513 replies to this topic

[Bernard]

Market forces would appear to suggest otherwise.

I would disagree because this is a zoning issue.  We ran out of available industrial land in the CRD in 1996 and municipalities have added more or less no new industrial zoning since then.   

[Nparker]

So where/who are the industries clamouring for zoning changes?

[Mike K.]

The market doesn't want industrial operations anywhere near residential areas. It's far better to have 7,000 people living in a place like Royal Bay than a truck compound and a fish plant.

[insanelydeadlydisease]

James Bay is a much better locale for industrial development anyway. 

[Mike K.]

July 29

 

 

 

 

[jonny]

Those are nice looking houses. Love the porch look, especially.

[dasmo]

They do look nice. If those stone walkways actually lead to nice public spaces this could be a great suburb and a good model for high density family friendly development. The school is certainly very nice....

[jonny]

It could be a great 'hood, and I hope it turns out that way.

 

Although, the current middle of the Sahara Desert look makes me laugh every time I see it!

[Hotel Mike]

I dunno. Somehow living right in the middle of a gravel pit is scary to me. But if you are up high enough, those are the killer views back towards Victoria with Mt.Baker in the background!

[Mike K.]

The Empress was built on swampland. I think a gravel pit is pretty good, all things considered

[dasmo]

They probably mean aesthetically. It's a lot bigger than Dockside Green and those early buyers are still living in a constructive zone over a decade later. The reality beyond the hype is that one might be living in a gravel pit for most their lives buying here. Even though it looks like the community is going to be nice looking and well designed, it will be the next generation enjoying it.

[Mike K.]

Westhills, Bear Mountain, Thetis Vale, Kettle Creek, Sunriver Estates, and a flurry of others have done pretty good with the building out of their communities.

Why so glum over Royal Bay?

Buyers know what they're getting into, there's no illusions. This is how cities the world over are built, and we can't all live in established neighbourhoods.

[VicHockeyFan]

I dunno. Somehow living right in the middle of a gravel pit is scary to me. But if you are up high enough, those are the killer views back towards Victoria with Mt.Baker in the background!

 

It's super "clean-slate", and you'd think then they could do some marvellous landscaping etc.

[Nparker]

...you'd think then they could do some marvellous landscaping etc.

It worked for Butchart Gardens.

[dasmo]

Glum? I was totally positive. Just pointing out what was meant by living in a gravel pit. Here is some negative for you. Wasn't Bear Mountain also hyped as a seven year build out like Dockside Green? Also hyped as the Whistler of golf. Still a construction zone over a decade later. At least Royal Bay started as a gravel pit. Bear mountain started as a wonderful wooded hill top and was turned into a gravel yard....

[Mike K.]

Bear Mountain was never hyped as a seven year build-out, I don't think, and everyone knew much of the development could not proceed without the new road from Leigh Road interchange. That was the big kink. As was the market crash which also affected Dockside.

Anyways, I think you'll find BM's neighbourhoods have come together rather well. It's still a big work in progress, but it's not exactly a gravel yard as you call it and many areas are now fully built-out.

Royal Bay is our one and only development on flat land, much like how we see them everywhere else in the country. And if you buy in and find yourself staring onto a field for a while it's still a heck of a lot better to be doing it here with the mountains and ocean as your backdrop than endless horizon.

This is the first phase at Royal Bay, the first 28 homes out of 2,300. We need to relax a little even if it's not Shangri-la in a year.

[dasmo]

I'm relaxed and am liking it so far. It is what it is.
I know for a fact both the railyards and the DG were touted as seven year build outs. BM not for certain but I was at an early presentation and remember something like that. It certainly wasn't 30 years which is what it will be if we are lucky.

Edited by dasmo, 31 July 2016 - 11:22 AM.

[Hotel Mike]

It's not the location of living in a gravel pit that worries me. My fear of the gravel pit is perhaps an irrational dread of liquefaction in the event of a major earthquake.

[LJ]

I'm relaxed and am liking it so far. It is what it is.
I know for a fact both the railyards and the DG were touted as seven year build outs. BM not for certain but I was at an early presentation and remember something like that. It certainly wasn't 30 years which is what it will be if we are lucky.

BM was never going to be a 7 year build out, there are not enough construction crews or equipment on the south island to make that happen. Try getting a contractor to do some work on your house today and you will be lucky if you get a call back. Everybody is looking for help. 

You only build out as the market allows, when the recession hits you hit pause, nobody can afford to have stock built sitting around unsold.

[dasmo]

BM was never going to be a 7 year build out, there are not enough construction crews or equipment on the south island to make that happen. Try getting a contractor to do some work on your house today and you will be lucky if you get a call back. Everybody is looking for help.
You only build out as the market allows, when the recession hits you hit pause, nobody can afford to have stock built sitting around unsold.

Exactly. But the truth doesn't market well...