Port Moody councillors say a proposal by Vancouver-based developer Anthem Properties to build a six-storey U-shaped rental building with 180 apartments at St. Johns Street and James Road has “come a long way” since an earlier incarnation of the project was initially rejected.
Tuesday, Oct. 22, council unanimously passed third reading of zoning amendments required for several properties to allow the project to proceed.
But their consideration of a second proposal by Anthem, for 128 rental apartments in a new 12-storey tower a little further east on St. Johns, at Moray Street, will have to wait after its public hearing was postponed at the last minute.
The project also includes a new Ismaili Cultural Centre.
Coun. Kyla Knowles said Anthem’s design for its six-storey structure “is a much better looking building” than when council sent it back to the developer last February with a request for revisions to make it seem less imposing along the street as well as allow more light into the interior courtyard off James Road.
“Initially we weren’t impressed with what we saw,” Knowles said. “We thought it was lacking in imagination and didn’t like the boxiness of it.”
Anthem’s vice-president of development, Isaac Beall, told council the company spent “a lot of time” with the project’s architect to refine the building’s design.
“We want to create a public realm that people can really enjoy.”
Some of the refinements include increased setbacks to the building’s upper floors to reduce its impact on the streetscape and allow more light into the courtyard, along with construction of a wider sidewalk on St. Johns Street where the project’s ground floor will feature commercial spaces.
As well, the developer addressed council’s desire for more family-friendly units by boosting the number of two-bedroom apartments from 40 to 56, although there will be five fewer three-bedroom apartments.
All of the units will be rented at market rates.
Coun. Amy Lubik praised the developer for working with council and staff to address the various concerns.
“We need housing and we also need buildings that are interesting to look at and activate the public realm,” she said.
And while Coun. Haven Lurbiecki criticized the small size of the apartments, that range from 415 sq. ft. for some of the studios to 962 sq. ft. for a three-bedroom unit, Coun. Samantha Agtarap said, “efficiency of space is a more important measure than the absolute size.”
In his presentation to council, Beall said his company tries to design “really livable units. Function is what is more important.”
He added making the units any bigger would drive their rental rates to a “stratospheric number.”
As part of the project, Anthem will also erect a new traffic signal at the intersection of St. Johns and James.
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