Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / Chilliwack councillors approved development variance permits at its meeting Tuesday (Dec. 3) that would see the former Downtown Business Centre on Young Road (pictured) replaced for the construction of a six-storey mixed-use development.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Downtown Business Centre

Former Downtown Business Centre in Chilliwack to be demolished

Dec 5, 2024 | 1:51 PM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack councillors approved development variance permits at its meeting Tuesday (Dec. 3) that would see the former Downtown Business Centre on Young Road demolished to make way for the construction of a six-storey mixed-use development.

Councillors were asked to approve development variance permits that would pave the way for an 82-unit complex featuring 48 small apartments, nearly 7,000 square feet of commercial real estate space, 108 parking spaces, a rooftop amenity space, and a five-storey freestanding parkade fronting Gore Avenue.

The properties on which the new development will be built are 46001 and 46003 Gore Avenue, 45998, 46002 and 46010 Princess Avenue, and 9232 and 9240 Young Road. Of note, 9240 Young Road is the former Downtown Business Centre, while 9232 Young Road is the current location for Room by Room Furniture. It’s not immediately known what will happen to Room by Room Furniture, an established Chilliwack business.

The applicant, OTG Developments, has been working on this project for at least 18 months. In May 2023, OTG Developments notified city staff that it had advised the surrounding neighbourhood of the proposed mixed-use development.

Chilliwack City Council previously adopted an application to rezone the subject properties to a combination C9 (Mid Rise Apartment Commercial) zone and CP (Commercial Parking) zone to facilitate construction of a mixed-use development with a separate free-standing parkade. As part of the rezoning proposal, the applicant has asked to close a portion of Gore Avenue to incorporate into the development site and relocate a City lane. According to a staff report from Erin Leary, manager of development planning, the property purchase process is currently underway, with the final sale to be completed once the development permit and development variance permit applications are approved.

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As a condition of the sale agreement, the applicant has committed to register a covenant on the title which will require both the apartment building and parkade to be constructed concurrently to ensure that the parking for the development will be complete and available at that same time occupancy is granted for the mixed-use building.