The long-awaited revitalization of an aging Coquitlam neighbourhood is starting to take shape.
This week, three land-use bids for Austin Heights went before Coquitlam city council - one of them a project that's expected to significantly change the landscape of the main street.
Council approved a development permit for a new Safeway, located in the heart of the corridor between Austin and Ridgeway avenues, that will see the old grocery store torn down and replaced with a 56,402 sq. ft. building fronting Austin and six retail stores fronting Ridgeway.
According to documents released at Monday's city council meeting, there will be rooftop parking; a pedestrian path on the east side, linking Austin with Ridgeway; and streetscape improvements.
As well, city council gave first reading to rezone five properties at 953-969 Charland Ave. - south of the PetroCan gas station - for a four-storey, 88-unit apartment building between Blue Mountain and Lebleu streets. The bid by Ledingham McAllister is scheduled to go to public hearing in September.
And McDonald's also received a development permit to upgrade its fast food eatery at 1131 Austin Ave., south of Ridgeway, "in order to update the design and look of the building in keeping with McDonald's new corporate look," wrote city planner Raul Allueva in his report to council.
News of the three redevelopments come about a month after Beedie Living officially started to turn ground at the corner of Blue Mountain Street and Austin Avenue for its 19-storey tower, on the former Shell gas station site - the first highrise to be built as part of the Austin Heights Neighbourhood Plan, a 20-year visioning document that council unanimously adopted last year.
(Beedie is also set to start construction next year on the first phase of its Fraser Mills waterfront project, in south Coquitlam.)
Erin Davidson, executive director of the Austin Heights Business Improvement Association (BIA), said the Safeway rebuild is something the community has been "waiting for with bated breath. It's the one that will have the greatest impact to the neighbourhood. It's a good statement."
Asked about how BIA members are coping with the upcoming neighbourhood rejuvenation, Davidson said there's mixed reaction: Some business people are excited while others fear their rents will rise with the new and increased density, she said.
"But we are hoping that everyone is going find their fit and adapt. Should [rents] increase, it would reflect the economy and, with the added density, comes an improved customer base."
Meanwhile, Jim McIntyre, Coquitlam's general manager of planning and development, told council this week city staff will be looking at the appropriate building heights for Austin Avenue - under the C5 zone - likely next year now. The C5 zone was a point of controversy last year when many Austin Heights residents rallied city hall and Beedie to lower The Austin from its planned 24 storeys to 19.
