6 replies to this topic

[D.L.]

Essencia Village is a proposed development at the shore of Esquimalt Lagoon in Colwood. The property is at the end of Heatherbell Road, north of the Aquattro development.

Plans are for several residential buildings of four to 15 stories, commercial space and community gardens, plus the restoration of a heritage house. A creek running through the property will be incorporated into the plan as well. It appears as though plans were first released in summer 2009. There appears to be a significant ecological and farming theme to the development.


Project website - http://www.essenciavillage.ca/

Site plan - http://www.essenciav...ard_Feb17b .pdf

Aerial photo - http://www.bing.com/...re1=Colwood, BC

[Barney]

I'm pretty sure there's another thread for this project - the subject references a 15 storey hotel near Royal Roads, but I think it's the same site. Also isn't there an Essencia project which was developed recently in Cook Street Village? These developers really need to get together on their names!

[Mike K.]

Barney, you're right. This is the original thread, but since it only has 3 posts and has been all but forgotten we'll close the original and stick with this one as it appears the siteplan and direction of the project may have changed.

The following news report (most likely released by CFAX) from the original thread that is exactly a year old, referring to a 15-storey hotel by Calgary-based "Essencia Developments."

HIGH RISE HOTEL PROPOSAL GETS POSITIVE RESPONSE IN COLWOOD
Mar 4, 2009

A FIFTEEN STOREY HOTEL PROPOSAL, NEXT DOOR TO ROYAL ROADS, HAS RECEIVED ITS FIRST POLITICAL APPROVAL IN COLWOOD.

COUNCIL'S PLANING AND ZONING COMMITTEE HAS ENDORSED THE PROJECT, WITH A LIST OF MORE THAN FORTY CONDITIONS. MANY OF THEM RELATE TO TRAFFIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, AS WELL AS PROMISED MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.

THE DEVELOPER IS A CALGARY COMPANY, 'ESSENCIA DEVELOPMENTS'. THE PROPOSAL IS FOR A CLUSTER OF RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUMS AND A 15 STOREY HOTEL TOWER, WITH TWO LEVELS OF UNDERGROUND PARKING.

THE LIST OF RECOMMENDED CONDITIONS WILL GO TO COUNCIL FOR APROVAL NEXT WEEK. THEN, STAFF WOULD WRITE THE REQUIRED BY-LAW AMENDMENT, AND A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED LATER IN THE SPRING.

[aastra]

So the village and the highrise hotel are essencially the same project?

[Mike K.]

This project appears to be canceled. The website is no longer active and no there is no indication that the project is moving forward.

[D.L.]

It seemed too idealistic.

[VicHockeyFan]

There's evidence of renewed activity one of the stalled multi family real estate developments in Colwood.

 

                The Essencia project, which proposed to create a village atmosphere on property along the Esquimalt Lagoon, has been dormant for almost five years since falling victim to a general development downturn.

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