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  #81  
Old Posted Oct 12, 2007, 6:17 PM
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Funding ratio for convention centre still up in the air
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com
Published Friday October 12th, 2007
Appeared on page A3

The New Brunswick cabinet was briefed Thursday on the $80-million redevelopment project in the east end of downtown Fredericton, not just the $20-million convention centre.

The project includes a new office tower, a parking garage and the convention centre.

Minister of Supply and Services Roly MacIntyre said a final decision will be made soon.

"It is a document that will be coming forward for approval some time in the next week or so," he said in an interview after the cabinet meeting. "The premier has been briefed."

On Wednesday at the mayor's business breakfast, Premier Shawn Graham said the province was still committed to helping the city fund its new convention centre.

Some observers expected a funding announcement would be made by the premier Wednesday morning.

There were 13 Liberal MLAs in the audience in the council chamber for the premier's speech. The proposal hasn't been presented to cabinet.

The aging Centennial Building on King Street houses most of the government offices in Fredericton.

The city has proposed the provincial government occupy a new office building that would be part of the convention-centre complex.

But no funding arrangements have been finalized or made public.

"I can tell you that the way it is presently structured the province would be involved in their (new office) building and the city would be involved in the convention centre and the parking garage," said MacIntyre.

He said the three buildings are all on the same piece of land adjacent to The Playhouse so it only makes sense to co-ordinate the work.

"We don't want one construction going over here and more construction going (on over there)," he said.

MacIntyre said the next decision is how to pay for the complex.

"Will it be a public-private partnership?" he said. "Will it be financed by government?

"That is what will happen in the next two weeks. We will decide as a provincial government how we will do our portion of the project."

MacIntyre wouldn't comment on what would happen to the project if the federal government doesn't come through with its share of the funding.

"We are very optimistic that the federal government will go through."

Business New Brunswick Minister Greg Byrne -- in whose riding the project is located -- said it's important for the business community to have a new convention centre in the capital's downtown.

"Right now I know from talking to business leaders that there are conventions that cannot be held in the city because we do not have the capacity," he said. "It is a benefit to all the hotels and all the businesses."

"This will give us the capacity to have larger gatherings and certainly the local MLAs support that."

Byrne said he was confident the project would proceed.

"As you can see we have gone beyond the initial concept of the convention centre," he said.

"We are talking of a complex that would include an additional office (building) and a parking garage as well," said Byrne.

----------------

Irving says it's planning to restore train station
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com
Published Friday October 12th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside issued a public plea to the Irving family Thursday to do something about the crumbling York Street Train Station in downtown Fredericton.

And the Irvings responded.

Mary Keith, vice-president of communications for J.D. Irving Ltd., said the company plans to restore the train station.

"Our company has committed in writing its promise to refurbish the train station, including a schedule of repairs to be initiated and completed after review and approval by the City of Fredericton Heritage Preservation Review Board and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada,'' Keith said Thursday night.

"However, restoring the train station could cost up to $2 million and requires a viable commercial development to underwrite the repairs. Our efforts to find a viable commercial development still continue.''

In the meantime, Keith said, the company is reviewing the condition of the railway station to determine what winterization can occur safely and efficiently.

Woodside said Thursday the public has been talking about this issue and asking questions for a long time.

"The City of Fredericton and the council would dearly like to have this situation resolved."

The train station property is on a list of Canada's 10 most threatened heritage sites.

"It looks bad," said Woodside. "It is unacceptable in this community or in any other community.

"We are really hoping that the landowners will address it. That would please a lot of people. That is all we are asking."

An online petition calling for action by government on the train station was recently posted by the group Fredericton Friends of the Railway.

The mayor said the train station doesn't fall under the city's jurisdiction, and council cannot order the Irvings to clean it up.

The property is registered under the name Fredericton Railway Company, he said.

According to a recent legal opinion received by council, technically the property is treated like a Crown corporation, he said.

"If the city was of a mind to enforce its unsightly premises bylaw, in this particular case we have no jurisdiction.''

The mayor said the situation is complex.

"I can tell you that if the city did have jurisdictional rights, if the city could do something, the city would do something," he said.

"I just wanted to make sure that we made that clear to the public."

