JULY 20, 2021 – PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. – Today, the City of Prince Rupert and Northern Savings Credit Union announce the signing of a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly develop a new City Centre at McBride and 3rd Ave, known as the “Prince Rupert Gateway Project” as part of the Rupert 2030 vision.
The project has gone out to BC Bid to attract the interest of qualified developers, with the intention of transforming the main intersection at McBride and 3rd Ave into a new City Center square with potential new housing and commercial opportunities.
“The City of Prince Rupert is very excited to be working with Northern Savings Credit Union, and adjacent property owners, to begin the transformation of Prince Rupert’s downtown core as outlined in our Rupert 2030 vision,” said Mayor Lee Brain. “The intention of this phase of the Gateway Project is to attract interest from qualified developers and work with community partners to completely rebuild the intersection at McBride and 3rd Ave and significantly enhance the downtown experience in a big way.”
As part of the BC Bid, Northern Savings is asking for 15,000-20,000 square feet to host a new credit union branch and insurance office, and the City is asking for 10,000 square feet for civic institutional use, including the potential for other community partners to be part of the project. In addition, the City is seeking to develop a “pedestrian mall” long term with covered areas, including public amenities such as landscaping, lighting, seating and public art.
Northern Savings CEO, Bob Marshall noted, “The Credit Union is committed to building sustainable communities through working alongside community partners. The Gateway Project is a natural alignment for us to not only create a new facility for our members, clients, and staff, but to contribute to the revitalization of Prince Rupert’s downtown core as part of the Rupert 2030 vision.”
The bid closes September 1, with further updates to be provided during various milestones of the project.
Media Contact:
Rosa Miller, Corporate Administrator
250 627 0963
rosamaria.miller@princerupert.ca
About the Gateway Project:
The City of Prince Rupert is at the beginning of a phase of revitalization as a result of dramatic growth in its port and industrial sector. The City has instituted a number of financial incentives to encourage development in the City Centre. These include waiving all building and development fees, in addition to 5 and 10 year tax incentives for renovated and new buildings in the downtown core. It has developed policies that encourage development in the City Centre and has set particular goals for development. One development goal is to encourage a "gateway" project at the corner of 3rd Avenue and McBride Street to serve as a catalyst for development in the City Centre and establish a quality gateway into the City Centre.
The lands on which the Gateway Project is envisioned are shown on Map 1 and generally described as follows:
- "Block 18 Parcels": 2,971 Square Meters of land, legally described as Lots 13-24, Block 18, Section 1, DL251, Range 5, Coast District, Plan 923, owned by Northern Savings Credit Union;
- "Block 34 Parcels": 3,038 square meters of land, legally described as Lot 52-63, Block 34, Section 1, DL251, Range 5, Coast District, Plan 923 owned by M & M Ventures Ltd.;
- 891 square meters of land owned by the City, labeled as Lane, as shown on Map 1 which may be closed as road and merged with the Block 18 Parcels; and
- The road shown as 3rd Avenue on Map 1, owned by the City, which may be closed to traffic and developed as a covered pedestrian mall as a part of the Gateway Project.
With the goal of facilitating the Gateway Project, the City is issuing this request for proposals seeking proposals from entities interested in and capable of developing the Gateway Project as per the Scope of Development contained herein.
Enquiries:
All enquiries and notices related to this RFP, including any requests for information and clarification, are to be directed in writing to the contact person indicated below.
Contact Person:
Robert Buchan,
iPlan Planning and Development Services
Address: 7144 Puckle Road
Saanichton, B.C., V8M 1W4
Email: rbuchan@shaw.ca