If Sherri RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 great-great-grandfather could see the $41-million development of two 12-storey condominiums proposed for the site of their former inn, she said he would be pleased.

B次元官网网址淗e was pretty progressive,B次元官网网址� the Esquimalt archivist said of James Bland and his wife Elizabeth, who built the Halfway House in 1860 where the Esquimalt Inn now sits in the 800-block of Esquimalt Rd.

Esquimalt council laid its eyes for the first time on a mixed-use development proposal at a recent committee-of-the-whole meeting.

It includes an 88-unit residential tower with 1,000 square metres of ground-floor commercial space, three underground parking levels, four townhouses and separate live-work units connected to the tower by two overhead walkways.

Plans for a second complex include an 80-unit residential tower with 11 attached townhouses and two underground parking levels. The development would replace a pub, liquor store and bottle depot currently in operation.

The siteB次元官网网址檚 historically rich past is not lost on Vancouver-based property owners, the Cambie MaloneB次元官网网址檚 Corp., which is spearheading the initiative.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 something that needs to be told in some way on that site,B次元官网网址� said project consultant Brandon Smith.

Calling the development B次元官网网址減recedent setting,B次元官网网址� Smith told council it would be a B次元官网网址渟ignature pieceB次元官网网址� for the township.

At two public consultations in May, some residents preferred the project be downsized from 12 to eight storeys.

In that case a third eight-storey tower would be needed to make up for the reduced height and lost revenue, said Smith.

B次元官网网址淭he reality is these buildings simply donB次元官网网址檛 exist,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he cost is recouped, but itB次元官网网址檚 much better when you build a taller building.B次元官网网址�

Construction dates have not been fixed. Council will consider rezoning the two lots in mid-August. A public hearing will be held in September, before the project is considered for approval.