An 80-million dollar development is being planned at 7171 Hart Highway.
Prince George-based developer Bruce Kidd says the planned Northside Crossing project will feature a total of six buildings along with apartment complexes containing 60 to 75 units as well as commercial space.
It would be a phased development that will take a number of years to fully complete.
Kidd told MyPGNow.com new rental and commercial stock is badly needed for the area.
“There are no apartments in the Hart. The last apartment building that was built in the Hart was 35 years ago and there is no new rental stock beside where you are getting new houses with suites.”
“There’s also not enough commercial (real estate)in the Hart. The reason why the Hart is starving for more commercial development that College Heights and other areas are getting is that there aren’t any new nice buildings that businesses can move into that are newer stock.”
Kidd added the first phase would consist of a building spanning about 10-thousand square feet of commercial real estate along with 60 apartments.
“Rental stock that can accommodate the aging in place and all of these units are going to be 100% accessible and buildings will be energy efficient. We are building stuff that is going to last throughout the years.”
His company is now seeking the proper rezoning from city council to help greenlight the development.
Kidd’s company also proposed the Sparwood Landing project, which would have consisted of three 43-unit apartment buildings featuring a variety of one, two, and three-bedroom suites.
It was to be built on a 16-acre parcel of land, adjacent to Chief Lake and Sparwood Road but was shot down by the city last fall.
Despite the setback, Kidd believes this project should have little trouble receiving approval from mayor and council.
“This has transit. That was the biggest problem with our other development (Sparwood Landing) is that there was no bus service along the Chief Lake corridor. But, this one is forward-facing while Sparwood was in behind some houses. So, those are the two major derailings of the other project (Sparwood) and this project (Northside Crossing) has all that.”
“The biggest reason the Sparwood project didn’t make through council was that it didn’t go along with the official community plan. This project here goes along with the OCP and this property is already zoned as commercial so all we have to do is tweak the zoning from C3 or C6 zoning to a C2, which allows for apartments above and commercial below.”
The proposed buildings would also be equipped with elevator access. A mix of one, two, and three-bedroom units are planned.