So what did you think of city councils decision to allow the $150-million mixed-use development in Mount Pleasant?
By the groans I heard behind me in council chambers Tuesday, I guess not everybody is over the moon about Rize Alliance Properties Ltd.s plan to redevelop a city block and build a complex that includes a 19-storey residential tower.
Thats probably an understatement.
So for those of you who couldnt make it to the meeting, or watch it on your computer, heres some more detail I couldnt get in to my recent stories from three of the councillors on why they approved the project.
Let me first point out several of the councillors referred to the Mount Pleasant Community Plan that was approved in November 2010. Six speakers showed up the night council approved the plan and all were in favour.
The plan identifies three areas in the community where taller buildings can be constructed. They are 14th and Main (IGA site), Kingsgate Mall and the 1.25-acre site to be developed by Rize Alliance, which is bounded by Broadway, Kingsway, 10th Avenue and Watson Street.
Take it away, Vision Coun. Geoff Meggs
The plan talks about an iconic landmark building at this site, it talks about highrises at selected sites, it talks about the need to pursue additional height and density at select locations, it talks about large scale at Kingsway and Broadway.
Like his Vision colleagues Raymond Louie and Andrea Reimer, who described the complex as ugly, Meggs said more work has to be done on the design of the project, which will include 241 condos and commercial space.
But Meggs didnt have a problem with the tower.
I think we have to come to grips with the fact that towers are not a magic bullet but theyre not the work of the devil, either. And well have to work with various forms [of housing] as we move forward in our community plans to find the right answers for neighbourhoods. But I think today, this is the right answer before us.
Vision Coun. Kerry Jang said what sealed his support for the project was the community amenity package from the developer, which includes $4.5 million for cultural activities such as artists space in Mount Pleasant and $1.7 million to be plunked down in an affordable housing fund.
He then got philosophical.
What is a neighbourhood? What makes a neighbourhood? Is it buildings, or is it people? And certainly I came down on the side of people, he said, adding that he was moved by a man who brought his two boys to the council chambers and spoke at the public hearings. He said, Im a re-starter. Im a single dad and I cant find a place to live. That, for me, said to me very clearly we need housing in Mount Pleasant.
NPA Coun. George Affleck reminded council that he voted against Rize Alliances proposal going to public hearing because he sensed there was a lot of anger in the community. And that anger should have been addressed before the hearing, he added.
Affleck said he worried the city was getting addicted to community amenity financial contributions, but he ultimately agreed to support the project.
I do it challenged, for sure, he said of his vote.
Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr cast the only dissenting vote, arguing the proposal didnt fit with Mount Pleasants community plan. Vision Coun. Tim Stevenson, who missed three nights of public hearings, abstained from voting.
Reimer and NPA Coun. Elizabeth Ball missed two nights of hearings but said they viewed the video of the meetings and studied the staff reports in order to vote on the proposal.
The plan now has to go through a development permit process, where councillors can have another go at Rize Alliance.
mhowell@vancourier.com
Twitter: @Howellings
