[Downtown Victoria] Rock Bay bus depot | Canceled in 2007
#1
Posted 05 April 2007 - 11:18 PM
PUBLIC HEARING FOR NEW BUS DEPOT
Apr 5, 2007
THE LONG AWAITED MOVE OF THE PACIFIC COACH LINES BUS DEPOT FROM DOUGLAS AND BELLEVILLE TO DISCOVERY STREET HAS JUMPED ANOTHER HURDLE.
THE CITY OF VICTORIA HAS RECEIVED A STAFF REPORT ON THE REDEVELOPMENT AND HAS SENT THE ISSUE TO A PUBLIC HEARING.
DEVELOPPER JOHN HOPPER SAYS IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS BUT THE FEW OF THE ISSUES OF CONTENTION HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH. HOPPER SAYS THE MAIN ISSUE INVOLVES THE ROUTE THE BUS TAKES WHEN IT ARRIVES AND DEPARTS THE DEPOT.
SOME COUNCILLORS SAY MOVING THE BUS DEPOT WILL HELP TO IMPROVE THAT PART OF ROCK BAY.
THE DATE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING HAS NOT BEEN SET.
- NIKKI EWANYSHYN
-City of Victoria website, 2009
#2
Posted 06 April 2007 - 07:19 AM
#3
Posted 06 April 2007 - 07:27 AM
#4
Posted 06 April 2007 - 08:29 AM
#5
Posted 06 April 2007 - 09:11 PM
I can see how they might need more space, but I love the location (and lack of loitering space) at the current depot..
It's a pity that the industry can't afford something more creative for the same location: like 2 a story depot with buses on the first level: Escalator up, buy your tix, tag your luggage and drop it into a slide like the one at Swartz Bay, escalator down, board your bus, and go.
#6
Posted 06 April 2007 - 09:34 PM
#7
Posted 27 April 2007 - 12:12 PM
#8
Posted 28 April 2007 - 11:18 AM
I think it will stimulate growth in that area, and I honestly think much of our problem down there is the vacant lots. I know that this depot was designed with a full CPTED (Crime Prevention through Environmental Design) consultation, which helps and I like that they have left the Rock Bay side as a green corridor, in preparation for what may become. The addition of over 90 underground parking spaces (if that is still on the books) is great for people who work in that area. Putting parking spots on the edge of downtown instead of right in the middle makes sense... especially considering the proximity to bus and ferry.
I was disapointed with the density, I would like to see them take fuller advantage of the site, however, I understand that the owner has an adjacent lot which he would like to develop down the road, and that the over-abundance of parking spots that is being provided was intended to be applied to requirements for this future building, which bodes well for the projected density there.
I don't want to see Island Asphalt move, that is one of our only deep enough harbours for those barges to come in. Other potential sites that would meet that need are in the Western Communities. The material processed on that site is mostly consumed in the Core and I see it as a hugely important engine of our growth, not to mention about 2,000 jobs directly involved with Rock Bay industry, many of which are held by people from the Burnside/Hillside area, which is already depressed enough without taking that many jobs to Colwood. Furthermore, to move that industry out of the harbour would then mean that the material would need to be trucked in. Each of those barges holds 60 tons of material, so imagine adding 60 one ton trucks or 120 half ton trucks as contractors bring in their supplies to the Colwood crawl.
But I think that industry and office and residential can and should be able to be blended harmoniously. Done right, industry can even be treated as a feature... a la Selkirk. While it is true that higher end residential tends to move into a working harbour and then ***** about the noise, the same is not necessarily true of working class residential or student/lower income residential. Also, buffer land use can greatly reduce the impact of industrial ... things that can co-exist with both residential and industrial uses and sit between them, this bus depot design seems to do that well, with greenery (does it still have the green roof? I haven't seen the plans in a few months) along with sound barriers that will help mitigate the dust and from both buses and industry.
I am trying to find information about the Tacoma PCL depot, which became a catalyst for the revitalisation of a depressed area of Tacoma. But Im coming up short. The leveraging opportunities were particularlly well done in that case, and I hope that Victoria's business community takes advantage of leveraging as well as Tacoma did.
Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900), The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891
#9
Posted 28 April 2007 - 11:38 AM
-City of Victoria website, 2009
#10
Posted 29 April 2007 - 01:50 PM
#11
Posted 29 April 2007 - 02:04 PM
As far as a bus depot, I think Rock Bay will improve despite the presence of a new bus depot not because of it. I'm not aware of any stand-alone bus depot bringing vibrancy to a neglected area.
Whatever is built there will trigger new development--restaurant, retail, studios etc etc. Saying a bus depot is a good fit because it will jumpstart development is a bit iffy I'm afraid.
-City of Victoria website, 2009
#12
Posted 02 May 2007 - 10:46 PM
#13
Posted 09 August 2007 - 04:40 PM
#14
Posted 03 November 2007 - 10:09 AM
#15
Posted 03 November 2007 - 03:51 PM
#16
Posted 03 November 2007 - 04:52 PM
#17
Posted 03 November 2007 - 07:01 PM
Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900), The Picture of Dorian Gray, 1891
#18
Posted 14 August 2009 - 01:31 PM
#19
Posted 14 August 2009 - 02:04 PM
#20
Posted 14 August 2009 - 02:12 PM
Has anyone ever seen the new bus station in Regina? It seems to be pretty nice.
Saunders says many bus depots "are not very attractive." He argues a bus terminal should be as nice as any airport.
http://www.newstalk6...ry/20080613/979
More pics:
http://www.newstalk6...us-depot-regina
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