Ted Harris Paints has been a neighbourhood institution for the last 91 years, and it’s about to become a neighbourhood game-changer.
The downtrodden strip of Hastings east of Main Street is undergoing transformation. At the heart of the area, which is on the fringe of Strathcona, is the paint store, which has been closed since owner Bob Harris retired almost a year ago. He sold the building at 757 E. Hastings to Kris Rennie, who works with his father, high-profile marketer and art collector, Bob Rennie. Mr. Rennie and son will oversee its conversion into artist studio rental spaces - if the city gives them the go-ahead.
Mr. Rennie says that he and his son have no intention of developing any kind of residential space at 757 E. Hastings. That will be developer Bruno Wall’s job. Mr. Rennie’s long-time collaborator, Mr. Wall is proposing the area’s first condo development two blocks away at 955 East Hastings - another game-changer.
“We have the Waldorf, Bob has bought that little building; I think it’s ripe for change,” says Mr. Wall.
Mr. Wall is aware that there might be community residents who will oppose his proposal for market housing, but he hopes they will recognize that he would also be supplying affordable housing and job opportunities.
Mr. Wall aims to build an unusual complex that fulfills the city’s mandate to provide housing, while maintaining light industrial space and artist studio space. The area was originally zoned for light industrial but back in the mid 90s, it was given the green light to be rezoned for residential as well.
Mr. Wall’s plan is to provide housing in combination with ground level workspaces for manufacturing industries and retailers, along with artist studios. He has applied for rezoning, and community consultation should happen soon. If the project is approved, he expects pre-sales to launch either late 2012 or early 2013.
“Our objective is to make it attractive enough from a price point of view… and the views on the north side are just spectacular. There’s nothing in front of you.”
Mr. Wall envisions three mid-rise buildings with a large podium, comprising 280 condo units and 70 units of city-managed affordable housing, which fits with the city’s policy for affordable housing in the area.
The target buyer who will be in keeping with the current demographic. The area is home to the annual arts event, the Eastside Culture Crawl, and Mr. Wall sees his new project as the perfect space for that use.
“The key objective is to create employment-generating space, to employ people in the neighbourhood. For example, someone who makes plumbing fixtures, they could have a small showroom. That would be on the ground floor on Hastings.”
City planning director Brent Toderian says Mr. Wall’s idea is in keeping with the city’s policies for that part of Hastings.
“We are seeing gradual transformation or transition of the area,” says Mr. Toderian. “There is certainly an interest that rather than replacing the industrial, gritty, edgy feel to it, that other uses could be brought in while retaining that edgy feel. Given that it’s been let go for industrial uses as of the mid 90s, we anticipate housing, but we would like to see it mixed with other uses.”
Signs of revitalization are already under way in an area where prostitution and drug use have long been an issue. Close to Ted Harris Paints store is fine cheese shop Les Amis du Fromage, and its wine bar Au Petit Chavignol. Near Heatley and Hastings, the area’s first full-service community library with social housing on the upper floors is expected to be built by 2014. West of Clark Drive, the Waldorf venue and hotel has proven a destination, even though surrounded by commercial properties.
