The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[bingun]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Does anyone know how often Google maps updates their satellite images?

I was looking at up town and realized from what's either still there (Woolworths at the head of King, Loyalist Plaza) and what's not there (IOL HQ on Kings Square S) the image has to be at least 7-8 years out of date.

If you use Google Earth, they have lots more recent images available, I think as recent as the last 12 months.

I think someone told me they have some aesthetic criteria for which map is used on Google Maps. It seems dumb to me, but hopefully they update it at some point, as certain parts of town have changed significantly.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by bingun

If you use Google Earth, they have lots more recent images available, I think as recent as the last 12 months.

I think someone told me they have some aesthetic criteria for which map is used on Google Maps. It seems dumb to me, but hopefully they update it at some point, as certain parts of town have changed significantly.

IDK, maybe I'm doing something wrong but I went to Google Earth it looked like the same image when I zoomed in.(IOL HQ just a vacant lot, Woolworth's building still intact etc etc )

[bingun]

Originally Posted by sailor734

IDK, maybe I'm doing something wrong but I went to Google Earth it looked like the same image when I zoomed in.(IOL HQ just a vacant lot, Woolworth's building still intact etc etc )

There is a show historical imagery button you can click, and it gives you a timeline of sorts of different images.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Does anyone know how often Google maps updates their satellite images?

I was looking at up town and realized from what's either still there (Woolworths at the head of King, Loyalist Plaza) and what's not there (IOL HQ on Kings Square S) the image has to be at least 7-8 years out of date.

Google earth has more of you click on the timeline at the bottom. Apple Maps has a more recent default than Google Maps and is higher resolution when you zoom in.

Would be nice to see the default on Google Maps updated soon, they still show the port pre modernization.

[darkharbour]

Yeah looking at Apple Maps satellite photos it looks like they were updated some time early last summer, based on how Fundy Quay and the new section of Harbour Passage look, and the lack of full summer foliage.

You can see what I mean here:
https://maps.apple.com/frame?map=satelli...32017633134415746%2C0.007145300230163798

[adamuptownsj]

Huge expansion to the Lakewood Heights subdivision planned by Oakhill Homes: 200+ single-family houses on slightly-smaller-than-existing-neighbourhood-sized lots on this PID to be accessed entirely off Summit.

I feel like the city should require a connection to Golden Grove/Hillcrest at Cold Brook after a certain amount of homes are built. That's a lot of Loch Lomond traffic otherwise.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Huge expansion to the Lakewood Heights subdivision planned by Oakhill Homes: 200+ single-family houses on slightly-smaller-than-existing-neighbourhood-sized lots on this PID to be accessed entirely off Summit.

I feel like the city should require a connection to Golden Grove/Hillcrest at Cold Brook after a certain amount of homes are built. That's a lot of Loch Lomond traffic otherwise.

Yes, I have seen some of Paula Radwan's posts on this. Here is the proposed site plan.

While I usually think people's traffic complaints are silly, it is not practical for all of it to flow through Summit Drive like that.

People are also using it as a reason to complain about other developments on Loch Lomond. How bad is the traffic there? I am never up that way during rush hour.

[darkharbour]

Originally Posted by bingun

Yes, I have seen some of Paula Radwan's posts on this. Here is the proposed site plan.

While I usually think people's traffic complaints are silly, it is not practical for all of it to flow through Summit Drive like that.

People are also using it as a reason to complain about other developments on Loch Lomond. How bad is the traffic there? I am never up that way during rush hour.

At certain times of day it can be quite bad, mostly for the exact reasons stated here. Too many subdivisions that all feed into single roadways and without alternative options. For the area to continue to grow, they are going to have to either embrace public transit and park-and-ride services, and/or accept a road network that minimizes cul-de-sacs and opens up connections.

It's not an issue of too many homes or residents, it all comes down to the lack of options for those residents to get to work, school, shopping, recreation, etc.

[adamuptownsj]

I missed the Clint connection, but that does nothing to alleviate 200 units off Summit. This area needs both a couple N-S connections (new development to Golden Grove, and maybe Heather to Bon Accord) as well as an additional E-W or two... perhaps Mountain View or Lynn to Bing or Lakewood, connecting with Bon Accord?

