Post by DuaneT on Aug 31, 2005 22:46:48 GMT -5
Last night we attended the APC meeting to see the presentations about two upcoming development plans. The first one was a 20 story, 218 unit hotel proposal (destination resort) that will be build right across the street from Prospera Place, on what is now that huge pile of dirt. I can not even explain to you how impressed I was with the overall design concept. The speaker kept calling it a “Flagship” hotel which means some large hotel company will probably be running it. He did not mention any names, but did say that it would be a 4-5 star hotel.
The hotel will be a mix-use hotel with shops and restaurants. The shops will start on Clement / Sunset Drive and wrap around the corner to Ellis St. with future retails on Ellis St. There will be a fine dinning restaurant and a sports bar which will have a view of Prospera Place. The hotel will start on the third floor and will reach a total of 20 stories. To fit into the overall design of the area, the hotel will tier back as it is going up in height, giving a fantastic view of waterfront park, The Grand Hotel and the Dolphins statue. In terms of employment, the speaker stated that a high end hotel like this usually has one staff member per guest, so we would be at least looking at 218 people working full time in the hotel not to mention the casual workers that will be need for conferences and banquets. The construction will take two years with local labour and they would be buying product from local businesses. This alone would bring Millions of dollars into our community. If all goes well, construction could start late next year.
My description does not give this hotel design justice. We will be in contact with the developer next week, and hope to have a copy of the site plans and overall design ready for everyone to view soon after that.
Of course, once again, John Zeger of the CRCP stood up in front of the committee and went on another tirade on how this hotel is too tall for the area as it does not need to be 20 stories in height – on how it would destroy the view, (of course the cement factory right behind this development must be pretty upset as well as the lumber store that will probably be supplying most of the material for the construction) and he complained about the traffic in the area. He also exploded in front of the committee as he described it as being unbelievably ugly and hideous. In general, he spoke out against the economic growth of the city by trying to convince the ACP committee members to vote against the proposal. What John Zeger seems to forget is, that area has already been redesigned for high-rise buildings on the Canada Lands area and there will be 4 high rise residential towers built there over the next few years. THIS proposal will fit right in.
The second proposal was for a 4 story residential/commercial building; an 86 unit condominium with ground retail will be located on 1331, 1341, & 1347 Ellis St. Once again it was a great design that will fit into the area quite nicely. It compliments the downtown lofts as well as the library and The Southern Interior Health Unit which is located right across the street.
To no ones surprise, John Zeger once again came forward and went on the same tirade about the density of the building and how it was against the mandate of the CRCP. He then complained about how this development would probably be for the retirees (which he IS one by the way) and that there was no low cost housing designed into the building. He also complained about changing the zoning from I4-Central Industrial zone to a c-7 Central Business Commercial zone, and that there is no reason to put residences above a commercial centre. He also complained about the lack of open space around the building and that there was no park built within the design. He also tried to use the excuse that high-density is not socially acceptable ( ie: causes physiological harm!?!?!?! ) and does not promote the idea of community. This again is not true at all. To be noted the Chairman made a comment that he hoped John Zeger would one day actually come forward and speak in favour of a project.
The third development proposal was to allow 32 units of row housing on Hartman Rd. This would be built right next to the Capstone Estates and will generally fit into the area very nicely. It will be a great additional to this area.
John Zeger got up and actually spoke in favour for this development, which of course he had to as it falls within his group’s mandate. I thought it was a nice change until he started insulting the APC committee and council for their past record of approving developments.
In the end the committee gave their recommendations and now these developments will go forward and be presented to the city council.
The hotel will be a mix-use hotel with shops and restaurants. The shops will start on Clement / Sunset Drive and wrap around the corner to Ellis St. with future retails on Ellis St. There will be a fine dinning restaurant and a sports bar which will have a view of Prospera Place. The hotel will start on the third floor and will reach a total of 20 stories. To fit into the overall design of the area, the hotel will tier back as it is going up in height, giving a fantastic view of waterfront park, The Grand Hotel and the Dolphins statue. In terms of employment, the speaker stated that a high end hotel like this usually has one staff member per guest, so we would be at least looking at 218 people working full time in the hotel not to mention the casual workers that will be need for conferences and banquets. The construction will take two years with local labour and they would be buying product from local businesses. This alone would bring Millions of dollars into our community. If all goes well, construction could start late next year.
My description does not give this hotel design justice. We will be in contact with the developer next week, and hope to have a copy of the site plans and overall design ready for everyone to view soon after that.
Of course, once again, John Zeger of the CRCP stood up in front of the committee and went on another tirade on how this hotel is too tall for the area as it does not need to be 20 stories in height – on how it would destroy the view, (of course the cement factory right behind this development must be pretty upset as well as the lumber store that will probably be supplying most of the material for the construction) and he complained about the traffic in the area. He also exploded in front of the committee as he described it as being unbelievably ugly and hideous. In general, he spoke out against the economic growth of the city by trying to convince the ACP committee members to vote against the proposal. What John Zeger seems to forget is, that area has already been redesigned for high-rise buildings on the Canada Lands area and there will be 4 high rise residential towers built there over the next few years. THIS proposal will fit right in.
The second proposal was for a 4 story residential/commercial building; an 86 unit condominium with ground retail will be located on 1331, 1341, & 1347 Ellis St. Once again it was a great design that will fit into the area quite nicely. It compliments the downtown lofts as well as the library and The Southern Interior Health Unit which is located right across the street.
To no ones surprise, John Zeger once again came forward and went on the same tirade about the density of the building and how it was against the mandate of the CRCP. He then complained about how this development would probably be for the retirees (which he IS one by the way) and that there was no low cost housing designed into the building. He also complained about changing the zoning from I4-Central Industrial zone to a c-7 Central Business Commercial zone, and that there is no reason to put residences above a commercial centre. He also complained about the lack of open space around the building and that there was no park built within the design. He also tried to use the excuse that high-density is not socially acceptable ( ie: causes physiological harm!?!?!?! ) and does not promote the idea of community. This again is not true at all. To be noted the Chairman made a comment that he hoped John Zeger would one day actually come forward and speak in favour of a project.
The third development proposal was to allow 32 units of row housing on Hartman Rd. This would be built right next to the Capstone Estates and will generally fit into the area very nicely. It will be a great additional to this area.
John Zeger got up and actually spoke in favour for this development, which of course he had to as it falls within his group’s mandate. I thought it was a nice change until he started insulting the APC committee and council for their past record of approving developments.
In the end the committee gave their recommendations and now these developments will go forward and be presented to the city council.