The City of Regina has started the legal process to enforce the developer behind Capital Pointe to fill the five-storey hole in downtown Regina.
Two weeks ago, the city gave the development team, Westgate Properties and Fortress Real Development, an ultimatum to resume construction, or the city would take legal action.
The March 30 deadline passed, and the city has now issued an order to fill the hole.
“This action is taken under the authority granted to the City by The Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Act,” Louise Folk, City of Regina development services director said in a statement.
“Under the Act, the property owner may appeal the order to the Saskatchewan Building and Accessibility Standards Appeal Board of Saskatchewan within 15 days from today.”
“Since we last reported to the public on this property, the property owner has paid $50,244 in outstanding 2017 property taxes, including penalties, to the City,” Folk added.
Folk’s statement concludes by saying the city will not be commenting further as this is now a legal matter.
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In an email, Fortress vice president Nick Circosta said that he became aware of the legal action today, who also added that he cannot comment further because this is now a legal issue.
Capital Pointe plans were first unveiled in 2010. Since then the project has seen numerous delays, and has become a point of frustration for city councillors Andrew Stevens and Bob Hawkins.
“This situation has been frustrating for the people of Regina, they’ve been anxious all along,” Hawkins continued. “The city assured me that they had a plan for some time, and they’ve executed that plan, and it’s a reasonable plan so I’m not surprised but I am pleased.”
Fortress now has until April 30th to fill in the hole, barring an appeal, something that has both Hawkins, and Mayor Michael Fougere, cautiously optimistic.
“It’s a historic space in many senses. I think people will be glad to see that the hole is gone and they’ll be looking forward to whatever the future holds for that particular space,” Hawkins said.
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