The Capital Region grew by 1% between 2010 and 2011. Photo © by VibrantVictoria.ca.

3,525 new residents called metropolitan Victoria home in 2011 according to a population estimate released by the Capital Regional District.

In total, the Capital’s population rose to 360,063 from 356,538 in 2010.

The fastest growing region was the west shore, encompassing Colwood, Highlands, Juan de Fuca Electoral Area, Langford, Metchosin and Sooke, adding 1,846 residents, or just over half of the entire metropolitan area’s population growth.  The fastest growing municipality on the west shore was Sooke with a growth rate of 4% (adding 460 new residents) followed by Langford at nearly 3.5% (adding just over 1,000 residents).

The peninsula, comprised of Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney, was the slowest growing region adding only 292 residents over the last year, mostly in Central Saanich.

The urban core, comprised of Esquimalt, Oak Bay, Saanich, Victoria and View Royal, grew by 1,387 people, 823 of whom were in Victoria and 282 in Saanich.  The fastest growing of the core municipalities was View Royal with a growth rate of nearly 1.7% (164 people).  The City of Victoria’s growth rate was 1%.

The population for the entire Capital Region including the Gulf Islands increased to 376,222 from 372,565.

The Capital Regional District (CRD) derives its annual population estimate from the 2006 Census.  The CRD assumes an undercount of 2.9% and targets the estimate for the 1st of June of each year. VV

To discuss the south Island’s population on the VibrantVictoria discussion forum, view this thread.  To view the CRD’s population statistics, including past census figures, click here.

© Copyright 2011 by VibrantVictoria.ca.  All rights reserved.

The Cosmopolitan, pictured above in an artist's rendering, was recently denied approval by City Hall despite falling within existing guidelines and promising to bring much needed rental housing to the urban core. Rendering © by Jurgen Weyland.

The City of Victoria has announced that it is considering giving builders a variety of incentives to develop more rental housing throughout the City.

The Times Colonist reported on September 1st that City Hall’s incentives could come in the form of tax breaks, parking requirement reductions, density increases and fast-tracked municipal handling of applications.

However, for one developer who had planned to bring rental housing to the downtown core and in essence build what City Hall now says it wants to see built, talk of incentives comes two months too late.

Jurgen Weyland had proposed a five-storey rental and commercial building, dubbed The Cosmopolitan, in the 600-block of Fort Street on the property that once housed Lens & Shutter.  Instead of an open armed welcome for proposing to build much needed rental housing when other developers were operating in a condo frame of mind, Weyland was turned away.

“The opposition against the Cosmopolitan was really because of Councillor Madoff and her strong disagreement with the design, especially the colors, and the height. The density increase was within the existing bonus density rules of the City of Victoria for residential use but the height was unacceptable to her,” Weyland said.

The City’s Planning and Land Use Sitting Committee (PLUSC) also denied the project further advancement at the municipal level with a vote of 2-to-1 against the proposal.  That decision was ultimately the last nail in the coffin, and despite The Cosmopolitan’s design falling within City Hall’s own guidelines and matching the height and size of adjacent buildings, Mayor Fortin and council would not overrule the PLUSC decision and forward the project to a public hearing.

The Cosmopolitan proposal brings up the question of whether City Hall and its elected representatives are ready and willing to stand behind any new incentives, or whether opposition will continue unabated.  If one councillor and two members of a City Hall committee can wield enough power to turn down a project that molds to the City’s housing plans and is architecturally in keeping with its neighbours, City Hall will need to do more than simply roll out new perks to builders.

Nevertheless, Weyland is hopeful that new incentives will ultimately make a difference and spur the desired interest among developers.

“While I am disappointed that I lost my project 2-to-1 at the PLUSC, I do appreciate that the City now considers a rental housing incentive plan and I am very much in favor of it,” Weyland said, adding that The Cosmopolitan has been placed “on-hold” which suggests that the project may resurface when, or rather if, the time is right.

