Let’s head back to the April 1968 pages of the Optimist to see a view of Chisholm Street in Ladner Village.
Fast forward to now and the city has been pushing hard for the revitalization of Ladner Village over the recent years. It consists of two initiatives: the Ladner waterfront redevelopment strategy and the Ladner Village Official Community Plan (OCP) update.
The OCP has been updated, while more changes are still on the horizon for the waterfront area.
The city a couple of years ago hired a consultant team to help shape the Ladner Waterfront Public Lands Development Strategy and Chisholm Street Reconfiguration Project, a site redevelopment strategy and concept for the revitalization of Delta-owned lands along the waterfront at Chisholm Street.
It was also one of the key recommendations by the Ladner Village Renewal Advisory Committee.
In a recent 4-3 vote, Delta council moved the idea of building a new hotel on city-owned land in the area to the next phase.
An Expression of Interest (EOI) will be issued to see who may be interested in developing the site.
Earlier this year, the city purchased land parcels at 4940 and 4946 Chisholm St. and 4926 Delta St., which when combined with land parcels the city already owns at 4918 Delta St. and 4952 and 4958 Chisholm St. created a 1.2-acre land assembly poised for redevelopment.
Meanwhile, the city has begun community consultation on a re-imagined Chisholm Street Wharf design.
Council this week endorsed sending a proposed concept for public feedback, a design that includes, among other features, a glow-in-the-dark accessible pathway and catenary lighting over the wharf and dike pathway to transform an otherwise dark public space into a welcoming space in the evening.
The conceptual design also has space for a semi-permanent food container and food trucks, as well as utility services and picnic tables.
If supported, detailed designs will be completed and a request for bids for construction issued.
Staff have also started to look for major activation opportunities to draw people to the wharf once improvements are completed.
Another report this summer suggested opportunities such as pop-up bars/wineries, temporary street closures for markets and special events, conversion of on-street parking spaces to other uses and amenities like public art, busking, landscaping and seating for sidewalks and public plazas.
"The goal of these activations is to build a sense of place along the Ladner Waterfront, foster civic pride, enable social connections, support local businesses and artists, attract families, visitors, and residents, encourage walking and cycling, and create a fun village vibe for people of all ages,” the report notes.
