Official Fredericton, NB projects thread

[cl812]

IT park to grow
Published Friday February 6th, 2009
City | Knowledge Park wants to develop 14 more buildings
A1
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

Knowledge Park officials have unveiled an ambitious plan to develop more office space to meet the future needs of the city's burgeoning technology industries.

The plan calls for the development of 14 additional buildings to serve as a base for clusters of companies in information technology, biotechnology, forestry, health care and advanced learning sectors.

It's a response to a growing need for space among those companies.

Conceptual drawings call for the addition of the buildings on land between Knowledge Park Drive and the Hugh John Flemming Forestry Complex.

The pace of development will depend on demand, but proponents are expecting things to take off.

"It's the right time and the right place for this kind of approach," said Greg Kealey, president of Knowledge Park's board of directors.

He's also provost and vice-president of research at the University of New Brunswick.

"Fredericton is home to a uniquely robust and mature technology sector," he said.

Construction of the first of those buildings could be announced in six to eight weeks.

The park, which is owned by Enterprise Fredericton, has three buildings. They were opened in 1999, 2001 and 2003, respectively.

New space for emerging tech-based industries in the city is needed. As it stands, only about two per cent of the office space at Knowledge Park is available.

That's problematic for local businesses looking to expand.

"The difficulty we face at the moment is that often people come and want space immediately, but we're always in a position where we need the people before we can build the building," said Laura O'Blenis, general manager of Knowledge Park.

In fact, one company is moving out because it needed more space than was available, Kealey said.

"Unfortunately, we lost a very good tenant, one that I was particularly attached to because it was a spinoff company from the University of New Brunswick, but we just didn't have place to accommodate them. That's Q1 Labs. They're leaving the park to go to Bishop Drive."

Many business parks and incubation centres view 15 per cent vacancy as an ideal, O'Blenis said.

In Fredericton, she said, there's only one per cent vacancy for Class A office space - the office space that includes a foyer and elevators.

That's hindering business development, she said.

The addition of 14 buildings would add 650,000 square feet of office space.

Kealey said companies that are doing research and development are key to the economy.

At UNB, $50 million in research is paid for through private funding, he said.

"Half of that is spent on the people doing the research."

Now is the time to make the investment, he said.

"Especially in times of economic uncertainty, we must plan, build and strategize so that we're equipped and ready to take advantage of long-term opportunities."

O'Blenis said it's an investment in the community's long-term economic vitality.

"The employment opportunities that they provide are gainful employment opportunities and ones that we hope future generations will be able to work at."

Mayor Brad Woodside said the plans are a clear sign Fredericton won't rest on its laurels.

Diversification of the local economy away from reliance on the civil service has been a cornerstone for years, he said.

"We're extremely motivated in what we're doing and we won't let up," the mayor said.

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Deal to buy city market is close
Published Friday February 6th, 2009
A1
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

A deal that would see the province acquire the Boyce Farmers Market is close, say sources with knowledge of the negotiations.

Details are still being hammered out, but a proposal is expected to be presented in the coming weeks.

"The way it would work is that the province would buy it and the city would run it," said one individual familiar with the talks.

The city, in turn, could leave the management to a third party, such as a non-profit community service group. York County Properties would remain involved for six months to help out with the transition.

"The city and the province are working out the details," the source said.

Two other individuals said details should be made public soon.

Mayor Brad Woodside has previously stated that the city would be willing to participate on a board of directors for a new organization, but considered the market a collective responsibility.

Reached Thursday, he said council hasn't received a proposal since he made those comments in September.

York County Properties said last year that it wants to divest itself of the market property to focus on providing nursing home care.

Ken McGeorge, executive director of York County Properties, deferred comment on the matter to the province.

"We are still in discussion with the province," he said Thursday. "Any announcement would have to come from the Department of Supply and Services."

Provincial legislation governing the market required the organization to give the province the first opportunity to buy the property. The province leases the property during office hours to provide parking for civil servants.

Rick Miles, the MLA for Fredericton-Silverwood who also serves as the spokesman for local government MLAs, said negotiations are ongoing.

"I'm confident something can be worked out," he said.

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Airport soars to record year
Published Friday February 6th, 2009
A4
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

Business travel, a summer connection with London, England, and winter flights to warm climes helped make 2008 the Fredericton International Airport's busiest year.


NEW HEIGHTS: David Innes, president and CEO of the Fredericton Airport Authority, holds up a model version of the Air Transat plane that travels between Fredericton and England. Innes says that the direct flight to England is one of the big contributors to the airport’s record year in 2008.

A total of 270,435 passengers passed through the airport last year. That's an increase of more than 10 per cent over the last two years.

The numbers are a good sign, said airport CEO David Innes.

"We're always watching our traffic, because it's a general statement on the condition of the airport and the local economy," Innes said.

The numbers help bolster the airport's case for an air link to the United States, Innes said.

"Certainly air carriers love to see a place that is growing and seeing more economic activity," he said.

Fredericton has been without a flight to the U.S. since a subcontractor to Delta Airlines ceased flights between the capital and Boston more than a year ago.

Flight traffic at the airport is also up. The Fredericton International Airport was the busiest in its class in the country in December.

"We will continue our efforts to attract another carrier consistent with our mission of always looking for ways to give our passengers more options," Innes said.

The airport has direct flights to Halifax, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, and seasonal flights to the U.K. and sun destinations.

Regular business travel remained robust, and the addition of services contributed to the record numbers, Innes said.

"Our direct, non-stop service to Ottawa completed its first 15 months with great results. It will continue to operate year-round."

"The addition of a new direct seasonal flight to London, U.K., which ran once a week from May through October, made New Brunswick more accessible to European tourists and its success has led to a second year of the service. Tickets are already being sold for the flight, which resumes on April 28."

Destinations in the Caribbean are also popular. The flights by Sunwing and Air Transat run Feb. 16 to May 4.

