The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[Joe]

Great photos as always Eric. Has anyone thought of adding a Saint John photo section?

[ErickMontreal]

Thanks Joe!

Pita Pit will be opening in the former Quiznos space soon.

[WilJai]

I have been told the AQ has been torn down...

[Whaler]

Originally Posted by WilJai

I have been told the AQ has been torn down...

Not true!

[Whaler]

The city has lost two projects in the last couple of years because of city hall.
Irving building on the water front and the Hardman project at the coast guard site.
Management at city hall must be changed or improved in order to move this city ahead.
It is a shame most can't see this!

[Chadillaccc]

Originally Posted by Southpaw78

Fundy quay zoning sets sail

Reid Southwick

Telegraph-Journal
24 Apr 2012 11:57AM

SAINT JOHN – Common Council signalled intentions Monday to rezone a large waterfront property, allowing for the construction of condominiums, retail space, offices and a hotel at the former Coast Guard site.

The politicians gave early approval to an application to rezone the site from its existing designation that allowed for Coast Guard operations to one that would make way for the mixed-use project.

Kent MacIntyre, general manager of Saint John Development Corp., said he was asking council to rezone the land before his group secures developers for the project because the move would signal that city hall is committed to the project.

MacIntyre, whose agency is working on the proposal on behalf of city hall, said his group was trying to remove any possible irritants in a bid to attract top developers and investors. He said several potential proponents that his group has approached are from outside of New Brunswick and can spend their money anywhere.

“To demonstrate that we are business-friendly and investment-friendly adds to the amount of influence we can have in getting developers and investors here sooner than later,” he told council during a public hearing.

The politicians unanimously gave first and second reading to a bylaw amendment that would allow for the new zoning, paving the way for final approval in a couple weeks. Council will hold another public hearing to approve designs once they are ready.

MacIntyre’s group has hired a global real estate firm to find investors and developers willing to build the large-scale commercial development, which has been a dream for city politicians for years.

Cushman & Wakefield Atlantic is working to identify a core group of proponents with the experience and financial capability to construct a mix of commercial and residential units at the former Coast Guard site.

Bill MacAvoy, managing director of Cushman & Wakefield Atlantic, said earlier this year that two major international hotel brands that are not present in the Saint John market had expressed great interest in the former Coast Guard site, now called Fundy Quay.

MacAvoy said in the earlier interview that more than one proponent would likely be involved in a final deal. He said the vast array of real estate planned for the site – office space, retail, residential and hospitality – would demand expertise from several players.

The Hardman Group, a Halifax real estate company, walked away from an estimated $85-million deal to build restaurants, offices, retail space, condominiums and a hotel at the former Coast Guard site last November.

The company said at the time it took too long for the city to secure the property from the federal government and lost its window of opportunity.

Undeterred, Saint John Development Corp. hired Cushman & Wakefield in January and has set a June deadline to review proposals from bidders.

Meanwhile, city hall has acquired the first half of the property and is expected to assume ownership of the second half on June 30. The total acquisition is expected to cost $2.8 million.

Fantastic news for St. John! This could end up being one of the largest projects ever for the city!

[michael_d40]

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

Fantastic news for St. John!

Saint John

[sjuser23]

Originally Posted by Whaler

The city has lost two projects in the last couple of years because of city hall.
Irving building on the water front and the Hardman project at the coast guard site.
Management at city hall must be changed or improved in order to move this city ahead.
It is a shame most can't see this!

Well this is totally uninformed dribble. Where do you get your information, the funny pages? As far as i have read, the City facilitated the Irving project and enabled the land swap, but Irving backed out, possibly due to change in economic conditions and the second refinery etc... The coast guard site delay was the work of the Federal government, not wanting to sell the land until they were good and ready, the City has been waiting to make the purchase but you can't make someone sell you something. Not sure how any informed person could blame the City management for something they have no control over. "it rained today, damn those managers!"

[KnoxfordGuy]

So sad to hear about another historic building being destroyed in uptown Saint John.

[ErickMontreal]

Originally Posted by KnoxfordGuy

So sad to hear about another historic building being destroyed in uptown Saint John.

Indeed and you know what ? The fire was deliberately set.

Shame on those "gangsta", way too many of those bastards in this city.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-br...john-fire.html

[Whaler]

Originally Posted by sjuser23

Well this is totally uninformed dribble. Where do you get your information, the funny pages? As far as i have read, the City facilitated the Irving project and enabled the land swap, but Irving backed out, possibly due to change in economic conditions and the second refinery etc... The coast guard site delay was the work of the Federal government, not wanting to sell the land until they were good and ready, the City has been waiting to make the purchase but you can't make someone sell you something. Not sure how any informed person could blame the City management for something they have no control over. "it rained today, damn those managers!"

Speaking of dribble.........
I got this at City Hall. I know two managers that have admitted this!
Put that in your pipe and smoke it!!

[Ire Narissis]

Originally Posted by Whaler

Speaking of dribble.........
I got this at City Hall. I know two managers that have admitted this!
Put that in your pipe and smoke it!!

It's still drivel. As if the Irvings have ever let City Hall stand in the way of their plans. Plus, construction was started on that project before it got cancelled. It wouldn't even have gotten that far if City Hall was at fault; they're not about to stop an Irving project when it's already underway. And sjuser is right, the city can only buy the coast guard quay when the federal government is ready to sell. The city has been chomping at the bit to get their hands on it for years; how can you possibly blame City Hall for that?

[JHikka]

It's comforting to know that when people in the Fredericton, Moncton, Halifax, and St. John's threads are talking about exciting new proposals and developments in their areas, I can always come back to the Saint John thread to find people bickering and arguing over City Hall, the Irvings, or anything else that comes up.

- - - -

I'll be getting before-and-after pictures of the Lyric Threatre up at some point this weekend.

Here's the before, for what it's worth:



Photo by me.

[mylesmalley]

Did the whole block go up or just the one building?

[RR Drummer]

Yes the fire is a shame. Any loss due to a fire is never good, however it's worse to find out that it was deliberately set. And not only that but the danger it posed to the other buildings not to mention residents. This was bad but the potential could have been much worse or even fatal. Thankful the the SJFD and others responded quickly and took care of the situation. I hope that the space can once again find use and purpose, most likely parking, but you never know.

In other news I was in McAllister place today, first time walking through in a while and the new stores look nice as do the new washrooms in the former Lawton's location. Cadillac Fairview has done a superb job in recent years in making the Mall attractive to consumers and tenants.

[WilJai]

Originally Posted by Whaler

Not true!

a friend of mine lives on the west side and said the AQ is gone...

[nwalbert]

I noticed this week that the OshGosh and Carters stores are now open. Only locations in NB which is another positive sign for the SJ retail market.

[Helladog]

Originally Posted by GregHickman

It's comforting to know that when people in the Fredericton, Moncton, Halifax, and St. John's threads are talking about exciting new proposals and developments in their areas, I can always come back to the Saint John thread to find people bickering and arguing over City Hall, the Irvings, or anything else that comes up.

You forgot about the pompous arses that come on here and state the obvious.

[nwalbert]

Originally Posted by helladog

you forgot about the pompous arses that come on here and state the obvious.

lol!

[Whaler]

Originally Posted by WilJai

a friend of mine lives on the west side and said the AQ is gone...

The Coop is gone....not the AQ!!!