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#91KING residential design/floorplans
The sky’s the limit for this former Woolworth’s building…literally! Zoning allows for up to 20 storeys. As an added bonus there are no heritage restrictions. What is the highest and best use? The ground floor must remain commercial (think shops, restaurants etc…) but the upper floors could be just about anything. Since Saint John is already experiencing high vacancy rates in the office leasing market, residential probably makes the most sense. Just imagine apartments and/or condos overlooking King’s Square. Floorplans have been designed to show what could be done including a proposed parking garage in the basement. Check it out…
Interested in seeing this in more detail? Click to download .pdf >>> Proposed Condo floorplan
Have ideas for this building? Tweet them! #91KING
Brideau speaks to importance of a vibrant downtown core
The Atlantic Provinces Economic Council (APEC) held its 20th annual Business Outlook Conference on November 3-7 in Halifax, St. John’s, Saint John and Charlottetown. APEC just released the Conference Report “A Look Ahead at the Region’s Economy in 2020”. This report summarizes the key messages from APEC staff and industry panelists, who discussed what businesses can do to prepare for 2020. Two panelists spoke to the issue of urban development:
Andy Fillmore, Vice-President of Planning and Development at Waterfront Development, discussed the need for sustainable, attractive urban development to entice young workers to live in the region. He explained how decades of suburban development in Halifax and underdevelopment in the downtown core has caused a hollowing out of the city’s population. He talked about how young professionals are looking for walkable communities and living in apartments and condos as opposed to purchasing single dwelling suburban homes and cars due to financial constraints and the desire to live a healthier lifestyle. Citing his work with the Council for Canadian Urbanism, Fillmore called for more progressive, sustainable urban development to improve economic health and social inclusiveness.
Keith Brideau, Founder of Historica Group of Companies, described new opportunities for growth in the downtown core. Through his experience of living in urban spaces in Toronto, Brideau was inspired to work in urban development. New IT companies with young professionals want to be based in downtown cores to have access to decision makers and because their employees are based in urban areas. Brideau discussed how housing affordability is an issue with more people looking to live in condos and apartments. He also highlighted baby boomers as an emerging market as maintenance costs for single dwelling homes will be undesirable.
Click HERE to view and/or download the entire report.
LEASED: 77 Germain Street BEFORE & AFTER PICS
Appnovation announced on Aug 14th, 2014 that they were coming to Saint John and that they would be creating 63 jobs here. They arrived earlier to scout for space for their new Saint John office and what they found was a diamond in the rough on the top floor of 77 Germain Street (many people know this building as 40 King Street – our city’s hub of economic development agencies)
The floor had previously been used to house some large computer equipment and had never been restored to match the lower floors. This “raw” space became vacant and available in 2014 and Appnovation saw the potential.
Stephanie partnered with Justin Omichinski, Avison Young, Vancouver to represent Appnovation in their search and lease negotiations.
BEFORE & AFTER PICS
SUB-LEASED: This amazing view now belongs to Mariner Partners!
1 Germain Street (18th floor Brunswick Square), Saint John, N.B.
The 18th floor of Brunswick Square (17,497 square feet), previously occupied by Salesforce, has been sub-leased by Mariner Partners. Mariner continues to occupy space in the Red Rose Tea building (12 Smythe Street) but seized an opportunity to take advantage of the top class finishes and flexible collaborative environment that had been created on the 18th floor of the Brunswick Square office tower. Salesforce continues to occupy the entire 16th floor of Brunswick Square. Stephanie Turner represented Salesforce and Ian McCoy of Re/Max Professional Saint John represented Mariner Partners.
MORE PICS>>>
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- kitchen seating
South Market Street Concept…follow up…
I was surprised and delighted to see the interest in “Concept for South Market Street”. The blog post was off-the-cuff inspired by a photo of a transformed alley in Auckland that reminded me of our South Market Street. The idea really took off when Mayor Mel Norton shared it with his followers on Google+ and on Facebook.
There were some naysayers but, I think, in general the comments were enthusiastically in favour of making South Market Street for pedestrians only.
Since the story generated so much interest, I did a little more on-line research on the subject and found an interesting article entitled “Urban alleys become pathways to revitalization”. The article described how 7 U.S. cities successfully transformed alleys in their urban cores. You can read that article here.
Brewer’s Alley at the Rialto Cafe in Denver.
Almost a full uptown block under new ownership tonight
Congratulations to Historica Developments on their successful acquisition of a portfolio of 4 uptown heritage buildings.
- 99 Germain Street has been the home of Bustin’s Fine Furniture retail showroom since 1905. Bustin’s Fine Furniture will be staying on as a tenant.
- 107 Germain Street is a 3 story office building currently the home to Dr. Brown, Claire Driscoll, Ispire and Enovex.
- 109 Germain Street is a 5 unit residential apartment building which is fully occupied.
- 30 Canterbury Street (also known as the “Canterbury Car Park”) is a 22,494 sq ft warehouse and parking structure.
The Bustin family had come to own the four buildings over many years in order to secure access to the alley behind the retail store to facilitate furniture deliveries. In recent year, the Canterbury Car Park has served as the warehouse for the furniture store. The large 3 story brick building on Canterbury had attracted inquiries from various developers over the years. Bustins finally concluded that warehousing was not the highest and best use for the building and it was identified as a candidate for redevelopment.
This transaction has been a long time coming with initial discussions starting in 2009. This was a complex transaction encompassing four mixed-use buildings each of which appealed to a different type of buyer/investor. It was important to the Bustin family that the buildings be sold together as a package and, in the end, Bustins and Historica Developments were successful in structuring a deal to make that happen.
Stephanie represented the vendor and Don Clancy, Gardiner Realty Ltd. Royal LePage represented the purchaser.
MAIN STREET REDESIGN GAINS STEAM
“SAINT JOHN – A long-held vision to redevelop Main Street from a tired, six-lane “eyesore” to a vibrant corridor with condominiums, shops and a view of the harbour could become reality if the province adopts changes to what is now a provincially designated highway.
A group of politicians and residents have met with government officials to push the proposal forward, which could also include an innovative funding scheme that could help municipalities across the province.
“Right now it’s a terrible waste of land – valuable land,” said Coun. John MacKenzie, who got Common Council’s support on the proposal earlier this year. “Land that, when you build up, could look over the harbour.
Saint John Commercial Real Estate 