Renovation planned for derelict Fan Tan building
A historic Fan Tan Alley building is set for a dramatic rejuvenation as a market rental apartment building.
The Hoy Sung Ning Yung Benevolent Association, which owns the 80 year old building at 540 Pandora Avenue is looking to build an extra storey or two on top of the Italianate-style brick building in order to pay for the extensive renovations required to bring it up to code.
The historic Hoy Sun Ning Yung building at 540 Pandora will one day be reborn as a market rental apartment building. Photo by Robert Randall © VibrantVictoria.ca.
The building has been owned for generations by the Association, which was founded by Chinese immigrants mostly hailing from Hoy Sun County in southern Guangdong Province.
The Association will first study market demands to establish the needs of apartment renters. Paul Chan of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association says it is unlikely the building will house luxury apartments or condos, especially as there is no on-site parking. Chan claims sub-700 square foot suites would be a more successful fit and would be easier for the Association to build. Market rentals also ensure the building remains in control of the Association.
The Association will consult with the local community, City Hall and architects to determine the form the setback rooftop extension should take. They are determined that any additional density not impact Fan Tan Alley, of which the Hoy Sun Ning Yung building forms the southwestern-most portion. Light tracking studies may be commissioned to ensure the Alley gets the same amount of sunlight into its narrow passage. Commercial retail space is planned for the ground floor, meaning a long-boarded up storefront in the alley will be revitalized.
Architect and former mayor Alan Lowe who is consulting on the project says that it is unlikely that the Association will make use of the new heritage transfer scheme proposed in the Draft Downtown Plan as the building is already close to the permitted 3:1 floor space ratio and that there would not be a lot of unused density that could be sold to another developer.
The Association is cautiously investigating its options and has not yet formally submitted an application to City Hall.
The building was last renovated in 1954 and is currently used primarily for storage. One of the few current retail uses is a battered soda vending machine behind a barred ground floor window.
Take part in a discussion on this building by following this link to the VibrantVictoria forum.
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Responses to this Headline or Article
The five most recent replies to VibrantVictoria.ca's discussion forum's 540 Pandora | (Hoy Sun Ning Yung Building, Fan Tan Alley) thread, the most relevant thread to the above headline or article:
Allan E
May 13, 2011 at 12:43 pmWith all due respect Robert,
They are planning on adding 2 storeys to the two abandoned buildings they own on the west end of Fan Tan Alley . Their proposal is to make 31 residential/rental apartments plus commercial spaces in buildings they have not done any maintenance on in 20 -30 years. The building they own on Pandora included in the project is already rental units.
As a resident of Fan Tan Alley, I clearly forsee this project as creating an instant " slum " ! .
Within the entire Chinatown of Victoria , all the buildings have been maintained , and second and third storeys have been rented to artists/ musicians/ creative types to the current day. We have a community here. The owners of this property, have neglected to do any maintenance to the point where these buildings are now condemned and unhabitable due to their lack of care and longterm vision. This project will effectively ruin Fan Tan Alley, for the current longstanding businesses in the alley, and its longterm residents by the nature of its density alone. I project approximately 40-60 additional people living in the alley where now there is only 6.
I find it abhorrant that the heritage nature of this cherished neighborhood will be jeopardized by a Chinese benevolent society who has been negligent over the years ; and can only now afford to "renovate" their property by adding additional storeys to a designated heritage building .
We ,( all the residents and businesses of Fan Tan Alley) are currently circulating a petition against this project , not for the renovation so much as petitoning against the addition of extra storeys.
To date , collectively we have collected approx. 200 signatures .
This is a perfect example of everyone in a neighborhood, residents and businesses alike, being against a proposed development , for its lack of sensitivty to an existing neighborhood and designated heritage urban area.
Please visit Fan Tan Alley @ Hearts Content boutique at your convenience to add your name and make your voice heard .
Mike K.
May 15, 2011 at 12:31 pmA thread focused on community concerns over this project has been separated from this thread and can be accessed here.
VicHockeyFan
Jun 19, 2011 at 2:34 pm
Hmmm, I hope council don't pull a "Rogers Chocolates" by doing something wrong here.
G-Man
Jun 19, 2011 at 9:19 pm^ Me too. I hope that all that signed were Victoria residents.
aastra
Sep 01, 2011 at 12:07 pmSo this got the nod the other day, yes?
Anybody know if they're going to restore those partly boarded-up windows to their original size/shape? I sure hope so.
Did nobody make a fuss about that when they were stewing about their heritage concerns?