“All areas of downtown need as much residential use as possible to be vital and exciting. The economics of building new rental housing are difficult. Every cost saving through a City incentive program helps to make the numbers work. We should all applaud that Mayor Fortin is promoting a rental incentive plan for Victoria.” VV

To discuss The Cosmopolitan project on the VibrantVictoria discussion forum, click here.  To discuss rental housing throughout the south Island, click here.

© Copyright 2011 by VibrantVictoria.ca.  All rights reserved.

The 834, downtown's tallest active construction project, has topped out and work continues on the buildings interior. Construction is expected to be completed by years-end. Photo © VibrantVictoria.ca.

The condo market in downtown Victoria has taken a dramatic turn for the better after multiple cancellations and stalled projects stemming from the economic slowdown.  And rental developments, a-typical in this region due to the cost of land acquisitions, density limitations and construction costs, have piqued the interest of multiple development outfits and are adding much-needed variety to the downtown housing market.

Below is a rundown of current residential development activity in downtown Victoria and a look at upcoming proposals both for market units and rentals.

Condo projects under construction

The 834 – discuss on the forum
Construction on the city’s tallest active project is full steam ahead as Chard Development’s third highrise condo offering in downtown Victoria nears sold-out status.  Chard Development moved ahead with the 834’s marketing in 2009 when most projects throughout the CRD faced market- and credit-driven cancelations.  The 14-storey, 112-unit tower should be completed well ahead of 2012.

601 Herald – discuss on the forum
This four-storey wood-frame lowrise has captured the interest of urbanists due to its strategic location in Old Town/Chinatown.  Seen as a driver for the continued re-development of downtown’s design district, 604 Herald is rising on remediated land once occupied by a service station.

Zen – discuss on the forum
Aimed at entry-level buyers, Zen’s 23 units are priced lower than many traditional urban homes in Victoria.  The four-storey wood-frame design also features groundfloor commercial space.  Although the project is technically within the boundary of the Fairfield neighbourhood, it’s biggest impact will be felt on downtown Victoria (one block over).

The Oriental – discuss on the forum
Local developer Chris Lefevre is known for the restoration of heritage buildings and The Oriental is his latest effort.  32 live-work units will be restored from behind  the veils of the old Oriental Hotel in the 500-block of Yates Street.  Completion is expected by the end of 2011.

The Churchill (rental) – discuss on the forum
The restoration of 721-725 Yates Street into a mixed-use rental and commercial building is well underway.  The Churchill will feature over 30 rental units made possible with the addition of a single floor on to the building’s roof.  Renovations should be completed by the end of 2011.

575 Pembroke (rental) – discuss on the forum
Already well underway, this three-storey redevelopment of an old warehouse into low and moderate income housing on the doorstep of downtown heralds one of the first developments adjacent to the Rock Bay remediated property fronting the Upper Harbour.  Some two-dozen occupants are expected to reside in the building upon completion.

Approved and active condo projects

Several proposals are well into the sales and marketing stage while new projects continue to receive the green light from City Hall.  Below are projects marketing units for sale or having recently received municipal approvals with marketing efforts expected to ramp up over the near term.

The Hudson Mews (rental) – discuss on the forum
Arguably one of the most important rental developments in the region in some time, The Hudson Mews is planned as the second phase of Hudson Place, the redevelopment of the historic Hudson’s Bay Department Store property.  Although the project’s start has been delayed and a key financing deal dropped, proponents maintain that construction will commence this year.  The 12-storey, 120-unit building will also include market units on the upper floors, comprising some 20% of the newly built homes.  Currently on-site sits a large yellow tower crane awaiting the start of construction.

The Jukebox – discuss on the forum
HRT International’s highly praised Mosaic and Jigsaw buildings on upper Fort Street serve as inspiration for Jukebox, an 8-storey, nearly 200-unit project aimed at first-time buyers.  Jukebox will be located in the 1000-block of View Street and will incorporate retail frontage along the groundfloor.  Marketing and sales are expected to be underway by summer of this year.

