148 replies to this topic

[zinkerled]

At first I thought the ground floor was left blank because they hadn't decided what to do with it. Why would you have blank wall on the front of a building unless it's a hospital or prison?

[Linear Thinker]

It has passed some type of step today and is going to council in the New Year.

Trimmed from the Esquimalt Advisory Planning Commission December 18 agenda:

PURPOSE OF THE APPLICATION:
To rezone the property to permit a 12-storey mixed-use building incorporating 140 "seniors supportive housing" units and 12 "veterans" units along with a new Legion facility and assorted ancillary uses.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the Advisory Planning commission recommends to Council that the application to rezone Lots...to allow for a 12 storey mixed-use building incorporating 140 "seniors supportive housing" units and 12 "veterans" units as well as a new Legion facility and assorted ancillary uses that the application be "approved subject to provision of a detailed parking study indicating that the proposed parking variances are acceptable" .

The 20 storey proposal had 230-250 units.

[G-Man]

^^ So in other words it is kind of a hospital.

[VicHockeyFan]

Esquimalt Council heard concerns about building size and parking availability at a public hearing into the proposed Esquimalt Legion high-rise.

"The building will put my lot in a shadow"

"This is a developer's project which is too large for the said piece of land"

"The legion already has 65 parking stalls and that's not even enough, the streets of Esquimalt are already full"

http://www.cfax1070....er-Esquimalt-hi

[sdwright.vic]

Just makes no sense to me.... property is zoned for what is proposed.

[Mike K.]

Can anyone confirm reports that this tower has been approved with demolition of the legion starting early next year?

[Baro]

It really looks like something straight out of Edmonton in the 90's. That ground floor and the overall massing...

[aastra]

Yep, if that image is the real deal then it's pretty much exactly what Esquimalt should not be doing re: allowing highrises.

[Mike K.]

It really looks like something straight out of Edmonton in the 90's. That ground floor and the overall massing...

Trust me, this building would still be all the rage in Edmonton

[sdwright.vic]

I spoke with the developer a month or so ago right before the last reading (was actually at the barber and he came in looking for community support). He had a different building which is the one being put fourth to council. It showed a softer ground floor with more windows and stone instead of brick.

[aastra]

New legion tower in Brampton, ON:
http://urbantoronto....le-housing-peel



picture by Dwils01 at www.skyscraperpage.com/forum

I'd say this Brampton building looks a lot better than the Esquimalt proposal.

[jonny]

Apparently this thing is approved.

 

http://www.timescolo...owers-1.1156764

 

Please tell me this is not the final design.

 

[D.L.]

I think all that people in Esquimalt care about in regards to large buildings is the shadows that are cast. Design can be anything

[AllseeingEye]

Apparently this thing is approved.

 

http://www.timescolo...owers-1.1156764

 

Please tell me this is not the final design.

 

And in a nutshell Jonny you describe one of my ongoing and biggest pet peeves especially with the nimby, anti-height crowd in Victoria; yep as long as it isn't tall (heaven forbid!) then with only a few exceptions it seems that any old craptacular, s****y design appears to pass muster around here. I second your comment except to add that I_really hope this is not what was approved. That is one spectacularly fuuuuuugly rendering so let us hope it remains just that, a rendering.

[Nparker]

...one of my ongoing and biggest pet peeves especially with the nimby, anti-height crowd in Victoria...as long as it isn't tall (heaven forbid!) then with only a few exceptions it seems that any old craptacular, s****y design appears to pass muster around here...

Truer (and sadder) words were never spoken (or in this case written).

[jonny]

This thing is hideous. Like maybe the worst proposal of the past 10 years.

 

Is this going to be a 12 floor stucco building? What's with the burnt orange and jaundice yellow?

 

What is with that huge strip of brown from the ground to about 30 feet up?

 

Is that a parking lot out front?

 

Why is it so fat (wide). Why do we allow these wide ass buildings to get approved?

 

It's like the Wave, but only 1,000 times uglier.

 

Why not make the fat part a little shorter and the tower part taller?

 

 

Meanwhile, a rezoning application for the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch No. 172, at 622 Admirals Rd., by developer Chris Fitzpatrick was passed.

 

The rezoning changes the core commercial zoning to a comprehensive development zone to accommodate a commercial and residential mixed-use development — a 12-storey building including 152 independent living units for seniors, a commercial area including the legion’s facility, and general commercial space.

 

“It’s going to create a great streetscape,” Hodgins said.

 

The development now moves on to the development permit stage. “That’s a huge move forward,” he said. “It’s pretty much a done deal now.”

 

A great streetscape? My God, look at that hugemongous brown, blank ribbon along the bottom of this thing. Not to mention the parking lot. Yes, parking lots and big brown walls like at Capitol 6 downtown create just magnificent streetscapes. Very vibrant indeed.

 

The only streetscape that is going to create is a good place to bounce tennis balls off of or tag.

 

I'm usually pretty optimistic about buildings and proposals, but I honestly hate this thing and hope it is never built.

Edited by jonny, 25 June 2014 - 03:17 PM.

[jonny]

It looks like a medical building you'd see in the outskirts of Dallas Texas or something

[AllseeingEye]

Truer (and sadder) words were never spoken (or in this case written).

And to that NParker should be added "regrettably"......

 

Didn't this one start off life as a 17-storey proposal with a more modern design? It seems to be the "Victoria Way" however:

 

Step1> Hack any proposal in half, right from the start - this is a given;

Step 2> In return for the developer's agreement to go from taller to "midget size" approve whatever bland materials or awful color schemes they serve up;

Step 3> Point to the finished product as proof of yet another 'world class' development in Ye Olde Victoria. Naturally.

 

Let me just say again in case I wasn't clear the first time.....this is butt U.G.L.Y. It reminds me of any one of several dozen non-descript buildings along Skytrain in Burnaby....Joyce Station, Edmonds, 23rd Street, Patterson Station, take your pick. Same dull design, putrid colors and materials except - of course! since this is Victoria - its half the height. Yuck.

[Mike K.]

And yet the same developer is proposing this in Esquimalt. What a difference.

 

[sdwright.vic]

^Oh that's dead... the property is up for sale.