Thirty-storey Apartment Building Proposed for Moncton’s Downtown

MONCTON — A rezoning bylaw has passed first reading by Moncton City Council making the way for another apartment building. It will be located at Harper and Main Streets.

The project is a multi-storey, mixed-use development with commercial and retail space on the ground floor. It would include 258 underground and interior parking spots. The piece of land sits on the north side of Main Street, on the eastern end of the downtown, in Ward One, and is a part of the gateway into the downtown. The developer is Icon Developments Inc., represented by Jamie Shea and Phil Ripley.

City Planning and Development Director Bill Budd says the project will include 288 residential units in an apartment building and townhouses.

“There’s a total of 10 townhouses and that will help create a more pedestrian-friendly design. At the back of the building, there will be a residential tower facing Main Street, proposed to be 30 storeys in height, which represents the tallest building in the City, if it gets constructed,” Budd said.

There will be a mix of one, two and three-bedroom units for the residential units.

“I believe that developers also working with CMHC to incorporate affordable housing units into the building based on the criteria from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. It’s 30 per cent of the median market rent, or renting at 70 per cent of the median market rent and a certain percent of the units will have to meet that criteria,” Budd added.

He also included that a shadow study was recently done that found there is some shadow during the day but it’s not permanent. It’s occasional so the impact on other residents will be minimal.

“I read the report and it’s really exceptional to see this going up. I love the design of this building, and I’m so happy to see this is going to change the skyline and the landscape of our city,’ City Councillor Paulette Theriault said of the project.

City council did put some conditions on the project, however.

One is that developer must employ flood mitigation measures to reduce the risk and impact of flooding in the lower level of the parking structure. They must also properly manage and protect groundwater and soil during construction.

The developer also requred an exception to the city’s normal rules around the heights of buildings to make the project reality. Council says it will let the developer ignore those rules, but the developer must commit to the final building being at least six storey tall, regardless of other changes the project goes through.

The rezoning by-law application passed unanimously by City Council on Monday. The public hearing is the next step in the process. It will be held on July 17th.

Tara Clow is the news director with 91.9 The Bend in Moncton, a Huddle content partner.