Ladner Village

The City of Delta has released a detailed design proposal for the Chisholm Street Wharf and is inviting the community to provide comments. At the June 23, 2025 Regular Meeting, Delta Council directed staff to move forward with engagement with the public to confirm that the updated plan reflects the community’s vision for the Wharf.

The updated design incorporates ideas and input shared by more than 150 participants during last year’s initial engagement. Based on the feedback received, the concept has been refined to create a welcoming, year-round destination with flexible gathering spaces for events and community use.

“We heard a great deal of excitement from the community during our first round of engagement, along with some thoughtful suggestions,” said Mayor George V. Harvie. “This updated design reflects the feedback we received, and we’re now asking residents to take a final look and let us know their thoughts on the design.”

Key features of the proposed design include flexible gathering spaces with movable and feature seating, stepped seating areas that encourage social connection, shaded seating and misting areas to provide relief during warmer months, lighting that adds a level of safety and ambiance while minimizing light pollution, and natural landscaping along the dike pathway to maintain strong ties to the Fraser River, and a fully accessible Wharf with durable concrete paving around the perimeter, ensuring safe and easy access for everyone.

Residents are encouraged to get involved in the following ways:

• Review the updated design at letstalk.delta.ca/Ladner-Village
• Complete the feedback form on the project page by Friday, July 11, 2025
• Join us in person at a pop-up event at the Wharf to connect with City staff. The first 50 participants will receive free ice cream, served by local business, Cookie’s Ice Cream:
  
  • Location: Chisholm Street Wharf (4857 Chisholm St)
  • Date: Saturday, July 5, 2025
  • Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

The Chisholm Street Wharf is one of seven projects in the Ladner Village Revitalization Action Plan endorsed by Delta Council in 2024. To support this initiative, $4.5 million in funding has been allocated to upgrade the Wharf. The vision is to improve public access to the waterfront, create a safe and engaging space for community use, and celebrate the area’s connection to its natural surroundings.

Residents can read the Council Report and the Community Engagement Report at here.

To learn more about the Chisholm Street Wharf project, visit letstalk.delta.ca/Ladner-Village.

For more information on this news release, please contact media@delta.ca.

A new kayak docking system and dock ramp upgrade are just a few of the improvements residents can expect to see at the Elliott Street Wharf this spring. At the Regular Meeting this week, Delta Council approved the plan for the Wharf which will enhance public access to the waterfront, reconfigure the Wharfhead, support commercial activities such as kayak rentals and fresh seafood sales, and contribute to the ongoing revitalization of Ladner Village.

“These enhancements will not only support local businesses and fishers but also create a more welcoming and active waterfront experience for residents and visitors alike in the tradition of the waterfront village,” said Mayor George Harvie. “Council wishes to thank the 200 residents who participated in the engagement process which helped shape the final plan.”

The City conducted an engagement program between March 4 and March 21, 2025 to seek community feedback on the proposed Elliott Street Wharf enhancements and the use of the Wharf and its dock for commercial activities. The community was invited to share their feedback by completing an online form and attending an in-person pop-up event organized at the Wharf to view the project plans, ask questions directly to the project team, and provide immediate feedback.

Through the engagement activities, the City learned that participants were very supportive of the improvements made to date such as the colourful seating, catenary lights and music events. Over 80 percent of participants think the proposed plan for Elliott Street Wharf looked great or could use some tweaks such as improving the pedestrian connections and ensuring adequate space for public enjoyment. Participants also supported commercial uses at the Wharf, especially those that align with the waterfront’s traditions. Of the commercial uses proposed, the top three preferred by participants included fresh seafood sales from a commercial vessel, kayak rentals, and food trucks.

In response to feedback from the engagement program, staff recommended moving forward with the installation of a floating kayak docking system, dock ramp upgrades, and Wharfhead reconfiguration to improve parking and support for commercial uses. To balance strong community support for commercial uses at Elliott Street Wharf with concerns about over-commercialization, the Wharf will support kayak rentals, boat tours, food trucks, and commercial fish sales from a vessel.

A copy of the Council Report and the complete engagement results can be viewed at: https://delta.civicweb.net/document/237788

For more information on this news release, please contact media@delta.ca.

The City of Delta has received five Expression of Interest (EOI) submissions for a tourist accommodation in Ladner Village following the first round of the EOI process.

As part of ongoing efforts to revitalize Ladner Village, Delta Council directed staff at the September 23 Regular Meeting to seek proposals for a potential hotel along Chisholm Street. The submission process closed on January 31, 2025.

The five proposals will be reviewed and scored by the City’s Ladner Village Revitalization Staff Task Force based on the experience and reputation of the developer, alignment with the community’s vision, and the proposed operating model and value for Delta. A shortlist of proponents will then be invited to participate in Round 2 of the EOI process and will have until August 31, 2025, to submit a detailed proposal. The names of the shortlisted proponents submitting formal proposals will be shared at that time. Once detailed proposals are received and evaluated, staff will report back to Delta Council with recommendations and Council will decide whether to proceed.

Prior to the launch of the EOI Process, staff attended pop-up events throughout the summer of 2024, speaking with residents about the potential of a tourism accommodation in the village. Conversations with approximately 400 residents, as well as 319 feedback forms submitted through letstalk.delta.ca, helped shape a list of features demonstrating what the community most valued in a potential accommodation. This list included reflecting the historic character of the village, working with local suppliers, considering the streetscape, and amenities for locals, among other elements.