Airport officials have stated their case to NAV Canada, the Crown corporation responsible for flight services, that the number of flights at the airport should entitle the facility to a full-service control tower.

The airport recorded 5,804 flights in December, according to aircraft movement data published by Statistics Canada. The numbers make the airport the busiest facility served by a flight service station.

A total of 2,321 were local flights in which the aircraft remained in close proximity to the airport, often carried out during training flights.

The number of flights at the airport has been mushrooming because of flight training programs offered by the Moncton Flight College's Fredericton campus to overseas students.

The number of students at the college is growing to 180 from 160 over the next month.

[xxFamilyGuyxx]

14 buildngs? I don't think there is enough space there for 14 buildings.
Why not just build 2 or 3 buildings with more floors.. wouldn't that make more sence then having 14 buildings in one small area.

[cl812]

Originally Posted by xxFamilyGuyxx

14 buildngs? I don't think there is enough space there for 14 buildings.
Why not just build 2 or 3 buildings with more floors.. wouldn't that make more sence then having 14 buildings in one small area.

Yeah you would think the would build higher, makes more sense to a certain extent at least

[BradMacD]

How much land does the Knowledge Park own anyway?
Maybe they'll extend all the way down Knowledge Park Drive until the hockey rink. XD

[xxFamilyGuyxx]

they don't own very much I don't think.
Maybe a few acres down knowledge Park Drive and some land between The Hugh John Flemming Forrestry Complex.
I can see that area being urbanised very quickly in the near furture.

[cl812]

More jobs in N.B. but huge losses across Canada
Published Saturday February 7th, 2009
StatsCan | Unemployment percentage went up despite more people working
A3
By STEPHEN LLEWELLYN
llewellyn.stephen@dailygleaner.com\

New Brunswick is bucking the national trend of big job losses.

Canada lost 129,000 jobs in January. It's the largest decline since Statistics Canada began tracking what it calls comparable numbers in 1976.

The national unemployment rate jumped from 6.6 per cent in December to 7.2 per cent in January.

But in New Brunswick, employment rose slightly to 368,200 in January from 366,600 in December.

A year-over-year comparison shows employment in New Brunswick in January is up by 3,000.

The province's unemployment rate rose slightly from 8.6 per cent in December to 8.7 per cent in January because the labour force grew by 2,400 to 403,400.

The unemployment rate in January 2008 was 8.3 per cent.

New Brunswick was one of five provinces to have experienced employment growth on a year-over-year basis.

"I am pleased that during these tough economic times, the provincial statistics continue to remain stable, and I am encouraged by these positive indicators," said New Brunswick Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Donald Arseneault in a statement Friday.

"Compared to the increase in the national unemployment rate, New Brunswick is doing fairly well so far."

Fredericton Chamber of Commerce CEO Anthony Knight said according to anecdotal evidence, Fredericton's labour market is also doing well.

"We are very encouraged by the (provincial) numbers and pleased to see the effects of the downturn aren't resulting in any job losses," Knight said.

"More locally, we are hearing very positive things from a number of employers."

A recent manpower survey in Fredericton found local employers expect to continuing hiring in the next quarter, he said.

"We know that car dealerships (and) malls have seen very strong sales in January and over the Christmas holidays," said Knight.

He said the capital has a diversified economy that has stability from major employers such as the military, universities and the public sector.

"That produces good results in terms of employment figures in tough times," said Knight.

Not everything was rosy for New Brunswick's workers. Full-time employment in this province was down slightly at 309,200 in January compared to 310,800 in December, a drop of 1,600.

Year over year, in January there were 4,300 fewer New Brunswickers working full time.

But part-time employment was up in January to 58,900, compared to 55,800 in December.

Year over year, part-time employment was up by 7,200 workers in January.

"We will continue to monitor these numbers so we can be fully prepared for any possible adjustments to employment programs," said Arseneault.

He said employment growth in January in New Brunswick was strongest in agriculture, education services and utilities.

"We want to ensure that New Brunswickers have the tools they need to be employed in their province," he said.

Arseneault said the province's $1.6-billion, two-year capital budget announced in November will help keep New Brunswickers employed during the economic downturn.

"We will continue to work toward diversifying the province's economy and ensure we are still on the right track to achieve our goal of self-sufficiency by 2026," he said.

[cl812]

Market sale in final stages
Published Monday February 9th, 2009
Landmark | Beloved city tradition expected to change hands soon
A1
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

Folks who love the Boyce Farmers Market say they don't want to see anything change when the Fredericton landmark is turned over to new owners.

The Daily Gleaner has learned transfer of the market property from York County Properties to the province could be finalized as early as this week. The city would have responsibility for operation of the weekly market and would be authorized to leave management up to a third party, such as a non-profit group.

Keswick Ridge residents Judy and Clarence Coffey have been shopping at the market for more than 40 years.

"I hope it will continue to be managed in the same way it is now," Judy Coffey said.

"I love the market. I'd hate to see it not be here anymore."

Eugene Mattinson is president of the stallholders' association. Like other vendors, he's built a rapport with faithful customers who make the market part of their weekend. He's been informed that there will be no noticeable change.

"What they have told us is that the transition should be invisible. We're going to open one Saturday morning and the province will own the building, but it will run the same as today and any other Saturday morning," he said.

"Everyone's been upbeat. We're just waiting to see.''

The market left a lasting impression on the memories of Debbie Barter's kids.

"The kids are grown now, but they have to come here when they are home.

"This is part of home for them, this is what they miss," she said, as she was introducing her grandson, Henry, 2, to the experience.

The market first opened in 1951. William Walter Boyce, who made his money in agriculture and lumber, willed $40,000 for the project to replace the former Phoenix Square Market downtown.

Bill Mulder of William Mulder Beef Centre has been selling meat at the market for decades. He's seen his share of changes.

