The long-imagined Esquimalt Village Project has taken a big step closer to reality, with construction expected to start in the spring of 2017 on a development plan that includes residential and retail space, a proposal for a relocated library and a new public square.
Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins told a packed council chambers Monday night that the township has signed a memorandum of understanding with Aragon Investments Ltd. to proceed with the acquisition and development of Esquimalt Village Project lands adjacent to the municipal hall.
She called the move “a very big deal for us.”
“We view this as the catalyst for development in Esquimalt for years to come,” she said. “I am thrilled by the opportunities of this project and what it could represent for our economic development.”
The 87,000 square feet of land to be developed includes a lawn and parking areas, and used to hold a public works yard.
The agreement with Aragon came after a request for proposals issued last October.
Desjardins said Aragon will be a “community-development partner” for a critical space in the municipality.
She noted that heritage trees and the HMCS Esquimalt monument will be maintained, and a public walkway is planned, complete with $300,000 worth of artwork paid for by the developer.
As the project moves forward, there will be opportunities for the public to provide comment on what is proposed, Desjardins said.
The process of transferring the property to Aragon, which also owns the English Inn in Esquimalt, will take place over the next several months. Construction time for the project is expected to be two years, Desjardins said.
She said Aragon has “an impressive background” in developments similar to the one planned in Esquimalt, including a number in B.C., Ontario and California.
Aragon spokesman Michael Lowe said the company “really believes in Esquimalt” and that he was struck by how close the site to be developed is to downtown.
“This was a no-brainer for us to make this work.”
Lowe said Aragon takes a community-driven approach its projects.
“We don’t just want to develop things and areas and leave — we think it’s basically our civic duty to make things almost like a legacy,” he said.
