February 02, 2011
Waterfront deal applauded
Development: Work to transform former Coast Guard site could begin later this year and take a decade to complete
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April Cunningham
Telegraph-Journal
SAINT JOHN - As city organizations praise a deal that puts the former Coast Guard site on the waterfront in city hands, the head of the Hardman Group says it could take 10 years before the entire project is complete.
Photo: Cindy Wilson/Telegraph-Journal
A view of the former Coast Guard site.
Bill Hardman said his Halifax-based firm plans to buy parcels of the six-acre property in three to five phases, depending on demand.
"The property is too big to develop as one single project," Hardman said Tuesday, a day after the city announced the $2.8-million deal.
The first phase must show enough success to build demand for future phases, he said.
"It's making sure the vision and plan over the next 10 years fits with what everybody wants."
The long-awaited deal was announced at Monday's common council meeting.
While officials with Saint John Waterfront Development hinted that an office building could be the first element, Hardman said that's still up in the air.
The original plan was to start with a hotel and condominiums, and "if that demand is still there, we'd be pleased to start with that," he said. Construction could start as soon as late summer or fall, but it will take several years for the city to recoup its investment. Hardman said his company has been in talks with more than one hotel for the site.
"The hotel market right now is not as strong as it was, but we still believe there is the demand for a new hotel in the uptown area," he said.
Retail will also be a likely part of the waterfront development, he said, along with an extension of the Harbour Passage trail and the indoor pedway system.
The city intends to keep the existing Coast Guard office building and lease the space so existing workers can stay there.
"The great part of the city having control of the Coast Guard lands is the city's in charge of its own destiny," said Hardman, whose company also owns Market Square on the harbourfront.
"It does open up a piece of property that no one could walk on before."
Peter Asimakos, the general manager of Uptown Saint John, said he believes the property is the "best available piece of land in Atlantic Canada."
The development is key to the uptown's future to make it a vibrant and an attractive place to live and work, he said. Around 150 dwelling units could eventually be built there, he said.
"We need people living here to create that 24-hour vibrancy," said Asimakos, who is a board member of the waterfront development corporation and helped get the deal.
He said the commercial development could attract other real estate to the area and the hotel could drive up convention traffic.
"It's all working towards greater activity in the uptown area."
Jim Quinn, the chief executive of the Saint John Port Authority, which just opened a new cruise ship terminal next to the proposed site almost two years ago, agreed the development is good news for the city.
He said it won't have an impact on the cruise business in terms of the port's expansion plans, but will provide another area for the tourists to take in the city sights.
Jacqueline Hamilton, the city planner in charge of Plan SJ, said news of the development fits well with what the public wants for the waterfront. Plan SJ is the project to create a new municipal plan to guide future growth.
"We've heard loud and clear that people want to see an extension of the uptown along the central waterfront to really reconnect the uptown with the water's edge," she said.
"It's really transforming what has been an industrial waterfront for many years, to a mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented neighbourhood."
She said for the development to be successful, public access to the waterfront is important.
Hardman said that's exactly what he wants to see.
In recent visits to the city, he's stood out by the Coast Guard's lighthouse, which he says provides an amazing perspective across the harbour.
"It's beautiful," he said. "And when you think of the cruise ships coming in to the city, this will be a great spot."