"If they sell it and the city takes over ... I worry the rent will go up," he said.

Tony Rickard works with Mulder behind the counter at their stall.

"Everything is going good," he said. "Why change it?"

Mulder said if the sale goes through, he hopes the next operator will keep Evelyn Fillmore, the market co-ordinator, on staff.

"She does a great job," he said.

York County Properties was reportedly seeking $1.5 million for the property when it first approached the city about a sale last year.

The organization wants to divest itself of the market so it can turn all its energy to seniors care. York County Properties has expanded York Manor into the York Care Centre, which offers supportive and assisted living options for seniors.

The province leases the market grounds during office hours to provide parking for provincial government employees.

Over the last five decades, the market has seen several new sections added.

Under existing legislation, if a deal with the province can't be reached, York County Properties could then sell the property on the open market.

[xxFamilyGuyxx]

I believe the Farmer's Market should be moved to the exhibition grounds where there is plenty of parking.
The track, farmers market, Frex and evrything else on the grounds could form some kind of community event area.
I am assuming the YMCA will be moving soon and could free up more space for the market

[mylesmalley]

I've only been to the market once, and that was at 6am, but I can definitely see why traffic would be an issue.

The problem with moving it to the Frex though, is that they'd run the risk of losing a lot of people who walk there on Saturday mornings. I know quite a few students who visit quite regularly who'd probably be pretty upset if they had to walk clear across to Smythe to buy samosas.

[xxFamilyGuyxx]

Aww well that's just being lazy.

Alot of people don't go to the one now though, beacause they dont like to look for parking all through downtwn.

Anyonw know what is rong with the Fire Facility Webcam? It is offline at the Fredericton Website

[mylesmalley]

Haha, I did say they were students .

[cl812]

Developer seeks environmental plan modification
Published Wednesday February 11th, 2009
New plan | UNB to submit information about changes to centre's configuration
A3
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

A public meeting will be held this week to discuss a modification to an environmental plan for the University of New Brunswick's retail development site on Regent Street.

Trinity Development Group, the site planner for a proposed Costco location at the Corbett Centre, is required by the provincial Department of Environment to host the open house as part of its application to modify its environmental approval.

The public information session will be held Thursday from 7-9 p.m. at the Fredericton Inn on Regent Street. The storm date is Friday at the same time and location.

Representatives from Trinity Development Group and environmental consultant Jacques Whitford are expected to be there. Provincial officials will likely attend to observe.

Trinity Development has filed a proposal with the province to modify a design that was previously approved as part of an environmental impact assessment in February 2007.

Bernie Doucet, project manager with the project assessment branch of the provincial Department of Environment, said at that time, the area for retail development, including the proposed Costco location, was approved.

"Now, with the large format retailer they have in mind, they need to modify what was approved," Doucet said.

"What we have asked UNB to do is to submit to us a little bit more detail that would provide us with a better understanding of that modification."

While the size and scale of the development hasn't changed significantly from the proposal approved in 2007, the configuration and alignment of the building on the property has been altered.

"The footprint of the development is the same. It's pretty much the same size, but it's realigned," Doucet said.

"What they were proposing to do, within that footprint of the wetland that's there, is modify and build a two-wetland basin concept that would maintain ... wetland function."

"Now, they're saying, we want to realign this and encroach more into that area. Therefore, they have to do the engineering to be able to tell us if they can maintain those key functions that they said that they would maintain back in 2007," he said.

Given the change and the fact that the original environmental impact assessment included a public consultation component, the university was asked by the provincial government to revisit the public and solicit additional comment, he said.

The consultant must submit a report of the public comment to the province as part of its request for a modification of its design.

The university needs to identify ways to mitigate all the hydro-geological features of its intrusion into the wetland, Doucet said.

"They have to demonstrate to us whether they can do the engineering that's required to still protect the features that need to be protected," he said.

Along with the review and a decision on the modified plan, the developer must also seek a watercourse and wetlands alteration permit from the Environment Department.

Zoning approval and building permits rest with the city. City council has said the clock ticking on a bylaw to create the appropriate zoning for Costco. The city will hold a public hearing of objections on the zoning questions in April.

A description of the planned project will be available for viewing from Feb. 12-26 at the Fredericton Public Library, at the University of New Brunswick Harriet Irving Library research help desk and the Environment Department in Marysville Place.

Comments can be sent on or before Feb. 26 to Mary Murdoch at Jacques Whitford at 711 Woodstock Rd., Fredericton, E3B 5C2 or e-mail mary.murdoch@jacqueswhitford.com.

Doucet said the provincial review will likely take a month or so after all the appropriate documentation is in the hands of the province.

Costco has signed a letter of intent to develop one of its members-only shopping clubs at the Corbett Centre on Regent Street. Timing of the project, however, remains in the hands of Costco officials.

Many Fredericton fans of the store drive to Moncton to shop at the Costco there. Saint John is also being eyed for a retail store.

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Housing project opposed
Published Tuesday February 10th, 2009
John Howard | Group would provide homes to people in need
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

A barrage of opposition was fired at the John Howard Society on Monday night as it tried to convince city council to support construction of an office and 12 units of affordable housing on Main Street.

Business Fredericton North said council shouldn't forget the primary focus of the Main Street area is as a commercial business district.

The owners of Avalon SalonSpa at 336 Main St. said if the low-income housing project is approved, they'll have no choice but to relocate.

Home Hardware, Peters Meat Market, Main Street Veterinary Hospital Inc., and the landlord for a variety of other businesses on the north side all wrote letters of opposition to the project.

Area residents say they don't want to live near housing for criminals.

John Howard Society executive director Valarie MacCullam urged citizens not to be afraid of the group's application to create 12 units of affordable, bachelor-style apartment units atop its offices in a proposed development at 294-296 Main St.

