13 April 2009
Railway Avenue Corridor Eyed for Development
The Railway Avenue corridor.
Richmond British Columbia - Canadian Pacific
Railway is urging Richmond to re-open talks on the future of the Railway Avenue corridor.
Richmond and CP each own six hectares of land along the linear space between Granville and Garry streets - once home to railway tracks
that shuttled commuter trams across the city.
According to a staff report, Polygon Homes owns land in the area and has partnered with CP in a development bid despite the land's
limited potential without the city's portion.
On Monday city staff recommended the start of a new round of planning the land's future.
But civic politicians are lukewarm to the idea.
"Why would you want to spend taxpayers' money and staff time on a study that we've done at least twice before?" asked Coun.
Harold Steves, pointing to a 1990 study that fell flat.
Coun. Linda Barnes said the city has already determined the priorities for the land - a transit corridor and greenway. That doesn't
leave much room for development, she said.
"Who's going to want to buy something whose backyard opens onto some kind of a train?"
Joe Erceg, general manager of urban development, responded: "The exercise isn't without it's challenges."
Coun. Greg Halsey-Brandt said nearby residents want the land left the way it is.
"I don't think it's going to fly."
But in a letter to the city, CP vice-president John Walsh suggested the city agreed to open Railway Avenue land talks in
exchange for allowing the city to buy its land adjacent to the oval in 2005.
"As part of the agreement between CP and the city at that time, the city agreed to work co-operatively in evaluating
future options for use of the Railway Avenue lands," Walsh wrote.
Coun. Bill McNulty suggested it could become "a Garden City issue."
But city policy planning manager said a new development could bring new amenities to the city, including affordable housing and child
care.
"There's an opportunity here."
City council has instead asked staff to resurrect previous studies and talk with CP about the possibility of buying its
portion.
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