St. John’s city council is planning to flip a large swath of land in Southlands from commercial to residential, and so far everyone agrees it’s for the best.
The wooded area on Southlands Boulevard, between Gold Medal Drive and Ruby Line, was originally intended for commercial development.
But a lack of business interest over the past 20 years, coupled with a current application for almost 100 homes, in the midst of a housing crisis, was enough for council’s committee of the whole to pull the 180.
The plan itself calls for a 90-unit development of semi-detached units, leaving some land near the intersection with Gold Medal Drive zoned commercial.
Photo via City of St. John’s
Staff noted there’s already plenty of businesses and other commercial land in the area.
Councillor Maggie Burton said the development would also provide more variety of housing.
“So if you think of Southlands, you think of big, single-family homes, whereas this would be semi-detached dwellings and would create some density and create some choice of housing types in that area for residents who might want to move into something different, or for new people who want to come into the area.”
The project must still go before council for approvals, and before area residents for their two cents’ worth.
