[OliverD]

Looks like the uptown Zellers will be converted to a Target: http://business.financialpost.com/2011/09/23/is-a-target-coming-to-a-mall-near-you/

Target announced another 84 locations it is acquiring from Zellers today: http://business.financialpost.com/2011/09/23/sobeys-to-supply-target-stores-in-canada/

[linted]

Saw today that they had started pouring the foundation.
Does anybody have contact information where one might inquire about rental availability and rates?

[Taeolas]

Hmm tough to say if taking the Uptown Zellers is a good idea. On the one hand the location is great. On the other hand, the location's got horrible parking and not really any expansion room any more.

Keeping the Brookside Zellers might have been a better idea; at least for expansion and parking, but the location is somewhat less than ideal. (Then again, maybe they'll also take that location too once the dust settles)

[Freddypop]

Does anybody have contact information where one might inquire about rental availability and rates?

Plaza Corp is the owner/developer so you might try here:

Fredericton Office (head office)

527 Queen Street, Suite 200
Fredericton, NB
E3B 1B8

Phone:(506)451-1826
Fax: (506) 451-1802
Email: info@plaza.ca

[DV70]

I heard today that the new restaraunt at Kingswood (Sam Sneads) is not quite open - Kingswood employees and their families just got an opportunity to experience a practice opening. Official opening supposedly Sept 29.

[cl812]

Target buys Zellers lease; store's future uncertain
Published Saturday September 24th, 2011
Strategy | American chain looking to rebrand as many 135 stores
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Target Corp. has purchased the lease to the Prospect Street Zellers location, but it's too early to say if it will be turned into a Target outlet.

Target isn't buying out the Zellers Inc. chain, and some Zellers stores across Canada will continue to market their wares under the Zellers banner. Instead, Target is acquiring prominent locations in a number of malls across the country by buying up Zellers Inc. leases.

In Fredericton, the Prospect Street store at the Uptown Centre is the only one Target is buying.

It isn't acquiring the lease at the Brookside Mall location, the only other Zellers in town.

So far across Canada, Target has negotiated real estate transactions on 189 Zellers stores.

Target bought the first batch of leasehold interests - a total of 105 in May. On Friday, it announced it was acquiring another 84 Zellers leases.

Of the 84 leases, as many as 29 locations will be turned into Target stores. The remaining leases have been, or will be, sold to other Canadian retailers or back to the landlords.

"Today marks the finalization of the real estate transaction with Zellers," said Target spokeswoman Amy Reilly. "Up to 29 (of the 84) could be Targets.

"We're going to try to open as many stores as we can in 2013, eventually converting 125 to 135 Zellers into Targets, and we'll be opening up in five cycles in 2013, with some carrying over into 2014. We hope to announce the 2013 stores in the coming months."

Until the final decisions are made on which stores will transition to the Target brand, Zellers stores will continue to operate under subleases to Target and continue to sell under the Zellers banner.

As far as employee transition is concerned, Reilly said, employees of Zellers are employees of Zellers and they won't automatically be handed jobs if the stores convert to Target locations. Zellers is responsible for its employees, she said.

"Target is excited to take another meaningful step toward our expansion in Canada," said Tony Fisher, president Target Canada. "We look forward to delivering a superior shopping experience for our guests throughout Canada and building on our strong reputation as a good neighbour and partner in the communities in which we do business."

Target announced in January it would purchase, for $1.825 billion, the leasehold interests of up to 220 sites operated by Zellers Inc., a subsidiary of Hudson's Bay Co.

In May, Target selected an initial group of 105 leases, spanning all 10 provinces, in conjunction with its first payment to Zellers Inc. The majority of those sites will become Target stores in 2013.

The 84 leases announced Friday are part of Target's second and final selection. This includes 39 leases for which Target transferred the rights to Wal-Mart, as announced in June. As part of its transaction with Wal-Mart, Target acquired the lease for one of Wal-Mart's vacant properties, which will open as a Target store.

For locations that will become Target stores, the majority will be closed for at least six to nine months as they undergo significant remodelling prior to opening. On average, about $10 million to $11 million will be invested in remodelling each location.

Target said it plans to announce the locations of its March 2013 store openings in the coming months. Stores in subsequent opening cycles will be announced throughout 2012.

Each Target store in Canada will employ approximately 150-200 people. Target said it will engage with Zellers associates to make it easy for them to apply for jobs at Target. Canadians interested in working for Target are encouraged to visit Target.ca/careers to learn more about job opportunities.

Minneapolis-based Target Corp. has 1,762 stores across the United States and at target.com. The company will open its first stores in Canada in 2013.

Wal-Mart Canada, in a separate news release, confirmed it has secured leasehold rights from Target Canada for 39 sites operated by Zellers.

The Fredericton Wal-Mart locations aren't affected by the deal.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1442645

[cl812]

Tee time and T-bone at Kingswood
Published Saturday September 24th, 2011
Sam Snead's | Restaurant to open at Hanwell facility
D1
By BILL HUNT
hunt.bill@dailygleaner.com

Sam Snead's Oak Grill and Tavern hopes to come to the "fore" as one of Fredericton's top restaurants.

The new establishment, located in the executive lodge at Kingswood, features a varied dinner menu, with entrees of steak, chicken, ribs and fish cooked on an oak grill.

And there's enough memorabilia, photos and mementos chronicling the legendary golf career of Sam Snead to make browsing the walls almost as mouth-watering as browsing the menu.

The original Sam Snead - "Slammin' Sammy" as he was known in a career that saw him win 82 PGA Tour events, including three Masters championships - was the Tiger Woods of his time.

He won the original green jacket, awarded for the first time in 1949.

"You're not supposed to take the jacket off the property, but they gave us permission to take it off the property after Dad passed," said Sam Snead Jr.

A replica is on display in the restaurant, maybe the jewel in the collection of artifacts that includes framed photographs, scorecards, golf bags, balls and clubs from an extensive collection maintained by Snead Jr.

"I'm a big collector of golf memorabilia anyway," he said, up from his native Virginia to help oversee the official opening of the chain's only Canadian location and the only one north of Virginia.

A VIP reception will be held Saturday night, with the restaurant opening to the public Tuesday.

Make no mistake though: it's not a typical sports bar. The menu includes filet mignon, strip and ribeye steaks, crab cakes and Memphis-style smoked ribs.

"Most of the entrees are going to be prepared on an oak-fired grill," said Kingswood director of operations Andy Mabie, who first began investigating the business opportunity about 18 months ago.

"It's done with locally cured oak, right here in New Brunswick. It adds a new flavour to it."

Meat and fish are fresh.

"This restaurant will be the most well-managed, consistent food venue in Fredericton," said Snead Jr.

"We have food and beverage people on the road who will come in and keep things consistent and make suggestions and so forth."

The first restaurant opened in 1980 in Hot Springs, Va., near where Snead Sr. was born and Snead Jr. and his brother Terry were raised.

It opened in an old bank across from the Homestead resort.

Sixteen other locations have sprung up since.

Snead Sr. was a man's man, said his son, his caddy and the curator of his memory.

He was a Golden Glove boxer, a champion fisherman, an All-American in football and a wonderful father.

"He was my best friend," said Snead Jr.

"I couldn't imagine anyone being more loyal. He would always take me as his partner in golf. He would never play against me. I never heard my father say a detrimental thing about any of the other players."

In the era of the 1940s and '50s, he and Ben Hogan were arch rivals, a la Jack Nicklaus/Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods/Phil Mickelson.

The two tied for the lead at the Masters in 1954 and played an 18-hole playoff the following Monday.

Bobby Jones, the man who conceived the Masters, called it "the greatest round of golf he had ever witnessed."

"He and (movie star) John Wayne were good friends. John Wayne kind of looked up to him a little bit," Snead Jr. said of his father.

Snead Sr. used to spar with heavyweight champion Joe Louis to entertain wartime troops, and the two would often play nine holes, "because Joe could play a little bit too," said Snead Jr.

But Slammin' Sammy had few equals on the golf course. He was renowned for having the perfect swing - there's photographic evidence in the restaurant - along with a display chronicling the 42 holes-in-one in his career.

Snead Jr. believes he's recorded an ace of his own here.

"We've always done everything at a high level," he said.

"We've never done anything on the cheap ever. We don't ever cheapen my dad's name or put a blemish on it."

While the restaurant salutes one of the game's great golfers and is located at Kingswood, it's not tied to the golf course.

It will be open year-round, employing a staff of 25.

http://nbbusinessjournal.canadaeast.com/gleaner/article/1442648

[robbie25]

Was wondering if anybody had any data on apartment unit construction for 2011 and 2012?

Specifically, how many units will be constructed in total for the city of Fredericton in both those years?

TIA

[cj6286]

I noticed the website for the new Forest Hills Tower II while going by today. It looks like it is going to cost a pretty penny to live there!

http://www.plazaforesthill.com/index.php#home

[Freddypop]

Published Wednesday September 28th, 2011

D1 By The Daily Gleaner

The Zellers store in the Uptown Centre in Fredericton is slated to become a Target outlet.

The Daily GleanerThe Zellers store on Prospect Street will become a Target store. In a media release Tuesday morning, Crombie Real Estate Investment Trust confirmed the transition from a Zellers store to Target.

Target Corp. purchased the lease to the Prospect Street Zellers location recently.

Target isn't buying out the Zellers Inc. chain, and some Zellers stores across Canada will continue to market their wares under the Zellers banner.

Instead, Target is acquiring prominent locations in a number of malls across the country by buying Zellers Inc. leases.

In Fredericton, the Prospect Street store at the Uptown Centre is the only one Target is buying.

It isn't acquiring the lease at the Brookside Mall, the only other Zellers in the capital region.

So far across Canada, Target has negotiated real-estate transactions on 189 Zellers stores.

Target bought the first batch of leasehold interests - a total of 105 - in May.

Earlier this month, it announced it was acquiring another 84 Zellers leases.

Of the 84 leases, as many as 29 locations will be turned into Target stores.

The remaining leases have been, or will be, sold to other Canadian retailers or back to the landlords.

"Today marks the finalization of the real estate transaction with Zellers ... Up to 29 (of the 84 stores) could be Targets," said Target spokeswoman Amy Reilly in a recent interview.

"We're going to try to open as many stores as we can in 2013, eventually converting 125-135 Zellers into Targets, and we'll be opening up in five cycles in 2013, with some carrying over into 2014. We hope to announce the 2013 stores in the coming months."

As far as employee transition is concerned, Reilly said, employees of Zellers are employees of Zellers.

She said they won't automatically be handed jobs if the stores convert to Target locations. Zellers is responsible for its employees, she said.

"Target is excited to take another meaningful step toward our expansion in Canada," said Tony Fisher, president of Target Canada.

"We look forward to delivering a superior shopping experience for our guests throughout Canada and building on our strong reputation as a good neighbour and partner in the communities in which we do business."

Target announced in January it would purchase, for $1.825 billion, the leasehold interests of up to 220 sites operated by Zellers Inc., a subsidiary of Hudson's Bay Co.

With files from The Daily Gleaner reporter Heather McLaughlin

http://nbbusinessjournal.canadaeast.com/gleaner/article/1443476

http://www.crombiereit.ca/en/news_releases/Press%20Release%20Q3_2011_Target_Announcement.pdf

[Freddypop]

Constructuion has started on the next phase of stores at the Corbett Centre...the units across from Dollarama.

Also appears they are preparing to erect a crane at the former TRa construction site on Queen

[mylesmalley]

Didn't even notice until now, but congrats on hitting 3k posts!

[Taeolas]

The Freddy thread is going to go past your post count soon. :P

I saw the base for the crane at the TRA building site go in a week or so ago, and I was puzzled about what it was there for (esp before the rest of the foundation. Now that you mention a crane it makes sense.

[cl812]

Constructuion has started on the next phase of stores at the Corbett Centre...the units across from Dollarama.

Also appears they are preparing to erect a crane at the former TRa construction site on Queen

Noticed that as well. Looks like they cleared the trees from whole undeveloped portion at the Corbett Centre. Wonder if they are building more than just the building across from the dollar store?

[Steeple Shanks]

Noticed that as well. Looks like they cleared the trees from whole undeveloped portion at the Corbett Centre. Wonder if they are building more than just the building across from the dollar store?

Is it merely keeping the brush down over the whole sight or is it the next phase?... There was the motion at council last week, concerning signage on three sides which would suggest construction of at least the area across from Dollarama. Only time will tell...

