Past Saint John Plans and Proposals

[Helladog]

Over the years, I've come across many conceptual drawings and project renderings, many of which never saw the light of day, and some of which changed dramatically by the time the project actually got rolling.

I'll start this thread with some drawings of the market square area from 1946 and 1969:

1946


Master Plan of the Municipality of the City and County of Saint John

1969


Comprehensive Community Plan

[Helladog]

As the uptown was the main shopping district at the time, it seems that city planners were trying to integrate that into King Street.

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Comprehensive Community Plan, 1969

[josh_cat_eyes]

I would like to see the proposals of the thruway. I know they had another plan to build the highway north of the city.

[CdnEh]

Brunswick Square expansion

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

I would like to see the proposals of the thruway. I know they had another plan to build the highway north of the city.

That plan, IIRC, was the primary reason why the Regional Hospital and UNBSJ are located where they are. I dream of both being located on the Uptown peninsula.

[kwajo]

There are some very recent lost projects, like these:

Fort Dufferin Condos


Long Wharf IOL HQ


300 Germain


Gothic Arches Condos

[Helladog]

Originally Posted by josh_cat_eyes

I would like to see the proposals of the thruway. I know they had another plan to build the highway north of the city.

I'll keep my eye out when I'm at the library.

[Helladog]

Originally Posted by kwajo

There are some very recent lost projects, like these:


Gothic Arches Condos

T'was a shame to loose that one. The property is for sale again, however.

[Helladog]

Here's one showing the proposed bridge (Harbour Bridge), though it doesn't appear to include a throughway in this sketch...
Master Plan of the Municipality of the City and County of Saint John

This one is also from 1946, 20-years before the real bridge got going.

[josh_cat_eyes]

I think i might have found it!

There is some great pics on this site too!
http://website.nbm-mnb.ca/Transition.../galleries.asp

[Helladog]

Peel Plaza Dreams

[Helladog]

Peel Plaza Dreams 😂

[CdnEh]

Originally Posted by Helladog

Here's one showing the proposed bridge (Harbour Bridge), though it doesn't appear to include a throughway in this sketch...
Master Plan of the Municipality of the City and County of Saint John

This one is also from 1946, 20-years before the real bridge got going.

This would've been so much nicer than the monstrosity we ended up getting that has absolutely zero aesthetic value whatsoever.

[Walk then Run]

The 60's architecture sucked...at least its not that gross looking green anymore. They also seemed to have not considered water craft sailing under the bridge, unless they were thinking of another option...drawbridge??? That would have been cool.

Now, IF Saint John did start to grow again at a pace that warrented an alternative highway system this would require really great ideas as we do have a complex geographic area (water and rocks), that could get quite costly. But, not a great worry as of now or for the foreseeable future.

[Ire Narissis]

I actually like the Harbour Bridge; I think the arched girder design looks graceful. Though I preferred it before the restoration - the drab concrete barriers and off-the-shelf light standards robbed it of much of its character. Would have liked to have at least seen some bespoke lighting on it, though I know that would have been too costly.

The blue paint colour is definitely a huge improvement over the green, though. No argument there.

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by Ire Narissis

I actually like the Harbour Bridge; I think the arched girder design looks graceful. Though I preferred it before the restoration - the drab concrete barriers and off-the-shelf light standards robbed it of much of its character. Would have liked to have at least seen some bespoke lighting on it, though I know that would have been too costly.

The blue paint colour is definitely a huge improvement over the green, though. No argument there.

I agree, while the green colour wasn't the greatest, the original light standards and side rails were at least interesting and gave it character that it is lacking now. The overall shape is quite pleasing and frames the view from the Bentley/Chesley area very well.

[McKay]

Originally Posted by Walk then Run

They also seemed to have not considered water craft sailing under the bridge, unless they were thinking of another option...drawbridge??? That would have been cool.

I believe that's a lift bridge. I thought it was meant to be a suspension bridge until I noticed the lack of cables.

[Ire Narissis]

Originally Posted by McKay

I believe that's a lift bridge. I thought it was meant to be a suspension bridge until I noticed the lack of cables.

Yep; it's labelled beneath the sketch as "Harbour Bridge (lift span) and approaches".