A spokesperson for the City of Richmond said he cannot comment on whether council approved the sale of a piece of city land in the city centre to a developer.
The land was subject to a rezoning application submitted by Townline Ventures, for three residential towers and an office building at No. 3 and Lansdowne roads, as part of the new “Lansdowne Village.”
A city report states that, “the applicant proposes to buy the city lot at 5,671 No.3 Road to add to the development site…the area of the city lot is approximately 21,739 sq. ft.”
The proposal also notes that if the purchase of the city lot is approved by council, the development will be adjacent to a new linear park along the north side of Lansdowne Road, “to provide for an enhanced public realm connection between the Garden City Lands and the Richmond Oval.”
When the Richmond News asked whether council has approved the sale of the city land to the developer, Ted Townsend, spokesperson for the City of Richmond said he can’t comment.
“As land matters are normally dealt with in a closed council, I can’t comment anymore on the status of 5671 No.3 Road beyond what was noted in the rezoning application,” said Townsend.
The piece of land owned by the City of Richmond was home to Richmond Centre for Disability, which announced in February it was looking for a new home as its landlord sought to rezone the building.
The other portion of that building is occupied by the existing City Centre Community Police Office, which also announced earlier this year that it will be relocating to an expanded space in a City-owned building at Granville and Gilbert, anticipated to open in 2019.
The fact both organizations have moved out of the location, or are planning to, has given rise to speculation that the city may sell the land for the proposed “Lansdowne Village.”
Townsend said the rezoning application was granted a third reading at a public hearing in September. The development permit for the project is currently under staff review.
"The applicant is actively working to complete the rezoning consideration and to advance the permit to the Development Permit Panel for consideration," he added.
