Developers propose 7-storey apartment building for downtown Summerside

An Island builder has plans on the drawing board for what he sayswould be P.E.I.'s tallest apartment building in downtown Summerside.

The proposed seven-storey, 72-unitbuildingwould be built on the site of what was once aBurger King restauranton Water Street.

The builder,ArsenaultBrothers Construction, says it would be the tallest building inSummerside and the tallest residential building on P.E.I. He added only a few Charlottetown hotels would be taller.

"If we can take it from the proposal phase to the building stage and put people in these units in a great location, downtown Summerside, it will be a great thing for the people, you know on the waiting list with the province,"said DavidArsenault, property development manager with thecompany.

Some units earmarked for affordable housing

The proposed apartment building would house one- and two-bedroom units. Arsenaultsaid30 of those units would be designated foraffordable housing.

"There's definitely a need for it right now for sure and you know there are plenty of folks around the Summerside area and surrounding areas that are wanting to move into the city," Arsenault said. "They want to be closer to pharmacies and hospitals and groceries."

He said he hopes the apartment building will help support business development in the downtown core.

"I think if we bring in quite a few people, into the downtown area with this project we can make it a go and it'll be a great thing for business, for existing businesses and new businesses in Summerside," he said.

Proposal awaiting approval

Arsenaultsaid stakes are in the ground on-site and an environmental assessment of thepropertywas done last month. He said the construction company is still working toward securing financing from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to complete the purchase of the land.

The proposal still needs to be approved by the province and the City of Summerside and officials with the city saidnothing is set in stone yet.

"Right now we're in the final stages of that process and hoping to get the go-ahead in the next few weeks and then start construction as soon as the snow is gone,"Arsenaultsaid.

He said once the proposal is approved the construction project would be complete in one to two years.

ArsenaultBrothers Constructionhas built a number ofmulti-storeybuildings on the Island, as well asin Halifax and St. John's.The company is also a subcontractor on the new six-storey hotel currently being built in Charlottetown.

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