Fundy Quay ready for New Brunswick Day

 

Ihtoli-maqahamok New waterfront steps - Market Slip

 

Nearly high tide at the new steps leading into Market Slip at the newly opened Gathering Place (Ihtoli-maqahamok).

Harbour Passage Extension - Tin Can Beach

 

The Harbour Passage cranberry trail now leads to Tin Can Beach in the south end. 

Arrival of Container Cranes

 The arrival of two container cranes to the Port of Saint John reinforces the recent talk that Saint John's industrial harbour is growing and thriving. 

More details on port modernization from the Port: https://modernize.sjport.com/ 

Area 506 Container Village

 

Harbour Passage extension and monument

Fort Latour

Waterfront Culture

Fort Latour:

 

 The new painting that hides with the tide:

Fort Latour

 

I'm not convinced that this fort is going to keep the harbour safe from marauders.

Coast Gaurd Demolition

Coast Gaurd Teardown

It begins.

Market Square - Stage Upgrades

Fort Latour

Fort Latour

The new Fort Latour replica is progressing well.

The rush to tear down the Coast Guard building

Late last year, the City decided to move forward with demolishing the Coast Guard Building to make way for some future development (link to CTV article). Even though the costs of development will be high and the reality of developing on the waterfront when sea levels of rising will create challenges (CBC link), I understand this plan is still moving forward. 

I question if there needs to be a rush to demolish the building. I've seen articles where the cost of maintaining the building are cited to justify the demolition. I imagine that the cost of keeping it standing and secure would be far lower than the cost of keeping it heated for occupancy. 

The motivation of tearing down seems to be based on the thought that the demolition would spur development. I don't know if demolition now is necessary for a developer capable of this scale of development to express interest and make conceptual plans. Developer's imaginations are strong enough that the site doesn't need to be empty to attract them to a project. 

A redevelopment site in Halifax (1557 Hollis) is being marketed with the building still on site. 

I also don't think it is reasonable to assume that a developer would not want to integrate this interesting nautical building into a larger development. There are many examples of buildings being repurposed for new uses in downtown development. The recent quality redevelopment of the Salvation Army shelter into high end apartments supports the idea that a developer might value the bricks and concrete that are there today. 

Fort Latour

I wonder what we will learn about Fort Latour when this new interpretation area is finished.

Wet day for demolition

 

Demolition continues on the Coast Guard site.

Coast Gaurd Site - Demolition and site work

After many years of promised development on the Coast Guard Site on Water Street, site work and demolition have begun. 

One can hope that construction will follow.

Harbour Passage Addition

Earlier this year a new section was added to Harbour Passage along the western edge of Long Wharf. The addition was completed by Port Saint John.  

 

 

This allows for a new perspective/view point on the Harbour.

Reversing Rapids

I noticed this roof near the Fallsview Avenue park near the Reversing Rapids. The roof looks like the interpretation areas along Harbour Passage. I take this as a sign that some new information area will be installed here.