60 replies to this topic

[Marilyn]

Monday, April 6
I wanted to get a shot of the clock face on the ground propped up against the building but these workers were too fast for me.

[G-Man]

Anyone have a copy of the 1997 Harris Green Charrette Plan in PDF that they could share?

[Rob Randall]

I don't think it's on the web. You have to go to City Hall or City archives.

It's mentioned on page 97 of this document which includes a sketch of what was considered the ideal mid-rise staggered building.

http://www.collectio...011/MQ32925.pdf

[G-Man]

Thanks Rob. Yeah I think I will need to email the city

[Mixed365]

This neighbourhood really is changing into something unlike others around it. A real hub. 

Can anyone do up a map mentioning the buildings coming up?

[Rob Randall]

I'm excerpting this paragraph and link because the website is being taken down next week and it's a rare mention of the charette and the name of a member:

Alan F.J. Artibise is Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost at The University of Texas at Brownsville. He has also served as executive dean, dean of social sciences, and executive director of the Institute for Social Science Research in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Arizona State University. In previous positions, he has been a professor and administrator at several other North American universities, including the University of New Orleans, the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and the Universities of British Columbia, Winnipeg, Victoria and Manitoba.

[...]

In 1997, he was a member of the Harris Green Charette (City of Victoria) that received a Gold Georgie Award from the Canadian Home Builder’s Association in the category Excellence by Local Government in Cooperation with Industry. 

 

http://www.utb.edu/p.../Pages/bio.aspx

 

 

Of course, Gene Miller was the guy leading the charette. It's too bad--it was a major event if Victoria city planning but it's mostly forgotten and barely exists on the web. Congrats to you for reviving it.

 

Gene Miller wrote about it a few times in 1997 for the Times Colonist. You should go through that.

 

Franc D'Ambrosio was also a member. It would be great to do some interviews and create an "oral history" type article.

Edited by Rob Randall, 14 October 2016 - 08:56 AM.

[G-Man]

It will be featured in an upcoming article on Sidewalking Victoria if I can get my hands on a copy. 

[sdwright.vic]

Couldn't find the thread on the shopping centre London Drugs is in.

Leases in the shopping centre are only being renewed for 5 years and have a demolition clause in them

Look for major development on that entire block in about 5 years time.

[Mike K.]

Thanks for the confirmation! There’s going to be big moves on that site.

[Casual Kev]

Bit of a shame in that there are many good businesses in that lot, but it's also a block with tremendous development potential.

[Rob Randall]

As it is, it's pretty successful already as a mixed use development with great tenants, including a quality grocery and very useful London Drugs. It would not on my top ten list of sites that badly need development. But if it could be improved, I guess it would be OK. 

[Jackerbie]

Bringing this little write up back: https://victoria.cit...ria-retail-hub/

[sdwright.vic]

As I spoke with someone who just resigned there lease (that's where the details came from) seems the decade has been accelerated.

Maybe deals have been met to allow the larger tenants to move into new spaces created at a discount?

[Mike K.]

Is it a five-year lease with a month-to-month clause following that five-year period?

[sdwright.vic]

No, it's a 5 year lease max. I was told that another tenants lease is up next year and when they sign, they will only get a 4 year lease.

[Mike K.]

Oh wow, interesting.

[grantpalin]

I don't see that centre as needing replacement, since it's a pretty good mix with London Drugs, the Market on Yates, and various other stores and services. But that's pretty interesting intel about new or renewing leases being for five years or less, which suggests to me that someone has upcoming plans for that corner.

[Mike K.]

They’ve got upcoming plans for the entire complex, for sure.

[Nparker]

I don't see that centre as needing replacement, since it's a pretty good mix with London Drugs, the Market on Yates, and various other stores and services...

It doesn't so much need to be replaced as updated. I'd retain the LD building pretty much as is then replace the MoY structure with underground parking; a new grocery/retail space at grade and 10-15 floors of housing above. I am not sure of the best way to transform the ancillary structures on the Yates/Vancouver side of the property. Perhaps they could be left as is.

[Sparky]

I have heard it said that this particular London Drugs is the highest volume store in the chain.