Baptist church townhouses approved in second go around

The townhouse development behind Ladner's restored and refurbished Baptist Church was approved for third reading by Delta Council on Tuesday evening.

It was the second application submitted for the development, which was initially rejected by council last December for being too modern for the heritage area.

The first proposal faced a 101-signature petition against what was to be Delta's first "green" rooftop on each of the three townhouses.

The new application is for three townhouses behind the Baptist Church at the corner of 47A Avenue and Delta Street. Each building will be three storeys in height with a two-car garage accessed from the rear lane.

Access to the front of the townhouses will be from a shared pedestrian walkway from Delta Street. The new design includes peaked roofs and balconies at the rear on the second storey.

Some of the same residents who opposed the first application were also against the new one, citing a problem with building height, parking, and a variance that will allow the building to abut to the sidewalk.

But council didn't agree with those concerns, pointing out that the development's height was within the zoning bylaws and that some leeway should be given for the developer by saving the heritage church.

Developer Steve Knoblauch said he spent $1 million on purchasing the land and lifting and moving the church to a new concrete foundation. Knoblauch has refurbished the church inside and out, including fixing the church tower.

"I just want to thank the proponent for the work on the heritage buildings in Ladner very, very much," said Coun. Jeannie Kanakos.

"There's something to be said for saving heritage buildings and there are not too many people that want to do that anymore or have the money or the ambition to do that," said Coun. Ian Paton, adding sometimes council has to "cut a little slack" to developers willing to do it.

"I think it's a real gem in the village of Ladner, the old Baptist Church."

The Baptist church was built in 1901-02 with the help of community volunteers, and a spire was added in 1910-11. Over the past hundred years the building had sunk into the earth six inches and the spire was leaning five inches out of plumb.

Source: http://www.southdeltaleader.com/news/218145011.html

Zero Dark Thirty Academy Awards 2013 Django Unchained jennifer hudson jennifer garner jennifer garner daytona 500