it hitting the ceiling. It's really an inadequate space," he said.

"We have recognized this is one of the fastest-growing neighbourhoods in the province with a tremendous amount of development taking place. The school is going to continue to grow ... The need for more space is there not just for the children, but for those who also use the facility after school hours."

Byrne said one of the benefits of the project is that the old gym will be converted into classroom space, which will allow the school to get rid of some of its modular classrooms, which are trailers attached to the school.

"We're pleased to be here (at the school) to make this announcement and share in the students' excitement," he said. "The work on the kitchen will begin this summer and, at this point, the architectural work (for the gym) is going to start right away and once that's done the construction will start. Hopefully, within a year or two, we'll see a new gymnasium here."

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Wal-Mart Canada to open 35 to 40 supercentres in 2010
Published Wednesday February 24th, 2010
D1
By DAVID FRIEND and SUNNY FREEMAN
The Canadian Press

TORONTO - Wal-Mart says it will create up to 6,500 jobs in retail and construction this year as part of a plan to open 35 to 40 massive supercentres in Canada.

A spokesman for the world's largest retailer said Tuesday that more than half of the locations will be entirely new stores or relocations and expansions. The remainder will be renovations of existing store layouts.

Wal-Mart's (NYSE:WMT) investments will add up to almost half a billion dollars, creating 2,000 jobs in construction and 4,500 employee positions at the retail stores, said spokesman Andrew Pelletier.

"We will be confirming the specific markets later in the year as we get closer to beginning these projects," he said, though he declined to offer a targeted start date.

Wal-Mart has been slowly rolling out its supercentres in Canada over the past few years. The concept combines its traditional retail layout with a wide array of food items, including produce and dairy.

The supercentres are intended to lure consumers away from supermarkets and into Wal-Mart stores for most of their shopping list.

That puts the American retail giant in direct competition with Canadian grocery chains Loblaw (TSX:L), Metro and Sobey's. For their part, the Canadian chains have been introducing general merchandise into their selling spaces in a bid to remain competitive with Wal-Mart and other big box retailers.

Wal-Mart said the new additions will bring its total number of stores in Canada to 325 from 280, which includes 124 supercentres. It already employs more than 70,000 people in this country.

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This likely means the Northside Walmart will be one the stores expanded this year (to a supercenter). The large green area directly next to the store on the east side of the building is meant for expansion at some point.

cl812

Feb 27, 2010, 3:49 PM

This is the area I was referring to (Northside Walmart):

http://i743.photobucket.com/albums/xx78/cl812/1.jpg?t=1267285602

Image source: http://www.bing.com/maps/

cl812

Mar 1, 2010, 3:19 PM

Grant*Harvey Centre Floor Plans:

http://i743.photobucket.com/albums/xx78/cl812/c1.jpg?t=1267456331

http://i743.photobucket.com/albums/xx78/cl812/c2.jpg?t=1267456454

http://i743.photobucket.com/albums/xx78/cl812/c3.jpg?t=1267456705

images from:

http://www.fredericton.ca/en/recleisure/2009Jan25GrantHarveyCentre.asp

OliverD

Mar 2, 2010, 8:42 PM

Noticed that Colpitts has another condo project underway, this one across from Willie O'Ree. It's called The Park on Cliffe. No conceptual drawings, but their site does have floor plans. Not sure what to expect from this building as it's a bit different in that it is two stories on one end and rises to four. The units on the two storey end are actually two stories themselves. No idea what the pricing is like but I don't imagine it will be cheap. I'm guessing starting at $170k-ish for two bedrooms.

http://www.colpittsdevelopments.ca/developments/images/823-The%20Birch-floor-plan.jpg

http://www.colpittsdevelopments.ca/developments/images/823-The-Pine-floor-plan.jpg

http://www.colpittsdevelopments.ca/developments/images/823-The%20Elm-floor-plan.jpg

http://www.colpittsdevelopments.ca/developments/images/823-The%20Oak-floor-plan.jpg

http://www.colpittsdevelopments.ca/developments/images/823-The%20Cedar-floor-plan.jpg

http://www.colpittsdevelopments.ca/developments/images/823-The%20Maple.jpg

Colpitts has also started construction on townhouses in High Point Ridge. All are 3 bedroom/2.5 bath. Here's the site plan:

http://www.colpittsdevelopments.ca/developments/images/Hillside-Site-Plan.jpg

The sixth floor of the Southview building is also starting to take shape. I'm still undecided on whether I like that building or not. It's certainly changed the northside skyline dramatically.

