The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[bingun]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Those PAC recommended denials (the massive old storm sewer that drains the North End) are fascinating. I don't think I've ever seen them written so colloquially. Builder obviously fine with the denials and will incorporate some small changes.

I thought the same thing. Nice to see someone speak in plain language for once.

Below is the 'lake' that would exist without the sewer.

[bingun]

The PAC meeting recording was uploaded this morning, and I just finished watching the segment on this development.

Fatham Studio gave a separate presentation from the city's, and this included much more detail, including renders. I've included some of these below.

Based on comments after the presentation, it sounds like the landowners are considering selling this land after it is approved or partnering with someone, so this could delay this coming to fruition. They also said they would have liked to build even taller buildings but didn't want to misalign with the secondary plan, so they stuck with 6 stories.

Other than that, this looks fantastic.

https://youtu.be/naCpb6INBTM?si=Mb37FFd6RNi5PU6F&t=1134

[darkharbour]

The proposal looks great!

Totally agree with the recommendations about the "sewer" - which should not be called that, it's a fish-bearing stream called Newman's Brook, not a sewer - it needs to be preserved and could turn into a big issue if excavated or not accommodated in plans.

Fun fact, the earthworks/infrastructure project that buried Newman's Brook under Adelaide St. were the subject of an early Supreme Court of Canada case, after an explosives shed blew up at the construction site and the city tried to wrestle with the contractor for damages and what constituted an independent contractor because the dynamite was stored in a city-owned shed or something like that. I don't remember all the details, so don't quote me on that, but I'll try to dig up the documents since it contains some interesting old engineering schematics of the arched brick culvert they were building.

[bridgeoftea]

Originally Posted by bingun

The PAC meeting recording was uploaded this morning, and I just finished watching the segment on this development.

Fatham Studio gave a separate presentation from the city's, and this included much more detail, including renders. I've included some of these below.

Based on comments after the presentation, it sounds like the landowners are considering selling this land after it is approved or partnering with someone, so this could delay this coming to fruition. They also said they would have liked to build even taller buildings but didn't want to misalign with the secondary plan, so they stuck with 6 stories.

Other than that, this looks fantastic.

https://youtu.be/naCpb6INBTM?si=Mb37FFd6RNi5PU6F&t=1134

If this comes to pass, I hope that spruce up and fix up the parking lot around the strip mall and Tim hortons. It could use some fixing up, reducing the potential of cars driving all over the place and the lumpy and bumpys.

[Pugsley]

Looks promising. I see some street-level retail but it would be great if they incorporated more. Not a fan of the more "cost effective" surface parking for the residential buildings. It could have been a bit more urban - perhaps using a "5-over-1" approach with a wrap around a common garage (aka Texas Doughnut). Seems like a missed opportunity to create a denser neighbourhood. But it could have been much worse.

[darkharbour]

Originally Posted by Pugsley

Looks promising. I see some street-level retail but it would be great if they incorporated more. Not a fan of the more "cost effective" surface parking for the residential buildings. It could have been a bit more urban - perhaps using a "5-over-1" approach with a wrap around a common garage (aka Texas Doughnut). Seems like a missed opportunity to create a denser neighbourhood. But it could have been much worse.

I agree, but I look at this as a transitional development for the North End. You need these types of proposals to succeed so that more urban designs and densities can get approved later on. If someone proposed something like what you are describing, it would have been a bigger hurdle with public hearings and perception, whereas this will probably sail through fairly easily.

Hopefully if this gets built we'll then see more contemporary or urban proposals for the rest of the Landsdowne area (like the old RBC location and the frontage along the street) in the coming years.

[bingun]

Originally Posted by bridgeoftea

If this comes to pass, I hope that spruce up and fix up the parking lot around the strip mall and Tim hortons. It could use some fixing up, reducing the potential of cars driving all over the place and the lumpy and bumpys.

That parking lot is horrific; it reminds me of some kind of minefield or WWI no man's land.

If you watch the presentation, it shows that the underground parking is huge and sits under both larger buildings and the space between. I don't think we should be too upset at the remaining above-ground parking.

I also really like that small shared green space between the two buildings. Maybe the images are generous, but it looks like a nice public space for the residents along with the rooftop spaces. Let's hope that if someone buys the land and plans, they don't pull a Percy and cheap out.

