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[Downtown Victoria] Crystal Garden Block announcement


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#301 G-Man

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Posted 06 September 2013 - 01:28 PM

Agree. With a ground floor pub and patio right at the pinnacle point of the triangle would be amazing.

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It has a whole new look!

 


#302 amor de cosmos

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Posted 08 September 2013 - 03:08 PM

wayyyyy too much fun:



#303 Kapten Kapsell

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Posted 09 May 2017 - 06:30 AM

CoV seeking buyer/developer for triangle lot next to Crystal Gardens: http://www.timescolo...-lot-1.18955242
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#304 Rob Randall

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Posted 09 May 2017 - 07:03 AM

The City started flogging this property 10 years ago:

image.jpeg

#305 aastra

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Posted 09 May 2017 - 07:03 AM

 

Buildings could go up to 15 storeys...

 

It seems funny to specify a floor count but not an actual height. A 15-story office building or even a 15-story modern hotel could be considerably taller than a 15-story residential building. Are they being flexible by specifying a floor count instead of a height or are they making that same old mistake?



#306 aastra

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Posted 09 May 2017 - 07:06 AM

I honestly think I'd prefer a (very fancy/high-quality) shorter building along the lines of the first or second image in Rob Randall's post.


Edited by aastra, 09 May 2017 - 07:21 AM.


#307 aastra

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Posted 09 May 2017 - 07:09 AM

Of course, allowing a building much taller than Aria on this site raises the perplexing question: why was Aria forced to cut back to only 12 stories? Aria should have been taller and this site should be shorter, stepping down toward the Crystal Garden and the conference centre and the old town overall, etc.


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#308 Kach

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Posted 09 May 2017 - 07:53 AM

I feel this lot is another opportunity to attempt a true downtown transit exchange, to consolidate all routes that either pass through or terminate downtown.  Likely not the best use for such a high profile spot, but not the worst use either.  Maybe an exchange with a building over top?

 

Footprint may be a bit small though.



#309 Mike K.

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Posted 09 May 2017 - 07:59 AM

Isn't this where a casino could go?


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#310 Rob Randall

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Posted 09 May 2017 - 08:17 AM

^Casino, office, hotel, residential, it's all been considered at one point. Helps' "research and development" hub is a new one, and to me, the least likely scenario of all. 

 

Maybe she realizes it's a long shot and she's just trying to get developers to think out of the box, look past the tired "office or condo" paradigm.


Edited by Rob Randall, 09 May 2017 - 08:18 AM.


#311 spanky123

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Posted 09 May 2017 - 08:53 AM

^Casino, office, hotel, residential, it's all been considered at one point. Helps' "research and development" hub is a new one, and to me, the least likely scenario of all. 

 

Maybe she realizes it's a long shot and she's just trying to get developers to think out of the box, look past the tired "office or condo" paradigm.

 

I think that the likely options are Chinese investors/buyers coming in and building a hotel, Chinese investors/buyers coming in and building condos, or Chinese investors/buyers coming in and building some sort of mixed use building. All Helps is trying to do put some lipstick on it. With the amount of vacant office space available downtown I don't see anyone investing in new infrastructure in such a pricey location. In addition, anyone who actually reads BC and Canada stats instead of just listening to local hypsters knows that the tech industry has actually been shrinking in BC and Victoria over the past two years.


Edited by spanky123, 09 May 2017 - 08:55 AM.


#312 Mike K.

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Posted 09 May 2017 - 09:39 AM

Perhaps this could be a parcel TELUS will get behind. They've been looking for a high-profile downtown Victoria location for a new centralized Victoria office, and given what shoeflack said the other day about TELUS execs wanting to see their building when arriving via float plane, the Crystal Gardens block appears to fit that bill.

 

That, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Jawls involved in some capacity.


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#313 aastra

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Posted 09 May 2017 - 09:56 AM

That would be a heckuva thing. As long as any masts, dishes, or other rooftop hardware are shrouded from view.



#314 Nparker

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Posted 30 May 2017 - 10:17 AM

A prominent downtown Victoria property at Douglas and Humboldt streets has attracted interest from six potential developers. No details are being released regarding details in the expressions of interest, Rebecca Penz, city spokeswoman, said Monday...

 

- See more at: http://www.timescolo...h.TF5G7efw.dpuf

I'll be curious to see what comes of this. I still think we need a local version of the Flatiron here; perhaps half as tall. 

Flatiron.jpg


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#315 Nparker

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Posted 26 July 2017 - 11:24 AM

From this week's CoV Council meeting agenda

Apex.JPG

I'd love to see these proposals.


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#316 29er Radio

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Posted 26 July 2017 - 12:41 PM

i know some of the proponents have already heard they have not made the cut, so I wonder if they will be discussing the winner, or the best of the offers. And why does all this have to take place behind closed doors? How is that open governing? 


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#317 aastra

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Posted 26 July 2017 - 01:31 PM

 

And why does all this have to take place behind closed doors?

 

Because it makes it easier to flatly reject really good proposals?


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#318 29er Radio

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Posted 26 July 2017 - 01:48 PM

I have debated with the mayor the whole closed door thing many times on our podcast. Of course city staff and lawyers suggest closed doors, "to protect the process" but I call BS. I have been to many property auctions with many sophisticated buyers and sellers and none of them felt that the auction process which provides the ultimate in openness was unfair.


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