Visitors GuideFortis Properties Corporation announced today its submission of a development application to the City of St. John’s to redevelop the Company’s Water Street site at the corner of Prescott Street and Harbour Drive. The proposed $75 million project includes the retrofit of the existing Fortis Building and a new 15-storey office building.
“Today’s application recognizes our need to address the aging condition of our assets while providing much needed Class A office inventory in the downtown core,” stated Nora Duke, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We believe this development will bring new business to the downtown, increase retail activity and further revitalize the city’s downtown core through quality infrastructure and amenities.”
Key features of the new complex include 235,000 square feet of new Class A office space built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification standards; 16,000 square feet of ground level retail; a total of 382 underground parking stalls accessible from Harbour Drive; a complete retrofit of the existing Fortis Building to LEED existing building standards; and a pedway connection between the Fortis Building and TD Place.
“Added features to the complex include an outdoor plaza which will provide an attractive, public square; a spacious harbour view atrium to house various amenities and services, as well as a curbside lane for public transit and drop-off traffic,” said Duke.
Click here for proposed development renderings.
www.fortisproperties.com/en/home/aboutus/news/2010/January192010.aspx
The development involves the removal of four of the Company’s existing buildings – 151 to 163 Water Street and the Neal Building on Harbour Drive.
The project is estimated to provide approximately 400,000 person hours of construction related work.
“While Fortis Properties has operations across the country, St. John’s is our home city,” stated Duke. “We would be proud to make this level of investment here.”
Fortis Properties, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortis Inc., owns and operates 2.8 million square feet of commercial real estate primarily in Atlantic Canada, 21 hotels in eight Canadian provinces and six unregulated hydroelectric plants in Ontario. Fortis Properties employs approximately 2,300 people. Visit www.fortisproperties.com for additional information about the Company.
This is not acceptable, another architectural-less building obstructing the views of many, many historic property owners all while increasing the footprint of a utility/property investor like Fortis is NOT in the best interest of the City of St. John's. This development would, in my opinion, hinder residential property values in the downtown Heritage area, an area with very strict rules that should be enforced on the proposed structures.
Posted by: Bob Griffin at January 20, 2010 07:46 PMThis is a great idea in my opinion. It will bring more people and business to the downtown core and add to our wonderful city. Bringing more offces to the downtown region is a great idea. some times you need to make way for the new to save the old. this would bring more people and revenue to the existing downtown shops and offces. We need to make way for progress while we have the chance. hindering such progress will be our economic downfall.
Lets go ahead with this before all we have left is a very aged downtown core and infrastructure.
Make way for the new to save the old..
Chris suley
Posted by: chris suley at January 21, 2010 02:11 PM I am against this proposal. Once Fortis gets approval there would be no basis for refusing other, similar proposals. So we end up with most of the harbourfront dominated by 15 storey glass boxes which will be seen in the same light as Atlantic Place in 20 years (after the oil and the oil companies are gone). We then need more road access for all the office workers and the only alternative would be our very own Gardiner Expressway leading from Pitts Memorial Drive, along the waterfront, to all the glass boxes. When the oil is gone many of the new buildings will be vacant eyesores.
I think this is backward thinking. Maritime cities with historic architecture have something which will attract tourists and residents forever. Glass boxes repel them. Do you see any in those award winning ads for tourism? No. You see the old style colourful houses. Just ask Torontonians what they think of the Gardiner Expressway or the overdevelopment of their waterfront.
I believe they should be allowed to build, but not in the way proposed. I really like the idea of the outdoor atrium and retail space. However, the look of the building is uninspired. I'm sure they could come up with a design that would add to the skyline instead of another cookie cutter glass box
Posted by: Jeff at January 26, 2010 10:15 PM