Downtown Bathurst Revitalization Study

Project Description
In 2008, Terrain Group completed an in-depth assessment of the development options for a vacant parcel of land that is central to the built and social fabric of downtown Bathurst, New Brunswick. This property was the former location of the W.J. Kent & Company store that operated for over a century - an important central meeting place for many city residents. The goal of the project was to develop a mixed-use development concept that reflected Bathurst’s history, strengthened the downtown core, created a vibrant public environment, and helped stimulate economic investment into the downtown area.

Services Provided
A number of services were provided as part of this project, including:

• Full site analysis
• Consultation program
• Opportunities and constraints analysis
• Identifi cation of potential funding
• Urban design services

Three preliminary development concepts were created for this project, each of which had a slightly different design focus. This approach allowed the Client to clearly visualize potential options for the site, and to make an informed decision on which design to move forward with. The central focus of the preferred scenario was the development of a multi-functional public square, surrounded by approximately 220,000 square feet of building floor space for a variety of uses including office, retail, residential, a hotel / convention centre and a farmers market. The public square was designed with flexibility in mind, featuring a central park area designed to encourage 24-hour activity. Parking was established in front of operating businesses in a manner where it can be closed off for festivals, concerts, markets and other public activities throughout the year.