Woodside said city representatives spoke to Irving staff 10 days ago, and there may be some kind of deal in the works for the property.

"We have not been able to get confirmation," he said.

"We are crossing our fingers. We still want some movement on the property."

It's Woodside's understanding that except for the roof, the building is still structurally sound.

But he said the roof is deteriorating and should be looked after quickly.

"What we would like to have happen is that the rightful owners of the property at the very least inform the people of Fredericton exactly what is the status of the negotiations and if indeed there is some light at the end of the tunnel," said the mayor of Fredericton.
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  #82  
Old Posted Oct 17, 2007, 1:57 AM
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City hammers away at banner building year
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com
Published Tuesday October 16th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

Fredericton appears poised for another banner year in construction.

The city has seen $80.6 million in construction investment during the first nine months of 2007.

While the city won't shatter last year's whopping $132-million record, building is expected to surpass the $100-million mark for the second year in a row.

It's also on track to set a record for commercial construction.

The robust growth comes as no surprise to Marx Miles. He recently moved his business, Frank's Finer Diner, to Two Nations Crossing, almost doubling in size to 226 seats in the new location.

"I'm optimistic about the future here," Miles said Monday.

"What they're saying here is that this is going to be the north side's Prospect Street."

For Miles, who has owned the Fredericton restaurant for 24 years, the view outside looks promising.

Down the road the girders are in place for a new office complex and there's a buzz of activity across the street where crews are preparing the site for a new building supplies store.

It's the kind of retail activity that Coun. Mike O'Brien points to as giving Fredericton's economy a real slingshot effect: new businesses open up, more people move in and they need homes.

"The last three or four years in Fredericton have been a wondrous time," O'Brien said Monday.

"It shows that there's extreme confidence in the city from both the residents -- with the renovations they're making to their properties, their expansions or their decision to build a new home -- and the business community and through to the developers because they continue to build apartments, condominiums and homes to service the market that's here."

The city has seen $16 million in new commercial building. That's up from $9 million last year.

And upgrades to existing commercial buildings have topped $11 million, up from $6 million in 2006.

"Fredericton is the shopping destination centre for central New Brunswick and the Upper River Valley area," O'Brien said.

There's strong development in the residential sector too.

Construction of single-unit residences has accounted for $21 million so far this year. That's up from $16 million.

O'Brien is confident the overall $100-million threshold will be passed by year's end.

Commercial development continues along Two Nations Crossing, Cliffe Street and Bishop Drive.

The same will happen on the south side once work begins on a new sport and leisure centre there, he said.

Shovels are also in the ground at UNB's Corbett Brook Centre development on the south side, he said.

The growth taking place in Fredericton mirrors what's going on in a lot of mid-sized Canadian communities, says UNB economist David Murrell.

Fredericton, like Moncton and Saint John, is on the receiving end of the exodus from rural New Brunswick. And retailers are increasingly deciding to base large stores in regional service centres.

"That's happening all over Canada. You're getting medium-sized cities growing quite rapidly and you have rural communities losing their businesses," Murrell said.

That's mostly because of the opening of big-box stores in the larger communities that have the critical mass to support such businesses.

"Fredericton is emerging as a retail centre for western New Brunswick," he said.

Fredericton Chamber of Commerce general manager Anthony Knight said the local economy's growth in recent years has been "outstanding."

"It certainly says Fredericton is open for business and there are development opportunities in the city that anyone can take advantage of," he said.
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  #83  
Old Posted Oct 21, 2007, 3:50 PM
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Can anyone tell me what the new building there putting up on two nations crossing is going to be??
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  #84  
Old Posted Oct 21, 2007, 9:21 PM
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A fire hall. It's going to replace the ones in Marysville and Devon.
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Old Posted Oct 24, 2007, 10:54 AM
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ok, thx
i heard theres going to be one in silverwood too next year
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  #86  
Old Posted Oct 24, 2007, 5:03 PM
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Two articles in today's Gleaner about historic buildings that keep falling apart...

Groups opt to work together to save station
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com
Published Wednesday October 24th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

Parties that want the York Street train station restored are getting on the same track to ensure the historic building's future.

J.D. Irving Ltd., the federal, provincial, and municipal governments and Fredericton Friends of the Railway Inc. will begin meeting as a committee.

