Правительство Нью-Брансуика выкупило землю под новую среднюю школу в Фредериктоне, но переговоры с организаторами ярмарки продолжаются

Fredericton’s Exhibition Grounds look the same after expropriation, but change is coming N.B. government has bought land on the grounds for new middle school Despite the City of Fredericton’s takeover of the Exhibitions Grounds, its largest occupant, Fredericton Exhibition Limited, remains on the property and is hoping to strike a deal and stay. Fredericton Exhibition, also known as N.B. Ex, is still hosting events on the Exhibition Grounds, including the annual September fair it calls the Frex. Rae Tretiak, N.B. Ex’s executive director, said some people have assumed his organization was out of business. “We are still very much here, boots on the ground, getting ready for this year's 199th edition of the Frex and still planning for the 200th anniversary next year,” Tretiak said. He said N.B. Ex and the city are still in negotiations on what’s next for his organization, so he’s able to stay on the grounds. “We are working towards sticking here,” Tretiak said. Fredericton completed the expropriation of the leasehold interest of the grounds in May, which gave the city full control over the property. The city completed the expropriation process by compensating N.B. Ex $4.1 million The original compensation offer from the city, when the expropriation process was started last fall, was $3.45 million. Mayor Steve Hicks said this was an appraised value and the final amount was the appraised amount plus 20 per cent. Tretiak thought $4.1 million was “definitely not a fair number,” but said that if N.B. Ex wanted to dispute the amount it would be in front of a judge. “I don't think either party wants to leave it up to a judge to decipher … the final conclusion,” Tretiak said. He said since N.B. Ex is a not-for-profit organization, the money will be used to promote and educate people about the province’s agriculture industry. Lot sold for new middle school The Exhibition Grounds are bordered by Smythe Street and Saunders Street, apartment buildings and the Capital Winter Club on Rockwood Avenue, and an Atlantic Superstore. Hicks said the property is being dealt with in three different pieces. The first piece consists of about 12 acres for a school to replace George Street Middle School. The lot was sold to the province for $7.7 million. Jacob MacDonald, a spokesperson for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, said in an email that the province has already spent about $560,000 on design fees and related site investigation for the school project. He said the department is waiting for a zoning decision from the city before deciding the next steps. Hicks said there would be no problems with the permitting. “We need a school," he said. "Everyone knows that, and it's going to be a welcome addition to our downtown, and we're looking forward to it." Hicks said the other two areas of the grounds host Fredericton Exhibition Ltd., a Tim Hortons, William’s Seafood restaurant and Feeds'n Needs. Tretiak and Hicks both said negotiations continue over the roughly nine acres N.B. Ex is occupying, but they’re tight-lipped about the details. “We don't negotiate publicly," Hicks said. "So there's ongoing talks and there has been for a while and we will continue to talk until we come up with a solution that works for everyone in the entire community." Since N. B. Ex used to operate on the whole grounds, which cover about 30 acres, Tretiak would like more than just nine acres. He he said he could reimagine the operation to fit the smaller property. 3 businesses will be gone after leases end Hicks said the city will let Tim Hortons, William’s Seafood and Feeds'n Needs leases run out. The city’s plan as of now is for the three businesses to leave the Exhibition Grounds after their leases run out. “They know that the leases run out, and I'm sure they would prefer to stay there, but this is the expropriation that’s taking place,” Hicks said. The leases for Tim Hortons and William's Seafood expire in 2028. The Feeds’n Needs lease will expire at the end of the year. Hicks said that stretch of land along Smythe Street will be developed. He said developing that land was “always the plan.” The area will be mixed-use so there is opportunity for commercial and residential development there, Hicks said. Tretiak said some horse stables at the end of the racetrack will be torn down soon. He said some people who rent the stalls monthly have been given until the end of the year to move their horses. The Winners Lounge that faces the racetrack will also be torn down. The grandstand beside it was torn down earlier this year.