Imagine a new commercial development on Main Street in the heart of downtown Chilliwack.
The first phase of redevelopment at the old Safeway site at 9299 Main Street is on the horizon.
The development permit for a pair of commercial buildings was approved at the last city council meeting.
Phase I of the project features two new, single-storey buildings with a new customer parking area for the CD-15 portion of the property, which cover most of the site.
"This represents a significant investment in our downtown," said Coun. Chuck Stam, during the council discussion on the DP last week.
"Main Street has been underutilized for quite some time. It's good to see this moving ahead."
The seven lots that cover an entire city block were purchased by the Mann Group of Surrey, after council rezoned the parcels.
Coun. Chris Kloot said he hoped Phase 1 would become the "successful cornerstone" for Phase 2.
The Phase 1 commercial buildings will be almost 7000 square-feet each, and fronting onto Main Street, with multiple commercial tenants per building.
Phase 2 was zoned R6 for high-density multi-family residential development, and is oriented closest to Kipp and Mary Streets.
Conditions of the permit included a request to screen services and utilities from view, and to ensure adequate lighting in the parking lot and pedestrian areas to "ensure a safe environment" in off-street areas.