The station is listed as one of Canada's 10 most-threatened heritage sites.

Mayor Brad Woodside recently pressed Irving to make repairs so the red-brick structure built in 1923 would survive winter.

Representatives from the various levels of government and Irving attended an information meeting Tuesday night.

"We're encouraged by the different levels of government interested in finding a resolution," said Mary Keith, vice-president of communications for J.D. Irving Ltd.

The company has owned the property since 1995. Keith outlined their efforts to find a commercial development that would underwrite the up to $2 million it would cost to restore the building to Heritage Canada's standards.

None of them has come to pass.

"I think we've been committed all along to find a way in which the restoration might occur. We worked hard to try to realize a commercial development," Keith said.

Woodside said it's going to take the involvement of everyone.

Business New Brunswick Minister Greg Byrne was the first to step up to the plate, telling the audience he was confident he could "find seed money for a feasibility study."

Some people suggested the newly formed New Brunswick Capital Commission should focus its efforts on the station.

Woodside also pointed to the federal government as a possible source of financing to restore the glory of the York Street building.

Rail station restoration projects in Bristol and McAdam -- which were owned by non-profit groups -- each received more than $800,000 in funding, he said.

"We have to come up with some innovative ways to access other ways of funding and ask J.D. Irving to be a partner, and I think they will be."

But he said it shouldn't fall on the private company to do it out of goodwill.

"Don't expect J.D. Irving to just take the $2 million and absorb it and say we're being good citizens."

Michel Audy, executive secretary of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, said the legislation that protects the building from alterations and demolition is a stop gap to give owners time to address the situation.

But he said the federal government will rarely carry the ball on the projects. The York Street station is one of 166 across the country that have been designated as historic by Parks Canada.

"I've yet to see a community group pull off such a project," Audy said.

Such a project needs private-sector involvement, he said.

Noreen Barwise, a commercial realtor who lives a block and a half from the station, said the parties involved can't let another opportunity for commercial development slip by like it did in 2000.

"If people feel passionately about restoring the station, $1.5 million just isn't that hard to get. I'm sure some of those people at the table have some way to raise that very quickly and I think you'll see them do it," she said.

The weathered station's roof is sagging in spots and holes can be seen. Its condition has people worried the building won't survive winter.

Engineers and an architect working for J.D. Irving visited the station last week to assess the building and suggest ways to winterize it. Keith said she expects their report shortly.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


York House might be saved
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com
Published Wednesday October 24th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

The city has presented Brunswick Street Baptist Church with a proposal that would see the historic York House saved.

The plan involves the acquisition of several properties, said Mayor Brad Woodside.

But he offered few specifics about the plan Tuesday night.

"It's a very complex issue dealing with multiple landowners, a variety of people and organizations, and we're very, very close to the deadline we agreed to, which is the 30th of October," said Woodside.

The city has been working since June to acquire the building. That move came after church members voted to demolish the historic red-brick landmark to make way for a new building that would better serve their needs.

City officials had been trying to assemble other plots of land that would allow the church to meet its goals.

Putting the proposal together wasn't a simple task, Woodside said.

"There are so many pieces to this puzzle. We've done everything humanly possible to bring this to resolution, to satisfy the church and also retain this very beautiful historic building.

"Our city staff has done just a phenomenal job in putting together a proposal that we're able to propose to the church congregation.''

A church spokesman had yet to see details of the proposal Tuesday night.

"We're eager to take a look at it and see what they have to offer," said Paul Greene.

"If it's something that's workable, we'll take it to the congregation and they will decide," he said.

The congregation tried to strike a deal that would have seen the downtown landmark saved, Greene said.

York House was built 114 years ago. It was designed by James C. Dumaresq, who also designed the provincial legislature, George Street School and St. Paul's Church.

The church bought it from the city in the 1960s for $81,000.

If York House is purchased by the city, it may end up being used for office space.

In its last budget, the city allocated $400,000 to find more downtown office space.
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  #87  
Old Posted Oct 27, 2007, 12:09 PM
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heres a picture of frederick square1 (right) and frederick sqare2 (left)
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  #88  
Old Posted Oct 27, 2007, 4:17 PM
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[FYI...there was a story about this on CBC TV at 6 last night and they said the names of exactly which stores were coming to Corbett Centre: Winners, Michael's, East Side Mario's and Montana's.]

