121 replies to this topic

[PPPdev]

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.

 

Imagine thinking the Abbey is the same quality of architecture as the buildings in the link provided. That current building has been chopped up so many times that all the parts you think might be original, aren't at all. It's a dog's breakfast and the current design is much better.

[HarrisonGreene]

So, when does construction start?

[Vin]

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:

 

Sad day for a sound heritage building to be torn down when part of it could be saved.

[Victoria Watcher]

^ not really.

[Vin]

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.

The final design could blend with the heritage structure. Obviously there was no intent to incorporate it.

[Mike K.]

It’s not that simple. Chard’s budget for heritage retention went from well under $2 million to over $5 million. That sort of increase can tank a project when you factor in potential for other cost increases.

I do think Victoria urbanites need to stop comparing our buildings and projects to Europe and creating the impression we can build to that calibre or should. We are not Europe and never will be. PPP knows I am no fan of those comparisons

[Vin]

It’s not that simple. Chard’s budget for heritage retention went from well under $2 million to over $5 million. That sort of increase can tank a project when you factor in potential for other cost increases.

I do think Victoria urbanites need to stop comparing our buildings and projects to Europe and creating the impression we can build to that calibre or should. We are not Europe and never will be. PPP knows I am no fan of those comparisons

Then I'd rather they not build it. The new design will not age well with time, as it is severely watered down from the original with the heritage element intact. Overall, this type of development sets a dangerous precedence when it comes to heritage building protection.

[HarrisonGreene]

I vastly prefer the new design. I’m happy to see it get built.

[Mike K.]

I mean, we could sure use the housing, though!

We dream a lot, but then recognize Victoria is just a small government city, insulated from much of the rest of the world, with a largely circular economy that depends on taxation redistribution.

We don’t have the money for the nice stuff, and governments don’t invest too much into us because our region is not producing sufficient wealth that gets returned back to the province and nation, so there is difficulty for provincial and federal governments to make a return on their investments (this is why we don’t have adequate highways and see so little infrastructure investment, it doesn’t make our region more competitive or produce more wealth for the broader society).

It is what it is.

[Vin]

I mean, we could sure use the housing, though!

We dream a lot, but then recognize Victoria is just a small government city, insulated from much of the rest of the world, with a largely circular economy that depends on taxation redistribution.

We don’t have the money for the nice stuff, and governments don’t invest too much into us because our region is not producing sufficient wealth that gets returned back to the province and nation, so there is difficulty for provincial and federal governments to make a return on their investments (this is why we don’t have adequate highways and see so little infrastructure investment, it doesn’t make our region more competitive or produce more wealth for the broader society).

It is what it is.

 

That's sad. Victoria is the provincial capital city of one of the richest provinces in Canada. It should be enjoying the same status as Quebec City, which is putting us to shame, especially when it comes to heritage preservation.

 

Only bright side to this is the inclusion of a lot more housing. But then again, there are a lot more bland, low-quality buildings with no heritage value that deserves to be demolished for higher density housing all across town. 

Edited by Vin, 11 October 2024 - 02:02 PM.

[Mike K.]

Victoria is a logistical nightmare for the province’s leadership.

If they could move the capital to the mainland or Kelowna, they’d do it in a heartbeat.

I think longer term that’s eventually what will happen. It’s hard to pretend you care about the climate when an armada of MLAs travel on helicopters and have secondary homes here, and then criticize secondary homes, and remind us to be mindful of our travel choices.

The Legislature is old and won’t survive a moderate earthquake. Work-from-home is moving provincial workers out of Victoria for the first time in post-war history. I don’t know how things worked pre-war but I imagine provincial matters were focused on Victoria back then, too, but maybe less travel to the legislature?

So following that logic, what’s the future looking like for Victoria? If not provincial government, what is there for this region to be known for?

[Victoria Watcher]

There is no reason for a physical capital anymore.

[Mike K.]

The CoV is now reacting to provincial WFH measures. They’re asking for supports.

So if officialdom is moving on this, what do they know we don’t? Could the situation be far more dire than we give it credit for?

[DavidSchell]

Existing buildings has been demolished...just a pile of bricks and concert blocks left.

[Biro]

I bring you photos.

Attached Images

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[Mike K.]

Great shots, Biro!

[dkuitu]

https://www.youtube....h?v=N7Y0j6psctA

 

[G-Man]

Bonus of no parking is that this is going to go up fast. Demolition to formwork in record time.

Attached Images

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[Mike K.]

Must be a good sight without the need for blasting. If they had blasting there, there’s a good chance they would have needed the additional revenue from the parking, I think?

[aastra]

 

Must be a good sight...

 

Looks can be deceiving.