1571 replies to this topic

[aastra]

Okay, so you're saying the situation in Victoria has been deliberately screwed up? It is curious how all of these new developments in other cities are still allowed to have large windows, even though all of those other cities have extreme summers and extreme winters and Victoria does not.

[aastra]

 

And here I thought I asked a fairly simple question.

 

I'll give you my list right after Pam Madoff, Ken Johnson, the JBNA, and the Downtown Residents' Association give us their lists of the best 20 developments in Victoria in the past 20 years.

[Mike K.]

The windows issue is indeed a BC step code issue, and not all jurisdictions in the province are immediately adopting the Step Code.

[aastra]

I've looked at some of my old posts and I can see how I've gone back and forth re: the benefits and perils of having hard plans and visions for future development. It's that whole debate re: organic versus inorganic.

 

I've wanted things to be planned, but over time I've also come to realize how the unexpected and unplanned things can often end up being the definitive things. The Y-lot area was planned and visioned one way, but ended up turning out another way. Critics complained bitterly about how it turned out. You know what? It turned out well, very Victorian, and much better than it would have turned out if the visioning had become the reality. But I'd say the final few pieces now have the potential to send things backward somewhat. Overthinking? Spoiling the formula that was never really anyone's formula to begin with?

 

I think downtown residential redevelopment in general was more interesting and successful when it was catching people off guard. I've recalled the reaction to the Mermaid Wharf proposal many times. Politicians and CoV people were admitting they didn't know what to make of it. Residential development in the old town, and on Swift Street of all streets? I would file Chard's early projects and the Hudson redevelopment in this same category. Nobody had a long-term vision for the department store to move out, or for the parkade to be demolished, etc. I'd also say the Songhees started to become much more interesting when the old visions were finally tossed in the bin. But now that the new stuff has been so successful, the final few pieces risk mucking it up. You see what I'm saying?

 

Anyway, we're just talking here. No worries. (I can always tell when I've touched a nerve with Mike K. because he bombards me with private messages and the subject lines are full of expletives. Over the years I've learned to read him in this regard.)

[Jackerbie]

The windows issue is indeed a BC step code issue, and not all jurisdictions in the province are immediately adopting the Step Code.

There are ways to design nice building under the BCESC. We're at Step 3 for most all multifamily construction here in Richmond, have been for... Two years now? Before Step Code was introduced we targeted LEED Silver in all city centre developments.

[victorian]

Well I give you a brief taste of 21st century architectural...Europe: and do note I am not saying we should emulate these examples below precisely but rather I hold them up as possibilities of the types of things we can do here, yes? If not - why not? Please elaborate in that case.

Unless of course you subscribe to the notion that we're a bunch of hicks out here somehow less able or less skilled at doing so. More likely IMO we're simply afraid...of the modern, the new, the daring and yes the "radical". Fortunately the Europeans are progressive in that sense and have no such limitations in their thinking, quite clearly.

And for those elements locally - and they exist in spades, or certainly did not so long ago - who would cry out "But but BUT these buildings aren't sensitive to our history!" I would say "B******!" How was the Empress Hotel when brand new "sensitive" to local FN buildings, structures and architecture and "history"? It wasn't: it was NEW and RADICAL and TALL, being the mega-skyscraper of its era when first built compared especially to the older Ft Victoria buildings that still existed at the time.

Imagine what we COULD do on Ship Point if we only had the vision and the will? Ditto for Old Town (although thank God we have Chris LeFevre doing his best to take care of that steaming mess). Ditto the Ogden Pt Cruise Terminal lands. Ditto the Rock Bay area. Ditto...ahem...Harris Green.

http://squareone.blo...vels-in-london/

https://www.villasin...n-architecture/

https://www.inspire-...tz-metropole_-n

https://museedelaromanite.fr/en/

[victorian]

http://squareone.blo...vels-in-london/

https://www.villasin...n-architecture/

https://www.inspire-...tz-metropole_-n

https://museedelaromanite.fr/en/

These examples of “innovative” architecture are funny. The London examples in particular are examples of embarrassing architecture associated with the disastrous mayorship of Boris Johnson. Some innovation is fine, but let’s not fill Victoria with kitschy Shanghai-esque embarrassments.

Edited by victorian, 16 January 2021 - 09:39 AM.

[AllseeingEye]

These examples of “innovative” architecture are funny. The London examples in particular are examples of embarrassing architecture associated with the disastrous mayorship of Boris Johnson. Some innovation is fine, but let’s not fill Victoria with kitschy Shanghai-esque embarrassments.

 

 

Again I am constrained to point out I merely held these up as possibilities, things to think about - i.e. IOW architectural styles that exist and prove there_are options other than your standard North American 'box' mid or high rise. By no means was I suggesting a Shard-style building being plopped onto Dallas Rd....

[G-Man]

My latest article is all about this development. 

 

https://www.sidewalk...ive-new-project

[dkuitu]

 

My 30 minute rendering of Harris green lol.

[Mike K.]

Nice!

[Kapten Kapsell]

Starlight submitted a new application this month.

 

Here are updated renderings of the Chrysler/Dodge site component of the development:

 

[qv]

Those towers have an early 2000s look to me. I like the idea of asymmetrical balconies, but these aren't funky enough to add any extra personality. The podium is fine, will fit right in downtown.

I'm not too picky, though. We need all the housing we can get and this will help. I say build it.

Edited by qv, 24 March 2021 - 09:30 PM.

[newbie_01]

I'll miss the great view of the Regent towers while driving down Yates St. next to Central middle school :-(

[zoomer]

So is this new..?

Starlight’s site now says it’s five towers ranging from 17 to 28 stories, over 1,500 units with completion by Q4 2024. That’s an extremely ambitious time schedule and weren’t they originally proposing up to 36 stories at one point? The PDF download is no longer working so I assume it’s being updated again.

https://www.starligh...property-id=551

[Mike K.]

36 is the newest revision, I believe.

[Brantastic]

It's 32 storeys, not 36. That link has designs that aren't current. It also shows the older version of the Dodge/Chrysler dealership redevelopment which are not the most current plans available on the Development tracker.

https://harrisgreen.ca/ <-- More current

[yellow_baron]

Not sure if my memory's going but I seem to recall that a portion of this development was going to be condos. Looking at the updated plans, it's all rental? This along with Hudson place 2 will add in quite a bit of rental supply between 2022-2025. Curious about why Starlight would've gone that route....I'm sure that there would've been a healthy stream of buyers for the taller tower.

[Nparker]

...Curious about why Starlight would've gone that route...

100% rental hopefully means less fighting with City Hall over the height and density they want to achieve on this project. Also, doesn't Starlight specialize in purpose-built rental projects?

[Victoria Watcher]

 Also, doesn't Starlight specialize in purpose-built rental projects?

 

yes indeed.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 25 April 2021 - 03:34 PM.