A development company that's planning to build the first highrise in a Coquitlam neighbourhood poised for revitalization is now gauging public feedback on the height of the proposed tower.
Monday's open house at Winslow Centre is being held after a number of Austin Heights residents last month attended a public hearing and told Coquitlam city council they were opposed to the 24-storey building and/or unaware towers of that size would be part of the core redevelopment.
City council deferred the bid by Beedie Living to see if the company could present a revised form that addressed the neighbours' concerns, primarily about height and traffic.
The Beedie tower proposed for 955 Austin Ave., on the former Shell gas station site, would have 167 units and 210 parking spaces. In April, Beedie held an open house at the Vancouver Golf Club that drew 140 people; of the 78 who completed a comment form, 67% supported the tower plan, according to a consultant's report.
On Wednesday, Houtan Rafii, vice-president of Beedie's residential development, said his company has worked with city staff since the public hearing and wants to work further with the Austin Heights community to figure out how tall the tower could be.
Rafii said Beedie Living would lose money on the landmark project if the number of units is reduced. "It won't be 10 storeys," he said, "but we would consider something in the 19- to 20-storey range."
Because of the postal dispute, Beedie has hired a private mail delivery service to send letters to more than 5,000 area homes about Monday's meeting. Letters will also be dropped at the front of apartment blocks as carriers can't usually gain access to the complexes, Rafii said.
As well, the company has taken out advertisements in local newspapers, informed Austin Avenue businesses and posted signs at the corner of Austin Avenue and Blue Mountain to get the word out.
Under the Austin Heights Neighbourhood Plan, which council adopted in April, the city plans the densify the area with 5,000 more residents in 2,500 more homes between Blue Mountain and Linton streets and Foster and Rochester avenues; a total of 15 sites are proposed to have towers of more than 15 storeys - including 955 Austin Ave.
Should Beedie present a revised application, it would prompt another public hearing, Mayor Richard Stewart said last month.
Beedie Living's open house is on Monday, June 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Winslow Centre, 1100 Winslow Ave., Coquitlam.
