275 replies to this topic

[amor de cosmos]

Every time I read about this I think of how little I will miss it at this point. All I think of is what could have been. It's too little too late at this point.

With just 28 days to develop a plan, fans of Turner building rally to support family
Times Colonist
October 25, 2013 09:37 AM

Fans of the Turner building on the corner of Richmond Road near the Royal Jubilee Hospital are hoping to help the family that owns the property save it from demolition.

On Friday, supporters set up a Facebook page dedicated to rallying supporters to come up with ideas and money to rehabilitate the landmark building that has fallen into such disrepair that a health and safety inspection called for its demolition.

Victoria council voted Thursday night to give the Turner family 28 days to file either a demolition permit application or a plan for redevelopment. Because of safety concerns, staff had recommended the owners be given only 14 days to comply with a demolition order, not the usual 30 days.

“Some would describe this as a ‘faint-hope’ clause,” Coun. Chris Coleman said. “If you went with 14 days, you would really be saying, ‘It needs to be demolished now.’ ”

If the city demolishes the property, the owners will foot the bill, Coleman said.

The long and narrow two-storey building was built in the 1940s and for decades was home to Ian’s Jubilee Coffee Shop. It has been vacant for years, and has been eyed for restoration by various people, including a group on Facebook that calls itself Ian’s Jubilee Coffee Shop Fanclub.

http://www.timescolo...family-1.672354

Time for derelict Turner building to go, neighbours say
Richard Watts / Times Colonist
October 24, 2013 10:11 PM

It’s sad to think of losing the landmark Turner building, with its rounded nose, but the derelict structure really should go, neighbouring businesses say.

Vikram Bawa, owner of Fort Royal Pharmacy, said in recent years the only activity he has seen in the Turner are squatters who break in after dark.

“It would be good for a business to go in,” said Bawa, whose store is at the corner of Richmond Road and Fort Street. “Nobody is taking care of it now.”



The 1940s-era building housed Ian’s Jubilee Coffee Shop, run by Ian Turner. Turner, the building’s owner, retired in 2001 and the building subsequently closed.

Natasha Vandenberg, owner of After Shave barber shop, can look directly at the Turner building from her window.

Vandenberg said she would like to see the site developed.

“Something needs to be done because it’s in disarray,” she said.

About half of her clients were thrilled when the tape went up and rumours started that it was to be demolished. The other half want to see it restored and renovated.

http://www.timescolo...rs-say-1.671953

[slinkyo]

New Twitter Account: @saveianscafe

FB group 1: https://www.facebook...ups/9537947591/
FB group 2: https://www.facebook...ianscoffeeshop/
email: saveianscafe@gmail.com

[Dimitrios]

Sorry but this whole premise is ridiculous. Sure, I'm sure it was a cool building with a lot of nice memories for folks. But it's done. It's beyond done. When you start worrying that a strong wind will take down walls, and a building becomes a hazard to passers-by, the 'reno bird' has flown. The 'restore horse' has left the barn. The photos make it abundantly clear that it's not even close to saveable. It probably wouldn't have been cost effective to save 10 years ago. Face reality here, folks. Crush it to pieces and build something nice in its place, something that will make nice memories for folks for the next 50 years or so.

[gumgum]

If they did restore it they would have to replace Every. Single. Piece. Tearing it down is the only option.

Seriously what suicidal contractor would take this on? Where would they start? The foundation? And have the building collapse on them? The roof? And have the frame collapse? The walls and have the roof cave in?
I wonder if these people shouting to save it would be willing to even enter the building, let alone so much as pull out a nail.

[Holden West]

Interesting that in today's TC architect Franc D'Ambrosio is quoted as saying he wanted to buy the Turner building. That would have been a great project. Wonder if he had any sketches drawn up.

[G-Man]

The South West portion facade could be preserved and 6 storey office could be built behind the facade and on the parking lot next to it.

[amor de cosmos]

borrowed from google streetview (obviously) & this page
http://www.rosenberg...st-i-stockholm/

[Sparky]

^ That is awesome. Well done.

[amor de cosmos]

another angle from streetview

[G-Man]

They really need to clean up the boulevards there.

[North Shore]

Nice looking building!

(Not sure I'd want to be in it in a strong crosswind! ;-) )

[jaylow]

The Current zoning this for this site is C-1, which might be a bit restrictive for a new building. Here is some of C1 zoning requirements:
-No building shall have a floor space ratio in excess of 1.4 to 1 (Maximum 1074 Square meters, If the area from CRD maps is right.)
-The height of any building shall not exceed 12m. (10' floors would be about 4 floors)
-No building or part thereof shall be so situated on a lot that any main wall will be closer to a street line than 6m.

[aastra]

Methinks any new building should have a curved corner, zero setbacks, and commercial units from the corner all the way along the Richmond frontage.

[VicHockeyFan]

^ Ya, that's good.

[VicHockeyFan]

Check the action on your design here, aastra: https://www.facebook...owntownvictoria

[aastra]

It's always interesting to see what people think re: whether or not something fits. For example, "how about recreating the architectural lines of the original building?" If a low, long building with a curved corner and no setbacks doesn't recreate the architectural lines of a low, long building with a curved corner and no setbacks then what would? Maybe a gigantic faux farmhouse would be better?

Too modern? Or too moderne?


picture from http://www.victoriah...leehistory.html

[amor de cosmos]

Check the action on your design here, aastra: https://www.facebook...owntownvictoria

this city has lost its will to live

[aastra]

As always, I remind people that it's not possible to build a brand new dilapidated old building. When this building was new it was spiffy and a standout in the neighbourhood and representative of styles that were also new (or at least current) at the time.

If something anonymous and bland and irrelevant goes up there then I would regard it as a major failure. The new building should be a 21st-century version of the existing building. It should be a unique design that people could develop affection for and be willing to defend when the time comes (in the year 2063) to knock it down all over again.

[VicHockeyFan]

Check the action on your design here, aastra: https://www.facebook...owntownvictoria

[amor de cosmos]

As always, I remind people that it's not possible to build a brand new dilapidated old building. When this building was new it was spiffy and a standout in the neighbourhood and representative of styles that were also new (or at least current) at the time.

yes, & of course the same people who are desperate to save it now would have despised it back then for that exact reason. it would have been an unfamiliar alien intrusion for victorians used to ye goode-olde-school tudorbethan "character" or "heritage".