Quote:
Originally Posted by jollyburger
But weren't they already well under the permitted commercial allowed for on the site even with the mall reno plan that was most recently proposed? With the increased residential seems like keeping a strong commercial component makes even more sense at this point.
|
Their 2021 rezoning for the commercial element reduced the total commercial space from 1.24m sq ft to 1.08m sq ft, including the retail plaza already developed, so yes, you're right they were already proposing far less commercial than their zoning would allow.
The new rezoning adds a lot of additional residential potential (both height and density) including two towers where the mall refurb was to be built. It's entirely unclear (to me) how the actual development will now get built (in terms of what goes where). Clearly those towers have to have residential entries, and cores, so that's got to come out of the mall space. I'd be shocked if they built any more office space, other than maybe in a podium of a tower, but they might add a hotel.
The only clarity in the Council report is that they can now turn half their commercial potential into rental residential, and they're proposing a retail/restaurant face to Ridgelawn Drive, on the eastern side of the site.