The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[bridgeoftea]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Sorry to be dense but what buildings are these?

I'll stick up for 99 King. It's not done yet and yes it doesn't scream stunning architecture or even remotely interesting. But once it's been around for a few years, it'll fit in quite well next to the city market.
And I will always say, I would rather something was there instead of a big hole in the ground or an empty space.
And even with that you could see something like the Telegraph doing some more infill like the empty lot next to Bellas or now the huge opening on King Street North.

There's plenty of empty spaces that we could add some interesting modern buildings.
- Water street parking lot / dirt pile next to the harbour front residences.
- Old substation lot on Smythe street.
- All of Long Wharf (??) next to Fort LaTour.
- 126 station street would be great for an additional hotel with a pedway to the arena.

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by bridgeoftea

I'll stick up for 99 King. It's not done yet and yes it doesn't scream stunning architecture or even remotely interesting. But once it's been around for a few years, it'll fit in quite well next to the city market.
And I will always say, I would rather something was there instead of a big hole in the ground or an empty space.
And even with that you could see something like the Telegraph doing some more infill like the empty lot next to Bellas or now the huge opening on King Street North.

There's plenty of empty spaces that we could add some interesting modern buildings.
- Water street parking lot / dirt pile next to the harbour front residences.
- Old substation lot on Smythe street.
- All of Long Wharf (??) next to Fort LaTour.
- 126 station street would be great for an additional hotel with a pedway to the arena.

IIRC the Water Street lot has ancient plans for a curved, fraternal twin to the Harbourfront Residences. There's also the ~8700sf lot to the north @ 'murder hill' with more challenging topography, which has been passively for sale.

I assume the Smythe St substation lot will need to be raised/consolidated with the parking next door. I'd almost rather see something go up next to the Red Rose Tea building at 12 Smythe first, to give uptown a proper gateway. Could be integrated into pedway system, I think.

Long Wharf probably won't see anything until Fundy Quay is built out.

The whole block between Station, Sewell, Dorchester, and Somerset would make for an interesting site or two, if you want to treat the high-elevation site on Sewell separately.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

IIRC the Water Street lot has ancient plans for a curved, fraternal twin to the Harbourfront Residences. There's also the ~8700sf lot to the north @ 'murder hill' with more challenging topography, which has been passively for sale.

I assume the Smythe St substation lot will need to be raised/consolidated with the parking next door. I'd almost rather see something go up next to the Red Rose Tea building at 12 Smythe first, to give uptown a proper gateway. Could be integrated into pedway system, I think.

Long Wharf probably won't see anything until Fundy Quay is built out.

The whole block between Station, Sewell, Dorchester, and Somerset would make for an interesting site or two, if you want to treat the high-elevation site on Sewell separately.

Do we think that twin for the Harbourfront Residence will ever happen, though? I feel like that ship may have sailed. I assume it is still owned by the same developers.

By Murder Hill, do you mean the lot that is directly adjacent and had the old building torn down a few years back? The footprint isn't as big as something like 99 King, but I think it has great potential. As Envision would say, just think of the waterfront views!

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by bingun

Do we think that twin for the Harbourfront Residence will ever happen, though? I feel like that ship may have sailed. I assume it is still owned by the same developers.

By Murder Hill, do you mean the lot that is directly adjacent and had the old building torn down a few years back? The footprint isn't as big as something like 99 King, but I think it has great potential. As Envision would say, just think of the waterfront views!

I don't think the twin happens, but the site is eminently developable, and in a great location. Ground-floor commercial would be nice, but probably not demanded by the city this far south.

And yes, that's the spot I mean by Murder Hill. Footprint is less than half of 99 King, plus you've got a two-storey elevation change from Water to Prince William. If you could scoop up some of the Customs parking lot to the north you could benefit greatly. Even the 10 southernmost spots could add 3,000 sf to the site, which would make underground parking that much more feasible.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by EnvisionSaintJohn

The one is definitely 99 King right? lol

I really think the government financing should have been conditional on the removal of the “turrets” from the roof design. 😅

I think it’s a shame they tried way too hard to make a new building look old, instead of just building a 15-20 storey modern high rise. 🌇

Stop the presses!! I agree with you.

[sailor734]

I seriously didn't recognize 99 King with the lighting in that photo hiding the two-tone look. Agree the windows leave a lot to be desired. You don't suppose they are opening because central AC has been deleted to cut costs? I can't imagine doing that in 2025 but who knows?

Some of the older hi rise condos in Vancouver (15-20 years old and up) don't have air and without buying a portable 10,000 BTU AC and jury rigging the exhaust hose they are virtually uninhabitable in the summer.

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by sailor734

I seriously didn't recognize 99 King with the lighting in that photo hiding the two-tone look. Agree the windows leave a lot to be desired. You don't suppose they are opening because central AC has been deleted to cut costs? I can't imagine doing that in 2025 but who knows?

Some of the older hi rise condos in Vancouver (15-20 years old and up) don't have air and without buying a portable 10,000 BTU AC and jury rigging the exhaust hose they are virtually uninhabitable in the summer.

The other pick is Parrtown Place on King

[bingun]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

I don't think the twin happens, but the site is eminently developable, and in a great location. Ground-floor commercial would be nice, but probably not demanded by the city this far south.

And yes, that's the spot I mean by Murder Hill. Footprint is less than half of 99 King, plus you've got a two-storey elevation change from Water to Prince William. If you could scoop up some of the Customs parking lot to the north you could benefit greatly. Even the 10 southernmost spots could add 3,000 sf to the site, which would make underground parking that much more feasible.

