1571 replies to this topic

[Rob Randall]

All true. The map is somewhat misleading in that it makes it look like HG is a distinct neighbourhood on par with Burnside, Fairfield, etc.

 

It is unique in that it is part of the formal Downtown boundary. A long time ago there was a HG residents association but it was very small and couldn't survive. As far as City Hall is concerned all of HG is officially Downtown. 

 

But it has a distinct eclectic character that I think should be preserved and enhanced. 

[Mike K.]

The Atrium is in HG, no?

[Rob Randall]

Atrium is just outside the HG boundary. 

[Mike K.]

Interesting, so it juts east along that block, while the Telus building behind it is within HG.

 

Black and White is within Fairfield, while the former Downtown Auto mechanic shop (now a Speedy Auto Glass) at Chatham and Government was in Burnside-Gorge (aka Rock Bay in the map on the previous page) and Mark's Work Warehouse is still in 'downtown Victoria.'

[Mike K.]

I'm really excited for this project personally. Downtown Victoria could benefit from more density IMO.

 

Welcome to VV!

[Banksy]

I was hoping the developer would set aside one tower for condos but that is not to be. Jukebox will feel like a screaming deal once this gets going.

Edited by Banksy, 09 December 2019 - 07:36 AM.

[Kapten Kapsell]

I was hoping the developer would set aside one tower for condos but that is not to be. Jukebox will feel like a screaming deal once this gets going.

Well there's going to be a condo component to the Mazda Lot development as well as to Cook Street Plaza (replacing the strip mall where Panago Pizza and Laundro Lounge are currently), so if you're looking for a condo pre-sale in the near future there will be other opportunities in the downtown area.  Hudson Place 2 will likely  start construction in 2020 as well..

[Mike K.]

It’s looking like HP2 will be rentals. Good points about the Mazda and Yates Street Plaza projects. My thinking is YSP (Chard) will be out of the gate much, much faster than the condo components of the Mazda towers.

[Kapten Kapsell]

 We moved here because of proximity to Harris Green. Now it's slated to disappear. 

You may find it "exciting" waiting for the dynamiting. Underground parking of 2 - 4 floors? that's a deep hole to dynamite. Then there will be the dump trucks taking away the rubble. That's not my idea of exciting.10 more years of construction on both sides of Yates Street is overkill, it's too much all at once but Toronto developers need their profits.

Starlight is the only Toronto-based developer working in the Yates Street corridor; Vancouver-based Chard built Yellow on Yates and is working on the Yates on Yates (and will soon build Cook Street Plaza at Yates/Cook), while Victoria-based Alpha recently completed the Legato.  Victoria-based Jawl Residential is going to be redeveloping the Mazda lot in the coming years too.  I just wanted to call out the fact that BC developers are definitely active in this zone!

 

Also, in terms of profits, the fact that these buildings will be all-rental means that it will take years-or even decades- for the buildings to reach a 'break even' point.  So, while this development will eventually be profitable, they're definitely not looking for a quick buck...

[spanky123]

^ I doubt that these are long term develop and hold projects. The properties will be built and then flipped. Nothing wrong with that, that is what developers do.

[Kapten Kapsell]

^ I doubt that these are long term develop and hold projects. The properties will be built and then flipped. Nothing wrong with that, that is what developers do.

I think that Starlight is generally a develop-and-hold builder based on their existing portfolio, unlike Chard (which flipped Yello)...

[Mike K.]

Developers flip “to” Starlight, not the other way around.

[Marilyn]

I think that Starlight is generally a develop-and-hold builder based on their existing portfolio, unlike Chard (which flipped Yello)...

Starlight is a billion $ investment company, not really a "builder." Check how the company treated the residents of Michigan St. in James Bay.

[Hotel Mike]

The treatment of the residents may have been horrible. But the two big towers on Michigan look so much better now. I'm sure they rent out for much more than they used to. Sorry if people got screwed. It's an awesome location.

[Nparker]

...It's an awesome location.

And that's the thing; people were paying a comparative pittance for the location.

[johnk]

Starlight is a billion $ investment company, not really a "builder." Check how the company treated the residents of Michigan St. in James Bay.

 

Starlight featured prominently in a Globe & Mail story about heating up demand for rental housing. Saturday Nov 24 in the Biz section. They have deep pockets.

[Mike K.]

Starlight is absolutely a builder. They have two arms to the company, Starlight Investments and Starlight Developments. Starlight Developments is behind Harris Green.

[AllseeingEye]

Looking forward to whatever Starlight can do because...realistically.....that whole block with the LD and the MOY (much as I like and patronize both businesses) is badly in need of a drastic face-lift. To say its stale and terribly dated is an insult to stale and terribly dated things. It screams '1980's', and not at all in a good way. And right from Day 1 it just killed the View Street side of that entire block which has all the life and vibrancy of the far side of the moon. 

[Hotel Mike]

That is so true of View Street. Deadsville. That could change pretty dramatically ASE. With talk of a new development where the bottle dept was, and a redevelopment of the London Drugs site, pretty sure View will pick up a lot.

[SamCB]

Can someone tell me if these other buildings in the block are included in the redevelopment? (Buildings labeled 1-4 in this pic)