[Freddypop]

Noticed that as well. Looks like they cleared the trees from whole undeveloped portion at the Corbett Centre. Wonder if they are building more than just the building across from the dollar store?

They are building the next phase plus the parking lot that will be behind it thus the reason for clearing the whole area

[MDC04]

Noticed today when I was driving down Prospect that the Pizza Hut is being redone. Anyone know if it is going to like the style in the states, WingStreet?

[Justin6463]

Noticed today that theres a construction wall up beside A&W in the Regent Mall, anybody know whats going on there?

[KnoxfordGuy]

Noticed today that theres a construction wall up beside A&W in the Regent Mall, anybody know whats going on there?

I hope it's something cool and not a coffee shop or something lol. If it was I hope they are putting a Tim Hortons in the mall again. I'm sad it's gone :( lol

[Steeple Shanks]

Just received word from the Capital Region Tennis Association. The foundation phase of the indoor tennis courts, at the Grant/Harvey arena, is complete and they are projecting a finishing date of February 2012.

[Freddypop]

Just received word from the Capital Region Tennis Association. The foundation phase of the indoor tennis courts, at the Grant/Harvey arena, is complete and they are projecting a finishing date of February 2012.

Was wondering about that project. Haven't seen any details released re this project other than a spokeperson stating that details would be forthcoming in a few weeks. That statement was made during the summer. Are there any renderings?

[Steeple Shanks]

Was wondering about that project. Haven't seen any details released re this project other than a spokeperson stating that details would be forthcoming in a few weeks. That statement was made during the summer. Are there any renderings?

I haven't seen any. Just know, from the article you refer to back in the summer, they say it is not going to be a bubble and it promises to be a state-of-the-art facility.

[Freddypop]

Published Wednesday October 5th, 2011

A4 By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN

mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Construction has started on Fredericton's $2.1-million signature indoor tennis facility to the delight of members of the Capital Region Tennis Association, Tennis Canada officials and politicians from all levels of government.

The tennis facility will be built adjacent the new indoor ice hockey arena, due to open in March, and will share its geothermal heating system to cut energy costs.

With six permanent indoor courts, the community tennis centre will encourage people of all ages to embrace the sport, while providing a centre where competitive play at all levels can be hosted, said Capital Region Tennis Association past president David Clark.

Clark, who's also the chairman of Capital Region Community Tennis Centre Inc. - the not-for-profit organization that will operate the facility - said growing tennis and making it accessible to leisure players and young people who can engage in sport for health and fun are equally as important as providing a venue for competitive tennis.

"It's a wonderful project. It will be the largest indoor tennis facility east of Montreal," said Mayor Brad Woodside.

"It's going to be very exciting for the tennis community in Eastern Canada."

Coun. Steven Hicks said the construction of the tennis structure will allow the city to add competitive tennis events to its growing roster of sport tourism events.

"This will be the marquis spot in eastern Canada for tennis, so we'll get some provincial tournaments and national tournaments, and we'll go from there," he said.

"Hopefully, everyone in the community benefits from this project."

With the foundation poured and work starting on the building - which was designed by Frank Goddard at Eastern Designers and Company Ltd. as his gift to the community - Clark said a corporate fundraising campaign called Let's Make Tennis Matter in New Brunswick has been launched to raise the remainder of the cash needed to complete the structure.

Tennis Canada donated $250,000 to start the project. Tennis enthusiasts pledged a matching $250,000 to begin the project. The Regional Development Corp. and the provincial government jointly committed a little more than $1 million, and Clark said he hopes to announce a major benefactor whose donation will go hand in hand with naming rights.

That leaves it to Clark and the Capital Region Tennis Association to come up with a shortfall in the order of $350,000.

At Tuesday's sod-turning event for the construction launch, Bill Johnson of Wood Motors gave the corporate fundraising drive a generous $25,000 kickstart, Clark said.

Tulla Bateman-Parkin, director of fund development with Tennis Canada, said the search for additional sponsors will expand beyond New Brunswick, to the Atlantic region and nationally.

"Our goal really is to open this up to everyone in the community, not just within Fredericton proper, but in the surrounding areas as well," Bateman-Parkin said. "It is a model project for the rest of the country. It's absolutely our mandate to grow the sport."

About six years ago, when Tennis Canada was courted by the Capital Region Tennis Association for funding support, it sparked interest in a national facilities program, which now helps communities design and build facilities.

"Tennis provides so many health benefits that we've now got it in schools across the country, community centres, so we want that passion that once someone plays tennis, they fall in love with it and want to play year-round," Bateman-Parkin said.

"One of the important parts of this project is that no child will be refused based on financial means, but it is an inexpensive sport to start."

"This whole project and what Tennis Canada is doing is to grow tennis at a community-based, grassroots level making it accessible to everyone," Clark said.

"This is an exciting time for local tennis enthusiasts as well look forward to the final phase of this project. We are committed to growing the sport of tennis in our region, with all ages and abilities and backgrounds," said Brent Howe, president of Capital Region Tennis Association.

"Our vision is that every child and teen in the city owns a racket and plays tennis 12 months of the year."

The courts will be built to international standards and accommodate all types of tennis play, including wheelchair tennis.

Clark said the city and tennis centre are in talks that could see the city transition its tennis program to the facility.

Fees to play at the facility will be set at nominal levels.

The tennis centre is also courting the provincial government for funding assistance to help operate some of its services.

It has also applied to Energy New Brunswick for assistance since the building's design will incorporate energy efficiencies.

The University of New Brunswick will also form a partnership with the tennis centre. Clark said he expects kinesiology students can be involved in internship and research opportunities and work opportunities at the facility.

The building will be complete late winter to early spring.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1445325

[OliverD]

Noticed the crane for the new downtown apartment building going up today.

[KnoxfordGuy]

Noticed the crane for the new downtown apartment building going up today.

I can't wait for this place to be finished! I think looking down Queen after it is done will look so different from the area near Regent. I only think it will look different because it is being built where Queen makes a pretty sharp turn and I feel like it will kinda make the street look longer than it really is :D

[Taeolas]

As mentioned the crane is up, and I suspect they'll be pouring the foundation soonish. Looks like they've got rebar set up for 2 elevator bases and a stairwell base, as well as the actual support columns.

I know financially times are tough, but after this morning, I'm thinking the city really will need that third bridge Soon. Still, we've been really lucky through this 1-bridge period to not have more tieups this bad.

[OliverD]

The traffic this week has been terrible.

I'm trying to buy a place on the south side right now so I'm hoping I can say goodbye to the bridges for a while. :D

[cl812]

Call centre expected to create 150 jobs
Published Saturday October 8th, 2011
Company coming | Fredericton mayor pleased with recent job boom in capital city
A1
By ADAM BOWIE
bowie.adam@dailygleaner.com

A new call centre is expected to create about 150 customer service jobs for the capital region.

Global business solutions company Aditya Birla Minacs announced Friday it will launch a new service centre in Fredericton to serve its North American clients.

About 150 customer advisers will be needed to staff the facility, including about 20 per cent bilingual staff.

Recruiting is expected to begin immediately after the Thanksgiving holiday. Applicants will be able to drop by the 495 Prospect St. location, using the Entrance B doors.

Training is expected to begin Nov. 3 and the first client programs will be launched Nov. 28.

Anil Bhalla, president of operations for Aditya Birla Minacs' North American and European interests, said his company has enjoyed great success in this part of the world for these types of ventures.

"Minacs is always exploring new locations to support our expanding client programs and we find ourselves coming back time and again to Canada's East Coast," he said in a news release.

"The province of New Brunswick has consistently provided us with a wealth of superior talent, which is why we're confident that this new location in Fredericton will also provide the high calibre of skill and professionalism that our clients expect."

Mayor Brad Woodside said it sounds like great news for the local economy. "Since (Statistics Canada's labour force survey) came out, Costco has hired a number of people and this new announcement mentions 150 new jobs," he said.

"This should put the city of Fredericton at, probably, the lowest unemployment level in New Brunswick. It's good news. It's real good news."

He said those jobs represent new opportunities for many local residents.

"I think this is part of the city's economic growth," he said. "It's very, very important to have jobs available. There's a lot of places in the world right now where just the opposite thing is happening and people are going through a really rough time."

Woodside said some people view call centre jobs in a trivial light, but he believes these kinds of businesses often contribute more than most residents choose to see.

"Customer contact centres here in New Brunswick have not only provided an abundance of job opportunities for people, but they've also contributed a tremendous amount to the communities in which they're located - donations to the United Way, to various charities," he said Friday. "They're much more than just a customer contact centre."

For more information, people can go to: http://minacs.adityabirla.com/Career/OpportunitiesinNA.aspx.

Minacs employs 20,000 people across three continents.

It manages 36 centres in Canada, Germany, Hungary, India, Jamaica, the Phillipines, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1446398

[cl812]

Currie's dream comes to life
Published Saturday October 8th, 2011
State of the art | New building shines light on generosity
A1
By CHRIS MORRIS
The Daily Gleaner

To Richard Currie, the brilliant new athletic centre that bears his name on the University of New Brunswick campus is more than just a building - it's a message from one graduate to all of the university's future graduates.

Sitting in the sunlight streaming through the wall of windows on the fourth floor of the centre, Currie - one of Canada's most respected business leaders - said he wants the students and the people of New Brunswick to realize this is a gift from "one of their own."

"People ask me, 'Why this building?" said Currie, who gave more than $20 million towards construction of the $62.5-million centre.

"Well, it's for the young people going here to realize the building is from one of their own. It's here to say to them, 'Look, after you finish university, if you're willing to pay what I call the emotional price in time, effort and so on, you can be a leader in any field you choose.

"Here is tangible evidence. That's what it's really here for - for students to look at and say, 'One of us. Right. One of us. There it is.' "

The Richard J. Currie Center, a state-of-the-art fitness and wellness facility for the university community and the public, was officially opened Friday.

Currie, 74, said he likes the fact the imposing, glass-and-brick structure overlooking the St. John River makes a bold, "in-your-face-statement" about UNB - his alma mater and where he now serves as chancellor.

"It says to the world that UNB has been around a long time and we expect to be around a long time in the future."

Currie's gift of more than $20 million - he refuses to say how much more - is the largest single private donation a New Brunswick university has received.

University officials were happy to indulge Currie's requests in relation to the building, including the fact that they spell center with an e-r on the end, not the common Canadian style of "centre" with r-e.

Currie said the e-r ending makes more sense, and that's what he grew up with.

"When I was a boy and you looked up the hockey scores for the Maple Leafs - it was all Maple Leafs in those days - the guy who played center ice for the Leafs it was always spelled c-e-n-t-e-r," he said.

"Sometime around the early '50s, it began to move towards c-e-n-t-r-e. I like center better. It makes more sense."

As well, Currie enjoyed his postgraduate days and early working career in the United States, where the e-r ending is the accepted spelling.

"I don't want to be glib about it, but I owe the Americans more than I owe the English or the French. So my American friends coming up to see it, they think it's pretty cool."

Currie, a New Brunswick native who grew up in a modest but giving home in Saint John, said his extraordinary philanthropy is rooted in his lifelong belief in the importance of giving back to one's community.

His accomplishments in the business world, especially those at the helm of Loblaw, are legendary in the country's corporate circles.

After Loblaw's market value grew by 350 times to $15 billion under his guidance, Currie brought his Midas touch to the parent company, George Weston Ltd., where share prices increased sevenfold during his tenure.

He was named one of the Globe and Mail's Top 10 Canada CEOs of all time, he was Canada's CEO of the Year in 2001 and he's an inductee in Canada's Business Hall of Fame.

Currie's name is associated with many donations, endowments, chairs, scholarships and other acts of generosity.

"If you want to be brutally honest about it, what else are you going to do with it?" he said. "I haven't been everywhere in the world, but I've been everywhere I want to go. At some point in time, how many good meals, how many good trips - how much of that can you stand?"

With files from Canadaeast News Service

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1446458

[cl812]

City unemployment rate drops; province adds jobs
Published Saturday October 8th, 2011
D1
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN and NATALIE STECHYSON
The Daily Gleaner

Fredericton's unemployment rate fell by a percentage point in September compared to the previous month.

The capital's unemployment rate is 6.4 per cent, according to the latest information released by Statistics Canada on Friday. The drop reversed a yearlong trend.

"That is definitely a good decline in the unemployment rate," said Krista Ross, CEO of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce. "We're happy to see that."

She said employment associated with a new school year seemed to boost the numbers.

