13 replies to this topic

[amor de cosmos]

Here's a news article about a public hearing @ the Mary Winspear Centre:

Sidney approves controversial condominium development

Kim Westad, Times Colonist
Published: Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Another piece of Sidney waterfront will be home to high-end condos, as the town struggles with the best way to use valuable land, provide new homes and still retain the small-town ambiance that residents love.

"I think council looked beyond the neighbourhood politics and looked to the benefit of the whole of Sidney," developer Alan Jones said yesterday, after Sidney council approved a 34-unit development in a 5-2 vote.

Jones has been working for the last 2 1/2 years to have a .6-hectare parcel of land at 2060 White Birch Rd. in Sidney rezoned to allow residential development. Initial plans for a six-storey, 41-unit building with a café were changed after neighbours, most of whom live in nearby condo or apartment buildings, opposed the height, density, decreased sunlight and increased traffic.

Peninsula Properties downsized the development by two floors. It still includes one storey of marina services and office space for the marina in front.

...

"The reality is that the development is just too big," said Moira Cameron, who lives at 2040 White Birch Rd. "Peninsula Properties' proposal is like Cinderella's step-sister trying to fit her chubby big foot into Cinderella's small slipper."

Rather than letting developers set the tone for development on Sidney's west edge with "one-off developments," Cameron suggested a detailed local area plan be done. That drew applause from many in the crowd of about 150 people, who also clapped when other speakers talked of lowered property values for nearby properties because of the view and sunlight being cut off by a new building.

Others worried about the changing face of Sidney.

"Are we going to put up condo buildings as high as we can make them? Or are we going to preserve a village atmosphere? That is what a lot of us came here to enjoy in the first place," said George Charlton, of 2050 White Birch Rd.

http://www.canada.co...29-ac8d65862449

Fyi White Birch is in the far north of Sidney, near the northern border with North Saanich. 2060 is currently a parking lot.

I went to Sidney today for the first time in ages & it was actually pretty nice. I'm surprised there are so many good bookstores along Beacon Ave.

[Holden West]

If there's one thing I hate it's fancy developers who drive up property values with their luxury condo buildings that drive down property values with their view and sun blocking.

[aastra]

I think it's actually only 4 stories, if I'm reading that article correctly.

"Are we going to put up condo buildings as high as we can make them? Or are we going to preserve a village atmosphere?

If "as high as we can make them" means "the same height as the five nearest apartment blocks" then the answer would seem to be "yes."

If "village atmosphere" means "dense cluster of apartment blocks and townhouses" then the answer would also seem to be "yes."

Anyway, have a look at the "bird's eye" view of the site and then tell me with a straight face that a lowrise apartment building would be an outrageously bad fit.

http://maps.live.com...ey bc&encType=1

[Nparker]

Anyway, have a look at the "bird's eye" view of the site and then tell me with a straight face that a lowrise apartment building would be an outrageously bad fit.

This one seems like a total no-brainer to me. Will anyone even notice another 4-story building in this location? It would have been an outrage for Sidney council to turn this down. Do the current residents of the area not realize that THEIR buildings blocked the view and the sunlight that existed before they were built as well? Why does everyone think that once THEIR home is established no further development can ever be allowed? The mind boggles at this degree of nimbyism. I am glad Sidney did not cave to the pressure.

[VicHockeyFan]

There is one or maybe two ugly-ass buildings along side this new one. Both those two just above and left of the arrow in Aastras reference. I know this area.

Truly ugly with big concrete arches and I forget what else. You can see the arches in Aastras pic.

This new one is great.

[Rob Randall]

There is one or maybe two ugly-ass buildings along side this new one. Both those two just above and left of the arrow in Aastras reference. I know this area.

Truly ugly with big concrete arches and I forget what else. You can see the arches in Aastras pic.

This new one is great.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I always say.

[VicHockeyFan]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I always say.

Trust Randall to have painted it. OK, the offense is no so much the arches and outside entry (the bane of Songhees) but also the big surface parking lots with some covered shack-like areas.

[aastra]

I'm impressed that you guys know where this is. I sure didn't.

[Mike K.]

Is this project completed now?

[Jackerbie]

The issued DP has lapsed, and the developer is going through the DP process with what I understand is the exact same proposal. Last month Council carried a motion to move the application to the Advisory Design Panel for review.

 

Sidney Dev Tracker: http://www.sidney.ca...pplications.htm

 

Project plans: http://www.sidney.ca..._Road_Plans.pdf

 

Edited by Jackerbie, 04 June 2018 - 01:45 PM.

[Nparker]

Better not let the CoV Advisory Design Panel see these renderings or they'll insist on even more blanding changes to the Ironworks project.

[Jackerbie]

Better not let the CoV Advisory Design Panel see these renderings or they'll insist on even more blanding changes to the Ironworks project.

 

Switch out the white and seafoam cladding for weathering steel and you've got the Ironworks project right here. 

[Jackerbie]

Approved by Council on June 11

[Citified.ca]

The saga continues.

 

Sidney condo proposal in the works since 2008 pursuing new design, more density

https://victoria.cit...n-more-density/