Canada Lands Corp., a federal Crown corporation owns 65 acres of prime real estate in the St. John's east end. The Pleasantville site which was developed as a US military base in the early 1940s is about to be redeveloped for residential homes, condominiums and apartments. There will be up to 1000 housing units in the development when it is complete.
The St. John's city council approved the development on Monday March 9th and all that remains now is for the provincial government to give approval. This will undoubtedly be forth coming in due course. I am expecting the site work to begin there this summer.
Some residents of St. John's east have legitimate concerns about inadequate open space and increased traffic. No doubt the final layout is under review and will be modified somewhat from the current plan. However, this area will become a strong stimulus to the St. John's housing market and will impact demand for other housing developments presently being advanced.
Several of the lots will offer lovely views of Quidi Vidi Lake where the St. John's Regata is held every August and where this year the capital city welcomed in the New Year with one of the most dramatic fireworks displays ever seen in Newfoundland. Condominium projects will offer the luxury of panoramic views of Pleasantville and some will be able to look right out through the Quidi Vidi gut - an affectionate term for a little inlet surounded by an quiant fishing village, North of the St. John's harbour. The video attached has captured a little of the fun that area residents had at the beginning of this year. Thanks to the creator Django for capturing a few hundred time-lapse photos.
In my view, the Pleasantville area will become the hottest new place to live in St. John’s. Its proximity to the down town area as well as its easy access to the Outer Ring Road and the Trans Canada Highway will be compelling drivers for many east end buyers over the coming years. Of course, given that the development is in the east end, the cool Atlantic Ocean breeze will ensure that a menacing measure of fog will drift over the area and block those views at least a few days every spring. But come New Years Eve, most residents will have a front row seat to all the action splashing the sky with celebration.
R. Greg Osmond is a Platinum Award winning Realtor serving St. John's and surrounding areas, Newfoundland and Labrador for over 20 years and can be reached at 709-895-2500. Visit http://www.rgregosmond.com/ for further information. Find him on facebook and be a friend.
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