Tribute to a Great Blog

I found a flower on top of a garbage can on the boardwalk, just outside the Hilton, and thought of My Saint John, one of my favourite blogs, where scenes normally overlooked are captured and described with a certain amount of wit. I'm not sure I'm doing the blog justice by doing my own bit, but I wanted to try...

As for the discarded flower above, I'm not sure how it found it's way to the garbage can, but the discarder obviously didn't want to put it right in with the smelly coffee cups and greasy fast food cartons. I have come up with a few ways this flower ended up here instead of a vase:

1. It was given to someone by an admirer; but she didn't share the same sentiment. On the way home, it was quickly and carefully left behind
2. It was bought by an admirer; but the admired didn't share the same sentiment. Embarassed, the romantic giver left it behind, but paid too much to just toss it into the can
3. It was given to somone, who was so overcome with passion after receiving it, they immediately embraced, and completely forgot about the poor flower

Market Steel

Taken a couple of days ago, these pictures show the steel coming together at the Market Square expansion. Since then, the crane has disappeared. Meanwhile, the crane at Chateau Saint John has been in place for about a year.

New Articulated Buses

An articulated bus, similar to the two Saint John Transit

purchased, makes a trial run through Saint John streets last year.

Last year, Saint John Transit began arrangements to purchase two new acordian-style buses for the successful Comex service between Saint John and KV, and Hampton. Due to the need to retrofit the slightly-used buses with seats, the buses have taken some time to make it to Saint John for regular service. In an e-mail received from Saint John Transit, I found the buses have been delayed until August, though initially they were due to begin service this month.

Busy Area

In the background, work continues on the Princess Street reconstruction, as workers in the foreground appear to be making repairs to a building on Prince William Street.

NBCC Hits the Jackpot

Today, representatives for the government, and the NBCC student body unveiled plans for two new buildings. A 90 000-square foot building will be built at the NBCC campus on Grandview Avenue, while a 40 000-square foot building is slated for the UNB campus which will house the various medical programs at the college.

Above, the larger building, known as the energy building will sit at the front of the NBCC campus. Below, the smaller building, known as the allied health centre will be constructed at UNB.

Colourful Parking Garage

The proposal for an 8-level parking garage (7 above ground) to compliment the Peel Plaza development was unveiled today during an info session at the arts centre. Neither the colourful building, nor the layout of Peel Plaza brought out any major complaints, though there were a few miscellaneous concerns brought up during the Q&A session.

One person sitting next to me seemed to echo my thoughts with regards to the ability to develop the building above the parking garage. With the current design, only two additional floors may be added, which is IMO not acceptable. Hopefully a developer will come by before the plan is finalized with the potential to develop this central location with something more significant atop the garage, whether a hotel, apartments, or commercial space.

Peel Plaza Widens

Peel Plaza, the location chosen for the new police headquarters and parking garage is getting bigger, as another building bites the dust. Lets hope more development happens here than just the station, courthouse and parking garage. There has been talk about a possible apartment building to be placed on top of the garage.

Forest Hills - Mountain View Drive Projects

Built in the late 1980s, Mountain View Drive was created, an extension to Mountain Road in Forest Hills. It remained a long empty road until recently as Carlisle Crescent, Casey Crescent, Taylor College, and Revenue Canada were added.

Now, two different housing develoments are under construction on the opposite side of the street, condominiums and garden homes, both by Darling.

Uptown in Black and White

Market Square Steel

The structure of the Market Square expansion rises quickly with the recent addition of a crane to the site. Nearby, the Hilton is replacing the walkway which had began to crack over the past couple of years.

Canaport LNG

The tanks of Canaport LNG, seen above, have become a common sight from Mispec Park. According to the Canaport LNG website (http://www.canaportlng.com/), the project is 95% complete.

Rockwood Hills

One of the latest subdivisions of the many under construction in Millidgeville, as well as one of the most visible, is the new Rockwood Hills, off University Avenue. Already, foundations have been poured for some of the buildings in this development.

NBCC Building

Construction on a new 9000-square metre building for the UNBSJ campus has begun; this building will house the medical related programs at NBCC. As the regional hospital is a stone's throw away, this move makes logical sense.

In addition, a new 25 000-square metre building is slated for the current NBCCSJ campus, which is currently undergoing design work. I heard the folks at NBCC were given a choice, have the building designed to optimize the space or have the building done quick. I believe the building will be done quick, with construction starting sometime soon.

Forest Hills Condos

Workers are readying the site on Mountain View Drive in Forest Hills for one of Darling Construction's newest projects.

Long Wharf Test Piling

Irving Oil begins site preparation for it's new headquarters on Long Wharf by driving test piles to determine the composition of the ground.