A new housing development project is progressing in the eastern part of St. John’s. The Canada Lands Company (CLC), a federal Crown corporation, has revealed plans to introduce up to 1,000 residences in the Pleasantville neighborhood. Christopher Sweetnam Holmes, the CLC’s Atlantic and Quebec senior real estate director, mentioned that the first occupants could potentially arrive by 2028.
Holmes explained during an interview at the project site, which is currently an empty field, that they have the required zoning and some existing services. Construction could commence as early as the following spring in collaboration with developers. He anticipated that some units would be ready for occupancy by 2028, with various housing types such as apartments and townhouses planned to cater to different demographics like seniors, students, and families.
At an open house event held at the Pleasantville Royal Canadian Legion, around 100 individuals gathered to learn about the neighborhood’s upcoming developments. Residents like Susan Halley expressed enthusiasm for the diverse housing options being proposed, emphasizing the importance of integrating retail, dining, and recreational amenities to create a vibrant community atmosphere.
Nancy Reid from the Coalition for Persons with Disabilities Newfoundland and Labrador (CODNL) highlighted the significance of incorporating accessibility and universal design principles into the construction of the new units. She emphasized the need for spaces that are easily accessible and inclusive for all individuals.
Apart from the Pleasantville phase two project, another significant housing development is underway in the vicinity. KMK Capital is set to construct over 1,200 housing units as part of a mixed-use development on the former Bally Haly golf course. With both projects potentially yielding more than 2,200 units collectively, stakeholders like St. John’s Deputy Mayor Ron Ellsworth remain optimistic about the area’s capacity to accommodate the growth, citing existing infrastructure and ongoing rezoning efforts by the Canada Lands Company to support the developments.