About 30 members of the public attended an information evening on the proposed redevelopment of the Stonehurst property at 529 Gibsons Way. The two-hour drop-in event was hosted at the Gibsons Public Market on Oct. 6.
Babak Tafreshi of Pacific Ray Developments (PRD) and an owner the property told Coast Reporter that in his view the evening went well, with a mix of comments from those who attended. While preserving Stonehurst is the “number one goal” of his firm’s development proposal, according to Tafreshi, the plan would also add 26 residential units to the site. That housing is projected to include 24 apartments and two townhomes. These units are proposed to be built in a cluster design of seven three-to-four-storey buildings.
To gain the site space needed for those additions, PRD is proposing to buy the upper 57 per cent of adjacent Lot 23 from the Town of Gibsons. Last October, council voted to support consideration of the sale of the property “for no less than $725,000 or the amount of a second, current property assessment, whichever is the higher amount.”
If the project goes ahead, PRD will also work with the municipality to revitalize the remaining portion of public property. This is to include updates to Inglis Park as well as redesign of the public parking areas to maintain or add to the number of spaces that currently exist.
The town’s sale of the land is subject to the approval of the final development proposal and related bylaws. Tafreshi said that he plans to submit applications for the required approvals shortly and will be including feedback from the open house. “The timeline for review is really dependent on the Town of Gibsons and how their meetings are set up… It has a number of steps that need to be taken and looking at the best-case scenario for us, that may all happen by spring 2022.”
Under PRD’s plan, the Stonehurst building is to be upgraded into a six guest-room inn with a bistro that would be open to the public. The structure dates back to 1913. It was the home of the Coast’s first resident physician, Dr. Fred Inglis, and was a cultural hub of the community. It currently contains three long-term rental housing units.
Tafreshi said that PRD has engaged architects and consultants to design the potential renovations to comply with current building requirements while preserving the historic elements of the structure. His firm’s plans, he said, are for the interior decor as well as the site landscape design to be based on historical documentation.
“This whole thing got started in late 2018. My wife and I fell in love with the character and charm of Stonehurst. When I saw how much the community is attached to it, the first thing in my mind was how to allow the community to come in to experience the property. The idea of the boutique inn and bistro came to mind,” Tafreshi said.
In August 2020, the town conducted a resident’s survey regarding PRD’s proposal. Of the 195 responses received, 66 per cent were in favour of council considering sale of the portion of the lot in conjunction with the development. They indicated that improvement of public spaces, the preservation of Stonehurst and increases to both housing availability and the town’s tax base as reasons for their support. Those in opposition indicated concerns regarding traffic, over-densification, loss of green space, as well as questions about whether the proposal would provide fair value to the town for the property.
