Delta opts for incentives after abandoning marketplace idea
Meeting next week to discuss proposals to revitalize Ladner waterfront
Delta hopes that incentives, including raising building heights along Chisholm Street, will attract investment to the Ladner waterfront.
Photograph by: submitted , Delta Optimist
Delta is hosting a public information meeting next Thursday on proposed bylaws aimed at revitalizing the Ladner waterfront.
The information session at the Ladner Community Centre will give residents a chance to ask questions from civic staff about the proposed regulations, which include increasing the maximum allowable height for buildings on the north side of Chisholm Street from two storeys to two-and-a-half storeys and on the south side from two to four storeys.
The guidelines, which include streetscape improvements, are to add pedestrian-oriented commercial, recreational and public uses, with office and residential uses above the first storey.
The bylaws are to go to Delta council for preliminary approval this spring, followed by a public hearing.
The municipality is moving forward with revitalization plans despite the glaring omission of key waterfront properties that were originally viewed as catalyst for change in the area.
Last fall, Delta abandoned a proposal for a marketplace on the civic-owned land occupied the Seven Seas building and adjacent Delta-owned site.
After much discussion and analysis, including many meetings held by Delta's downtown waterfront advisory committee, the municipality announced the selection of Quay Property Management to submit a detailed proposal for the redevelopment of the properties.
At the time, Delta said the company's submission was consistent with the vision for the waterfront identified by the committee. That vision included restaurants, shops, galleries and other amenities.
Quay Property Management is behind some well-known markets, including the Tsawwassen Quay at the ferry terminal and Lonsdale Quay in the North Shore.
CAO George Harvie said the decision to not go ahead was made after staff toured the area with a top real estate developer in the country. Harvie said the developer's recommendation, given the current economic climate, was for Delta to concentrate on making changes to the Official Community Plan to try and give potential developers an outline to follow.
As well, Harvie said, the Quay Property Management proposal would require an additional $2 million from the municipality, which raised the risk for Delta.
He said the advisory committee would continue its work. Civic staff is also looking into a number of issues, including whether Delta should lease or sell the land.
The public information meeting will run from 5 to 8 p.m. For more information, or to provide feedback, call the community planning department at 604946-3395.