She said the province gained 3,000 jobs, and Fredericton is the only one of the three major cities to have a big drop in unemployment.

"Obviously, a lot of those full-time jobs were here," she said.

In August, Fredericton had the highest unemployment rate of the three major cities at 7.4 per cent. Now the capital is in the middle, with Moncton showing an unemployment rate of 7.1 per cent in September, unchanged from August, and Saint John at 5.7 per cent, down slightly from 5.8 per cent in August.

Comparisons between the three cities must be done cautiously because Statistics Canada tracks Fredericton using a three-month moving average, and it records Moncton and Saint John with a seasonally adjusted figure based on their census metropolitan area.

Fredericton's unemployment rate was 5.8 per cent in September 2010.

Ross said the mood of the business community in Fredericton is positive.

"Certainly news like this encourages people even more," she said.

Fredericton labour force figure was 54,300, down from 55,100 in August.

The number of people employed in Fredericton in September was 50,800, compared to 51,000 in the previous month. In September 2010, Fredericton had 53,600 people working.

New Brunswick's unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 8.9 per cent in September, according to Statistics Canada.

The province's unemployment rate also decreased by 0.9 percentage points compared to the same month last year.

"It is encouraging for our government to see the unemployment rate drop for the second consecutive month," said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Martine Coulombe in a statement.

"The work we are doing to create an environment that will promote private-sector growth and attract outside investment to the province is starting to show positive outcomes," she said.

Canada's unemployment rate fell to 7.1 per cent in September, down 0.2 percentage points compared to August

New Brunswick added 2,700 jobs to the economy in September- the largest monthly employment increase in at least three years.

This bumped the province's employment rate up 0.8 per cent from August, which was tied with Saskatchewan for the third-highest monthly percentage increase in the country, according to Statistics Canada labour force data.

Prince Edward Island came out on top with a 1.8 per cent employment increase over August, and British Columbia saw a 1.4 per cent increase. Other than Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, every province posted positive employment gains.

New Brunswick's increase in September followed a gain of 2,200 jobs in August after four straight months of losses. The most recent increase anywhere close to September's gain was in July 2008, when the province added 2,600 jobs.

The gains in New Brunswick were mostly in service industries, said Vincent Ferrao, an analyst with the labour and statistics division at Statistics Canada.

Jobs were added in retail and wholesale trade, educational services, health-care services and social assistance, and business, building and other support services.

"On a month-over-month basis, the gains were pretty healthy," said Shahrzad Mobasher Fard, an economist with TD Economics.

TD Economics expects New Brunswick to have an annual average percentage expansion in employment of 1.3 per cent in 2012 and 1.3 per cent in 2013, Fard said, but for 2011 it still forecasts a 0.4 per cent contraction.

The increase in jobs pushed down the province's unemployment rate 0.3 percentage points to 8.9 per cent in September. The September unemployment rate was higher than the rates to the west of the province, but beat the rates in Newfoundland and Labrador (13.5 per cent) and Prince Edward Island (9.4 per cent). Nova Scotia had an 8.4 per cent unemployment rate in September, and Quebec registered a 7.3 per cent unemployment rate.

New Brunswick's labour force grew to 387,400 in September, up from 385,700 in August. The province added 3,000 full-time jobs but lost 300 part-time jobs. Despite New Brunswick's month-over-month employment gain, employment in the province was 0.5 per cent lower than 12 months earlier.

Nationally, the unemployment rate dropped to 7.1 per cent - the lowest rate since December 2008 - after adding 61,000 new jobs in September. Gains were seen in educational services; professional, scientific and technical services; accommodation and food services; natural resources; and public administration.

http://nbbusinessjournal.canadaeast.com/gleaner/article/1446371

[Steeple Shanks]

Looked at the Riocan Website for the Corbett Centre. Noticed that there are solid lines around buildings that are already there and those are going to be... and dotted lines around future developments.

[Steeple Shanks]

Looked at the Riocan Website for the Corbett Centre. Noticed that there are solid lines around buildings that are already there and those are going to be... and dotted lines around future developments.

I meant to say: "solid lines around buildings that are already there and those that are in the process of being built... and dotted lines around future developments."

[OliverD]

As mentioned the crane is up, and I suspect they'll be pouring the foundation soonish. Looks like they've got rebar set up for 2 elevator bases and a stairwell base, as well as the actual support columns.

They started pouring the foundation this morning.

[Taeolas]

The RIOCan Site Plan (http://www.riocan.com/Content/PDF/sitePlan/271A.pdf) now lists that phase being cleared now for a site with a Bed Bath and Beyond, a Bouclair (leaving Regent?), a GAP, and an Oshkosh store.

Though I wonder how they're going to fit a Future Gas Station on the footprint where Costco already has their own gas bar. :P

Are they just clearing the site for the new building now and letting winter compact the earth, or will they start constructing in the winter? I don't think I've heard anything on the news about any new construction permits there lately.

While the rest of the pad locations haven't had much work done to them, the ground is already pretty flat and could probably be started any time really. I guess they just want to get tenants ready.

Tentative E2 seems to be the only footprint they have for a drivethru, for when/if Timmys opens up on the site. Probably the best area, since it would get the DriveThru lineups off the main roads too.

[Steeple Shanks]

Was at Costco today. Looks as though they are preparing the entire site for construction, not just the area where BBB is planned.

[Taeolas]

They're probably just flattening it out all at once, but won't do any real building except for the next phase, leaving the rest fallow for now.

On another note, any idea when the next phase will be built across from Brookside Mall? (Where M&M and Jessies and Mama's and so forth are? ). They cleared the area ages ago but don't seem to be doing much there.

And I was wrong about the TRA apartments; it looks like 2 stairwells and an elevator shaft, not the other way around. The concrete for the foundation base is poured and walkable now, so they should be able to start moving quickly.

[OliverD]

There's a foundation poured for the third building on Fieldstone Court (off Cliffe street below the high school). Looks like it will be a row of townhouses. The second building there is well on its way too.

[Freddypop]

They're probably just flattening it out all at once, but won't do any real building except for the next phase, leaving the rest fallow for now.

On another note, any idea when the next phase will be built across from Brookside Mall? (Where M&M and Jessies and Mama's and so forth are? ). They cleared the area ages ago but don't seem to be doing much there.

And I was wrong about the TRA apartments; it looks like 2 stairwells and an elevator shaft, not the other way around. The concrete for the foundation base is poured and walkable now, so they should be able to start moving quickly.

Re next phase of West Hills Village....spoke to one of the guys working on it earlier this week. Said that they had dug the hole earlier this year and would start again shortly to complete the foundation before winter. Not expecting to begin building contruction till next spring. That Phase will be the larger of the 4 buildings and L-shaped like other the Hill Bros property at Smythe and Prospect (former Ponderosa)

[cl812]

Noticed the other day that the crane for the Forest Hill Towers II is now up.

[cj6286]

The next phase for Brookside West is coming along nicely. They're working on extending Heron Drive as well as Peters Drive, and creating an adjacent road to connect the two streets. Hopefully they connect it to James Street? I wouldn't be surprised to see houses popping up next spring! You can see where the streets will be from the cut trees in satellite view. http://g.co/maps/jtbuj
http://www.chippins.com/bw67.jpg

I also noticed they're finally finishing the Ashley Crescent neighbourhood. (Parallel to McKnight Street). It looks like they will begin some house construction before the first snow fall.

[OliverD]

Here's a rendering of a "wellness centre" designed by John Leroux that is supposed to be built on Cliffe Street:

http://jamesmarkrealty.ca/thumbnail.php?id=85483&width=624

More info: http://jamesmarkrealty.ca/pdf/Cliff%20Street%20Wellness%20Building.pdf

[Freddypop]

They're probably just flattening it out all at once, but won't do any real building except for the next phase, leaving the rest fallow for now.

On another note, any idea when the next phase will be built across from Brookside Mall? (Where M&M and Jessies and Mama's and so forth are? ). They cleared the area ages ago but don't seem to be doing much there.

And I was wrong about the TRA apartments; it looks like 2 stairwells and an elevator shaft, not the other way around. The concrete for the foundation base is poured and walkable now, so they should be able to start moving quickly.

They restarted working on the foundation at the West Hills project today

[Freddypop]

Published Wednesday October 19th, 2011

A4 By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN

mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The City of Fredericton has closed the gap on construction to the end of September, posting $97.5 million in total construction activity.

This puts the city on track to break the $100 million barrier by the end of 2011.

Coun. Stephen Chase said predictions that the city would see a boost in the third-quarter were validated by the numbers released Tuesday.

It's even more gratifying to see the figures climb given that the economic optimism in the second half of the year diminished compared with the rosy economic picture portrayed by analysts in 2010 and early 2011, Chase said.

"Despite that, the development community has come to the table and we're able to realize that $100 million level."

Residential construction between January and September hit $53 million.

"This is one of the highest values on record for the city," said planner Meredith Gilbert at the city's development committee meeting Tuesday.

"I keep asking myself how long is this going to continue," said Mayor Brad Woodside. "It's amazing that we've been able to year after year keep coming up with these numbers. I'm doing what I like best and that's a lot of ribbon cuttings."

The University of New Brunswick Currie Center has opened. So has the new YMCA building at Albert and York streets. Construction of the city's own Grant * Harvey sports complex is tracking along nicely too, Woodside said.

"The private sector has come right up to the plate," Woodside said. "It's good stuff, very good stuff."

Single detached dwelling starts, however, were at a seven-year low ,with only 72 building permits for units of that type issued to the end of September.

Multiple unit starts hit 324 units between January and September.

"Essentially, the multi-unit starts are balancing out the change in the single housing starts," Gilbert said.

The average cost of a new single detached dwelling is $183,098. That figure has been climbing steadily year over year, Gilbert said.

Commercial construction is at $19.5 million.

New projects ahead for the city include construction of a new elementary school on the north side of the city. City hall masonry repairs continue. Both the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital and the University of New Brunswick have had upgrades underway.

Ahead for this year and into 2012 is a 46-unit housing development for Brookside West, continued growth of North Brook Subdivision, The Meadows at Neill Farm, a 63-unit apartment development with 52 units of townhouses and 24 single-family lots on Station Road.

On the south side of the city, Rainsford Gardens is expected to grow with a proposed 40-unit apartment building, plus 30 townhouses and four semi-detached units.

A 64-unit apartment building and townhouse complex is slated for McLeod Avenue and 85 residential building lots are planned at Mooers Drive extension in the southside west end.

Gilbert said the city anticipates the $100 million mark will be the new normal for development in the city.

Coun. Dan Keenan said a new downtown hotel is likely to be on the horizon for 2012. More construction work is ongoing at the Corbett Retail Centre atop Regent Street.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1449000

[KnoxfordGuy]

Wonderful news! I knew Fredericton would pull through to hit $100 million! This kinda made my day :D

[cl812]

City looks to redevelop York House
Published Wednesday October 19th, 2011
Historic | Woodside has been talking with heritage groups and stakeholders
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Mayor Brad Woodside has tasked the city's development committee chairman with finding a way to redevelop historic York House.

Coun. Stephen Chase accepted the assignment Tuesday at the city's community services committee meeting.

"I'm happy to help out. We're all concerned about making sure that York House has a positive future. We want to get the best use from that property," Chase said. "There's lots of good reasons to be happy about taking that on."

Woodside has been talking with heritage groups and stakeholders.

"I still think it was somewhat miraculous that all the different players could come together to save York House," Woodside said.

The 114-year-old building was formerly owned by Brunswick Street Baptist Church. The church planned to rip down the building in order to construct its new addition. Heritage groups mounted a campaign to spare the building from the wrecker's ball. York House was designed by James Dumaresq, the Halifax architect who designed the 1882 legislative assembly building on Queen Street.

Ultimately, the city played the role of honest broker, concocting a complicated series of land purchases and swaps that involved the provincial government. The Knights of Columbus ended with a new home, while the city purchased older homes and demolished them, and gained the deed to York House in 2009.

The city, however, hasn't got a lot of cash to fix up the building. So far it's scrounged bits of cash here and there from its corporate services budget to repair the roof and make the structure more weather-tight.

Woodside said it's going to take a community effort to find a use for the building.

"We have it, which is important for historical (heritage) stock, but I think it's a little bit too big for us to handle as a project in terms of the city doing it all up, taking it over, renovating it and using it for office space," Woodside said.

"I talked to the community a few months ago and everybody seemed to be quite keen on coming together. I want Coun. Chase, as development chair, to bring all the players together and talk to all the stakeholders and that's going to include other levels of government as well, because it's much too big a project for the municipality," Woodside said. "York House is a historical gem and it needs to be restored."

