When you walk through Saint John, you will notice plenty of historic charm. You will also see empty properties. City staff report roughly 175 vacant buildings scattered across the city. Now, local community groups and developers want to transform these empty spaces into affordable housing.

According to a recent report from CBC News, a nonprofit organization called Vacant 2 Vibrant is leading the charge. Founders Brent Harris and Justin Sweeney are turning dilapidated structures into vibrant homes.

The Duke Street Transformation

The organization chose a Duke Street property in the south end for its first official project. Once finished, this four unit building will provide deeply affordable housing for women served by the Elizabeth Fry Society.

Funding this vision requires serious collaboration. Kaleidoscope Social Impact and the If Adapt Foundation each contributed about $500,000 to a property acquisition fund. Housing NB added $223,000 to the Elizabeth Fry Society for the project, and the city provided $55,000 in grants.

Overcoming Renovation Hurdles

Reviving an 85 year old building brings unique challenges. Sweeney notes that securing upfront capital is the biggest hurdle for social purpose projects.

“If you’re starting out and looking to do this for any sort of social purpose, coming up with capital in the front end to be able to acquire these buildings and start to do the work is the biggest hurdle to start to overcome,” Sweeney said.

Community investors help the group buy the properties. Once the project stabilizes, they bring in traditional lenders.

Harris points out that saving the exterior preserves the city heritage. However, updating old infrastructure takes time and careful planning.

“What took time was being able to get the building stripped back and trying to save all you can to try to reduce costs down the road,” Harris said.

Preserving Community Spirit

Vacant 2 Vibrant is not alone in this mission. Private developer Erik de Jong of City Line Holdings is converting two century old schools into affordable housing. St. Vincent High School and St. Patrick School will welcome new tenants by 2027.

De Jong faces hurdles bringing nontraditional structures up to modern building codes. Adding insulation to multiple layers of brick complicates the process. Still, he believes the heritage value makes the effort worthwhile.

“History started here in 1918 or 1924, and we want to continue that into the future,” de Jong said.

Revitalizing existing structures costs less than building from scratch. It also keeps community stories alive. Harris notes that people frequently share fond memories of these buildings on social media.

Vacant 2 Vibrant plans to start small but has big ambitions. The group eventually aims to house 120 individuals across 10 to 15 rehabilitated properties.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many vacant buildings are in Saint John?

City staff estimate there are roughly 175 vacant buildings in Saint John. About 90 percent of these are residential properties with an average age of 85 years.

What is Vacant 2 Vibrant?

Vacant 2 Vibrant is a nonprofit organization founded by Brent Harris and Justin Sweeney. The group acquires empty buildings and renovates them into affordable housing.

Who will live in the new Duke Street units?

The four unit building on Duke Street will house women served by the Elizabeth Fry Society in Saint John. The units will feature deeply affordable rental rates.

Why renovate old buildings instead of building new ones?

Renovating existing structures costs less than building from scratch. It also preserves the city heritage and maintains the historical stories connected to the neighborhoods.