Kunju - discuss on the forum
Adjacent to 601 Herald, Kunju’s sales and marketing efforts are well underway with construction expected to begin later this year.  The four-storey, 28-unit project, much like its already under construction neighbour, is seen an an integral piece in the evolution of downtown’s design district.

The Mondrian – discuss on the forum
A Mondrian-inspired 10-storey condo with groundfloor retail, dubbed as The Mondrian, recently secured approvals from City Hall on a property that has seen several projects pitched throughout the 2000’s.  Longtime Victoria development outfit Alpha Developments is behind the project and sales for the building’s 93 residential units should begin by late spring or early summer.

The Sawyer Residences – discuss on the forum
After an extended delay, The Sawyer Residences is again offering units for sale.  The marketing team is touting the projects affordability and as means of reigning in costs, a show suite is not expected to be constructed as part of marketing efforts, which is considered an anomaly in the capital region.

The Sovereign – discuss on the forum
Chard Development’s fourth downtown Victoria project is an 11-storey luxury mid-rise at 608 Broughton Street in Old Town.  The 36-unit condo with groundfloor retail is nearly 40% sold out and construction is expected to begin by mid-2011.  Chard Development has recently secured a general contractor for the project, and anticipates completion of the building in early 2013.

The Union – discuss on the forum
After a failed proposal in the early 2000’s, the Union site in Chinatown’s southern edge along the 500-block of Johnson Street has sat leveled and empty for nearly a decade.   Anthem Properties of Vancouver purchased the lot several years ago and after an extended design process at the hands of renowned architectural firms Merrick Architecture and Robert Ciccozzi Architecture, the 5-storey, 133-unit, two building project has received approvals and marketing should commence later this year.

VV

To discuss real-estate development and track the latest projects in downtown Victoria, refer to VibrantVictoria’s downtown Victoria construction and land development sub-forum.  And view the capital region’s major construction projects, along with project data, on VibrantVictoria’s Major Construction Projects list to stay atop construction activity.

Copyright © 2011 by VibrantVictoria.ca.  All rights reserved.

Liberal candidate Christopher Causton outside his Pandora Avenue campaign headquarters. Photo © VibrantVictoria.ca

Liberal candidate Chris Causton officially opened his campaign office late Thursday afternoon in a familiar location–932 Pandora Avenue, next to the popular Relish and Cranberry’s Cafe eateries and across the street from the Our Place shelter. The former auto glass storefront was used by Barry Hobbis as a campaign office in his failed attempt at a council seat in the 2010 civic by-election.

Communications expert Mat Wright handled the technology and social media duties for the Hobbis campaign and is handling the same duties for Causton this time around.

Wright says they will try some of the initiatives that met with success last year, including at least one telephone town hall meeting. Hobbis’ town hall teleconference, British Coumbia’s first, saw nearly 5,000 Victorians taking part in the interactive chat.

Causton says his team will not be placing any lawn signs on city boulevards or other public property, citing environmental concerns, visual pollution and vandalism as primary reasons.

The Oak Bay mayor and restauranteur is confident he can unseat incumbent NDP MP Denise Savoie, saying Victoria has traditionally been a Liberal riding going back a generation. Causton says the CBC’s Vote Compass has convinced many in the Victoria-Beacon Hill riding that the Liberal party accurately reflects their social and economic values. Causton says his many years of service on various regional boards and committees over the last two decades give him a unique perspective on regional governance.

Wright and the rest of the Causton team have their work cut out for them if they hope to topple Savoie, a popular former City councillor. Savoie beat Liberal challenger Dallas Henault 12,591 to 5,998 in the 2009 Federal election. VV

News on the upcoming 2011 Federal election is discussed here on VibrantVictoria’s forum.

