News > Kent property development A project for the city's future

Kent property development A project for the city's future

Downtown merchants, mayor, MLA excited about plan to develop prime Main St. property A1By Greg Mulock Northern Light Editor It won't happen overnight but it is possible to achieve with a team effort and commitment. Steven White An artist's conept of the central square in the proposed development for the Kent property, looking northeast. That was the general reaction of the president of a downtown business group and elected officials after last week's public presentation of a proposed $28,246,900 development plan for the Kent property. "It's going to be a huge sell...job, but it's something I'm committed to and...I think our whole organization...We're going to have to present it to (Bathurst city) council, and hopefully get (support) from all the residents of Bathurst and this community," said Steven White, president of the Downtown Bathurst Revitalization Corporation. The detailed plan incorporates office and retail space in a pedestrian-friendly setting, and also features trees and a water fountain. The concept, called Spectator Square, was developed by the Terrain Group Inc. consulting firm from Dartmouth, N.S. who were hired by the DBRC. It was unveiled at the DBRC's annual meeting, held Oct. 29, at City Hall by Terrain's planning manager, Greg Zwicker. The Kent property was once home to the W.J. Kent and Co. department store which was torn down in 1990. The prime Main Street space is now home to the City Farmers' Market and a parking lot. The City of Bathurst and the DBRC have long wanted to see the property developed, in order to generate economic activity in the downtown core. "What we needed was a working model to take to developers to sell a concept...We'll bring it to a developer and if they feel certain aspects are left out or should be changed or tweaked to make it work, then we're willing to do that but we want that property developed," said Mr. White, noting that trying to develop the Kent property is looking "to the future." Mayor Stephen Brunet referred to how the former Kent store was a popular gathering place, and he indicated that the proposed development could again be a focal point for the community. "We have this vacant piece of property right downtown and we know the history of it. When it was operating, it was central for everybody and we believe that the new type of concept that we've come with will be the same thing," he told The Northern Light. Continued the mayor: "It will bring people back downtown to shop and to live. The mixture is very important, that we have more people living downtown and they will support the shops we put in there and they will make things happen." He stressed that this kind of mega-project requires the support of the municipal, provincial and federal governments. "We've got to be very optimistic about this and get all three levels of government to come on (side)," he said, noting that one source of potential funding is the federal monies set aside for communities economically hurt by mill closures. The Smurfit-Stone paper mill was shut down in August 2005, putting almost 270 people out of work. Already on side with the Kent proposal is Brian Kenny, Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly for Bathurst. "I think the province is going to have a vital role in the development of this downtown project," he said. "I believe that there's ways the province can partner with this...maybe as a tenant." Added Mr. Kenny: "I'm going to explore every opportunity that I can as MLA to try and find tenants...find a developer, whether there's provincial funding for infrastructure. There's a lot of things that the province can do, and also knock on the doors of the federal government to also take a look at this project." Mayor Brunet acknowledged that while previous efforts to develop the Kent property did not come to fruition, it's important to keep moving forward. "We never give up," he said. Those sentiments were echoed by MLA Kenny. "It's been 18 years this vital piece of property's been vacant. Right now, we have everybody, whether it's DBRC, private entrepreneurs, city council, everybody seems to be on board and this Terrain Group has done an amazing job of putting together a concept." Concluded Mr. Kenny: "It's very easy to be able to take this package...and show a possible developer...there's such an opportunity here."