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SOPA Square redesign

Owners of the much delayed SOPA Square development in the South Pandosy district will have to go back to city council before resuming construction.

Aqualini Devlopment, a subsidiary of Aquilini Investment Group and owners of the Vancouver Canucks, purchased the development earlier this year for $29.5 million.

Since the purchase in January, the Aquilini's have been refining the design of the residential portion of the existing structure and floor plans.

The original plan approved by council several years ago called for a two-storey commercial podium with a nine-storey condominium tower and four-storey townhouse tower.

According to Subdivision Approval Manager Ryan Smith, the new plan now calls for a smaller townhouse tower and a larger condo tower.

Smith expects the new concept to come before council in about eight weeks. If given the go ahead, it will return to council for a public hearing, before getting final approval.

According to company spokesperson Kevin Hussey, Aquilini intends to begin sales of residential units soon, with construction to recommence later this year.

Hussey said the start of construction will depend on sales, and units will be priced aggressively to allow construction to start at soon as possible.

New commercial tenants are also coming on board.

Hussey said The Canadian Brewhouse and Famosa Neopolitan Pizzeria are scheduled to open this summer.

The company is optimistic that commercial space will be fully occupied.



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