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Porter O’Brien Expands to Saint John: A Heritage Space for a Forward-Thinking Firm
116 Prince William Street, Saint John, NB
Porter O’Brien, a full-service communications and consulting firm with a growing presence in New Brunswick, has announced the opening of its third provincial office—this time in the heart of Saint John. With existing offices in Fredericton and Moncton, the firm’s expansion to Saint John marks an exciting new chapter in its commitment to offering strategic and creative solutions across the province.
The new office is located in a character-rich, 1,800 square foot space above Emporia retail store at 116 Prince William Street with a street level entrance and elevator access off Princess Street. The space boasts exposed brick, soaring ceilings, and elegant arched windows—a blend of heritage charm and urban energy that aligns perfectly with Porter O’Brien’s brand ethos.
“We wanted a space that embodies our approach—strategic, connected and forward-thinking,” said Tim Porter, co-founder at Porter O’Brien. “Being in Saint John’s original city hall is a clever reminder of how government, history and communication intersect. It inspires us to bring innovative solutions to public affairs while respecting the importance of tradition and community.”
And history it has. The building, now over 145 years old, once housed Saint John’s city hall from 1879 until the construction of the current facility in 1971. Since then, it has been home to various tenants, but its architectural integrity and civic significance remain. A major renovation completed in 2020 has preserved the historic elements while making it a modern and functional space for today’s businesses.
For Porter O’Brien, the move is more than just a real estate decision—it’s a meaningful investment in Saint John. “This city has a vibrant energy and strong sense of community,” said Jordan O’Brien, co-founder at Porter O’Brien. “We’ve worked with clients in Saint John for years and opening our new office here takes that partnership to the next level.”
With roots now firmly planted in all three of New Brunswick’s major urban centers, Porter O’Brien is poised to deepen its impact across the region.The Saint John office will be hosting an opening on June 17th, 4pm – 6pm at the new location.
Stephanie Turner and Brock Turner of Cushman & Wakefield Atlantic were the listing agents.
Looking for office space uptown? Contact Stephanie and/or Brock to discuss your needs.
The Hidden Advantage: Exploring Off-Market Commercial Real Estate Opportunities
In the competitive world of commercial real estate, off-market transactions—also known as private or pocket listings—offer a unique approach to buying and selling properties. These deals occur without public marketing, often through direct connections and discreet negotiations. While off-market sales may not be the right fit for every seller or investor, they can present significant advantages in certain scenarios.
For sellers, privacy is often a top priority. Many property owners prefer to keep their sale confidential to prevent speculation, maintain stability among tenants, or avoid disruptions to ongoing business operations. Selling off-market also allows them to take a targeted approach, working with a agent to connect directly with serious, qualified buyers. This streamlined process often results in faster negotiations and a more efficient transaction.
For investors, off-market opportunities provide a competitive edge. Without widespread marketing, these properties attract less buyer competition, increasing the likelihood of securing a favorable deal. Additionally, off-market properties often include unique or exclusive assets that never reach public listing platforms. Investors who build strong relationships with agents and industry insiders gain access to these hidden gems before they become widely available.
While off-market transactions can be advantageous, listing a property with a skilled and knowledgeable commercial real estate advisor remains the best way for sellers to achieve the highest and best offers. A well-marketed listing ensures maximum exposure to qualified buyers, fostering competition that drives value. An experienced advisor can expertly position the property, negotiate the best terms, and guide the process to ensure a seamless and successful transaction. Whether selling privately or publicly, working with a trusted professional is the key to maximizing results.
INTERESTED IN EXPLORING OFF-MARKET INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES? CLICK HERE
Stephanie Turner & Brock Turner Join Cushman & Wakefield Atlantic
Veteran commercial real estate advisor Stephanie Turner and her son, Brock Turner, are thrilled to announce they have joined the team at Cushman & Wakefield Atlantic.
Stephanie, who began her career with Cushman nearly two decades ago, is happy to be back among familiar faces while also engaging with a new generation of talented real estate professionals. “It feels great to return to Cushman,” said Stephanie. “The company has evolved significantly, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with both longtime colleagues and new team members.”
Her son, Brock Turner, is a relative newcomer to the commercial real estate industry, launching his career in 2021. Despite his short time in the field, he brings enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to the team. “I’m excited to be with Cushman,” Brock said. “My commercial real estate career is just taking off. I feel Cushman & Wakefield Atlantic can help accelerate my growth with their extensive network of local and national clients. I’m impressed with the tools and resources they have in place to support their salesforce and see this as a benefit to our team and our clients.”
Now settled into their new roles, Stephanie and Brock are eager to reconnect with past clients and explore opportunities with new ones. Whether it’s leasing or selling, the duo is ready to take on commercial real estate projects with a personal approach and expertise.
Stephanie Turner
Associate Vice President
Commercial Sales & Leasing
Mobile: +1 506 333 3442
sturner@cwatlantic.com
Brock Turner
Commercial Real Estate Advisor
Mobile: +1 506 608 8747
bturner@cwatlantic.com
Bank of Canada building SOLD
75 Prince William Street, Saint John, NB
Known as the Bank of Canada Building, the circa 1960’s office building with a mid-century vibe has sold. The property, strategically located at the epicenter of uptown Saint John’s business district, was acquired by an investor from Calgary Alberta. The property traded for $1,680,000
The Seller, Prince Williams Properties ULC, based in California, had owned the building for several years. Strong leasing activity in the building over the last 18 months meant that the building was almost fully occupied with a strong mix of tenants making the property more attractive to investors.
