Charlottetown condo development gets final approval

A controversial condominium development in Charlottetown has received final approval from city council, and Mayor Clifford Lee says only the marketplace could have stopped it.

The project, which will see eight houses torn down on Passmore and Chestnut streets, has faced some backlash. At a public meeting in February some neighbours complained the 57-unit building is too big and will change the nature of the neighbourhood.

Lee said the development could be an opportunity to revitalize the core area of the city.

"I'm sure there's still things that the developer needs to satisfy in the planning department, but basically the council has over the last two months given, I believe, final approval to the development," he said.

"For a private developer to come in and buy a bunch of property and to come in and build high-end apartments I can't stop that. City council can't stop that. The only one that's going to stop that is the marketplace."

Along with the condominiums, there are plans to have commercial space on the bottom level. Developer Philip O'Halloran has said he wants a grocery store in that space because the downtown needs one.

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