1102 replies to this topic

[Barrister]

It has been a long time coming.

[dasmo]

Yep. I bought in the hood in 2002 and it was supposed to happen in seven years from then. Hahahahahah! 

[dasmo]

I bet everyone in uses “7 years”

[NowNotMe]

https://www.vicnews....ge-site-8116710

[Victoria Watcher]

https://www.vicnews....ge-site-8116710

 

 

With roots of an idea dating back decades, a proposal for a key heritage waterfront piece of Victoria could steam ahead after garnering city approval July 3.

 

The plan for 251 Esquimalt Rd., 355 Catherine St. and 200-210 Kimta Rd., collectively and commonly called Bayview Properties, cleared a mighty hurdle with approval of bylaws including a complicated master development agreement.

 

“This is probably one of the most complex sites in the City of Victoria,” senior city planner Mike Angrove told council, in response to a comment from Coun. Jeremy Caradonna, who put the motion on the table.

 

The site includes heritage buildings with rail running through and is adjacent to the harbour airport.

 

After the January 2024 public hearings, staff were tasked with meeting with Transport Canada to iron out potential impacts with the Victoria Harbour Water Airport. Staff were told harbour airport operations could be adjusted to accommodate the proposed project, including shifting the runway slightly west and south.

 

The redevelopment would overhaul the long-unused property with almost 1,900 homes across towers ranging from 10 to 32 storeys – paired with elements aiming to make the property a standalone community. The proposal includes 70,000 square feet of new retail and commercial space, new public plazas, a childcare centre and revitalized heritage buildings.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 08 July 2025 - 07:11 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

,
. X.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 08 July 2025 - 10:56 AM.

[Sparky]

,
. X.

Everything ok over there Watcher?

[Victoria Watcher]

Fine.

[Victoria Watcher]

Roundhouse ready to roll with Victoria approval for heritage site

 

Redevelopment would overhaul the long-unused property with almost 1,900 homes across towers ranging from 10 to 32 storeys

 

https://www.vicnews....ge-site-8116710

 

 

 

 

Ready to roll!   

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 09 July 2025 - 04:36 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Bayview Properties has recently submitted an application for rezoning on their roundhouse property in Vic West, dubbed The Roundhouse, which is joined to the Bayview Victoria[/url:6d1fb] development in Vic West. The project's website is available at [url]http://www.roundhousevictoria.com

The following image is a screenshot from the PDF available on the website and shows one of the potential scenarios. The tallest tower is 24-storeys and the others are stepped down towards Lime Bay.

 

Ready to roll!

 

18 years later.

 

I'd say give it another 20 to 25 years to complete.   See you at the grand opening in 2050.  

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 09 July 2025 - 04:37 AM.

[Barrister]

This project was supposed to be underway back when I first moved to Victoria. I always thought that this was the right location for more condo towers and have been surprised at how little has been done. 

 

Do you think that this time they will get it underway?

[HarrisonGreene]

Yes.

[Bambam]

Good grief Marg Gardiner: she opposed this project as it "would make for too much density and that the towers would curtail the area’s historical significance." Curtail the area's historical significance? What the hell does that even mean? Is its historic significance going somewhere? Pretty certain the actual Roundhouse and related rail buildings are all being not only maintained but also restored and repurposed......

 

I'm fairly certain both London and Paris have "historic" architecture that makes anything in this town pale into insignificance but that didn't stop them from building Canary Wharf and La Defense, respectively.

 

So what makes us sooooo special that we can't build Bayview, which is puny compared to either of those developments? Oh I remember now those world capitals are, well, truly 'world class' and have something called Vision - while Victoria just plays at the idea.....

 

Victoria council gives final green light to controversial Roundhouse development

[Victoria Watcher]

The developer behind the long-delayed Roundhouse development in Vic West says construction of the first towers could start within a year, after Victoria council gave the final green light for the project.

 

Ken Mariash, principal of Focus Equities, said the first of nine planned residential towers could be built by private contractors or by his own company.

 

Development permits are being submitted to the City of Victoria for a condominium tower, two rental apartment buildings and a tower that could include either rentals or condos combined with several floors of hotel rooms.

 

“Most developers are kind of overburdened right now with things they have going, but we’re always able to do it ourselves if we need to,” Mariash said in an interview.

 

“We’ve been getting all kinds of inquiries for hotels, and we haven’t chosen anybody, but part of a building could be hospitality-related, where you go halfway up, and part of it is a hotel.”

 

The Roundhouse development, on 10 acres around the historic E&N Railway terminus, is expected to include 1,827 units in nine towers ranging from 10 to 32 storeys.

 

 

https://www.timescol...r-says-10921331

[Barrister]

Rents are down in Victoria over 5% from last year which is good news. Lot of rental units coming online so we may get further declines over the next two years.

[Fairbanks]

Like the owner/developer, Ken Mariash, I too, hope to live long enough to see the market opened at least.  Damned bureaucracy crap.  

Edited by Fairbanks, 12 July 2025 - 09:53 AM.

[Mike K.]

Starting within a year sounds ambitious, but if that is the timeline, I imagine it’ll be a rental project. Just the marketing and sales ramp up for a condo tower would take the better part of a year, then you’d need to lock in the sales, another six months, then the financing hurdle would be met, then work would begin. I’d give it 18-24 months starting this month for construction to begin if it’s a condo.

[Barrister]

Are they just doing one tower at a time?

[Mike K.]

So far, that has been their strategy but that might not be the way forward now.

[Tony]

They had one tower approved before covid but put it on hold. It could be almost shovel ready if the market and finance rates work. It was a strata project.