Quote:
Originally Posted by TitleRequired
Use that is consistent with zoneSJ would have an easy technical review at most stages of a project application. In addition, Joanna Killen --- Ward 1 representative --- would champion this also.
This is one of the compatriots.
The time to oppose this was during the zonesj change that occurred in 2023. The dilution of the zoning bylaws was an error on councils part; that is difficult to walk back.
The only thing is would the use meet the definition for supporting housing. This would be a case where they'd use one term publicly facing and another term on applications. It means the same thing.
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More like partner in crime
But, he's really claimed to have dozens on his side to support this use of the Belyea as transitional housing, and I really don't think many of them live on the West Side or anywhere near the arena.
Stuffing 50+ people including the "24/7 support staff" into a hockey rink is offensive on so many levels. It's offensive that Canada's oldest city is shutting down hockey rinks, and offensive that Canadians will be shoved into living in an abandoned rink because we can't build more dignified transitional housing elsewhere, where they won't be subjects of resentment and disdain from the surrounding residents.
We have a need for more senior care homes too, and I don't think people in the surrounding neighbourhood would be quite as upset about the Belyea Arena being turned into an assisted living community for seniors, but even that would still be a pretty poor use of the property, considering it's size and oceanview location. It could be used for far more, and the rink could be re-opened and operated by private interests, of which there remains plenty. Ice time remains a scarce commodity in the Greater Saint John Region, and people out as far as Quispamsis, Nauwigewauk, or even further are willing to travel into Saint John to rent ice. The report that claims Saint John already had too many rinks was largely full of crap, not when you take into account population growth in the bedroom communities.
While it's true Saint John is quite below it's 90,000 peak, the Saint John Region has been steadily growing for decades and is well on it's way to 150 and 200k people one day. There was lots of life left in that arena, and lots of people wanting to use it from all over the region... the cost savings just simply aren't enough to justify shutting down a rink used by the entire region. The bedroom communities called the city's bluff on user fees, and the city just folded and shut down a rink instead. It's just insulting that the city won't let a private operator take over the rink and subdivide the property. Their rink reports are based on the needs of the city proper population alone. The region as a whole actually has a dearth of rinks, and people in the bedroom communities tend to be a lot wealthier and more likely to put their kids in recreational hockey. It was a bogus move by the city, and emblematic of why we haven't seen someone from the Saint John Region in the NHL for years. The city could have went with their 4 rink strategy, and let the hockey coach buy the rink and improve it... now we're expected to get stuck with transitional housing in place of our rink? It's a crap use for a rink, and borderline un-Canadian. We don't shut down rinks to provide people a place to sleep, unless there's some sort of natural disaster. Hockey is our national sport and past time... we have other buildings, and we have vacant land elsewhere. It's ridiculous to shut down a rink that has lots of life left it, and had a private operator lined up to buy it, but instead Brent Harris wants us to go with something that will negatively impact property values in the host neighbourhood.
The idea that we should keep a rink shut down that was used by thousands of people in the region, to provide not even 50 units of ultra low income, transitional housing in a residential area that doesn't want it. Moreover, other than Joana Killen, I don't think there's a single West Sider on his "Vacant to Vibrant" team, so it's not going to impact their house values or impact the vibrancy of their neighbourhood.
It's just an amazing level of short sighted thinking that could keep the neighbourhood trapped with this operating for decades to come, instead of being something that the neighbourhood actually wants, more affordable rental housing for people with jobs and families. I know it's beside the rail yard, but it's an undeniably scenic location, and the type of property that would be considered close to prime ocean view real estate in any other city that had its act together. You could build hundreds of units across a few residential towers on that property, with ample parking, and not even have to tear down the rink. The rink should be reopened by the city or outsourced to a private rink operator, and the city should wait and seek a private developer to build some condos and apartments in the rest of the property, and it's quite a large property. Sacrificing one soccer-field for hundreds of new housing units, is a worthy exchange, and would actually be good for the neighbourhood, and the city's overall image.
Gleaming ocean view condos towers are vibrant. A hockey game on a cold December night full of cheering parents and their kids having fun on the ice... that is vibrant. Shutting down hockey rinks and turning them into ultra low/ no income housing, that is DISMAL.
If I correctly understand what you're saying, it sounds like since the 2023 changes, getting the Belyea approved for use as "supportive housing" is easier than it would be to get approved as new residential housing within the surrounding neighbourhood? While this is definitely troubling, let's not forget that politics is the art of the possible. It may be hard to deny use under the new bylaws, but zoning of the property could still be changed. No matter what happens with the site, it's ultimately going to come down to a vote, right? even for a technical review? right...?
There's far more votes on council than Killen and Harris, and there's quite a lot of time until July to make some noise about this planned usage that frankly most people don't even know about. There's still time to try to influence the vote against this proposed usage to allow transitional housing to be built on top of prime, oceanfront property a stones throw away from half a million dollar beachfront homes, and surrounded by a generally quiet and well kept part of the west side. I think council could be convinced to deny permission to Brent's plan, and hold out for a project that would increase the economic value of the surrounding neighbourhood.
I also think they could be convinced to allow the rink to reopen as a private operation, as there's absolutely a demand for ice time.
The property currently valued at $1,757,100 is generating 0 tax revenue for the city. As a private rink it would generate property tax revenue for the city, as supportive housing it might still not generate any property tax revenue for the city. Reopening the rink and building some residential towers in the field and into park/playground would be a great opportunity for the city to generate a lot more property tax revenue.
There's room to increase the already ample parking, and there's a nearby sign only bustop on chapel that could be moved to the Belyea.
There's all kinds of room in the field, park, and playground behind the arena to build a few residential towers with ample green space in between, and the kicker is that there is even an exit onto City Line, to help deal with "traffic concerns".
The city should prioritize growing the tax base, and there's definitely an opportunity to do that with the Belyea Arena property. We need more infill housing than we need that soccer field, the park not popular, and the playground could be improved with something much better.
The city should think about what's best for the long term interests of the neighbourhood and the city at large, and hold out to attract a developer who could transform the site into something to actually be excited about as something positive, perhaps something like this:
Sorry, for my longwinded reply...
I appreciate your response and clarification regarding the bylaw changes. Thank you.
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