But the project in the southwest corner of Fredericton has been met with opposition from neighbors who fear the development will make Serenity Lane dangerous to walk along and create a decade of traffic headaches during the construction period. “We understand that Fredericton needs rental housing, as do most cities in Canada, and we’re all for it,” said Rob Horton, a resident on Red Maple Court, which runs off Serenity Lane. “But we would like this development to be done in a way that provides a safe neighborhood for us, and we don’t see that happening,” Horton said. “We see a lot of big trucks going up and down the road and we have 20 kids who live on this road who use Serenity Lane as they walk — they walk their dogs, they ride their bikes and we’re very concerned about their safety as well as our safety as adults”. WATCHES | Apartment project causes concern in quiet neighborhood
Residents are worried as the 17-building project prepares to begin in Fredericton
Gorham Real Estate will begin work on a 582-unit apartment complex on Serenity Lane that is expected to take 10 years to complete, and some residents are concerned about the impact on their neighborhood. In June, Fredericton councilors agreed to rezone a 10-hectare parcel of land and grant building height variances to allow Gorham Real Estate to construct the buildings at 150-198 Serenity Lane. They signed off on it after recommendations from city staff as well as members of the city’s planning advisory board, but not before receiving more than 10 objection letters from Red Maple Court residents, including Horton. The project is now ready to begin with initial site preparation scheduled for this fall, said Alex Gorham, partner at Gorham Real Estate. He said three 12-unit townhouses would go up along Serenity Lane near the intersection with Red Maple Court, along with a 60-unit apartment building set back from the street. Alex Gorham, a partner with Gorham Real Estate, said about 60 of the 582 units will be made available as affordable housing through the use of the provincial rent supplement program. (Zoom/CBC) Another 13 buildings will be constructed during the remaining 10-year timeline of the project, in addition to a soccer field in the middle of the complex. “We’re really excited,” Gorham said. “It’s an opportunity for us to build more than just a building, but a community that people can live in, enjoy the amenities that we’re going to offer, and all in a very convenient location.” Gorham said no construction would take place within 100 feet of a wetland on the property and no environmental permits are needed before work can begin.
Need for more housing
Fredericton has struggled with its rental housing supply in recent years, with the latest figures putting the vacancy rate at around 1.8%. Advocates and consultants have also identified a particular need for affordable housing, which Gorham said will be met. At least 10 per cent of all units would be earmarked for the province’s rent supplement program, which could subsidize the rent costs of up to 60 units, he said. Gorham Real Estate is building a series of 6-story L-shaped apartment buildings as part of its project along Serenity Lane. (Submitted by Alex Gorham) Horton said he understands the need for affordable housing, but believes the area should be earmarked for other types of housing that match what’s already in Red Maple Court. “It’s a beautiful piece of property and it needs to be developed,” he said. “We were hoping it would be developed more along the lines of what’s on our street, that there would be lots of courts and streets that would have some single-family homes, maybe some garden houses, and maintain the beauty of what’s here now.”
Accessibility questions
Horton also questioned why Gorham’s proposal was approved while another proposal to build 19 apartments on the second floor of a commercial building on Acorn Street was rejected. That project was ultimately voted down by council after staff warned the area lacked sidewalks and access to amenities like grocery stores. Described as ‘country in the city’, Serenity Lane currently has no sidewalks or bus stops. (Pat Richard/CBC) In June, before councilors gave the final go-ahead for the project on Serenity Lane, some questioned how residents could get around without a car, given that the street currently has no pavement or bus stops. “I actually had a chance to get out and talk to the residents on Serenity Lane,” said Coun. Bruce Grundy. “It’s, you know, it’s like the countryside in the city,” he said, adding that he thinks a multi-use trail would be a necessary addition. Coun. Jocelyn Pike also said she was concerned about the area’s low accessibility. “There are no sidewalks, there are no paths, the bus is too far away,” Pike said. “So it’s really going to be years before I think they have any kind of realistic active transportation system.” City Engineer Dylan Gamble said at the time that he and transit staff would look at those concerns and how the transit network can be modified to accommodate the development.
