Historica at a glance

• What they do: Acquire, restore, and manage historic buildings in Uptown Saint John, delivering apartments, retail, office, and furnished units with modern finishes that respect heritage architecture.
• Positioning: “Offering the most unique residential, retail, and office spaces in Uptown Saint John,” with a service-forward leasing and management approach.
• Where to find them: 100–89 Princess St, Saint John, NB E2L 1K5 | 506-214-4677 | admin@historicadevelopments.com.

Origin story & growth

Historica began by testing a simple thesis: if you carefully modernize Uptown’s grand heritage buildings, demand follows. Early residential releases rented before construction wrapped, validating a market for high-quality, design-forward rentals in the city’s historic core and fueling a program of ongoing acquisitions and restorations. Historica Developments

By 2019, company materials and university coverage noted 21 buildings concentrated Uptown across residential, retail, office, and food services—underscoring the scale of its neighbourhood impact. (Earlier and energy-efficiency case studies reference double-digit building ownership as well.) Taken together, the record shows sustained, multi-property growth anchored in Uptown.

What sets Historica apart

1) Adaptive reuse with polish
Restorations keep brick-and-stone character, high ceilings, and tall windows while adding the things modern tenants expect: elevators where feasible, contemporary kitchens and baths, in-suite laundry, and smart layouts. Branding consistently emphasizes heritage integrity + modern comfort.

2) A true mixed-use footprint
Historica curates active streetfronts—independent restaurants, cafés, boutiques—beneath apartments and offices. Notable addresses include 93 Prince William (“Historica Riviera”), 80 King (“Historica Royale”), Parrtown Place (King Street), and The Warehouse/Hayward & Warwick. At 99 Germain, you’ll find a cluster of beloved local brands (Italian by Night, Rogue Coffee, Tuck Studio, Five and Dime) beneath upper-floor apartments—classic vertical mixed use.

3) Portfolio scale—within one walkable district
Concentrating so many properties in a compact grid lets Historica shape tenant experience beyond any single lobby or suite. The result: residents can walk to work, dinner, and the water—the “live, work, play” vision often cited by leadership.

4) Service-forward leasing
From retail storefronts on Canterbury/King/Prince William to boutique offices and furnished apartments, the company markets turnkey, professionally managed space with responsive leasing contacts and active social channels for availability.

Signature projects & landmarks (select)

1. Parrtown Place (King Street): ~25 one- and two-bedroom apartments created through a multi-year heritage renovation; positioned as higher-end Uptown rental stock.
2. Historica Royale – 80 King St: Upper-floor loft apartments over a well-known boutique retailer; an early template for the brand’s retail-below/residential-above formula.
3. Historica Riviera – 93 Prince William St: Harbour views plus restored interiors, reflecting the “old bones/new life” approach.
4. 99 Germain St (multi-tenant hub): Destination food/retail at grade with apartments above; frequently cited in local revitalization stories.
5. Park Place: Mixed heritage complex with 14 loft apartments and recognized efficiency upgrades—illustrating the firm’s sustainability tilt in heritage contexts.

The leasing experience

Apartments

Modernized heritage suites, often with tall windows, brick, and contemporary kitchens/baths; locations steps from restaurants and nightlife. Availability is promoted across the company site and social feeds.

Retail & Office

Street-level retail units in high-visibility Uptown corridors; professional office suites in historic towers and mid-rises, marketed as bright, efficient spaces with harbour and skyline views—an alternative to suburban campuses.

Furnished/short-term options

Select inventory is offered as furnished or turnkey—useful for corporate stays, project teams, and relocations—complementing longer leases across the portfolio.

Community & economic impact

Street activation & small-business ecology

By pairing apartments above with independent food, retail, and services at grade, Historica concentrates foot traffic along King, Prince William, Germain, and Canterbury—supporting an Uptown main-street economy that extends beyond any one asset.

Heritage stewardship + efficiency

 Provincial energy-efficiency profiles point to multi-building upgrades (windows, HVAC, envelope) that lower operating costs and extend building life—key to keeping heritage assets viable for the next generation.

How “#1” shows up in practice

While “#1” is a market claim rather than a formal ranking, multiple independent and first-party sources portray Historica as a leading Uptown landlord/developer by scale, concentration, and visibility—owning and managing a notably large cluster of heritage properties, steadily releasing upgraded units, and curating high-profile streetfronts. (Coverage in 2019 cited 21 buildings; energy-efficiency case work and directory listings corroborate a significant multi-property footprint.)

Key details & contacts

Head office: 100–89 Princess St, Saint John, NB E2L 1K5

Phone: 506-214-4677 (Ext. 0)

Leasing email: admin@historicadevelopments.com

Website: historicatevelopments.com (Apartments, Retail, Office categories).

Bottom line

If you’re targeting Uptown Saint John for an apartment, boutique office, or flagship retail frontage—and you value authentic brick-and-beam character upgraded to modern standards—Historica is the go-to portfolio to screen first. Their concentration of restored properties, curated ground-floor tenants, and service-oriented leasing delivers the tight, walkable lifestyle many residents and brands are seeking in the city’s historic heart. Historica Developmentssaveenergynb.ca

Note on sources & dates: Building counts vary by publication date. UNB’s profile (2019) mentions 21 buildings; provincial case studies and directories highlight a double-digit portfolio and specific addresses. Always check current availability and specs on the official listings.