A proposal for three, 25-storey towers eyed for White Rock’s town centre was unveiled to the city’s economic investment committee this week.
The development, proposed for a 2.5-acre vacant lot in the 1500-block of Martin Street, would create “fine, sea-view residences, public and private amenities, retail and office components” in the city’s uptown, pre-zoned for up to 80.7 metres (265 feet) in height.
Staff are reviewing the development application, and if it conforms to the town-centre zoning, it is expected to move forward to council for approval.
Patrik Kutak, vice-president of Landmark Premier Properties, said that subject to sales, he hopes to start construction this time next year.
Should the project move forward as planned, it would make the towers the tallest in White Rock.
The Miramar Village Bosa towers, on Johnston Road and Russell Avenue, were approved in 2007. Only two towers – 17 and 21 storeys – of the four approved have been built, a delay proponents, three years ago, attributed to “market conditions.”
Last December, council voted to give third reading to an Official Community Plan bylaw amendment that would pave the way for two towers – 21 and 24 storeys – to be built at 1454 Oxford St. Final reading of that bylaw amendment has yet to take place, pending conditions required to be met by the developer.
Wednesday, Scott Brown of Fifth Ave. Real Estate Marketing – working with Landmark – told the committee the development aims to transform White Rock’s town centre into an “alternate pier,” with public space, grass, a landscaped plaza and restaurants.
“We’re looking to enhance the town centre,” Brown said. “We want an urban address with unfettered access to seaside living.”
The three towers would comprise approximately 342 units, starting at 1,100 square-feet, with up to 25,000 sq.-ft of retail space.
Kutak said the plan also calls for a 10,000 sq.-ft., two-storey daycare centre, which could accommodate up to 70 children.
A 9,000 sq.-ft. sales centre is set to be built across the street from the lot. An application for the centre is expected to be submitted in the next few weeks, Kutak said.