Riverport could see residences

Riverport could soon be home to condominiums, signaling a departure from the city's original plans for the area.

Hotson Bakker Architects, one of the firms that designed Richmond City Hall, hopes to build five separate buildings on a 2.08-hectare waterfront site behind Watermania, including a 110-unit rental building, a 114-unit condominium complex and a port building containing a restaurant and office space. The proposal also includes a four-storey dormitory building, which would house 108 beds to be used for athletes and coaching staff in town to use the facilities at Riverport.

"It allows us to develop the waterfront out there," said Coun. Bill McNulty, who supported the proposal. "It really brings a whole new dimension."

Council has given first reading to the proposal, which go before a public hearing next month.

But Coun. Evelina Halsey-Brandt said the city was making a significant departure from its own Official Community Plan, which targets growth in the city core. It also stipulates no permanent residential development in Riverport, because of lack of services.

"This flies in the face of everything we've said as a city," Halsey-Brandt said.

The public should have an opportunity to comment, she said, and the city should create a new area plan before the development is discussed.

"I think this development is exciting," Halsey-Brandt said. "I think it can work out there. It's the process that I'm having a problem (with)."

Coun. Harold Steves said he sees this development proposal as an area plan of its own. The project would be a "contained community."

"I see this as a logical extension of the Riverport project," Steves said.