cl812

Mar 3, 2010, 1:22 AM

cl812

Mar 3, 2010, 12:40 PM

Big year in housing expected
Published Wednesday March 3rd, 2010
Good times | Strong start to year
A1
By DON MACPHERSON
macpherson.don@dailygleaner.com

A city hall official says a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) regional prediction that 2010 is going to be a boom year in housing starts and sales is right on track with the city's forecasts.

CMHC reported Tuesday that construction of new homes and sales of existing houses are forecast to rise in 2010 and 2011 in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

It said New Brunswick could see 3,590 starts this year and 3,640 in 2011.

Total housing sales in the province last year numbered 7,003 but CMHC forecasts jumps to 7,175 in 2010 and 7,350 in 2011.

Alex Forbes, assistant director of development services for the city, said 2010 is expected to be another boom year for the capital, and city officials are predicting prices for new homes will continue to rise.

Costs for materials and labour are creeping up, Forbes said, due in part to the increase in demand for housing and a limited supply of workers.

Single-unit housing starts in Fredericton in 2009 totalled 169, down from 212 in 2008.

Forbes said the housing industry felt the impact of a downturn in the economy and a fierce 2009 winter that halted a lot of construction.

Even with that dip in Fredericton's numbers, he said, the city had one of the strongest markets in the country in terms of housing in 2009, thanks in part to an increase in the number of apartment units constructed.

They were up to 267 units built in 2009 from 2008's total of 147, Forbes said.

"Overall ... we had a strong year last year," he said.

"There's an ebb and flow to these numbers."

Alex MacDonald, a regional economist with CMHC's Atlantic Business Centre, said the rise in 2010 housing starts, sales and prices are linked to a brighter economic outlook.

"Positive growth is expected in 2010," he said in a news release.

"An improving outlook for private sector investment will provide support for better economic growth and increased housing activity in 2010."

The average price of a home in New Brunswick in 2009 was $154,906, and CMHC predicts that will rise to $159,000 and $163,000 in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

Andrew Lovell, manager of Kitchen Fashions in Fredericton, said the recent trend in new home construction in the capital region had been toward larger homes with high-end finishes.

He said he also expects there will be a boom in housing starts in 2010 but suspects the nature of those new homes will change.

Lovell predicts smaller, entry-level homes will be the norm this year.

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cl812

Mar 4, 2010, 1:06 PM

New Maryland residents to discuss possibility of building seniors' home
Published Thursday March 4th, 2010
A4
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

New Maryland senior citizens who are finding it hard to maintain their homes, but want to continue to live in the village, might want to check out a meeting next week to talk about bringing a senior citizens' development to the area.

Deputy mayor Judy Wilson-Shee and New Maryland-Sunbury West MLA Jack Carr are working together with residents to hold the exploratory meeting on seniors' housing in the village.

The meeting will be held Thursday, March 11 at 7 p.m. at Faith Baptist Church, 525 New Maryland Highway.

Steven Campbell, executive director of Atlantic Baptist Senior Citizens' Homes Inc., a non-profit group, will attend and do a presentation of its projects. The charitable organization has built and operates 15 seniors' homes across Atlantic Canada.

The organization has taken a look at the New Maryland market in a preliminary way.

"The big thing is need and, obviously, a positive response to what we're able to do," Campbell said. "We're a non-profit charitable organization, but it's still costly to build new buildings to current standards.

"We look at partnering with communities."

"They've got a good reputation," Wilson-Shee said. "They have an interest in this (project)."

Wilson-Shee said she was approached by a member of the Atlantic Baptist Senior Citizens Homes. Inc. board of directors about the idea of building a residence in the village.

