Saint John City Market renovations top city's priority list

Saint John Mayor Mel Norton says the municipality will not push the province for money to build a field house until funds can be found to renovate the city market.

Norton suggested the province was dragging its heels on a request for $2 million to match similar funding for the market from the city and the federal government.

• Historic Saint John City Market starts $6M makeover
• Saint John fieldhouse project reaches $10M milestone

The 140-year-old building needs a new roof, windows and a complete makeover of its tower building after it was badly damaged by flooding in January 2014.

A radiator in the building burst and flooded all three floors of the historic building, causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Work is already underway to install a new elevator and escalator linking the market to pedway system.

Norton says if the province does not assume a share of the $6 million cost the project could run into problems.

"This is something that we're concerned about.'- Saint John Mayor Mel Norton

"This is something that we're concerned about," said Norton. "This has been council's number one priority for almost a year now. The federal government was very quick to come on and support this, we've been working, had numerous conversations, had numerous requests, had many meetings with the provincial government asking them to support this."

Field house proposal

The issue could also affect the timeline for the proposed $24 million Greater Saint John Field House project.

Proponents for that project have also been talking to the province, and to the federal government's Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

They hope to receive a $6 million commitment from each level of government before the end of the year.

"If we can secure funding before the fall of 2016, we could start construction in 2016, with a goal of having it open for the fall of 2018," said the group's chair, businessman Bill MacMackin.

The city is being asked for a $3.5 million contribution toward construction costs for the field house which, in its first phase, would would include two indoor fields for such events as soccer, lacrosse and track and field.

Phase 2 could potentially include a couple of ice surfaces.

MacMackin says his group views the field house as a regional facility and will approach outlying communities to request contributions after the May municipal elections.