[Langford] The Conductor condos | 45.9m | 12-storeys | Canceled in 2007

Langford: A 15-storey tower with 119 units and a height of 45.9 meters has been approved at 2885 Jacklin Road near Station Ave (across from the Lordco store), dubbed Langford Station.

Right along those E&N tracks . Perfect!

hmm, trying to picture where this is.
Will it have ground-level retail, do we know?

I think that's the plan, actually.

Think of the new drive through Starbucks on Jacklin across from Westshore place. Now think several blocks north on Jacklin at the train tracks.

Ohh, yes, of course. That was approved quickly / never even heard of it before it went to council.

Sort of on topic, I was wondering what was going to to happen to the giant lot behind the drive-through starbucks, next to where the Langford Parkway is going to go. That used to be marshland, and then they filled it in for something, but it's been empty for so long.

They are slowly filling it up piece meal with miscilaneous buildings. I have never seen a master plan of that area. I do not know where they are going with that.

That's a good point. Langford doesn't have much in the way of planning, just regulations that can be amended as seen fit by developers.

But sometimes piece by piece development is what's required to get the wheels moving towards some formal planning. It happened with Harris Green with the charrette (after several larger buildings went up) and I'm sure it'll happen out west sooner or later. Afterall, Langford can't rely on masterplanned communities masquerading as formal urban planning (such communities are piecemeal developments too, albeit much larger).

Let's make that a 15-storey folks!

Langford panel backs 15-storey tower
Condo-retail project in the municipality's downtown gets early approval as developers seek variances

Bill Cleverley, Times Colonist
Published: Wednesday, August 30, 2006
A proposal to build what would be the tallest building in Langford's downtown was given a green light by the city's planning committee Monday.

At 15 storeys, the Langford Station, would be a mixed use commercial/condominium project on an undeveloped 1.5-acre lot at the corner of Jacklin Road and Station Avenue.

Langford city council will make the final decision on whether it goes ahead.

Plans for the 119-condo building show a central tower that rises 13 storeys (including a two-storey penthouse) above a single storey with a mezzanine commercial ground floor. There would be two five-storey "wings" extending in a V shape that consist of three storeys of residential space above a single level of commercial offices.

A two-storey, above-ground parkade with 205 spaces and a fully landscaped roof with trees, gardens, lawns, some patios, a barbecue pit and a swimming pool is to be constructed between the wings.

Committee chairwoman Coun. Lillian Szpak is pleased with the building, which she said adds no more density than what is already allowed on the site.

"I think it would be a wonderful way to develop that area," she said.

"What I love about it is it's going to tie into our rail and into our vision to have a commuter rail going through Langford."

"I think it's very exciting," said Coun. Winnie Sifert, a member of the committee. "I'm really looking forward to it."

Jeffrey Bayles, of Brentwood Developments, told the committee there's an outside chance (depending on financing) that the building could be built in a single stage. But it is more likely it would be constructed in two phases, with the parkade and the wood-frame wings built first and the tower in the second phase.

Bayles said some of the smaller condos would be about 740 square feet, but the majority would be 950 to 1,000 square feet.

The zoning is already in place. Bayles is seeking a variance to allow the building to exceed a five-storey limit on the site -- a request that now goes before Langford city council.

The only residential area near the property is across Jacklin Road to the west. It would be in the shadow of the tower during morning hours, municipal planning staff advised.

Staff also noted that the proposed building would be located beside the E&N Railway right-of-way, which could be used for future commuter trains. They recommended that Bayles use building materials that would reduce noise from the outside.

Bayles said that if the building is approved, he's willing to make a contribution toward the purchase of a new aerial fire truck for the community.

Interesting. I hope something comes of this proposal.

This is the rendering from the paper:

It looks awesome.

You know where this building would look great? On that corner with the Enterprise rent a car on Douglas and Humboldt. Though bump it up to 18 Storeys.

Yep, but if you allow a taller building on that site then you screw the good people in Aria.

I have a problem with laying down the law re: height in one instance and then relaxing it in another instance just across the way.

I think an 8-10 story "flatiron" building would work on that triangular city lot.

If you really want to make me happy, put your 15-story flatiron building at Hillside and Douglas on the gas station site.

Downtown needs a flatiron!!!!

The Townline towers will be flatiron-like, won't they?

True, but a classic flat iron meets a street corner.

^^ Agreed we need to bring this up with council. Though technically Victoria has a flatiron building in Vic West. It is even called The Flatiron

Good call!

^^Yes, it's where William St. meets Esquimalt Rd., right? Too bad it's only two storeys. But across the street is another wedge-shaped lot--used to be a dry cleaners. Prime potential for another flat iron.

Sorry for taking this off topic but I love that style of building.

What the heck is Flat Iron???