title: “582 Unit Apartment Community To Be Built But Not Without Opposition Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-09” author: “Betty Lang”
But the project in the southwest corner of Fredericton has been met with opposition from neighbors who fear the development will make Serenity Lane dangerous to walk along and create a decade of traffic headaches during the construction period. “We understand that Fredericton needs rental housing, as do most cities in Canada, and we’re all for it,” said Rob Horton, a resident on Red Maple Court, which runs off Serenity Lane. “But we would like this development to be done in a way that provides a safe neighborhood for us, and we don’t see that happening,” Horton said. “We see a lot of big trucks going up and down the road and we have 20 kids who live on this road who use Serenity Lane as they walk — they walk their dogs, they ride their bikes and we’re very concerned about their safety as well as our safety as adults”. WATCHES | Apartment project causes concern in quiet neighborhood
Residents are worried as the 17-building project prepares to begin in Fredericton
Gorham Real Estate will begin work on a 582-unit apartment complex on Serenity Lane that is expected to take 10 years to complete, and some residents are concerned about the impact on their neighborhood. In June, Fredericton councilors agreed to rezone a 10-hectare parcel of land and grant building height variances to allow Gorham Real Estate to construct the buildings at 150-198 Serenity Lane. They signed off on it after recommendations from city staff as well as members of the city’s planning advisory board, but not before receiving more than 10 objection letters from Red Maple Court residents, including Horton. The project is now ready to begin with initial site preparation scheduled for this fall, said Alex Gorham, partner at Gorham Real Estate. He said three 12-unit townhouses would go up along Serenity Lane near the intersection with Red Maple Court, along with a 60-unit apartment building set back from the street. Alex Gorham, a partner with Gorham Real Estate, said about 60 of the 582 units will be made available as affordable housing through the use of the provincial rent supplement program. (Zoom/CBC) Another 13 buildings will be constructed during the remaining 10-year timeline of the project, in addition to a soccer field in the middle of the complex. “We’re really excited,” Gorham said. “It’s an opportunity for us to build more than just a building, but a community that people can live in, enjoy the amenities that we’re going to offer, and all in a very convenient location.” Gorham said no construction would take place within 100 feet of a wetland on the property and no environmental permits are needed before work can begin.
Need for more housing
Fredericton has struggled with its rental housing supply in recent years, with the latest figures putting the vacancy rate at around 1.8%. Advocates and consultants have also identified a particular need for affordable housing, which Gorham said will be met. At least 10 per cent of all units would be earmarked for the province’s rent supplement program, which could subsidize the rent costs of up to 60 units, he said. Gorham Real Estate is building a series of 6-story L-shaped apartment buildings as part of its project along Serenity Lane. (Submitted by Alex Gorham) Horton said he understands the need for affordable housing, but believes the area should be earmarked for other types of housing that match what’s already in Red Maple Court. “It’s a beautiful piece of property and it needs to be developed,” he said. “We were hoping it would be developed more along the lines of what’s on our street, that there would be lots of courts and streets that would have some single-family homes, maybe some garden houses, and maintain the beauty of what’s here now.”
Accessibility questions
Horton also questioned why Gorham’s proposal was approved while another proposal to build 19 apartments on the second floor of a commercial building on Acorn Street was rejected. That project was ultimately voted down by council after staff warned the area lacked sidewalks and access to amenities like grocery stores. Described as ‘country in the city’, Serenity Lane currently has no sidewalks or bus stops. (Pat Richard/CBC) In June, before councilors gave the final go-ahead for the project on Serenity Lane, some questioned how residents could get around without a car, given that the street currently has no pavement or bus stops. “I actually had a chance to get out and talk to the residents on Serenity Lane,” said Coun. Bruce Grundy. “It’s, you know, it’s like the countryside in the city,” he said, adding that he thinks a multi-use trail would be a necessary addition. Coun. Jocelyn Pike also said she was concerned about the area’s low accessibility. “There are no sidewalks, there are no paths, the bus is too far away,” Pike said. “So it’s really going to be years before I think they have any kind of realistic active transportation system.” City Engineer Dylan Gamble said at the time that he and transit staff would look at those concerns and how the transit network can be modified to accommodate the development.