Preparation work at the Chisholm Street site is well underway, with asbestos removal in progress and demolition of the structures anticipated to begin this month. Environmental site investigation and remediation work required to obtain a Certificate of Compliance from the Ministry of Environment is complete and an application to the Ministry is currently being prepared.

Residents can read the original Council Report and Community Engagement Report here. The EOI and additional information on the process is available at delta.ca/city-owned-property.

For more information on this news release, please contact media@delta.ca. For questions about city-owned land and the EOI, contact the Real Estate Manager at lands@delta.ca.

A study has determined there is room in Delta’s local hotel market for a mixed-use accommodation with commercial space on the former Delta Hotel site in Ladner Village. The results of the Ladner Village Accommodation Feasibility Study, initiated in April, will be reviewed by Delta Council at their Regular Meeting on June 3, 2024.

“The study looked at a number of sources, including local market and custom data, and found that a mixed-use accommodation is economically viable and would work well for Ladner Village,” said Mike Brotherston, the City’s Director of Corporate Services. “With the results of the study now available, Delta Council will consider whether an anchor tenant of this nature will complement the community and achieve the goal of making a significant impact on the revitalization of Ladner Village by bringing tourism and vibrancy to the area.”

The City’s accommodation consultant proposes an 88-unit aparthotel model, which is a cross between a hotel and a holiday apartment. Instead of individual hotel rooms, the aparthotel has small apartments with their own bathroom and kitchen. Aparthotel rooms are booked nightly (a hotel stay model) or rented monthly (a short-term apartment rental model). The aparthotel model has rapidly emerged as a trend in the accommodation market because of its financial return for the hotel and the flexibility and appeal to the traveler.

The study suggests introducing approximately half the aparthotel units to the hotel market using a phased approach, with the remaining units rented as short-term apartments. The aparthotel could occupy up to six stories with a rooftop patio to be used for, or as an extension of, an onsite restaurant. The study also estimates that the property and tenants will create over 100 jobs.

“It is important to note that the aparthotel is one of several accommodation models that could work in this location and the next steps, should Council wish to proceed, would be to test the interest from the market,” continued Brotherston.

Subject to a decision by Council, the staff report recommends the creation of an Expression of Interest to establish a short list of proponents to bring forward formal proposals for consideration. It also recommends that the City conduct an engagement process to involve the community in developing the criteria that would be used to score the proposals.

A copy of the staff report and a feasibility study, with select information redacted to maintain the integrity of the EOI process, can be found at: https://delta.civicweb.net/document/229548.

For more information on this news release, please contact media@delta.ca.

Background:

The City of Delta is moving forward on plans to revitalize Ladner Village based on the findings of the 2021 Ladner Village Renewal Advisory Committee. Seven projects have been identified for advancement over the next few years including:

• A destination playground at Spot-on-the-Water Park
• Upgrades to Chisholm Street wharf
• A new multi-use pathway and road configuration on Chisholm Street
• A new tourist accommodation on the former Delta Hotel site
• Upgrades to Elliott Street wharf
• Additional pop-up parks and events to create pedestrian fun
• A branding, signage and wayfinding strategy

The City is currently engaging with the community about the projects, providing residents with an opportunity to learn more and share their feedback as the City prepares to move them forward. Work on a few of the initiatives has started including consultation on the Bridge Street pop-up park, a feasibility study for a hotel, and remediation of the Chisholm Street wharf. Information about this work can be found at letstalk.delta.ca/Ladner-Village.

Residents are invited to drop by the City of Delta’s booth during May Days to discuss plans to continue the revitalization of Ladner Village. Staff will be in the May Days Market on May 25 and 26 to discuss several projects from the Ladner Village Revitalization Plan that the City is preparing to advance over the next few years.

“These projects were largely identified through the work of the Ladner Village Renewal Advisory Committee in their 2021 report. Given some time has passed, the City wants to re-engage with the community about the recommendations and provide residents with an opportunity to learn more and share their feedback before the City begins to move them forward,” said Paula Kolisnek, Corporate Initiatives Manager with the City of Delta.

The City has prepared a map identifying the key projects to support the discussion with the community. The projects are preliminary and additional engagement is planned before they proceed. In no particular order, the projects include:

• A destination playground at Spot-on-the-Water Park
• Upgrades to Chisholm Street wharf
• A new multi-use pathway on Chisholm Street
• A new tourist accommodation on the former Delta Hotel site
• Upgrades to Elliott Street wharf
• Additional pop-up parks and events to create pedestrian fun
• A branding, signage and wayfinding strategy

Work on a few of the initiatives has started including consultation on the Bridge Street pop-up park, a feasibility study for a hotel, and remediation of the Chisholm Street wharf.

Anyone who would like to make suggestions or provide comments on these or any of the projects can visit letstalk.delta.ca/Ladner-Village to contribute your thoughts.

“The City recognizes that Ladner residents are very passionate about their community and the Village in particular and staff are really looking forward to having these preliminary discussions about the projects before they proceed,” continued Kolisnek.

Staff will also have a booth at the Ladner Village Market throughout the spring and summer to speak with residents.

To view the staff report, visit: https://delta.civicweb.net/document/227166

For more information on this news release, please contact media@delta.ca.