Development > Projects
Pugsley Park/Water Street
The Master Plan
Pugsley Park is part of the Water Street Master Plan which was designed by the Glen Group and Urban Strategies in conjunction with Saint John Waterfront Development to ensure a strategic development of an essential part of the City’s waterfront.
The overall Water Street Master Plan was introduced and approved by Common Council in 2006. Since that time, Council has passed other resolutions regarding the Master Plan and the work has been proceeding. The Master Plan consisted of several components;
- St. Andrew’s Park
- St. Patrick’s (Three Sisters) Park
- Water Street improvements and street-scaping
- Extension of Harbour Passage
- Interpretative panels
- Broad Street Plaza
- Pugsley Park
- The Cruise Ship terminal was part of the Water Street Master Plan
1. St. Andrew’s Park (done)
At the north end of Water Street residents, visitors and cruise passengers will enjoy this relocated Barbour’s General Store and Hooper sculptures. This building is an authentic 19th century country store featuring over 2,000 artifacts including china, yard goods, cooking utensils, and farm implements. The store celebrates the history and rural heritage of the area.
2. St. Patrick’s Park (done)
A beautiful and unique public access space that commemorates Saint John’s heritage, culture and history signifying the commitment of local people and immigrants.
3. Water Street improvements and street-scaping (done)
A major reconstruction of Water Street begins in 2007 with the installation of new sidewalks, landscaping, new pavement, decorative lighting and traffic management.
4. Extension of harbor Passage (done)
Continuination of the “cranberry trail” provides users with a wide, pedestrian friendly walkway to the downtown core. Complete with “mariner” lighting and landscaping.
5. Interpretative panels (done)
There are 7 interpretative panels along Water Street which inform visitors of the heritage and culture of Saint John. Complete with old and new photos of waterfront activities, former buildings and special notes of interest these panels reflect the rich history of Saint John.
6. Broad St. Plaza (to be completed)
Located across from St. Patrick Park the Board Street Plaza is a green space and rest area for users who are strolling and enjoying the waterfront.
7. Pugsley Park (to be completed)
The signature Park on Water Street designed to attract numerous visitors/users as a key point for waterfront access offering new view plains of the city and harbour as well as a significant Eco interpretative area. This Park will be a catalyst for further waterfront green space and public access developments.
8. The Cruise Ship terminal was part of the Water Street Master Plan (done)
The ever-growing cruise ship market has seen Saint John cruise passenger volumes increase from 87,000 in 2004 to over 200,000 in 2010. The new Marco Polo Cruise Ship Terminal (Pugsley A & B) was designed to serve as the anchor of the Water Street Master Plan and the surrounding major investments of reconstruction (public access, parks, street-scaping) would complement each other and create a grand public access area extending along the waterfront for residents and visitors.
Essentially, Water Street, when complete will be a beautiful “front door” of the City for visitors (rubber tire & cruise), providing increased public access for residents and will certainly play a part in encouraging further development (residential/commercial) on the waterfront, particularly at CCG site and other Port Authority locations along Water Street.
The City of Saint John has already expended $3,595,000 that attracted an additional $1,000,000 from ACOA, $400,000 from the Province of NB and $25,000 from Commercial Properties Inc. to develop the Water Street Master Plan. The Cruise Ship Terminal, although it was not a City project, was part of the Water Street Master Plan. The total current investment the Water Street Master Plan (including Terminal) is $13.6 million.
- St. Andrew’s Park - $ 670,000
- St. Patrick’s Park - $ 450,000
- Streetscaping - $ 750,000
- Street reconstruction - $ 2,700,000
- Interpretative panels - $ 25,000
- Cruise Ship Terminal - $ 9,000,000
This level of Common Council commitment certainly indicates the significance of the project and the long-term benefits associated with progressive and strategic investments in the City’s waterfront.
Pugsley Park will be a signature public space
First and foremost, Pugsley Park is part of the Water Street Master Plan that has been unfolding since 2006. Each component of the Plan was designed to inter-connect with the larger concept to ensure a logical and unique development of the waterfront. Based on waterfront principles, used worldwide, the Water Street Master Plan is centered around public access, green-spacing and highlighting special attributes that welcome and encourage higher level usage and spur further investment of residential/commercial construction.
