Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / According to Liana Wiebe, communications manager for the City of Chilliwack, there is an active demolition permit for this aging motel at 46915 Yale Road, as well as two development applications. However, the potential redevelopment is on hold because these two development applications have not been presented to Chilliwack council. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Yale Road housing complex

Demolition permit in place for aging motel on Yale Road in Chilliwack, could be redeveloped into market housing

Mar 26, 2024 | 9:44 AM

CHILLIWACK — A multi-unit housing complex on Yale Road next to a gas station in Little Mountain has seen better days.

Formerly known as Willow Court, the complex at 46915 Yale Road, located two kilometres east of downtown Chilliwack, appears to be a shell of what it once was based on Google Maps imagery of the property dating back to 2009.

According to realty website Redfin, the property could be redeveloped into a 40-unit, five-storey market condo project.

“Developers Alert, 5-storey market condo project for sale in heart of City of Chilliwack,” a listing on Redfin stated. “Potential to build 40 residential units with buildable 59,101.52 square feet, stunning mountain views with glaciers.”

If the Redfin listing is correct, the current property consists of a four-bedroom house and a multi-family motel that contains two bachelor suites and nine 1-bedroom suites. Several renovations have been done to the property including new windows, roofing, flooring, painting, kitchen and bathroom.

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A geotechnical report is available, Redfin states, through “due diligence.”

The Redfin listing advises prospective buyers and investors that they should not walk through the property or bother current occupants.

According to B.C. Assessment records available online, the multi-unit complex was built in 1953. It has been assessed at $2.5 million.

Image: Google Maps / A view of Willow Court (46915 Yale Road) from this Google Maps image in April 2009. The property appears in much better shape that year than it does today.

Liana Wiebe, communications manager for the City of Chilliwack, says there is an active demolition permit for the property at 46915 Yale Road as well as two development applications. However, the potential redevelopment is at a standstill.

“There are two development applications for 46915 Yale Road currently on hold,” Wiebe said in an email to Fraser Valley Today. “Neither application has been presented to Council, so no staff reports or other documents are available at this time.”

One application is to rezone the subject property from a CS2 (Tourist Commercial) zone to an R5 (Low Rise Apartment) to facilitate the construction of a new apartment development. The second application is a development variance permit application to increase the maximum permitted lot coverage from 50 per cent to 57 per cent and decrease the minimum required interior side lot line setback from 6m to 1.54m within the proposed R5 (Low Rise Apartment) Zone.

Under the new provincial rules, Wiebe noted, this proposal would not be permitted to have a public hearing because the zoning requested is for residential purposes.

Kim’s Save & Gas, the convenience store located next door, is currently undergoing renovations.

Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / The convenience store and gas station at 46909 Yale Road is undergoing renovations to its existing building.