Council has reserved a final decision on the project for third reading in two weeks. Zoning changes for the project were given first and second reading Monday night as part of council's normal process.

"We believe in the intrinsic worth of all living beings. We also believe in the possibility of all people to achieve their full potential," she said.

When people hear the name John Howard Society, they mistakenly think of stereotyped, hardened criminals the likes of serial killer Ted Bundy, rapists, murderers and pedophiles, she said.

The reaction of people tends to be "there goes the neighbourhood," MacCullam said.

There's no statistically significant evidence that affordable housing leads to increased rates of violence, disorderly conduct or total crimes, she said.

"The typical resident of our project will be clients ... in receipt of income assistance, on the waiting list for Social Development and subsidized housing and non-elderly singles. Based on our internal statistics, less than two (out of the 12) of our residents may have had a criminal record," she said. "Since the mid-'90s ... we have focused more on prevention than on working directly with offending populations."

Elderly people and families wrote to the city saying they would fear for their safety if ex-offenders resided on Main Street between Cityview Avenue and Tim Hortons.

The apartments won't be set up as a boarding house or a halfway house, but will house people who are trapped in a cycle of poverty, are homeless or facing homeless.

"Somebody with a history of long-term incarceration will not fit our criteria. They are not prepared to move forward," she said. "Misinformation and lack of information continues to revolve around the concept of affordable housing."

Property values tend to increase because responsible agencies will do a better job maintaining the property than a private builder.

"We're committed to being a positive community member," she said. "Our job is to help keep and maintain Fredericton as a safe and healthy place to live. Our mandate and mission demands nothing less."

Trina MacDonald, general manager of Business Fredericton North, said the city has agreed to waive the full parking requirement for the development, so it will be five spaces short of the 29 required.

MacCullam countered that low-income residents don't have the means to own vehicles.

Housing will make up as much as two-thirds to three-quarters of the building, no longer focusing on commercial development, she said.

The business association said it's concerned about future resale of the property should the John Howard Society give up ownership.

MacCullam said a visible location is important.

"It needs to be somewhere like Main Street, Queen Street, Union Street. It's not something to be afraid of. Come and sit on my board. Be part of the solution.''

Fredericton Homeless Shelters Inc. executive director Brian Duplessis urged support for the office-housing development because he said people can transition to a new lifestyle with the opportunity to have a place of their own.

"Their lives won't change without a home," Duplessis said. "We've seen through the care and professionalism of the John Howard Society, how those lives can be changed."

Business owners said they fear that theft and criminal activity will rise and that employees and families will no longer feel safe.

[kirjtc2]

'Costco, at what cost?'
Published Friday February 13th, 2009
Concerns | Store's location on wetland controversial
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

It wasn't Costco go home, but it was Costco go somewhere other than the University of New Brunswick woodlot.

Members of the Friends of the UNB Woodlot group - comprised of university professors and students, and environmentally conscious citizens - made it clear they aren't happy with the retailer's choice of location in Fredericton.

Costco has signed a letter of intent with UNB, the property owner, to develop a store by leasing university land atop Regent Street.

Trinity Development Group is the negotiator with potential retailers, and Terrain Group is the site planner for the retail development.

About 40 people attended an open house at the Fredericton Inn on Thursday night held by Jacques Whitford-Stantec on behalf of Trinity Development Group. The open house was required by the Environment Department as part of the procedures to modify an environmental impact assessment plan previously approved in February 2007.

The public information meeting was polite, but there was opposition to the proposed reconfiguration.

Because Costco has requested site plan changes, it means storm-water management has to be altered.

Storm water refers to all the water that collects on the surface of huge parking lots. It has to be collected and, in this case, filtered before it's released into the surrounding wetland and neighbouring Corbett Brook.

The revised Costco site plan also creates three points of intrusion onto a 30-metre buffer zone between the developed area and the rest of the UNB wetland property.

To concerned citizens, who already oppose erosion of the wetland, pushing farther into the marsh isn't an option.

"There's less evidence of a willingness to concede some of the environmental boundaries in order to maximize the opportunity for retail space," said Rick Cunjak, a biology professor at UNB and a past director of the Canadian Rivers Institute.

"It's always the environment that's being asked to somehow give up something and this is relatively early on in the development process for this large piece of the (UNB) woodlot," Cunjak said.

As a UNB professor, Cunjak is sympathetic to the need for the university to earn revenue through development, but he's not satisfied with how the development is proceeding.

Creativity and flexibility could result in a more intelligent design, he said.

Charlene Mayes, a biology instructor at UNB, said she's not against Costco, but says it's not in the right spot.

"I don't understand why it needs to go on that site ... or encroach on buffer zones or be anywhere near Corbett Marsh, especially given that they want to put in a gas station," Mayes said.

A gasoline bar is part of the Costco proposal.

Mayes said even small amounts of gasoline dripping from tanks can contaminate waterways, let alone a major spill or deterioration of gasoline storage tanks.

The fact that the developer has to build artificial collection ponds to store and filter water before it's allowed out into the surrounding marsh and Corbett Brook should throw up a red flag, Mayes said.

"I think that nature has been working on flood control for a lot longer than we have.

"And why should we pay for inferior solutions when we have a free one that's already working for us?" she said.

Scott Fash, spokesman for Terrain Group Inc., which is doing the planning and site development, said Costco has its design criteria - visibility from Regent Street, specific access needs and a must for the store was a gas bar.

Costco stores are designed with their main entrances on a 45-degree angle because it gives easy access to parking spots and shoppers are generally wheeling loaded down carts from the store.

Instead of two storm-water collection ponds, the revised Costco site plan will have one large, elongated pond along the southern property line with an area reserved for a second collection zone as required.

Mary Murdoch, spokeswoman for Jacques Whitford-Stantec, said

the developer has to submit a mitigation plan to the provincial Environment Department to compensate for intruding on the 30-metre buffer zone.