Copyright © 2011 by VibrantVictoria.ca.  All rights reserved.

Paul Brown, pictured, believes that regionalization with other municipalities, transparency at City Hall and a financial tightening are necessary to save Victoria from a troubled future. Photo © by Paul Brown; altered by VibrantVictoria.

“Downtown Victoria, our region’s economic engine, is stalling,” says Paul Brown, a candidate in last fall’s municipal by-election in Victoria.  “Businesses are closing, many residents are finding it difficult to afford homes in downtown and social issues continue to weigh on the community’s perception of the core.”

Downtown Victoria resident, businessman and now political watchdog, Brown warns of considerable challenges ahead for Victoria’s already overburdened tax payers if drastic changes to the City’s governance model and fiscal management are not immediately implemented.

“There are serious uncertainties around revenues and expenditures at City Hall.  As one example, the City of Victoria has a $500-million infrastructure deficit and the latest budget is calling for a tax increase of 23% over five years,” Brown says, adding that the tax increase is likely a low-ball estimate that could easily double within that period.

Brown believes that regionalization of core services, such as policing, infrastructure and social programs, are a must if the City of Victoria, and the entire CRD for that matter, is to avoid serious fiscal and social problems in the coming years.  Municipal cooperation will also give the region the muscle necessary to approach higher levels of government for funding without necessarily having to first amalgamate, something Brown alludes to as a “pipe dream” over the near term but inevitable over the long term.

“Regionalization will be more beneficial to the CRD as a whole rather than individual municipalities acting on their own.  Take the Admirals and Highway 1 intersection.  If we had a regional transportation authority the higher levels of government would have been lobbied to build an interchange at Admirals and Highway 1 instead of at the airport, and Victoria’s [$77-million] Johnson Street Bridge replacement could have been a regionally funded project,” Brown said.

With such an outlook on the City’s civic reality and the desire to make a real difference in his community, Brown says he may very well be in the running for mayor come November.

“I have not made a final decision on whether or not to run for mayor, but I am seriously considering it.  First of all I am passionate about Victoria and in the by-election I think I made a difference by participating,” Brown said.

Yet regionalization of services, albeit Brown’s most vocalized solution for a myriad of municipal problems, is not the only component of his vision for a better city.  He also believes that City Hall doesn’t have the transparency it should and the financially draining decisions made by its political leaders need to be reigned in.

“City Hall needs to realize that the city can no longer afford $600,000 Rogers Chocolates settlements [a reference to a recent lawsuit over heritage preservation decisions made by councillors at the Victoria chocolatier's historic retail location on Government Street] and maybe we can no longer afford to send the mayor off on trips to China.  There needs to be more fiscal accountability and transparency at City Hall or we will see drastic changes, maybe even job losses, and I am very concerned about municipal workers if financial problems arise,” Brown said.

The key issue with transparency, says Brown, is that the current council has, well, an issue with transparency.

“The public does not have enough opportunities to see what is really happening and there is nothing being done to change that.  I am arguing that the more transparent politicians can be with the public the more the public will understand the challenges and the level of difficulty that is being dealt with.”

While Brown’s take on the City’s situation reveals a bleak future, he maintains that if immediate action is taken all can be rectified over time.

“We have to look at the situation in Victoria as a glass that is three quarters full and not a glass that is half empty.  But if we do not act soon the water will eventually evaporate.” VV

To discuss Paul Brown on the VibrantVictoria politics sub-forum, click here.

Copyright © 2010 by VibrantVictoria.ca.  All rights reserved.

The price at the pump is fueled by significant upwards momentum going by historical figures and current geo-political events. Photo © by Guide to Society.

Drivers in Victoria would be wise brace for record gasoline prices in 2011 as an unstable middle east and north Africa add pressure to already stressed global oil supplies.

