The former St. John the Baptist parish on Broad Street will become a social enterprise hub with artists. An affordable housing project is planned for land behind it. Image by Brad Perry.
Kaleidoscope Social Impact has big plans for land it purchased this summer 54 and 58 Broad Street in Saint John.
The organization, which champions social impact finance, real estate and training, bought the former St. John the Baptist Church.
Seth Asimakos, general manager and co-founder, said they plan to create another social enterprise hub, similar to the one they have on Prince Edward Street.
The church itself will have an artistic component, he said.
“What’s going to be added will be studios for artists. It’s going to be a really creative mix,” Asimakos said following the group’s annual general meeting on Tuesday.
Brilliant Labs and The Idea Centre will occupy space in the former vestry of the church.
“They are both very much partners around entrepreneurship. We’re excited about that because they really fit what we do,” Asimakos said.
Renovations will start next spring on the basement — the eventual home for either Brilliant Labs or The Idea Centre.
“We’ll start adding a couple of floors inside the big, vacant area of the church,” Asimakos said.
Planning will also start on a 30-to-36-unit affordable housing project on land behind the church.
Kaleidoscope also has housing projects on Britain Street, Waterloo Street, and Union Street.
It also operates the Youth Entrepreneurship Success (YES) program, which works with youth-facing organizations such as the YMCA of Greater Saint John, the Saint John Boys and Girls Club, and ONE Change
The program helps youth learn more about social enterprise and business, giving them the chance to develop their own ideas for a micro-business or community project.
A few snapshots from our successful YES program market! It was incredible to witness the hard work and weeks of planning…
Posted by Kaleidoscope Social Impact on Monday, September 12, 2022
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