Building boom should continue, mayor says
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com
Published Saturday October 27th, 2007
Appeared on page A7

Fredericton is healthy and growing, according to members of the committee that oversees planning in the city.

Committee members and city officials visited about 50 construction sites around the city Friday for a first-hand look at the development going on.

"It's hard to believe this is going on in a city the size of Fredericton," said Zona Bovingdon, a resident and one of the five members of the public on the city's planning advisory committee.

She sad she's impressed by the results of the applications the committee has considered.

"To come out and see the finished product, and the new developments being developed, is so phenomenal "¦ It's just forever progressing," she said.

The city appears to be headed for another banner year in construction. The value of construction in the city has broken the $80-million mark for 2007.

All indications are that the trend will continue, said Mayor Brad Woodside.

"It's not going to stop. We've still got a good couple of years ahead of us," Woodside said Friday, as he looked at the progress being made on commercial work at Corbett Centre at the intersection of Regent Street and Knowledge Park Drive.

"I'm not so sure you could find any big pieces of equipment like they're using here and the site at Two Nations Crossing sitting around not being used."

Members checked on housing developments, the off-ramp being built on the north side of the Westmorland Street Bridge and construction at the Corbett Centre, among other things.

The tour is an opportunity to see what's going on and observe partnerships such as the one with the University of New Brunswick for development of the Corbett Centre, said public committee member Jim McElman

He said he was impressed not only with the volume and quality of work, but by the workmanship that developers are putting into the projects by way of additional green spaces, flower gardens and extra trees.

"The bottom line is it provides a much stronger tax base to provide the amenities we all expect of the community."
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Old Posted Nov 5, 2007, 9:40 PM
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Clock ticking on demolition of historic Fredericton building
Last Updated: Monday, November 5, 2007 | 12:34 PM AT
CBC News

The City of Fredericton is still trying to come to an agreement with the Brunswick Street Baptist Church to prevent the demolition of a 114-year-old building. But the church is saying that time is running out.

The historic York House is owned by the church, which announced in June that it would be tearing down the building to make space for new offices and classrooms.

"We do have to move forward," said church representative Paul Green. "The need is urgent for more space."

The church is already holding adult education classes in a funeral home across the street, Green said.

Church administrators told the city it would consider not tearing down the building if a replacement property for their developments could be found near the church.

Since the summer, the city staff has been working to acquire two or three properties that would accommodate the church's request.

But they've hit a stumbling block with a building owned by the Catholic Knights of Columbus, which is only willing to give up their nearby space if a land swap can be arranged.

"We think we're making some progress in acquiring that property," said Mayor Brad Woodside. "But the problem is we had to find another piece of property somewhere else that will suit their needs as well."

The deal is simply a matter of time, Woodside said.

Green said church has already waited longer than it expected.
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Old Posted Nov 9, 2007, 8:11 PM
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Not betting on new casino
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com
Published Friday November 9th, 2007
Appeared on page A1

Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside doesn't want a casino in the capital.

"I would be quite pleased to let the other communities fight this one out," he said Thursday.

The Liberal government unveiled its new gambling policy, which allows for a single casino in New Brunswick by 2010.

Woodside said he knows that casinos bring money to a community, but they also bring heartache and problems.

"The winner may end up being the loser," said Woodside about the community that gets the casino. "I have never been a big supporter of casinos."

Under the Liberal gambling policy, the new casino will be built with private money at a cost of between $30 million and $35 million.

That would make it about the size of the Halifax Casino. It's expected to generate $50 million a year in revenue, half of which goes to the province.

The proposed casino could -- but doesn't have to -- include a race track, hotel and convention centre.

"Fredericton ... is a smart city," said Woodside. "We are doing quite well."

He said there is nothing he wants more than to have Fredericton grow and to maintain the capital's quality of life.

But the mayor also stressed he wasn't speaking for council.

"I am not a one-man show. It hasn't been discussed by council."

Brian Duplessis, executive director of the Fredericton Emergency Shelters, said he was pleased with the increase in addiction services funding and the reduction in VLTs.

"We certainly see here the effects of the addictions with VLTs," he said. "There are people whose lives are destroyed by VLT gambling so the reduction of them by any amount is positive.