Wilson-Shee said in order to reduce the costs of a development, an effort will be made to try to find a two-hectare (five-acre) site to be donated for the development or sold at a reasonable cost.

The Village of New Maryland owns land on the New Maryland Highway, known locally as the Forbes property, and the group is interested in the property, but Wilson-Shee said the village hasn't completed well water exploration at the site.

Any future re-use of the property would be subject to town council approval and would likely be the subject of a public proposal call, Wilson-Shee said.

There are a number of properties with acreage for sale in the village, so there are other potential sites, the elected official pointed out.

"I think the first thing we have to do is have this meeting to see how many people come out and if the interest is there," Wilson-Shee said. "You have to start somewhere."

Wilson-Shee said the need for senior citizen housing in the village came out during the last municipal election campaign.

Land owners, volunteers and the general public are invited to attend next week's public meeting. There will be a question and answer session, she said.

If there's enough interest, it's likely a local organizing committee would be created to try to move the seniors housing project ahead.

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Airport seeks help to get money to resurface runway
Published Thursday March 4th, 2010
A6
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The Fredericton International Airport Authority Inc. is continuing to line up its financial paperwork as it presses its funding case with federal-provincial and municipal authorities.

The airport authority met with Fredericton city councillors recently, not seeking municipal cash, but the needed municipal support to round out its funding applications.

Both city council and the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce have endorsed the need for runway repairs and a terminal expansion and will lobby the cause.

"We've put forward inquiries about funding to the federal and provincial governments. We're kind of waiting," said Melodie Beal, a public relations and marketing manager at the airport.

Its top need is $10.5 million to resurface Runway 1533, its shortest runway. Within two to three years, that runway will have exhausted its lifespan, she said.

"It needs major work done," Beal said.

"The lifespan on it is another two to three years, which is why we're looking for funding now to get that started."

The airport authority also wants to push out the exterior walls of the terminal building around the departure area. That's been estimated to cost $11.5 million.

"It's to give more space so that things aren't quite so congested when we're doing our larger charter flights or when we have more than one flight landing at one time," Beal said.

The departure lounge for the terminal is close to the airport's cafeteria and lounge area, so that section of the terminal gets jammed with people.

The proposal would be to push out the building footprint toward the parking lot area.

The airport authority is arguing its cause armed with a study prepared by LPS Avia Consulting of Ottawa and handed to the airport board in June.

The airport has been experiencing consecutive growth and higher passenger counts, especially with its late winter-early spring flights to the Caribbean.

It had a record-breaking 270,435 passengers through its doors in 2008.

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cl812

Mar 7, 2010, 5:58 AM

Freddypop

Mar 7, 2010, 4:15 PM

Noticed some activity at the Costco site today, looks like it should be underway soon. Drove by this evening and there was a loader, bulldozer and other equipment at the site and appeared as though they had started doing some grading of the site earlier today or yesterday.

Also, the aparment building on the corner of york and george is well underway (the one replacing the one that burnt last year).

I talked to a Moncton Costco rep about 10 days ago and was told that the Freddy Costco is due to open in August. Staff at the Moncton Costco will help during the set-up (training, stocking, etc) and that is being considered in the Moncton staff schedule for late summer. I would assume that some of the Saint John staff would be used as well.

Freddypop

Mar 8, 2010, 1:12 AM

Looks like they've got the structural steel going up at the community college site. Can't believe how quickly they've started. I'll try to get some shots tomorrow.

They have to have it completed by March 31, 2011 or miss out on the Federal stimulus $$$ that was provided for the project.

cl812

Mar 8, 2010, 12:34 PM

Convention centre turning heads
Published Monday March 8th, 2010
Bookings | City spreading the word about new facility
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Now that it's nearing completion, how soon will the City of Fredericton start to see economic returns on its new multi-million dollar downtown convention centre?

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=462025&size=500x0
Promotion: City tourism manager David Seabrook stands in front of the Fredericton convention centre. The facility, which opens in December, is being marketed to convention organizers and corporations across the country.

