the richmond
Stephanie Wong finds success on the golf course 15
REVIEW RICHMONDREVIEW.COM
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015
20 PAGES
New public art coming to City Centre
Imperial Landing talks at standstill City staff urge council to hold off on moving library until review of options for Steveston Community Centre by Matthew Hoekstra Staff Reporter Talks to move Steveston library to Onni’s vacant Imperial Landing properties have stalled, city council heard Tuesday, dampening prospects of expanding the cramped Steveston Community Centre into current library space. In its continued bid to rezone the ground-level floors of its six riverfront buildings—built in 2013—Onni offered to lease the city space for a library one year ago. Elected officials pressed the developer for a better deal, but staff reported they “have not received any new information from the developer.” City staff are now advising elected officials to keep the 4,000-square-foot library at the community centre, in light of an expected review of the Moncton Street centre’s future—a report on which is due late this year. The centre is nearing the end of its life, and timing for its replacement needs to be considered, noted Kim Somerville, manager of arts services, in her report. “Population in the Steveston area has grown significantly over the past 10 years resulting in an increased demand for services and for space in both the community centre and the library. Continuing to co-locate the library with the community centre in the future is considered desirable and beneficial to both parties and to the community,” wrote Somerville. Last September the Steveston Community Society told the city it was in “desperate need” for more space—particularly for fitness programs.
Sophie Manfredi photo An exercise group gets a workout in last year outside Onni’s vacant Imperial Landing properties on Bayview Street.
“Our existing space is very limited and to be able to compete with other programs such as those offered by the Richmond Oval and other community centres, we need to expand and improve our facilities,” said Beth Ovenden, president of Steveston Community Society, in a letter to council’s parks committee. City staff also studied two other shortterm solutions for relocating the Steveston library, but determined neither were feasible. A portable building in Steveston Park would provide 13,000 square feet of new space, but would cost $4.5 million and occupy park space. Buying or leasing another property was also examined, but finding a space more than 10,000 square feet in the village is a challenge, staff say. Tuesday’s report still leaves the unresolved issue of Onni’s Imperial Landing buildings. Despite failing in repeated bids to rezone the land before construction, Onni has insisted the city still rezone the empty ground floors from mixed maritime use to allow a broader range of uses. If the city no longer pursues a library for the site, it’s unclear what amenity package would sway civic politicians from approving Onni’s rezoning request. In its last application, Onni also offered the city $2 million in cash for community amenities. See Page 3
Artist Dan Corson’s Spinners public art will encourage people to engage with each other in Richmond’s City Centre. See story, p. 12.
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