Greg LeBlanc was one of the citizens who pressed Murdoch to take questions and answers collectively rather than one-on-one.

During the discussion, citizens asked about the impact on water quality. Murdoch replied that the Department of Environment will require periodic monitoring and sampling.

One woman asked about using asphalt that would allow water to permeate the ground.

That's not the type of asphalt contemplated for the Costco site, requiring the water collection into holding ponds.

Moon Joyce said salt and oil from the parking lot will inevitably wind up running off the property.

"Why are we even risking this, when there's an alternate site?" she asked.

Costco, at one time, was wooed by private interests to develop near the Kent building supply store, but that deal never made it beyond private talks.

"I think the problem we all see here is that the plan of Costco is too large ... Why doesn't Costco go somewhere where there's room?" said Caroline Lubbe-D'Arcy. "I just don't understand that."

Mark D'Arcy questioned whether the gasoline bar was property identified when the 2007 approval was issued by the Environment Department or whether it has come up in the context of the revised site plan now before government.

[cl812]

Winter weather can't put convention centre project off schedule
Published Tuesday February 17th, 2009
A3
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Neither snow nor sleet can hold back work on the city's $75.5-million convention centre, office building and parking garage.

Despite a cold and snowy winter, the project is holding to its timetable.

"We're pleased to hear that it's progressing on schedule and there's lots of activity around the site," said development committee chairman Coun. Dan Keenan.

Contracts for the structures are being called in accordance with the contract schedule, Keenan said, but the city wanted to leap ahead on the foundation work to withstand spring flooding.

"We're starting into the booking and marketing of the (convention) centre. Funds were allocated this year by city council to start the process," Keenan said.

While it may seem premature, he said, conference organizers plan a minimum of two to three years ahead for major events.

"It's really important that you get out ahead and do the bookings now," he said.

The 6,500-square-metre conference centre and 17,000-square-metre office building are slated for completion by the fall of 2010. The city is also planning to build a 450-car parking garage.

Greg Cook, special capital projects manager with the City of Fredericton, said concrete work has been moving ahead.

"We're going to pour another slab (today). That will be the first one on the office building," Cook said.

The concrete is being poured in sections. Four huge slabs will be poured under the conference centre. Three of the slabs are in place. The office building will have three slabs.

"Then we have to put a 15-foot strip along the side with the walls on it, so we'll do those next," Cook said.

"Once the office building is done, then we'll do the last one on the conference centre and then the next two on the office building. When spring comes, we'll dig up the parking garage," he said.

The cold and the snow make for challenges, but they aren't insurmountable.

By keeping a close eye on the weather, crews have been able to time their work to coincide with decent weather and each pour gets easier because everything is in position to do the work.

"The concrete has such a mass and it generates its own heat. It stays warm for about a week. You'd be in excess of 40 degrees inside the core of that slab and then the surface temperature will only cool down after about a week. So it doesn't really bother it, when you're pouring the size of pours that we're pouring. The last time was 1,100 cubic metres (of concrete)," he said.

A consortium of companies, headed by ADI Group, has created the master plan and design concept for the building.

The provincial and federal governments are contributing a total of $8 million to the project.

The city requires that the building be constructed to LEED Silver certification, which requires that companies involved in the construction plan build with energy-efficient materials.

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Fredericton asked to share its smarts
Published Tuesday February 17th, 2009
Technology | Minneapolis, Ontario looking for advice on how to use broadband
A5
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Can New Brunswick's capital city teach a major metropolitan area a few tricks about how to become a more intelligent community?

It seems we can.

Team Fredericton executive director Don Fitzgerald said Fredericton has been invited by the New York-based Intelligent Community Forum to help out a much larger U.S. city.

With a population of just less than 380,000, Minneapolis in east central Minnesota is twinned with the state capital, St. Paul. Both cities started as mill towns along the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers.

The cities are surrounded by a metropolitan population of 3.5 million people.

"They're looking to start their intelligent community journey. We're going to, within the next couple of weeks, videoconference with them and describe the history and the development of our plan and how we tailored it to our community ... and answer their questions," Fitzgerald said. "Hopefully, we'll learn something from them at the same time.

Fredericton is ranked in the Top 7 of the Intelligent Community Forum's picks for communities that are broadband-friendly. Moncton was also picked by the forum as one of this year's finalists.

Fredericton is also going to be working with the Ontario government, which is interested in talking to Intelligent Community Forum finalists.

"The Ontario government has been starting to explore this virtual reality world in terms of the delivery of government services. So they've reached out to communities who have won Intelligent Community Forum awards to participate and tell their story. So we're going to tell our story in a virtual reality world," Fitzgerald said.

"This is sort of where game meets three-dimensional virtual neighbourhood," said Maurice Gallant, the city's information technology manager.

He said the new project will be about applying a game-space technology into government service delivery and information exchange.

"It's a trial, a pilot project using those technologies in spaces that have typically been (traditional) meeting rooms," Gallant said.

The project costs are staff time, but don't require a big budget.

"This is simply our participation in that exercise with our colleagues across Canada," Gallant said.

"We're going to give our PowerPoint presentation in a computer-generated graphic world to people attending in that forum," Fitzgerald said. "It should be fun."

[cl812]

Fredericton airport seeks money to rebuild runway
Published Thursday February 19th, 2009
A2
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

The Fredericton International Airport is making a request to the federal government for $10.5 million in stimulus funding to rebuild its secondary runway.

The 1,829-metre long Runway 1533 was last rebuilt in 1988 and officials say it needs improvements.

"It needs some work on it. It needs to be rebuilt and refurbished," said airport CEO David Innes. "With the flight school, it's a really important runway."

The request goes to the Department of Finance and Transport Canada through the Canadian Airports Council.

Airport officials have also talked to local MP Keith Ashfield.

