A highrise that had been planned for Chapel Street in downtown Nanaimo isn’t happening, as a different vision for the site is now being proposed.
The City of Nanaimo has received a development permit application from Primex Investments Ltd. for two six-storey condo buildings and one six-storey apartment building at 77 Chapel St. Together, the three buildings will total 154 homes.
The city had previously issued a development permit in 2019 for a 24-storey mixed-use highrise with 109 dwelling units on the property, but the permit expired and the property was sold, according to a staff report.
As far as the development application now on the table, it includes a rental building situated on the north portion of the site and two strata buildings to the south. The rental building would include 84 apartments – 51 one-bedroom units, 21 two-bedroom units and 12 studio suites. The strata buildings would have a total of 64 condos and six two-storey townhouses and would be configured as 46 one-bedroom units, 22 two-bedroom units and two three-bedroom units.
The applicant is proposing 155 parking spaces on three parking levels, well beyond the 95 spaces required.
Glenn Hill, architect with DHK Architects, noted in the application that emphasis was placed on achieving development compatible with neighbouring buildings with respect to the character of the streetscape, open spaces and view retention.
“We feel [it] is a very interesting rhythm of forms to scale and break down the overall massing of the building,” said Hill, speaking at a design advisory panel meeting Feb. 10.
Design panel members generally expressed that they liked the project, but made three recommendations, most notably that the form and character of the north corner be enhanced to highlight that area of the distinctively shaped lot. The panel also supported the lone variance, a parking structure setback.
“I’m really happy to see this project on numerous levels and I actually very much like it, [more] than the taller building that was proposed through the rezoning process,” said Coun. Tyler Brown, city council’s representative on the design panel.
The applicant will have an opportunity to respond to the panel’s recommendations and then the development permit application will go to city council.
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