Local bar focus of residents' concerns in parkade redevelopment
CBC
Charlottetown City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday night to enter preliminary negotiations with TweelCo Properties to redevelop the Queen Street Parkade, as residents expressed concern about the fate of a local business.
"[The parkade is] showing its age and it needs some substantial upgrades," said Scott Adams, manager of public works for the city.
"There's always a need for additional parking as we look to densify our population."
The development would rise to eight storeys from the current four, adding 145 parking spaces for a total of more than 480. The proposal also includes 40 residential units and space dedicated to businesses on the ground level.
"I believe it's four floors of residential units, so it's a fairly substantial addition to the downtown in terms of residential units," Adams said.
"We want to see more people living downtown."
The development would extend onto portions of Great George Street and Fitzroy Street, using land owned by the developer, TweelCo Properties.
"There are a couple buildings that would be identified or that have been identified that would be removed as part of the process. They are owned by the developer as well and we have spoken to that developer and he does have plans for relocating those businesses," Adams said.
That part of the plan was the focus of most of the public feedback. It would make significant changes to the Great George Street block between Fitzroy and Kent streets, including taking down the building that is currently home to the Sportsman's Club.
The city asked for feedback and received nearly 150 letters. A majority of the feedback was concern for that one local business.
"They had a very big, strong following there. And a lot of people are supporters of that business, which is great to see," Adams said.
"I think 60 per cent of the letters and comments that we received were comments related to the Sportsman's … We've talked to developer. He has additional plans for for these businesses that may be impacted by this work and he looks forward to working with those business owners to make that happen."
During the meeting Deputy Mayor Alanna Jankov wanted to know why the sale of a vacant lot off Kent Street was part of the resolution.
The vacant lot is owned by the city and has in the past been used to store snow cleared from the parkade, but it hasn't been used in years, Adams said.
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
Four in five of the wildfires so far in Saskatchewan this year have been caused by humans — the vast majority of them accidentally. But experts say part of the reason they've spread so far, so fast, is another human factor: climate change driven by the burning of fossil fuels.
Just a block away from the border of Alberta and Saskatchewan there's a garden uniting green thumbs in Lloydminster.
Shelley Lindaas has long dreamed of seeing a Kermode bear cub in person.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) report outlining the events leading to the death of Erixon Kabera answered some questions for his family and friends, but many remain.
Syed Hassan says he doesn't like to complain much. But when his wife told him she got a parking ticket on Thursday night, he knew he needed to speak out.
Following the public outcry over the Jian Ghomeshi case, some legal scholars and sexual assault survivor advocates lauded changes made to the Criminal Code that would prevent defence lawyers from surprising complainants at trial with past emails or text messages with the defendant.
The Waterloo Region District School Board has been talking a lot about the word "family" this month.
At Pedro's Island Eatery in North Rustico, owner Pedro Gameiro has long been not a fan of using seed oils for frying
The parking lot of the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in Whitehorse was full on Friday, and the building surrounded by well-dressed young people and their proud families. Despite the smoky conditions in the city, there was much to celebrate.
Toronto has moved one step closer to allowing fiveplexes and sixplexes in neighbourhoods across the city.
Warning: Some readers may find photos in this story distressing.
Fifty years ago this fall the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States met in a castle outside Paris for three days of meetings, at the conclusion of which they issued the Declaration of Rambouillet, a 15-point statement of principles and commitments.
An Iranian woman living in Newfoundland and Labrador says she's watching attacks between Israel and Iran with worry for her family back home.