Around Saint John

Parking Garage

2011-02-16T00:32:00.004-04:00

It looks like work may have started on the Peel Plaza parking garage on Sewell Street near Harbour Station.

As seen today, a backhoe is digging a hole near the site of the approved garage.

Photo: Ben Bunnell

Harbourfront Condos

2011-02-11T17:59:00.000-04:00

Harbourfront residences continues to come together, as renovations continue near Market Square and a government building nearby. The condo building is now up to the third floor.

Law Courts

2010-04-25T22:04:00.000-03:00

After almost a year off, I am back with pictures of the Saint John Law Courts now under construction at the site of the old YMCA. Excavation work started last month, and continues as crews dig a hole above the walkway between the Mercantile Centre and Harbour Station. The long debated and controversial Peel Plaza developments which include a new police HQ and parking garage near this site appear to be inching along.

Tribute to a Great Blog

2009-06-12T14:23:00.000-03:00

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:

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
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
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

2009-06-12T14:18:00.000-03:00

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

2009-06-09T18:05:00.000-03:00

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

2009-06-09T18:01:00.000-03:00

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

2009-06-08T12:23:00.001-03:00

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

2009-06-03T21:04:00.000-03:00

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

2009-05-31T20:20:00.000-03:00

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

2009-05-22T20:35:00.000-03:00

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

2009-05-20T22:59:00.001-03:00

Market Square Steel

2009-05-16T21:43:00.001-03:00

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

2009-05-16T21:29:00.001-03:00

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

2009-05-16T21:15:00.000-03:00

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

2009-05-16T20:57:00.001-03:00

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

2009-05-11T19:12:00.000-03:00

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

Long Wharf Test Piling

2009-05-09T22:15:00.001-03:00

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

McAllister Place Reaches New Heights

2009-05-08T16:06:00.000-03:00

Much of the older portion of the ceiling at McAllister Place has been removed in order for a new, higher ceiling to be installed. Shoppers will likely find more changes in the months to come as the mall continues with extensive renovations.

Market Square Switching Gears

2009-05-08T15:32:00.000-03:00

The expansion of Market Square which began last month is now going strong as a construction crane gets ready for lifting the steel which will make up the new part of the building.

Bentley Crossing Phase 3

2009-05-03T23:11:00.000-03:00

The popular Bentley Crossing housing development continues to develop Northward as the next phase begins to take shape. The developers have had no problem selling homes; for each phase of the development so far, it appears most, if not all units have been pre-sold, or sold upon construction.

Eastpoint Getting Ready for Cosco

2009-05-03T23:07:00.000-03:00

Workers and equipment have been on and around the site of the new Cosco which is supposed to open sometime next year. Every day the hill keeps getting smaller as the ground is levelled.

Chipman Hill Renos

2009-05-02T21:47:00.000-03:00

Chipman Hill Suites (above), is renovating it's newest addition; the attached storefront on Union Street (left), was recently redone. The picture below shows the outsode condition of the building over a year ago.

1st Annual sjkid Fair

2009-05-02T21:11:00.000-03:00

Sjkid held a fair at the new cruise ship welcome centre building at Pugsley Wharf today. This was a good opportunity for kids and parents to connect with resources for families in the area. http://sjkid.com/

This was also a good opportunity to visit the inside of the new building, which was recently constructed. The fair wasn't just informative; there was music, facepainting, food, crafts, and more.

Near Long Wharf

2009-05-01T17:43:00.000-03:00

Fishing boats docked at Long Wharf as seen from Harbour Passage near the Market Square boardwalk.

Saint John Theatre Company

2009-05-01T17:25:00.000-03:00

Last year, Saint John Theatre Company moved into their new pad on Princess Street. Renovations continue on the upper portion of the building. Half a block to the East, and a block

to the West, the city is also busy reconstructing the street, burying utilities in the process.

