27 replies to this topic

[amor de cosmos]

Check this out.

Southeast False Creek, before:




Southeast False Creek, after:
http://www.millenniumwater.com/

Rock Bay neighbourhood, before:



Rock Bay neighbourhood, after:
???


16 residential buildings, all between 6-16 stories with units 600-2500 sqft, on a total of 25 acres, LEED Gold (Press gallery aka community centre will be LEED Platinum) & 16,000 residents.

[Baro]

wait, you're saying we should put them in vancouver?? ha

[amor de cosmos]

I think we'd have to, because we wouldn't be able to build that sort of thing here. Build a few new buildings and before you know it we'll have 2 million people living here!

[Baro]

If you like vancouver so much why don't you just move there? All these new residents should just go back to where they came come. I moved here from Vancouver/Toronto/Calgary to get AWAY from new development, so we're not allowed to emulate the city I moved away from in any shape or form since the urban form exists only for my personal needs and emotions.

Sheesh!

[UrbanRail]

People will move here not matter what. I think it is possible to put 16,000 more people into the rock bay area. Eventually the northern stretches of Government and Douglas Streets will have high density mixed use development (residential, commerical). Add a modern tram line up Government st and BRT(future LRT) up Douglas St and u wont have to worry about traffic problems. The trick is to put the tram line in now.

[Holden West]

I thought this was an interesting quote from Keith Vass's article on sewage treatment:

Resource recovery prospects dim for Greater Victoria's sewage project

Most existing buildings downtown, including the legislative precinct, would need higher water temperatures than a heat exchange and pump system could deliver economically, Gilbert Cote of Stantec Engineering told the committee.

But a small district heating system, similar to the one heating Vancouver’s athlete's village, could serve future buildings north of Pandora, where City of Victoria planners anticipate new development going.

That's a strong incentive for significant density in this area. Your grandma's 3:1 FSR ain't gonna cut it no more.

[Chris J]

Higher density in Uplands. Rezone the whole place. Replace monster homes with mixed use.

[sebberry]

Higher density in Uplands. Rezone the whole place. Replace monster homes with mixed use.

[bicycles]

I think Rock Bay has the most potential of anywhere in Victoria, just need a few projects to kick it off..

[VicHockeyFan]

I think Rock Bay has the most potential of anywhere in Victoria, just need a few projects to kick it off..

Ah, you know that'll get bungled, it's gonna be a bunch of parks etc.

[Bernard]

There is a lot of space in the eastern Fairfield and Gonzales to add density, the area is a good choice for density because there is good transit to downtown and UVic, there is shopping within walking distance. The area could use 3-6 storey condos

[D.L.]

Try to put any multi-family in east Fairfield and the world will come to an end.

[gumgum]

^There are more multi-families in Fairfield than there is downtown.

I think just north of d/t is the next logical step for density.

[Bernard]

Western Fairfield has a lot of apartment buildings, it is the eastern end that is rather low in density.

Going north of Downtown is a problem because this is industrial and commercial land. This land is needed for the city to allow for businesses to exist. This region has not been adding more industrial land, instead it has been converting it to residential.

Gonzales is already residential. The city should set a target for more affordable housing in that area before making new areas residential.

[sebberry]

There are so many sprawling 1970's strip malls around that are 1 level retail only that could be bulldozed and redeveloped with ground level retail/multi story condos.

Trouble is all the people you would have to put out of business to do that

[gumgum]

Western Fairfield has a lot of apartment buildings, it is the eastern end that is rather low in density.

Going north of Downtown is a problem because this is industrial and commercial land. This land is needed for the city to allow for businesses to exist. This region has not been adding more industrial land, instead it has been converting it to residential.

Gonzales is already residential. The city should set a target for more affordable housing in that area before making new areas residential.

While I would welcome more density in east Fairfield, if you break it down to the sum of its parts, there really isn't anywhere to develop. I can't think of any parking lots or brownfields worth targeting. There's the odd home or two will be redeveloped into something slightly more dense, but the neighbourhood is far too established for anyone to have the political will to tackle the behemoth of transforming it into a bunch of apartment buildings and townhomes.

Besides, rezoning some underused or unused areas of north downtown, such as this lot, would a much more realistic goal imo. And much less controversial.

[Coreyburger]

Running LRT/Streetcars up Douglas would be a great way to stimulate that development that the Rock Bay area needs. Shame it is unlikely to happen.

[phx]

It's likely Burnside will be redeveloped before much happens in Victoria proper.

[jklymak]

^ While I disagree that east Fairfield is ripe for redevelopment, I strongly agree that Rock Bay should be left industrial. If some artist types want to live in lofts there, fine, but this city needs more than just condos and old age homes. There is plenty of room for 16,000 people in Harris Green, going North along Cook and Quadra, along Burnside, and down Shelbourne. We don't need to gut the only light industrial part of town to squeeze people in.

[Holden West]

The long-term plan for Rock Bay calls for retention of industrial. Although you have to wonder about the potential of that massive prime lot gumgum links to. Is it realistic a warehouse will be built here? If so, why wasn't it done decades ago?

Hey, how about single-family homes on the Empress property?