Almost $400 million worth of city-led investment into the downtown north end is proposed in the form of new parks, public spaces, transportation connections and utilities.听
With intensive redevelopment expected on the former Tolko mill site in the coming years, the city needs to make sure the surrounding neighbourhood also gets a facelift, although one more modest in scope, city planners say.听
鈥淚t is recognized that the redevelopment of the mill site represents a major opportunity for a world-class, walkable development that will yield a whole host of benefits to the broader neighbourhood and the community as a whole,鈥 states a report going to city council on Monday.听
鈥淭he (proposed city-led) investment to transform the north end into a vibrant, walkable, complete community represents a cost-effective approach to civic development,鈥 states a report going to city council on Monday.听
The north end is bounded by Clement Avenue, the Manhattan Point waterfront neighborhood, and Trench Place, which runs along the base of Knox Mountain.听
It consists of a mix of hundreds of homes built in the years after the Second World War, a longstanding industrial area that now includes many commercial premises, and the massive former mill site.
That 40-acre property is the subject of its own planning process, led and funded by its owners, the Thorlakson family of Vernon, but subject eventually to city approval. Preliminary plans for the site have shown hundreds of new homes and several high-rises along with shopping areas.
Key themes in the proposed north end plan include more public access to Okanagan Lake, a broader mix of housing but with a general focus on lower density forms, more parks and green space, more sidewalks and multi-purpose paths, a school, a grocery store, and a new transit route.听
The estimated costs for new parks and public spaces is $168 million, and $198 million for transportation-related initiatives, and $19 million for new utilities, for a total civic investment of $385 million.听
Funding is proposed to come in the years ahead from general taxation and fees and charges paid by developers.听
Staffsa国际传媒 recommendation at Mondaysa国际传媒 meeting will be that councillors endorse the north end plan and prepare the necessary series of bylaw and zoning amendments.听
听
听