Construction This Week

2009-04-30T22:47:00.001-03:00

This week, renovations have begun in McAllister Place Mall, as the owners look to put a fresh look on the place. Centrebeam has moved it's focus to the corner building (King and Prince William), as scaffolding has risen the length and width of the exterior. The Chipman Hill Suites, next to the city hall parking garage has been fixing up it's recently aquired building on the corner beside the original property; new windows and exterior repairs are bringing the worn-out building back to life. Market Square expansion continues with initial preparations being done to the existing structure. Chateau Saint John has nearly reached it's final height, as outside finishes are added. The West-side retail renewal pushes-on as Lancaster Mall continues with renovations, and BNG Plaza continues with construction.

Within a month, Harbourfront Residences should begin work on Prince William Street, and the Abbey may not be far behind.

Think You Can Dance?

2009-04-21T16:03:00.000-03:00

http://www.ctv.ca/mini/dance2008/Audition.html

So You Think You Can Dance Canada is holding auditions today at the Imperial Theatre. Five Canadian cities have been chosen to hold auditions for the second season: Vancouver, Edmonton, Saint John, Toronto, and Montreal.

Trade & Convention Centre Goes Wild

2009-04-21T15:07:00.001-03:00

Little Ray's reptile Zoo spent last weekend in Saint John at the trade and convention centre in Market Sqaure. Hundreds got to see first hand, alligators, snakes, wild birds, and other creatures on hand. Kids and adults were given a chance to touch a giant snake, and the aligator pictured above following a demonstration.

Harbour Bridge Repairs

2009-04-18T21:32:00.000-03:00

Work continues on the Harbour Bridge as crews continue modifications to structural components, and improve aesthetics.

Something New for Mercantile Centre?

2009-04-17T22:17:00.000-03:00

Ever since Matteo's and Labatts left the main level of the Mercantile Centre along the pedway to Harbour Station, this area has been left vacant...until now. I'm not sure what type of development this is, but with office space at a premium uptown, it will likely house the same.

How Much is that Dog in the Window?

2009-04-17T21:49:00.000-03:00

Travelling down Union Street, I found this puppy in the window of a local shop.

Market Square Expansion

2009-04-17T21:02:00.001-03:00

Hardman Group has started construction on the 40 000-square foot expansion to Market Square in order to house the growing Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories Inc.

"Genesys is now working with The Hardman Group Limited to design and create a modern office space that is large enough to accommodate their current needs while allowing for future growth. Construction on the new three-story addition to Market Square will commence immediately and will be completed by the end of 2009. Genesys employees will enjoy the benefits of being located near the waterfront in Uptown Saint John; including easy access to the Harbour Passage and the indoor pedestrian pedway link to restaurants, shopping, services and fitness facilities." (http://sjwaterfront.com/)

"Google Car" Breaks for a Double-Double

2009-04-14T16:39:00.000-03:00

Seen around town for about a week now, the Google car has been taking street level photos for Google maps. If you see this car go by, be sure to wave; you might be seen by all once the photos are finally published. Google is currently mapping major Canadian centres as it finally adds Canada to it's places where street-level photos can be seen online.

Below are cities where Google will be filming:

Calgary
Edmonton
Halifax
Montreal
Ottawa
Quebec City
Saint John
Saskatoon
Toronto
Vancouver
Winnipeg

$51.8 Million for Sewage Treatment

2009-04-13T11:46:00.000-03:00

Quebec based Pomerleau Inc. was recently awarded the contract for the new East side water treatment plant which will treat much of the water that now flows into the harbour. This new plant will be located in Redhead.

One Mile Interchange

2009-04-11T21:04:00.000-03:00

Construction on the one mile interchange slowed to a stop over the Easter weekend as the equipment pictured above takes a quick rest. Started last year, the project is forcasted to take four-years and cost $43.5 million. Already, one used car dealer has moved to make room for the extra lanes on Loch Lomond Road, and Tim Horton's on Russel Street will likely move to Bayside Drive in order to make room for extra roadways.