"The availability is certainly harmful to those who have addictions."

Duplessis said it will be important that additional addiction services money is used properly.

He said the shelter would be pleased to be involved in any consultation process.

Fredericton Chamber of Commerce general manager Anthony Knight said involving the private sector is the right approach.

"We don't believe government should be directly involved in how it (gambling) operates on a day-to-day basis," he said. "The private sector has the expertise.

"It is a progressive step taken by the provincial government. Overall, it has a lot of the right parts."

Knight said the chamber will be consulting with its members on the impact of the new gambling policy on Fredericton's economy.

Chamber members include restaurants and bars, which will be affected by changes to VLT regulations.

Under the new gambling policy, all VLTs will be out of restaurants by April 1, 2009. There will be new regulations affecting multiple licenses for one building which allowed operators to get around the restrictions of five VLTs per licence to create mini-VLT casinos.

Operators will also be required to take mandatory addiction services training.

Gerald Normandeau, president of the Tourism Industry Association of New Brunswick, welcomed the changes.

"Some bar owners who will have video lottery terminals taken away will definitely be confronted with loss of revenue," he said. "However, if we look at this policy in its entirety, it offers interesting potential for the tourism association.

"A casino in the province would certainly be an additional attraction to stimulate visitation to New Brunswick.''

Normandeau said the association polled its members and 69.2 per cent support the idea of a destination casino.

Real Robichaud, executive director of the association, said the group will be meeting with Finance Minister Victor Boudreau to get more details of the gambling policy.

Bill Rutsey, president and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, said the new direction strikes a balance between social responsibility and access to gambling.

"It's very, very well thought out," he said. "You're going to have some economic development here.

"You're going to have some more jobs."

He said he expects big gaming companies such as Great Canadian Casinos and Harrah's -- which operates the casino in Windsor, Ont., -- to be interested in the government's request for proposals to build and operate a casino.

Rutsey said any casino would have to be close to a larger population base.

Wayne Steeves, Opposition public safety critic, said he would've preferred to see a referendum on the issue of casinos in the municipal election in May.

"This was not in the charter for change," he said, referring to the Liberal election campaign platform.
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Old Posted Nov 10, 2007, 8:38 PM
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I noticed the web drawing on the Corbett Centre site has been updated and shows more tenants going in there

http://www.trinity-group.com/index.php?q=node/135
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Old Posted Nov 13, 2007, 7:29 PM
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[The definition of out-of-control NIMBYism...]

Councillors to debate rezoning of Dundonald Street building
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com
Published Tuesday November 13th, 2007
Appeared on page A3

A proposed zoning change that would see an existing building at 247 Dundonald St. converted into a six-unit apartment will be up for debate at tonight's city council meeting.

Residents of the block, located between Northumberland and Westmorland streets, have made their opposition to the move known.

In recent days, many have put Save Our Street banners in their windows to object to the amendment requested by Fredericton Non-Profit Housing Corp.

Residents are concerned that if the rezoning happens, it will set a precedent for future apartment conversions on their block.

The housing corporation said the location is perfect because it's downtown, near public transit routes and close to amenities.

Proponents and opponents will state their cases to city council tonight. Councillors are to hear first and second readings of the proposed zoning amendment at the meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m.

"Why would city council even consider rezoning this as the property is in the downtown plat and complies with the secondary plan adopted by city council? That's what's bothering me," said Sandra Sutherland, who lives next door to the property being proposed for rezoning.

She wants the city to send a clear message to residents that neighborhoods can have stability.

Fredericton Non-Profit Housing Corp. will make its case that it needs to rezone the property, which used to house law offices, to create a six-unit apartment.

It will respond to the concerns of locals during the meeting, said Sheldon Archibald, the organization's chairman.

"We will be making a presentation then as to what we want to do with the building," he said.

"We're a developer like any other ... It's up to council to decide whether they want future development in that area or not," Archibald said.
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Old Posted Nov 18, 2007, 8:54 PM
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Mazzucas to serve, insult for last time at year's end
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com
Published Saturday November 17th, 2007
Appeared on page A3

A beloved downtown retail landmark in Fredericton is closing its doors for good after more than eight decades in business.

