The city of St. John’s is responding to concerns raised over continued delays in the completion of the extension of Southlands Boulevard linking Galway and Southlands.

Danny Williams of DEWCor, the developer behind Galway, is frustrated with the city in a dispute that has prevented him from getting the permits needed to build a number of new projects.

Williams says the portion of Southlands Boulevard that needs to be completed is not on his property, yet he’s being blocked from further development until the extension is complete.

It’s an issue that has been ongoing for years.

Williams says DEWCor has built Southlands Boulevard down to the Galway boundary and “several million dollars” has been spent on the roadbed.

….for which he has not received “any compensation.” Williams says DEWCor has done “everything we can, and…we’re basically being held up. We’re not even allowed to file a development application. We have an apartment building fully designed for the last two years, but the city will not accept our application. We’ve got a daycare centre; they won’t accept the application, as well our housing, now. We’ve sold the lots that are in Galway, and we had a fast food business that was ready to start up, so…the city has basically stopped us in our tracks.”

St. John’s Mayor Danny Breen says the city is clear that secondary access is required in order for further development to take place.

“We’re frustrated too, because we would like to have this settled. The requirements are very clear on the need for secondary access, and they’ve been known for quite some time that once you reach a certain volume of activity in the area, secondary access is required.” He says that work needs to be done before the city can proceed with further permitting in the residential and commercial area.

The city says responsibility for the work is part of an agreement between Fairview Investments, the developer behind Southlands, and DEWCor, which is responsible for Galway and is out of its hands.