Renovated School Building

2009-04-11T20:33:00.000-03:00

This old school building on Bayside Drive is undergoing renovations in order to become office space. The new, fresh look can be seen in contrast to the old, worn look in these pictures.

I've heard the building is owned by commercial properties, and Irving Oil may be a tenant, though this may be incorrect. If any reader knows for sure, feel free to comment.

Good Friday

2009-04-10T22:29:00.000-03:00

At around 10 PM Friday night, the moon rose out of the Southeast catching the sunrise somewhere on earth. As seen from the uptown, the moon ironically appeared over the Redhead area in it's pictured form for several minutes before returing to it's usual colour.

Coming Soon: Harbourfront Residences

2009-04-07T22:06:00.001-03:00

I finally paid a visit to the sales office for the new Harbourfront Residences condo project on Water Street. With most of the North building sold, construction will begin "as soon as the frost is out of the ground". I'm guessing we'll see some activity at that site soon, given the developers are certain they want to break ground as soon as possible. This will be a great addition to the area, bringing hundreds of new residents to the uptown area. With this project, with Abbey St. Andrew, and with other apartment complexes slated for the area, comes the potential for a central-located grocery store.

Chateau Saint John

2009-03-14T00:26:00.000-03:00

Saint John's newest hotel is supposed to open this August. Chateau Saint John, under construction since last July, will employ up to 100 people this Summer for continuing construction, and will employ around 48 people when it opens late Summer.

Chateau Saint John follows Best Western and Hampton Inn, as our newest hotels in the area. Rumour has it there may also be a new hotel for the uptown a few years.

Peel Plaza a Little Closer to Reality

2009-03-07T21:58:00.000-04:00

According to the local paper, both the law courts and the police station will break ground in April. Before this happens, at least one more building must go; this one's not particularly historic though, as it used to house an automotive repair shop.

The building beside the repair shop, shown in the picture below, was removed a few months ago. The bricks on the front were removed before it was levelled. I must admit, it's a shame to see such beautiful buildings go, but sometimes it has to be done.

"Chateau Saint John" Takes Shape

2009-01-21T15:21:00.000-04:00

The yet unnamed hotel currently under construction off highway 1 on St. Paul Street is beginning to rise, as it reaches the fourth floor. Below is a sketch of what the finished product should look like.

Saint John Transit Ops Centre

2009-01-17T23:42:00.000-04:00

Construction workers at the new Saint John Transit operations centre began putting on the outside walls last week. Construction is slightly behind schedule, but certain interior elements of the building were finished ahead of schedule which may allow for completion on time when all is said and done.

SJT's current location must be vacated in June to provide a parking lot for a plaza currently under construction on Fairvale Boulevard. The garage portion will be useable by that time, but any delays may impact office staff.

Projects in Uptown / South End

2009-01-13T01:32:00.000-04:00

I've been kind of slack lately updating this blog; I think the dead of Winter has kept me from going outside to take new shots. I did take a few minutes to put together this map of current projects in the South-Central area.

This year should bring plenty of construction activity to the area, with Harbourfront Residences, The Abbey, and Peel Plaza starting construction as early as Spring.

Views from St. Joe's Roof

2008-12-14T14:32:00.000-04:00

As part of my job, I recently visited St. Joseph's Hospital and ended up on the roof where I took the opportunity to snap a few shots.

LNG Terminal at Night

2008-12-06T21:33:00.001-04:00

The colourful lights at the Canaport LNG construction site look alot like Xmas lights seen often this time of year. The display is pretty impressive against the dark Mispec backdrop. According to the Canaport web-site, constructions is 87% complete.

New Look for Bridge

2008-11-27T02:23:00.001-04:00

As part of the renovations to get another forty years of service out of the Harbour Bridge, the supports are bring restored and either sealed or painted as seen in the pictures.

I was skeptical at first when I heard the supports were being painted, but after seeing them, I prefer it to the bare concrete. The bridge also received a colour change last year when it went from pale green to blue.

