Hotel, student residence and apartments envisioned in latest Vranich project
The development would take up a couple of parcels of land just outside the downtown core
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/9...anich-project/
According to the city, those include a 10-storey hotel with 112 units, a six-storey multiple dwelling with 91 units, and six two-storey townhouses fronting Market Street at the former Mount St. Joseph orphanage at 354 King St. W.
The second proposal — for 200 Market St. and 55 Queen St. N. — includes a 15-storey, mixed-use building with 669 square metres of ground floor commercial space, 141 residential units and seven, two-storey townhouses fronting Market Street.
On Thursday, the city's committee of adjustment — an arm's-length, non-political body — approved minor variances for those two projects so long as the developer meets certain conditions, including conducting a pedestrian-level wind study.
The variances requested included increasing the maximum building height from 22 metres to 36.5 metres and allowing four driveway accesses instead of the maximum one for the King Street site.
At Thursday's meeting, nearby neighbours voiced concerns about the potential issues they worry could stem from this development.
Residents pointed to possible parking issues, traffic congestion, effect on green space and the potential for sunlight and wind impact that could be created by these structures.
Mark Strutt, whose Market Street home abuts the property that currently houses a parking lot, spoke at the committee of adjustment about how he worries this project could block sunlight, cause traffic congestion along a residential stretch of road one block out from the proposed LRT line and affect the structure of his almost 130-year-old home.
"I've got a real concern," he said, adding he would like a chance to speak with neighbours about the project at a community meeting.
Afterwards, Strutt — who has lived in his home for the last 35 years — said he worries about how long construction could take on a project of this magnitude, noting he doesn't believe intensification should come at the expense of longtime neighbourhood residents.
"What we're really trying to do, is we're trying to keep it down to a dull roar," he said. "We don't want to live in an ant farm.
"We want as little impact to Strathcona and the people who live on the periphery."
Representatives for Vranich who spoke at the meeting said they have already submitted a sun and shadow study that meets the city's requirements, and are happy to complete a pedestrian wind study.
Vrancor designer Gunther Blüesz told the committee they will look into the possibility of a green roofs.
Vranich's ultimate vision for the site seems larger than what has been approved by the city so far.
According to Vrancor Group chief financial officer Mlinaric, the lands on the corner of King and Queen will contain a 140-room Hampton Inn and a 1,000-bed student residence.
The hotel is expected to break ground in 2019, he said in an email.
Plans for the second site — bordered by Napier Street, Queen and Market — include four approximately 25-storey apartment buildings containing 200 units each, Mlinaric noted.
No timeline was provided for that portion of the project.
In 2005, Vranich bought the 354 King St. W. property for $2.2 million.
In November 2014, he obtained a demolition permit for the nearly 80-year-old structure and sent in a wrecking crew to demolish the former Mount St. Joseph orphanage on a Saturday in October 2015.
The building was never designated a heritage property and had no legal protection.
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