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Buckley Building has new owners
82 Germain Street, Saint John, New Brunswick
View from roof. Photo Credit: Bob McVicar
The Buckley Building has been sold. The new owners intend to convert the top floor to residential for their personal use and add a rooftop patio. The building is a three storey brick Italianate-Style commercial building on the east side of Germain Street. The view from the roof affords a unique urban view directly down the newly renovated Grannan Lane as well as a view of the harbour.
The Buckley Building is significant as one of a collection of commercial, Italianate and Second Empire buildings that were built between 1877 and 1881 after the great fire.
The building is also significant because it housed the office of G. Ernest Fairweather from 1888 until 1920. G. E. Fairweather was a prominent architect and he designed many significant buildings in Saint John. He was originally associated with John Magee, as Magee and Fairweather, and in their office the plans were prepared for a great many of the buildings erected after the great fire in 1877. Source: historicplaces.ca
The new owners have renamed the building “The Fairweather”. You can like their page, see design concepts and follow their progress on FACEBOOK
Stephanie represented the seller & Bob McVicar of Exit Realty (now Sutton Realty!) represented the buyers.
CBC runs story on Acre Architects’ concept for #222water
The owners of #222water recently engaged local firm Acre Architects to provide concept drawings for the property. An engineering report conducted on the building identified that, structurally, the building could accommodate two additional floors and Acre took a very innovative approach to incorporating this in to their proposed design.
In the CBC interview Stephen Knopp of Acre suggests some uses could include a distillery, an “exploratorium” or science centre and/or event space to name a few.
222 Water Street is listed FOR SALE. For more information click HERE
WATCH/LISTEN to CBC story HERE >>> http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/805730883739
Something’s brewing at 60 Water Street
60 Water Street, Saint John, New Brunswick
Something’s brewing at 60 Water Street but it’s probably not what you’re thinking!
More excitement and suspense for uptown… A brand new business leased space today on Water Street just steps from the corner of Princess & Water. Watch for an announcement and new signage in the not-too-distant future!
She’s mighty mighty just lettin’ I.T. all hang out!
“Brick Park” is an urban “knowledge park” in the heart of uptown Saint John. Knowledge parks are similar to industrial parks but built to attract I.T. companies. In other areas, they tend to be suburban and include a series of low rise buildings with large parking lots that are isolated from the city; the Saint John model of an urban knowledge park is fairly unique.
Over time, our cluster of IT companies just naturally chose to locate uptown and grow here. A light went on one day and somebody said, look, we have over 30 “knowledge industry” companies concentrated in this small area uptown. These companies were drawn to the uptown because of access to services not readily available in a typical knowledge park. Not only do they have access to I.T. infrastructure, they have easy access to cafes, restaurants, bars, hotels and other peripheral services.
Bob Quirion from Dealermine commented in today’s TJ article that “if you want to take a Friday afternoon break and run over to Picaroons for a beer, that’s ok because it encourages innovation in my mind”. This “innovation” that Bob is talking about frequently happens through what is often dubbed “collision” in their industry. Those moments when you’re sitting at the pub, waiting in line at the coffee shop or standing in the elevator and you strike up a conversation with a virtual stranger… this is where the magic happens. In standard Knowledge parks the chance of collisions is significantly less since there’s less opportunity for interaction within the community.
What Saint John has to offer knowledge industry companies from outside our region is one of our best kept secrets. We now have a powerful tool to celebrate our success, tell our story and grow our knowledge cluster. www.brickpark.ca
Former Birks space leased!
20 King Street, Saint John, New Brunswick
The sun came out and so did the tenants! The Landlord, in fact, received two offers to lease on this space just days apart. The ink is now dry on a lease for a tenant to set up in this prominent uptown corner formerly occupied by Birks Jewelers. The store is scheduled to open in August.
Unfortunately, I’ve been sworn to secrecy on who it is. All I can say is that it’s retail and is a good fit with the mix of tenants currently in CenterBeam Place. Be patient…it won’t be long!
#SJvacant
The Vacant Building Redevelopment Program is intended as a tool to encourage reinvestment in projects that address instances of urban blight and encourage increased residential density
VACANT BUILDING PROGRAM
Through this Program, the City of Saint John hopes to reinvest in its historic building stock, the stabilization of residential neighbourhoods and the vibrancy of the Uptown area. Vacant Building grants include: (more…)
“Old Ordnance Building” Declared National Historic Site
274 Sydney Street, Saint John, New Brunswick
The “Old Ordnance Building” in the south end of Saint John, once deemed surplus and left unwanted, was just declared a National Historic Site. Built in 1842, the building is a former British military depot for weapons and ammunition. It was purchase and restored by local landlord/developer Commercial Properties Limited and is now occupied by office tenants including Dillon Consulting.
Margot Sackett of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada was on hand for the announcement. “We’re looking for things that are of national significance, not regional, not provincial,” she said. “They have to stand out on a national scale, whether its people, places or events — and in this case, it’s the place.” Source: www.atlantic.ctvnews.ca
To read the entire article and access the video click HERE
Have you heard of Vassie’s Corner?
Historically known as “Vassie’s Corner”
Historically the corner of King Street and Canterbury Street in uptown Saint John was known as Vassie’s Corner. It was the site of a wholesale dry goods and woollen business originally established by William Vassie in 1832 and operated until after World War I. The site is also significant as the earlier building (before the fire) was the home of Benedict Arnold for six years while he was engaged in the shipping business in Saint John. Source: www.historicplaces.ca
“Vassie’s Corner” was part of the painstaking restoration of this entire city block which is now known as Centerbeam Place.
The retail storefront on this corner is now available for lease. For more info click HERE
A landmark to a vital part of Saint John’s history
12 Smythe Street, Saint John, New Brunswick
Iconic Red Rose Tea Building.Various office suites available. Up to 11,927 sq ft on two floors.
“The Theodore Estabrooks Tea Company put up the building in 1903. It was sold to Brooke Bond in 1932 and later to the Lipton Tea company. But it was always the home of Red Rose tea.” Source: www.cbc.ca
“Saint John’s connection to tea dates back more than a century, and was an important part of the local economy of the day, arriving first on wooden sailing ships, then steamers, and railcars. The tea was originally sold loose from tea chests by local merchants but the quality varied until local businessman Theodore Harding Estabrooks came up with the great idea…to produce and pack a quality blended tea that was consistent from cup to cup. {snip} During the first year of business he only sold $166.00 in tea. Even with such weak beginnings, he did not give up. In just 6 years, he was selling over a thousand tons of tea per year. Their tea became a household name around NB and Nova Scotia and spread into New England.” Source: www.geocaching.com
For information on leasing office space in The Red Rose Tea Building click HERE
Saint John Commercial Real Estate 