Rock Bay - the next master-planned development
#1
Posted 14 August 2006 - 10:28 PM
Council wants Rock Bay to become the next master-planned community, a la Dockside Green. I'm sure some councillors would appreciate the level of LEED and green features Dockside brought to the table, but what I'm more concerned about is the land use and density. My biggest beef with Dockside, although an urban devlopment by virtue of larger buildings, is its lack of density for DG could have included significantly more density and perhaps even signature buildings - i.e. signature highrises -- and much more retail/office/commercial (the lack of office space is a result of the City's fear of encroaching on downtown's office space, although the City seems to forget suburbs have already become more than ankle biters!).
I think Victoria is ready for an urban, master-planned, development that doesn't get caught up with red tape and anti-development NIMBY attitudes and does away with mistakes of the past while embracing and improving on the successes of our master-planned communities:
Songhees: sterile, lifeless district
Selkirk Waterfront: great variation in architectural styles, but density could have been much higher; no signature buildings
The Railyards: lacks density; design and scope of project impacted by NIMBY community association
Dockside Green: great on many levels, but again, lacks the sort of density seen in other urban reclamation projects from across North America; leading LEED certification
Rock Bay is a prime spot for a high-density, mixed-use development that could bring international focus on Victoria as Dockside has. It also has the potential to revive the north end of downtown and positively impact the Burnside/Gorge neighbourhood by the same stroke.
This project should be the baby of all individuals from the capital area who want to create a new urban district and believe urbanites should be at the wheel, not suburbanites or anti-development special interest groups more.
- kitty likes this
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#2
Posted 15 August 2006 - 06:38 AM
#3
Posted 15 August 2006 - 06:44 AM
#4
Posted 15 August 2006 - 06:46 AM
#5
Posted 15 August 2006 - 06:52 AM
A little social housing mixed in is good though.
#6
Posted 15 August 2006 - 08:05 AM
I've heard the Granville Island idea floated already, too (the 'nth Granville Island area for the Victoria area...sheesh).
Know it all.
Citified.ca is Victoria's most comprehensive research resource for new-build homes and commercial spaces.
#7
Posted 15 August 2006 - 08:23 AM
This should be an Op-Ed.
Yeah, I guess I could work on it for a bit. I actually meant this to just serve as an opening for the entire project as not much info is available on the City's site or on the web.
Know it all.
Citified.ca is Victoria's most comprehensive research resource for new-build homes and commercial spaces.
#8
Posted 15 October 2006 - 11:40 AM
Know it all.
Citified.ca is Victoria's most comprehensive research resource for new-build homes and commercial spaces.
#9
Posted 15 October 2006 - 11:55 AM
Genius!
-City of Victoria website, 2009
#10
Posted 15 October 2006 - 11:56 AM
#11
Posted 15 October 2006 - 11:59 AM
-City of Victoria website, 2009
#12
Posted 15 October 2006 - 12:32 PM
I think something akin to a higher density version of the Selkirk would be good. If the buildings were twice as tall with a fair bit more commercial space and the odd highrise here and there, I think you'd have a winner.
#13
Posted 15 October 2006 - 12:38 PM
[url=http://imageshack.us:456c5][/url:456c5]
#14
Posted 15 October 2006 - 12:56 PM
-City of Victoria website, 2009
#15
Posted 15 October 2006 - 01:49 PM
Know it all.
Citified.ca is Victoria's most comprehensive research resource for new-build homes and commercial spaces.
#16
Posted 15 October 2006 - 03:28 PM
#17
Posted 15 October 2006 - 03:28 PM
#18
Posted 15 October 2006 - 03:34 PM
#19
Posted 15 October 2006 - 03:38 PM
[url=https://www.mala.ca/history/victoria/14c.htm:c1b78]A little about the area[/url:c1b78].
-City of Victoria website, 2009
#20
Posted 22 October 2006 - 07:19 PM
I know that phase two of the Rock Bay Remediation project involves cleaning up the seabed of Rock Bay
The whole Bay Street corridor from Government to Point Ellice Bridge needs some new vision. I can't imagine Industrial is the future for that area, but until the community and council signal something different, nothing will change.
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