121 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

Developers and the public are tired and worn down by the pick-apart style of scrutiny that involves staff (an ever changing make-up of staffers), CALUCs, special interest groups, the general public and eventually council. If a project meets the OCP objective, it shouldn’t get mired by years of controversy.

 

Especially when there is no proof this delivers a better outcome.

 

Gatekeepers gonna 'keep.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 September 2023 - 06:31 AM.

[Mike K.]

Ten years ago, we all remember the handwringing over 15 storeys. Now that’s an irrelevant height, with buildings approved at up to 32. Some projects dragged out for years to secure 14 floors. The outcome was ultimately less housing. Extrapolate that across 50 projects since 1990, each carving off a floor or five, and you’ve got at least a hundred storeys of unbuilt housing in already completed buildings.

Lame.

[dkuitu]

This thing should be 30+ stories.

[Victoria Watcher]

Victoria approves 91-unit project at Quadra and Fisgard with minimal parking

Project that replaces 15-unit apartment proposes four parking stalls while existing zoning calls for at least 60

https://www.timescol...parking-7551568

The project itself didn’t come in for a lot of criticism, but councillors Stephen Hammond and Marg Gardiner, who voted against approval, were concerned about city staff recommending that the project bypass a public hearing.

Gardiner noted that, in the past, surprising things have been brought up when the public gets a chance to weigh in.

“I think that I would support this, except that I think that there should be a public hearing,” she said.

City staff pointed out after the vote that the recommendation that the project bypass a public hearing was due to the fact it complied generally with the official community plan, and that it wasn’t a judgment call on the project itself.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 15 September 2023 - 04:52 AM.

[GaryOak]

I'm glad to see they are removing bureaucracy and getting things built!

Edited by GaryOak, 15 September 2023 - 07:29 AM.

[Mike K.]

Built is another matter! Approved for now.

[HarrisonGreene]

It looks like the Housing Agreement for this project will be before council today!

[Nparker]

And what promises is that housing agreement alleging?

[HarrisonGreene]

Rental housing?

[Victoria Watcher]

In a move Victoria residents should be getting used to, Victoria city council has moved forward two projects with plenty of housing but few places to park a car.

 

On Thursday, council gave three readings to bylaws for a 91-unit rental housing ­project at 1702 Quadra St. and 862 Fisgard St., with only four parking stalls instead of the required 60, and a 56-unit mixed-use project at 1055 Alston St. in Vic West that will have 17 parking stalls for residents and two for visitors, rather than a total of 55.

 

Adoption of the bylaws could ­happen as early as next week.

 

Mayor Marianne Alto said council is not concerned about having a lot of parking per unit.

 

“There have been a number of applications in the last year and a half which have had no parking, and then a number like the ones we did ­yesterday, which had significantly reduced parking,” she said Friday. “We’re ­constantly looking at what makes sense in the context and it isn’t an arbitrary thing.”

 

 

https://www.timescol...parking-9488679

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 September 2024 - 04:27 AM.

[HarrisonGreene]

Demolition has begun on The Abbey apartments. I saw hazmat crew on site throwing objects out the top floor into the yard.

Here's some pics:

Attached Images

• 
• 
• 
• 

[Nparker]

It's a shame the developer pulled a bait and switch in regards to saving the facade of the original building.

[PPPdev]

Retaining facades are expensive, just ask Chard about how its going at Duck's Block or Nicola at Wellburns.

 

We asked the community, what is more important, the facade or affordability, they voted over 80% support of affordability instead of facade. So we are providing 10 homes with rents capped at $1100 per month.

 

You don't have to like it but calling it a "bait and switch" when we listed to the community is simply wrong.

[Nparker]

Just how "affordable" with these units be?

[Victoria Watcher]

Presumably they will be “market”. Hard to ask for more from a private developer.

[Nparker]

One can always ask more.

[HarrisonGreene]

While I'm a big fan of heritage preservation, I prefer the final design over the earlier one with the integrated façade. I don't think the modern architecture meshes well with the Abbey.

[Nparker]

...I don't think the modern architecture meshes well with the Abbey.

Here are 19 examples that show heritage and contemporary design can work together. https://www.architec...e-come-together

[HarrisonGreene]

I'm not saying it can't work, I just find the final design more cohesive and attractive. Also, I don't care what AD says, some of those buildings look ugly IMHO.

[PPPdev]

Just how "affordable" with these units be?

 

If you actually read my post, it's listed there in plain words, "we are providing 10 homes with rents capped at $1100 per month."