The price of more than $50 million to rebuild the Phoenix Net Loft in Steveston is on the agenda for City of Richmond's general purposes committee meeting on Monday.
City staff has estimated it will cost $33 million to rebuild the net loft in addition to between $17 million and $26 million to build the interior for it to become a community space.
City council approved about $19 million in 2020 to demolish and rebuild the historic building, but the money was only intended to rebuild the shell of the building and did not include building the interior.
Meanwhile, city councillors will look at an updated report regarding the rapid R7 bus connecting the cities of Richmond and Burnaby.
City staff noted the R7 project in Richmond would help "build ridership and support ongoing land use planning for long-term rapid transit" between the two cities, according to a city report.
However, if council decides to not pursue the Rapidbus project, the bus service between Richmond and Burnaby will stay the same until at least 2035 with TransLink redirecting potential funds from the R7 project to other regional projects elsewhere.
Planning committee (Tuesday, Nov. 21)
A farmland property owner is asking city council to allow 36 commercial vehicles to be parked on his farm, but city staff is recommending council to say no to the proposal. This will be discussed at Tuesday's planning committee meeting at 4 p.m.
The owner at 5440 No. 6 Rd., near No. 6 Road and International Place, is asking for a non-farm-use application for the site, but has already been keeping such vehicles on the property without a permit.
City bylaw also found the 2.5-acre property has unauthorized fill deposited on the site without permission from the city nor the Agricultural Land Commission.
Public works and transportation committee (Wednesday, Nov. 22)
Councillors will be reviewing a report on the updated snow and ice preparation plan for Richmond.
In a report prepared by city staff, extra salt brine, road salt snow plow equipment and staff training are being prepared for the upcoming winter season.
City staff is also looking at discussing snow removal priorities for bus stops and wheelchair letdown areas on priority routes across Richmond.
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