An idea of what to expect in Victoria come summer is in the run-up to June and July 2008’s record-obliterating $1.53 per liter of gasoline.  In March of that year prices at the pump were hovering slightly lower than $1.20 per liter, according to historical data supplied by the gasoline price tracking website GasBuddy.com.

Fast forwarding to 2011, this past January and February surpassed the records of the priciest first two months of any previous year.  March has, too, and it’s only the second day of the month.

Today’s price of $1.239 per liter suggests that significant capacity for higher prices remains and a wild ride is to be expected through the fall, after which prices typically begin to recede.

Considering the political instability abroad and today’s announcement of a barrel of oil closing north of $100 (marking a 2 and half year high), 2011’s prices could ultimately make drivers wish for highs from 2008. VV

To discuss the price of gasoline in the capital region and south Island on the VibrantVictoria discussion forum, click here.

Copyright © 2011 by VibrantVictoria.ca.  All rights reserved.

Saanich Council likes evening jazz and karaoke but frowns on early morning boozing. Photo © VibrantVictoria

If you were planning on hoisting an Applebee’s Bahama Mama or Colada Swirl after midnight you may be in for a long wait.

At a Monday night meeting of Saanich Council’s Committee of the Whole, Councillors sent Applebee’s away empty handed after the McKenzie Avenue restaurant requested an extension of their liquor service until 1 a.m.

Located in the Tuscany Village development near Shelbourne Street, the restaurant is part of a large mixed-use development and is overlooked by dozens of residential condo units.

Councillors were wary of approving an extension without hearing the concerns of neighbours. The Committee of the Whole, chaired by Councillor Susan Brice, voted to decline the application and asked the applicant to canvas the opinions of residents before reapplying.

Councillor Paul Gerrard said a midnight cut-off time for alcohol sales was more than sufficient, saying that most businesses in the surrounding area, including Starbucks are shut by 11 p.m or earlier. Councillor Vicki Sanders was concerned an extended liquor service could be disruptive, citing the problems associated with the new McCrae’s restaurant on Shelbourne Street. Sanders said there have been issues with patrons of the popular eatery spilling out into the neighbourhood.

Saanich Planning staff recommended that Council turn down the request and they agreed, telling owner Chad Huff that they are welcome to reapply once they’ve done some community consultation.

Downtown Victoria has seen a rash of applications from restaurants hoping to cash in on the late night crowd wanting alcohol and a snack. Most applications have been granted despite concerns the restaurants are operating as de facto bars. VV

You can read more on Applebee’s and the rest of the Tuscany Village development by following the link to this thread on VibrantVictoria’s discussion forum.

Copyright © 2011 by VibrantVictoria.ca. All rights reserved.

Adult monthly passes will increase by $2.50 with senior and youth passes rising by $3 on April 1st. Photo © by VibrantVictoria.ca.

BC Transit is raising monthly and college bus fares on April 1st, marking the second consecutive year of fare hikes for the Victoria Regional Transit System.

Fares for adult monthly pass holders will rise by $2.50 to $82.50. College and university passes will increase by $2.50 to $74.50 for a semester pass.  handyDART fares will also increase by $2.50 to $82.50.

Seniors and youth (ages 6 through 18) will pay $3 more for a monthly pass totaling $49.

Single ride tickets and cash fares, dubbed conventional fares, will remain unchanged at $2.50 per ride, or $22.50 for a set of 10 tickets.  Youth and senior 10-ticket packs will continue to sell for $15.

A 2009 fare review conducted by BC Transit called for a gradual rise in the cost of an adult monthly pass to $90 and mulled the introduction of an off-peak pass for $75, although no advancements in the alternative pass have been publicized.

According to BC Transit’s statistics, rider fares make up just shy of 40% of total revenues.  30% comes from the province and another 30% is split between gas and property taxes.  Advertising revenues bring in a negligible 0.5%.

