66 replies to this topic

[aastra]

There are the ones right across from Hillside Mall and some more as you cross into the CoV neighbourhoods.

[Victoria Watcher]

Totally different municipality, dude. We want a plan by Saanich, for Saanich. Of Saanich, even.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 May 2022 - 12:35 PM.

[aastra]

This is where we get into that ultra-fine parsing of neighbourhood boundaries. The Shelbourne neighbourhoods to the south of McRae's and the Shelbourne neighbourhoods to the north of McRae's are a natural and logical place for apartments, but the Shelbourne neighbourhoods right around McRae's are not.

 

Victorians have never been able to decide whether small apartment buildings are good or bad for the neighbourhoods. When the apartments are new they always seem to be bad. Once they're mature & established they're no longer bad. When they get really old then they become wonderfully good.

[Victoria Watcher]

I don’t know. That one up on Mt. Tolmie, is big, old, and probably not liked by many.

[Banksy]

This is where we get into that ultra-fine parsing of neighbourhood boundaries. The Shelbourne neighbourhoods to the south of McRae's and the Shelbourne neighbourhoods to the north of McRae's are a natural and logical place for apartments, but the Shelbourne neighbourhoods right around McRae's are not.

Victorians have never been able to decide whether small apartment buildings are good or bad for the neighbourhoods. When the apartments are new they always seem to be bad. Once they're mature & established they're no longer bad. When they get really old then they become wonderfully good.

When it’s built it’s done but don’t confuse that for social license to continue on.

[Nparker]

I wish the NIMBYs would invest in new script writer.

[aastra]

 

When it’s built it’s done but don’t confuse that for social license to continue on.

 

File that under "we love it and lowrise apartment living is a quintessential aspect of Victoria living, second only to Montreal in Canada, but we sure don't want more of it."

[aastra]

If we prefer to dismiss the examples provided by the apartments across from Hillside Mall, or on Poplar Avenue, or north of Cedar Hill Cross Road, or anywhere else along the length of Shelbourne, because those examples are so far removed from the McRae's site they're utterly inapplicable, then I'd suggest there might be a wee bit of insincerity tainting the mission to address the housing situation.

 

Anyway, let's compromise and chop the top level off and then everyone should be as happy as Shelburne, Nova Scotia clams, right? To my eye it would actually look better like that.

[aastra]

Methinks the official branding for Victoria's housing issues would be incomplete if it doesn't include an image of a weeping crocodile.

[Banksy]

More density has not improved my life. My streets are more clogged I can’t get a doctor there is more crime and now my neighbourbood is being socially re-engineered by angry activists who hate me.

[aastra]

So what would you prefer to see? Maybe something more like those newer three-story projects that are along Shelbourne closer to Haultain?

[Victoria Watcher]

Methinks the official branding for Victoria's housing issues would be incomplete if it doesn't include an image of a weeping crocodile.

Or that one turtle with the straw in its nose.

[Banksy]

Bigger streets more doctors less crime and activist lunatics off my lawn thank you very much. Then we can talk about more density.

[Victoria Watcher]

Maybe we can train the criminals to be doctors.

[aastra]

Many doctors are already criminals, so there's that.

[aastra]

Many doctors are already activist lunatics, so there's that as well.

[Mike K.]

But can they build bigger streets?

[aastra]

I feel like we might be closer than we think. Just need to wipe out a lot of houses so we can widen the roads.

[Victoria Watcher]

The parking variance ask is pretty big here. Unless they’re is guidance somewhere suggesting such drastic reductions.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 May 2022 - 01:34 PM.

[Mike K.]

I just assumed the SVAP would openly welcome this level of height and density. Saanich did, after all, approve a similar building on Quadra at Palmer. Same scenario, but no density intensification plan.