Two Residential Projects To Come Before Council

A couple of large residential construction projects will come before Saint John Common Council on Tuesday night.

City staff are recommending that council give final approval to a proposed $40-million development at 99 King Street uptown.

There was no opposition to the 12-storey mixed-use development during a public hearing held two weeks ago.

A rezoning is needed for the 55-metre building as it would exceed the maximum building height of 28 and 42 metres established for the area.

Developer Percy Wilbur purchased 91 King Street — known to many as “the former Woolworth’s” — and the building next to it in December. The two buildings, which city staff said had sat vacant for nearly 10 years, were demolished in early June in preparation for the new construction.

Initial plans for the building are for three floors of commercial space, including ground-floor retail, and around 93 residential units on the top nine floors. Wilbur said they hope to get shovels in the ground this fall or in the spring at the latest.

Meanwhile, a public hearing will also take place Tuesday night for a proposed residential development on Technology Drive in Millidgeville.

Somerset Investments Ltd. wants to construct between five and six buildings on the site with as many as 500 residential units.

A municipal plan amendment is needed to redesignate the site for residential development and the development site must be rezoned to high-rise residential.

The subject site was designated business park (now known as business park commercial) in 1999. At the time, a business park subdivision with up to 10 large lots for office, commercial and light industrial uses was proposed.

“Despite efforts from the landowner and economic development partners to market the business park, uptake of lands within the business park has not resulted in the market demand that was initially contemplated. Only one building was constructed over the past 20 years, which is currently housing Xerox,” said a staff report.

“Given the lack of commercial demand and the opportunity to adapt the space to respond to the high residential market demand, the proponent is seeking to develop residential uses on the property in addition to maintaining an interest in attracting commercial development.”

According to city staff, the building at the intersection of Technology Drive and Sussex Drive would be constructed as the first phase of the development in 2021-22, with the remaining buildings completed as demand warrants.

Tuesday night’s public hearing is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.