Operating 365 days per year, the capital’s transit system serves approximately 22-million passengers annually.  VV

To discuss BC Transit and Victoria Regional Transit System issues on the VibrantVictoria discussion forum, click here.  To view BC Transit’s fare information page, click here.

Copyright © 2011 by VibrantVictoria.ca.  All rights reserved.

Victoria mayor Dean Fortin converses with a delegate in front of a sign announcing the city's sustainability award. Photo © VibrantVictoria.ca

Dean Fortin had reason to be proud at a ceremony Wednesday evening celebrating Canada’s award-winning sustainable cities.

Besides hosting the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Sustainable Cities Conference on behalf of the City of Victoria, Fortin accepted an award in the residential development category for its new secondary suites policy.

This is the first time the FCM conference has been held outside Ottawa. Victoria’s Douglas Street conference centre has been packed with delegates from across the nation who are participating in the three-day event’s lineup of workshops and panel discussions.

Victoria’s secondary suite program was designed to make it easier for homeowners to install legal secondary suites, earning extra income for the landlord and easing the affordable housing crunch.

Not content to rest on his laurels, Fortin intends to continue work on the missing links in housing affordability. The mayor says that while projects like the Traveller’s Inn and Dockside Green help supply the lower and upper end of the affordability spectrum there remains a need for reasonably-priced housing for Victoria’s working youth.

Fortin admits that no definitive plans are forthcoming but that industry leaders have been working with government on a solution. When asked what role private investment will play, Fortin says the input of groups like the Urban Development Institute will be key. “Absolutely, the UDI is part of the discussion. Good things come when government listens to what the experts have to say”.

The secondary suite grant program is not without its critics. VibrantVictoria forum participant akimbo complained about the lengthy and costly process of inspections and permits in a September 2010 post. Contributor Baro follows up in a post saying the inspection process often uncovers unrelated code violations in other parts of the house which jeopardize the chance of installing the suite cheaply. VV

A thread on the subject of Victoria’s secondary suites can be found here on Vibrant Victoria’s discussion forum. Affordable housing is discussed in this thread.

Copyright © 2011 by VibrantVictoria.ca. All rights reserved.

Are Victorians prepared for a megaquake? Photo illustration © by VibrantVictoria.ca

Tomorrow marks the 311th anniversary of the catastropic magnitude 9.0 Cascadia earthquake and emergency preparedness officials are using the date to hold the first ever province-wide disaster drill.

The Great British Columbia ShakeOut is designed to motivate people to have an action plan in place in case of a devastating disaster like a mega-quake.

Residents are asked to

1. Register to log their intent to participate
2. Take time before the drill to ensure relief supplies are ready and that their home or office is quake-proofed by doing things like ensuring tall bookcases are secured to the wall with a bracket.
3. On January 26, at 10:00 a.m., take cover under a table as if a quake were occurring and be aware of potential hazards like objects that would topple or glass that would shatter. Plan an escape route to use after the shaking stops.

Rob Johns of the Victoria Emergency Management Agency is helping to coordinate the City’s involvement and says condo and apartment dwellers can customize their preparations to suit the urban environmment. “Many people put their emergency supplies in a square suitcase rather than a duffel bag in order to save space”, Johns says.  In addition to a kit near the exit, residents may also choose to have a back-up kit in their car but Johns warns that an underground parkade may be inaccessible after a quake. He doesn’t recommend keeping your kit in a basement storage locker for the same reason.

A three-day supply of food and water should be kept handy, however it would be best to have food that doesn’t require heating as indoor storage and use of portable fuel could be hazardous. According to Johns, homeowners who don’t live in apartments could use canisters of white gas for cooking but only outdoors in order to avoid the buildup of deadly gases.

The Great British Columbia ShakeOut is inspired by a 2008 initiative in California where 5.4 million participants took part in the drill.  VV

Emergency preparedness in the Capital Region is discussed here on VibrantVictoria’s forum.

Copyright © 2011 by VibrantVictoria.ca. All rights reserved.