While the airport is operated by a community agency, the land and the infrastructure remain the property of the federal government.

Ashfield said his office is working on the request.

"We've been working on the file. One of my staffers is dealing with Transport Canada to see what kind of money or funding might be available to help with the runway repairs," he said.

He expects the federal government will present a clearer picture next week of what the federal stimulus program will look like and what kinds of projects will be eligible.

----

Heritage property renovation OK'd
Published Thursday February 19th, 2009
A6
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

A landmark heritage property at 285 Canada St. is looking to reinvent itself and downsize in the process.

Knob Hill Gallery in Marysville is where artist Katherine Karnes Munn runs her business - a custom-framing shop for her prints, a gift shop and tea room.

Munn is stepping back from retailing and scaling back to semi-retirement.

"She's still going to do the wholesaling of her prints," said husband Joe Munn on Wednesday night after the planning advisory committee gave its approval to a redevelopment of the property.

The building's exterior won't be altered. Munn proposes to retain the framing business at a scaled-back level.

Her son Chris Munn will run Fredericton Outfitters, a fly fishing and hunting store operated with a part-time employee.

A life insurance business with three full-time staff will use 93 square metres of the 630-square-metre house (6,789-square-feet) and the remainder of the home's three floors will be a customer call centre for Radian 6, an information technology firm.

Fans of Katherine Karnes Munn's art will still be able to drop by and custom frame-making is still done in the basement of the house. But she said running the gift shop took so much time and effort that it's time to go back to the roots of the business and sell directly to wholesalers.

"We were approached by some businesses in town who were interested in renting space and it just seemed like the right thing to do. Everybody wanted to slow down and the space was there and some really nice companies came and approached us," said Chris Munn.

The application will go forward to city council for final approval.

The planning advisory committee is forwarding four other zoning applications to city council for a final vote.

J.B. Real Estate Ltd. wants to tear down an old, single-family house and construct an eight-unit apartment building in the 300 block of Connaught Street.

Tony George wants to create eight, townhouse-style building lots at 669 Forest Hill Rd. The proposal drew two opponents, who said the lots will be too small, won't match the style of neighbourhood homes and will prejudice property values of existing homes.

George disagreed, saying it will be a nice subdivision with nice houses and many trees will be saved.

The same argument came up from a resident living near Randolph Street, where D.P. Developments wants a zoning change to create two residential lots on the street.

A nearby resident said the lots will be smaller than those of the rest of the surrounding area, compromising the quality of the development.

Hill Bros. Realty Ltd. has a commercial daycare centre interested in opening in the West Hills Village strip mall on Brookside Drive.

The centre proposes to be open daily from 6:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. and have eight staff members.

Coun. Marilyn Kerton raised concerns about possible dangers with youngsters and vehicles in the parking lot of the strip mall and about the centre being located next door to a pub.

There were no citizen opponents to the project.

A planning department report said an outdoor play area will be fenced.

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Project 'not a halfway house'
Published Thursday February 19th, 2009
Units | John Howard Society says people need a helping hand
A1
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Frank Palmater has looked at life from both sides.

He went to jail as a young aboriginal man and now with his middle years upon him, he's happy to say the John Howard Society gave him a helping hand.

When he was unemployed last year, he took a traffic flag controller's course arranged by the non-profit group. He not only found a job, but he quit when another company offered to pay him more to do the same work.

"I've seen the correctional system from the inside and know that as an individual who needs assistance once you get on the outside, the John Howard is a beacon, especially to our people. We see it as an opportunity," Palmater said.

"Sometimes we'll come out of necessity ... to a metropolitan centre ... if there's something in place to assist me as an offender coming out of the system, why not?"

He said everyone deserves a second chance.

Palmater attended an information session at the Johnston Avenue Seniors Centre on Wednesday night.

It was organized by the John Howard Society to acquaint residential and business neighbours with its proposal to construct a building on Main Street between Cityview Avenue and Tim Hortons.

Three homes, currently rental properties, will be demolished to make room for the development funded by the federal government, with possible provincial support pending.

The first floor of the building will be occupied by the agency, offering its programs and services.

The upper floors will be for 12 affordable, one-bedroom housing units. They will be for individuals who are homeless or near homeless and receiving income assistance.

The proposal, which comes up for third reading and final approval Monday at city council, has stirred the fears of homeowners and business owners who were told it would be a halfway house populated by ex-offenders who have committed serious crimes.

One business owner and one elderly resident, who attended the session co-organized by Coun. Mike O'Brien, didn't want to speak on the record about their views.

But they both said their viewpoint of the development changed after hearing the project explained to them.

"At the last minute, when there was a rumour spread around that it was going to become a halfway house, they became very concerned," O'Brien said of his constituents.

"There is a lot of Nimby (not-in-my-backyard) backlash on projects for affordable housing."

Neighbouring property owner Wayne Flinn said he's not concerned about the proposal.

"People have a tendency to be afraid of the unknown," he said. "I have had some experience with (John Howard) through a service club I was involved in.

"Plus, my wife and I have made it a point to educate ourselves on the project. Quite frankly, I'm in total support of the John Howard Society moving in on Main Street."

Valarie MacCullam, executive director of the John Howard Society in Fredericton, said she hoped that questions were answered and people left armed with better information to make an informed decision.

"I got a chance to talk to some absolutely lovely people who had legitimate concerns ... The biggest concern was that it was going to be a halfway house."

Hope Piers, who is a social worker at the community health centre in downtown Fredericton, said by working with the homeless and John Howard Society clients, her perspective is different.

"The fear is so real for some people, but education is the key. Many of the people that they're afraid of are already in their businesses on a daily basis. They don't look different than you and I. They just happen to have different baggage than you or I," Piers said.

[cl812]

New Maryland residents spend big bucks to fix up their homes
Published Friday February 20th, 2009
A5
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

While plans to expand the village's water infrastructure are holding back a building boom, New Maryland residents are taking pride in their homes, says a New Maryland councillor.

