Moncton selling land for pair of 17-storey apartment buildings on riverfront

Moncton council has voted to sell city-owned land to a developer proposing a pair of 17-storey mixed-use towers on the downtown riverfront.

Councillors have unanimously approved selling land along the Hal Betts Commemorative Sportsplex, at the foot of Foundry Street, to J.N. Lafford Realty Inc. for what city documents refer to as the Gateway Towers.

The Sackville-based company is proposing towers connected by a pedway that would include about 1,000 square metres of commercial space, a wellness and recreation area, and between 380 and 400 apartments. A public right-of-way underneath the pedway would link Foundry and the Riverfront Park and trail to the south.

Kevin Silliker, the city's director of economic development, outlined the proposal to council ahead of Monday's vote. 

"We think we have a signature gateway project with a potential of a riverfront anchor and destination that will maximize both city and public benefit," Silliker said. 

The proposal is the latest in a series of towers pitched for downtown Moncton. Councillors previously approved a building up to 30 floors on Main Street and an 18-storey building off Botsford Street, though construction has yet to start on either.

Silliker said Lafford presented an "unsolicited offer" to buy city land near the intersection of Assomption Boulevard and Foundry Street. The company already owns a parcel south of Assomption, previously a Northumberland Dairy building.

It has been using the site as a staging area while building a trio of connected 15-storey towers, with a total of more than 400 apartments, across the street from the Gateway Towers site.

While the land sale for Gateway Towers was approved Monday, city staff noted that it would still require future votes by council to amend bylaws. 

Silliker said in an email Tuesday that amending the municipal plan would likely start either during the July or August public meetings, while rezoning the land would occur later as the details of the proposal are refined. Those steps would require public hearings.

If fully approved, Silliker said the city expects initial site work to start this fall with foundations under construction next year. 

Silliker said if the developer fails to meet certain timelines, the land could revert back to the city. 

Silliker said the estimated building permit value is in the range of $90 million.

The city opted to skip its usual process to list and dispose of public land.

Silliker said there's a provision that allows the city to waive the public notice when access to the land means the proposed buyer is the only one likely to be able to develop it.

The amount the city is selling the land for wasn't mentioned during the meeting, though Silliker said an appraisal is underway. Silliker said Tuesday that the appraisal will "inform the sale price."

The land being sold does not include any of the ball fields. 

Coun. Charles Léger, one of the councillors who represent the area, praised the plans and noted the proximity to the fields. Silliker said there have been discussions of netting to catch foul balls and mitigate conflicts. 

"The developer, even as part of leasing out anything, obviously facing that side of the ball field there's going to be a conversation about lighting and extra activity and making sure that those potential tenants know about those ball fields," Silliker said.

Deputy Mayor Paulette Thériault thanked city staff for their work on the proposal. 

"I think that this is a great project for our city and I can't wait to see it," Thériault said.