348 replies to this topic

[Blair M.]

I don’t personally harbour any strong belief that we (in Saanich) “need” any major increase in density at all. 
But the residents of Saanich choose to repeatedly elect Councils who believe density increases are solidly in the cards. 
 

When you have pro-development elected Councils combining with Provincial mandates demanding density increases under threat of penalties - you get the construction boom currently taking place at McKenzie/Shelbourne. 
 

In the most basic of terms - in 2026, and with all of the above considered — it is what it is. 

[Victoria Watcher]

I don't think there was a gas station the southwest corner.

 

And the Petro-Canada on the northeast corner was a fairly late arrival.

 

Certainly the Shell went way back, not sure about the Esso.

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 04 April 2026 - 08:41 AM.

[aastra]

Methinks we need to clarify the difference between "major increase" and "minor increase". This is the same Saanich that grew from a 1930s population of almost nothing to the largest population in Greater Victoria in a span of ~40 years. (not to mention growth of another ~50,000 since then)

 

Put it another way: the changes that are happening to University Heights today are the least significant changes in the history of the area when weighed against population. Constructing the shopping centre in the first place and then later expanding the shopping centre vertically and building the lower deck of parking were surely much bigger changes. Past changes tended to be radical, whereas today's changes tend to be incremental. 

[Mike K.]

And let’s not forget the ugly concrete jungle that is now University Heights.

It’s a woodframed project, however.

[Blair M.]

 

 

I can recall when they tore down the greenhouses in order to construct the first iteration of a "shopping centre" at Shelbourne and McKenzie (McKenzie was actually Ruby Road at the time), which was a tiny strip mall. Later came the K-Mart and multiple iterations of assorted ongoing developments, eventually turning into what became known as University Heights.

 

While some folks in the neighbourhood appreciated the greenhouses being torn down, and the resulting improved access to shopping infrastructure that began with that tiny strip mall in the early/mid 1970's, others vociferously decried the loss of the greenhouses and the associated open fields, essentially taken to criticizing this new "concrete jungle".

 

There's always somebody (likely a newcomer to Victoria) whose memory of the University Heights development goes back only a decade (maybe two), and who actually have zero knowledge or understanding as to how something (in this case University Heights Shopping Centre in 2026) actually came to be. 

 

As noted in my earlier post - when it comes to Shelbourne and McKenzie (Ruby Road) - the corner has been ever changing since 1970, growing constantly and with ever more density and development - and all of that development ongoing now for over half a century. 

Edited by Blair M., 05 April 2026 - 08:50 AM.

[lanforod]

It’s a woodframed project, however.

To be fair there are many tons of concrete before any wood framing on top. It does not look like wood frame.

[FogPub]

Expansion - population increase - major need for services for all those new folks moving into Saanich. 

All of that needed infrastructure has to go somewhere.

Which means they should, among other things, be expanding the road system and making it more efficient rather than choking it and making it less efficient - right?

 

The Esso at Shelbourne-McKenzie went in during or before the late 1960s, I can remember as a kid our family stopping in there regularly to fill up.

Edited by FogPub, 06 April 2026 - 12:00 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Saanich approves revised plan to guide development of Shelbourne Valley

 

https://www.timescol...valley-12210688

[Victoria Watcher]

Comment: Saanich council has made life in Shelbourne Valley worse

 

I live on Shelbourne Street and have seen the destruction that the Saanich council calls “progress” occur.

https://www.timescol...-worse-12228559