South End Days

I’ve read that there have been a few adjustments to some of the scheduled events, but here is the South End Days event poster:

Urban Deli – open and so good

I ate at Urban Deli this evening.  The food and service was great.  There were lots of people filling the booths, and a few more social types eating at the communal trailer.

What a great addition to Saint John and to King Street.

Parking in the city

The TJ reported again on the parking plans for the Peel Plaza/North of Union area.  One story cover’s the temporary and long term plans for parking at the site.  The other is a “street poll” with responses to the proposed garage design. 

The best part of the street poll is a guy wearing “well designed in his own mind” sunglasses being quoted as saying: “I think it’s one of the ugliest designs I’ve ever seen.”

Salty Jam rocking the waterfront

The Salty Jam music festival is rocking the waterfront this evening.  Tomorrow night will bring more main stage music – with free shows around the uptown tomorrow afternoon.

Market Square expansion – duct work

Duct work is now on place on the lower level of the Marker Square expansion.

Human powered tourism

On the boardwalk in front of the Hilton a rickshaw operator was pulling around three tourist this evening.

Beer Guy Lounge

The Beer Guy is a local beer delivery company.  They seem to be expanding their services – south of the corner of Duke Street and Charlotte Street is a new sign for the Beer Guy Lounge.

Granite curbs on Murder Hill

This granite curbing seems wasted on Murder Hill when the city has cited budget considerations for using concrete curbing on their Princess Street remodeling.

Princess Street concrete curb

The concrete curb on Princess Street that has caused some controversy. 

City curbs enthusiasm for heritage elements on Princess Street

The city announced that it plans to use concrete curbs instead of granite as it finishes remodeling Princess Street.  According to CHSJ 94 News at least one business owner sees this as hypocritical from a city that forces uptown businesses and building owners to follow rules about maintaining and creating a sense of heritage (or faux-heritage).

As CHSJ has a tendency to take their stories down rather quickly, here is the text:

“A business owner in Uptown Saint John says the citys decision to use concrete curb rather than granite curbing is hypocritical.Feel Good Store owner Anne McShane tells CHSJ News, shops need to adhere to Heritage rules when doing construction, and so should the city.

McShane says the cost saving argument doesn't really make sense, because granite lasts much longer than concrete.She says she would like to see uptown businesses revolt against the decision by adding neon signs, and vinyl windows to their shops, even though it's against the rules of Heritage buildings.”

Computers to blame for Yarmouth foreclosures (in part)

For those of you interested in housing or the issues surrounding the mortgage credit system in Canada I have included this link to a CBC podcast dealing with the foreclosure of over 100 apartment units in Yarmouth, NS:

http://www.cbc.ca/podcasting/pastpodcasts.html?69#ref69

According to the story, potential mortgage fraud is being investigated in the western Nova Scotia town.  Apparently 2 apartment building owners have had 120 apartment units foreclosed upon, leaving many residents homeless after being evicted.

The podcast has an interview that questions the use of automated valuation systems in assigning value to the properties for financing.  The interviewee suggested that had lenders used a professional real estate appraiser, that potential mortgage fraud and inflated purchase prices could have been detected earlier. 

The automated valuation systems are cheaper for lenders in the short run, but the podcast leaves me thinking that having a set of human eyes inspect the properties and investigate the values could have saved lenders some problems and money in this case.

iPhone app for relating to Boston City Hall

Bostonians can now complain to their city hall using an iPhone application. 

An article on Gawker explains that now there is no need to tie up the town’s complaint phone line when you can show off you conspicuous-consumption device to all watching as you harp at city staff.

If Saint John had this option, I’m sure lots of Telegraph Journal writers and readers would make ample use of it.

The changing face of Princess Street

Comments on this blog show that Saint John is eagerly waiting for the Brew Pub on Princess Street (on the corner of Canterbury) to open.   It’s evident that work is ongoing, and while the developer missed their goal of opening in the Spring, this will be a major addition to the city’s night life once complete.

 

Across the street the proprietors of Lemongrass and Pepper’s Pub have moved from their homey Princess Street location.  The Thai restaurant and gastro-pub now reside on the boardwalk.

Meanwhile, the brew pub and former Lemongrass section of Street is still undergoing a major upgrade with wires being buried.The value of this cosmetic change can be predicted when you look at the block of Princess west of Charlotte Street.  Here, the restored home of the Saint John Theatre Company and the rest of the historic block could do without the crisscrossing black lines.
East of Charlotte St. the Imperial Theatre’s rear is undergoing a facade upgrade; just another part of the changing face of Princess Street.  

Queen Street Success

I first encountered this building on Queen Street last Canada Day – when the now completed housing development was merely a brick facade saved from the wrecking ball.  I commend the developer on a well done project.

A re-developer’s work is never done

Scaffolding on the side of this Canterbury Street building – beside the John Law Building – helps illustrate the tireless effort some redevelopers are willing to go to in restoring historic buildings.