The 834's crane (center) is in the process of being erected on April 01. Downtown Victoria's construction scene is in full swing irrespective of construction slowdowns and cancellations elsewhere in the region. Photo © by VibrantVictoria.ca.

The volume of major construction projects in downtown Victoria is holding steady as multiple projects buck regional trends and rise to pad the City’s skyline.

Below is an update on current downtown Victoria major construction activity and upcoming projects expected to start up later this year or by early 2011.

947 Fort – 947 Fort Street – Office, residential and commercial
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Construction update photo from March 23, 2010. Photo © by VibrantVictoria.ca.

Victoria-based Tri-Eagle Development, Mike Jawl and Homewood Constructors have teamed up to build downtown Victoria’s latest mixed-use project encompassing three different uses.

Office, residential and commercial uses combine to make this six-storey building one of only two newly constructed three-use properties (SoMA on Broughton Street re-introduced this concept back to downtown Victoria in 2009).

947 Fort is currently topped out and interior work is well underway.  Completion is expected by late 2010 or early 2011.

Atrium Building – 800 Yates Street – Office
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Construction update photo from March 24, 2010. Photo © by VibrantVictoria.ca.

Atrium Building is a 7-storey, 200,000 square foot office development by Victoria-based Jawl Properties.

The last project to enter the class-A downtown office building proposal fray (following Gateway Green and Radius), Atrium Building managed to secure a major tenant (BC Ferries) and has since signed on several other organizations that include the British Columbia Land & Title office and several retail tenants to be located in the commercial podium.

The Atrium Building is now topped out with work continuing on the groundfloor retail component, the glassed roof and the interior.  Exterior glass and cladding is virtually completed along the three streets the building faces.

Although Atrium Building is a vast improvement over the parking lot and the old BC Electric building that once stood on the corner of Johnson and Blanshard streets, the project’s exterior design has been criticized as of late due to what appear to be discoloured tiles and vertical bars that differ in colour from the original concept illustrated on renderings.  Unlike the exterior, the groundfloor design (key to a strong street presence) has received a positive response.  As such the verdict isn’t out on whether or not the project will meet the public’s aesthetic expectations once completed.

Completion is expected by the end of 2010.

The Hudson – 1700-block of Douglas Street – Residential
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Construction update photo from March 24, 2010. Photo © by VibrantVictoria.ca.

Arguably the most anticipated downtown residential building, The Hudson, phase I of the large Hudson’s Bay Company department store redevelopment (itself dubbed Hudson Place) by Vancouver-based Townline Properties, is on track for a Summer 2010 completion.

The old department store was gutted and is undergoing a significant change that includes a two-storey addition to the building’s eastern half, the cutting of an interior light well from the second to fourth floors, and a full restoration of the building’s terracotta-clad exterior.

A portion of the newly refurbished exterior has been exposed from under green construction material while work continues on the exterior restoration along Douglas Street.  The eastern side of the building, facing onto land once used for a parkade, underwent significant changes to accommodate balconies and other design elements.  Windows are currently being installed along the newly constructed eastern section and the last of the concrete pours are taking place.

Due to the financial meltdown of 2008, construction at The Hudson stalled for several months as finances were worked out.  Since then, the pace of construction sped up and hasn’t looked back.

The Hudson’s first floor retail space has no confirmed tenants at this time, although many residents would champion a new downtown grocery store as an anchor tenant.

The 834 – 834 Johnson Street – Residential
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Construction update photo from January 18, 2010. Photo © by VibrantVictoria.ca.

Developer Dave Chard’s (of Vancouver-based Chard Development) third downtown residential project is The 834, a 14-storey residential tower that follows closely on the footstep’s of Chard’s recently completed tower just one block to the west, dubbed Juliet.

A crane was recently erected at The 834 site and the pace of construction will steadily increase as the project’s foundation work commences.

Sales for The 834 have done well thanks to reasonably priced units starting at  under $200,000.

Upcoming projects

A rendering of 601 Herald.

601 Herald – 601 Herald Street – Residential
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This four-storey condo at the corner of Fisgard and Government streets, proposed by Vancouver-based Airey Group and Primewest Partners, promises quality boutique units set in the heart of Chinatown.

The project is in the sales stage and other than site clearing, construction has yet to commence. A completion date is unconfirmed.

A rendering is unavailable for this project.

The Hudson Mews – 700-block of Fisgard Street – Residential
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The Hudson Mews is phase II of the multi-phase Hudson Place redevelopment of the historic Hudson’s Bay Company department store property.  While Townline Properties is the proponent of the entire Hudson Place development, an agreement was struck with TL Housing Solutions to develop this phase of the project.

This 12-storey market and low-income tower (75% of units will be subsidized rentals) will rise mid-way along the 700-block of Fisgard Street and will flank the eastern edge of Hudson Place’s proposed carriageway (touted as a public walkway through on the Hudson’s Place property) with the eastern face of The Hudson.

Site preparations have commenced and shoring of the project’s large excavated pit is well underway.  Sales are expected to commence well before Summer.

A rendering of 608 Broughton.

608 Broughton – 608 Broughton Street – Residential
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Chard Development’s fourth Victoria project will be an 11-storey boutique residence located in Old Town.

The proposal initially included an attractive curved facade on the top floors, although City Hall requested this unique design element to lose its curvature in favour of a conformist boxed design.  The alteration received negative feedback from the community as expressed on VibrantVictoria.ca’s discussion forum.

When built, 608 Broughton will become the tallest building in old town and will feature Victoria’s first parking garage utilizing a car elevator for more efficient vehicle parking and retrieval.

Marketing is expected to commence by May of this year.

To follow construction activity throughout downtown and the capital region, view VibrantVictoria.ca’s Construction and Land Development forums.

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