Looking back on 2024 offers a look ahead for the future of Cloverdale, says Paul Orazietti.
Orazietti told the Cloverdale Reporter, the construction seen in 2024 is just the tip of the iceberg as developments of both business and commercial properties are transforming the area.
鈥淭he historic town centre of Cloverdale underwent some of its largest development ever,鈥� said Orazietti, the executive director of the Cloverdale Business Improvement Association.
With all the changes, he said the BIA realized they have to start to work closely with both the Cloverdale District Chamber of Commerce and the Cloverdale Community Association in an effort to help direct development in the town. He said those groups approached the City of 性视界传媒 with one voice to act on behalf of residents and business owners.
He added the three groups took that 鈥渙ne voice鈥� to the city-hosted Official Community Plan open house held at the Cloverdale Rec. Centre in November, 2024. He said they discussed 鈥渋mportant changes,鈥� such as the need for Cloverdale鈥檚 downtown area to be zoned for higher density residential housing and to allow for more commercial space.
鈥�(We) believe the area should have more businesses in the town centre,鈥� Orazietti said. 鈥淕rowth would have to be accommodated by mixed development that would see more people living in apartments over commercial space.鈥�
He said there has been some pushback from residents. Some want the area north of Highway 10鈥攁cross from KPU鈥攔eturned to farmland. But he said that will unlikely happen as the city wants to put housing in there.
鈥淭he new plan for Cloverdale emphasizes the importance of a heritage look with new development in keeping with the 133-year-old town,鈥� Orazietti noted. 鈥淲ith several large-scale developments ongoing, there has never been more cranes in town.鈥�
He said 2025 will see even more cranes with other new construction projects breaking ground too.
Orazietti said right now, several 鈥渟ignificant鈥� projects are contributing to Cloverdale鈥檚 transformation.
He noted those projects include: the $150 million three story development for Delta Controls, which is being rebranded as Delta Intelligent Building Technologies, that will open in 2027; the $3 billion dollar new Cloverdale hospital and cancer centre, being built south of KPU and set to open in 2030; and Berezan Group鈥檚 new 428,000 square foot warehouse (being built across the tracks behind Clover Square Village) that will load and offload rail cars.
He also cited as 鈥渢ransformative鈥� the many apartment buildings, townhomes, and condos going up around town, such as the site at the corner of 56A Avenue and 177B Street, one across from the Museum of 性视界传媒 on 56A Avenue, three buildings at the corner of 58th Avenue and 177B Street, and the Bruno Zappone Manor building on 176A Street south of 60th Avenue that 鈥渏ust completed their underground parking and are just starting to frame.鈥�
Orazietti said development groups have had several meetings about putting mixed-use buildings, residential on top of commercial, on 57th Avenue and 57A Avenue east of 177B Street (in behind Cloverdale Traditional School).
He said there have also been discussions with Marathon Group about developing the land on Highway 10 across from KPU.
Orazietti added the need for development is apparent because of the housing shortage, but he feels it needs to go hand-in-hand with the addition of commercial space, as the vacancy rate for commercial properties in Cloverdale is extremely low.
After chatting with the city鈥檚 planning department, Orazietti said whatever type of development happens, highrises won鈥檛 likely be coming to Cloverdale anytime soon.
鈥淭hey remind me frequently that, due to the soft soil in town, there is no anticipation of building anything over five stories.鈥�
