New Westminster British Columbia - The heritage revitalization of the B.C. Electric Building on Columbia will go ahead.
 
The project, approved after Wednesday's public hearing, also means a large condominium project on Columbia Street is one step closer to getting a green light from the city of New Westminster.
 
The public attending Wednesday's hearing spoke in favour of the building's revitalization, which will be eventually used by its owners, the Salvation Army, for a thrift store.
 
The building, located at 774 Columbia St., was built in 1911 and first used as the B.C. Electric Railway station. Architect Eric Pattison, who will oversee the restoration, described it as "one of the most significant historical buildings" in the city. When Columbia Street was a bustling business area known as "the golden mile," the station was the major B.C. Electric terminus between Vancouver and Chilliwack.
 
The restoration work begins almost immediately and will be completed by the end of the year when the Salvation Army moves in. The project is being paid for by Ballenas Project Management, which plans to build a condominium and mixed development next door at 752 Columbia Street. In exchange, Ballenas receives the unused density bonus from the Salvation Army property.
 
The heritage revitalization will not include restoring the building's original brick and mortar exterior, covered with a stucco finish in 1954. Pattison explained that removing the stucco would compromise the structural integrity of the bricks and mortar. Instead it will be covered with another stucco cladding painted in historical colours.
 
However, many of the original window openings are intact - although some are currently covered up - and they will be rehabilitated.
 
While the revitalization plans were largely approved by those at the hearing, many attending questioned the plans for the rest of the block. Ballenas also wants to buy the Windsor Hotel and the current owner has applied to relocate the hotel's liquor store to 804 12th St.
 
But the public was told the sale of the Windsor was not essential to the condominium development going ahead. Peter Newell, president of Ballenas, said the development will be 15 storeys in height if the company is unable to acquire the hotel and about 12 storeys with the Windsor property included.
 
Members of the public encouraged city councillors attending to not be pressured to approve the liquor store relocation because the Ballenas project was not reliant on the Windsor Hotel sale.
 
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