A major construction project in Saint John is a step closer to being back on track after city councillors voted to amend the city’s heritage bylaw.

The move could lead to a green light for the Irving Oil headquarters project, which many believe would help revitalize the city’s struggling economy.

Judith Mackin, who owns a shop and studio in a heritage building uptown, says the proposed Irving headquarters on Kings Square isn’t a threat to heritage preservation.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for that square. I mean, we’re replacing a parking lot with a building,” says Mackin. “It’s usually the opposite, right?”

Saint John Council agrees, unanimously voting to amend the city’s heritage bylaw to allow the Irving building to proceed.

The move was a response to an appeal filed by former city planner Jim Bezanson, who says the building height and setback violate heritage laws.

“Any major city, and we hope to be one of them, needs to have large, tall buildings in their uptown area. That’s just part of being a city,” says Coun. Shirley McAlary, who believes the heritage bylaw is outdated.

Construction on the Irving headquarters was supposed to start last week and would have marked the return of construction cranes to the Saint John skyline – cranes that have been absent for many years as the industry continues to be in a prolonged slump.

“It’s a beacon of hope and there’s light at the end of the tunnel,” says Pat Darrah, past president of the Saint John Construction Association.

Darrah says, in his 50 years in the construction industry, he has rarely seen a slump of this length and severity.

“If I look at unemployment in the construction industry, I would suggest it’s running at about 25 per cent,” says Darrah.

Mackin acknowledges there are opponents on social media who say the city is bowing to the will of Irving Oil, but believes most residents are in favour of the project.

“For the few dozen naysayers hiding behind their computers in their pajamas, I’m really not interested in what they have to say,” she says. “The city has spoken. We want this development.”

As for Bezanson, he maintains his position that it could be dangerous for any city to change its heritage bylaws for one developer, because it opens the door for the next developer to make changes too.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Mike Cameron