He said he'll do what he can to attract foreign investment. The mayor isn't adverse to the city selling the building, provided the structure is maintained.

"It's not important who owns it as long as we have that building for future generations to enjoy," Woodside said.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/article/1448989

[cl812]

Published Wednesday October 19th, 2011

A4 By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN

mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The City of Fredericton has closed the gap on construction to the end of September, posting $97.5 million in total construction activity.

This puts the city on track to break the $100 million barrier by the end of 2011.

Coun. Stephen Chase said predictions that the city would see a boost in the third-quarter were validated by the numbers released Tuesday.

It's even more gratifying to see the figures climb given that the economic optimism in the second half of the year diminished compared with the rosy economic picture portrayed by analysts in 2010 and early 2011, Chase said.

"Despite that, the development community has come to the table and we're able to realize that $100 million level."

Residential construction between January and September hit $53 million.

"This is one of the highest values on record for the city," said planner Meredith Gilbert at the city's development committee meeting Tuesday.

"I keep asking myself how long is this going to continue," said Mayor Brad Woodside. "It's amazing that we've been able to year after year keep coming up with these numbers. I'm doing what I like best and that's a lot of ribbon cuttings."

The University of New Brunswick Currie Center has opened. So has the new YMCA building at Albert and York streets. Construction of the city's own Grant * Harvey sports complex is tracking along nicely too, Woodside said.

"The private sector has come right up to the plate," Woodside said. "It's good stuff, very good stuff."

Single detached dwelling starts, however, were at a seven-year low ,with only 72 building permits for units of that type issued to the end of September.

Multiple unit starts hit 324 units between January and September.

"Essentially, the multi-unit starts are balancing out the change in the single housing starts," Gilbert said.

The average cost of a new single detached dwelling is $183,098. That figure has been climbing steadily year over year, Gilbert said.

Commercial construction is at $19.5 million.

New projects ahead for the city include construction of a new elementary school on the north side of the city. City hall masonry repairs continue. Both the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital and the University of New Brunswick have had upgrades underway.

Ahead for this year and into 2012 is a 46-unit housing development for Brookside West, continued growth of North Brook Subdivision, The Meadows at Neill Farm, a 63-unit apartment development with 52 units of townhouses and 24 single-family lots on Station Road.

On the south side of the city, Rainsford Gardens is expected to grow with a proposed 40-unit apartment building, plus 30 townhouses and four semi-detached units.

A 64-unit apartment building and townhouse complex is slated for McLeod Avenue and 85 residential building lots are planned at Mooers Drive extension in the southside west end.

Gilbert said the city anticipates the $100 million mark will be the new normal for development in the city.

Coun. Dan Keenan said a new downtown hotel is likely to be on the horizon for 2012. More construction work is ongoing at the Corbett Retail Centre atop Regent Street.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1449000

Thought there might have been more details in the article on the work going on at the Corbett Centre.

[Freddypop]

Thought there might have been more details in the article on the work going on at the Corbett Centre.

Believe the policy is to let the developer make any detailed announcements

[cl812]

Home fashion stores eye Corbett Centre
Published Saturday October 22nd, 2011
Retail | Bed Bath and Beyond, Bouclair Home may set up shop in city
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Bouclair Home, a Quebec-based home fashion store, is eyeing a location at Corbett Centre on Regent Street.

So is Bed Bath and Beyond, a U.S. chain that focuses on retailing decor items for the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and dining room.

Sign variances were recently granted by the city's planning advisory committee to allow the stores to have their advertising signs in sizes they feel meet their corporate needs, if and when they ink deals.

"Nothing has been finalized yet," said Scott Fash, a planner with Genivar Inc., a company that provides planning, engineering, design and environmental services for the umbrella development of the property.

It's Fash's job to pilot the sign requests to the city and oversee site development applications at the municipal level.

Although the building permits for the site haven't yet been issued, permits aren't needed for Charmac Construction, the company working on the Corbett Centre property, to begin the site clearing, grading and foundation preparation work.

"What we're trying to do this fall is get the site work done," Fash said.

That means the earliest that requests for building permits will come from Genivar to city hall will be next spring, he said.

While those two stores are in talks with RioCan, the Canadian real estate development firm that's the leasing agent for the University of New Brunswick-owned property, there are a number of other stores that are being courted for the Corbett Centre.

A call to RioCan's leasing agent for the Corbett Centre wasn't returned Friday.

All the city zoning is in place on the Corbett Centre property to allow virtually any type of eatery or retail establishment to sign deals without going through any zoning changes at the Regent Street and Knowledge Park Drive locations.

Tim Hortons - which would have opened a location where the Costco gasoline bar is located, had Costco opted out of gasoline sales in Fredericton - is expected to set up a new spot at the Corbett Centre.

"We are going there eventually," said Reid Manore, the Fredericton businessman who runs the Fredericton and Minto locations.

Manore said the chain did have its sights set on the Costco gas bar location, but when Costco decided it wanted a gas outlet, that nixed that location, and the talks are ongoing at Tim Hortons corporate level to decide on an alternative spot within the development.

Once head office decides where the site should be, Manore hopes to be running a new Tim Hortons outlet that will serve New Maryland residents and more who live along the busy Route 101, which runs past the Corbett Centre's doors.

Other key outlets being wooed by RioCan include Best Buy, Old Navy, Gap, Lululemon Athletica Inc. and OshKosh B'gosh.

The University of New Brunswick owns the land and collects revenue from land leases.

RioCan, Canada's largest real estate investment trust, provides the leasing and management services of Corbett Centre's tenants.

Bed Bath and Beyond Inc. was formed in 1971 and is headquartered in New Jersey. It has locations in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada.

Bouclair Home has about 1,000 employees at 112 store locations in Quebec, Alberta, Ontario and Atlantic Canada. In the East, it has stores in Dartmouth and Halifax.

RioCan owns and manages Canada's largest portfolio of shopping centres with ownership interests in a portfolio of 305 retail properties.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1449933

[cl812]

York Care Centre expansion completed
Published Saturday October 22nd, 2011
A5
By TARA CHISLETT
chislett.taralynn@dailygleaner.com

After six years of construction, local dignitaries, centre staff and residents gathered Friday morning at the York Care Centre to mark the completion of the last phase of a $36-million expansion project.

With scissors in hand, Premier David Alward, local MLAs Troy Lifford and Pam Lynch, Tobique-Mactaquac MP Mike Allen, Mayor Brad Woodside and Social Development Minister Sue Stutlz came together to cut the bright red ribbon and officially bring the final stage of construction to a close.

"What a transformation of a tremendous facility," Alward told the crowd.

"This very much is a celebration of community."

Built in 1967, the York Care Centre began as a 76-bed facility.

Expansions to the facility were first announced in July 2005.

The first phase of construction involved a $12.6-million investment and covered upgrades to half the residence rooms and renovations to common areas like the Dixon Lodge.

Phase 2 was announced in June 2007.

The $23.3-million investment went toward construction of a three-storey tower, which led to all residents living in upgraded rooms adding an additional 16 beds, bringing the capacity of the nursing home to 214 beds.

The final stage of Phase 2 construction - upgrades to the kitchen, café and administration areas - was completed last month.

A seven-person project committee oversaw the upgrades and expansions, which were completed by architects from ADI Ltd. and construction management personnel from ADI International.

Alward said the expansions were important step in meeting the needs of seniors.

"New Brunswick has the second largest proportion of seniors in Canada and, as New Brunswickers, we've got to ensure that we're ready to provide the care our seniors need and deserve," he said.

"The York Care Centre is one of the largest nursing homes in New Brunswick and their dedicated team is at the forefront of finding new ways to provide seniors with dignity and the quality of life they deserve."

Woodside agreed.

Using his time at the podium, he talked about the importance of dignity.

Reflecting on one of his first visits to the nursing home during his first mayoral campaign, Woodside said he's seen a lot of change to the quality of the facility over the years.

"We all have, I think, an inherent right, as we get older, to live in dignity," he said.

"What I noticed in 1980, what I notice now, is a big difference. A big change.

"And we're a better community for it."

Bob Matchett, a resident who helped cut the ribbon, said he thinks the upgrades will be good for those living at the nursing home.

"Look around," he said.

"Now that it's done, it's much bigger."

Kevin Roherty, chairman of the York Care Centre board of directors, said he's proud of everyone who helped with the expansion project over the last six years.

He said he feels the new additions to the facility will mean more opportunity to improve the lives of residents such as Matchett.

"Those are the folks who call York Care Centre their home," he said.

"Building on a strong foundation left by previous boards and administrations, we now can be happy that our residents live in the most modern facilities available and our organization is set as a leader in Atlantic Canada."

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1449928

[cj6286]

http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=678107&size=500x0

This will be a reality so soon! Does anyone know what the name of the building will be?

[Taeolas]

They're still pouring the foundation on the west side, but they're building the first floor platform on the east side of the TRA Apartments now. And they've put up the side walk barrier so it's harder to see what's going on as my bus goes by in the morning. :( Oh well, soon they'll be above the first floor and we can easily watch again. :)

And on a different note, there are two buildings under construction on Bishop drive. I don't think either of them are the announced hotel, so does anyone know what they are for? And where along Bishop is the Hotel going to go?

Last weekend mom and I did a quick side trip up among the apartments/condos/townhouses at Bishop@Hanwell and wow, there is a LOT of work going on up there. When it's done that neighbourhood's going to have the capacity for nearly a thousand people I suspect, between the apartment blocks and condos and townhouses. Too bad its got horrible bus service.

[Freddypop]

They're still pouring the foundation on the west side, but they're building the first floor platform on the east side of the TRA Apartments now. And they've put up the side walk barrier so it's harder to see what's going on as my bus goes by in the morning. :( Oh well, soon they'll be above the first floor and we can easily watch again. :)

And on a different note, there are two buildings under construction on Bishop drive. I don't think either of them are the announced hotel, so does anyone know what they are for? And where along Bishop is the Hotel going to go?

Last weekend mom and I did a quick side trip up among the apartments/condos/townhouses at Bishop@Hanwell and wow, there is a LOT of work going on up there. When it's done that neighbourhood's going to have the capacity for nearly a thousand people I suspect, between the apartment blocks and condos and townhouses. Too bad its got horrible bus service.

The Hampton Inn & Suites hotel on Bishop will go in the lot just west and beside World Class Auto on the south side of Bishop

[cl812]

City transit revenue takes a jump
Published Thursday October 27th, 2011
A4
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

There's no foolproof way of proving it, but Fredericton transit manager Sandy MacNeill said he believes the closure of the Princess Margaret Bridge is sending more residents to try the city's bus system.

The city is posting $110,146 more in transit revenue to the end of September than it had forecast in its budget, mainly on single cash fares and tickets.

The figures were part of the third-quarter budget review handed to the city's finance and administration committee on Wednesday.

"We are seeing an increased amount of revenue in the farebox and in tickets, so a significant amount of people are choosing to go with us for whatever reason. We see a fair amount of additional activity, which we would tend to attribute to the fact that the Princess Margaret Bridge is closed," MacNeill said.

"With the system we have, all we can really do is know that we have more passengers because we have more money coming in, but it's very difficult to attribute it to any one particular cause."

Transit drivers do relay anecdotal information back to their supervisors and MacNeill said it would seem that people are testing out the bus system rather than struggling in traffic by bringing their own vehicles downtown. It costs $3.8 million annual to run the public transit system. The city traditionally hopes to recover $1.5 million of that cost through the sale of bus passes, single tickets, transit charters, advertising on buses and on city bus shelters. Across Canada, virtually all municipal transit systems operate at a loss in order to keep fares affordable for residents who must travel, but couldn't afford to ride the bus if rates were fixed at a full cost-recovery level.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1451171

[theshark]

If they can only keep half of the new ridership gains once the bridge opens again, that would be awesome! It then might lead to more frequent services or additionnal route.

[calibanStone]

They're still pouring the foundation on the west side, but they're building the first floor platform on the east side of the TRA Apartments now. And they've put up the side walk barrier so it's harder to see what's going on as my bus goes by in the morning. :( Oh well, soon they'll be above the first floor and we can easily watch again. :)

And on a different note, there are two buildings under construction on Bishop drive. I don't think either of them are the announced hotel, so does anyone know what they are for? And where along Bishop is the Hotel going to go?

