1899 replies to this topic

[Coreyburger]

I am 100% for more density BUT done in a smart way. Just adding more NOW is not a good idea and might just spoil it for all of us. Just look at the parking issue that Mike brings up. Same with traffic congestion. People will still drive a short distance if it's not walk and bike friendly. This is why there needs to be the massive charrette  in regards to rezoning victoria that could integrate into a solid pedestrian / bike transportation plan. Enough with the spot zoning everything.... 

 

Most of the multi-family units in Fairfield aren't using all the parking they were built with. And traffic counts in the southern part of Victoria are flat or dropping. They are increasing in the West Shore, but parking and congestion aren't major issues in the southern parts of the Core.

[dasmo]

Most of the multi-family units in Fairfield aren't using all the parking they were built with. And traffic counts in the southern part of Victoria are flat or dropping. They are increasing in the West Shore, but parking and congestion aren't major issues in the southern parts of the Core.

I beg to differ especially considering the minimal population growth we have had in the core. I have a house in Fairfield and the streets are packed with parked cars. My office is downtown and the parkades are full by 11 AM. My secret parking spot is actually being slated for a condo dev (probably with no parking). Try escaping or entering town on Douglas st during waking hours. Shoot, I remember when Shelbourne was a pleasant drive.  Rushing to put up 10,000 more residents without proper planning would be a disaster....

Edited by dasmo, 24 January 2017 - 02:18 PM.

[VicHockeyFan]

How about we agree that Quadra from just north of McKenzie, all the way into downtown would be just fine for much higher density, In both municipalities.  Let's let it happen.

 

A decent 4-lane road with good transit.  And opportunities all the way along.

[aastra]

 

Shoot, I remember when Shelbourne was a pleasant drive.

 

Early 1970s?

[aastra]

 

We seem to make it through crisis after crisis with no real casualties. 

 

It's actually been one long housing crisis. 150 years and counting. They just tweak the branding every few years.

[aastra]

 

How about we agree that Quadra from just north of McKenzie, all the way into downtown would be just fine for much higher density,

 

You know, I really think the Douglas St. Canadian Tire site and the motel and the strip mall on the other side of Douglas = an area that the city should be proactive about. Do it right and it unifies downtown with Uptown and justifies so many other initiatives re: bus lanes and bicycle lanes and LRT, etc.

 

You could have mini towers there with big box stores beneath, maybe even an actual highrise tower or two. It's just right in the middle of everything.

[dasmo]

Early 1970s?

Late 80'S

[dasmo]

The entire area from the Hudson to Uptown should be no imposed limits. But again with planning. And no not a 4 lane highway into James bay. Bike lanes and good pedestrian travel. This will help keep these dwellers out of driving from Mayfair into town just adding to the insanity....  

[Nparker]

...I really think the Douglas St. Canadian Tire site and the motel and the strip mall on the other side of Douglas ...

Unfortunately, thanks to the complete lack of consultation by the province (or perhaps better stated, the complicit acceptance of the CoV), the area around the former Super 8 motel is about to become the city's latest low-barrier slum. You can forget about seeing any investment in this area now for decades.

[Coreyburger]

I beg to differ especially considering the minimal population growth we have had in the core. I have a house in Fairfield and the streets are packed with parked cars. My office is downtown and the parkades are full by 11 AM. My secret parking spot is actually being slated for a condo dev (probably with no parking). Try escaping or entering town on Douglas st during waking hours. Shoot, I remember when Shelbourne was a pleasant drive.  Rushing to put up 10,000 more residents without proper planning would be a disaster....

 

I wasn';t talking about downtown parkades. I am talking about the resident-only parking that is provided in buildings in Fairfield. And that is objective, ICBC insured vehicles numbers. As for dropping/stable traffic volumes, I suggest you gander at the CRD or City of Victoria stats, they show a very different picture than "anecdata" says.

