1095 replies to this topic

[Nparker]

Restricting the supply of new, denser housing stock is a great way to maintain affordability: http://www.timescolo...tions-1.2261248

[Mike K.]

First couple of paragraphs:

"Victoria should consider imposing a moratorium on the demolition of single-family homes — a trend that may be adding fuel to the current red-hot real-estate market, says Coun. Ben Isitt.

“My feeling is the city should move forward with some sort of interim emergency bylaw to halt demolitions of single-family homes in the city,” Isitt said Friday."


In other words, socialism. Older homes are often less efficient, expensive to maintain, require new wiring, many have asbestos, and so on.

[Nparker]

And I get faulted for calling someone comrade.

[sebberry]

Restricting the supply of new, denser housing stock is a great way to maintain affordability: http://www.timescolo...tions-1.2261248

 

 In 2014, 19 demolition permits were issued for single-family homes and three for duplexes. Last year, 57 demolition permits issues were for single-family homes and two were for duplexes. - See more at: http://www.timescolo...h.cGp3VlkP.dpuf

 

 

How do we find out what houses the permits were issued for? 

[Nparker]

In 2014, 19 demolition permits were issued for single-family homes and three for duplexes. Last year, 57 demolition permits issued were for single-family homes and two were for duplexes...

And these demolished "homes" were or will be replace by what? That's the question that needs to be answered before some sort of draconian measures to halt demolition are put in place.

[aastra]

I think the key here is to incentivize the preservation of houses built prior to ~1950 or whenever. Carrot, not stick. Re: relocations, maybe offer some perks for relocation inside a certain radius? That way some of the relocated houses might actually remain in Victoria? If the soup gets stirred up a bit that's still preferable to losing all of the flavour, right?

 

That said, let's not go overboard. If somebody wants to tear down a 1980s house, that's really their business. Pretending that the 1980s house is heritage (and forgetting that the entire neighbourhood protested against it back in the day because it was an insult to heritage) is really silly.

 

Methinks Victoria's greatest development controversy is yet to come, when those hundreds and hundreds of post-war apartment blocks come due for replacement. Actually, we might already be in the early stages of the process.

[Coreyburger]

Methinks Victoria's greatest development controversy is yet to come, when those hundreds and hundreds of post-war apartment blocks come due for replacement. Actually, we might already be in the early stages of the process.

 

We saw the beginnings of that with the building of the Clive, which replaced a 1950s apartment building.

[aastra]

Yeah, and the one on Douglas Street in James Bay. And now this proposal for lower Cook Street.

[Coreyburger]

Yeah, and the one on Douglas Street in James Bay. And now this proposal for lower Cook Street.

 

What seems to be going first are the two/three story small buildings - unsurprisingly.

[zoomer]

Methinks Victoria's greatest development controversy is yet to come, when those hundreds and hundreds of post-war apartment blocks come due for replacement. Actually, we might already be in the early stages of the process.

 

Likely, although on my walk back downtown along Cook street from Dallas road yesterday I was surprised to see how much renovation and upgrading is going on with those large apartment blocks built in the 50's and 60's.  They are starting to look classic almost, most of them are in immaculate condition and the grounds are amazing. Being in a prime part of town doesn't hurt.

[LJ]

If the city won't issue a demolition permit have them purchase the house from you at fair market value.

[Nparker]

VicHockeyFan, on 18 Sept 2016 - 10:45 AM, said:

...Would anyone buy a micro-condo [on]...Dowler St. just north of the arena? That reminds me, can we get rid of the dairy there?  Surely that property has more value as something else, and the dairy could move to Keating...

And while we're at it, nudge Canadian Linen Supply off the 900 block of North Park into a more suitable industrial site. I'd love to see the fireworks erupt if something taller/more dense than a tree house were to be proposed for that site.

[johnk]

Three big car lots occupying prime downtown space. Just guessing, that could support about 500 rental/condo units all told. I'd like to see the car lots along the Douglas corridor north of Hillside but not holding my breath.

[Mike K.]

CFAX has an oddly worded poll on their website right now: Should higher density development be discouraged in Victoria?

 

68% are not in favour of reducing densities.

[VicHockeyFan]

Three big car lots occupying prime downtown space. Just guessing, that could support about 500 rental/condo units all told. I'd like to see the car lots along the Douglas corridor north of Hillside but not holding my breath.

 

Is there any good reason we can not have a car lot, with a sales showroom, under a 16-floor residential building?  That would suit everyone.

[VicHockeyFan]

I am a longtime resident of Victoria, in particular James Bay.

One thing that attracted me to Victoria is its character, especially the character homes in old districts such as James Bay, Fairfield and Oak Bay.

Over the past few years, though, I’ve noticed a dismaying number of new houses being built that are completely at odds with the city’s character. I’m talking about the cubes. You’ve seen them, I’m sure.

They are sprouting up like ugly, square mushrooms everywhere — blocky structures that have nothing at all to do with our pretty city. Sometimes there is part of a roof that slants up slightly; I don’t know if this is an attempt to create “style,” but if so, it’s not working.

Victoria is quickly losing its character, something that residents cherish and that tourists spend a lot of money coming to visit. Whoever on city council is approving these zero-appeal excuses for architecture is not doing the tourism business any favours.

 

Karla Decker

Victoria

 

- See more at: http://www.timescolo...h.2krsmzEf.dpuf

[Nparker]

So the millions of people who visit cities around the world with contemporary architecture are wrong? 

I hate to break it the locals who think we have to live in some "Victorian, gingerbread time capsule" or we'll never again see another penny from tourism, the main draw here is our geographic setting, climate and low-value Canadian dollar. Statistics prove this out. 

[VicHockeyFan]

Lots of people have an opinion on FB:

 

https://www.facebook...491987907487543

 

It looks like about 80-20 "pro box".

[aastra]

I also have a problem with the abundance of grey & brown modern boxes. Any one house unto itself is fine, but when you have five of them on a street it doesn't look good at all. It's funny because in past eras the same styles or even the exact same designs were also repeated like crazy, but there's just something about this style that rubs me the wrong way when there's a bunch of them together. Also, it's not just a Victoria problem. It's happening everywhere. People need to mix it up ASAP with different materials and details, etc.

[aastra]

And now I check the link and see that the pic shows a house that isn't your typical grey/brown box house.

 

 

If every home was a character home, that would actually detract from the character. These cube homes built amongst character homes in fact accentuates the character of the homes and neighbourhoods.

 

I agree 100% with this. As exceptions these modern houses are great in pretty much any neighbourhood. But when they become too numerous in close proximity it doesn't make for a nice effect.