Plans to relocate Langley City’s bus loop are being cited as the reason work has yet to begin on a new 15-storey high rise structure that was originally scheduled to break ground at 203 Street and Industrial Avenue in the spring.
Charleston Place will likely be about a year behind schedule when ground is broken for the luxury condominium designed to reflect the Roaring ‘20s.
The holdup is the result of a plan to move the City’s transit exchange from its current location at the corner of Glover Road and Logan Avenue to an area kitty corner from the new development, explained Calgary -based developer David Phan, president of P2000 Developments.
Studies had to be done to determine turning radiuses for the buses, Phan said.
In September, Langley City council endorsed TransLink’s proposal to move the transit exchange to an extended 203A Street, west of Cascades Casino, but Phan — speaking to The Times in July — said it will likely be the end of 2013 or early 2014 before work begins in earnest on the project.
The site “lost a tiny bit of the property in the process,” he said, adding it was not enough to affect the building’s design.
Described as a luxury development, the New York-inspired apartment building will include six floors of commercial space, topped with a roof garden. From there, 46 residential units will rise another nine storeys.
The strata units, which will range between 850 square feet and a 2,100 square foot penthouse, will be priced from the $400,000s to $1.2 million, Phan said when the project was first announced in April, 2012.
Charleston Place is being marketed as a luxury development, however the location selected for the highrise is in a light industrial area of Langley City.
Once completed, the building will overlook the City of Langley’s fire hall and a railway overpass to the north.
To the east there is currently a vacant lot which is being used by an auto dealership to house its used vehicle inventory.
Immediately to the west is an auto parts store and to the south is a strip mall, where the building’s sales centre is located.
Asked whether he was concerned that a transit loop could bring an undesirable element to the area at night, Phan said the condo will be well-secured with 24-hour security on site and cameras placed throughout the building.
Phan compared Langley City’s development to the revitalization of Calgary’s downtown core, suggesting the presence of Charleston Place will serve as a catalyst for change in the neighbourhood.
“In actual fact it will make that place safer and as things go on, we will become the anchor that brings everybody else into that area.
“I believe a lot of people are looking at this area. A lot of Langley is being acquired and I think there are major changes (coming).”
A show suite for Charleston Place is located across the street from the development site. Tours are available by appointment.
People who are interested can visit charlestonplace.ca to learn more.