As early as December, said Cathy Pugh, director of sales at the Fredericton convention centre.

The conference centre has a 1,125-square-metre (12,500-square-foot) ballroom and 666-square metres (7,400-square-feet) of meeting space.

The adjoining Playhouse theatre has another 700 seats.

It's part of a $79-million downtown complex that includes a $41-million provincial government office building and downtown parking garage. The $24-million convention centre is slated to open in December.

Hired by the city to start marketing the downtown meeting place, Pugh said she's already got 12 tentative bookings lined up that will see events held through to 2015.

"We are being aggressive in the national market, mainly Ottawa and into Toronto, and then regionally and provincially as well," Pugh said. "There's excellent interest.

"On the national side, people have always bypassed Fredericton because we didn't have the facility to accommodate their requirements, so they're loving having something else in the mix. In fact, I'm hearing quite a bit that while they love Halifax, it's nice to have another option."

"When it comes to regional and provincial markets, Fredericton may have been bypassed before. It would always go to Moncton or Saint John, but now Fredericton is in that mix," Pugh said.

Delegates who belong to associations sometimes like a break from travelling and enjoy showcasing their local community to their colleagues.

When it comes to marketing the convention centre, Pugh said, seeking business from national associations means planning far ahead.

Those groups tend to book space up to four years in advance of annual meetings and conferences that are often rotated across the country.

Corporations tend to work within the context of a financial year and plan on an annual basis, Pugh said.

City tourism manager David Seabrook said while Pugh is tasked with selling the facility, his department is pitching overall awareness of Fredericton as a destination for conferences of all types.

"Our strategy is to increase awareness of Fredericton as a destination for all facilities, including the conference centre, and we have focused largely on the Ottawa market because that's where a majority of the national associations are," Seabrook said.

The city tourism department also works with a group called Rendez-Vous Fredericton - a partnership of major hotels and the universities.

"We've gone in as a group into this market, sponsored events, hosted meeting planners and done sales calls," Seabrook said. "As the convention centre has come online, we've ramped that up.

"Our next strategy is to educate them more about Fredericton. We need to get them on the ground. If we can get a meeting planner into Fredericton, then our team approach with our hospitality industry and our convention centre, allows us to win bids," he said recently.

The other market the city is eyeing is the Toronto corporate market in hopes of securing events and meetings.

"Cathy is doing a great job ... We're moving forward in the way that we like. We're certainly seeing that the convention centre has significantly increased the appeal of Fredericton as a meetings destination to meeting planners. It's perked up everybody's interest and makes them take a second look at us,'' Seabrook said.

In the past, anyone holding a major event in Fredericton has had to use multiple venues, rather than be under one roof. Depending on the size of the event, the convention centre will address that problem, Seabrook said.

"It gives us new capacity and I think people are hearing it's a convention centre that's downtown, against the river, connected to trails, connected to the historic Garrison District. We have the Beaverbrook Art Gallery nearby," Seabrook said.

All of the surrounding amenities from dining to shopping to the bar district are all within walking distance of the convention centre, Seabrook said.

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Council eyes transit project
Published Monday March 8th, 2010
A6
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

City council will review prices for the construction of a new transit garage and administrative offices at St. Mary's Street.

Last October, the city issued an architectural and engineering design contract to Goguen and Company Ltd. to prepare the building design and bid documents.

The city has been saving money from a federal public transit trust to apply toward the project.

So far, almost $5.6 million has been put into a reserve fund to put toward the project.

Bids for the construction work will be on councillors desks at tonight's regular public council meeting.

The city's transit garage, located at 470 St. Mary's St., is 30 years old.

Construction of a new transit garage was identified as the top priority for the bus system in a 2008 study prepared for the city by Dillon Consulting Ltd.

Two other tenders will come up for consideration.

The city has invited bids to provide coating repairs to Ste-Anne Point Drive pedestrian overpass and will receive a quote for the supply and installation of an ammonia heat recovery system for the Lady Beaverbrook Rink.

