Steveston storefronts sit empty as zoning debate continues

WATCH: 60,000 square feet of prime waterfront commercial space has been sitting empty in Steveston for two years due to a zoning dispute between the developer and the village. Elaine Yong explains.

For years, waterfront storefronts in idyllic Steveston have sat empty, due to a developer that wants to rezone the property, and a city council refusing to budge.

And the stalemate doesn’t show signs of abating anytime soon.

“The developers say they’re unable to lease it, but any property is leasable, it’s what price it’s leasable at,” says said city spokesperson Ted Townsend.

The 60,000 square-foot Imperial Landing development, owned by Onni Group, was completed in 2013. But the land has always been zoned for maritime purposes, and Omni says they can’t find willing tenants at their lease rate of around $40 per square foot.

With the dispute dragging on for two years, the Steveston Merchants Association have pushed for a compromise, where part of the land would continue to be zoned maritime, but the rest rezoned to retail and office space.

Omni refused requests from Global News to comment on the proposal, and some local merchants are fearful of the company choosing large retailers in the property, and pushing them out of business.

“They’re going to try and enforce their will upon the city, and it’s going to have to be up to the city to grow a pair, and say no no no no,” says Iain MacKelworth, who has owned Steveston Barbers for 25 years.

– With files from Elaine Yong