312 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

The potential future owner of what locals call “the Turner building” sees the recent fire that ravaged its interior as an unfortunate disruption, but the company is pressing on with plans to redevelop the site.

“I’m relieved that no one was hurt and grateful for the swift response from Victoria police and fire crews,” said Karl Robertson of Empresa Properties Ltd., the company under contract to purchase the building after rezoning.


https://www.vicnews....uilding-7788029

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 30 January 2025 - 02:03 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Firefighters battle another blaze at vacant Turner building

 

 

Smoke was rising out of the two-storey building when firefighters were sent to fight the blaze just before 3:45 p.m.

 

https://www.timescol...ilding-10308698

[North Shore]

Victoria council should just issue an immediate demolition order for that ruin now, before it catches fire yet again. It’s a public safety hazard.

[Victoria Watcher]

Yup.

[Sparky]

The city issued a demolition order to the owner last Tuesday. It will be coming down as soon as everyone gets their act together.

[Victoria Watcher]

Long-vacant Turner building to be demolished by next week: developer

“By this time next week, I expect the site will be locked down, levelled out, and well on its way to transformation,” says Empresa Properties founder Karl Robertson

https://www.timescol...eloper-10337232

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 March 2025 - 08:10 AM.

[Sparky]

.....and there it is....gone forever....
Photo by Gina Bances (Old Victoria BC)

[UDeMan]

If I was a pest control company, I would hand out flyers in the surrounding neighborhood.

An abandoned building was taken down by my work and we had a rat and mouse infestation for months after.

[Mike K.]

Nice shot, Sparky!

[aastra]

 

An abandoned building was taken down by my work and we had a rat and mouse infestation for months after.

 

If I was in your situation I would have just caught the rat and the mouse and been done with it.

[aastra]

Silly question, but what kind of basement was that at Turner's? The stairway down suggested it was full height, but it looks like it was actually just a crawlspace? And very possibly the creepiest crawlspace ever built?

[Victoria Watcher]

The owner of a downtown coffee shop says he plans to open an outlet in a new development on the site of the long-vacant Turner building, which was torn down this year after fire damage.

 

Rob Kettner, owner of Hey Happy coffee shop on Johnson Street, said he has entered into an agreement with Empresa Properties to open a second location in one of the commercial ground-floor spaces of a six-storey rental building planned for the site, at the corner of Birch Street and Richmond Avenue.

 

The 1946 Turner building, the former home of Ian’s Jubilee Coffee Shop, had been vacant since 2001 when it was demolished in March after several fires.

 

On Thursday, Victoria council unanimously approved Empresa Properties’ rezoning application to construct a 55-unit rental building on the triangular-shaped property opposite Royal Jubilee Hospital.

 

In a letter to council supporting the development, Kettner said the plan to turn part of Birch Street into a public plaza could turn that area into a gathering place for the North Jubilee neighbourhood.

 

The city would contribute up to $530,000 for the plaza, which would be built largely on public land on Birch Street, with any additional funding to come from the developer.

 

https://www.timescol...r-site-10962782

 

 

 

 

 

The city would contribute up to $530,000 for the plaza, which would be built largely on public land on Birch Street, with any additional funding to come from the developer.

 

 

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 19 July 2025 - 06:43 AM.

[Bambam]

Walked by it today the building is all gone right down to the floor of the old foundation. A bit of a strange sensation walked right by the site and couldn't put my finger on what was different and then...aha....no building. Construction fence is up. And there were a few hardhats doing something with some equipment right where Birch enters onto Richmond, so hopefully construction starts sooner than later......

[phx]

 hopefully construction starts sooner than later......

 

Hold your horses, it’s only been 15 years.

Edited by phx, 15 August 2025 - 05:48 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

The new development that will replace the former Turner Building, which sat empty for more than 20 years before being destroyed in a fire, is expected to break ground next week after receiving unanimous approval in Victoria council.

 

The development was before council on Jan. 15 for final adoption of the plan that will see a six-storey building, with 55-rental units and three commercial spaces.

 

“The building has been designed with wellness in mind and will include both at- and below-grade bike rooms equipped with bike and dog wash stations, as well as maintenance areas,” Karl Robertson with Empresa Properties said in an email to CHEK News.

 

https://cheknews.ca/...t-week-1299776/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 15 January 2026 - 07:09 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

I pass by this building fairly regularly and I've found myself wondering what is in its future. I think its been boarded up for some time now.....?
I think I only ever went in there once and found it to be a true 'greasy spoon', lotsa vinyl and stools at the counter.
Does anyone know what the situation is with the building?
I did a search (probably a feeble one, as I don't seem to have the best of luck with searches.....) and was only able to come up with the following details http://www.libertyan...ner/Turner.html.

 

16 years.

[Victoria Watcher]

The Tallinn is set to rise on Richmond Road in Victoria, where hub of the community once stood.

The development will feature 55 purpose-built rental homes and three commercial spaces, with ground-floor tenancies carefully selected to feature local operators and create a vibrant, pedestrian-oriented street-level experience.

“We’re thrilled that The Tallinn has received unanimous support from council and that we’ve already begun breaking ground onsite. The build is expected to take approximately 24 months,” said Karl Robertson of Empresa Properties, developer of the site at 2002 Richmond.

Read more at: https://vicnews.com/...-neighbourhood/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 January 2026 - 10:28 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Hub of the community eh?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 January 2026 - 10:29 AM.

[Sparky]

Hub with no parking.

[Sparky]

Citified lists the parking to be underground, but I don’t believe that to be correct.