Last weekend mom and I did a quick side trip up among the apartments/condos/townhouses at Bishop@Hanwell and wow, there is a LOT of work going on up there. When it's done that neighbourhood's going to have the capacity for nearly a thousand people I suspect, between the apartment blocks and condos and townhouses. Too bad its got horrible bus service.

The building between Value Village and Kia is a multi-tenant building with the first tenant being York Street Dental which is currently located in the Chestnut complex. They are changing the name to be just "York Dental".

[Taeolas]

As a rider, I have noticed more people on the bus; but my experience is harder to judge because I changed routes when I moved in April, and am now taking my route in the opposite direction. I heard a driver talking a couple days back how the oldest buses are due for retirement as soon as the new ones are active (they have the new ones, just not using them quite yet for some reason). The 3 oldest buses will be retired for good at least; dating back from the late 80's.

[KnoxfordGuy]

There is going to be a new place opening up in the food court of the Regent mall called Thai Express. It is squeezed between A&W and Manchu WOK. Hope it does well. Id take it over a greasy McDonalds any day.

[Freddypop]

There is going to be a new place opening up in the food court of the Regent mall called Thai Express. It is squeezed between A&W and Manchu WOK. Hope it does well. Id take it over a greasy McDonalds any day.

Their menu looks interesting http://www.thaiexpress.ca/

[cl812]

City nixes parking lot
Published Saturday October 29th, 2011
A7
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

TThe City of Fredericton won't permit parking on a vacant lot at 634 Queen St. next door to the downtown convention centre.

The city had been using the vacant parcel of land as a vehicle staging area and the location of a mobile construction office during the construction of the convention centre and Chancery Place, the new provincial government office building.

The vacant lot will eventually be absorbed into land assembled for the construction of a new downtown hotel adjacent the convention centre.

In the interim, parking services manager Janice Legacy said it would have been too costly to prepare the area for short-term parking and the cost of snow removal would outstrip any potential revenue.

Council will designate the land as a no-parking zone until such time as the hotel construction begins.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1451815

[Freddypop]

Published Saturday October 29th, 2011

St. Mary's | Chief Paul says the community is always interested in development

A1 By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN

mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

St. Mary's First Nation is ramping up its economic development activity on the north side by purchasing property it hopes to redevelop into new business opportunities.

Included in that strategy are plans to build a hotel and open a seafood restaurant on Union Street.

"We're looking at any possibility to bring revenue to our community," said St. Mary's First Nation Chief Candace Paul on Friday.

Paul said a feasibility study has been commissioned to determine the need for a northside hotel. A possible location for the building could be adjacent to the First Nation's gaming hall.

Could there also be a new casino in the reserve's future?

"I can't say never. I won't deny the rumour and I won't confirm it," Paul said.

St. Mary's has a 15-year-old bingo hall with video lottery terminals and a food service area which draws gamers from outside the city.

"Our entertainment centre is probably the top one in Atlantic Canada," Paul said.

Meanwhile, St. Mary's First Nation has purchased the former Pano's Restaurant on Union Street.

"We're in the middle of renovating it now," she said.

"We're going to be opening a seafood restaurant. St. Mary's has its own commercial fishery bringing in lobster, shrimp and scallops.

"It's a very well-run commercial fishery ... It's always been our vision to be involved in more than just catching the fish, where we have a fish market right inside our grocery store, and the need for a seafood restaurant in Fredericton is quite high and we feel that we can deliver.

"We did purchase the adjacent red-brick building. The tenants now are presently staying for a little while and we're just looking to see how we're going to develop that. We're very excited. There's lots of things that we're working on."

St. Mary's First Nation is continuing to work on bringing a Maliseet museum and cultural centre to Fredericton.

"We'll be working on that and working on the fundraising and going into phase two of that development," she said.

Paul said the First Nation wants to continue to bolster its economic fortunes, and not only are the ventures they have started prospering and providing employment on the reserve, but surrounding residents are also working in the reserve's enterprises.


http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1451821

[cj6286]

As a rider, I have noticed more people on the bus; but my experience is harder to judge because I changed routes when I moved in April, and am now taking my route in the opposite direction. I heard a driver talking a couple days back how the oldest buses are due for retirement as soon as the new ones are active (they have the new ones, just not using them quite yet for some reason). The 3 oldest buses will be retired for good at least; dating back from the late 80's.

I to have noticed a dramatic increase in ridership. The 11 is always crowded when going from Kings Place to the Mall and vice versa. I think it's time to invest in an articulate bus? I've also noticed an increase in the number of people using the buses crossing the river.

Do you have any idea when the new buses will begin to be used?

[Justin6463]

Hey guys, I can confirm what I told you about Papa Johns coming to Freddy about a month ago. It will be beside the Dollarama on Smythe/Dundonald.

[Taeolas]

I know in the mornings, the 13 from the North side is crowded, but it empties out a lot at Kings Place. Still most of the stops seem to see use.

I don't think Freddy is big enough for the articulated buses yet, especially with the corners some of hte routes have. Instead, they should probably run more runs on those routes; we have lots of room left for that sort of expansion still. We just need more buses and drivers I guess. And I don't know when the new buses come in.

Another pizza place in that corner? Interesting; I'm a bit surprised there's enoguh demand for 2 pizza places around there but it is a busy spot. Living on the North side now though I do wish they'd come back over here. :)

[Freddypop]

Published Tuesday November 1st, 2011

Checking in | Bishop Drive project may leave downtown plan out in cold

A1 By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN

mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Fredericton's downtown hotel project could be on the ropes after a competitor snagged a deal for a Hampton Inn and Suites development at 470 Bishop Dr.

The city's planning advisory committee granted a height variance in September for the proposed 96-room, four-storey hotel with an indoor swimming pool and 200-seat conference centre.

The hitch is that Hampton Inn and Suites is a Hilton hotel chain brand and D.P. Murphy Inc., the Charlottetown company that secured the development rights to build a hotel with a pedway to the city's Queen Street convention centre, had been negotiating to deliver a Hilton Garden Inn to the city centre.

It would be unusual for a city of Fredericton's size to have two Hilton properties.

Add into that the fact that D.P. Murphy Inc. - which purchased property from Gardiner Real Estate in hopes of building a hotel with a bigger footprint and fewer floors than its earlier proposed 11-storey building hotel in the downtown - has extended an offer to downtown tenants to stay on until April 2014.

D.P. Murphy didn't return messages left by The Daily Gleaner on Friday or Monday for comment on the downtown hotel situation.

Asia Beef Noodles Restaurant, Clay Cafe, CDS Financial Group, Fredericton-Silverwood MLA Brian MacDonald and Family Enrichment and Counselling Service Fredericton Inc. are all tenants in the buildings D.P. Murphy Inc. was hoping to demolish so that it could construct a downtown hotel with restaurant and bar. They had originally been given notice to vacate by January, but now have verbal offers to remain until the spring of 2014.

Don Fitzgerald, the city's executive director of strategic initiatives, said the Hampton Inn developer for Bishop Drive isn't D.P. Murphy Inc.

"We are continuing to have conversations and work with our party (D.P. Murphy Inc.) downtown and we're hopeful we can bring them to fruition," Fitzgerald said.

He said he's not convinced that having the Hampton Inn on Bishop Drive automatically excludes a second Hilton development in the downtown.

"The downtown market is different than the uptown market and I'm not sure that they're mutually exclusive," Fitzgerald said. "We're still going on in terms of trying to put our deal together. They're (D.P. Murphy Inc.) working on their designs and plans and it's a challenging site as we've said before and we're hopeful we'll get in the end zone."

Bruce McCormack, general manager of Downtown Fredericton Inc., said the lease extensions would be news to him since their business improvement area association has been working with the Queen Street tenants to try to find them new homes.

"What we understood is that next spring, they would start digging ground," he said. "We've been waiting anxiously for them (D.P. Murphy Inc.) to get their application into planning advisory committee because then it has to go through the rezoning process."

McCormack said it would be a shame if the downtown hotel is delayed. Downtown Fredericton Inc. has supported the city's plan to have a downtown hotel built adjacent its convention centre and it supported the convention centre as a development that would bring business to the city centre.

"My take on it is that the Hilton Garden Inn property is likely dead. At the least, it's on life support," said Doug Williams, president of Capital Region Tourism Association.

"We don't have enough downtown hotel space. That's what we don't have enough of. It's better now that there's the Crowne Plaza and the Delta with two of what I consider mid-tier brands, but my take is that we need another mid-tier brand downtown.

"For tourism, we always want more hotel space ... Our occupancy is higher than it is in plenty of other cities and I think there is the capacity for another hotel," he said.

"Everything that does come downtown helps downtown whether it's more office space or hotel space or residential. It all helps." If D.P. Murphy Inc. finds another hotel chain to do business with, it still has to go through the planning approval process, which adds another three months at the least to the timing of the hotel.

The earliest any project could be approved would be spring, which would likely mean no shovels in the ground until well into 2012.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1452365

[cl812]

Published Tuesday November 1st, 2011

Checking in | Bishop Drive project may leave downtown plan out in cold

A1 By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN

mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Fredericton's downtown hotel project could be on the ropes after a competitor snagged a deal for a Hampton Inn and Suites development at 470 Bishop Dr.

The city's planning advisory committee granted a height variance in September for the proposed 96-room, four-storey hotel with an indoor swimming pool and 200-seat conference centre.

The hitch is that Hampton Inn and Suites is a Hilton hotel chain brand and D.P. Murphy Inc., the Charlottetown company that secured the development rights to build a hotel with a pedway to the city's Queen Street convention centre, had been negotiating to deliver a Hilton Garden Inn to the city centre.

It would be unusual for a city of Fredericton's size to have two Hilton properties.

Add into that the fact that D.P. Murphy Inc. - which purchased property from Gardiner Real Estate in hopes of building a hotel with a bigger footprint and fewer floors than its earlier proposed 11-storey building hotel in the downtown - has extended an offer to downtown tenants to stay on until April 2014.

D.P. Murphy didn't return messages left by The Daily Gleaner on Friday or Monday for comment on the downtown hotel situation.

Asia Beef Noodles Restaurant, Clay Cafe, CDS Financial Group, Fredericton-Silverwood MLA Brian MacDonald and Family Enrichment and Counselling Service Fredericton Inc. are all tenants in the buildings D.P. Murphy Inc. was hoping to demolish so that it could construct a downtown hotel with restaurant and bar. They had originally been given notice to vacate by January, but now have verbal offers to remain until the spring of 2014.

Don Fitzgerald, the city's executive director of strategic initiatives, said the Hampton Inn developer for Bishop Drive isn't D.P. Murphy Inc.

"We are continuing to have conversations and work with our party (D.P. Murphy Inc.) downtown and we're hopeful we can bring them to fruition," Fitzgerald said.

He said he's not convinced that having the Hampton Inn on Bishop Drive automatically excludes a second Hilton development in the downtown.

"The downtown market is different than the uptown market and I'm not sure that they're mutually exclusive," Fitzgerald said. "We're still going on in terms of trying to put our deal together. They're (D.P. Murphy Inc.) working on their designs and plans and it's a challenging site as we've said before and we're hopeful we'll get in the end zone."

Bruce McCormack, general manager of Downtown Fredericton Inc., said the lease extensions would be news to him since their business improvement area association has been working with the Queen Street tenants to try to find them new homes.

"What we understood is that next spring, they would start digging ground," he said. "We've been waiting anxiously for them (D.P. Murphy Inc.) to get their application into planning advisory committee because then it has to go through the rezoning process."

McCormack said it would be a shame if the downtown hotel is delayed. Downtown Fredericton Inc. has supported the city's plan to have a downtown hotel built adjacent its convention centre and it supported the convention centre as a development that would bring business to the city centre.

"My take on it is that the Hilton Garden Inn property is likely dead. At the least, it's on life support," said Doug Williams, president of Capital Region Tourism Association.

"We don't have enough downtown hotel space. That's what we don't have enough of. It's better now that there's the Crowne Plaza and the Delta with two of what I consider mid-tier brands, but my take is that we need another mid-tier brand downtown.

"For tourism, we always want more hotel space ... Our occupancy is higher than it is in plenty of other cities and I think there is the capacity for another hotel," he said.

"Everything that does come downtown helps downtown whether it's more office space or hotel space or residential. It all helps." If D.P. Murphy Inc. finds another hotel chain to do business with, it still has to go through the planning approval process, which adds another three months at the least to the timing of the hotel.