“I really appreciate the expertise and diligence of Stephanie Turner in securing the leases in a challenging environment and ultimately closing the sale on the property. It’s been a pleasure to work with her.” commented the seller.
In their own announcement earlier today, the buyer stated “At 34,500 sq ft and 12 units, it is the largest office building I have bought yet. But what is more impressive is the team of extremely competent pros that made this happen during the chaos of COVID19 over the past couple months.”
Although these are uncertain times, the property boasts tenants in industries such as law, tech and alternative energy which continue to perform well despite the pandemic.
Stephanie Turner was the Listing Agent and Milad Debly, Century 21 represented the Buyer.
Canadian Nuclear Partners sets down roots in Saint John
75 Prince William Street, Saint John, New Brunswick
New office at 75 Prince William Street in the Bank of Canada Building
Canadian Nuclear Partners (CNP), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation, was established in 2012 and has grown into a well-respected service provider offering inspection, engineering, asset management, training and consulting services to clients in the power generating sector. With much success in Ontario, CNP has expanded their operations to Saint John, New Brunswick. The new office in Saint John is a welcome addition to the CNP network as it continues to create strong partnerships with various stakeholders in the region.
For CNP’s Vice President, Jason Van Wart, it is an exciting time as he was born and raised in Saint John and looks forward to contributing to the community that was so instrumental to his upbringing. “It is an exciting time for CNP. We are growing on a national and international level. Having an office in Saint John is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the very community that has been an important part of our business and build new opportunities for the future.”
CNP looks forward to delivering on its key values of safety, integrity and excellence to the energy community in New Brunswick.
Stephanie Turner represented both the Landlord and Tenant in this commercial leasing transaction
SOLD – 1655 Manawagonish Road
1655 Manawagonish Road, Saint John, NB
Many passers-by believed this brick building was a church due to the signage out front which read “Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches” but it was purpose built in 1981 as a two story office building. After several years on the market, the property was sold late last week. The property was sold to Unifor and new owners plan to continue to use it as an office building.
Stephanie Turner represented the Seller and Mike Hosford, Colliers Moncton, represented the Buyer.
75 Prince William LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION
AUGUST, 2018. The old adage that location is key still hold true. With the recent announcement of the new museum on the Saint John waterfront, 75 Prince William Street has it in spades.
According to the CBC story “The “landmark” four-storey, 120,000 square foot building [museum] is intended to present a glass and terra cotta front on two sides facing the harbour and Market Square, and a more traditional look toward the uptown.”
The story goes on to say “The museum is intended to be the first piece for the long anticipated Fundy Quay development, which could someday include residential and commercial projects on the waterfront next to Market Square.”
Check out the aerial view of the immediate area below and find out more about the opportunity at 75 PRINCE WILLIAM STREET (SOLD)
LEASED… last 2 units at Irving Millennium Drive development
8-10 Millennium Drive, Quispamsis, New Brunswick
Murphy’s Pharmacies of PEI are opening a location in Quispamsis under the Guardian Drugs banner. Murphy’s operates a chain of independent pharmacies and have been serving the health needs of communities across Prince Edward Island for 30 years. “We’ve leased the two remaining vacant units between Subway and House of Chan. One side will be a pharmacy and the other a medical clinic including after-hours clinic” said Jeff Murphy, Chief Financial Officer at Murphy’s Pharmacies. “We love the location. Being close to a growing residential area made a lot of sense for us.”
Stephanie Turner was the listing agent.
Moosehead should be at the head of King Street #91King
Moosehead is an institution in Saint John with a long history on the west side. That being said, it makes so much sense for them to have a significant presence in our business core as well. To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Oland family’s brewing business, they announced today that they would be establishing a new “small-batch brewery” here.
According to today’s Huddle Story they are looking for a 10,000 square foot location “with hopes of finding one in the city’s uptown”. As fate may have it, 91 King Street has a 9,900 s.f. footprint.
Although I’m no graphic designer, I put my amateur skills to work to create an edited version of the corner of King and Charlotte. This location is perfect for Moosehead! Large enough, high profile and across the square from the new Irving Headquarters. To make it even more appealing, this corner is not subject to heritage regulations… giving any developer the utmost leeway in design.
In my humble opinion, Moosehead needs to take their rightful spot at the head of King!
Amateur photo manipulation using the very limited capabilities of Microsoft Paint.
Vacant SJ Building Cries For Help On Twitter via Huddle
Stephanie Turner, the agent handling 91 King, told Huddle she discovered the Twitter account (@91kingSJ) last week and has no idea who’s behind it. Though the account is comedic in nature, she said it could get people talking about building.
“I suppose it can’t hurt. The tweets are pretty light hearted and don’t have a strong business spin to them,” Turner says. “Last time I looked the account had about 50 followers but I didn’t notice if followers included Mountain Equipment Co-Op, Forever 21 or Sephora.”
“It’s a huge project…either rebuild or tear down and build new,” she said. “Either way, it takes an experienced developer with deep pockets and a willingness to take risk.”
Read some of the tweets and the rest of the HUDDLE STORY
Saint John Commercial Real Estate 