Peel Plaza: fitting residential space in

The Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase discussed the possibility of Peel Plaza being developed with a non-police station project.  Chase thinks that the project costs are too high, and that the site is too prime to be used for a low rise non-taxing paying municipal building.

The commentors on the Telegraph Journal article about Chase’s idea have a diversity of opinions – some supporting Chase’s idea, others thinking he’s way off base, and some suggesting that the police station could be the bottom two floors of a development that includes residential space.  Some people want to see a tower that rivals Brunswick Square in height.

I think the idea of putting some extra floors on top of the police station is a good idea – commercial and residential space in this area would help keep people in the city centre.

Another idea I think might work is building a mix used building behind the Saint John Arts Centre that includes commercial space on the gound floor and residential above.  Space has been left for the Arts Centre to expand.  If this area was developed with space that could be rented to the Arts Centre when they are ready to expand, the Peel Plaza development could create a better mix of uses.