How The City Of Saint John Helps Developers Like Percy Wilbur Get Major Projects Off The Ground
SAINT JOHN – Percy Wilbur is on a roll developing signature residential and commercial properties in uptown Saint John, from the restoration of One Charlotte Street to The Wentworth and now 99 King Street, a 12-storey mixed-use development on the site of the old Woolworth’s store across from King’s Square. Wilbur has a passion for community building, but he also credits doing so much in such a short time to the City of Saint John and its One Stop Development Shop.
A city service area that helps cut through the red tape and streamline the process of approving and getting permits, licenses and services, the One Stop Shop has helped Wilbur get shovels in the ground as quickly as possible.
“The biggest obstacle in the past was the city itself,” says Wilbur. “Now, I have the confidence to invest. In the past, I looked at 91 King and thought, ‘Good Lord, how are they ever going to get that through the city. I’ve looked at it [more] recently and thought, ‘You know what, I can get a 10, 12 or 15-storey building there,” said Wilbur.
Wilbur – known for his knack for turning local “eyesores” into gems – is responsible for developments that are changing the cityscape of Saint John.
“I like to take eyesores and either restore them or replace them,” said Wilbur.
Wilbur says it’s an expensive way to develop but says taking older properties and turn them into high-quality new ones attracts entirely new groups – such as empty-nesters and working-class people.
“They all want to be part of this terrific vibrancy uptown with the restaurants, festivals and art galleries and theatre,” he said. “It’s a fantastic place to live but they have limited options.”
Wilbur likens property development to a long-term relationship with the various municipal bodies he works with.
He says a lot of developers will feel “their back is against the wall,” and feud with municipal bureaucracies over small things, eventually losing trust – and that’s to be avoided and can be avoided through the city’s “One Stop Shop.”
“Yes, you’re going to have arguments and disagreements, but…you want to be logical and sympathetic towards what they’re asking you to do,” Wilbur hold Huddle.
“You can trust each other and look after each other and get the projects done.”
One Stop Shop has been a boon to the relationship Wilbur has cultivated with the city, allowing him to complete what he needs to do more quickly.
Wilbur has nothing but praise for the “wholehearted support” he’s gotten from the One Stop Shop.
“Bureaucracies will often cross their arms and apologize [about what they can’t do] because it’s so much easier for them to do that than to roll up their sleeves and give it some thought and say, ‘Yeah, I think we can make this work.’ It’s individuals with One Stop Shop that have that attitude – those who say ‘Yeah, ‘Leave it with me …and let me think about it and get back to you.’”
Wilbur noted the latter is what he wants to hear as a developer.
You’re not asking to put up an eyesore. [One Stop Shop] has policies and a playbook to guide them and it’s their attitude of wanting to help.”
One Stop Shop’s coordinating efforts help Wilbur avoid what he calls “death by a thousand paper cuts,” with different departments looking for numerous different criteria to be met before a project can be approved.
“Sometimes, people take it upon themselves to see what else they can get from developers. I don’t think they’re always sensitive towards costs and what it takes to get a development off the ground.”
While still having to navigate regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles, Wilbur says One Stop Shop serves as “a champion that will go to bat for you and walk you through all the different departments you have to deal with.”
Wilbur is laser-focused on the uptown core of Saint John, restoring or replacing property with an overarching goal of bringing 1,000 to 3,000 people into the uptown with a focus on the working class and young families – and supporting local industry with livable neighbourhoods.
He says the city has so much to offer, including its nearby green spaces and waterways. For this reason, he’s a big advocate of strengthening the active transportation corridors for people living in the central urban neighbourhoods.
“We got some Crown Jewels in this city with Rockwood Park and the St. John River and Kennebecasis Rivers,” he says. “We’ve got to have safe access to them for us and our kids to walk and bike and hike.”
I want to do something so that my kids can have a choice of returning to the city someday.”
That population growth, Wilbur contends, will help kickstart business in the city and encourage municipal officials to update infrastructure and local amenities, building vibrancy.
The Wentworth, Wilbur’s new apartment building at the former site of the Gothic Arches, is already achieving that, with tenants who plan to move already asking to host yoga classes and other social events.
“We’ve got car washes and dog washing, bicycle repair stations, a huge gym and meeting room facilities. Already, the tenants are starting to organize bridge clubs and social events,” Wilbur said.
“They’re even trying to attract guest speakers to come in the evening to talk about architecture or art. It’s a community thing, and in the past, they’ve not had that choice.”
This story was sponsored by the City of Saint John.