794 replies to this topic

[Kapten Kapsell]

I didn't realize that people were already residing in and renting out the units in the heritage buildings on the site...

[Rob Randall]

One year since a good street-level photo? C'mon, shutterbugs!

[grantpalin]

Who needs a desk or bookcase when you've got a whole library downstairs! Big library is definitely in on the fix with these floorplans.

I though the library thing happened late in the planning process. If so it couldn't have seriously affected floor plans? In any case I have books and knicknacks of my own, DVDs etc that I need some shelf space for. Need a desk for my desktop PC, printer etc.

[grantpalin]

The 2 bed + 2 bath + den/office would be nice!

The floorplate is an odd shape for the D2/3 layouts. The D1 layout could work for me, one bedroom for an office.

[iambach]

I'm trying to figure out if I want to wait for this place or not. Does anyone know anything about the pricing of the condos or is willing to hazard a guess? I don't want to wait another year and a half just to find out I can't afford this place.

[HB]

Call concert properties and ask

[MarkoJ]

I'm trying to figure out if I want to wait for this place or not. Does anyone know anything about the pricing of the condos or is willing to hazard a guess? I don't want to wait another year and a half just to find out I can't afford this place.

 

Given the current market I don't think you'll see anything under $700 a square foot.  That gives you a bit of an idea.

[Mike K.]

Correct. And it'll be concrete, so that should give us every indication it'll be at the higher end of the spectrum to begin with. The only comparable right now is The Wade if concrete is what you're after, then there's Lyra out in Saanich. Otherwise it's all highrises or woodframes.

[Kapten Kapsell]

986 Heywood will also be a concrete lowrise, though no prices have been released...

[Kungsberg]

One year since a good street-level photo? C'mon, shutterbugs!

Long-time lurker (i.e. admirer), first time poster, so hope these photos come through.

 

Here are some shots from the past two weeks or so.  

 

Starting off from the south side (Michigan St) mid-block,looking north, and a walk around the site counter-clockwise.

 

So Michigan (yet-to-be-built residential condo/townhouses, but with heritage houses already relocated to Michigan and being rented out).

Menzies (corner where Red Barn Market is going to be), with rental on Menzies above retail.

Superior (corner is entrance to future library branch), with government offices all along Superior.

Public square (with views from back of the legislature).  Next to the Queen's Printer the old office buildings will be demolished for phase 2), which will be further government offices. 

Back around to Michigan St with it's 3 relocated heritage houses.

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[Mike K.]

Smokes it right out of the park (get it, Capital Park?) right in the first post.

Welcome to VV!

Now I'll let myself out.

[Mike K.]

986 Heywood will also be a concrete lowrise, though no prices have been released...

Correct, although I'm not sure if that's received final approvals just yet. I also suspect it will be one of the most expensive projects on the market when it hits.

[Nparker]

Now THIS is how you design and build a low-rise office building. It respects its historic environment without mimicking it. High quality finishing materials are used and just enough "additional scale" is introduced to make excellent use of its site. I am very excited to watch as this project moves along towards completion.

 

Edit: I almost forgot: Thank you Kungsberg for these most excellent photos. Your lurking has paid off. 

Edited by Nparker, 29 April 2017 - 02:31 PM.

[zoomer]

Yep, thanks KB!

Although I'll disagree with NParker, such a bleak, uninspired and ultimately disappointing building. I'm still hopeful in terms of the landscaping and outdoor public realm, although maybe I shouldn't be.

[VicHockeyFan]

THIS is how you make a VV debut post!  Wow.

[Nparker]

... such a bleak, uninspired and ultimately disappointing building...

Not enough red brick cladding for you? Perhaps you were hoping the architects would have taken their inspiration from the fine river rock edifices of Langford.

[zoomer]

Red brick would make it even worse I'm afraid, let's not even mention river rock! . Come on NP, are those the only three possible styles you can think of!?

There's a reason no one is taking pics of this development, it's bland! Thank god Kungsburg finally gave us an update! As I've always said, and I think Aastra subscribes to this theory as well.. good buildings make you stop and look, think, admire and maybe even take a pic.

This is a massive office complex/mixed use development DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM ARGUEABLY THE FINEST BUILDING EVER BUILT IN BC, and THAT is the best we can do?! It's a bland suburban office park, devastating..

We didn't have to break the bank to build something special either..

[VicHockeyFan]

I dunno, it's got that one angle thing going on.

[zoomer]

Would something like this had been so hard? 

 

 

Definitely feels more urban and solid than what we have now.  Render from CGarchitect.com

 

Not quite, but this still is better from Archdaily.com:

 

 

another possibility:

 

[Nparker]

....There's a reason no one is taking pics of this development, it's bland!...

Or perhaps because it's only about 25% complete. 

I stand by my assessment that this project, when complete, will be a good fit for its surroundings, both in scale and aesthetics. Keep in mind that this is Victoria and perhaps even more critical, this project is in James Bay, where there is zero chance of anything terribly innovative (in a contemporary architectural sense) being approved. The earlier, dead-on-arrival designs for the Crystal Court site

and the Admiral's Inn pyramid proposal

speak volumes as to what happens to non-traditional designs in this part of the city.

 

Since you (and apparently aastra) feel this project is too bland, perhaps you can supply some examples of what you would have liked to have seen here that would have made it past the scrutiny of both the James Bay NIMBY Association and Pam Madoff's style council.