A proposed mixed-use development near Queen Square in uptown Saint John is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Keith Brideau and Steve Belyea of Historica Developments are hoping to rezone 170 Charlotte Street and 13-19 Queen Square North from Mixed Commercial and Urban Centre Residential to Integrated Development.

If they receive final approval, a mixed-use project offering up to 150 units would be constructed.

“We did our best to design a high-quality development that fits well with the surrounding neighbourhood,” said Brideau during a public hearing at Monday night’s council meeting.

“I think a lot of developers might shy away from that, but Steve and I believe it’s very important that down the road, when this project is complete, that we can drive by and feel good about what we built.”

Brideau was asked by council about affordable housing units and mentioned that was part of the reason why they decided to go up to 150 units.

“We do understand the affordable housing issues and we think it’s only going to get worse with interest rates rising, etc., so one of the things we are looking at doing is making some of the units smaller, and that’s why we decided to go up to 150 units,” he said.

“We think if some of the units are a little smaller they are going to be more affordable.”

The units will range in size from studio to three bedrooms, said Brideau.

The proposed development will also have approximately 557 square metres of commercial space on the ground floor fronting Charlotte Street.

It will also infill vacant land and provide additional enclosure to Queen Square.

The Jewett Residence, which is an existing heritage building, will also be retained and incorporated into the development.

The rezoning application also includes an amendment to the height map and street wall map.

Council approved the first and second readings of the rezoning application. It will return to the council at a later date.