The earliest any project could be approved would be spring, which would likely mean no shovels in the ground until well into 2012.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1452365

Thats unfortunate, hopefully it still goes ahead. I personally would rather see the hotel downtown go ahead than the one uptown. It would be good if both were to proceed.

[cl812]

Hanwell and Kingsclear studying possibility of becoming a rural community
Published Wednesday November 2nd, 2011
A4
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The local service districts of Kingsclear and Hanwell are considering amalgamation.

A rural community study committee made up of representatives of both local service districts has enough names on a petition to ask the provincial government to launch a feasibility study into the merger.

The process was initiated by the Hanwell local service district, the largest local service district in New Brunswick.

The petition needs to be signed by at least 25 residents from each local service district. It asks Local Government Minister Bruce Fitch to proceed with a feasibility study.

If that feasibility study says the idea has merit, residents of Kingsclear and Hanwell would vote in a plebiscite to determine if they'll join together to create a rural community.

A rural community can form a body corporate, have an elected council, establish community planning and an emergency measures plan, and consider taxation to establish services.

There are five rural communities in the province.

Saint-Andre and Beaubassin-East incorporated in 2006. Upper Miramichi incorporated in 2008. Campobello Island incorporated in 2010, and Grimmer and Kedgwick recently merged.

"We certainly find that locally driven endeavours like this are the way to go," Fitch said. "I don't think top-down, forced amalagamation is going to be the way to go, and the premier (David Alward) has promised we won't have forced amalgamation and I've said it, too.

"We are hoping that people will understand, from a local level, the benefits of getting together and becoming more sustainable. The first step is that we have to have a petition."

Fitch said communities are realizing that if they want to move forward as a unit or to do economic planning, there has to be a structure in place. Local service districts don't have the ability to receive funds, apply for grants, own property and undertake local development projects. In some cases, their numbers are too few to raise the critical mass of taxes to undertake projects.

"I'm hearing in certain areas where they're saying, 'Look, we've got lots of potential and we want to enhance that or promote that, but we just don't have a vehicle to do that,' " Fitch said.

"In some parts of the province, everything is fine and people say, 'Don't bother us,' but there's other parts that are saying, 'We need help because we're losing population, assessment and revenue.' "

Fitch, who held public consultations on rural governance and municipal reform, said he remains committed to bringing forward ideas on changes before the end of the year. Any suggested reforms will be voluntary in terms of rural amalgamations.

Susan Cassidy, chairwoman of the Hanwell local service district, said several years ago Hanwell residents and the local service district advisory committee started looking at options for incorporation.

The community toyed with the idea of village or town status, but three years ago decided to create a subcommittee on the possibility of creating a rural community.

The committee is co-chaired by Hanwell's Peter Michaud and Kingsclear's Pierre Beaudoin.

The committee hosted public information sessions in October and has begun the task of gathering signatures for the feasibility study request.

"They're going to continue to work at that to acquire further larger numbers and to keep informing people ... They've had a number of information sessions and opportunities for people to sign petitions, and the current rural community committee has the petitions in their possession and they're gathering signatures right now," Cassidy said.

Michaud said they're shooting for mid-December to present the petition to the province.

"We want to go out and meet with people in the community ... We're working with different communities in the area to see when we can attend some of their functions and talk about getting the feasibility study off the ground," Michaud said.

Information is also posted on the Hanwell local service district website, he said.

"In order to get more information, we need to get a feasibility study done and that will provide us with information so people can make an informed decision - if and when the minister decides to take the next step," he said.

The process of talking about Hanwell incorporation has been ongoing for several years.

"Generally, the reason we did initiate it was because we wanted to have a say in the direction of how things went for the residents of Hanwell," Cassidy said.

"As an unincorporated local service district, we're at the mercy of our provincial mayor, who is the minister of Local Government and the bureaucrats who work for him. Difficulties have arisen in the past because, as an unincorporated area, we couldn't own any property. We couldn't have recreation areas, develop a baseball field or a little soccer field."

More than a decade ago, the province would have land in trust for local service districts, and that's why some older local service districts in the province do have a recreation centre or a community sports field.

But the province altered that policy. If Hanwell incorporates, it can own property and seek out funding sources apart from taxation to develop facilities.

"We don't even have a community centre where people can meet," Cassidy said.

Not everyone is excited by the potential for a rural community, and some Kingsclear residents are pushing back against its creation.

Even with the creation of a rural community, the provincial government would continue to provide police and fire protection, garbage collection, road maintenance, recreation and community services and animal control. Hanwell and Kingsclear would have a combined population of 6,690 with a collective property value of $588 million.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1452624

[cj6286]

Here is a visual as promised...thoughts?

http://united-thinking.com/Images/West%20End%20Developments.jpg

I stumbled across this and thought it was worth a revival. I hope they do something with that derelict property on the corner of Brunswick and Regent. It's been sitting empty since the bus terminal moved, two years ago? At least do something productive and build a temporary parking lot for the time being...

[mylesmalley]

Interesting idea. That corner is underused at the moment. An office development of that magnitude would be pretty tough all at once though, since you'd be flooding a relatively small office market with a lot of new space. And this comes at a time where Downtown has already picked up one large office building, and there are the two new Knowledge Park facilities nearly done too.

[Freddypop]

There likely won't be new office space until a decision is made what to do with the Cenntenial Building. No developer in his right mind would make a commitment until it is known what the province intends to do with it. They may decide to sell to private sector and turn it into office space.

[OliverD]

As far as I know, the new KP buildings are almost fully leased, though I have heard RIM is taking less space than they initially intended.

[cl812]

More bike lanes planned for city
Published Monday November 7th, 2011
A3
By The Daily Gleaner

City council has directed its legal division to draft a parking ban along the east side of Canterbury Drive between Liverpool and Rochester streets. The parking ban will allow for the installation of bike lanes along Canterbury Drive.

Canterbury Drive is considered a major collector street and will be able to accommodate the bike lane.

Council has approved the preparation of the bylaw. No-parking signs will cost $200 and are within the 2011 sign budget.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1453875

[Freddypop]

Published Tuesday November 8th, 2011

City | Hilton-brand project up the hill puts development in doubt

A1 By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN

mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Mayor Brad Woodside is disappointed it looks like a downtown hotel development is on hold, but he said it's only a temporary setback.

Woodside said the developer, D.P. Murphy Inc., is a reliable company and he would like to see it get the downtown hotel deal done.

"The city retains the land and we have been in conversion with Mr. Murphy," Woodside said.

"Mr. Murphy is a very reputable developer and I would much rather have seen him proceed with this project. The important thing here is that we want a downtown hotel and we want it on that property."

That being said, Woodside isn't ruling out the possibility the project could change hands.

"If we can talk to other interested parties, he would be interested in making the land available that he purchased. I don't think that he would stand in the way of that," Woodside said.

The City of Fredericton called for downtown hotel proposals in 2009 and had a fistful of responses.

The city opted to deal with Prince Edward Island-based D.P. Murphy and took a deposit on a piece of land the city owns adjoining what used to be Camperdown Lane.

In April 2010, D.P. Murphy announced it had selected Dora Construction of Dieppe to build an 11-storey Hilton Garden Inn, with a 60-seat restaurant and 30-seat bar.

But the project, which was supposed to begin immediately after city approvals and design approval, started dragging as the city completed of its $78-million Queen Street convention centre, provincial government office building and parking garage.

Given the downtown's soil conditions, D.P. Murphy decided to buy more land so it could reduce the height of the hotel and widen its footprint, making it easier to built.

D.P. Murphy bought adjoining properties from Gardiner Real Estate. Tenants at those properties - including the Asia Beef Noodle restaurant, Clay Cafe, Family Enrichment and Counselling Services, CDS Financial Group, and Fredericton-Silverwood MLA Brian MacDonald - were given notices that their leases would be terminated.

But in the spring, apparently unknown to D.P. Murphy, a third party emerged on the development scene, got a height variance and building permit and is all set to construct a Hampton Inn on Bishop Drive. Hampton Inn is one of the Hilton brands.

Woodside said D.P. Murphy now appears to be involved with the Bishop Drive hotel project as a partner in that venture.

"Unfortunately for the downtown location, they're building two properties and they've decided that the property up the hill will be the first one that they build, obviously thinking that they can generate money quicker.

"The second property is one that is on hold for now. They still have an interest (in the downtown).

"In defence of him (Murphy), it's my understanding that the other party was going after the Hilton brand as well and got it. That's not to say he (Murphy) can't come up with another brand or name or that we can't come up with another developer," the mayor said.

"The bottom line is that the downtown, the business community, thinks it's an important project and we are aggressively pursuing it.

"I'm somewhat disappointed. I consider it a bit of a setback ... It delays it for a little bit, but that's the worst-case scenario."

In the meantime, the convention centre marketing effort is to boost events and delegates coming into the city and that will demonstrate the growing market for a downtown hotel, the mayor said.

Don Fitzgerald, executive director of strategic initiatives for the city, said the city hasn't sold the land it owns and D.P. Murphy hasn't asked for its deposit back.

"They want to go ahead, but the timing is not as immediate as it originally was," Fitzgerald said.

"They're a good developer. We'd like to do business with them."

That being said, Fitzgerald said the city isn't necessarily married to a Hilton project in the downtown, although it does want a mid- or upper-tier brand of hotel to cater to convention centre business.

The city's open to talking to anyone who can bring a hotel along the lines of a Westin, a Marriott or the like. The Wyndham hotel chain, which has both discount and upscale brands, has also scouted the city.

"We wouldn't discount anyone (developer) based on their chain," he said.

Fitzgerald said the city does has the option of starting over, but starting from scratch with a new developer will cost time.

"We're anxious to get this done as quickly as possible," he said.

Woodside said he wants the city-owned land - which had been used as the construction office for the city's contractor on the convention centre development - put to rights. He wants the vacant lot be grassed over and park benches installed to create a pleasant environment for the short-term.

"I don't like the thought of an empty lot," Woodside said.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1454056

[Freddypop]

Published Thursday November 10th, 2011

Growing | General manager says one of the new buildings has no more room

A1 By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN

llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

The mortar is barely dry between the bricks in two new buildings in the Greater Fredericton Knowledge Park and the organization's operators are already thinking about buildings six and seven.

The official opening for two buildings at the Knowledge Park took place Wednesday. Larry Shaw, general manager of the Knowledge Park, right, speaks to the crowd gathered in the lobby of building five. "Well, we don't have anything that's inked on paper, but certainly part of my role is to continue to ... look ahead," said park general manager Larry Shaw.

"These (new) buildings are pretty much full."

He said they have months to make a decision about building.

"Probably in the 2013 time frame is when we will really get serious about breaking ground."

He made the comments after a ceremony to mark the official opening of buildings four and five.

The park was created in 1996 and the first building opened in 1998. There are five buildings with 180,000 square feet of Class A office space and 900 employees in 15 different organizations, said Shaw.

The first three buildings have 30,000 square feet of space each and the last two have 45,000 square feet of space each.

The park contributes $68.6 million to the local economy annually and it pays $900,000 a year in property taxes, he said.

"We will grow very consistently with the demand in the area, and we will be a bit like Field of Dreams," said Shaw.

"We will build some buildings ahead of schedule so that it gives a landing zone for people like Invest New Brunswick ... where they can land those (new) companies and they have a place to start up and they are not trying to solve infrastructure problems just to get a company to locate here or expand here."

Shaw said the two new buildings are almost full. He said building five - 50 Crowther Lane - is fully occupied by Radian6, Bluedrop, CAE and a centre for excellence for advanced learning and technologies, which received nearly $8 million the federal, provincial and municipal governments and the Atlantic Canada Revenue Agency. The knowledge park contributed $600,000.

In building four - 40 Crowther Lane - RIM will occupy the top two floors early in 2012, said Shaw.

"On the ground floor of that building we are working on a variety of different initiatives and, hopefully, what I would like to see us do is actually expand the entire acceleration and incubation strategy for all of the economic development issues and really focus into a very clear incubation environment," he said.

"It's available for opportunities that come along."

Overall the five buildings are more than 90 per cent full, said Shaw.

"We have a long-term plan in place that would see the knowledge park with 16 or 17 buildings," he said.

"We will continue to support the knowledge-based industry's growth and we will continue to play a very strategic part in economic development."

Shaw admitted constructing two buildings worth $14 million in the months following a major economic recession made some people nervous.

"When we broke ground some of our finances had not been put in place and we still had some leg work to do on that," he said.

"But it all came together."

Everyone understood the economy has ups and downs, and infrastructure investments need to be done with a focus beyond the current situation, said Shaw.

