A public hearing will be held Tuesday, Oct. 22, for two projects that would bring 308 new rental apartments to Port Moody.
But only 13 of those apartments will be available at below-market rents.
They’ll be located in a 12-storey residential tower Vancouver-based developer Anthem Properties is proposing for the northwest corner of St. Johns and Moray streets.
The project also includes a 45,818 sq.-ft. Ismaili cultural centre.
Despite giving first and second reading to amendments required to Port Moody’s zoning and official community plan bylaws for the project to proceed on Sept. 24, several councillors expressed disappointment the developer had to slash the number of affordable units from its initial 64 to keep it economically viable.
Don't count on private developers to make new Port Moody rental apartments affordable: mayor https://t.co/1BryEZKXUF
— Tri-City News (@TriCityNews) October 1, 2024
But they also lauded the building's architecture, that includes Mashrabiya latticework wrapped around the cultural centre as well as the four above-ground storeys of the residential tower’s six-storey parking garage.
“I think it’s a beautiful building,” said Coun. Kyla Knowles.
Across St. Johns and a little further west, the second project — also by Anthem — would see 180 market rental apartments constructed in a U-shaped six-storey building that also includes commercial spaces on the ground floor.
In passing first and second reading of zoning bylaw amendments the project requires, several councillors said they liked changes the developer had made since it was initially rejected by council last February.
Those changes included a wider sidewalk in front of the commercial spaces, increased setbacks to the building’s upper floors to reduce its impact on the streetscape as well as allow more light into the interior courtyard. The number of two-bedroom units was also increased to 56 from 40, although there will be five fewer three-bedroom apartments.
The public hearing begins at 7 p.m., prior to the start of council’s regular meeting.
Comments can be made in person at council chambers or through registering as a participant in the Zoom webinar presentation of the hearing. They can also be submitted through an online form, by email or delivered to Legislative Services at city hall (100 Newport Dr.).
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