Esquimalt council has given the green light to GMC Projects to turn an old Gorge area hotel into rental housing.
Council has given third reading to a rezoning application that will see the 123-room Econo Lodge, 101 Island Highway, converted to a 96-unit apartment complex with room for a restaurant, an upgraded Gorge waterfront pool and cottages.
“It’s been a bit of a haul, but we got there,” said Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins. “This project did require rezoning to change from tourist accommodation to rental housing. What made it more challenging was there is a waterfront right of way.”
Desjardins said the agreement has rejigged the shoreline a bit and ensures the protection of the Gorge waterfront.
With rezoning in hand, GMC intends to start work today on what it is calling Portage West.
GMC president Jordan Milne said the re-imagining of the existing buildings will be done in four or five phases, with the first phase bringing 14 units of market rental housing. “The work does not consist of demolishing any of the existing structures. This is an adaptive re-use,” he said.
The 96 units will include studio, one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den and two-bedroom units.
“This provides an opportunity for market rental within our community, which is good for the region and the community,” said Desjardins.
Desjardins said many of the Portage West units are smaller, which might translate into some affordable housing units eventually hitting the market.
