3996 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

This application has been before the city for a long time under various revisions. So no real timeline. Last changes came this March.

[GRT2]

This application has been before the city for a long time under various revisions. So no real timeline. Last changes came this March.

Thanks!

[Victoria Watcher]

In a move Victoria residents should be getting used to, Victoria city council has moved forward two projects with plenty of housing but few places to park a car.

 

On Thursday, council gave three readings to bylaws for a 91-unit rental housing ­project at 1702 Quadra St. and 862 Fisgard St., with only four parking stalls instead of the required 60, and a 56-unit mixed-use project at 1055 Alston St. in Vic West that will have 17 parking stalls for residents and two for visitors, rather than a total of 55.

 

Adoption of the bylaws could ­happen as early as next week.

 

Mayor Marianne Alto said council is not concerned about having a lot of parking per unit.

 

“There have been a number of applications in the last year and a half which have had no parking, and then a number like the ones we did ­yesterday, which had significantly reduced parking,” she said Friday. “We’re ­constantly looking at what makes sense in the context and it isn’t an arbitrary thing.”

 

 

https://www.timescol...parking-9488679

[Nparker]

Nothing Alto says these days makes any sense.

[G-Man]

Nothing should have parking minimums or maximums when it comes to building residential. If they want to build thirty floors down, go for it. They want to build none, go for it. Let the market decide what people want. 

[Citified.ca]

 

Nearby, Factory Block from Aryze is getting started. No word on what the timelines are for BC Housing's Russell Street shelter redevelopment. If we recall, it was purchased for a significant sum of money, with the cost of construction baked in. That project was expected to be completed by mid-2024.

 

Vic West surface lot envisioned for rental apartments, light industrial space

https://victoria.cit...dustrial-space/

[Nparker]

Currently this.

[Mike K.]

235 Russell Street is where the cube trucks are parked, and that overhang is situated.

[Nparker]

I should have highlighted the lot in my post. Mea culpa.

[Mike K.]

Michigan Square development on Michigan Street is complete. The social housing project replaced 53 aged units with 97 new homes. From the province:

Families, seniors and individuals in Victoria with low to moderate incomes are moving into 97 new rental homes with the opening of Michigan Square, while another 58 homes for earners with middle incomes are on the way through new BC Builds projects.

“Families and seniors who call Victoria home don’t want to have to move further away to find housing they can afford,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing. “That’s why we’re investing in and building up new rental homes through our BC Builds program and other initiatives. Our communities depend on working professionals like teachers, nurses and construction workers to grow and thrive, and we are committed to creating more quality, secure housing within their budgets.”

The newly opened Michigan Square development at 330-336 Michigan St. in James Bay has 97 new rental homes for people with low to moderate incomes. It features two four-storey buildings connected with an elevated pedestrian walkway. The two buildings have 53 and 44 homes respectively and feature a community garden, playground and private courtyard for residents to enjoy. Michigan Square replaces 53 aging apartments on the same site that were at the end of their lifespan. These homes are part of a government plan that is delivering more than 3,600 new homes for people in Victoria.

The buildings have a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes, with seven fully accessible units. These include:

Twenty-four units for people with very low incomes that will be rented at the provincial shelter rate;
Twenty-two units with rent geared to income for which people with low to moderate incomes will pay 30% of their incomes; and
Fifty-one units for people with moderate incomes that will be rented at or below market rates (starting from $1,770 for a one-bedroom, $2,000 for a two-bedroom unit and $2,380 for a three-bedroom unit).
“The redevelopment of Michigan Square will provide affordable, secure homes to nearly 100 families, individuals and seniors in Victoria and is truly a community achievement that will be celebrated for generations to come,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, on behalf of Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. “Thanks to the collaboration between all levels of government, we are building more affordable housing in Victoria, and in doing so, we are contributing to the economic and social well-being of the entire community.”

The Capital Region Housing Corporation will own and operate Michigan Square.

In addition, separate initiatives will see 58 new rental homes built at two separate sites in Victoria through the BC Builds program.

These two projects include 40 homes at 2558 Quadra St. and 18 homes at 1276 Gladstone Ave. Both buildings will provide homes for households with middle incomes, such as nurses, construction workers and child care professionals. Both projects are in the design and planning stages and further project details will be made available once they are finalized.

By leveraging underused land and repayable loans for builders at rates better than banks, which are all paid back to government with interest, BC Builds is designed to overcome challenging market conditions and deliver lower-cost rental homes for people in communities throughout B.C. The program also provides grants to ensure greater affordability and works with municipalities, landowners, residential builders and housing operators to move projects from concept to construction within 12 to 18 months, compared to the current average of three to five years.

Once complete, BC Builds homes have a target of households with middle incomes spending no more than 30% of their income on rent. Additionally, at least 20% of units will have rents that are at least 20% below market rate for projects in partnership with non-profits and First Nations.

These homes are part of a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C. government. Since 2017, the Province has nearly 80,000 homes that have been delivered or are underway for people in B.C., including more than 3,600 homes in Victoria.

[Kapten Kapsell]

Chard Development is requesting permission to build two additional storeys at their Hyatt Centric hotel project (Broad & Johnson); due to skyrocketing construction costs, they say that the currently-approved design is no longer economically viable.

Edited by Kapten Kapsell, 23 September 2024 - 03:54 PM.

[corvus]

Tough news given that the demolition is complete

[Mike K.]

This echoes the Esquimalt request, that got rejected.

These are challenging times, indeed.

[IPH]

1224 Richardson is complete with buyers moved.  Open house today for units still available from 12:00 to 1:30

 

For sale: 202 B 1224 Richardson St, Victoria, British Columbia V8V3E1 - 976563 | REALTOR.ca

[IPH]

[Victoria Watcher]

Not my style whatsoever. But looks alright.

[IPH]

Style is a personal taste and everyone's is different.  The intent was to add density to a single family area while minimizing opposition from the neighbors.  Taking style hints from surrounding buildings allowed for 24 units on a former duplex lot and eliminated the argument that they didn't fit in.  Most of the neighbors think its great which is a real exception for new developments in Victoria.

[Victoria Watcher]

Oh ya for sure. I did not mean to be offensive. At all. I just like a more progressive modern style.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 05 October 2024 - 12:55 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

[IPH]

No worries, no offence taken!