Saint John councillors have given first and second reading to a rezoning application that would clear the way for a 267-unit apartment complex on the city's north end, a proposal supporters say would bring new housing and commercial adjacency to a long-established part of the city.
Project and location
The development would consist of three buildings of five to six storeys located on a 3.79-acre (1.53-hectare) parcel along Sears Street, between Lansdowne Avenue and Harrington Street, immediately adjacent to the Lansdowne Plaza commercial site.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Proposed units | 267 apartments |
| Site size | 3.79 acres (1.53 hectares) |
| Building height | Three mid-rise buildings, 5–6 storeys |
| Adjacent amenities | Sobeys, Shoppers Drug Mart, Pet Value and transit routes |
Proponents' case: housing, transit and revitalization
The rezoning application, brought to council by Nova Scotia planner Rob LeBlanc on behalf of the property's owner, Plaza Corp. Property Holdings, seeks to change the land from a general commercial designation to a mid-rise residential zone. Staff reports accompanying the application note the designs include landscaped amenity spaces and pedestrian links surrounding the buildings.
Jacob Ritchie, director of planning with Fathom Studio, spoke to councillors on behalf of the applicant during the public hearing. He framed the proposal as a response to broader affordability concerns, arguing that proximity to stores and transit can reduce household transportation costs.
“We know you hear a lot about housing affordability, as we all do in this day and age,” Ritchie said. “We think about housing affordability not just in terms of rent, heating, and electricity, but also transportation.”
Ritchie highlighted that residents of the new complex would be within walking distance of grocery and drug stores, banks and existing transit routes, a point proponents say will make it easier for lower-mobility or car-free households to access daily needs.
Design and neighbourhood considerations
City staff materials describe the proposal as incorporating amenity spaces and improved pedestrian connections. The project sits directly beside an established commercial hub, which proponents argue makes mixed residential use appropriate for the site.
- Buildings: three mid-rise structures, designed with landscaped amenity areas.
- Location benefits: immediate adjacency to retail services and transit.
- Rezoning: from general commercial to mid-rise residential to accommodate apartments.
Councillors granted the rezoning its first and second readings on Monday night, a procedural step that allows the file to proceed toward subsequent approvals. The public record indicates that the project team envisions the development helping to revitalise the north end by increasing local population density and supporting nearby businesses.
What comes next
First and second readings do not constitute final approval. The application will continue through the municipal process, which may include additional technical reviews, public consultation and a final council decision. If the rezoning is confirmed and permits are issued, the proponent would move forward with detailed design and construction phases.
For Saint John residents, the debate around the proposal crystallizes broader questions about housing supply, neighbourhood character and infrastructure capacity: how to add apartments near services while ensuring new development fits the scale and needs of existing communities. Council's decision to advance the file signals a municipal willingness to consider denser, transit-oriented housing options in a key corridor of the north end.
The application was prepared and presented by Fathom Studio on behalf of Plaza Corp. Property Holdings. The project's proponents and city staff have emphasised access to amenities and transit as central benefits, while the rezoning moves forward through Saint John's planning process.
