Major Waterfront Development In Saint John One Step Closer
SAINT JOHN–Phase one of the proposed Fundy Quay development in Saint John cleared another hurdle Monday evening.
Common Council passed the first and second reading of a rezoning application, from Fundy Harbour Group, to change the property from Waterfront Commercial and Uptown Commercial to Waterfront Commercial Integrated Development zone.
They also voted in favour of a zoning bylaw amendment to increase the maximum building height for the Water Street site from 28 and 42 metres to 70 metres.
Dr. David Elias, founder of the Fundy Harbour Group, outlined phase one of the project: a 16-storey building with 165 apartment units and retail space.
“As of right now, our timeline, in conjunction with the city’s infrastructure timeline, is to reach the goal of getting into the ground this coming summer 2022,” said Elias.
Elias said the target to complete phase one is an estimated 24-to-30-month building cycle.
Another target is to have 44 accessible units in the first building.
“But, that is subject to change as we continue to refine that design, but that was the most recent target,” said Elias.
In total, the proposed development for the waterfront site has five buildings, with four of them having up to 637 apartment units and 177,000 square feet of retail and office.
The plan for the fifth building is to set up a community/culture centre and as many as 40 apartment units.
“We are going to explore every possibility for community and cultural uses that we can, it’s a live issue at the time, we are still trying to work through what that can be … it’s probably going to be one of the later buildings in the development, so we’re working through that and open to exploring opportunities,” added Elias.
The rezoning application will go to the third reading at Common Council at a later date.
Tim Herd is a reporter with CHSJ/Country 94, Huddle content partners.