Property owners spent nearly $2 million last year on construction, renovations and improvements.

"The amount is impressive, since we have fewer than 1,500 homes in New Maryland," said Coun. Gisele McCaie-Burke.

"Because nearly all of them are owner-occupied, I feel that most residents have considerable pride in their properties and are willing to spend money on them."

McCaie-Burke is the vice-chairwoman of the planning advisory committee.

Permits for renovations amounted to $993,292 in 2008. Another $500,000 or so was spent on upgrades such as pools, decks, garages, sheds and additions.

Only a few new homes were built in the community just outside of Fredericton.

"A major upturn is expected after the village completes a search for new sources of water for municipal use and a place to store it," she said.

The village has been lobbying the federal-provincial governments to assist with funding for a water tower.

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Knowledge Park expansion could create more than 3,000 jobs, report concludes
Published Friday February 20th, 2009
A4
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com

An August 2007 consultants' report says the planned expansion of the Knowledge Park from three buildings to 17 could have created 3,200 jobs with a combined $114.5 million in wages.

Proponents of the plan released the report by AMEC Consultants and InPro Solutions on Thursday.

They are pointing to the report as evidence of the significant and far-reaching benefits the expansion could bring.

Earlier this month, members of the Knowledge Park board of directors unveiled a plan to expand the park by 14 buildings to accommodate, they said, high-tech companies working on products that have the potential to drive New Brunswick's economy.

"We wanted to provide a context, to share with the community, stakeholders so others can understand why we're doing it," said Laura O'Blenis, general manager of the Knowledge Park.

The economic-impact analysis is based on what would have happened if all 17 buildings projected for the site had been in operation in 2006 and operations in all the buildings were consistent with the three existing ones.

The report estimated the operational impact of all 17 buildings at $414 million in provincial output.

The organization said the province would get $75.4 million in taxes a year.

The report also states that an additional 821 indirect jobs would be created with $20 million in salaries.

O'Blenis said the report is being released to give members of the community a greater appreciation of the impact the project could have.

"For any development to be successful, it must be embraced as a whole. We want to get people excited so they can see the opportunities we see on the horizon and be happy and confident about living and working in our community," she said.

"We're sharing our story with people outside this community who are impressed that our community has a plan as aggressive as ours. It makes them take a second look at Fredericton."

While the calculations are based on numbers from 2006, O'Blenis said the estimates were on the more conservative side of the scale and the numbers today would be even higher.

The report said that in 2006, businesses in the park provided 793 jobs with $27.3 million in salaries and wages.

The park, which is owned by Enterprise Fredericton Inc., has three buildings. It was created in 1997 as a partnership between the University of New Brunswick, Enterprise Fredericton, the City of Fredericton and the federal and provincial governments.

Officials could announce construction of a fourth building in the coming weeks.

The report estimates that the construction of the 14 additional buildings would generate 1,447 jobs with $50 million in wages and salaries.

[Jasper and one o nin]

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=165309

[mylesmalley]

I'm wondering what the value of that study is. An additional 14 buildings at the Knowledge Park isn't going to create 3300 jobs - finding companies to fill 14 buildings will create 3300 jobs. Quite frankly, if there was that much demand private office space in the Fredericton area at the moment, there'd be private developers fighting each other to get office buildings approved by council.

[Lamespotting]

Originally Posted by mylesmalley

Quite frankly, if there was that much demand private office space in the Fredericton area at the moment, there'd be private developers fighting each other to get office buildings approved by council.

I think the problem is that there is demand, but none of local private developers are willing (or able) to take the risk. Frederick Square II has been approved by council, but all that's there is a sign. They're waiting for it to be pre-leased before it goes up. Trouble is, not too many companies can wait an undetermined amount of time before moving. The city had to build that office building by the convention centre itself.

They also keep the rents high by not building new buildings :-)

[cl812]

John Howard Society proposal to get final reading
Published Monday February 23rd, 2009
A3
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

A zoning amendment for an office-housing development for John Howard Society comes up for third and final reading at city council tonight.

Councillors have heard from both sides - worried business owners who are concerned about a low-income housing project on Main Street and advocates for the poor who are stuck for alternative locations.

While John Howard Society executive director Valarie MacCullam has said 12 units of affordable housing will be on the upper floors of a 2.5-storey building, the main floor will be occupied by the non-profit group's offices.

MacCullam and ward Coun. Mike O'Brien called a public meeting last week to try to assuage resident fears that the housing units will be populated by ex-convicts.

Although the John Howard Society has traditionally worked to aid persons who have served jail time reintegrate with society, it has also broadened its mandate to try to work with the homeless or near-homeless in hopes of preventing crime.

While MacCullam has said the building won't be a halfway house, some of the opponents of the development didn't show up at the information session held last Wednesday.

The project received planning advisory committee support after a previous application for the same type of development on Queen Street was approved.

But the building that MacCullam's group was hoping to buy was sold out from under them to another business owner.

Councillors have a number of administrative tidy-up jobs as well tonight.

They'll receive a variety of planning advisory reports that will continue to move forward to subsequent meetings for final approval, including the re-use of the former Knob Hill Gallery and tea room on Canada Street and a proposal for an eight-unit apartment building on Connaught Street to replace an older storey-and-a-half dwelling on the street.

A tender will be received requesting an extension of the janitorial contract at Fredericton Public Library.

Council will also pass a resolution related to the proposed annexation of land owned by Colpitts Developments that both the city and developer want to see included within city boundaries.

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Environmentalists, developers at odds over site
Published Monday February 23rd, 2009
A3
By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

For environmentalists, there's no compromise. The University of New Brunswick wetland atop Regent Street should remain pristine and wild.


