As construction proceeds on the second of three residential towers originally planned for an eight-acre site in Vic West, the project developer is moving forward with a different phase of its large-scale development.
Bayview Properties proposes 95 units of seniors housing, 24 regular residential units and a coffee shop at 80 Saghalie Rd. The project would run adjacent to the train tracks along Kimta Road, up to the corner of Tyee Road.
"Market research together with input gathered thorugh consultatoin with the community indicates a strong opportunity and need for this form of housing B次元官网网址�" according to Bayview's application. "It will offer 'aging in place,' allowing residents to remain within their familiar community."
At a planning-and-land-use committee meeting June 7, councillors considered rezoning the land to permit seniors' housing and to increase the allowable density.
While generally supportive of the application, the committee made one significant recommendation.
"In the drawings we were provided with, they show all these happy pedestrians going back and forth across the railway tracks," said Coun. Pam Madoff.
The E&N train likely won't pass through the development when it restarts in 2013, however, the city is preserving the rail corridor all the way to the downtown for a possible extension in the future.
"If you looked at that drawing and you moved into this new development, I'm sure you'd be back in a few years if there was a proposal to put any kind of a train on there, saying 'this was never our understanding,'" Madoff said.
