Downtown Charlottetown properties set for demolition
The wrecking ball could come in less than two weeks for nine properties on Chestnut and Passmore streets in Charlottetown.
Developer Philip O'Halloran says he's happy to see his proposal for the area pass first and second reading by city council.
Third and final reading should come at the regular monthly meeting in May.
"We did a lot of homework on this project,'' O'Halloran told the media following council's meeting Monday. "This goes back nearly a year when we knew there was support for this development.''
Despite the fact council hasn't officially approved the project, it has already granted O'Halloran a demolition permit so he can proceed with that phase whenever he wants. The properties coming down include 49, 51, 57, 59 and 61 Chestnut Street and 18, 26-30, 32 and 34 Passmore Street.
At some point, he will begin work on a new four-storey mixed use building with 48 dwelling units, 10 home occupations and 4,766 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor that could include a daycare and grocery outlet.
He is also entering into a development agreement with the city, outlining the types of commercial uses to be permitted and final building design will be reviewed.
Parking will be underground and Island Waste Management Corporation bins will be stored inside and won't dot the landscape.
O'Halloran says the process started two years ago when "serious problems with the occupants of the properties and the overall state of repair of the properties had been called into question as to the health and safety of the buildings''.
He took members of the planning department and council on a tour.
Howard Coles of Coles Associates also toured the homes and said that in his professional opinion demolition was the best option.
Public meetings were then held.
O'Halloran said there was overwhelming support with neighbourhood residents although others spoke about the need for subsidized housing.
O'Halloran says he's more than happy to discuss that idea for any other area.
It should also be noted that subsidized housing is a provincial government matter, not a city issue.
It will take more than a year before construction is complete.
All but one of the nine properties slated for demolition has been vacated.
Coun. Mitchell Tweel, who represents residents in the area, had nothing but praise for the proposed building and the efforts O'Halloran has made to work with council and planning department.
Tweel said the project will revitalize that part of the city and bring more residents downtown.