A new plaza and an outdoor patio are among the proposals being put forward by the Uptown Property Group.
Uptown Property Group, which owns Westminster Centre at 555 Sixth St., has applied to city hall for a development permit so it can create a plaza in the area in front of Starbucks and TD Canada Trust.
"We think this plaza would work really well as a focal point for the community," said Bart Slotman, vice-president of the Uptown Property Group.
"We see it as an opportunity to add to the public realm."
In order to create the plaza, the sidewalk in front of the mall would be expanded and three existing, on-street parking stalls would be eliminated.
As part of the sidewalk expansion and plaza construction project, Starbucks' patio would be moved closer to the coffee shop and would only be accessible from inside Starbucks. A public art component is also being considered as part of the plaza, which would include some new street trees and seasonal seating areas.
The Uptown Property Group is holding an open house on Thursday, Nov. 29 from 5 to 8 p.m. at #300601 Sixth St. (the building where Westminster Savings is located).
In addition to the plaza proposal, Uptown Property Group will also provide information about proposal to build an out-door patio on the Fifth Street side of Queen's Park West.
The outdoor patio would be for a 4,000square-foot restaurant that will be located on the main floor of Queen's Park West, which is now under construction.
"It's pretty modern, it's pretty contemporary. It's multi-location operator," Slotman said about the restaurant. "We are pretty excited about it."
Slotman was unable to name the restaurant that's planning to operate in the building.
"It's really not my call to make," he said. "It's the restaurateur's to make."
While it's unlikely an announcement will be made before the new year, Slotman said the restaurant will be an amenity for people who live and work in the area.
"It will be a neat addition for the building," he said of the four-storey building. "It is an amenity to the office building."
Architect Eric Pattison, who also designed the building, has designed the patio.
"It blends in really well," Slotman said of the design.
As part of the public process that's required for amending the development permit, the Uptown Property Group has informed the Glenbrook and Queen's Park residents' associations about the proposal and has sent information packages to about 25 neighbours living on Fifth Street.
"We applied to the city for an amendment to the development permit," Slotman said. "We did not anticipate, when the development permit was taken out and approved, using the side yard for a patio."
As part of the Queen's Park West project, Slotman said Uptown Property Group voluntarily agreed to replace sidewalks all the way to the corner where Blenz is located.
If the development permit needed for the plaza is approved by the city, he said the work would all be done at the same time.
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