The owners of the Columbia Theatre are prepared to invest several hundred thousand dollars into a feasibility study to assess the possibility of building a hotel and residential tower above the heritage theatre.
Tricor Pacific Land and Redic Developments have submitted a pre-application review to the city regarding a proposal to build a 22-storey mixed-use residential and commercial development on the Columbia Theatre site at 530 Columbia St. In addition building a tower with 70 to 80 hotel units and 155 residential strata units, the proponent is proposing to retain and restore historic elements in the interior and exterior of the atmospheric-style theatre that opened in 1927.
鈥淲e are working with a jewel that鈥檚 very dusty and has not been properly maintained,鈥� Adel Bellemlih, Tricor鈥檚 founder and managing director, recently told the city鈥檚 land use and planning committee. 鈥淭he whole idea was, let鈥檚 make this whole list of community benefits happen through the polishing and rejuvenation of this jewel, and let鈥檚 make people appreciate it and let鈥檚 make it become again the centrepiece of what used to be a bustling Columbia Street.鈥�
The Columbia Theatre is 鈥渟truggling to stay alive鈥� in its current form, Bellimilih said, but the beauty of the vision being proposed is that it creates a 鈥渞eally interesting synergy鈥� by having a theatre, restaurant, hotel and condos on the site.
鈥淚t is not a slam dunk,鈥� he said of the project moving forward. 鈥淚t is a complex project. It helps that we as a developer all have a very strong technical background.鈥�
Bellemilih said the project requires a 鈥渦niquely collaborative process鈥� between the city and the developer to ensure it works technically and economically and meets the community鈥檚 objectives. He said his company is willing to invest several hundred thousand dollars into a feasibility study, before even submitting a detailed application to the city regarding plans for the 8,690-square-foot site.
Staff sought feedback from the committee on questions such as including having a hotel at this site and allowing 鈥渟ignificant density鈥� beyond what鈥檚 currently permitted.
鈥淚 am not terribly concerned by the FSR (floor space ratio). I understand why it would be as high as it is 鈥� it鈥檚 a small site. I think that the proposal is a very exciting one,鈥� said Coun Mary Trentadue, one of three council members on the land use and planning committee. 鈥淚 think the Columbia Theatre needs this kind of proposal in order to survive.鈥�
Along with Trentadue, Mayor Jonathan Cote and Coun. Chuck Puchmayr expressed support for having a hotel at the site, for considering density beyond what鈥檚 available under current zoning and for preserving heritage elements of the Columbia Theatre and allowing the community theatre to be a continued use at the site.
Britney Quail, a heritage planner with the city, said this site is currently protected by a heritage designation bylaw which protects the exterior of the building. Conservation covenants also protect the front fa莽ade on Columbia Street and interior elements, including about 40 plaster works and mural features in the building.
Because construction would occur around an existing theatre, Quail said a lot of work still has to be done determining what鈥檚 possible in this space in terms of restoration. She said staff have always approached heritage revitalization agreements by thinking about the balance of heritage benefits to the community compared to the zoning relaxations provided to the applicants.
Committee members also provided staff with some feedback on questions concerning 鈥渟ignificant relaxations to parking, loading and servicing鈥� requirements for the project. The project is proposing 80 parking stalls in two levels of above-grade parking and three levels of below-grade parking on Front Street. (Because of the site鈥檚 small size, a car elevator may be a possibility in the parkade.)
Calling it a 鈥渞eally unique proposal鈥� for the site, Cote said he looks forward to seeing how the proponent integrates a tower over the Columbia Theatre.
鈥淭o me, I think that will be more important than normal because it鈥檚 a heritage building that we don鈥檛 want to have erased through this,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a lot more work and details that need to be done. For this project ever to get closer to the reality stage, a lot more information on how this project will protect and enhance an important heritage aspect in the community.鈥�
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