1947 replies to this topic

[Barrrister]

Mayor Helps was against people reading I suspect. Reading at times has been know to lead to people thinking.

[Nparker]

...With thousands of new units I dont understand why proper recreation facilities such as gyms and a pool have not been built for all these new people.

Because any additional revenue has been spent on social engineering projects.

[spanky123]

The city of Victoria has upzoned an enormous amount of property even in the last ten years I have been here. Exactly what have we gotten in return? With thousands of new units I dont understand why proper recreation facilities such as gyms and a pool have not been built for all these new people.

 

Why because developers pay a consultant to tell City staff that upzoning does not increase the value of land. If there is no increase in value then there is no requirement to pay a bonus density lift. The Mayor and council then accept that report and whola.

 

On that basis then, the recent reports of huge profits generated from flipping recently rezoned lands are just imaginary.

Edited by spanky123, 10 February 2023 - 09:05 AM.

[Barrrister]

The massive increase in property prices after rezoning is because a new rose bush had been planted.

[Nparker]

Rose bushes are too colonial/settler. More likely a new ping-pong table or concrete barrier in the middle of a road.

[Victoria Watcher]

Premier David Eby announces $1-billion in grants for municipalities

All of B.C.'s 188 municipalities and regional districts will be eligible to tap into the $1-billion growing communities fund which they can use to build new infrastructure and amenities such as recreation facilities, transit services, parks and water treatment plants.

https://vancouversun...f162f21c10/amp/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 February 2023 - 09:58 AM.

[Nparker]

Election is coming.

[Victoria Watcher]

Municipalities will not apply for the funding, but the money will be distributed by the province based on population size and population growth, Eby said. The will be distributed by the end of March.



I like how they just get it whether they want it or not. Imagine some tiny community doesn’t want or need it. Nope, you’re getting it!

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 February 2023 - 10:31 AM.

[lanforod]

ignoring however they factor in growth, thats like, 16-17m or so for the CoV, and about 22m or so for Saanich.

16m isn't much of a dent in a 100m pool.

[Victoria Watcher]

Other priorities before a new pool

 

I was looking forward to the new Victoria council taking on some of the city’s pressing problems: unaffordable housing, downtown looking rough, the once-picturesque Pandora Avenue (now a complete disaster), roads needing repair, but what seems to be highest on their list is spending $100 million on a new Crystal Pool.

 

This is in the wake of budget information that says services will have to be cut so we taxpayers will only see a nine per cent tax increase this year.

 

The motion to go to referendum on borrowing this money passed without any discussion from the taxpayers. City staff noted that last referendum in 2010 cost $600,000. This one could be double that.

 

With my very affordable annual pass, I swim at the Crystal Pool a couple of times a week. It is a safe, clean and well-lit building. The patrons, many of whom are elderly, and some with wheelchairs, many children and parents, seem very happy to use it regularly.

 

It is a solid building, according to the engineers who inspected it a few years ago, with no major problems that can’t be fixed with a normal maintenance budget.

 

Why would we pay for a new expensive pool when we have so many other spending priorities?

 

All Gallupe

Victoria

 

 

https://www.timescol...riority-6551415

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 February 2023 - 05:34 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

A pool is:

 

• A hole in the ground.
• A water filtration system.
• The building over it. 

 

It would surprise me if all of those broke down at the same time.

 

I think you can keep repairing.  Add a temporary area for when you have to close the change rooms, the weight room, the classrooms, the pump system.

 

After you cycle through replacing everything, the temporary area can become gym space etc.

 

As per the letter above.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 February 2023 - 05:36 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

A referendum on the project is expected to be held in 2024 and will include a binding question on the public’s willingness to borrow to build a new recreation centre, and a non-binding question about the centre’s location and amenities.

Location options are likely to be in or near the North Park neighbourhood.

https://www.timescol...t-study-6677919

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 March 2023 - 04:37 AM.

[Mike K.]

Why if why, can’t this be built with the YMCA, and they be given the operating rights?

[Victoria Watcher]

Why if why, can’t this be built with the YMCA, and they be given the operating rights?

 

CUPE 50.

[Victoria Watcher]

edit

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 March 2023 - 06:16 AM.

[Ismo07]

CUPE 50.

 

Arena got built...

[Victoria Watcher]

Arena got built...

Those full-time and part/time regular jobs were saved. Transferred to other departments. Was few. Crystal harder.

[Victoria Watcher]

Preferred pool site has been determined

 

Recently, the Crystal Pool Replacement Project was allocated $1.78 million to restart planning. Among other items outlined in the plan presented to Victoria’s committee of the whole on March 9, studies are to be done on cost of construction, location, features and the impacts of four possible sites.

 

Taxpayers voting in a referendum may recommend one site, or rank all four, but their input will be “non-binding.”

 

In 2018, all necessary studies and several public consultations were completed, and a comprehensive building design submitted, for a site on the southwest corner of Central Park. The project was ” shovel-ready.”

 

Then, “intense lobbying by a group of residents sought changes to the project, including its siting and design.” Further work was done, then COVID put a hold on progress.

 

In 2020, in a report to Victoria’s committee of the whole, six sites were considered, with the advantages and disadvantages listed for each site.

 

Of the six, three had drawbacks. Of the three others, all located in Central Park, the site on the southwest corner again “received the highest degree of analysis of any prospective location, and was the site identified consistently through the initial two-year period of public engagement and technical analysis.”

 

I do not understand why, if taxpayer input will be non-binding, council does not go, now, with the preferred site, the southwest corner of Central Park, with no further costly studies and waste of time.

 

 

Pauline McCullagh

Victoria

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...ningful-6787555

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 31 March 2023 - 05:45 AM.

[spanky123]

^ Because it was never about the site, the plan stalled when the City's marketing consultant told them that the referendum would fail.

 

That is the #1 question they should be addressing now. How much is it going to cost and who is going to pay. If a referendum is required to approve borrowing then nothing likely has changed and we will waste another $2M.

[G-Man]

The current pool needs a little help but is fine. There is no reason to do anything other than fix the issues with the current facility.