Uptown Saint John Inc.Uptown Saint John Inc.2014 Priorities2014 Priorities

STRATEGIC INVESTMENT STRATEGIC INVESTMENT AREASAREAS

1. Neighbourhood Plan2. Wayfinding

Street-Level BusinessesStreet-Level Businesses3. Place Making

Kings SquareKings Square Pedestrian StreetsPedestrian Streets

4. Development Heritage ValueHeritage Value Infill OpportunitiesInfill Opportunities

BUILD UPON SUCCESSES

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

PlanSJ• Sustainable vision for our Sustainable vision for our

future future • Based on what residents Based on what residents

and stakeholders envisionand stakeholders envision Next Steps

• Bringing the Bringing the neighbourhood plans to lifeneighbourhood plans to life

Uptown Saint John • Fully support Council on Fully support Council on

PlanSJ for UptownPlanSJ for Uptown

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

We have an extensive knowledge base to share• Community championsCommunity champions• Heritage assets reportHeritage assets report• Design standardsDesign standards• Available development Available development

landslands We are a conduit to

businesses and residents• Plugged inPlugged in• Community involvementCommunity involvement

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

Action Request:In 2014, Council initiate a neighbourhood planning process for the southern Peninsula

WAYFINDINGWAYFINDING

Branded directional signage• Direct residents and visitors, whether by foot Direct residents and visitors, whether by foot

or in a vehicle, to their destinationor in a vehicle, to their destination

DRIVING FOCUS TO THE URBAN CORE

WAYFINDINGWAYFINDING

Uptown Saint John is currently working on a new Uptown wayfinding system• Signage audit Signage audit • Branding criteria reviewBranding criteria review• Stakeholder meetingsStakeholder meetings

Wayfinding signage strategy• GatewaysGateways• DirectionalDirectional• IdentificationIdentification• OrientationOrientation

WAYFINDINGWAYFINDING

WAYFINDINGWAYFINDING

Action Request:Council support USJI by:

o Providing 3 to 4 Uptown “gateway signs”o Signing focal municipal assets (King’s

Square, City Market)o Improving and maintaining street signage

PLACE MAKINGPLACE MAKING

USJI has focused events at USJI has focused events at King Street anchorsKing Street anchors• King’s SquareKing’s Square• Waterfront BoardwalkWaterfront Boardwalk

Council requested USJI’s Council requested USJI’s assistance with event planning assistance with event planning and maintenance of King’s Squareand maintenance of King’s Square• Strong relationship with Parks & City Strong relationship with Parks & City

LandscapeLandscape• Initiated work with Rotary ClubInitiated work with Rotary Club

PLACE MAKINGPLACE MAKING

THE PLACE YOU WANT TO BE

PLACE MAKINGPLACE MAKING

Prince William StreetPrince William Street• Canada’s first designated historic streetscape!Canada’s first designated historic streetscape!• Exemplifies Saint John’s brandExemplifies Saint John’s brand• Diverse and eclectic mix of usesDiverse and eclectic mix of uses

Slated for partial reconstruction in 2014Slated for partial reconstruction in 2014

PLACE MAKINGPLACE MAKING

Council requested USJI’s assistance with Council requested USJI’s assistance with identifying streets with Pedestrian identifying streets with Pedestrian potentialpotential

PLACE MAKINGPLACE MAKING

Action Request(King’s Square):Council continue their support to USJI in the development of performances in King’s Square and improve amenities when required (lighting)

PLACE MAKINGPLACE MAKING

Action Request(Prince William Street):Maintain the historic nature of the streetscape using granite curbs, brick, trees, and plantersUndertake the refurbishment in noticeable chunks (several blocks at a time) to minimize business interruption

PLACE MAKINGPLACE MAKING

Action Request(Pedestrian Streets):Identify Pedestrian Streets through the neighbourhood planning process

DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

Heritage value• ~ 200,000 cruise ship ~ 200,000 cruise ship

passengers visit Saint John passengers visit Saint John annually and marvel at our annually and marvel at our heritageheritage

• It is part of our brand and we It is part of our brand and we need to embrace itneed to embrace it

• Heritage areas outperform Heritage areas outperform other areas when they are other areas when they are properly invested inproperly invested in

• What’s old can be new againWhat’s old can be new again

DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

Infill opportunities abound• ~ 36 acres of available land~ 36 acres of available land• 6.2 km of street frontage6.2 km of street frontage• Serviced by sidewalks, water, sewer, and transitServiced by sidewalks, water, sewer, and transit• Walking distance to amenitiesWalking distance to amenities• In the heart of NB’s economic engineIn the heart of NB’s economic engine

Smart growth• Build up and within instead of outBuild up and within instead of out• Tax base potential of $4.8 million (~ 7 times Tax base potential of $4.8 million (~ 7 times

the value compared to suburban growth)the value compared to suburban growth)

DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

Successes for development include:• Streamlined development processes – one Streamlined development processes – one

project, one permitproject, one permit• Development incentives (infill grants, façade Development incentives (infill grants, façade

grants)grants)• Establishing TIFEstablishing TIF• Tax abatement programsTax abatement programs• Reviewing the Building Code to establish code Reviewing the Building Code to establish code

equivalences for heritage assetsequivalences for heritage assets

DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

Action Request(Heritage Value):Council provide additional funding to the Heritage Development Board and expand the HDB grant program to target projects with commercial components

DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

Action Request(Infill Opportunities):Council play a significant role incenting development to occur through multiple initiatives