Mile One Interchange

2008-11-25T16:26:00.001-04:00

The construction of the new Mile One interchange is well underway, which is claimed to be the largest interchange project in New Brunswick to date. The new route will direct truck traffic from the highway to the industrial parks on the east side. Due for completion in 2012, it will eliminate much of the truck traffic navigating the lower cove loop and other areas of the city after exiting near the uptown.
The $7 billion project will include a long elevated portion over existing train tracks nearby and Rothesay Avenue. The NB Department of Transportation has a pdf file showing the scope of the project: http://www.gnb.ca/0113/projects/images/May2008-plan-and-survey-opt.pdf.

Last photo: Telegraph-Journal

$1.2 Million Offer

2008-11-24T22:54:00.000-04:00

Irving Oil has offered $1.2 million for the Lantic Sugar site, and if approved tonight, will pave the way for a land swap with the port that would see the new Irving Oil headquarters built at Long Wharf. This development means keeping hundreds of jobs in the uptown area, and means bringing many more from offices strewn throughout the city.

Irving Oil has expressed interest in using a portion of the development as a second cruise ship terminal, and in restoring Fort Latour.

This development will likely be a large one, built on a large footprint. Perhaps building a taller building on a smaller footprint would increase the amount of land available for other purposes. Regardless, this project will be good for uptown business.

Saint John Transit HQ

2008-11-23T15:04:00.000-04:00

The new SJT headquarters and garage are beginning to take shape. As pictured, a portion of the steel for the extensive footprint gets put in place. The building is located across the street from Loch Lomond Place on McDonald Street, with an entrance off Loch Lomond Road.

The move to a new location on the east side will open up space at the current SJT site on the west side for retail development by BNG Plaza Corp.

Interesting Carvings

2008-11-21T22:36:00.001-04:00

A trip past Simms corner brought me to the Irving built park at the old Centracare site. The park is full of these carved statues, though this is my favourite scene. Maybe the beaver should turn around before he gets bopped in the head.

Woodhollow Park

2008-11-21T17:19:00.000-04:00

Phase 2 of Woodhollow Park is complete. This phase, consisting of thirty, two-bedroom townhouses, is much more attractive than the first, and is positioned facing the road on Ellerdale Street, in front of the other.

Ellerdale Investments, the developer of this project indicates on their web-site, a third phase will be in the works soon, having thirty-six, one-bedroom units.

The Abbey

2008-11-21T01:18:00.000-04:00

Soon, construction will begin on The Abbey, a five storey apartment building to be built on the corner of Charlotte and Duke Streets. With two floors of underground parking, most of the above ground portion will be available for living space.

This development is one of many new buildings replacing the parking lots created as older stock were removed and never redeveloped. There are at least five recent or current residential projects in the South End area:

Leinster Court
Harbourfront Residences at Three Sisters
The Abbey
Tannery Court
Townhouses on Crown Street

New Sobeys Store

2008-11-21T00:33:00.000-04:00

This new building on The Golden Mile, West Saint John will be home to a new Sobeys store and Mark's Work Warehouse. In the next few years, we will likely see a new Canadian Tire, Power Centre and more in this area. Rumour has it Empire Theatres is considering a new west side theatre, possibly at the site of the current Sobeys. According to the local paper, the current Sobeys on Catherwood Street will remain open.

Lancaster Mall Renovation and Expansion

2008-11-19T22:33:00.000-04:00

Lancaster Mall's renovation continues, as the front of Zellers is ripped apart as shown in the photo. The new Shopper's Drug Mart, now apart from the main mall has been open for a while now.

"Chateau Saint John"

2008-11-18T20:00:00.000-04:00

Since construction began a few months ago, the "Chateau Saint John" is up to the second floor. The nine storey hotel is being constructed by Cyr Holdings, who also own Chateau Moncton.

A public announcement is yet to come, so there is no rendering of the finished product so far.