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PROPOSED
550 Pandora Avenue
Uses: rental, commercial
Address: 550 Pandora Avenue
Municipality: Victoria
Region: Downtown Victoria
Storeys: 5
550 Pandora Avenue is a proposal to redevelopment a single storey commercial building into a five-storey mixed... (view full profile)
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[Chinatown] 550-558 Pandora Avenue | Residential, retail | Lowrise | Proposed


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#41 Casual Kev

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Posted 31 October 2018 - 02:58 PM

If the facade had bricks all the way from bottom to top it'd fit the surroundings a lot better. 



#42 Kapten Kapsell

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Posted 31 October 2018 - 03:32 PM

Thanks for sharing this information, Mike.  Do we know who the project developer is?



#43 aastra

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Posted 31 October 2018 - 05:26 PM

Ideally, I think every new building should have some aspect that says "look at me, I'm interesting because of...."

 

Materials, form/massing, colour, detail/ornamentation... something.

 

What do we gain by making the top one or two levels of these buildings so anonymous and generic? Why can't those levels be interesting, too?


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#44 Rob Randall

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Posted 31 October 2018 - 07:05 PM

Chinatown and Harris Green are the two areas where no harm can come from letting loose, architecture-wise. 

 

I mean, Chinatown's weird in that it has a distinctive character. And anyone knows what I'm talking about when I mention "Chinatown architecture". But really it's the same Italianate style you see in any second-rate Old Town building, except with more recessed balconies and fire escapes. 

 

I don't think we've even been able to wrap our head around the concept of what a good modern infill Chinatown building should look like--recall the near decade-long struggle to build the CitiZen building on Fisgard.



#45 Jackerbie

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Posted 01 November 2018 - 10:00 AM

Dev Tracker folder is up, but no details or drawings uploaded yet: https://tender.victo...Number=REZ00671


Edited by Jackerbie, 01 November 2018 - 10:00 AM.


#46 Jackerbie

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Posted 01 November 2018 - 11:04 AM

Plans are now up! The developer is the Chinese Freemasons Housing Society. They are working with BC Housing to provide 36 affordable rental units.

 

Capture.PNG

 

Capture2.PNG


Edited by Jackerbie, 01 November 2018 - 11:05 AM.


#47 Nparker

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Posted 01 November 2018 - 11:10 AM

This needs more detailing at the ground level and at the top.


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#48 Linear Thinker

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Posted 01 November 2018 - 11:56 AM

Vital stats of the proposal;

2 x retail units facing Pandora, 807 and 772 sf

9 x Studio, 384 and 440 sf

23 x 1 Bed, 476 - 494 sf

4 x 2 Bed, 870 & 883

5 Storey, 16.17m height

No car parking, only bikes.

It will have a 10ft basement space beneath the retail



#49 Mattjvd

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Posted 01 November 2018 - 12:11 PM

I'm not sure why organizations in the region insist on using the most expensive pieces of land in the area for affordable housing. 


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#50 Jackerbie

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Posted 01 November 2018 - 12:21 PM

I'm not sure why organizations in the region insist on using the most expensive pieces of land in the area for affordable housing. 

 

Apparently they've been holding the property for 24 years



#51 Mike K.

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Posted 01 November 2018 - 12:23 PM

The retail units appear far too small for either of Habit or Mo:Lé to remain, unless one of them takes over both spaces?


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#52 Mattjvd

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Posted 01 November 2018 - 12:31 PM

Apparently they've been holding the property for 24 years

They could probably sell it and build twice as many affordable units outside of downtown.


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#53 Mike K.

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Posted 01 November 2018 - 01:11 PM

It's not that simple. By selling the property they then would have to buy another, and any land that is favourably zoned or which can be pursued for favourable zoning will command a very high price. The costs and effort to pursue an application could be lengthy and dramatic, and it wouldn't yield twice as many units (likely the same amount, perhaps even less).


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#54 Brantastic

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Posted 01 November 2018 - 03:08 PM

The retail units appear far too small for either of Habit or Mo:Lé to remain, unless one of them takes over both spaces?

That would be too bad. As much as I think the building has very little to offer architecturally and is a poor use of space from a densification standpoint, those businesses are the life-blood of that block, imo. In fact, I'm drinking Habit Coffee right now. I can only hope they relocate to one of the vacant spaces in 595 or the Union.



#55 aastra

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Posted 02 November 2018 - 09:17 AM

Check out the new construction on top of this fantastic restoration project in Hamilton, ON:

http://skyscraperpag...3&postcount=293


Edited by aastra, 02 November 2018 - 09:18 AM.

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#56 tjv

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Posted 02 November 2018 - 10:55 AM

It's not that simple. By selling the property they then would have to buy another, and any land that is favourably zoned or which can be pursued for favourable zoning will command a very high price. The costs and effort to pursue an application could be lengthy and dramatic, and it wouldn't yield twice as many units (likely the same amount, perhaps even less).

True, but almost every candidate in the recent election said they wanted affordable housing.  I say sell this land so it can be properly developed and buy land in Rock Bay or somewhere else that's cheap and have it rezoned.  The candidates that I saw all said they were for affordable housing then its time to put up or shut up

 

I would buy the land in Rock Bay or where ever, put up a sign that says "coming soon 36 affordable homes" and then if council votes it down, put up another sign that says "the following councilors do not believe in affordable housing, we purchased cheap land and they said no".  Then list their full names, phone numbers, email addresses, etc followed by a full news media campaign.

 

Regardless, this location is no place for affordable housing



#57 Jackerbie

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Posted 02 November 2018 - 11:03 AM

They could probably sell it and build twice as many affordable units outside of downtown.

 

True, but almost every candidate in the recent election said they wanted affordable housing.  I say sell this land so it can be properly developed and buy land in Rock Bay or somewhere else that's cheap and have it rezoned.  The candidates that I saw all said they were for affordable housing then its time to put up or shut up

 

I would buy the land in Rock Bay or where ever, put up a sign that says "coming soon 36 affordable homes" and then if council votes it down, put up another sign that says "the following councilors do not believe in affordable housing, we purchased cheap land and they said no".  Then list their full names, phone numbers, email addresses, etc followed by a full news media campaign.

 

Regardless, this location is no place for affordable housing

 

We don't know what the owner's motivation is, or what their priorities are. Remember, this is the Chinese Freemasons Housing Society. Having a location in Chinatown is likely very high on their checklist. I would imagine that the intent is for this development to be for seniors, given that it is a largely 1BR and studio development with no parking. The priority may not be quantity of housing units, but rather an amenity-rich location for senior members of the Society.



#58 Kapten Kapsell

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Posted 05 December 2019 - 02:36 PM

Is this project still moving forward?  Dev Tracker has been silent on this proposal since early November 2018...



#59 gstc84

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Posted 05 December 2019 - 02:45 PM

Is this project still moving forward?  Dev Tracker has been silent on this proposal since early November 2018...

 

Mo:Le posted on Facebook that they've been informed it would be at least four years before any development occurs, so they're doing some kitchen upgrades now.


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#60 Kapten Kapsell

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Posted 10 September 2020 - 04:36 PM

Revised plans went up on Dev Tracker today.
448B70AE-DBCE-44FC-9A44-7650281D99A5.jpeg
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