title: “582 Unit Apartment Community To Be Built But Not Without Opposition Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-08” author: “Lucia Carden”
But the project in the southwest corner of Fredericton has been met with opposition from neighbors who fear the development will make Serenity Lane dangerous to walk along and create a decade of traffic headaches during the construction period. “We understand that Fredericton needs rental housing, as do most cities in Canada, and we’re all for it,” said Rob Horton, a resident on Red Maple Court, which runs off Serenity Lane. “But we would like this development to be done in a way that provides a safe neighborhood for us, and we don’t see that happening,” Horton said. “We see a lot of big trucks going up and down the road and we have 20 kids who live on this road who use Serenity Lane as they walk — they walk their dogs, they ride their bikes and we’re very concerned about their safety as well as our safety as adults”. WATCHES | Apartment project causes concern in quiet neighborhood
Residents are worried as the 17-building project prepares to begin in Fredericton
Gorham Real Estate will begin work on a 582-unit apartment complex on Serenity Lane that is expected to take 10 years to complete, and some residents are concerned about the impact on their neighborhood. In June, Fredericton councilors agreed to rezone a 10-hectare parcel of land and grant building height variances to allow Gorham Real Estate to construct the buildings at 150-198 Serenity Lane. They signed off on it after recommendations from city staff as well as members of the city’s planning advisory board, but not before receiving more than 10 objection letters from Red Maple Court residents, including Horton. The project is now ready to begin with initial site preparation scheduled for this fall, said Alex Gorham, partner at Gorham Real Estate. He said three 12-unit townhouses would go up along Serenity Lane near the intersection with Red Maple Court, along with a 60-unit apartment building set back from the street. Alex Gorham, a partner with Gorham Real Estate, said about 60 of the 582 units will be made available as affordable housing through the use of the provincial rent supplement program. (Zoom/CBC) Another 13 buildings will be constructed during the remaining 10-year timeline of the project, in addition to a soccer field in the middle of the complex. “We’re really excited,” Gorham said. “It’s an opportunity for us to build more than just a building, but a community that people can live in, enjoy the amenities that we’re going to offer, and all in a very convenient location.” Gorham said no construction would take place within 100 feet of a wetland on the property and no environmental permits are needed before work can begin.
Need for more housing
Fredericton has struggled with its rental housing supply in recent years, with the latest figures putting the vacancy rate at around 1.8%. Advocates and consultants have also identified a particular need for affordable housing, which Gorham said will be met. At least 10 per cent of all units would be earmarked for the province’s rent supplement program, which could subsidize the rent costs of up to 60 units, he said. Gorham Real Estate is building a series of 6-story L-shaped apartment buildings as part of its project along Serenity Lane. (Submitted by Alex Gorham) Horton said he understands the need for affordable housing, but believes the area should be earmarked for other types of housing that match what’s already in Red Maple Court. “It’s a beautiful piece of property and it needs to be developed,” he said. “We were hoping it would be developed more along the lines of what’s on our street, that there would be lots of courts and streets that would have some single-family homes, maybe some garden houses, and maintain the beauty of what’s here now.”
Accessibility questions
Horton also questioned why Gorham’s proposal was approved while another proposal to build 19 apartments on the second floor of a commercial building on Acorn Street was rejected. That project was ultimately voted down by council after staff warned the area lacked sidewalks and access to amenities like grocery stores. Described as ‘country in the city’, Serenity Lane currently has no sidewalks or bus stops. (Pat Richard/CBC) In June, before councilors gave the final go-ahead for the project on Serenity Lane, some questioned how residents could get around without a car, given that the street currently has no pavement or bus stops. “I actually had a chance to get out and talk to the residents on Serenity Lane,” said Coun. Bruce Grundy. “It’s, you know, it’s like the countryside in the city,” he said, adding that he thinks a multi-use trail would be a necessary addition. Coun. Jocelyn Pike also said she was concerned about the area’s low accessibility. “There are no sidewalks, there are no paths, the bus is too far away,” Pike said. “So it’s really going to be years before I think they have any kind of realistic active transportation system.” City Engineer Dylan Gamble said at the time that he and transit staff would look at those concerns and how the transit network can be modified to accommodate the development.
