In a series of moves that underscore both change and continuity for some of Saint John’s most iconic industrial and commercial sites, February 2026 has brought pivotal developments for the Irving family’s business interests in the city. On one hand, a nearly century-old landmark is set to disappear from the urban landscape; on the other, two cornerstone manufacturing facilities have secured their regulatory green lights to keep operating for years to come.
The Golden Ball building at 10 Sydney Street, long a fixture in uptown Saint John and deeply entwined with the Irving legacy, is now officially slated for demolition. According to Brunswick News, the City of Saint John confirmed this week that a demolition permit has been issued for the five-storey, 68,957-square-foot structure. The building, perched on just over half an acre and flanked by a modest parking lot with access to Union and Carmarthen streets, has stood as a silent witness to almost a hundred years of local history.
J.D. Irving, Limited purchased the Golden Ball building from Irving Oil in 2025, a move first confirmed by realtor Stephanie Turner of Cushman & Wakefield last fall. The transaction ended an era but also set the stage for a new chapter. In a media release at the time, Anne McInerney, vice president of communications for J.D. Irving, Limited, articulated the company’s rationale: “The structure has been deemed no longer suitable for use and will be removed.” She added, “We’re disappointed the building is no longer viable and want to prevent it from falling into further disrepair. Our focus is to manage this transition responsibly and take the time we need to plan thoughtfully for the future.”
The Golden Ball’s significance is hard to overstate. According to the company’s own history, K.C. Irving first opened the Golden Ball garage on this site in 1931. For many years, it served as his Ford dealership—a hub of commerce and innovation during the city’s formative years. In the 1950s, the building was converted into the home office for Irving Oil, a role it would fulfill until 2019, when the company’s main headquarters moved to 10 King Square South. Generations of workers and Saint John residents have passed through its doors, leaving behind a tapestry of memories now tinged with nostalgia.
What’s next for the site? For now, J.D. Irving, Limited says the plan is to maintain the property as green space while evaluating future possibilities. The company has not yet provided a timeline for when demolition will occur, and the city, for its part, is keeping mum on the schedule. Still, the issuance of the permit marks the beginning of the end for a building that has loomed large in both the city’s skyline and its collective memory.
As one chapter closes, others continue—albeit with renewed oversight. In the same month, the Province of New Brunswick announced it is renewing air quality approvals for two major industrial players in Saint John: Atlantic Wallboard Ltd. and Irving Paper. Both facilities, which are integral to the city’s manufacturing base and employment landscape, will now operate under new five-year Class 1 air quality approvals, as detailed in government releases reported by Brunswick News.
Atlantic Wallboard’s current approval is set to expire on March 30, 2026. The new permit kicks in the very next day, March 31, ensuring a seamless transition for the facility. This plant, specializing in the production of gypsum wallboard panels, has an impressive annual capacity—up to 37 million square metres, according to the Department of Environment and Local Government. That’s enough wallboard to supply countless construction projects throughout the region and beyond.
Irving Paper, another industrial mainstay, will also see its regulatory approval renewed. The mill’s current permit expires on March 31, 2026, with the new five-year approval taking effect on April 1. The scale of operations at Irving Paper is nothing short of substantial: the facility can produce about 900 tonnes of pulp and 1,200 tonnes of paper per day. Such output not only supports local jobs but also feeds into broader supply chains critical to the province’s economy.
The approval process for both plants was far from a rubber stamp. The Department of Environment and Local Government emphasized that both facilities underwent public consultation processes, complete with review periods. For Atlantic Wallboard, public review ran from September 26, 2025, to January 30, 2026; for Irving Paper, the window was from September 3, 2025, to January 10, 2026. These consultations allowed community members and stakeholders to weigh in on the facilities’ environmental impacts and operational standards.
Transparency appears to be a key theme: the full approval documents for both Atlantic Wallboard and Irving Paper have been made available online and at regional offices, giving the public access to the terms and conditions governing these operations. The Department of Environment and Local Government also underscored that as Class 1 industries, both companies must comply with the Air Quality Regulation under the Clean Air Act and adhere strictly to the terms set out in their approvals.
The balancing act between economic development and environmental stewardship is hardly new in Saint John, a city whose fortunes have long been tied to industry. The renewal of these permits signals both the province’s confidence in the companies’ ability to operate responsibly and the ongoing need for vigilance in monitoring air quality and public health. The public consultation process, while sometimes contentious, reflects a broader trend toward greater community involvement in decisions that shape the local environment.
For many residents, these developments evoke mixed feelings. The demolition of the Golden Ball building is, for some, a poignant reminder of the city’s evolving identity—a farewell to a structure that once embodied entrepreneurial ambition and familial legacy. For others, it’s a pragmatic decision, a necessary step to prevent further decay and make way for new possibilities. As McInerney put it, “The Golden Ball is significant in our company’s history and we know the site carries memories for many people.”
Meanwhile, the renewed approvals for Atlantic Wallboard and Irving Paper offer reassurance that these major employers will remain part of the community fabric for years to come—albeit under close regulatory scrutiny. The province’s insistence on compliance with the Clean Air Act, coupled with public transparency, suggests a commitment to balancing economic imperatives with environmental health.
As Saint John stands at this crossroads—saying goodbye to a storied past while charting a course for the future—one thing is clear: the city’s relationship with its industrial heritage remains as complex, and as vital, as ever.