Market Place Concept Plan - Public Meeting tomorrow

I just noticed this poster announcing a meeting for the unveiling of the Market Place Concept Plan. I attended the public meeting in the summer where residents offered suggestions on what they'd like to see at the Centre.  Sure hope I can make tomorrow's meeting.  The centre offers great programs and services, and I am curious to see how the Glenn Group has interpreted the community's ideas.

From the city's website:

September 30, 2010

Public Information Meetings

The City of Saint John and the Carleton Community Centre invite you to attend a public meeting that will unveil the Market Place Concept Plan. Residents in the Market Place/Carleton Community Centre area met with consultants to create a master plan for the green space in the area. City staff and the Glenn Group will present the master concept plan, followed by a question and answer period for public feedback.  7 – 9pm

Harbour Bridge tolls rising?

Repairs on the Harbour Bridge are scheduled to come to an end (for 2010, anyway) in about a month's time.  According to an article in Saturday's TJ, HBA GM Ken Anthony says the tolls will go up by 25 cents unless:

the federal and provincial governments thrash out a deal that will lead to the removal of bridge tolls altogether, Anthony  said a planned hike to help pay for all that construction will take effect on Jan. 1, 2011. Base tolls will rise from 50 cents to 75 cents, while B-Pass holders will pay 50 cents.

And we can look forward to six more months of traffic delays starting in Spring 2011.
Bring back the ferry; you can "walk-on" and leave the car at home.

New Liquor Store - old news?

I have noticed, in the past few weeks,  a fenced off area in the Sobey's parking lot and construction equipment there. I guess it wasn't the Sobey's parking lot to begin with; I've been hearing that the space is the site for the new west side NBLiquor store.

I am trying to remember if I heard this rumor last year. So many announcements - so many plans changed, e.g. the motel on the corner of Catherwood St.  and Fairville Blvd. - was it  Super 6 / Motel 6?; a Kent Store on the corner across the street; a theatre - no that's wishful thinking.

Construction on New Canadian Tire

... is coming along. Here's a shot from the parking lot of Sobey's.

Dave's No Frills Open for Business

Dave's No Frills in the Lancaster Mall had a soft-opening today. They've been closed for a couple of days to prepare for the transition to complete No Frills (oxymoron going on right there??)

The big day - official opening - is Saturday, I'll check it out.

Sewell House in the News

A couple of weeks ago I posted a blog entry on the Sewell House located in the lower West Side. Today’s TJ has an article about the work being done on the property, and some folks are not happy. They feel an important historical landmark has been spoiled.

I have to admit that during my many years as a Westsider I have never seen any obvious attempt to publicly mark this as a heritage property, or promote the historic value of the building. I have seen a brochure (West Side Walk & Drive written by David Goss and sponsored by the Heritage Preservation Review Board) that mentions the house, but I can’t think of another example where it’s been highlighted. The condition of the house, on the outside at least, has deteriorated over the years. I didn’t even know the province owned the building; I read it’s being used as non-profit housing.

Today's article acknowledges the passion some citizens and groups take in heritage conservation and advocacy in Saint John, at the same time I have to wonder about the footprint the builders or architect of this home considered when it was being built all those years ago.

I enjoy our local history, and I appreciate the importance of heritage buildings, but in the big picture it's a delicate balance to marry the practicality and fiscal responsibility attached to preserving the many unsafe, cast-offs that have an historical significance with the passion demonstrated by those who advocate for heritage initiatives.

Another Sunday ...Parasailing at Bay Shore

On Sunday I dropped by Bay Shore (again).
I was curious to see the aftermath of Hurricane Earl. The tide was low and para-sailors were making the best of what looked like perfect conditions.

New stuff at the INP

I haven't been to the Irving Nature Park in a while.  I snapped this picture of the barricades at the cliff in the upper parking lot.  I guess the erosion got to be too much in the last few years, and the new fencing is in place to keep folks a fair distance from the edge.

As well, a  Stonehammer Geopark Project sign has been placed at the entrance to the park. If this project get the green light it would be a fantastic boost for Saint John and area tourism business.