Flats plan heads to public hearing
A proposal to build standalone condos around a historic building in the Flats has passed through the municipal planning commission, which sent zoning changes on to a public hearing at city council.
The McKenzie-Sharland home and other residences near the intersection of Washington Avenue and Dominion Street were damaged beyond feasible repair by flooding in June 2013.
The city however, moved to acquire the former grocery store when the owners were bought out by the province’s disaster recovery programs.
Malcolm Sissons, of Cube Developments, announced the redevelopment plan for the store and four adjoining lots this fall, but it requires a zoning change, from low to medium density residential.
From five single-family homes, the new site would now include 15 units appearing as smaller, stand-alone homes.
“The street scape would not be a townhouse row with vinyl siding and some developments appear,” said Sissons.
“Each one would be individual and use guidelines from the River Flats redevelopment plan.”
That document, adopted by the city in 2011, places some architectural restrictions on new buildings as well as flood-proofing requirements.
Sissons, who has a tentative agreement to take over the grocery from the city, which had no use for the property, said the plan has earned positive reviews from neighbours. He is confident it will be well-received at a public hearing at council, likely to be held in December.
Two council members on the planning commission said the project is good news for the area, which before flooding in 2013 was discussed as an area ripe for major redevelopment.
“We want things to happen there, and that’s why we’ve built flood berms,” said Coun. Jim Turner.
“It would be dense, but not like an apartment block.”
It has been a goal of increasing population density in the city’s older communities for a number of years, but neighbours have often objected.
Last year, council rejected a developer’s plan to clear two large lots at Fifth Street and Minto Avenue and replace the two damaged single-family homes with several multiplexes.
At the accompanying hearing, nearby neighbours complained of parking problems and concerns about higher population on the residential road.
Commission chair Brian Varga sees the projects as different, and he will support the new proposal.
Sissons said stalls off the back lane and five-lot frontage would easily handle parking.
Also, condo-ownership — as opposed to rental units — would better ensure the upkeep of properties.
“In our market research the target audience is the (older) move-down crowd which is downsizing,” said Sissons. “They don’t want big, they want manageable, good quality homes.”