"We're coming out of that economic downturn very positively," he said.

The knowledge park is built on land leased from the University of New Brunswick. Gregory Kealy, provost and research vice-president (research) of UNB, said it's crucial all three levels of government continue to invest in the knowledge park and universities.

"In one fell swoop with buildings four and five, we have actually doubled the size of the park," he said.

"In these buildings we really are going to have the creme de la creme of the Canadian IT industry."

But this is just the start, said Kealy.

"If we read the newspapers on a daily basis, we know that New Brunswick continues to face serious problems," he said.

"Canada faces serious problems no matter how relatively healthy and wealthy we are."

"Unless we continue to invest in exactly these kinds of enterprises (the knowledge park and universities), we're not going to be in the game."

"Given the state of the economy and given the budgetary situations and everything else its really important, I think, that everyone understands that the only way these things can happen is if there is investment by government in infrastructure like this."

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1454749

[Freddypop]

Published Thursday November 10th, 2011

Computers | McKenzie says loss to the industry would be felt across N.B.

A1 By CHRIS MORRIS The Daily Gleaner

New Brunswick is likely about to lose its most prestigious research and development institute due to a change in direction at the National Research Council.

The chairman of the advisory board for the National Research Council's Institute for Information Technology says he believes the institute will be closed. Warren McKenzie, chairman of the advisory board for the NRC's Institute for Information Technology, said Wednesday he expects the institute, which has a facility in Fredericton, will be closed by next spring.

"Unfortunately, it is my belief that IIT will soon cease to exist as an institute and its talent, or at least those who remain, will be absorbed into as-yet-undefined programs," McKenzie said in a speech at a dinner for the University of New Brunswick's faculty of computer science.

"If it comes to pass, this is regrettable."

The software developer, philanthropist and UNB graduate said based on what he has learned behind the scenes, he believes the institute will be closed.

While nothing has been announced about the institute's fate, he believes it's just a matter of time.

"I really hope I'm wrong, but this is my industry," he said in an interview. "I have been intimately involved with the NRC in Fredericton since it was set up."

UNB dean of computer science Ali Ghorbani said losing the institute would be a blow to research and development in New Brunswick. The facility is involved in everything from medical research to helping companies take their products to market, he said.

"The researchers are adjunct professors with us, so they sometimes teach and supervise graduate students," he said of the institute, which is on the UNB campus.

"Also important is the interaction between their researchers and our faculty members - they complement each other in different domains. They also are a good employer of our co-op students and sometimes our graduates end up working in their building ... We would lose so much if it closes."

McKenzie said losing the institute would also be a setback for the development of computer technology in New Brunswick, which is estimated to provide more than 1,000 jobs in the province.

"NRC IIT has been a huge resource for Canada and New Brunswick," he said.

"The leverage of federal dollars through IIT has been five to one. The site in Moncton has been responsible for the discovery of two critical biomarkers for cancer in conjunction with Atlantic Cancer research Institute. With such a proven record of success and the federal government's expressed priority in ICT, which is software dominated, the role of the NRC IIT is impressive."

McKenzie said the decision to close institutes will be made by Ottawa without consideration of the impact on Canada's regions.

"The province of New Brunswick has a significant financial stake in the NRC, a lot of money in it," he said.

"This will be a unilateral federal decision to make these changes. Every province that has been a partner is impacted. I'm not sure everyone realizes just how significant this will be."

McKenzie's comments follow recent public statements by NRC president John McDougall, who said he intends to move the venerable 94-year-old institution away from "curiosity research" toward work on a cluster of key scientific challenges that have the potential to drive Canada's economy.

So far, the short list of four flagship projects includes: research into higher-output wheat strains; printable electronics; composite materials made from biomass; and CO2-ingesting algae.

McKenzie said software development is where it's at in the computer industry.

"Anyone who thinks that software licensing has no value should take it up with Bill Gates," he said.

"Microsoft is a multibillion-dollar world leader because of it."

The NRC Institute for Information Technology is a multi-site organization. It has staff and research programs in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick.

All NRC-IIT locations are dedicated to research and development in software and systems technologies, but each site focuses on different areas.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/front/article/1454723

[Taeolas]

Wow a full day and no one posted the great news?

The Princess Margaret Bridge is open again.

On the bus ride home today, I admit, it was a bit freaky to see Westmorland not lined up forever to get to the North side. :)

[cj6286]

On the bus ride home today, I admit, it was a bit freaky to see Westmorland not lined up forever to get to the North side. :)

Hopefully this means the buses will be following the schedules again!

In other news, Station Pointe Village seems to be coming along well-
http://www.colpittsdevelopments.ca/station-pointe-village-town-homes/506-station-pointe-village-town-homes-site-map.html

[Justin6463]

Heard the building on King that Coffee and Friends was in was on fire today. Anybody know how bad the damage was?

[OliverD]

Driving home across the Princess Margaret yesterday afternoon was awesome. I'm almost looking forward to my Monday morning commute! ;)

[kirjtc2]

Heard the building on King that Coffee and Friends was in was on fire today. Anybody know how bad the damage was?

Just a small electrical fire. No major damage.

[cj6286]

According to the Trinity website, it looks like we're getting a Tims, Bouclair and Best Buy. Best Buy will be interesting competition with Future Shop...

http://www.trinity-group.com/index.php?q=node/135

In other thoughts, I hope city council seriously considers re-routing bus routes 116 and 216 to go through the Corbett Centre/Knowledge Park Drive. It might increase ridership?

[Freddypop]

According to the Trinity website, it looks like we're getting a Tims, Bouclair and Best Buy. Best Buy will be interesting competition with Future Shop...

http://www.trinity-group.com/index.php?q=node/135

In other thoughts, I hope city council seriously considers re-routing bus routes 116 and 216 to go through the Corbett Centre/Knowledge Park Drive. It might increase ridership?

Trinity no longer has an interest in the Corbett Centre. Sold their stake to Rio Can in 2010. Thus I would not put much stock in what's on their website because it hasn't been updated since the sale. More faith in the Rio Can site which lists Bed Bath & Beyond, Gap Outlet, Bouclair and OshKosh........ http://www.riocan.com/Content/PDF/sitePlan/271A.pdf. Tims will be there as well as confirmed recently in the DG by the local Tim's operator... http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/rss/article/1449933.


I for one hope that Best Buy is coming but don't look at it as "competition" since they are owned by the same company as Future Shop. The $$$ goes in the same pocket! Similar to the GAP and Old Navy relationship.

[cj6286]

Trinity no longer has an interest in the Corbett Centre. Sold their stake to Rio Can in 2010. Thus I would not put much stock in what's on their website because it hasn't been updated since the sale. More faith in the Rio Can site which lists Bed Bath & Beyond, Gap Outlet, Bouclair and OshKosh........ http://www.riocan.com/Content/PDF/sitePlan/271A.pdf. Tims will be there as well as confirmed recently in the DG by the local Tim's operator... http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/rss/article/1449933.


I for one hope that Best Buy is coming but don't look at it as "competition" since they are owned by the same company as Future Shop. The $$$ goes in the same pocket! Similar to the GAP and Old Navy relationship.

I keep forgetting about the sale (I must be in denial). Once the centre is finished construction, it will be nice to see several jobs added :tup:

[Taeolas]

It was a nice commute across the bridge today, with the PMB open again. No hangups on the bus at all that I noticed. The bus itself (13 from Brookside) was a little less crowded than usual, but not significantly; maybe 3-5 people fewer than I've noticed in the past month or so. We'll see how that changes as we enter Winter I'm sure.

I did notice they've got some foundations poured in the new courtyard subdivision off of Brookside now. And the pouring for the first floor of the TRApartments seems to be almost complete.

[OliverD]

In other news, Station Pointe Village seems to be coming along well-
http://www.colpittsdevelopments.ca/station-pointe-village-town-homes/506-station-pointe-village-town-homes-site-map.html

I noticed that as well. I have to say though, that I am a bit disappointed in Station Pointe. It looks like it is going to be another generic development, much like the other Colpitts projects around the city. I was hoping that they would have made it a bit more architecturally interesting and perhaps tie its design to the heritage of that neighborhood.

[Freddypop]

Published Tuesday November 15th, 2011

A2 By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN

mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

A major redevelopment project could be brewing on the former Craig Electric property at the north end of the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge.

Mayor Brad Woodside said all he can say right now is there's interest in the location and negotiations with a developer are continuing. He wouldn't name the developer.

"The concept has been presented and it's a very nice one that would fit in within the city of Fredericton and be well received," Woodside said. "When we acquired this property, we wanted to retain the historical significance of the roundhouse and this proposal does precisely that, which is rather exciting. It would keep the facade that we have. Work would be done mostly on the inside."

The City of Fredericton owns the Union Street property, which is adjacent Carleton Park. It acquired the site in 2006, which put the city in control of 2.8 hectares of land beside its park.

The city spent $550,000 through a mix of tax credits and cash to acquire the land between 800 and 930 Union St., including Kelly Tire and Craig Electric. The Craig Electric property contains a former railway roundhouse built in 1885 by B. Mooney and Sons for the Northern and Western Railway has been added to the city's local historic places register.

More than 500,000 bricks made in Alexander (Boss) Gibson's brickyard went into the structure. Gibson, the empire builder of his day, constructed the Marysville Cotton Mill and a surrounding enclave of brick homes for mill workers.

"There's a lot of interest right now in development in many, many parts of the city, including the city-owned land in Union Street area," Woodside said.

He said the municipality is looking for a special development on the Craig Electric property and that's why the city is working with one developer at this time.

There are public-service components to the project, including the provision of public washrooms that could serve people visiting Carleton Park next door.

"It would enhance the city park," Woodside said.

The Craig Electric site often floods in the spring, and Woodside said no developers have been beating down the city's doors trying to acquire the site.

"It does have many restrictions. It does flood down there and it has flooded ... That would put a constraint on any business going in there," Woodside said.

The developer in talks with the city has a flexibility other business owners wouldn't, the mayor said.

Woodside the talks aren't part of the city's 2012 budget talks.

"Council likes the proposal and we're just now down to what the cost is going to be and we're dotting the i's' and crossing the t's'," Woodside said.

The city is also looking to refresh a proposal call for the redevelopment of a downtown west-end parcel it owns.

Woodside said he's been pushing to get something happening on land adjacent to the Royal Canadian Legion off Queen Street.

"We've been working with a party for over a year and the time has come to say to this developer that it's now or never. We are going to put it (the land) out to a call for proposal," he said.

Woodside said the development of downtown apartments on the former TRA Cash and Carry property and the fact the Royal Canadian Legion needs to sell its location are driving the renewed emphasis.

"Things have changed. There's more interest in the property than there was before. Our mission, our goal, our objective as a council is to have both ends of the city redeveloped," Woodside said.

"We'll give the public an opportunity to do that."

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1455942

[Freddypop]

Published Tuesday November 15th, 2011

A 4By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN

mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The city owns it, but now it's got to figure out what to do with it.

To that end, city councillors agreed Monday night to terms of reference for a public proposal call on how to rehabilitate historic York House in the downtown core.

The property poses challenges: it contains asbestos, PCBs and lead.

The city has estimated it could cost as much as $4 million to refurbish the building, said Coun. Stephen Chase, chairman of the city's York House working group.

That's too pricey for converting the structure into additional municipal offices, he said, so the city will ask the public for help.

"It's an open call to the public, which, of course, includes the development community and other people interested in the potential uses of that structure to come forward with viable proposals that can work between the two parameters I outlined," Chase said.

"We want to preserve the structure and restore it to its architectural splendor as a historic building in Fredericton, and the other parameter being that it be at zero cost to the taxpayers of Fredericton. Between those two parameters, we'll entertain proposals."

Chase isn't opposed to partnerships being formed to execute a viable redesign and reuse for the city-owned property.

The $3 million-$4 million rehabilitation estimate would include removal of asbestos, PCBs and lead, along with the estimated cost of bringing the building up to building codes.

The city acquired York House in late 2007 as part of a deal it worked out with Brunswick Street Baptist Church.

The church wanted to expand but couldn't pay the cost of renovating York House, so it was going to demolish the building for its new addition.

Through land purchases and trades, the city found land for the church to build its addition and got York House in return.

Part of the committee's plan is to develop a feedback mechanism to seek input from the community.

The first phase of the input will be done online, and it's hoped the web page for feedback will be ready early next week.

Recommendations on how to rehabilitate the structure will have to come back to city council for approval.

