Historic Saint John City Market starts $6M makeover

Saint John Mayor Mel Norton says $2 million in funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agencymeans repairs to the landmark City Market are going ahead, even without a funding commitment from the provincial government.

Norton says Saint John councilhas also committed $2 million to the project, which includes $800,000to replace the elevator and escalators linked to the pedwaysystem.

The 140-year-old building needs a new roof, windowsand a complete makeover of its tower building after it was badly damaged by flooding in January2014.

A radiator in the building burst and flooded all three stories of the historic building, causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Norton says the agreement with ACOA means therepairs can begin immediately.

"It's not conditional on the province, it is conditional on the city providing funding and the city has allocated it's funding," he said.

"The approval council gave is to adopt the ACOA funding agreement so that we'll be able to access the funds that ACOAis providing for the city market renovations."

A spokesperson for the provincial governmentsaid funding forthe project is still under review.

Norton says the work will begin with hopes that the additional $2 million will come from the provincial governmentto complete the makeover.

TheSaint John City Market, which is a centrepiece of the city centre, is the oldest continuing farmer's market in Canada, with a charter dating from 1785.

The design of the current building, the roof of which resembles the inverted keelof a ship,was chosen in a competition of local architects in 1874.

"Hand-hewn timbers and dove-tailed joints that have stood fast for more than century attest to the skill and experience of the builders," says the Saint John City Market website.

It was chosen in 2013 by the Canadian Institute of Planners as 'Canada's Great Public Space.