BrightStar Corp.’s beleaguered Capital Pointe high-rise hotel and condominium project in Regina is facing yet another setback.
Work to remove an underground electrical duct bank running through the site was supposed to get underway last November.
However, that groundwork has been put on hold because SaskPower has been unable to secure a city permit to restrict traffic at the corner of Albert Street and Victoria Avenue.
“It’s really frustrating,” project director Greg Black of BrightStar Corp. said in a phone interview Tuesday.
“The contractor was ready to go and the only hurdle that they’re waiting on is getting the traffic permit from the city.”
The building was initially slated to open by the end of this year, but a series of delays has pushed that date back to fall 2014. The development permit for the project expired in June 2012.
The City of Regina says it won’t consider granting a traffic permit until BrightStar applies for a new development permit.
“As an initial step, the city would be certainly seeking verification that the development permit application is proceeding through the review process,” said Fred Searle, manager of current planning for the City of Regina.
“We would certainly be open to working with the developer and the other impacted utility, in this case SaskPower, to assess when that work might proceed and related timing and impacts.”
Typically, it takes the city four months to review a development permit application.
Black says BrightStar plans to apply for a development permit as early as Wednesday. He says the developer will be sending out a project update to condo buyers this week.
“We’re hoping to be able to say in our update that the last hurdle has been cleared and everything’s about to get underway,” Black said.
“It’s another roadblock for us that we’re removing and hopefully this will mean clear sailing going forward.”
