149 replies to this topic

[Casual Kev]

Look who has created this narrative - developers. Who stands to gain the most with the narrative - developers!

 

I am not suggesting that the downtown shouldn't be redeveloped, just that it is a fallacy for people to think that will mean that they will be able to rent a 1 bedroom for $800 a month or buy a 1 bedroom condo for $350K! Look at how much new inventory has come on the market in the past couple of years yet rents and prices are higher than ever.

 

I mean, you can still buy a 1-bed in Langford for <350K - in part thanks to the fact the city has brought a ton of new stock. Just a few years ago that sort of money got you a 1-bed just about anywhere in the core, even in new builds. 

Edited by Casual Kev, 11 April 2021 - 11:07 AM.

[AllseeingEye]

Scary to think that in 2007 I picked up a 1200 s/f two-level, 2 bedroom 2 bathroom top floor condo two blocks from Cook Street village for $319,xxx lol. Probably couldn't buy a bachelor suite for that these days.

[aastra]

Building new homes won't reduce housing prices to zero, so why bother building new homes?

[Victoria Watcher]

The first phase would focus on developing a 13-storey building with live/work studio spaces for artists above commercial space, a light industrial building that could house a brewery or advanced engineering work, and a new location for the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria on the parking lot land across from Capital Iron.

Subsequent phases of the project would see marine-related commercial space and light industrial buildings on the waterfront, with mixed-use buildings for commercial, residential and offices along Store Street, including a 10-storey building. A 17-storey residential building is proposed at the corner of Government and Discovery streets, with another artist live/work space and light industrial or office space nearby.

https://www.timescol...lery-1.24353975

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 27 August 2021 - 05:39 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

13 10 and 17 on the waterfront in old town is not going to be very popular with the usual opponents.

Stovell says they hope to have it rezoned in one year.

I’m not so sure.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 27 August 2021 - 05:45 AM.

[Nparker]

10, 13 and 17 on the waterfront in old town is not going to be very popular....

Not only unpopular, but highly unlikely to EVER happen in this part of town.

[Victoria Watcher]

the art gallery part is odd. I thought the art gallery had a large donation contingent on them spending it on the current property.


Feb 2020:



The cost of the project is estimated at around $30 million.

Tupper says they have substantial contributions from the private sector and a commitment from the province. They are waiting on federal funding.

"Funding these projects is tricky. It's a balancing act, you know," Tupper said. "It always takes time."

https://www.cbc.ca/n...nsion-1.5457045

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 27 August 2021 - 05:50 AM.

[Mike K.]

Here’s a press release from Reliance!

Victoria, BC (August 27, 2021) – Reliance Properties with architect D’Ambrosio Studio submitted a rezoning pre-application this week for the Capital Iron Lands, becoming the first developer to respond to Victoria's 3.0 plan that calls for an Arts & Innovation District in the north end of downtown. Reliance’s master plan includes incorporating the site’s heritage into a vibrant waterfront community with high-value jobs, institutions, homes, and public amenities, plus a proposed new home for the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.

“At almost seven acres, Capital Iron Lands is one of Victoria’s largest development opportunities and we look forward to collaborating with the city and local communities to make the Arts & Innovation District a diverse hub of arts, culture, and technology,” said Jon Stovell, president and CEO of Reliance Properties, a company that has been immersed in Victoria for more than 10 years.

Reliance bought Capital Iron Lands last year. The site is mostly undeveloped with only 93,000 square feet of built commercial and retail space, including three registered heritage buildings. Its popular namesake tenant, Capital Iron, occupies approximately half of the built space.

The rezoning application calls for a mix of uses – heavy and light industrial including marine-related uses and manufacturing, retail, commercial, new public open spaces, plus high-tech, arts and cultural uses. As its amenity contribution to the community, Reliance proposes providing land for a new art gallery to be built, owned, and operated by the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (AGGV).

“For many years, we have been actively searching for a new building for the AGGV," said Janyce Ronson, AGGV acting director. “Working with Reliance Properties provides us with the possibility of that opportunity, subject to continued support from funders, donors and the community. We chose to work with Reliance because of their record of supporting visual arts in BC, in addition to their support of other important community initiatives in Victoria.”

“The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria is an anchor cultural institution in the region,” said Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps. “There have long been calls for it to move downtown. I can’t think of a better place than in the newly created Arts and Innovation District. I look forward to seeing this exciting rezoning opportunity come before Council.”

Reliance has long supported arts and culture in BC, including providing the single-largest donation to Emily Carr University of Art & Design, and more recently, commissioning globally renowned artist Douglas Coupland to paint a mural around an entire Vancouver residential rental tower. In Victoria, Reliance recently became the co-title sponsor of the annual PGA Open, with funds supporting the local Salvation Army.

“We are passionate about contributing to arts, culture and community,” said Stovell. “Capital Iron Lands is located along 400-feet of navigable water frontage, making it a unique, attractive, and exciting hub for arts and innovation.”

Reliance is a multi-award-winning developer, including winning regional and national awards for its adaptive reuse of The Janion in Victoria. Its heritage portfolio also includes the recently rezoned Northern Junk site, 31 Bastion Square, and the BC Power Commission building.

[Spy Black]

It's a great plan for both the area (which is currently somewhat of a mish-mash of parking lots, warehouses, and re-purposed train yards) and for the Art Gallery.

 

The simple truth is that the Art Gallery will never be able to meet its mandate in its current location.

The gallery needs to be vertical, with multiple floors and many thousands of square feet more than they currently have, or have the potential to develop in the current location.

That the Art Gallery is in a residential neighbourhood tends to hobble all future plans in its existing location.

 

This kind of project makes the current Councils declarations of an Arts and Innovation District sound a bit less like a crack-pipe fantasy.

 

God knows that Council couldn't now, and likely couldn't ever motivate such a visionary development on their own ... so here we have it - all Council has to do is approve the re-zoning and development permit ... which one wonders if Council can do without screwing everything up by insisting the development contain 30% no-cost housing for local crack addicts and bicycle thieves.

[Barrrister]

Spy: Dont leave out the meth heads and their propensity to assault people. Sorry, it is no longer an assault but rather a medical incident.

[spanky123]

Can blame Reliance for giving council what they want, arts hub, ocean sciences hub, room for artists, cheap housing on the waterfront for TV supporters, etc, etc. All that they need to pull this off is a big grant,  a 30 year tax holiday, bonus density, elimination of any amenity requirements and BC Housing support!

[G-Man]

Where did they list those requirements? Or is this just a negative assumption right off the top?

[G-Man]

I want to see some more detailed drawings before making any decisions but I like the massing and love the industry in the harbour.

[jstovell]

Here is the rezoning pre-application:

 

https://www.dropbox....iEs9G1NfHgj4oRC

[Victoria Watcher]

Thanks John.

[spanky123]

Where did they list those requirements? Or is this just a negative assumption right off the top?

 

I am stating what every developer asks for and quite often gets!

[jstovell]

CFAX

 

https://www.iheartra...rraby-1.1821460

[DavidSchell]

CFAX

 

https://www.iheartra...rraby-1.1821460

 

Project looks amazing and from what I can see is more or less what Lisa is looking for ... best of luck as you move forward with this concept.

[Kapten Kapsell]

Full plans on dev tracker now.

A new rendering of one section:

[Nparker]

This sort of height/density is never going to get approved in Old Town.