The York House working group includes Chase, acting city administrator Chris MacPherson, the city's executive director for capital projects Greg Cook, executive director for strategic initiatives Don Fitzgerald and city real-estate manager Calvin Thompson.

Located at 193 York St., York House was constructed in 1893. It was designed by James Dumaresq, architect of the New Brunswick legislative building, as well as St. Paul's United Church and the Charlotte Street School.

The building was originally constructed to house the Fredericton High School and an elementary school. Through the years, York House has also been used for Teachers' College classrooms, the city's public library, a student employment centre and a youth hostel.

The Brunswick Street Baptist Church purchased the property in 1965. The building was used for various church purposes and was renamed York House.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1456028

[Freddypop]

Published Saturday November 19th, 2011

A8 By COLIN MACPHAIL

For The Daily Gleaner

The foundation is set for the Capital Region Community Tennis Centre, both literally and figuratively speaking.

The $2.5-million project is ready for crews to start construction at its home at Scotiabank Park South next to the skeleton of the Grant*Harvey Centre and leisure facility, which is also under construction.

After fundraising and forming strategic partnerships, David Clark, president of the Capital Region Tennis Association and the new centre's chairman, was proud to announce they've raised almost $2.2 million with a recent $250,000 investment from Tennis Canada.

Three years ago, the association partnered with Tennis Canada as well as the City of Fredericton and the University of New Brunswick, the landowners, to develop a centre that promotes the sport in an affordable and accessible manner.

"The fact that Tennis Canada believed in our group and are using it as a template to grow tennis from the grassroots level with the focus on kids and families is just absolutely outstanding," said Clark.

The wheelchair-accessible, indoor facility, which will house six courts and administrative offices, is designed to accommodate all types of players and will offer wheelchair tennis.

It will also be one of six centres in the world known for its level of energy efficiency and insulation.

"It's going to be heated by geothermal heat and air-conditioned at a fraction of the cost because this is a new way of doing wellness infrastructure, and sustainability is key," said Clark.

Derek Strang, COO of Tennis Canada, said the state-of-the-art facility will hopefully attract professional events.

"We run satellite circuits in Quebec, but we really don't do anything in the Atlantic region," Strang said.

"We see this as an opportunity of doing this here and maybe in another location as well outside the province to able to do those types of showcasing at the highest level."

On top of the donation of capital, Tennis Canada has also given an operations subsidy to ensure top-level coaching is available at the centre for all players, regardless of income.

"It's about affordability and accessibility. It's what we call 'grow, promote and showcasing the sport,' and for us, this is what this facility helps to provide," Strang said.

"The project for Fredericton is actually a role model for what we're trying to roll out across the country."

Both Strang and Hatem McDadi, Tennis Canada vice-president of tennis development, said there's a need to grow more community-based tennis centres in Canada. With the capability and partners, Fredericton was an easy choice, McDadi said.

"It was a no-brainer to invest here in the sense that it's providing affordable and accessible tennis," McDadi said.

"It's really a great opportunity to provide a healthy lifestyle and activity with the tennis community here."

Tennis Canada is developing 16 similar projects across the country, and it's hopeful the Fredericton venture will inspire other small communities to take part.

"It's going to be a beacon for many communities the size of Fredericton," McDadi said.

"They'll say, 'If we get organized, if we have partnerships, if we have the leadership ... we can do it as well.' "

For Clark, the centre, which is slated for a spring opening, is exactly what's the community and the sport need.

"It's going to have a tremendous impact on the Fredericton community because it goes beyond the capital region," he said.

"This will be the centre for tennis east of Montreal."

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1457305

[cj6286]

I'm sure we've all heard about the historic apartment building burning down on the corner of Regent and Charlotte. My sympathy to anyone who has lost possessions and memories. Maybe this big parcel of land will open up to development and higher density housing? We'll see in the coming months...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2011/11/19/nb-fredericton-fire-charlotte-street.html

[OliverD]

Any development on that site will probably have to have a bit of a buffer with Regent Street so that the city can purchase that land in the future for widening Regent. Note that building was right beside the scuba shop that was moved back from Regent a couple years ago.

By the way, that place was a dump. Had some friends that lived there a few years ago. Definitely feel bad for the people that lost everything they had though.

I'm impressed they already tore the whole thing down, unlike the old apartment/church building on York and George that stood for months after it burned.

Snapped this pic yesterday on my way to the market:

http://p.twimg.com/AeoAwmFCAAAGCqV.jpg:large

[Justin6463]

Noticed the other day that there is a new Chinese restaurant and another Pita Pita going into the building on Prospect that Long&McQuaid used to be in.

[OliverD]

Good news about Pita Pit, I've been waiting for a decent sandwich/pita place to open uptown. Nothing but Subway right now.

[cj6286]

I found a cool pic of a bus in front of Kings Place. I'm not sure when it was taken, but I'm guessing 1970s or 80s? Also note the bench in the mid-left section- it would be nice to have seating there now! On a side note, currently the exterior of Kings Place is looking dirty and grimy, I say it's time for a clean up?

http://www.transitfan.com/gallery/var/albums/gmnewlook/nb/fredericton/220%20_Bob%20Hussey_.jpg?m=1286368428

[KnoxfordGuy]

It would be awesome if there was a place to sit! And the building really does need some TLC.

[KnoxfordGuy]

I'm pretty pumped to see what the new condos are going to look like and how well they are going to stand out on Forest Hill and Queen St. Queen St. is 6 floors and Forst Hill will be 7 right?

[OliverD]

Neither are condos IIRC.

[mylesmalley]

Good news about Pita Pit, I've been waiting for a decent sandwich/pita place to open uptown. Nothing but Subway right now.

I used to live next door to that building. I couldn't count how many trips I made on foot or by car to get Pita Pit downtown.

Not pleased this took that long to happen.

[KnoxfordGuy]

Neither are condos IIRC.

My bad. I guess I was using "condos" as a generic term as something better than the usual that goes up in Fredericton lol.

[Freddypop]

Published Saturday November 26th, 2011

North Star | Demolition of old bar clears way for sale

A1 By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN

mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

The dust will be flying at Fredericton's only strip bar Saturday when a contractor moves in to demolish the building for its owner, the City of Fredericton.

The city wasn't in the exotic dance business until last July when it purchased the family owned business in Devon for $500,000. The assessed value of the land and the buildings is $364,900.

The city got almost 6,000-square-metres of property in the deal, about 1.5-acres of serviced land.

At the upcoming Monday night city council meeting, there will be a proposal placed before councillors to resell the land to a private developer.
"It was a legal non-conforming business in the middle of the neighbourhood. The people who owned it, the family, wanted to get out of the business. It was an opportunity for the city to come in and move that business out," said Ward 4 (South Devon) Coun. Eric Megarity.

"There is some interest by a prospective buyer who wants to buy the property and put a development there. I don't know all the specific details of the final agreement, but that information will be coming forth," Megarity said Friday evening.
The city is demolishing the structure to leave a clean site to facilitate the land transfer, he said.

Megarity supported the deal when it was passed by council during the summer because he hoped it would be a catalyst in the redevelopment of his northside ward.

Councillors had closed-door briefings from the city's police force about the bar attracting an unsavory element.

A couple of members of the Bacchus outlaw motorcycle gang frequented the bar, but a member of the biker group denied reports that either they or the Hell's Angels bikers were looking to buy the property for a clubhouse.

Hell's Angels bikers were known to stop in for drinks while passing through the city.

Although getting rid of the bar - which was a magnet for a rougher drinking crowd and police were often called to the bar to break up fights - was part of the motivation for the deal, city development committee chairman Coun. Stephen Chase said that buying the property would be a good investment for city hall.

The bar was paying $15,826 in annual property and business taxes. The city got half of that revenue.

By purchasing the site, ripping down the building and enticing a developer to construct a medium to high-density apartment building or a condominium development, the city stands to gain closer to $70,000 a year in property tax revenue based on the estimated number of units the land could contain.

Even if it collected less than the $70,000 property tax estimate, for instance - even at half that figure - it would still be an annual tax revenue increase for the city, Chase said at the time.

Across the street along the banks of the St. John River, Greenarm Commercial Realty is marketing 35 units in its six-storey condo development with prices ranging from $250,000 for a smaller unit to almost $600,000 for a sixth floor unit that's the size of an upscale bungalow.

When fully sold, those condos will generate $150,000 annually in city taxes.

Coun. David Kelly and Marilyn Kerton both opposed purchasing the North Star, arguing that the city can't just buy up vacant or undesirable properties on a whim.

They argued if the site was valuable, a private developer would snap it up.

"Development is starting to move in a positive direction in (South Devon)," said Megarity said. "The value is in the land, whether we do something right away with it or develop it. It would be a good place for some condos close to a main artery. It's a perfect location for redevelopment.

"Half a million dollars is a lot of money, but when you look down to the future, that money will come back and more and come back every year in the form of tax base," he said.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/front/article/1459085

[cl812]

NRC staying in city - mayor
Published Wednesday November 30th, 2011
Good news | Woodside says IT centre is important and brings credibility to area
A1
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com

The National Research Council is staying in Fredericton, says Mayor Brad Woodside

He made the announcement Tuesday night at his annual state of the city address at the Fredericton Convention Centre.

"What I want to tell you is the NRC isn't going anywhere," the seven-term mayor told a crowd of more than 320 business and community leaders.

"It's going to retool and it's going to be stronger ... We will remain a smart, sustainable community."

The National Research Council-Institute for Information Technology is located on the University of New Brunswick campus and has been an incubator for numerous IT projects and startup companies.

Rumours about the centre's demise sent ripples of concern through the capital's influential information technology sector earlier this year.

"I was very fortunate today (Tuesday) to talk to Dr. Dan Wayners, vice-president (of the NRC) ... and we were concerned about the NRC," said Woodside.

"The NRC is a part of this community and brings a lot of credibility to exactly what we're doing and we've proven ... our successes, all the people employed in the IT sector.

"It is very, very important."

He said Wayners knows what this community has to offer.

"I'm thanking him for enlightening us today and bringing all the facts out," Woodside said.

In an interview after his speech, Woodside said Wayners couldn't tell him what the scale of the NRC is going to be anywhere in the country because of the retooling.

"But he has assured me that their focus is on information technology," said the mayor. "They plan on being a part of our future."

Woodside told the audience the IT sector is vital to Fredericton's future. He said the city did an economic development strategy years ago and decided to diversify away from government jobs.

"The stakeholders in this community all got together and they asked themselves the questions, what is our strengths, what is our weaknesses," said the mayor.

"And it was very evident. It's information technology."

The city decided to brand itself as a smart city, he said.

"We're not into the flavour of the month," said Woodside.

"We're into the flavour of the future."

He said the city has never gotten off track and is reaping the reward with a positive international reputation.

One of the benefits for Fredericton is a lot of migration to the city, said Woodside.

"We have a young community here," he said. "Others don't.

"If you don't have young people in your community, you're into a real downward spiral."

The mayor listed Fredericton's many accomplishments in 2011, including: a balanced budget for 2012; being named sixth-best place to live in Canada; having the eighth-best air quality in the world; passing the $100-million mark in development in 2011 after setting a record of $168 million in 2010; the city's tourism industry passing the $220-million mark; and citizen satisfaction rates are high, according to a survey.

"All the numbers indicate that we are stable despite the rest of the world," he said.

"We don't go real high and then get real low."

He said the recently announced balanced budget was an amazing feat considering the city's revenue is down $900,000 and the province just cut the unconditional grant by more than $100,000.

Woodside attributed the city's strong fiscal situation to good management.

"This has been a tremendous year for us," he said.

The state of the city address is sponsored by the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, and chamber president Andrew Steeves said the mayor delivered a positive message.

"Brad does a great job of summarizing where we are as a city, picking out the highlights and the strengths of the city and really inspiring a lot of people here to keep working hard and achieve more," he said.

Steeves said the turnout for the evening was excellent and far above the average attendance of about 200.

He said the city is well governed and in good shape financially.

"The fact that the city is holding the tax rate is very important," said Steeves.

"I do sense, maybe not so much for the city, but certainly for our country and our province, there's some tough times coming.

"We don't know where those cuts will occur but there will be cuts."

It was also announced at the state of the city address the Delta Fredericton Hotel won an Enbridge Gas NB green award.

The staff of the Fredericton Convention Centre also donated their time at the state of the city address by working the coat check in exchange for a small donation to Fredericton's Food Bank.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/1459994

[Steeple Shanks]

Noticed they have begun the demolition at Queen's Square