Developments of the last decade that shape Saint John’s urban landscape

The first decade of the 2000s has seen a number of significant developments take place on Saint John’s urban landscape.  Here are few of the developments I think are important in shaping the future of the city.

Harbour Passage has opened up the city’s waterfront to the public creating more opportunity for recreation and development in this area.  Beyond this, the linkage HP provides between the north end and uptown can help cure the wound created by putting a highway between the two neighbourhoods decades ago.

Bentley Crossing is a development that is able to showcase Harbour Passage.  These townhouses are proof that development near the core of the city can thrive.

As with Bentley Crossing, Robertson’s Wharf is a housing development that proves that more waterfront living is in the future of Saint John residents.  These condos may be few in number, but their high selling prices show some degree of appetite for high end uptown living.

Also uptown, CenterBeam Place was an addition to Saint John that many people might not have known was missing.  By renovating an entire block of buildings in the heart of the city, Commercial Properties showcased that quality office space could be created in the uptown without having to building new.  Since CenterBeam place was completed other larger ‘bricks and beams’ developments have been renovation success stories.  A pre-cursor to CentreBeam Place was the turn of the millennium renovation to the historic Red Rose Tea Building, also proof that high end office space in the uptown can be created and rented.

While very recent and not huge in scale, I think the expansion to Market Square is also a sign of a thriving waterfront that shows that even as the Coast Guard development is delayed there is still opportunity to expand our city’s waterfront workforce.

Further from the water but still in the south central peninsula, Leinster Court is a significant development in that it was a major project that brought out vigorous debate about the municipal planning process, but more importantly Leinster Court shows off the mixed-housing model of providing affordable accommodation.

While lots of great things have happened to shape the future of the city’s downtown, Saint John developers seem determined to build up the suburbs as as well.  The massive retail developments including East Point shopping, renovations to McAllister Place and construction of several other Big Boxes and strip malls in the east side are proof that retail with parking lots is not going down without a fight.

While less definable by a single name, the prevalence of garden-home and townhome development around the city and beyond are demonstrating a shift in demographics that doesn’t require a house with a yard.

Further from the uptown, and across municipal boundaries, the creation of the Quispamsis Arts and Culture Park seems significant to me in that it cements the suburban KV communities of Rothesay and Quispamsis as forces to be reckoned with.  These towns are no longer sleepy bedroom communities, but communities onto themselves with cultural and recreation assets.  The addition of an artisan pizza shop in Rothesay, and the KV Jazz and Blues festival are further proof the suburbanites don’t always need to come into the city to have a good time.

This discussion wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging this decade’s industrial landscape changes.  The closure of Lantic Sugar in 2000 cut down industrial happenings in the central peninsula of the city.  While the port has some industrial activity at its south-central terminals, and Potash Corp appears to be going strong, the closure of the south end sugar refinery was the end of heavy industry in this part of town.  The city bought the site, and elaborate development schemes were considered.  Now the site is in play in a move to a facilitate the construction of the Irving Oil /Fort Reliance Headquarters, a development that could be one of the defining projects of the 2010’s. 

Across the harbour from the former Lantic Sugar site and up the coastline past most development sits the Canaport Terminal, and the mid to late decade addition of the Canaport LNG Terminal.  The natural gas terminal diversified the city’s energy industry and was a major piece of the Energy Hub concept heralded by the province.  While the Energy Hub seems now to have been part wishful thinking this development was a major employer during construction and further public discourse about tax deals and labour relations. 

The natural gas pipeline from Canaport also proved an instigator of debate, and brought supporters of Rockwood Park together, hopefully creating a new respect and awareness of the park even though a pipeline was installed through the park along the power line easement.

In Rockwood Park, the recent upgrades to the Lily Lake Pavilion and walking trails are also a significant development for the city.  A pond hockey tournament and cool reception and dining spaces have livened up this part of the park and hopefully the trails will be used frequently, helping develop a healthier, more active Saint John.

Ending not from the park, in Millidgeville, several major developments are defining Saint John’s future.  At UNBSJ the expanded university and its draw of international students is bringing new Saint Johner’s and new ideas.  Dancing cheek to cheek with the university is the Regional Hospital, which is shaping the city’s future by playing a role in the expanding health sciences education field, with the UNB medical school and NBCC training programs attracting many talented professional in training.  Also, Millidgeville has several high end subdivisions proving that luxury housing doesn’t have to be outside of city limits.

Happy new year.