A new gas station and restaurants are coming to Saint John Airport – but the bigger story is what they represent.
The development, led by Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) on land leased from YSJ, marks the first major commercial project to get underway as part of an ambitious plan to put more of the airport’s nearly 600 acres of available land to work.
And it’s just the beginning.
We’re excited by both the partnership and what the development will bring. The gas station and restaurants will offer new options for travellers, the people who work at YSJ, nearby residents and the wider community.
But for us and for Saint John, the significance goes well beyond what will be built there.
Developing airport lands is one of five priorities in YSJ’s strategic plan – alongside growing passenger volumes, improving the passenger experience, building partnerships and maintaining a relentless focus on safety and sustainability.
Partnership at the heart
There’s a simple reason why.
YSJ is a community-based not-for-profit – we must generate our own revenue. Every successful land development creates a new source of ongoing income beyond passenger and airline fees – money that can be reinvested in the airport and help support our number one priority: bringing more flights and better air service to southwestern New Brunswick.
This first project also puts partnership at the heart of YSJ’s land development strategy. Neqotkuk is making a significant investment to develop the property, creating new business and economic opportunities while bringing new services and long-term revenue to airport lands.
We congratulate Neqotkuk on this development, and we look forward to seeing their work on it progress.
Work underway – stay tuned for updates
We know from working with partners from the First Nation that the development has received all appropriate permits, with professional engineers retained throughout the process.
A stormwater mitigation plan is also in place as part of the development’s environmental protections.
YSJ and Neqotkuk are working with the City of Saint John along with provincial and federal governments to ensure a traffic solution is incorporated into the intersection.
Work is well underway, and we’ll share more as the development progresses and our broader plans for airport lands continue to take shape.
Questions?
In the meantime, businesses interested in leasing opportunities within the Neqotkuk development can contact Christine Stanley of Colliers Real Estate New Brunswick.
For other questions about this project, contact Logan Perley at Neqotkuk.
As always, YSJ welcomes questions and feedback from our community at info@ysjsaintjohn.ca.