The City of Saint John is reissuing its call for development ideas for the former Cherry Brook Zoo property.
The city is looking for creative ideas for the 30-acre parcel of property at Foster Thurston Drive and Sandy Point Road. A number of potential uses for the land, including commercial recreation facilities, exhibition grounds, farmers market or supportive housing, are mentioned in the document.
The request states that proposed projects should have the “financial capacity to establish and operate independently of support from the city”.
The request says that the site is “ideally viewed by the City as having great potential for outdoor recreational activities that would contribute to more meaningful utilization of this immediate area by the general public and the local economy.”
This is the second time the city has called for expressions of interest in the parcel of land since the zoo closed in 2020 due to “severe financial pressure” from the pandemic. It had been in operation for over 40 years, opening in 1978.
The initial call for expressions of interest was held in 2021 but did not result in any new developments.
The city is providing a tour for interested parties on March 1, to get a first-hand look at the land and the structures that are there.
The document also says that an idea with “the right vision” could take advantage of the land’s proximity to Rockwood Park, supporting other amenities located within the park including the trail system.
The city says it may hold interviews to learn more about certain proposals submitted.
The expressions of interest are due by March 15, 2023.
This story was originally published by Huddle, an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.
