14 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

This development is comprised of a trio of three-storey buildings containing a total of 24 one and two-bedroom condo units.

 

 

San Francisco landmarks made famous by Full House series inspire Sidney condo dev

http://victoria.citi...dney-condo-dev/

[lanforod]

Those would be a great fit in James Bay. 

 

Oh wait, this is Sidney? Eh, ok, seems fine there too.

[Mike K.]

Funny you should mention that! The planning application points to heritage conversions in Victoria and how old stately homes are converted into mulit-unit dwellings. The report goes on to say that although there are very few such homes in Sidney, there is no reason the practice of creating house-like condo developments like this cannot be emulated with new construction.

[Nparker]

Uggh. Giant houses & faux heritage. 

[aastra]

Not only that, but the purported inspiration for this purportedly Victorian style comes from hundreds of miles away. You know, because there aren't any painted Victorian houses in Victoria that could have served as inspiration.

[Jill]

... there is no reason the practice of creating house-like condo developments like this cannot be emulated with new construction.

 

Other than good taste, I suppose.

[aastra]

I don't want to be too harsh. It's a small development and in the end these buildings will probably make for a pleasant & colourful effect on an otherwise drab & unlikely suburban street.

 

But remember that whole thing re: Victoria's old houses being relocated to other communities? It's such a big problem? And aastra keeps asking why some of the old houses couldn't be relocated & renovated within Victoria instead of leaving town? So along comes a development that's going to look like relocated & renovated old houses. As Obelix might have said, these Victorians are crazy.

[lanforod]

^ I think there's a big difference between taking a 100 year old house and changing it into apartments vs designing and building new. The first has a ton of challenges just because of how houses were built and designed back then. You're not planning for 8 kitchens and bathrooms and 12 bedrooms when building a house in the 1910's.

[VicHockeyFan]

I dunno, I think they are kind of cool.  I'm not a sloped roof fan though.  Sloped roofs were a good idea from 1400 to about 2005.  Now they are unnecessary with modern building materials.

Edited by VicHockeyFan, 02 June 2017 - 12:31 PM.

[aastra]

 

^ I think there's a big difference between taking a 100 year old house and changing it into apartments vs designing and building new

 

For sure, that's why I don't want to be too harsh. Anyway, it's not so much the development itself that bugs me but some of the attitudes that I think it represents.

[Jackerbie]

FYI, this was approved on July 10th with minor revisions. Staff report with architectural plans is here: http://www.sidney.ca...il report 2.pdf

[VictoriaSharks]

Is this development still going forward? Not seeing any updates and it's been an empty lot for a while. Local realtors don't have any new details either, but they think the developer might have backed out over parking regulations?

[Mike K.]

The development plans/concept are currently for sale.

[rambaldi]

There seems to be little incentive to try doing something architecturally different in today's real estate market, especially if the exterior features require additional effort (and money).  If people are buying anything that hits the market, why mess with success?  The latest SFH builds in Royal Bay seem to be foregoing the Fairfield-inspired look in favour of a more straight-forward exterior design that is similar to other developments on the Westshore. 

[van-island]

Sold!

 

The development plans/concept are currently for sale.