Waterfront developer tells Charlottetown to get with the times
NIGEL ARMSTRONG
The Guardian
A proposed development on the Charlottetown waterfront. At lower left is the bottom of Prince Street and MacKinnon's Lobster on the Wharf. At top in gray with a rectangle white roof is a rendition of Founders Hall. It is 42 feet tall; the proposed development at centre would be 44 feet above ground.
A developer told citizens of Charlottetown to get with the times during a public meeting Wednesday.
“Things do change, things do not stay the way they are,” said Paul Madden of Newfoundland, owner of Patrick Street Holdings, which created Spa at he Monastery and Suites in St. John's, Nfld.
He wants to build a four-story, 85,000 square-foot, double building development at the foot of Prince Street in the now vacant lot between Founders Hall and the Charlottetown waterfront. Architect Bill Chandler presented the details, saying the building would sit on 30 to 40-foot-deep concrete pilings embedded in the bedrock below the reclaimed land that makes up that part of the waterfront.
The site is already pre-approved for development. Any developer can proceed without a public meeting to construct a three-story, 36,000 square foot, three-floor condominium development there. Because Madden’s proposal exceeds those pre-approved specifications, Charlottetown City Council must grant approval. It held a public meeting Wednesday to gather citizen opinion.
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The Georgian Room of the Charlottetown Hotel was packed as residents came to hear about Madden’s development.
Fred Hyndman was the first of the public to speak, saying he opposes the development because Charlottetown is the only official deep-water port on the Northumberland Strait. Hyndman said the land needs to keep its designation as industrial because it might be needed in the future for natural gas exploration, or a roll on-roll off shipping development, or a military need.
“That is the only site in the province, the only place in the Northumberland Strait that qualifies as a deep-water site,’ he said.
Condominiums can be built on Dorchester Street but a container ship cannot dock on Dorchester Street, said Hyndman.
Randy Campbell said that the land should remain public.
Campbell said that any potential tenants would likely settle in other parts of Charlottetown so denying the project would not turn them away.
“Please don’t sell our waterfront,” said Campbell to the council arrayed in a line of tables at the front of the room.
John MacIntyre said he lives on Hillsborough Street and he doesn’t see much public use of the land at this moment.
“To me, there is a lot that commends this project,” said MacIntyre.
Malcolm Lodge is opposed to the project, saying it will overwhelm Founders Hall, which carries millions of dollars of taxpayer investment.
Lodge had alternative suggestions for the site, like a potential home for a provincial museum, or a recreation park with climbing walls and diving training, delis and pubs.
Lodge said there is plenty of a vacant or derelict property inland.
“These should be in-filled before considering such development on the waterfront,” he said.
Alan Holman said that the design looked like a warehouse for people.
“What is the imperative to develop this land now, and if there is a good reason, get something better than warehouses,” said Holman.
Madden spoke at the end of the meeting, saying the city is not deciding between his plan versus a public park or an industrial pipe-yard, which he later called a pipe-dream.
“There is already a plan in place for development on this site,” said Madden. “Size is the topic here.”
He said he has been through the issues and problems of developing the waterfront during his time as a city councilor in Newfoundland, and as a developer there.
“The times they are a changing,” he said to the Charlottetown meeting. “Time will pass you by.
“You should be glad there are people willing to come here and spend this kind of money,” said Madden. “There has to be some development just like there has to be some parks.”
He said that Charlottetown needs more residents in the downtown if it wants to revitalize the area.
There seems to be some dissention in the ranks. I'm not surprised that there would be a significant anti-development lobby in Charlottetown. Sounds like Mr. Madden was a little condescending. The Islanders won't like that. He'll have to careful. Even if he is from Newfoundland, he's still a CFA.
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