A Gorge Road redevelopment that will eventually include nearly 500 residential units cleared its first municipal hurdle Thursday as council voted to move forward its rezoning and development permit application.
The first phase of the project will see 133 Gorge Rd. East redeveloped from a 59-unit building, once the site of a motel, into a 174-unit rental apartment complex with commercial space on the ground floor.
In the second phase, the property at 129-135 Gorge Rd. East will see 310 units established in four buildings, replacing three existing structures. There is no timeline for that phase of the project.
While council voted 5-2 in favour of the first phase, many councillors underlined the importance of relocating tenants who still live at the site. The two votes against came from councillors Marg Gardiner and Stephen Hammond, who said they support the project, but oppose the lack of a public hearing. (Councillors Chris Coleman and Susan Kim were absent for the vote).
“I believe that the public should be able to look us in the eye and tell us what they think, especially in such a huge proposal,” said Gardiner, who called the project transformational for the neighbourhood. “I, too, was impressed with the proposal, adding new trees, adding lots of density.”
Hammond said he wants the project to succeed but was aware of concerns from the neighbourhood and from existing tenants. Of the 56 responses from the public about the proposal, 47 were in opposition. Concerns ranged from the displacement of existing tenants from relatively affordable units to blocking of views of the Gorge waterfront and too much density for the area.
“When you’ve got this level of opposition, we should at least be able to hear it in a public forum,” Hammond said.
Mayor Marianne Alto directed staff to ensure the proponents of the project were aware that the tenant assistance program’s progress will be closely monitored.
City staff said Belmont Properties, the company behind the redevelopment, has engaged a relocation co-ordinator to work with existing tenants. To date, 10 tenants have been relocated with 26 still unsure of where they will go.
Coun. Dave Thompson said the project represents an important contribution to the city’s purpose-built rental supply.
“It’s a lot of homes. It’s very much needed,” he said. “We desperately need to get the vacancy rate up to [between] three and five per cent.”