PLANS: Revised version of the proposed site for Costco wholesale store, planned for the Corbett Centre development at the top of Regent Street.

For the University of New Brunswick, becoming the lessee of 10 hectares (26 acres) of its vast 1,416 hectare (3,540-acre) forestry holdings for retail development, has meant trying to re-engineer nature's wetland to earn revenue for university coffers.

And, it seems, never the twain shall meet.

Tracy Glynn, a member of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick's Fredericton chapter is calling for a moratorium on all development atop Regent Street.

That's where the university has partnered with engineering and planning firms, Trinity Development Group and RioCan, to market the site to big-box stores, restaurants and smaller retail shops.

Corbett Centre is named for the brook that runs along the property down through the industrial park and out to the St. John River.

The development has attracted three new restaurants, a large new Dollarama, Winners, Michaels, Petcetera and Home Depot.

Now the university is trying to attract Costco, the members-only bulk shopping grocery and household merchandiser.

Costco has signed a letter of intent with UNB and the rezoning for the development is in the hands of the city. A property layout change required for Costco to meet its own standard store design criteria has meant going back to the provincial Environment Department for an amendment to its original environmental impact assessment approval.

"We feel there should be a comprehensive environmental impact assessment on what the impact is of all these developments, instead of looking piecemeal at all the different projects. We don't feel like that's an accurate way of looking at the full impact on wildlife and the wetlands and the forested area," Glynn said.

Alongside another group, calling itself the Friends of the UNB Woodlot, the conservation council would like to see a ban on big-box stores in that area.

"We don't need to be building big-box stores on top of wetlands. That's the wrong thing to do. We have a natural area that we could be protecting. It provides a number of ecological services," she said. "Our primary concern is protecting that whole woodlot area."

The environmentalists are also skeptical about how well the province holds developers to account on such projects.

"It seems that these EIA (environmental impact assessments) are just a rubber stamp and that they don't mean anything," Glynn said.

Bernie Doucet, the Environment Department's project manager with the project assessment branch, said the Corbett Centre development has gone by the book.

Owning a wetland doesn't mean it's impossible to build on it, but it's how you do it, what influences that bog has on local hydro geology and whether any alterations can be mitigated if land is developed.

"Any work that they would have done within 30 metres of a watercourse or wetland, they would have had a watercourse and wetland alteration permit," Doucet said. "If you're going to have a project that may impact a wetland greater than two hectares, it has to go through the EIA process."

Costco or another large retailer was always part of the original plan for Corbett Centre. That development block was part and parcel of the original environmental impact assessment for site development that the provincial government has already approved, Doucet said.

The reason the development is going through a secondary EIA review is because the land needed will take up all of the footprint of the original wetland and will require the construction of a .4 hectare man-made wetland that steps beyond the original design.

As regulators, Doucet said any design change by the developers has to meet the original criteria of ensuring that Larch Swale on the west side of Regent Street remains undisturbed and that on the east side of Regent Street, water flows are properly managed before they end up in Corbett Brook.

The developers have to show a viable mitigation strategy, even though the part of the design they're changing is a small component of that already approved in the original environmental impact assessment, Doucet said.

As a professional engineer and project manager with Terrain Group Inc.'s Darmouth office, Ron Hiltz's job is to create that modification.

In 2004, Terrain Group Inc. was hired by UNB to prepare the master plan for Corbett Centre and to reshape the watershed.

There are a variety of reasons for doing that. Large parking lots need places to shed water and snow melt. Roofs of buildings shed water and that has to be either absorbed into the ground or redirected and gradually released and reabsorbed into the nearby landscape.

"We took the watershed for the site and essentially we split it into two directions, mimicking, by-in-large, the natural drainage of the site," Hiltz said.

"We have one area which is the front of the Regent Street end of the development that discharges to what was called Wetland 2 across Regent Street into Larch Swale," Hiltz said. "Essentially Wetland 2 is used to mitigate the peak storm flow across Regent Street through the cross-culvert to Larch Swale (on the west side of Regent Street).''

Driving along Regent Street, on the east side of the street near the face of the roadway is a large, rock-bermed pond that collects rain, surface water and the drainage from the roofs of buildings. It creates a holding pond - a kind of mini-dam - that controls the gradual release of water.

Using locally gathered weather data from Environment Canada and using a computer modelling program called the Chicago Synthetic Storm, the program spits out data about major rainstorm events.

Hiltz said the Environment Department requires Terrain Group Inc. to design a system that will control water to pre-development levels.

Because parking lots accumulate salt, minerals, and even oils that may drip from cars, each of the nine development blocks at Corbett Centre has to have its own storm water separation system to filter out hydrocarbons and suspended solids - even coffee cup trash - from storm water before it's released back into Corbett Brook. Once a year, a truck comes in and suctions out the man-made filtering system for waste that is then trucked away for landfill disposal.

To the rear of the Home Depot store, a man-made water detention pond was built and fenced to collect water that has passed through the separation system and then control the release to Corbett Brook.

That pond has sufficient capacity to capture water runoff from the proposed Costco area parking lot and from the sloped, metal roof of the proposed store because it was *originally designed to take surface water away from the neighbouring block of buildings, which includes Michael's and Petcetera and Winners.

Instead, the Environment Department asked for a different drainage configuration at the back of those stores and another drainage system was created for that block of shops.

"We did that ... so there's all that extra capacity (behind Home Depot) that's (already) there," Hiltz explained.

A proposed gas bar will not be connected to the Home Depot detention pond, but will have to meet different environmental rules applied to gasoline stations.

While Hiltz hears what environmentalists are saying - and he can't argue that nature doesn't do a first-rate job of controlling water - he doesn't agree that engineers can't create structures that manage water.

"In a perfect world, man would leave nothing behind but footprints ... but man also likes to eat, shop and drive cars," Hiltz said.

UNB has gone above and beyond in meeting provincial government requirements, he said.