Ontario Construction News staff writer
Peterborough city councillors have granted preliminary approval for a proposed five storey downtown apartment building on the site of a derelict dollar store downtown.
GTA-based developer Richard Summers has proposed the project at 385 George St. N., designed by architect Joel Gerber.
Councillors gave the plan a preliminary rezoning and Official Plan amendment on Nov. 9, the Peterborough Examiner reported. The approvals require a ratification vote at a forthcoming council meeting before the plan is made final.
Coun. Keith Riel, the city’s housing co-chair, said he hoped to see 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the units be offered as rent-geared-to-income.
“I’m hopeful the developer is listening tonight: there’s an absolute need for rent-geared-to-income,” Riel said, according to the published report.
City planner Caroline Kimble told councillors the city cannot require the inclusion of lower-rent apartments — just offer incentives, which staff has done.
Summers told The Examiner earlier that he might be interested in reducing the rent for some of the apartments, his plans weren’t clear.
Councillors also agreed with a city staff recommendation to require the developer to meet certain requirements prior to construction, such as providing the city with samples of the exterior materials they propose to use.
“We are still working with the development team on what that’s going to look like,” she said.