City heritage panel smiles on the Gore
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/65...s-on-the-gore/
A plan to redevelop a part of King Street on the south side of Gore Park while keeping building facades of historical value was generally well received by the city's heritage committee.
Proponents of what they've now call the Gore Block Apartments project made a presentation on Thursday to the committee and said they will return with more concrete plans once they are worked out with the city planning department.
Tim Bullock, lawyer for the four owners of Hughson Business Corporation which is developing the site, wanted to give the heritage committee a "heads-up" on what is so far proposed after presenting to a council committee two weeks ago and being advised to let the heritage committee know the plans.
Bullock also gave a brief history of the properties on a block of land between James and Hughson Streets on the south side of King Street facing Gore Park.
The properties — with addresses from 18 to 30 on King — were purchased in 2000. A demolition permit was finally issued in December 2013 and "then there was a kerfuffle" over concerns about losing heritage.
The builders agreed voluntarily not to demolish the buildings, he said, and then negotiated with the city for 18 months before talks fell apart.
Then, "without notice, an intent to designate was passed. Our clients appealed to the heritage review board and that's where it stands," Bullock said.
Now the plan is to construct one building in place of the buildings there now and to preserve the facades of 18 and 22 King St. E. and demolish the rest of the buildings along with the adjacent ones at 24, 26 and 28 King.
Bullock told the committee the buildings won't be demolished until a site plan is approved for the new project.
The design is meant to fit in with what is in the downtown, he added.
Bullock said he will be back to the heritage committee once plans are finalized with the city.
Architect David Premi said the narrow adjoining buildings from 24 to 28 King are in poor shape with structural damage to the both the buildings and that their preservation would be "extremely difficult and extremely expensive" to preserve.
The plans were generally well received by the heritage committee although some members would have preferred more preservation.
Two weeks ago, the developers presented a "compromise" to city councillors to incorporate some of the buildings' heritage features as part of the development.
In 2013, the project stalled when city council imposed a last-minute heritage designation on 18-28 King St. E. just before they were to be demolished.
The developers are planning a five-storey, 20,000-square-foot building, which will also involve a small adjacent property where a building was torn down in 2011.
Retail units are planned for the first floor with 14 apartments — to be registered as condominiums in case developers decide they are more appropriate. The preserved facade is to form half of the new building's front.