Plans to relocate 91原创 City鈥檚 are being cited as the reason work has yet to begin on a new 15-storey high rise structure that was originally scheduled to break ground at 203 Street and Industrial Avenue in the spring.
Charleston Place will likely be about a year behind schedule when ground is broken for the luxury condominium designed to reflect the Roaring 鈥�20s.
The holdup is the result of a plan to move the City鈥檚 transit exchange from its current location at the corner of Glover Road and Logan Avenue to an area kitty corner from the new development, explained Calgary -based developer David Phan, president of P2000 Developments.
Studies had to be done to determine turning radiuses for the buses, Phan said.
In September, 91原创 City council endorsed TransLink鈥檚 proposal to move the transit exchange to an extended 203A Street, west of Cascades Casino, but Phan 鈥� speaking to The Times in July 鈥� said it will likely be the end of 2013 or early 2014 before work begins in earnest on the project.
The site 鈥渓ost a tiny bit of the property in the process,鈥� he said, adding it was not enough to affect the building鈥檚 design.
Described as a luxury development, the New York-inspired apartment building will include six floors of commercial space, topped with a roof garden. From there, 46 residential units will rise another nine storeys.
The strata units, which will range between 850 square feet and a 2,100 square foot penthouse, will be priced from the $400,000s to $1.2 million, Phan said when the project was first announced in April, 2012.
Charleston Place is being marketed as a luxury development, however the location selected for the highrise is in a light industrial area of 91原创 City.
Once completed, the building will overlook the City of 91原创鈥檚 fire hall and a railway overpass to the north.
To the east there is currently a vacant lot which is being used by an auto dealership to house its used vehicle inventory.
Immediately to the west is an auto parts store and to the south is a strip mall, where the building鈥檚 sales centre is located.
Asked whether he was concerned that a transit loop could bring an undesirable element to the area at night, Phan said the condo will be well-secured with 24-hour security on site and cameras placed throughout the building.
Phan compared 91原创 City鈥檚 development to the revitalization of Calgary鈥檚 downtown core, suggesting the presence of Charleston Place will serve as a catalyst for change in the neighbourhood.
鈥淚n actual fact it will make that place safer and as things go on, we will become the anchor that brings everybody else into that area.
鈥淚 believe a lot of people are looking at this area. A lot of 91原创 is being acquired and I think there are major changes (coming).鈥�
A show suite for Charleston Place is located across the street from the development site. Tours are available by appointment.
People who are interested can visit charlestonplace.ca to learn more.
