With a demolition permit in hand for the Harbourside Inn on Shoppers Row, the city is now formally looking for developer partners to revitalize the area.
Last year the city acquired four properties in the 1300 block of Shoppers Row including the Inn, the vacant lot beside it, and the old Dairy Queen property for its “Reimagine the Row” project.
The city says the project’s goal is to bring vibrancy to Shoppers Row and the surrounding neighbourhood, and increase housing supply.
The project envisions a variety of commercial, retail and civic uses fronting Shoppers Row on the ground level of the new development, with middle-income rental housing above.
Mayor Kermit Dahl says inviting expressions of interest is an important milestone, and that council remains committed to its top goal of revitalizing the downtown.
“As this council drives this project forward, we also continue our efforts in other areas with everything from increased bylaw enforcement hours and coverage, the smooth rollout of the 40-unit Homewood rapid housing initiative, extended parking times downtown to support local businesses, and so much more,” he said in a statement.
Inn tenants were notified last month they have until June 30. The city has hired a property management company and is working with community partners to help them relocate, and is also appealing to BC Housing for support.
“The city is committed to supporting all tenants during the preparation phase of this project and ahead of tenancies ending in the summer of 2025,” says Andy Gaylor, Director of Community Planning and Livability, in the statement. “We’ll continue to work with community partners at every step of this process as we move this downtown revitalization project forward and take important steps to ‘Reimagine the Row’.”
The city says the successful developer will be responsible for financing and constructing the development in line with the city’s vision. The city will retain ownership of the ground floor and will look to recover the money invested to acquire the land and prepare the site for development.
Bids are open through the city’s website until March 27.
For more information about the project, visit the city’s official website.