[dasmo]

Are you disagreeing that planning bike and pedestrian travel into a potentially fast track growth strategy is unnecessary?

[Coreyburger]

Are you disagreeing that planning bike and pedestrian travel into a potentially fast track growth strategy is unnecessary?

 

Far from it - the "sound planning" you are calling for looks to me like massive investment in better bike, walk and transit networks and absolutely no new roads (or widenings)

[dasmo]

Far from it - the "sound planning" you are calling for looks to me like massive investment in better bike, walk and transit networks and absolutely no new roads (or widenings)

Pretty much. IMO we need to let that entire Hudson area go super dense and build a solid bike network and pedestrian places to support both travel and livability within town. Part of this infrastructure could be extorted out of developers since they can now build some serious towers :-) Medium towers in Vic West and north of the Parliament buildings. Not much in old town. low rise, duplex and row houses everywhere else.  Simple. 

[UDeMan]

At my work there are a few coworkers that are being reno-victed. One person, they offered her a
unit in her building at $500 more than her current rent. Kind of an insult to a long term stable
tenant, but they have to pay for those renovations some how.

Many of my coworkers plan to move out of Victoria when they retire in the next few years, mostly up island, Ladysmith or Nanaimo area.

[Mike K.]

I dunno.  I was reading a 1990 Times Colonist the other day, we had a housing crisis then apparently.  We seem to make it through crisis after crisis with no real casualties.

 

This was reacted to by several years of the highest volume of new housing in recent history. It was also a time when we saw the fastest population growth in recent memory.

[http]

This was reacted to by several years of the highest volume of new housing in recent history. It was also a time when we saw the fastest population growth in recent memory.

 

I can't speak to the new housing volumes, but your memory of  growth may need refreshing: After bumping up 10.6% through the 80s, it tanked after the 1991 census. For fair comparison, I'd look at decade over decade -

1991 to 2001, 1.032 * 1.008 == 1.040 => +4%

2001 to 2011, 1.053 * 1.025 == 1.079 => +8%

 

Historical populations

Year Pop. ±%

1871   3,270  —    

1881  5,925  +81.2%

1891 16,841 +184.2%

1901 20,816  +23.6%

1911 31,660  +52.1%

1921 38,727  +22.3%

1931 39,082   +0.9%

1941 42,907   +9.8%

1951 51,331  +19.6%

1961 54,941   +7.0%

1971 61,761  +12.4%

1981 64,379   +4.2%

1991 71,228  +10.6%

1996 73,504   +3.2%

2001 74,125   +0.8%

2006 78,057   +5.3%

2011 80,017   +2.5%

 

https://en.wikipedia...ia#Demographics

Edited by http, 26 January 2017 - 04:46 PM.

[Mike K.]

Oh yeah, so it was the late 80's our pop surged, relatively speaking, followed by a housing boom.

Thanks for those figures.

[VicHockeyFan]

http://www.timescolo...hotel-1.9283487

 

Asbestos found during reno of James Bay building, tenants sent to hotel 

 

 

It would seem to me that this operation will likely require a work plan submitted to WorkSafe.  

 

This will be of note to other building owners.

[Mike K.]

Right, I think this was actually discovered some time ago.

Now you know why landlords need to charge higher rents when residents move back in.

[VicHockeyFan]

So I was at the pub yesterday, and got to talking to a construction worker that comes in from time to time.  Older guy, in his 50's, but clean cut, non-smoker.

 

He's very new in town, came from 4 years work in Fort Mac, works for a major construction company here, I will not name here.  Journeyman carpenter.

 

And he's living at Sally Ann, as he can not find a place under $1400 anywhere.  So I said, hold on, I know a guy that works front desk at Red Lion, they have long-term suites this time of year.  Contacted him, and wowza, they do, but there are all full.

 

Capital City Center (1961 Douglas St.)  wants $1400/mo.  He had an appointment to see the old Travellers at kitty-corner to White Spot, where they want $900 I think he said.