233 replies to this topic

[jklymak]

^ Well if the city keeps allowing buildings like this then I would guess not but any district has the potential to be a new destination centre with enough planning. This intersection provides a pretty cool centre-piece to what could be a cool area.

 

I think you need to focus what areas you are going to make "new destinations".  Is this intersection really one on anybody's list?

[G-Man]

Mine I guess. It is a neat intersection with a lot of potential plus a lot of development sites nearby.

[Mike K.]

The Scott Building at Hillside and Douglas, that ivy-covered building at Government and Bay and the L'el'and Building at Bay and Douglas are all heritage-worthy (if not heritage already) anchors that should have directed the "urban" development of the area. You can tell the city's forefathers felt quite different about this area but since the latter half of the 20th century development turned in a completely different direction and destroyed any semblance of this being a walkable, urban district suitable of holding down a name like "midtown."

 

About 20 years ago the strip mall where Wendy's is now was earmarked for a couple of office buildings (towers?). The strip mall now sits on what was once a dug out foundation not unlike the Radius site.

[Hotel Mike]

 

 

About 20 years ago the strip mall where Wendy's is now was earmarked for a couple of office buildings (towers?). The strip mall now sits on what was once a dug out foundation not unlike the Radius site.

I believe the hole was on the northern side of that lot. It became the CBC/CHEK building.

[Holden West]

Maybe this will spur development across the street in the empty lot next to the Scott Bldg. There are some sweet sites around there.

 

I believe the hole was on the northern side of that lot. It became the CBC/CHEK building.

 

No, wrong site. Under the Wendy's mall there is an abandoned parkade buried Pompeii-style with community rubbish and fill.

[Bingo]

 

[aastra]

I thought the abandoned pre-Wendy's project was a hotel. Did I imagine that?

[concorde]

Maybe this will spur development across the street in the empty lot next to the Scott Bldg. There are some sweet sites around there.

 

 

No, wrong site. Under the Wendy's mall there is an abandoned parkade buried Pompeii-style with community rubbish and fill.

Correct, that was Victorias lake in the early 80s from the abandoned construction project when interest rates went skyhigh

[jklymak]

Mine I guess. It is a neat intersection with a lot of potential plus a lot of development sites nearby.

 

That "neat" intersection is terrible for pedestrians.  It'll be a long time before this gets turned into a walkable urban streetscape, and it'd have been pretty unfair of council to force this developer to fit that mold when the dominant local paradigm is car-oriented service and large retail businesses.

[Mike K.]

There's really no harm in moving things in a certain direction, though, and the City certainly isn't hiding it's pro-cycling and pro-walking agenda elsewhere. Quadra Village, just two blocks away, is a walkable urban neighbourhood and the upcoming seniors complex on the elementary school site will add quite a significant amount of pedestrian activity. And as we see with the historic buildings in the neighbourhood the intent of this area was to create a midtown shopping/urban district north of downtown, but since the 60's things went completely sideways and have been butchered by quasi industrial, quasi-residential and quasi-commercial developments that have absolutely no relation to one another. It's a shameful mess that neighbourhood.

 

City Hall too easily drops the ball in some instances while in others unnecessarily obstructs legitimate urban design and redevelopment.

[Mike K.]

From earlier today.

 

Notice the granite and the material that is adhered to the back of it. This metal honeycomb material makes the tiles less expensive and lighter.

 

 

 

[Mike K.]

You can see the marble that has been installed along the west face.

 

[Mike K.]

[Nparker]

So it would seem this is just about to top out at its staggering 6 floors?

[Mike K.]

Yes, six from Hillside and seven from Market.

[Nparker]

Once again, a Victoria project that could have been so much better. A few floors taller (10 altogether perhaps) with maybe a mix of commercial, office and residential and I think we'd have a winner. Instead we'll have a truncated office building that will likely struggle to find tenants.

[cakeman]

The roof has been poured.. Crane goes away.. mid or end of May I understand.. I forget exactly which..

 

cakes..

[VicBiker]

I believe the crane is schedule to come down mid to late June.   It is still required for the exterior curtain wall likely.  Here is a photo with the glass in to the top of the first office level. 

[Mike K.]

Welcome to VV, VicBiker, and thank you for the photo update!

[jonny]

The windows are starting to go in and this building is very glassy and kind of chic. Not a bad look IMO. Maybe there is hope, but that rendering is extra ugly.