The last day for Mazzuca's variety store is scheduled for Dec. 31.

"This is our 84th year in business and I have been here for 67 years of those 84," said co-owner John Mazzuca on Friday.

"We have been thinking about this for the last year or two," said the 72-year-old businessman. "It was a hard choice but we feel this is the time to do it."

He runs the store on York Street with his brother Gus.

"I have a hole in my heart and a hole in my stomach when I think about this," said Gus, 68. "I don't know. It is going to be hard. It really is."

The two brothers took the reins of the store when their father passed away.

Any organization that wants to sell tickets in the city works with the Mazzucas. They have hobnobbed with political, business and sports stars.

"We've known a lot of people," said John.

They are most famous for their gruff attitude with their customers and for having dog biscuits on hand for anyone walking their dog on York Street.

Former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna once said that whenever he got a swelled head from meeting with Toronto power brokers, all he had to do was drop into the store.

The brothers say they treat their customers the way they treat each other.

"We give them our piece of mind and they take it and laugh about it," said Gus.

He said what he will miss the most is the store's Saturday morning coffee club and the banter with their friends and customers.

"We have many, many good friends and many good customers and friendship is a wonderful thing," said John. "We have a good time and laugh and joke."

But he said working 14 hours a day is getting hard as they get older.

"We get up at 5:30 in the morning and open up at seven," he said. "It's just at the point where it's getting the best of you. My health could be better than it is. It is one of those things."

He said customers who heard they are closing are saying they don't believe it.

"They are going to have to believe it," he said.

Gus said the business is still profitable.

He said the building has been sold but not the business.

"The business is going to close and that is it," he said. "It has been 84 years under one family and we just feel that is good enough to keep it that way."

The brothers said after the store closes, they will have time to play more golf and travel.

"Then we will just have to wait and see what happens," said Gus. "I know I am not going to be able to sit around the house and do nothing all day."

Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside said Gus called him and warned him before going public about the closure.

"I was quite speechless when Gus called me," he said. "You really expect Mazzuca's to be there forever."

He described the Mazzuca brothers as a couple of unique characters.

"They have been around for a long, long time and provided a lot of great service to the community and a lot of great entertainment to the community as well," said Woodside.

"It's one of the few places that you can go to in town and be insulted and feel good about it.

"The city will not be the same with the departure of these two guys."

Hal Pennell, a sales and rentals clerk at Tony's Music Box on Queen Street, is one of the regulars at Mazzuca's Saturday morning coffee club.

He was in shock Friday after hearing the news.

"I am very surprised," said Pennell. "It's going to be something that we are going to miss terribly. We have been accustomed to Mazzuca's just being there for so long as a place to drop in and suffer the abuse from John and Gus."

He said he first started visiting the store in the fall of 1966, the year he arrived from Cape Breton. He quickly learned Mazzuca's was the place to go for newspapers or smokes or tickets for events.

"Cry," he replied, when asked what he was going to do now on instead of going to Mazzuca's for coffee.

"Saturday morning I will have to stay home and have a coffee and think of better times. It's going to be quite a change."
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  #94  
Old Posted Nov 23, 2007, 9:24 PM
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Has anyone heard anything about another starbucks opening in Fredericton? I saw a job posting for a new starbucks on the internet but it didnt say where.

http://www.careerbeacon.com/jobbeaco...0/MB0711013380
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  #95  
Old Posted Nov 23, 2007, 9:41 PM
michael_d40 michael_d40 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cl812 View Post
Has anyone heard anything about another starbucks opening in Fredericton? I saw a job posting for a new starbucks on the internet but it didnt say where.

http://www.careerbeacon.com/jobbeaco...0/MB0711013380
Probably a kiosk location in Regent Mall,

Thats what they did in Saint John, and then Moncton... So i assume Fredericton would be next
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  #96  
Old Posted Nov 23, 2007, 10:21 PM
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cool, thanks
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  #97  
Old Posted Nov 28, 2007, 6:30 AM
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Tuesday's Daily Gleaner
Quote:
Council narrowly passes zoning change for housing project

By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com
Published Tuesday November 27th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
It was a tight vote Monday night as Fredericton city councillors approved rezoning of 247 Dundonald St. to six-unit residential for a non-profit housing project.

