Fredericton's Main Street in for long-term makeover

Main Street in Fredericton is being targetedto become more "urban" in the future.

A long-term plan for the key northside corridor has been developedby a committee comprisedof business groups and city officials.

"Currently when we think of Main Street Fredericton, we think of a long concrete jungle with a mixture of big box, strip malls, converted homes, some residential homes," said TrinaMacDonald, the general manager of Business Fredericton North.

"This is to densify Main Street, to utilize the blank canvas that we have, create some mixed-use development with commercial bottom-residential top, bring people back to living, working and playing on Main Street Fredericton."

MacDonald said a lot of what it envisioned for the area will depend on private development.

"Our developers in Fredericton area going to really carry the ball on this," she said.

"Developers have an opportunity to create contemporary architecture, which is an opportunity for Fredericton."

MacDonald said it will probably take 25 years to give Main Street the "urban" feel that is envisioned.

"I think we all have to realize this isn't going to happen in the next one, two or five years," she said. "This plan is for 20, 25 years into the future."