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Lamespotting

Mar 8, 2010, 8:55 PM

Here's a pic of the progress of the new NBCC building:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4418147916_52dfde7359.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/83749579@N00/4418147916/)

cl812

Mar 9, 2010, 2:43 PM

Council Awards $5.4-million Contract For New City Transit Garage

Fredericton (March 8, 2010) – City Council has awarded Pomerleau Inc. a $5,404,000 contract to build Fredericton’s new Transit Operations Centre.

Pomerleau, a general contracting and construction management company based in Saint-Georges, Quebec, was the lowest bidder meeting all specifications. Construction is expected to begin this Spring with a completion date of November 2010.

http://www.fredericton.ca/en/transportation/resources/transitgarage303.jpg

The new Transit Operations Centre was one of the key recommendations of the Transit Master Plan, commissioned by the City in 2008, to guide the expansion of the transit system for the next 20 years. The facility will be constructed adjacent to the City’s existing transit garage at 470 St. Mary’s Street in Fredericton North.

The new Centre will provide a storage and service facility for the City’s current fleet of 28 transit buses and three para-transit buses and also allow for future growth.

Goguen White Architects Ltd., of Fredericton, was awarded a contract by the City last October to provide design architectural and engineering services for the project.

Funding for the facility is being provided through the Government of Canada’s Public Transit Capital Trust, which is administered in New Brunswick by the Provincial Government. The Trust provides funds to municipalities making capital investments in public transit and infrastructure both as a means to reduce traffic congestion and to reduce carbon dioxide and other emissions. The City of Fredericton is contributing $423,000.

The City of Fredericton has already benefited from the Public Transit Capital Trust, which began in 2006, having used Trust funds to significantly improve its fleet through the purchase of new vehicles.

Fredericton Transit has 45 employees and operates eight bus routes throughout the municipality.

Incorporated in 1966, Pomerleau Inc. has 1,300 employees. It is the top prime contractor in Quebec and among the top in Canada. The private company has worked on more than 1,600 projects worth more than $8 billion. Pomerleau Inc. serves Eastern Canada from Ontario to Newfoundland, with regional offices in Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City and Halifax.

-30-

Media Contact: Sandy MacNeill, Transit Manager, City of Fredericton, 506-460-2203.

http://www.fredericton.ca/en/transportation/NR2010Mar8TransitTender.asp

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Council nixes Lincoln Road rezoning
Published Tuesday March 9th, 2010
A8
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Public safety concerns trumped land development Monday night as city councillors unanimously rejected a rezoning application for a property at 1530 Lincoln Rd.

Developer Edouard Gebrael met a wall of opposition from Lincoln Heights-area residents when he asked that the zoning be altered to R-2B from R-2 in order to create seven lots. Under the R-2 zoning, he wouldn't be able to create as many lots, although he can still build single-family homes with basement apartments.

Coun. Scott McConaghy, who represents Ward 7 (Lincoln area), said the property, located at the intersection of Lincoln Road and Adams Street, is already fraught with problems.

Adams Street is the only way in and out of the subdivision and carries a significant traffic load, he said.

Area residents wrote 40 letters of objection and two petitions with 344 names to city council. Their chief objection was the prospect of having seven driveways at the mouth of what is already a problematic intersection.

"It's a particular intersection that's tricky. You're getting onto a highway, but there's a grade associated with it and there's a curve on the road. And I think the residents demonstrated that there was a real safety concern with the amount of density and the number of driveways on Adams and on Lincoln Road," McConaghy said.

By allowing more and narrower lots, it wouldn't have allowed for turnaround room on the properties, and that would have meant new homeowners would have to back into or back out of the driveways of the new lots.

"That's really not acceptable," McConaghy said.

The developer can either work with the residential zoning on the land or he can come up with a new plan for the city to consider.

McConaghy said neighbours were respectful during the debate and raised good points.

Mayor Brad Woodside commended the residents for caring about the issue and raising their points with class.

The nine council members who voted against the development proposal all cited safety as their chief concern in rejecting the rezoning. Two councillors were absent for the meeting: Jordan Graham and Bruce Grandy. Coun. Stephen Chase couldn't vote because he wasn't present for the public hearing of objections held by city council in late February.