168 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

The City gets a community centre.

Somebody else pays to fit it all out for us? Who will run the centre and decide on programming? Just City staff like the Crystal Pool? NPNA refused this site, no?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 December 2022 - 09:31 AM.

[Mike K.]

BC Housing says an operator will be decided on at a later time.

[Mike K.]

I’m going to make an assumption right now, that we are unlikely to see occupancy here until 2029, maybe even 2030.

The land was formerly used as an automotive centre and perhaps it even had some other light industrial usage over the decades. Until we dig, we might not fully understand the remediation requirements of these properties. Hopefully there won’t be an issue, but there could be.

[Nparker]

900-block of Mason Street!

Like that makes a difference.

[Nparker]

...The land was formerly used as an automotive centre and perhaps it even had some other light industrial usage over the decades. Until we dig, we might not fully understand the remediation requirements...

How much parking will this project have? Do its targeted residents own vehicles at the same rate as those in market housing?

[Mike K.]

111 stalls. 78 or 79 for residential use.

[Mike K.]

So while we have a push for zero parking downtown for residential buildings or highly limited supply under the guise people don’t need cars when they live downtown, BC Housing is providing parking for 50% of non-supportive unit capacity, in the most expensive form of parking that is currently provided (underground parking structure below a highrise tower).

Good on them, though. Not providing parking would be a detriment to a project like this.

[Victoria Watcher]

How much parking will this project have? Do its targeted residents own vehicles at the same rate as those in market housing?

 

 

 

The project will be requesting a parking variance. Under existing bylaws, it’s required to offer 158 parking stalls. The proposal is for 111, plus 189 bike parking stalls, since the site is served by transit, is on active transportation routes and is easily walkable to downtown.

 

https://www.timescol...-avenue-6228012

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 December 2022 - 10:15 AM.

[Nparker]

30 members of the public would trust their car to be parked here at any given time?

This also seems like an opportunity for zero residential parking. There is ample public transportation nearby and amenities within easy walking distance for residents.

[Victoria Watcher]

This also seems like an opportunity for zero residential parking. There is ample public transportation nearby and amenities within easy walking distance for residents.

 

Most people own cars though.

 

 

 

Turo study shows majority of Canadians own cars, but hardly ever drive them

 

 

https://www.newswire...-827345320.html

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 December 2022 - 10:18 AM.

[Nparker]

I agree. So why are other projects allowed to be built with less parking per capita than this one?

[Victoria Watcher]

Last week, the prestigious and dependable magazine The Economist published a list of countries with the highest car ownership per resident. The average is established for 1,000 residents, and Canada holds an unexpected rank.

Canada is in fact ranked 5th, averaging around 560 cars per 1,000 residents, and is even ahead of Germany in the list. Also surprising is the fact that only one other G8 country is ranked higher than Canada, with Italy coming in 4th.

 

 

 

 

https://www.auto123....er-capita/4825/

 

 

 

 

Washington state averages 2.5 cars per household.  Can't find BC stats.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 December 2022 - 10:23 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

I agree. So why are other projects allowed to be built with less parking per capita than this one?

 

Everyone is free to ask (by variance) for as little as zero parking.  BC Housing has decided to ask for the amount they propose here.

 

If you do not own a car, your employment prospects are often hampered.  You see it in job listings all the time.  Especially for jobs like construction or outside sales, or social work, nursing.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 December 2022 - 10:46 AM.

[Mike K.]

Those stats can be misleading. Is the Washington figure “all cars,” or specifically passenger vehicles only?

[Nparker]

...BC Housing has decided to ask for the amount they propose here...

Shouldn't the Province and the CoV be leading by example in reducing vehicle usage? Or is it only wealthier people who are expected to give up their cars?

[Mike K.]

There are 475,000 insured passenger vehicles on Vancouver Island.

How many households on the Island? Greater Victoria/CMA has 186,674.

So let’s double it for the rest of the Island. That’s roughly a ratio of 1.3 passenger cars per household. Total vehicles would be 655,000 or 1.75 per household.

That data doesn’t include 32,000 motorcycles/mopeds. And it’s only for insured cars. I bet there’s a decent amount of uninsured cars on the Island, including cars only insured for a period of the year.

[Victoria Watcher]

Shouldn't the Province and the CoV be leading by example in reducing vehicle usage? Or is it only wealthier people who are expected to give up their cars?

 

100% of provincial MLA households have at least one vehicle.

 

It's all talk.  Nobody follows their own rhetoric.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 December 2022 - 10:48 AM.

[Mike K.]

I mean, the data shows Saanich residents buy more cars per capita than Langford residents, despite having the same median household incomes and the same number of people per dwelling.

[Matt R.]

Mike, have you added the :clownworld: emoji to this BBS yet?

[Mike K.]

I’ll have to work that in. But you can do it with your phone any time! 🤡🤡🤡