The motion, which encountered opposition from a group of residents on the block, passed five-to-four with one abstention.

Two councillors who were absent for the first and second readings Nov. 13 couldn't participate in the final decision.

Councillors were polarized. One camp was determined to see council take the steps needed to support affordable housing, while the other called on colleagues to support the existing secondary plan for the area.

Several neighbourhood residents voiced their frustration with the outcome.

"We're decidedly disappointed," said resident Terry Fitzgerald late Monday night.

"I think they manipulated the municipal and the secondary plan to their advantage," she said of council.

Neighbours, she said, will seek recourse in the courts.

"We're not done yet. We're going to hold them to a two-unit. That's our current zoning."

City staff had recommended the zoning change requested by Fredericton Non-Profit Housing Corp., saying it fit into the area's secondary plan.

The building was originally introduced to council as a six-unit with four designated for single units and two to be used as two-person units.

Floor plans provided to councillors showed six single-person units.

Eldon Toner, properties manager for Fredericton Non-Profit Housing Corp., said the group offered that as a compromise.

He said they'll consider which floor plan to use.

"We're going to have to think about it now," he said, adding they could go either way.

Councillors Walter Brown, Scott McConaghy, Dan Keenan, Tony Whalen and Mike O'Brien supported the zoning amendment.

Councillors Stephen Kelly and Cathy MacLaggan -- who had voiced the most opposition to the proposal -- were joined by councillors Marilyn Kerton and Tommy Jellinek in voting against it.

Councillors Bruce Grandy and Nora Davidson couldn't vote on the final reading because they hadn't been part of the first set of proceedings.

Coun. David Kelly, who serves as council's appointment to the non-profit corporation's board, abstained from the vote.

Most councillors spoke on the motion before the vote was taken.

"I just regret that it didn't come in their favour," said Stephen Kelly, who represents the ward. "It was a very difficult situation because I believe so sincerely in housing alternatives whether they be affordable or non-profit, especially in a situation where Fredericton Non-Profit is such a great developer.

"But at the same time, I have greater issues facing me as the councillor for Ward 10, and that is the secondary plan and a degradation of that plan by decisions of council that basically don't support the intent of that plan.''

McConaghy said the issue was a test of council's resolve to provide non-profit housing.

"I actually believe this one has a lot to do with the applicant just because it is non-profit housing."

"If you're going to have affordable housing, you can't have it in some kind of mythical place that's on the edge of the city away from bus service ... This is close to the city, close to bus routes, close to shopping. This is a place where people who don't have their own transportation can take full part in our city," McConaghy said.

Jellinek proposed an amendment that would have limited the developer to six single-person units. That amendment required the unanimous consent of voting councillors but was opposed by Kelly and MacLaggan.

"That is unfortunate," Jellinek said after the amendment failed.

"If I thought for one minute that this was not legal, we would not end up doing it," said Brown.

"I know in one year ... people are going to say I wonder what all the fuss was about."

He suggested that if the rezoning failed, residents might not get as good an organization as Fredericton Non-Profit next door.

MacLaggan said she believes every councillor is aware of the need for affordable housing.

But she said it had nothing to do with who will live there.

"This is a zoning issue, it has nothing to do with who is actually asking for the rezoning."

Keenan said he couldn't understand why colleagues had voted against the amendment that would've seen the number of residents in the building reduced to six.

O'Brien, who chairs the city's ad-hoc committee on affordable housing, said that despite representations that the secondary plan for the area limits zoning, the city's municipal plan challenges councillors to act decisively to develop affordable housing.

"The wording is 'where appropriate.' I would argue that this location is appropriate. It's near amenities, it's near bus routes."

Whalen and Kerton made no comments before voting.
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  #98  
Old Posted Nov 28, 2007, 9:14 PM
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There's now a sign saying phase 2 of Frederick Square is now leasing. About time they got rid of that dumpy gravel parking lot in the middle of downtown.
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  #99  
Old Posted Nov 29, 2007, 3:41 AM
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I'm hoping to get out with a camera to get some pictures of the developments in this thread. Hopefully be able to post them by Monday.
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  #100  
Old Posted Nov 29, 2007, 8:12 PM
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This building could get up sooner than later, its always more easy for a city that provides public jobs.
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