The Township of Esquimalt today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for development of the Esquimalt Village Project (EVP).
The EVP is envisioned to be a lively and sustainable town centre, incorporating a mix of uses including retail, residential and office space, inviting open spaces for the public, and a new education facility and library. Formerly the site of the Public Works Yard and original Municipal Hall, it is about 87,000 square feet (0.8 ha) in size and is located adjacent to Municipal Hall at 1229 Esquimalt Road.
"This is a milestone for our community,” said Mayor Barbara Desjardins. “Residents told us in the 2011 municipal election and through our Economic Development Strategy that the development of the EVP lands was a priority. We have laid the groundwork to find a partner to develop a new village concept in the core of our community - it’s very exciting to be moving forward.”
In May of this year the Township issued a Request for Expressions of Interest for the project. Results from this process indicated that there was sufficient interest from the development community to proceed to a Request for Proposals.
The Township is currently preparing a remediation plan for the site and expects to be able to provide a developer with a Certificate of Compliance from the Ministry of Environment. The site has also undergone a geotechnical analysis, an archaeological assessment, and a survey to consolidate the site boundary.
Earlier this year the EVP lands were identified as a technically feasible location for a wastewater treatment facility by the Westside Solutions Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery Committee. The Township has notified the Committee that the site is being removed from further consideration for this purpose.
The deadline for submissions to the RFP is December 10th, 2015. At that time Council will thoroughly review and consider all of the proposals and choose a partner that best responds to the needs of the community. Once a selection is made, a comprehensive engagement process will be developed to give the public a variety of ways to provide their input into shaping the final design.
Link to the EVP Request for Proposals here.
- Link to Addendum #1, November 3, 2015 here
Link to the EVP Request for Proposals brochure here.
Click here for a map of the Esquimalt Village Project.
For more information, please contact:
Bill Brown, Director of Development Services
Tel: 250-414-7146