Former CN lands in Moncton to become 'urban village'

Work is underway on a new development in Monctonon the former CN lands at the corner of Main Street and Vaughan Harvey Boulevard.

Westmount Developments president Vaughn MacLellan, who now lives in Toronto,grew up in Moncton and says he was looking for a way to invest in his hometown.

"I think for modern cities to really succeed and thrive you need that kind of energy, that kind of density and interaction.'- Vaughn MacLellan

"The overall vision for the property is to create a mixed-use site which is what we're labelling an urbanvillage ... we want a site where people are living, working, playing and really creating a village feel to the site,"MacLellantoldInformation MorningMoncton.

The 4.4-hectare property, which MacLellan sayswas one of the last blocks of land for saledowntown, was purchased two years ago when the nearby Downtown Centre was still just an idea.

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"I felt that the efforts that the city was making to try to increase density and try to redevelop the downtown were going in the right direction and I wanted to buy those lands to to try to make an investment in the city and also try to bolster that effort by the city." he said.

Sixbuildings to go up in next four years

Construction on the new development, which has been named The Junction, began in August with the extension of Ivan Rand Drive anda new fitness club underway.

"Part of the name, The Junction, comes from the fact that these are former CN lands but also that they form a junction between the downtown, the west end residential area andRiverview," MacLellansaid.

Information Morning - Moncton6:55Urban village in Moncton

Vaughn MacLellan talks about the plans to develop the former CN lands into an urban village in Moncton.There are also plans for a high-end apartment building with retail and office space on the ground level and for a new hotel.

MacLellanpoints to King Street in Toronto as an example of the energy that can result from mixed-use developments.

"I think for modern cities to really succeed and thrive you need that kind of energy, that kind of density and interaction that you get and so we're hoping to contribute to that in the city of Moncton."

MacLellan saidthere was some pollution on the former CN lands butthe contamination is "relatively minor" and being managed on site.

The new road is expected to be completed within two months with a total of five or six buildings going up over the next four years.