334 replies to this topic

[Citified.ca]

An early rendering of the Pacific Vista condominium tower, planned for the site of Esquimalt's now-closed Super Low Food Market on Esquimalt Road at Head Street. The project will span between Esquimalt Road to the north and Wollaston Street to the south along Head Street. 

 

Highrise tower planned for site of Esquimalt's shuttered Super Low Food Market

https://victoria.cit...ow-food-market/

[Nparker]

[shoeflack]

Noice. That's a great area prime for redevelopment with Verde, Westbay Quay, and now this all in the area, in addition to the already complete Skyline building.

[FirstTimeHomeCrier]

On the plus side, this is creating net new housing and not replacing lower income housing. But I'm really hoping that this is closer entry-level or mid-market than West Bay Quay. Let's revitalize the area without turning it into another Songhees, please, and build a community that houses a vareity of people rather than retired millionaires and vacation homes.

[Mike K.]

It’s unlikely to be cheap considering the concrete construction and the views are top notch. I’ll peg it as lower than Encore but higher than Verde.

[Dr. Barillas]

Looks like a great project, Super Low Food was looking pretty run down. 

 

Perhaps a wee bit tall for that area though?

[Nparker]

....Perhaps a wee bit tall for that area though?

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

No need to start a "fear of heights" argument against this. The NIMBYs are probably already gearing up for that.

[sdwright.vic]

Across the street, the Cambie is approved for two 10 story towers

[tiger11]

I would agree its a little tall for the area at the current time; however, this area is in great need of a revitalization and this would set a good precedent. 

[Nparker]

I would agree its a little tall for the area at the current time; however, this area is in great need of a revitalization and this would set a good precedent. 

That's the thing; if every new building could only be as tall as the height of the surrounding structures, we'd have very little of anything taller than a SFH house anywhere in the region. We need to build for the future, not the past.

[Mike K.]

There’s a bit of a discussion on this project on the article page. Folks calling for six-storeys: https://victoria.cit...ow-food-market/

[RFS]

Six storeys is fine for further down closer to the town hall. That commerical area around head st should be tall and dense

[Mike K.]

A stones throw away are two nine-storey towers, and they’re literally in and among the houses, so I can’t see much sympathy from council towards calls for less height. Especially when two 10-storey towers are already approved at the Cambie lot.

[Nparker]

There’s a bit of a discussion on this project on the article page. Folks calling for six-storeys...

What does this even mean?

...I thought Esquimalt was in the process of promoting and attracting quality development, not the sort of "popsicle palaces" we have seen run amuck through Victoria lately...

[Mike K.]

Yeah, I dunno. Folks just like to complain. No matter that there’s a quality project underway that would fit right in to Victoria or Vancouver or Calgary, it’s just a popsicle in Esquimalt, which is now internationally recognized for its quality development aspirations.

[jonny]

I know things are changing, but if I lived in Esquimalt, I think I would be embarrassed of my city. How is the whole place stuck in 1975? How does that happen?

[Nparker]

...Esquimalt...is now internationally recognized for its quality development aspirations.

That's probably a bit of an exaggeration at this time, but if Esquimalt sticks with nondescript, 6-storey and under wood-frame residential projects it certainly will never get worldly recognition. The entire length of Esquimalt Road from the CoV border to Admirals Road is prime for significantly more density, even if it does mean those silly garden medians have to be removed.

I look forward to the day when someone proposes redeveloping the "stuck in the 1960's Esquimalt Plaza". Now that will be a signal that E-town's time as come.

[RFS]

I know things are changing, but if I lived in Esquimalt, I think I would be embarrassed of my city. How is the whole place stuck in 1975? How does that happen?

A combination of department of national defense, native reserves, and low real estate values. But that is definitely changing and many of the areas in between are great (old esquimalt, marina, saxe point, swallows landing). Plus the vic pd in esquimalt actually enforce the law so its safe and comfy. Also plastic bags

[Mike K.]

Esquimalt never boomed in 2003-2008, and never lost in 2009-2012. So they came out unscathed without giant pits and bungled projects (think Colwood), but where they’ve really felt the pain is with many projects receiving approvals and never proceeding even in this market. That’s all changing now with Westbay Quay, Verde Green, the new liquor store, the Red Barn Market, English Inn, Town Centre*, etc.

*My understanding is that the Town Centre development is delayed due to BC Justice Institute pulling out as the anchored office tenant, and the lack of construction workers. But it is going ahead.

That's probably a bit of an exaggeration at this time, but if Esquimalt sticks with nondescript, 6-storey and under wood-frame residential projects it certainly will never get worldly recognition. The entire length of Esquimalt Road from the CoV border to Admirals Road is prime for significantly more density, even if it does mean those silly garden medians have to be removed.

I look forward to the day when someone proposes redeveloping the "stuck in the 1960's Esquimalt Plaza". Now that will be a signal that E-town's time as come.

I was kidding

[aastra]

 

...I thought Esquimalt was in the process of promoting and attracting quality development, not the sort of "popsicle palaces" we have seen...

 

Yet again I beat my poor dead horse re: Victorians really need to make an effort to define their terms.