I was also reminded that both the Sobey's and RBC lots are not owned by the REIT. I am still holding out for a future new grocery from Sobeys like FreshCo, but with the RBC now vacant since their move to East Point, what do we think will happen there? I don't recall seeing it up for lease or sale, but my memory is not perfect. Hefty property tax bill on that building to keep it vacant long-term.


I also caught up with the Hyatt hotel segment from the PAC meeting, and it lacked any useful insight. One of the members of PAC implied it wasn't a good location for a hotel and asked them why they chose it. The proponent's CFO could barely answer the question and blurted out something about the airport and vacancy rates. Maybe the huge refinery across the street might be relevant to a long-stay hotel? Sometimes I feel like I could give a more convincing speech for these projects, and I only follow them for fun! What I did learn is that Hyatt itself was very interested in this location and initiated this opportunity, which is a good sign. It sounds like they were previously considering a pure residential opportunity, which I don't think would be a great fit. The brief speech from Spitfire Design was as inspiring as their architecture.

[sailor734]

Originally Posted by bingun

That parking lot is horrific; it reminds me of some kind of minefield or WWI no man's land.

If you watch the presentation, it shows that the underground parking is huge and sits under both larger buildings and the space between. I don't think we should be too upset at the remaining above-ground parking.

I also really like that small shared green space between the two buildings. Maybe the images are generous, but it looks like a nice public space for the residents along with the rooftop spaces. Let's hope that if someone buys the land and plans, they don't pull a Percy and cheap out.

I was also reminded that both the Sobey's and RBC lots are not owned by the REIT. I am still holding out for a future new grocery from Sobeys like FreshCo, but with the RBC now vacant since their move to East Point, what do we think will happen there? I don't recall seeing it up for lease or sale, but my memory is not perfect. Hefty property tax bill on that building to keep it vacant long-term.


I also caught up with the Hyatt hotel segment from the PAC meeting, and it lacked any useful insight. One of the members of PAC implied it wasn't a good location for a hotel and asked them why they chose it. The proponent's CFO could barely answer the question and blurted out something about the airport and vacancy rates. Maybe the huge refinery across the street might be relevant to a long-stay hotel? Sometimes I feel like I could give a more convincing speech for these projects, and I only follow them for fun! What I did learn is that Hyatt itself was very interested in this location and initiated this opportunity, which is a good sign. It sounds like they were previously considering a pure residential opportunity, which I don't think would be a great fit. The brief speech from Spitfire Design was as inspiring as their architecture.

Sorry, I must have missed this. Where are they proposing to build a Hyatt? I assume one of their more modest brands like a Hampton Inn or Townhouse Suites competitor and not an actual Hyatt?

[darkharbour]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Sorry, I must have missed this. Where are they proposing to build a Hyatt? I assume one of their more modest brands like a Hampton Inn or Townhouse Suites competitor and not an actual Hyatt?

It was posted a few pages back:

Originally Posted by bingun

I feel like this one came out of nowhere. I have never stayed at a Hyatt Studios, but it appears to be focused on longer stays.

https://www.hyatt.com/development/ourbrands/hyattstudios

Address: 615/631 Loch Lomond Road

PID: 00317248

Application Details:

The Planning Advisory Committee received an application requesting a rezoning of the vacant property at 615 Loch Lomond Road from the Mid-Rise Residential (RM) zone to the Business Park Commercial (CBP) zone. The applicant is requesting this rezoning in order to allow for the development of a new hotel.

The applicant has also asked for a variance to subdivide off the rear of the lot, not fronting a public street, to have it remain as residential.

PAC Meeting: Tuesday July 21, 2026

Public Hearing: August 17, 2026

[bingun]

Originally Posted by sailor734

Sorry, I must have missed this. Where are they proposing to build a Hyatt? I assume one of their more modest brands like a Hampton Inn or Townhouse Suites competitor and not an actual Hyatt?

Yeah, I think it's a competitor to Townhouse Suites with a mini kitchen or other amenities above a standard hotel room. It sounds like they have plans to build many of this brand all across Canada.

[adamuptownsj]

St Pat's conversion (34 units) expected completion by spring. Per De Jong talking to All NB, it's basically a classroom-to-unit conversion with no major structural or water issues. St Vincent's to start in earnest this summer too. Forget how many units it's supposed to be.