Speaking up for the Sportsman’s Club
Residents concerned about fate of local bar as Queen Parkade renos get council greenlight
A rebuild of the Queen Parkade in Charlottetown that would add parking, housing and commercial space is set to go ahead amid pushback from locals who fear the project will tear down a local bar.
Charlottetown started taking public feedback on its plans for the parkade last month and got 147 responses.
About 60 per cent of those were from residents concerned about the fate of the Sportsman’s Club, a bar on Great George Street and a key local music venue.
The plans for the parkade would have Tweelco expand the parkade and add 40 apartment units and an additional 145 parking stalls.
The company would also buy an adjacent, undeveloped parcel of land the city currently owns.
Then, the company would demolish some of the surrounding buildings, including where Sportsman’s is located.
However, public works manager Scott Adams says Tweelco has told the city the company is working with the bar to find another location.
“We’ve talked to the developer. He has additional plans for these businesses that may be impacted by this work, and he looks forward to working with those business owners to make that happen,” Adams said in a March 12 interview after the monthly meeting.
REPORT
Adams’ report in the meeting package goes into more depth about the feedback.
He notes half of the 147 responses opposed the project, while almost a quarter were supportive. Another quarter were unclear or neutral.
Adams broke down the responses into six general themes, of which the largest was people worried about the fate of Sportsman’s.
“Over and over, this topic arose as a major point of contention and concern from respondents and warrants review and consideration moving forward,” the report said.
COUNCIL QUESTIONS
Before the vote on March 12 – which passed 10-0 – Coun. Kevin Ramsay asked for clarity on ownership.
“Is it still going to be owned by the city if this is passed?” he asked. “I don’t know if he’s going to put all his money into it or are we selling the property to him?”
Adams said the city would still own the land but allow the development on a longterm lease.
Deputy Mayor Alanna Jankov also asked whether there should be two separate votes.
The resolution calls for council to “instruct staff to enter into preliminary negotiations with Tweelco Properties regarding the proposed redevelopment of the Queen Street Parkade with the goal of developing the terms of a long-term lease agreement.”
But it also calls for council to instruct staff to sell the vacant lot on Kent Street beside the parkade.
Jankov suggested the council split these.
Coun. Norman Beck, who chairs the committee that brought the resolution to council, said the goal that night was to approve the project in principle to allow Tweelco to work out the details on their end.