The Esquimalt Town Square Project received a boost Tuesday with the purchase of a commercial building on the adjacent property.
Acquiring the land at 1237-1243 Esquimalt Rd., currently home to CrowB次元官网网址檚 Nest Antiques And More and a vacant storefront, was a huge opportunity, said Mayor Barb Desjardins. It will enhance the liveability of the community, enriching the core area with additional civic, commercial and residential space, she added. It is also in alignment with EsquimaltB次元官网网址檚 Official Community Plan and councilB次元官网网址檚 strategic priorities regarding redevelopment of the area.
B次元官网网址淲e can now take a look at the whole block and think in terms of a multi-faceted development,B次元官网网址� Desjardins said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e looking at it from a much bigger picture, but in order to do that, the first thing we have to do is public consultation.B次元官网网址�
The building currently on the property is at the end of its life cycle and will be dismantled and recycled where possible.
B次元官网网址淲hile weB次元官网网址檙e doing that, we can gather info as to what the vision of the community might be to use that block to its full potential,B次元官网网址� she elaborated.
The mayor expects the public consult process to start before the end of the year, saying it shouldnB次元官网网址檛 take long due to parameters included in the reserve funds from the wastewater treatment plant project. The project will utilize dollars allocated for public safety buildings given the close proximity to EsquimaltB次元官网网址檚 fire station and Victoria Police division on Park Place.
As for the current construction on the town square site, work is continuing to clear contamination in order to receive a certificate of compliance as required by the Ministry of Environment. B次元官网网址淚t used to be the public works site and there is some salt that has migrated,B次元官网网址� Desjardins said, explaining the shift in the timeline.
B次元官网网址淭hese will be exciting times for community input in the next six months,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l also be looking at opportunities for partnership.B次元官网网址�
