North of Union
The North of Union police station and parking development in Saint John is getting a lot of bad press around the fact that historic and architecturally designed buildings are going to be removed to move the project forward.
I think the project might be able to integrate some existing buildings and create a good looking progressive project. I also think that moving on the project and sacrificing some of the buildings in the area might be the right move. But here's a thought:
If others want to see the project halted they should consider that expropriation law is hard to execute. What I mean is: if the owners of properties in the way don't sell it won't be a cake-walk for the city or anyone else to get the properties (they need to prove public good and necessity).
That means if the current owners don't want the project to go ahead, they shouldn't sell.
Alternately, if a citizens group gets together and outbids the city to buy some of the critical properties, then the city would have to either convince the new owners of the project's merits, change the project to be more sensitive to the desires of the new owners or go through a long process of expropriation that could make the development difficult, leading the city to change focus or location.
1 comment:
I also live in the uptown area but I don't think the problem with the North of Union development is necessarily the destruction of 'Heritage' buildings. It is a no brainer that maybe some will have to be sacrificed but wholesale destruction shouldn't be an accepted idea.
My concerns lie mostly with the 'police parking facility' - another parking garage, an inherently ugly structure, is not a residential nor commercial development and will put zero dollars in the city's coffers. This facility could be put on existing street level parking by Harbour Station, a short walk , < 5 mins, up town via the pedway. A PPP will eliminate or decrease the 20 million needed to build it. I hate to see my tax dollars being spent to build more parking for those folks who do not live in this city. Another concern is the footprint of the Police Headquarters and the lack of information around this structure. I am sure there are pieces of this facility that are 'nice to haves' that will not compromise operational efficiency should they be removed to decrease the cost of building it. I have heard nothing concrete as to why it cannot be built higher thereby decreasing the footprint and leaving more room for residential and commercial development.
There are many issues involved not the least of which is the increase in our taxes to cover the cost of this development. If I am going to be paying for it, then I want it to be the right development that will put more people and more businesses in the area so their taxes will help this city. Municipal structures do not add to the tax revenue this city needs.
EH
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