A future development on the waterfront is removing rental units so it can address a variety of community concerns.
Bev Grieve, the city’s director of development services, said the developer of 1000 Quayside Dr. has made a number of “very positive” changes to the project to address concerns of council, staff and the community. Changes to the proposed development at 1000 Quayside Dr. include removing two storeys of the above-ground parking podium by putting some parking underground and changing the massing of the buildings so lower buildings are closer to existing residences on 10th Street.
In addition, the applicant has also eliminated 50 proposed rental units in the development to make other components of the project work. Staff aren’t concerned about the removal of rental units from the buildings because more than a thousand other rental units are currently proposed in the downtown.
Jackie Teed, the city’s manager of planning, said one of the proposed tower has been reduced by five storeys, which helps creates a stepped feeling toward the existing lowrise development on 10th Street.
The development would include 23- and 28-storey towers and ground-oriented townhomes facing 10th Street, as well as at-grade commercial and a pedestrian linkage between the McInnis overpass and the waterfront. All totalled, 528 units are proposed in the development.
Grieve said the developers have spent a considerable amount of time addressing urban design of the podium. She said it would look like a building, rather than a parking garage.
“We think the changes made are quite beneficial,” she said.
Architect Richard Henry said the parking podium will be fully glazed, with some of the glazing being done in a way that creates a “gentle pattern of colour” on the structure.
“It’s quite a significant architectural feature,” he said
Henry said the development would also create a retail street at ground level that is lively and vibrant, and helps bring more people to the waterfront.
Coun. Jaimie McEvoy expressed concerns about the loss of rental units in the development, saying he doesn’t want New Westminster to inadvertently get the reputation of rejecting rental housing. Coun. Betty McIntosh pointed out that units in the development could become rental once the development is built.
Coun. Jonathan Cote said the project deals with two competing city initiatives – support of rental housing and creation of good urban design. At this particular site, he believes that good urban design offers a greater benefit for the community, especially since rental housing comprised only a small part of the development.
“A lot of these condominium units will actually be rental units,” said Mark Kopinya, a development manager with Bosa Properties. “While they are not going to be purpose-built, we usually do not restrict rental buildings from strata units.”
Coun. Chuck Puchmayr believes it’s “critical” to integrate the development into River Market, which is located to the east of the development site.
Barry Waitt, a senior planner with the city, said River Market has provided a letter of support regarding the development.
“We have been working very closely with Mark Sheih, the owner of the Quay,” Kopinya said. “We have an agreement with him for a shared parking structure.”
Puchmayr reminded the developers that it’s important to consult with railways because new proximity guidelines have been developed to address issues related to development near railways.
“I think that discussion has to happen,” he said. “They can give you some mitigation ideas.”
