Build it and they might come

Saint John is experiencing a good amount of uptown development lately. Actual developments in the form of John Rocca's condo project getting underway and the lovely redevelopment of Centerbeam Place, along with great announcements like the redevelopment proposal for the coast guard site and the long-term vision for the Lantic Sugar site are keeping the city's uptown in development mode.

Creating new exciting market driven spaces and supportive public projects is important to revitalizing our downtown and possibility our entire city. These buildings need to be backed up by the right economic moves and cultural assets.

The city saw in the 1980's the development of Market Square, the Trade and Convention Centre, Brunswick Square and the boardwalk. This was a massive creation of new spaces in the Saint John's core. More recently Harbour Station was build, creating a large sports, convention and concert venue near the city's downtown.

These buildings and developments did not stop the city's population from plummeting.

We can't be a group of cockeyed optimists that believe just because condos and waterfront developments are happening that they city's uptown will now flourish. Buildings alone won't do the trick. If we build a good infrastructure for uptown living, working and playing we will be in a better place to attract new people to the city core with the right services backing the buildings up.

Build it and they might come. That's my reason to be optimistic - not just bricks and mortar being put in place.