The Boitanio Mall development was updated in last night’s[Tuesday] City Council meeting.
The Mall on Oliver Street has been undergoing a major renovation that will see 80 new residential units within the building, in former commercial space on the second floor. The project was originally projected to be completed by spring of 2023. However, it has seen many setbacks over the last two years that have significantly slowed down the project’s progress.
The Williams Lake City Council was given the chance to file a motion to revisit the bylaw, and weigh the pros and cons of granting an extension on the Building Permit to the Janda Group, owners of the development, that will allow the project to continue past the January 2025 expiration date.
Councillor Sheila Boehm was one of the many voices eager to grant the JANDA Group the permit to extend and continue the project.
“Anything to get this moving,” Councillor Boehm remarked in the meeting. “We [council] are so in favour. I know there’s been some setbacks… I am so happy to approve that and hope, fingers crossed, that we can get some movement there.”
The original building permit was issued with a two-year extension date. After setbacks, one-year extension was granted, in accordance to the City’s building bylaws. President of the Janda Group, Sonny Janda, says that his team and City Staff have done extensive studies on the positives the development can bring to both the Williams Lake community, as well as the impacts the project, once completed, will have on industry, and are ready to move forward.
“We’re eager to move forward as well,” Sonny Janda, President of the Janda Group says. “It was a project that I brought to Mayor and Council’s attention a few years ago. So we do see the benefit.”
The Council will make it’s final decision soon.
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