A new comprehensive development zone (CD-27) was given first and second reading by city council Tuesday “to support redevelopment” of an almost four-acre site east of Five Corners.
It’s the next step in rezoning multiple properties on Princess Avenue, Young Road, Empress Lane, and Yale Road, to attract a mixed-use development proposal, with commercial space below and apartments above, on Young and Yale Roads, with townhouses fronting Princess.
Council approved first and second reading for the new CD zone, and a public hearing was called for Oct. 17.
The loss of heritage buildings and affordable housing downtown are concerns being expressed by Heritage Chilliwack Society in the wake of a proposed rezoning of almost an entire city block.
Heritage Chilliwack members have been contacting Laura Reid, spokesperson for Heritage Chilliwack, wondering what is going to happen to those buildings once a development team takes on the challenge of redevelopment.
“At our October meeting, it will be the first item on the agenda,” Reid said.
“Demolishing these buildings will displace dozens of residents and will remove these units from the affordable rental housing stock.”
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Heritage buildings should play a “key role” in the revitalization and renewal of Chilliwack’s downtown, she said.
So including these character-filled buildings in new development will result in more interesting streetscapes that contain a combination of new and historic buildings.
“I hope the developer will look at and consider the historic significance of those buildings, and repurpose them within the redevelopment. That would be ideal,” said Reid.
@chwkjourno
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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