Saint Johners have waited years for waterfront development that would increase the port's cargo capacity and bring a wave of renewal to harbourside streets.
On Friday, the Saint John Port Authority presented such a plan - the product of widespread lobbying by city residents, business leaders and community organizations. It represents the greatest collaborative development effort this city has seen.
The process that led port officials to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Irving Oil Limited to transform Long Wharf began as a grassroots effort to keep the company's headquarters in the uptown. When it became known that Irving Oil was considering building on the city's east side, staff at Enterprise Saint John were galvanized.
Saint Johners remember the losses businesses endured when the old General Hospital closed; the loss of Irving Oil's offices would cost the uptown another 1,000 workers. Citizens set out to propose a more positive alternative - lobbying the port, the city and the oil company to find a way to build the headquarters on waterfront land.
The port's position was absolute, and perfectly understandable: it was not interested in a land deal unless it could retain the ownership and use of the waterfront. It also expected to be paid full value for the building site. In the end, negotiators convinced Irving Oil to spend $10 million on the site, buy the Lantic Sugar site for the port, build a cruise ship reception area, preserve the waterfront for port use and create new greenspace for the public.
If the agreement meets with community and federal approval, the port will keep Long Wharf's waterfront, take ownership of the Lantic Sugar site, and receive $10 million for port expansion. Irving Oil will build its world headquarters on Long Wharf, bringing thousands of people into the uptown.
Saint John will gain the co-ordinated harbourfront development it has been seeking for so long - a seamless combination of working port, residential and commercial properties and recreational space.
The project's other community proponents include Enterprise Saint John, Uptown Saint John, the Saint John Board of Trade, Saint John Waterfront Development and Derek Oland, the executive chairman of Moosehead Breweries Limited. All understand the value a new corporate headquarters would bring to the city, and the importance of expanding port operations to create new jobs.
This memorandum of understanding is a tremendous vote of confidence in Saint John as a living, growing community and as a place to do business.
Both the port and Irving Oil have other development options; they've agreed to this initiative because it is the best option. Uptown merchants and community leaders seem to agree.
We commend all involved for their role in developing this opportunity, and we hope Saint Johners will give it a thorough and fair assessment. In our opinion, it is Saint John's best chance of increasing the size and value of the port while developing the waterfront for other uses.
