Food trucks, live music and children’s entertainment will be on tap at the otherwise empty Imperial Landing development on Steveston’s waterfront boardwalk, each Thursday (6-8 p.m.) and Saturday (12-4 p.m.) for the next two weeks.
The mini festivals have been organized by developer Onni Group, as a means to garner public support for its $3 million offer to the City of Richmond to rezone its 60,000 square-foot development.
The completed site will remain empty for a fourth summer, at the very least, as a “Mexican standoff” between the city and Onni continues, according to Coun. Alexa Loo.
In 2012, Onni constructed the six existing buildings, aware that the site was zoned for mixed-maritime use. However, now that the construction is completed, Onni wants the city to change the zoning so it can bring in non-maritime tenants such as Nester’s Market, TD Canada Trust and Goodlife Fitness, among other retail outlets.
“It’s tough when negotiations are after the fact,” said Loo.
Recently, Onni has been meeting with individual councillors on the rezoning application. Loo said city staff are negotiating and have asked for a contribution in the ballpark of $10 million.
“It’s a matter of me working with both sides to see if we can come to a resolution,” said Loo.
“The community is unhappy but how do we activate the area and move on?” asked Loo.
Coun. Linda McPhail said city staff told her the rezoning application was precedent setting, adding that negotiations are “give and take.”
When asked if the city would “take” more to discourage future instances of building prior to rezoning, McPhail said, “We haven’t looked at that aspect.”
McPhail said she still wanted to hear more from the community and was open to the idea of businesses, such as banks, health offices and childcare, because parking would be more available in the evenings and on weekends.
Coun. Carol Day said she wants to target specific businesses for the area.
“To put a bank in that location is irrational. I go to Granville Island and that’s what I imagine for (the boardwalk) — something that’s special,” said Day, who added she is otherwise open to listening to residents’ demands.
Day said she was unwilling to take any amount of money that would usher in chain stores.
“I’m not for sale . . . This is about a promise that was made. I’d rather work with (Onni) to see what they can put in there,” said Day.
Coun. Harold Steves said with Rod’s Building Supplies being turned into a grocery store, “we don’t need (the Onni proposal).”
Onni claims it had sought maritime-related tenants.
Last year, the Steveston Seafood House restaurant negotiated a space on the boardwalk with Onni. It argued unsuccessfully to the city that it was a maritime-related business because it purchases local seafood.
Nearly two decades ago, Steves helped devise the maritime zoning as a means to boost Steveston as a hub for boating and fishing in the wake of cannery closures.
Critics and retail proponents have said the time for maritime zoning has come and gone, however, Steves and others have contended the Imperial Landing buildings could serve a full-service marina one day.
Steveston Merchants’ Association has called on the city to limit the amount of space that can be rezoned for retail space to 25 per cent.
Local realtor Sean Lawson wrote, in a blog post online, “the Steveston Village shopping experience doesn’t need to grow to the east.”
Lawson stated a marina would create additional demand for maritime-related shops.
