Historic Gore Park facades will all be preserved
Developer finds way to save building fronts for new housing complex
The developers behind a plan to build a residential complex overlooking Gore Park now say all of the existing heritage facades will be preserved.
The change in direction promises to bring to end years of debate and legal action over the preservation of the 19th-century buildings at downtown’s signature green space.
“We’re going positively forward. The city is supporting us 100 per cent,” Robert Miles, senior commercial property manager for the Hughson Business Space Corporation, told The Spectator.
The consortium had initially planned to raze all of the old buildings, but reached a compromise in January with council to keep the facades of 18-22 King St. intact.
On Tuesday, Hughson announced more study had shown 2428 King St. E. facades can also be spared demolition.
Coun. Jason Farr said he’s “very pleased” with the new plan. “It’s been a roller-coaster ride.”
Miles said a third-party consultant showed Hughson a way to preserve the facades of 24-28 that the partners hadn’t considered.
Then, the case for saving just 1822 — but not 24-28 — “just didn’t make sense.”
“If you had a crystal ball, you would maybe do things differently,” Miles said about whether the developers should have agreed to save all the facades from the outset.
The plan is to build a 24-unit residential building with some commercial space as well.
The interior will highlight old brick walls, beams and high ceilings. The internal mechanisms, such as plumbing, heating, cooling and sprinklers, will be brand new.
The outside of the buildings will “basically” resemble what they looked like when they were built, Miles said.
The hope is to start construction in the spring of 2018.
It couldn’t happen soon enough, Farr said.
After five years of dispute, the buildings remain boarded-up eyesores at downtown’s most prominent crossroads.
Meantime, the city has spent millions to rejuvenate Gore Park.
“It’s the centre of our city and now the buildings that surround it are going to shine, too,” Farr said.
Miles acknowledged the buildings are a mess.
“It’s a disaster. … I’ve got vagrants breaking in every week.”
Miles said the consortium met with city officials Monday to discuss the change in direction. Once council approves the new site plan, it can begin in earnest.
A condition would be for Hughson to drop its appeal of the heritage designation council placed on the buildings in 2013, Miles said.
Farr said that’s “all moot now anyway,” with the developers needing the heritage status for urban renewal incentives.
The Ward 2 councillor said the appetite for renovating heritage buildings is greater than it was five years ago, pointing to Urban Core’s redevelopments on King William Street and James Street North.
“From an economic standpoint, there’s a real winner there,” Farr said, noting landlords can charge higher rents for renovated heritage units.
Miles also acknowledged Urban Core’s work.
“I think the idea is if he can do it, so can we.”
The Gore units will rent in the $2,000 range, plus utilities. Wilson Blanchard Property Management will oversee the rentals.
Miles said the consortium has hired a special architect to deal with the heritage side of the plan and another for the modern aspects.