Like so: https://imgur.com/a/rhXBjvf

This would have to cross a couple wetlands/brooks, but would make road work, emergency access, commuting, etc. much easier. There's about 2,000+ people in Lakewood Heights today and likely another 700 on Bon Accord, plus about 2000 on Heather Way and in the subdivision at its northern end.

People would scream bloody murder, but it beats trying to turn onto or off of Loch Lomond at rush hour.

[adamuptownsj]

Red Zone extended deadline has been missed. Reportedly 13 encampments have been cleared and 11 remain... but I have no idea where the cleared ones are, because the most visible encampments are as present and active as ever. Garden St, Main St highway ramp, Haymarket Square, Fort Howe, and Crown and Seely all remain. Presumably, if a lone tent gets packed up and moved, that counts as a relocation, even if it only moves to a different site.

Sullivan and Reardon are 'frustrated' now but clearly could not think two steps ahead when they proudly voted for this a couple months ago.

Our friends at Fresh Start report closing precisely two encampments and 'engaging three members of the unhoused community' over the last two weeks. Gotta wonder if they're obligated to provide data on where these closed encampments are, or if we just take them at their word.

Next step: 'tent by tent' customized plans for December 1st, per city staff.

Still no word on where the yellow zones are.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Red Zone extended deadline has been missed. Reportedly 13 encampments have been cleared and 11 remain... but I have no idea where the cleared ones are, because the most visible encampments are as present and active as ever. Garden St, Main St highway ramp, Haymarket Square, Fort Howe, and Crown and Seely all remain. Presumably, if a lone tent gets packed up and moved, that counts as a relocation, even if it only moves to a different site.

Sullivan and Reardon are 'frustrated' now but clearly could not think two steps ahead when they proudly voted for this a couple months ago.

Our friends at Fresh Start report closing precisely two encampments and 'engaging three members of the unhoused community' over the last two weeks. Gotta wonder if they're obligated to provide data on where these closed encampments are, or if we just take them at their word.

Next step: 'tent by tent' customized plans for December 1st, per city staff.

Still no word on where the yellow zones are.

A new site appeared across road from Leinster/Crown construction site

[cdnguys]

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

Good to see. That could help make the "height option" possible for Main Street from the North End Plan.

It would have been nice to see the coverage area also include the Lower West Side and more of the Central Peninsula, but nonetheless, this type of strategy could help promote more high rises get built within the core.

If the province delivers on tax reforms, the city could offer even greater incentives to developers to densify and build higher.

[bingun]

South End School

[irisheyes]

As happy I am to see the new school finally coming to fruition, the building design seems to have really been downgraded from the original vision from years back. I like the form overall and its position on St. James Street, but I can't get past the horrendous cladding.

It appears to be mostly grey ribbed metal sheets. We aren't building a jail, this is a school for children and a much needed community space. I was expecting at least some amount of red brick or something alike. The amount of new builds that opt for any type of cheap grey cladding never ceases to amaze me.

[cdnguys]

[magee_b]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

Empty lot on Hampton Rd, between Great Canadian Dollar store and the plaza with Valley Sands / Old Bowling Lanes… pretty prime location. Supposed to have ground floor retail as well.

Given its position on the hill, anything over the 2nd or 3rd floor should have a pretty great view of the river / Long Island visible in the distance.

[irisheyes]

It appears the Irvings plan to demolish the Golden Ball Building just on the heels of demolishing 59 King Sq North.

Seems very counter productive to all the progress happening uptown, but also doesn't surprise me. Leaving the two lots empty seems foolish— does anyone have further information on any plans?

[DyAm00394]

Originally Posted by irisheyes

It appears the Irvings plan to demolish the Golden Ball Building just on the heels of demolishing 59 King Sq North.

Seems very counter productive to all the progress happening uptown, but also doesn't surprise me. Leaving the two lots empty seems foolish— does anyone have further information on any plans?

The only plans they have are to turn them both into green spaces while they figure out a longer-term use for the two properties.

[irisheyes]

The Golden Ball, especially, is a big loss.

The city should issue the demolition permits with redevelopment requirements.

These are prominent lots. Leaving them vacant will reduce neighbouring property values, could aid in increasing criminal activity, and hurt the uptown business district overall. In cases like this you need to strike a balance between private property rights and public interest.