Skip to content

Downtown high-rise plan underway

First concrete tower in a while in downtown Maple Ridge

The proposal to build the first concrete high-rise in Maple Ridge in decades came before council Tuesday.

The application seeks to rezone the corner of Dewdney Trunk Road and Edge Street, currently the location of Paliotti’s restaurant, and three other lots to the north on Brown Street.

If council agrees, Ascent One Properties, over eight years, will build three towers, first a six-storey tower, followed by a 13-storey tower, followed by a 19-storey tower.

The latter, the tallest part of the project, will sit on the corner of Dewdney Trunk Road and Edge Street.

The first building will have 48 apartments, the second 72 and the third 120, for a total of 240 residential units, while space for stores and businesses will be allotted within 47,000 sq. ft of floor space.

A staff report notes that the proposed density will exceed that normally allowed, but creation of a new zone allowing higher density will fit with those objectives for the town centre.

Although the project doesn’t include any details about green building or energy efficiency, the applicant has been told of financial incentives that are available for such features.

Ascent One president Stephen Yang is proceeding with the project with a new partner after being involved with the 223 North project, now underway on Lougheed Highway and 223rd Street.

Coun. Al Hogarth is marketing 223 North and excused himself Tuesday from council discussion of the Edge Street application.

Late last year, Ascent One said construction could start this spring on the tower project. A staff report says the application represents “a significant redevelopment” for the downtown with lots of “positive repercussions.

 

Hotel plan on hold

The plan to build the long-awaited hotel for the bottom of 224th Street has been shelved for a few months. Multi-Well Development and Investment has asked for a year’s extension for a rezoning application at 11613 – 224th St.

The application was to allow 125-room hotel, commercial space, restaurant and meeting rooms to be built on the pie-shaped lot between Callaghan Avenue and 224th Street.

Third reading was already given the project on Feb. 28 of last year and a public information meeting has already taken place.

However, the applicant requires more time to analyze the feasibility of the project and expects to have that done in the next few months, with rezoning completed within six months, says a staff report.

The location is kitty corner from a new condo building currently under construction and across from a municipally owned lot that  could become the location for a new Maple Ridge Museum. No decision has been made on that.