It has been vacant for years, a neglected reminder of previous attempts to create a new, revitalized look for Ladner Village and the waterfront.
But the end is finally coming for the Delta-owned Seven Seas building at the harbour as the city prepares for its demolition. It will become a public plaza.
Following a final report by the Ladner Village Renewal Advisory Committee two years ago, and further work and public consultation by the city, new land uses including increasing residential densities in the village have been approved.
A new waterfront concept built on "big ideas" developed previously including, among other things, a re-purposing of the Seven Seas site's existing foundation for outdoor events, enhanced pedestrian movement along the north side of Chisholm Street, programmable spaces overlooking the water and traffic calming at the intersection of Georgia and Chisholm.
A previous advisory committee over a decade earlier had come up with ideas to revitalize the village and waterfront, with the Seven Seas site tabbed as an important component as it was considered a catalyst to encourage redevelopment of the area.
Delta, which purchased the land with money provided from Port Metro Vancouver, selected Quay Property Management in 2011 to submit a detailed proposal for a marketplace. That proposal was later abandoned.
Council later decided to put the site up for sale with no takers as the city’s inability to secure longer term water lot leases from the province was seen as an impediment.
In 2014, council went through a rezoning process for the Seven Seas site and the adjacent Chisholm Street parcel formerly occupied by the Brackman-Ker warehouse, a move aimed at enticing potential buyers for the parcels.
The new waterfront mixed-use zone was to permit a wide range of uses, including retail, office and service commercial, eating and drinking establishments, moorage and marina, recreation and culture, as well as limited residential.
Fast forward to Spring 2022, and now something is finally happening at Seven Seas, but not what had been originally envisioned years ago.
