A new four-storey building could be coming to Victoria St. S. but the process of possibly realizing that is in its early stages.
The building would be located at 300 Victoria St. S. at the site of the current Scout Hall, which formerly housed the Amherstburg’s Fighting Island Boxing Club before the latter moved to the Amherstburg Community Hub. The new building would be a mix of ground floor commercial with 22 residential units, all but one being two-bedrooms.
The meeting was to consider a potential rezoning from “Institutional” to “General Commercial Special Provision.” The site is owned by the Valente Development Corporation with principal planner Bryan Pearce of the firm Baird AE addressing town council on the matter Monday evening. Pearce said the building would run along Victoria St. S. closer to the road, with a parking lot to the west of it with access off of Simcoe St.
Parking was an initial concern of council members. Councillor Don McArthur noted the plan currently calls for 30 spots with Councillor Diane Pouget later adding she is concerned if that would be enough.
“I’m worried about the parking spots,” she said.
While Amherstburg needs more housing, she said, Pouget feared there could be scenarios where there might not be enough. She cited people parking along Brunner Ave. to access the new River’s Edge apartments and wondered where that would happen if the Victoria St. S. development were to proceed.
Town planner Adam Coates said those are concerns that could be shared with the proponents.
Pouget also asked if any of the residential units would be geared to income or affordable housing. Pearce said it is still early in the process and they are still trying to secure getting the land use issues finalized.
Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb wondered about the intersection and what impact the new building could have on traffic at that corner. Coates added a traffic study would be done as part of the development process.
Pearce said they worked with town administration to try and get the best possible design, noting they made an attempt to keep the building as far as possible from other homes. He said there would be natural buffering and the parking lot between the building and homes on Simcoe St.
“We paid particular attention to the site layout,” he said.
The building would increase walkability and feature “small scale retail,” he added.
“Our goal is to have a development residents can be proud of at the end of the day,” said Pearce.
There would be garbage facilities and a loading dock at the north end of the property, he said.
Mayor Michael Prue asked how close it would be to the Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission, with mission president Tim McAllister also addressing town council on the matter.
“My goal is to help the people in need,” said McAllister. “My concern is for the people who need help.”
McAllister said he was there to gain information and see where they go from there.
Fryer St. resident Gary Bowerman was concerns with the number of variances being requested by the proponent. He believed council should “take a very close look” at height and parking requests. Pearce acknowledged the height variance being requested to accommodate “oversupplying” a side yard setback.
Town council voted to receive the information and have it summarized in a future report.
Four-storey building proposed for former boxing club site
By Ron Giofu
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