A plan to turn a vacant commercial building in downtown Grand Forks into apartments has cleared another hurdle.
This week city council gave its blessing to the proposed facade alterations to 125 Market Avenue.
One stipulation is that the development permit won’t be issued until the applicants provide a security of about $9,800. That amount will be held for one year following the completion of landscaping.
A city staff report says the changes will retain the existing brick facade, but add “complementary modern medal cladding, consistent with heritage-sensitive design principles.”
The building is within the city’s historic market district development permit area, which comes with guidelines around form and character.
Council gave thumbs up without discussion.
A zoning amendment required to allow the development to proceed was approved in May. The change allowed the entire building to be used for residential purposes, although the developers still have the option of using some portion of it for commercial space.
The development is expected to include a combination of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units, described as a “pseudo townhouse-style” because each unit will have its own ground-floor entrance.
The applicants are Dr. Gary Sandhar and Dr. Mark Szynkaruk, who are hoping that the building will help attract medical staff to the community.
BC Assessment indicates the building, which is over 6,300 square feet, was constructed in 1929. It was previously home to a lawyer’s office and a bakery, among other things.