title: “582 Unit Apartment Community To Be Built But Not Without Opposition Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-05” author: “Warren Casper”
But the project in the southwest corner of Fredericton has been met with opposition from neighbors who fear the development will make Serenity Lane dangerous to walk along and create a decade of traffic headaches during the construction period. “We understand that Fredericton needs rental housing, as do most cities in Canada, and we’re all for it,” said Rob Horton, a resident on Red Maple Court, which runs off Serenity Lane. “But we would like this development to be done in a way that provides a safe neighborhood for us, and we don’t see that happening,” Horton said. “We see a lot of big trucks going up and down the road and we have 20 kids who live on this road who use Serenity Lane as they walk — they walk their dogs, they ride their bikes and we’re very concerned about their safety as well as our safety as adults”. WATCHES | Apartment project causes concern in quiet neighborhood
Residents are worried as the 17-building project prepares to begin in Fredericton
Gorham Real Estate will begin work on a 582-unit apartment complex on Serenity Lane that is expected to take 10 years to complete, and some residents are concerned about the impact on their neighborhood. In June, Fredericton councilors agreed to rezone a 10-hectare parcel of land and grant building height variances to allow Gorham Real Estate to construct the buildings at 150-198 Serenity Lane. They signed off on it after recommendations from city staff as well as members of the city’s planning advisory board, but not before receiving more than 10 objection letters from Red Maple Court residents, including Horton. The project is now ready to begin with initial site preparation scheduled for this fall, said Alex Gorham, partner at Gorham Real Estate. He said three 12-unit townhouses would go up along Serenity Lane near the intersection with Red Maple Court, along with a 60-unit apartment building set back from the street. Alex Gorham, a partner with Gorham Real Estate, said about 60 of the 582 units will be made available as affordable housing through the use of the provincial rent supplement program. (Zoom/CBC) Another 13 buildings will be constructed during the remaining 10-year timeline of the project, in addition to a soccer field in the middle of the complex. “We’re really excited,” Gorham said. “It’s an opportunity for us to build more than just a building, but a community that people can live in, enjoy the amenities that we’re going to offer, and all in a very convenient location.” Gorham said no construction would take place within 100 feet of a wetland on the property and no environmental permits are needed before work can begin.
Need for more housing
Fredericton has struggled with its rental housing supply in recent years, with the latest figures putting the vacancy rate at around 1.8%. Advocates and consultants have also identified a particular need for affordable housing, which Gorham said will be met. At least 10 per cent of all units would be earmarked for the province’s rent supplement program, which could subsidize the rent costs of up to 60 units, he said. Gorham Real Estate is building a series of 6-story L-shaped apartment buildings as part of its project along Serenity Lane. (Submitted by Alex Gorham) Horton said he understands the need for affordable housing, but believes the area should be earmarked for other types of housing that match what’s already in Red Maple Court. “It’s a beautiful piece of property and it needs to be developed,” he said. “We were hoping it would be developed more along the lines of what’s on our street, that there would be lots of courts and streets that would have some single-family homes, maybe some garden houses, and maintain the beauty of what’s here now.”
Accessibility questions
Horton also questioned why Gorham’s proposal was approved while another proposal to build 19 apartments on the second floor of a commercial building on Acorn Street was rejected. That project was ultimately voted down by council after staff warned the area lacked sidewalks and access to amenities like grocery stores. Described as ‘country in the city’, Serenity Lane currently has no sidewalks or bus stops. (Pat Richard/CBC) In June, before councilors gave the final go-ahead for the project on Serenity Lane, some questioned how residents could get around without a car, given that the street currently has no pavement or bus stops. “I actually had a chance to get out and talk to the residents on Serenity Lane,” said Coun. Bruce Grundy. “It’s, you know, it’s like the countryside in the city,” he said, adding that he thinks a multi-use trail would be a necessary addition. Coun. Jocelyn Pike also said she was concerned about the area’s low accessibility. “There are no sidewalks, there are no paths, the bus is too far away,” Pike said. “So it’s really going to be years before I think they have any kind of realistic active transportation system.” City Engineer Dylan Gamble said at the time that he and transit staff would look at those concerns and how the transit network can be modified to accommodate the development.
