3977 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Thank you for the update! Stew Young worked on this for a very long time. It will be huge for West Shore residents to have that satellite campus.

[Sparky]

^ Ya...Stew was quoted as saying that this is his most prized accomplishment while being mayor. .

[Nparker]

The joint venture university at Goldstream and Peatt in Langford is well underway. I am intrigued with the mass timber construction....

Aside from esthetics, is there a benefit to mass timber construction over traditional wood framing for a building of this size/scale?

[Nparker]

...Stew was quoted as saying that this is his most prized accomplishment while being mayor. .

I just assumed it was the artificial turf in Langford's boulevards.

[Sparky]

I just assumed it was the artificial turf in Langford's boulevards.

 

No, that is actually false. Apparently it's too hard to pick up dog turds from the plastic turf.

[Victoria Watcher]

The application for 1042/1044 Richardson is now on dev tracker.  Of the 19 rental units, 5 are designated to be affordable.

 

 

 

 

 

Victoria council has moved forward a controversial 20-unit apartment project on Richardson Street.

 

Council’s committee of the whole voted 6-3 to approve a rezoning application and development permit for 1042 and 1044 Richardson St., after the developer agreed to secure two studio units at a rent that will be five per cent below the median rental rate.

 

“I think this is crazy,” said Coun. Stephen Hammond, who noted city staff had on more than one occasion recommended the project be declined as it was too big for the site.

 

The project was also rejected by the previous city council in 2022.

 

Hammond said approving the project sends a clear message to developers that they “can get away with anything.”

 

“This is a message to them, ‘bring anything you want,’ ” he said. “ ‘Do not care what our city staff say.’ ”

 

Hammond, who wondered aloud why the city has so many planning staff if council is just going to ignore their advice, suggested council was bought cheaply with the promise of two small below-market units.

 

“If someone just hangs this small amount, relatively small amount over us, we’re going to jump at this as an opportunity to give two units of development,” he said.

 

Councillors Chris Coleman and Marg Gardiner also opposed the project.

 

Coleman said he was aware the city was trying to get to a place where it could say yes to the project, but he said what was offered was not enough to get him to change his mind.

 

Gardiner sided with city staff, noting the building is too large for the lot size and is incompatible with the neighbourhood.

 

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...-street-8725526

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 May 2024 - 05:10 AM.

[Mike K.]

Interesting. A much earlier version had 11 units.

 

11->19->20 (approved).

[Victoria Watcher]

Victoria mayor warns developers to keep their promises

 

Aryze went to council for a second time asking for changes to its townhouses project on Foul Bay Road.

 

 

The mayor of Victoria is putting developers on notice: put your money where your mouth is.

 

Mayor Marianne Alto’s frustration at having to once again consider amending an already approved 18-unit townhouse project at 902 Foul Bay Rd. had her close to voting against the most recent version.

 

“I will say that for me, this is a hair’s edge. I am going to support this moving forward, but I’m going to say, as I said the second time this came up, if you’re going to come to council and be provocative and offer solutions, we are going to rely on you,” she said. “Do not come back and ask for favours. I don’t want to see this again from this applicant or any other.

 

“Be sure of what you can deliver. There is room for change, but not forever.”

 

Thursday marked the third time Aryze Development’s townhouse project was in front of council.

 

It was originally approved in 2022. Then last fall Aryze petitioned council to allow it to remove an affordable-housing commitment of four units. Council was split on the decision, but relented and approved the change rather than see the project die.

 

At the time Aryze said its financial numbers showed the four units no longer made sense.

 

This time around Aryze wanted council’s approval to remove a number of amenities including parking canopies with green roofs, a green roof on one of the townhouse buildings, a playground to be replaced with passive outdoor space, benches on Redfern Street, landscape changes and a hardscape walkway becoming gravel instead.

Alto said the project now bears little resemblance to the original that was approved in 2022. She noted the project has already been granted nine variances for things like parking, building height and setbacks.

 

 

https://www.timescol...romises-8811727

 

 

Ultimately council endorsed the changes in a vote of 7-2 with councillors Marg Gardiner and Stephen Hammond voting against. Gardiner said the loss of the carports was the deal-breaker for her, though she was also frustrated the developer had come back to council with amendments after its initial approval.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 May 2024 - 04:24 AM.

[Mike K.]

I do wish the original design could have remained for Aryze’s Catherine Street project. It changed significantly post-approvals: https://victoria.cit...therine-street/

In fact, I liked it so much I haven’t changed the rendering on the profile

[Matt R.]

Oh, is that the lot next to Market Garden? I like what’s there now!

[Victoria Watcher]

Sakura Developments is proposing a 56-unit mixed-use condo & light industrial building at 1055 Alston Road in Vic West. The site has a significant change in gradient between Tyee and Alston Roads (10 metres); light industrial would face Tyee Road (the higher street). The units would be smaller and targeted to first-time buyers.

Image:

 

 

 

Plan for five-storey residential building in Vic West clears first hurdle

 

The proposal would see 1055 Alston St., zoned for light industrial use, rezoned to permit 56 residential units and a single industrial unit to be accessed from Tyee Road

 

https://www.timescol...-hurdle-8822374

[Mike K.]

Here’s the project: https://victoria.cit...-alston-street/

[aastra]

Say what? Gateway Green site?

[Citified.ca]

 

Demolition has concluded after getting started in May.

 

Catherine Street rental complex nears construction start following design changes post-2022 approval

https://victoria.cit...-2022-approval/

[Victoria Watcher]

Victoria advances Fernwood mixed-use project despite concerns about parking and size

Rezoning application calls for redevelopment of single-family homes on Gladstone Ave. into 18 units of rental housing and one commercial space.

https://www.timescol...nd-size-9116022

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 21 June 2024 - 06:59 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Victoria advances Fernwood mixed-use project despite concerns about parking and size

Rezoning application calls for redevelopment of single-family homes on Gladstone Ave. into 18 units of rental housing and one commercial space.

https://www.timescol...nd-size-9116022

 

 

https://www.victoria...stone-avenuepdf

 

 

 

[Nparker]

It's hideous.

[corvus]

I think it looks really nice! It's a treat to have brick, and I think the darker panelling looks slick. Great spot for some densification too.

[Nparker]

It's not the cladding to which I object, but the absolutely unimaginative, shoebox shape. I feel bad for the neighbours who will have this carbuncle looming over their neighbourhood.

[LJ]

If you are looking for apartments, Langford has them....