When the rumour mill started buzzing about Four Winds possibly opening a brew pub as part of the Southlands development in Tsawwassen, it sounded like a neat idea. Four Winds is undoubtedly a local success story -- a good Delta family with a long history here that’s now brewing award-winning beers -- so having a nearby venue to enjoy these homegrown products seemed like a no-brainer.
It still does, but the proposal that’s received preliminary approval from Delta council that will the subject of a public hearing next Tuesday is more than just a brew pub. Much more, in fact.
The application includes a craft brewery with 200-seat restaurant, craft distillery and winery. The brewery and restaurant building would be 30,000 square feet while the other two buildings could each be as big as 6,000 square feet, meaning slightly more than half of the Southlands’ commercial district would be occupied by these operations, which are all industrial in nature, save for the restaurant.
A civic staff report states: “The proposed craft brewery and restaurant at 6360 Market Avenue is proposed to be a new, long term location for the Four Winds Brewing Company which currently operates at an industrial location in Tilbury.” If I’m reading that correctly, that means an industrial operation is moving into the middle of a residential neighbourhood.
That same staff report suggests the new uses fit the vision for the Southlands. I agree with that in the sense that all of them could use products grown on the adjacent farmland, but I thought the whole idea for the commercial component was to house shops and services that would supply everyday needs for those within walking distance. You know, things like a bakery, a coffee shop or a produce stand.
I guess there would be almost 40,000 square feet left to accommodate such uses, and perhaps expecting all 80,000 square feet to be filled one shop at a time was too optimistic, but it’s hard not to view more than half of a market square being occupied by booze producers as an odd fit.
From a glass half-full standpoint, it could possibly create a commercial-meets-industrial kind of feel that works well on Granville Island, but it’s certainly not what was envisioned for the Southlands.