Yes, ample underground parking would be critical for a successful high-rise in that spot. Normally, I would say trying to acquire some land from the feds would be a nightmare, but perhaps they are more malleable in the current climate. How busy is that customs building these days? I'd hope things might have picked up with the port growth, but I have no idea.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by bingun

Yes, ample underground parking would be critical for a successful high-rise in that spot. Normally, I would say trying to acquire some land from the feds would be a nightmare, but perhaps they are more malleable in the current climate. How busy is that customs building these days? I'd hope things might have picked up with the port growth, but I have no idea.

Maybe the feds could sell the entire lot to a developer and lease back some parking. He might have to go one floor deeper for the garage but it might be worth it.

Only in Saint John would such a prime piece of uptown property sit vacant as a parking lot for 65 years

[cdnguys]

Originally Posted by bingun

Yes, ample underground parking would be critical for a successful high-rise in that spot. Normally, I would say trying to acquire some land from the feds would be a nightmare, but perhaps they are more malleable in the current climate. How busy is that customs building these days? I'd hope things might have picked up with the port growth, but I have no idea.

Customs building is mostly empty aside from contraband storage. Customs is housed with CRA at the 126 PrinceWilliam / 65 Canterbury St complex.

[adamuptownsj]

Lots of opposition to the planned extension to Lakewood Heights from Summit Drive north. A subdivision attached to a subdivision? Never!

[bingun]

It would seem the roundabout may not be happening after all. I've left out the politics waffle and just posted the relevant quotes. I wonder if they will pivot to Gault Road instead. I would really like them to keep the momentum on these and get one done per year.

Politics at heart of delay for new airport roundabout: Opposition leader

https://tj.news/saint-john-south/politic...new-airport-roundabout-opposition-leader

Asked by Brunswick News if construction would start this year, Department of Transportation and Infrastructure spokesperson Jacob MacDonald wrote by email the project was “not currently part” of the province’s three-year capital plan, but is under consideration “for any future plans.”

MacDonald acknowledged that a roundabout near the airport had been discussed but has “never reached the point of being fully designed or budgeted.” He said a portion of the project would be located along a provincial-municipal highway and thus has shared responsibilities between the province and the city.

Costs at issue for new roundabout

The province’s statement points to cost uncertainty in the delay of the design phase for the project.

“Information gathered during recent early design efforts has indicated a significant rise in the planned costs, and alternatives are now being explored by the City of Saint John,” MacDonald wrote. “Thus a project start date has not yet been determined.”

He added that the project never reached the point of being fully designed or budgeted.

The city’s utilities and infrastructure commissioner, Ian Fogan, confirmed that the design for the roundabout is still being worked on, even though the provincial funding has not yet been made available.

[sailor734]

Are there any of the other proposed roundabouts that do not involve an intersection with a provincial highway? (Gault intersects with Rte 100 doesn't it?) Somerset and Millidge Ave maybe?

[bridgeoftea]

Originally Posted by bingun

It would seem the roundabout may not be happening after all. I've left out the politics waffle and just posted the relevant quotes. I wonder if they will pivot to Gault Road instead. I would really like them to keep the momentum on these and get one done per year.

Politics at heart of delay for new airport roundabout: Opposition leader

https://tj.news/saint-john-south/politic...new-airport-roundabout-opposition-leader

Man that is such a miss to not add the roundabout there. It can be a nightmare trying to turn left from the highway to the airport some days. Other times, there can be 10-15 cars backed up.

[darkharbour]

Originally Posted by cdnguys

[url=https://ibb.co/NnZQxkFt][/IMG]

Since no one else has mentioned it yet, the crane is up and there is a stockpile of prefab wall panels on-site as well, so I expect that depending on weather we will see this one start to take shape before too long.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Are there any of the other proposed roundabouts that do not involve an intersection with a provincial highway? (Gault intersects with Rte 100 doesn't it?) Somerset and Millidge Ave maybe?

Rothesay Road is provincial right? If so, yes, I think Somerset/Millidge Ave is the only one from the shortlist. While I would be happy to see that done, it is far from the worst of the bunch.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by bingun

Rothesay Road is provincial right? If so, yes, I think Somerset/Millidge Ave is the only one from the shortlist. While I would be happy to see that done, it is far from the worst of the bunch.

Yep, I believe Rothesay Road is provincial highway 100.

I'd say Millidge and Somerset is about the least important one to do. I live in Millidgeville and really don't find that intersection much of a problem. Granted, I'm rarely going through there during the morning or evening commute so maybe it is at certain times.

[adamuptownsj]

I think they should do King/Water/St Patrick's. Put low speed slip lanes from Water to King, and King to St Patrick's. St Patrick's to Water too if space permits. Or just have a double lane roundabout. I don't think this would mess with the bus stops if done right. Idling traffic here is always annoying and really disrupts uptown/boardwalk connectivity at street level.

[sailor734]

Would there be room or would you need to include Prince William and Chipman Hill?

[adamuptownsj]

Absolutely no idea what's going on at 70 Sewell/55 Carleton. I get that the grey building on the corner was somewhat salvageable post-fire, but why preserve two floors of one crappy facade to the east? No way that was worth it from a financial or heritage perspective. Picture is a month old, haven't been up that way lately.

https://imgur.com/a/P1Ot407

I don't know what's up across the street either. 73 Sewell is boarded up, ok, whatever, but 75 Sewell has the entire front of the building, window openings included, covered by cement board and insulation. Both were acquired together by the current owner in 2018 but this is a recent development. 77 Sewell was partially re-clad, had new front stairs, then nothing else since early summer. Some progress on these would be great for the area, but it's been like this for months with little change. https://imgur.com/a/okOmBGA