Appeal board gives developer another chance to complete Regina's Capital Pointe project

After appealing a directive tofill the big hole atthe corner of Albert Street and Victoria Avenue, the developers behind the proposedCapital Pointe development are getting another chance to finish their project.

The City of Regina ordered the hole to be filled earlier this year, but WestgateProperties appealed.

On Friday, the Saskatchewan Building and Accessibility Standards Appeal Board released its decision. The board gaveWestgatePropertiesthree options.

For the first option, Westgate would have to "commence, continue, and carry out construction of the project to completion," according to the appeal board's decision, with construction starting by April 1, 2019.

Under this option, the project must be finished by March 30, 2022.

For the second option, the company would have to build permanent shoring to protect the site, adjacent buildingsand rights of way from slumping. If they chose this option, excavation and shoring work must begin by Feb.28, 2019, with the project being completed a year later.

The third option is to backfill and decommission the site, which would have to bedone by April 20, 2019.

Westagate Properties must make a decision by Sept. 30and submit all monitoring reports to the City of Regina within 15 days of being recorded.

Regina city councillor Bob Hawkins, who has advocated for the hole to be filled, says the decision could cause even more delays.

"I thought the decision was unreasonable," he said.

"I think that the decision did not deal adequately in its reasons with the evidence before it and I think the city should appeal it."

He said his main concern issafety at the building site.

In an emailed statement, the City of Regina says it is reviewing the decision and is unable to provide further comment as further legal action may be pending.

WestgateProperties' response

Neil Abbott, counsel for WestgateProperties, said he and his clients are happywith the decision.

"We're pleased that theboard has given our client an option, or options, to chose from," he said, adding Westgate Properties will work toward meeting the deadlines.

He said the company will likely chose either the first or second option.

During the appeal, the city's issuewas the site's safety. Abbott says evidence they presentedaddressed those concerns, leading the board to find the site safe.

The proposed multimillion-dollar hotel, condo and office complex has supposedly been in the works since before the old Plains Hotel was demolished in 2011.