London Drugs is gearing up to move forward with its development on the 2500 Block of East Hastings in Hastings-Sunrise.

The company owns land from Penticton Street west to the end of the lot that’s currently home to the Hastings North Temporary Community Garden. A London Drugs store is located along the block at 2585 East Hastings.

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Hastings North Temporary Community Garden. Photo Dan Toulgoet

The company had intended to build a four-storey condominium development called Alba, which included retail uses on the ground level, but it put the project on hold in May of 2013 because “the market was not conducive to starting a real estate project.”

London Drugs said it would re-evaluate the situation after two years.

In the meantime, it allowed Shifting Growth, a registered charity, to install the community garden on part of its property where some buildings had been knocked down. Shifting Growth was given a two-year deal with a 30-day removal clause. Companies like London Drugs get tax breaks for allowing vacant property to be used as gardens.

A spokesperson for Shifting Growth told the Courier recently that London Drugs had not communicated any future plans for the site yet.

But the company posted a message on its blog Nov. 19 providing some details.

The post states that there would soon be a change-of-use sign at 2696 East Hastings, at the corner of Hastings and Slocan where the old Rogers Video used to be located. The sign will reveal that London Drugs plans to open a small-scale store there “to ensure there is no disruption for our customers and pharmacy patients once development commences at the current 2585 London Drugs site.”

Former Rogers Video location. Photo Dan Toulgoet

It’s unclear when that will happen. The company says plans are being finalized and an announcement will be made in late 2016 or early 2017.

“We will be updating the community as these details are finalized and the timeline is determined,” the message states.

In an email to the Courier late last week, London Drugs said once the timeline is determined, “The Hastings North Temporary Garden will be transplanted to another site as determined by Shifting Growth who currently maintains and manages the garden. We will be giving as much notice as possible to Shifting Growth and will be sensitive to minimize disruption as much as possible during the growing season.”

A vacant building, which used to house a McDonald’s restaurant at the corner of Penticton and East Hastings, was recently torn down. The company says it wanted to get the site cleaned up and safe for the public.

A McDonald’s restaurant used to be at the corner of Penticton and East Hastings. Photo Dan Toulgoet

The Alba development was going to feature ground-floor retail space, including a new London Drugs store and a restaurant where the McDonald's used to sit. A new development may look different, according to London Drugs. And the new name is still to be determined.

“The real estate market and economic conditions did not time well for a new development at this location in 2013. Any plans moving forward will reflect current economic conditions and the current real estate landscape in Vancouver. As soon as we have a confirmed plan for the redevelopment, we will advise our staff and customers and the greater Hastings-Sunrise East Village community. Likely end of this year or early 2017,” the emailed stated.

noconnor@vancourier.com

@naoibh