All waterfronts are different, yet, the same. The systematic development of a City’s waterfront is critical to creating renewed interest in central core living and working. Major components associated with the ability of a city to attract business investment and overall growth rely on the immediate access to human resources (people like to live close to work), availability of security (police/fire protection), lifestyle amenities (parks, walkways, shopping, services, play areas, points of interest, museums, galleries, restaurants), a business environment (complementary services/suppliers/customer- base) and pride in the community.
Pugsley Park plays a key role in the development and enhancement of the waterfront and central city core, and in addition, it has the potential to be expanded further in a southerly direction – the Saint John Port Authority has expressed interest in creating adjacent green-space and walkway for cruise ship passengers and the general public. (The Master Plan concept indicates additional public access and green space).
Complementing Adjacent Properties
Pugsley Park is situated between a parking lot (owned by Port Authority) and the Canadian Coast Guard site (CCG). It is important to note, the Port Authority’s strong intention to allow for “green spacing” (as per the Master Plan) when considering development options for property near the Cruise Ship terminal.
The Port Authority is heavily concentrating on developing the Cruise Ship market and fully understands the importance of creating a pleasing and welcoming environment for disembarking passengers. As stated before, green-spacing is a priority for the Port Authority in the immediate area.
Regarding the CCG site, the conceptual plan for the site includes retail/commercial, condos, hotel, extension of harbor passage and increased public access. Again, part of the Water Street Master Plan was to provide a capability for people to enjoy a continuous exploration along the waterfront with opportunities to enjoy shopping, restaurants, living and working. Pugsley Park offers additional, strategic public access to the waterfront that nicely complements the exposure presented to users on the CCG site.
Strolling along the waterfront in any city is not just something to do – it is an experience. Enjoying the ambience of a city’s offerings and potential for repeat visitations by residents and visitors alike is the key to developing vibrancy in the city core. The full development of the CCG will add new residency to the core (condos), increase visits (hotel) and improve retention/recruitment for business (location, location, location).
The developer of the CCG site, the Hardman Group, certainly sees the advantages of completing the Water Street Master Plan. Offering potential investors a location that is surrounded with quality, planned developments will increase interest, provides bargaining strength for achieving market value and ensures a steady and timely development of the CCG site.
Although the Rocca development (Harbourfront Residences) is not an adjacent property to Pugsley Park, the developer was aware of the Water Street Master Plan and was encouraged when the plan was unveiled in 2006 and invigorated when reconstruction of Water Street began in 2007.
Project Management
There are always questions regarding the timing of developments and the risks associated with significant expenditures. The process of analysis, planning and phasing a development is the key to ensuring the overall project proceeds based on logical factors, long term benefits, usage levels and potential as economic development tools.
Such is the case regarding the Water Street Master Plan. Since 2006 the plan has unfolded and each year a component of the plan has been completed. The phased approach has allowed for steady development in a cost effective manner.
A Special Donation – Enhancement
The Pugsley Park project has a special addition through a generous donation from the TD Bank. A small portion of the Park development will include an Eco-Hub (an ecological display area) fully paid by TD at a total cost of $115,000. Users of the Park will have the added enjoyment of learning and interacting with Saint John harbour interpretative structures/sculptures – fabulous for school groups, residents and visitors.
Summary
The Saint John waterfront resonates with residents. It has brought high levels of usage, pride and enjoyment particularly – harbour passage, boardwalk, Market Square Slip and Water Street.
The Master Plan for Water Street has created valuable and unique people spaces that have been professionally designed and built to ensure lasting usability for years. It is the quality of the developments that garner cherished comments like;
“wonderful spaces in the heart of Saint John”
“incredible development, can’t wait to see it finished”
“condos are the next logical fit – a great spot to live and work”
“lifestyle changes like this are key to future growth”
There are many more favorable comments associated with the Water Street Master Plan and all relate to the City’s capability to attract further investment and enhance the city central core living and working environment.
Pugsley Park will be a major people place on the waterfront. Common Council has been a strong supporter of waterfront developments as evidenced by the current progress of the Water Street Master Plan, as well, it is an opportunity to maximize Water Street’s enhancements as economic tools to further growth and investor confidence in the city central core.