The Jukebox | 8-storeys | Residential

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The Jukebox is the third proposal on the 1000-block View Street property since the early 2000’s. The original concept was 7-storeys and in early 2011 was redesigned as a 9-storey building. Now the plan calls for 7 floors above a single commercial floor.

The first proposal, designed by Number 10 Architecture, was for a two-tower residential project. A second design featured a low-rise building with a 14-storey component on the northwest corner of the property.

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Project Statistics

Status: Approved
Construction Dates
Began: -
Completed: -
Floor Count: 8
Units: ~200
Building uses
Residential, commercial
Structural types
Lowrise
Address: 1000-block of View Street
Municipality: Victoria

Companies

Developer: Don Charity
Architect:
Contractor:

This project's public discussion on VibrantVictoria.ca

Below are the five latest responses to the dedicated discussion thread for this project:

VicHockeyFan

Apr 20, 2012 at 2:45 pm

Quote: The best example of this sort of commercial space is at 1030 Yates. There's a hair salon and I'm not sure what else. Certainly no street presence nor a desire to attract walk-ins, that's for sure.

http://maps.google.com/?ll=48.425278,-123.355267&spn=0.00136,0.003406&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=48.425264,-123.355121&panoid=sJqWsXKXY0phjvCni-DaeA&cbp=12,346.56,,0,-4.5

Ya, there's a lawyer there too, live/work. But really, that commercial is like it's not even trying. It's almost hiding.

Mike K.

Apr 20, 2012 at 2:56 pm

...and with the recessed stairs leading up to the commercial Jukebox just seems like it's trying to replicate 1030.

Quote: I thought that the deal with 1030 Yates was that it was supposed to be residential ground floor but was changed to retail at the last minute which is what accounts for the lack of cohesion and commercial appeal you allude to.

First I've heard but that would explain a few things.

Islander888

Apr 20, 2012 at 4:44 pm

Quote: The thing is, does street-level retail really "kill" a deal this big?

Ya, it might be a dumb idea, but say they end up getting 25% lower lease rates than a normal, busier street because of the area. Does that kill it? Not all retail has to attract a walk-by crowd to be viable. Hair salons, specialty retail, stuff like that can work there. Does "retail" mean they can't have say, lawyers offices there?

Great points and common sense would suggest that you are right however.......... remember the earlier post re: common sense, the City mandates that 51% must be 'retail' I.E restaurants, boutiques, stores etc Lawyers, accountants, Hairdressers etc are ok but only up to 49%. These spaces are far too small to be viable for any sort of retail and as for a restaurant, well how many failed in the Mosaic before it switched over? (I believe it was 4?) The venting and fire systems alone would make it a money losing operation before it even opened. Does it kill the project? probably not, but it makes the developer look twice before proceeding, or switching to pre-sales before starting anything. Without the reduced setbacks by going commercial on the ground floor, thus allowing increased density, this project would not be viable in todays market.

Islander888

Apr 20, 2012 at 4:54 pm

Quote: ...and with the recessed stairs leading up to the commercial Jukebox just seems like it's trying to replicate 1030.

First I've heard but that would explain a few things.

That’s an old plan, due to the cities insistence that the ground floor be commercial the developer was forced to re-design the frontage, the latest version has leveled the ground floor out allowing street level access to these spaces, due in large part to the requirement of wheelchair accessibility for commercial spaces. This is further exacerbated by the additional requirement of a wheelchair accessible washroom within the space, taking what was already a limited floor area and making it even less desirable to any potential ‘retailer’. I realize this is a one-sided simplistic view (mine J ) and the urbanization of downtown requires more commercial outlets, however forcing a round peg into a square hole leaves you with something that looks like it doesn’t belong, IMHO