WELLAND | Welland Club Condominiums | FT | 12 FLOORS

[thomax]

Address:
1 Griffith Street
Welland, Ontario, Canada

Info:
- 12 floors
- 70 units
- $20 million development
- New tallest building in Welland

Website: wellandclub.com


Source

[LINK] stcatharinesstandard.ca - 12-storey Welland condo tower OK’d

"WELLAND - The tallest building in Welland could soon grace “the best location in town.”

City council Tuesday night approved zoning changes to allow a 12-storey tower to be constructed where the historic Welland Club building once stood before it was destroyed by fire in 2011.

It will be the tallest building in the city when complete — a title currently held by the 10-storey-tall Jubillee Apartments on King St.

Hamilton-based developer Ray Khanna was pleased with council’s decision allowing him to build the $20-million, 70-unit condominium tower.

He said the project — Welland Club Condominiums — has been in limbo for more than a year since it was first proposed.

“It’s a nice property on the waterfront. It’s the best location in town. You can’t beat it,” Khanna said referring to the lot at 1 Griffith St., next to Merritt Park along the east bank of the Welland Recreational Canal.

Jennifer Vida from Upper Canada Consultants said the next step is to launch a marketing campaign in the hope of pre-selling about half the condominium units before construction can begin.

“We have to do some marketing and see how it goes and depending on the developers, I think that will dictate when construction starts,” Vida said. “It’s a beautiful building.”

Khanna said the units will cost about $189,000 each and up, although prices have yet to be finalized.

Although city planning policies limit building heights to eight storeys, the Ontario Planning Act allows developers to exceed municipal limits if they offer municipalities enhanced community benefits.

During the meeting, city planner Rose DiFelice said the developer has agreed to build a bus shelter on King St., add lighting and seating areas to the canal trail, and contribute $100,000 towards the construction of a public park washroom and storage building.

But Ward 3 Coun. Paul Grenier said there are more suitable locations for the proposed tower.

He listed several concerns including potentially compromising the paved trail that runs between the tower and the waterway, as well as ensuring proper fire protection for the building.

“I would suggest that we not approve this and ask the proponent to come up with a better location, or another way to make this property part of our parklands and find a way to put this building somewhere else in our community,” Grenier added.

Ward 3 Coun. Mike Belcastro said residents of the surrounding neighbourhood are opposed to the project.

“I don’t have confidence in the whole project so I can’t be supporting this at this time,” he said.

The city also received a petition signed by more than 200 area residents asking council to “Just say no to the 12-storey apartment building on the old Welland Club property.”

The city, however, also received letters supporting the building, including one from downtown businesswoman Karie Constantino.

Constantino called the tower a positive step in the city’s revitalization.

“We need to embrace more quality residential units as this will bring more people downtown, which in turn will help support local business and create interest in investing in the downtown,” she wrote.

Although several councillors expressed concern that other similar projects that were given zoning approval have never been built, Khanna said his project won’t meet the same fate.

“This is going to happen. We’ve already spent our money so it’s going to happen,” he said.

Khanna said the tower may take longer to build depending on marketing efforts, but he’s certain it will eventually become a reality."