sniff. sniff. Sure smells like denial to me.

Let’s check back with Toronto in 12 mos, shall we?

“Saint John hits real estate hot zone: Growth is unprecedented, says longtime developer in city”, by Mark Taylor, Halifax Chronicle-Herald, July 19, 2008.

The real estate market in Saint John is enjoying unprecedented health, says a veteran developer.

“For the first time in the history of the city, we have already seen significant growth and we’re going to see substantial growth happening over the next 15 years,” John Rocca said Friday. “This is because we have finally hit the right zone and we are in the right sector from an economic point of view.”

And you know, they may have a point. This era is likely the city’s most economically exciting since former mayor Elsie Wayne hosted the World Chess Championships. Heh, it has the highest and most dangerous tides of any good sized city on earth, but it has the decisive advantage that it is hundreds of kilometers down-wind (most days!) from places that desperately don’t want development projects like the following.

With major energy projects underway, such as the $1.4-billion refurbishment of the Point Lepreau nuclear facility and construction of the $750-million Canaport LNG terminal, Saint John is expecting billions in investment over the next decade.

“Crash,” says Igor. I’d like to know in what sense.