The derelict old building on Pemberton Avenue near Shoppers Drug Mart may soon be coming down and a mixed-use development taking its place.
A six-storey building with 73 condo units is planned for the half-acre property at 1365 Pemberton Ave. where the old Diamond Head Medical Clinic used to be.
The ground floor of the new “Vantage” building will include 396 metres of commercial space, according to District of Squamish documents.
Developing on this particular downtown property has its own unique challenges, according to Squamish’s Edward Archibald, president of Accorde Properties, which is behind the proposal along with Epix Developments.
“Literally every other site has a back lane entrance,” Archibald said. “This is the only property that has one frontage and it is surrounded by other buildings…. The challenge is finding the right mix of units and the size of units, along with fulfilling the parking requirements of the District.”
The current build is in disrepair with boarded up windows and peeling, faded paint.
The new building will have a “European concept” in terms of its design esthetic, according Archibald.
“It is our play on a modern Squamish while taking an artistic play off the local surroundings in terms of the material uses,” Archibald said.
Every unit will have an outside front door and windows on both sides.
The plan includes a two-storey parking garage and a second-storey courtyard.
“It is one of the few courtyard projects proposed in western Canada that uses the courtyard as an architectural feature instead of just a utilitarian courtyard,” said Archibald.
Plans are also in the works for storage, according to Archibald, that will allow the condo dwellers to store Sea to Sky necessities such as a stand up paddleboards or kayaks.
The project still needs to obtain a development permit from council. Archibald said he hopes to have shovels in the ground on the project by fall.
