Conversion of St. Vincent's school delayed by funding issues

Plans to turn a vacant Saint John high school into mixed-income apartments haverun into funding problems.

The $12-million project would see 58 apartments, a community hall, and an early childhood education centre placed in the former St Vincent's School on Cliff Street that was built in 1919.

But project chairKevin McDonald saidthey are $3 million short.

• Former St. Vincent's High School site slated for redevelopment

"We've approached different groups and they're all giving us the same answer: You're too expensive, you're too expensive," said McDonald.

"So many people see value, but it always comes down to dollars and cents, and sometimes you have to get past that."

It always comes down to dollars and cents.- Kevin McDonald, St. Vincent's project chair

McDonald saidthe non-profitorganization of community and church groupshas raised $3 million and will have a $6 million mortgage.

He said preparingthe building for the conversion by removing such things as steam piping and asbestos will cost $1.4 million.

"We're only on hold because behind the scenes we're working our heart and soul out to try to salvage that place and bring some life and vitality back which would be the catalyst for redeveloping a portion of the uptown," said McDonald.

Plan was to open in spring

Under the original timeline construction on the project would already be underwaywith doors opening in the spring of 2017.

This would be much better than a parking lot.- Linda Scott, Waterloo Village Association

If the project fails to move ahead it would be a huge disappointment to community leaders in the Waterloo Village area.

"In the last 20,30 years this has been more like a transient community," said Linda Scott, chair of the Waterloo Village Association.

"We have been working to try to get community back in here. So anything that can bring in integrated mixed housing, which is what this project is offering, it's going to address those needs," said Scott.

"This would be much better than a parking lot."

Mandy Burke Evans's office is located in the Waterloo Village.

The social enterprise developer at the Saint John Learning Exchange says the St. Vincent's Apartment Complex will integrate into the neighbourhood with its open-door early childhood centre and community meeting hall.

"When I say inclusive I don't just mean inclusive to the tenants, [it would be]inclusive to the entire community, like open doors, barbecues," said Burke Evans.