Rogers' Chocolates rejects city's reno plans
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Updated: November 17, 2009 4:08 PM
It's a compromise that Rogers' Chocolates finds totally inadequate.
Victoria city council last week offered a peace offering, allowing the retailer permission for some minor alterations to the interior of its store, built in 1903.
"That certainly does not accommodate Rogers' Chocolates," said John Alexander, the retailer's lawyer.
The city never consulted Rogers' in drawing up these design amendments, he added. "That was an excellent layout for an x-rated porn video rental set up but just about nothing else."
Late last year, Rogers informed the city of its plans to expand its store by removing a wall leading to a back room.
Heritage advocates decried the move, and the company agreed to consult the city before commercing work.
The negotiations led to a year-long standoff over acceptable design.
In February, city council adopted a heritage designation for the interior of the building, thus preventing any work from taking place without a heritage alteration permit.
The move left the city on the hook to pay financial compensation for loss of market value.
On Nov. 12, council unanimously supported an alternate renovation plan that would allow Rogers' to create a doorway to the store's backroom, rather than remove the entire wall.
The design would allow Rogers to expand its retail space while preserving the integrity of most of the historic store's interior.
Coun. Geoff Young said he hopes the compromise reduces the amount of money taxpayers will have to compensate Rogers.
Young said he has no concern in principle with heritage designation for building interiors.
"My concern with this one is weighing off the costs and benefits," he said, adding early compensation estimates range from $500,000 and $1 million.
In January, an arbitrator will decide what amount, if any, the city owes through a compensation hearing.
rholmen@saanichnews.com
