Century Group President Sean Hodgins says he is looking forward to the City of Delta’s upcoming public consultation process on his formal application to redevelop the Tsawwassen Town Centre Mall.
“We have worked on this for almost two years to bring a concept to Delta that fits in their Official Community Plan. We now have to allow Delta to hear the questions and comments and be ready to answer questions on how this project can add to the fabric of the community. We are looking forward to what people have to say,” Hodgins told the Optimist this week.
The Century Group Lands Corporation proposal to replace the one-storey mall, which opened in 1971, includes four mixed-use residential buildings up to 24-storeys in height situated on separate podiums. The low-rise residential buildings and podiums, between five-and-six storeys, are proposed at the site peripheries adjacent to neighbouring land uses.
“Housing specifics have not been settled but I expect it to be mostly one and two bedroom apartments. This is really to address what we see as a desire of many in the community for something to downsize into,” explained Hodgins.
To have 1,433 residential units, including a mix of strata, market and non-market rentals, as well as commercial space including a 31,000-square-foot grocery store, the rezoning would be consistent with the site’s Urban Centre (UC) land use designation under the new Official Community Plan (OCP), which allows up to 24 storeys.
However, a “significant community contribution” is expected for projects 18 storeys or higher in the form of rental and non-market housing.
Century is proposing that 20 per cent of the total residential units to be rental units, while five percent of the total housing units would be provided as below-market rental housing.
“I know Delta really wants us to deliver on the non-market housing and community amenities so that will be a great source of input as we move into public consultation,” said Hodgins.
Century is also proposing to provide a new Community Hub, consisting of a library and mobility hub space as well as a publicly accessible central plaza.
Noting Sobeys, which owns the Thrifty Foods at the mall, has been “very involved” in helping plan a new and improved store that would be built in the first phase, Hodgins said his fundamental vision is having an urban neighbourhood with homes, shops and services.
The city says it will be hosting three public information meetings in the first quarter of 2025 to introduce the application and receive initial feedback.
