725 replies to this topic

[Rob Randall]

I am not sure I saw any sort of stove in that kitchen...and that bathroom... ay carumba! 

 

I go to a lot of estate sales and you see tons of old houses like that. Everything original except for the kitchen and bathroom which was "updated" in the '80s. Then at some point in the 90s NOTHING gets updated. It remains frozen in time for the next 20 years until the poor owners die of old age. The good thing is the good stuff is saved. I'm sure that amazing old-growth fir flooring will give a new owner joy for another century.

[Citified.ca]

A heritage restoration of downtown Victoria's P.L James Place federal office complex, situated on Government Street between Yates Street and Bastion Square, is now underway. The building was built in 1950 and is named in honour of the architect.

 

Restoration underway at Government Street federal complex

https://victoria.cit...ederal-complex/

[amor de cosmos]

holy crap i am i the only one who didn't see this coming? are there renderings of what it will look like? are they doing anything to the yates street side?


http://search-bcarch...of-intersection

it looked really 50s originally, in a good way, but i'm glad they opened up the ground floor where eddie bauer is now


http://search-bcarch...-see-hp068131-2

[Mike K.]

No renderings. The architectural work has been award to a Montreal-based outfit, but I don't think there are going to be any spectacular changes beyond a freshening of the exterior. Electrical, fire alarm and mechanical (elevators, etc.) upgrades are all to be undertaken.

 

I think we've got a couple of members on here who work in the building? They may have more info.

[Nparker]

...it looked really 50s originally, in a good way..

Agreed. You almost expect to see George Reeves (as Clark Kent) sidling up to one of these registration windows trying to get some sort of scoop for the Daily Planet.

[Rob Randall]

I remember it as a post office in the 80s looking like the photo above--but not quite as empty and barren. Then for a few years it was used as the unemployment office in the 90s, then it was cleared out and used a couple of times to put on huge art exhibitions. I wonder what happened to all that black marble?

[VicHockeyFan]

I used the back loading dock when it was a post office, one of my jobs was to pick up mail bags. Late 80’s and very early 90’s.

[Nparker]

..I wonder what happened to all that black marble?

Now why do I seem to think the marble was dark green?

[Mike K.]

The building underwent an architectural change in 1994 that gave us the Government Street frontage we know today (the awning, repurposing the old post office, etc.).

[Rob Randall]

one of my jobs was to pick up mail bags. Late 80’s and very early 90’s.

 

That's G-55 on your VHF Job Bingo scorecard.

 

Now why do I seem to think the marble was dark green?

 

You are probably correct.

[aastra]

The format of the original ground floor was a real slap in the face to Government Street, especially compared to what it replaced. But the 1990s fixes worked wonders. The corner portion could still be a lot better, however.

[sdwright.vic]

Unfortunately that corner is still utilized as functioning office space, so it will not be changing

[Rob Randall]

An extensive RBCM article on the 1976 excavation of a shell midden near Capital Iron:

 

http://staff.royalbc.../human-history/

 

 

 

 

 

[Coreyburger]

An extensive RBCM article on the 1976 excavation of a shell midden near Capital Iron:

 

http://staff.royalbc.../human-history/

 

Capture.JPG

 

File under "Things that would take about four times as long today" (which is a good thing).

[VicHockeyFan]

The tax holiday for Customs House passed. But the usual two opppsed it.

[Rob Randall]

^These are the questions I  would've asked:

• What is the total value of the tax holiday (how much revenue is the City losing)?
• Is this holiday needed to ensure the financial viability of this project?
• Is in needed to ensure strong sales of the units by making them more affordable?
• What is the developer's plan if the holiday is not granted?

[Rob Randall]

^And by "affordable" I don't mean accessible to entry-level or low income buyers, I mean affordable as in presenting a fair market value for the dollar.

[VicHockeyFan]

Coleman says it’s only a deferral and we get all lost revenue back by year 18 or so.

And we are trying to upgrade buildings to dave them from the quake regardless of the use.

Edited by VicHockeyFan, 23 February 2018 - 07:31 AM.

[Mike K.]

Wait, so these tax breaks on heritage properties are merely deferrals, or just in this case?

[Nparker]

Wait, so these tax breaks on heritage properties are merely deferrals, or just in this case?

Yeah, this seemed like new information, but perhaps it was never expressed in these terms before.