2247 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Don't be silly, you know what I meant.

[dasmo]

You've got the Westhills concept backwards.

 

The community is clustered around a future commercial district that will be very Yaletown-like in its execution. The SFD areas will be a maximum ten minute walk (give or take from the furthest perimeter of the development) from this commercial node comprises of several acres and highrise towers with retail/commercial at-grade and on lower floors.

It takes ten minutes to walk from the bowling alley to princess auto....  Are you talking 100 years from now? 

[Mike K.]

I think most able bodied people can span that distance in about three minutes. But that would depend on what you're hauling from Princess auto, of course.

[Mike K.]

Currently the longest walk Westhills residents have to their new YMCA is seven minutes. I know that throws the 'urban sprawl gone mad' scenario out the window, but that's pretty good, is it not?

[dasmo]

I think most able bodied people can span that distance in about three minutes. But that would depend on what you're hauling from Princess auto, of course.

But they need to walk back to their car so 6 minutes ;-) 

[Mike K.]

Which is still better than lugging it home for seven minutes, then walking back

[Mike K.]

On a serious note, though, our biggest suburban subdivisions underway right now have plans for high-density central commercial nodes. Even Bear Mountain's commercial core will be a high density area with retail/commercial services.

 

But like what's going on with Bayview and their promised commercial node, it takes time to build the stuff that depends on the neighbourhoods around it.

[Mike K.]

In fact, the longest walk Royal Bay residents will have to their own high density commercial/retail centre will be 1km, and that's from the absolute most extreme corner. That's like walking from The Hudson District to the upcoming Save-Ons. No big deal.

 

Sprawl in Victoria is amateur league, it's just that small, so we've got to stop making such a big deal out of people moving into what are actually being built as walkable, compact urban neighbourhoods, close to schools, close to future high-density/highrise commercial nodes and close to what will eventually become places of employment for all strata of workers.

[rjag]

The West Hills is more LA than anything. You aren't walking anywhere there. They need to stop with the strip malls everywhere and build some more urban villages where the parking is say behind the stores the stores are clustered close together so you go to the village and only drive once.... 

 

I live in North OB by UVic. Wheres my urban Village? 

[lanforod]

I live in North OB by UVic. Wheres my urban Village?

Cedar Hill X and Shelbourne

[rjag]

Cedar Hill X and Shelbourne

Yup the strip mall that’s a 20 min walk or 3 min drive like in Langford! 👌

[dasmo]

I live in North OB by UVic. Wheres my urban Village?

You don’t have one which is why Estevan and South Oak Bay are more desirable....

[Casual Kev]

In fact, the longest walk Royal Bay residents will have to their own high density commercial/retail centre will be 1km, and that's from the absolute most extreme corner. That's like walking from The Hudson District to the upcoming Save-Ons. No big deal.

 

Sprawl in Victoria is amateur league, it's just that small, so we've got to stop making such a big deal out of people moving into what are actually being built as walkable, compact urban neighbourhoods, close to schools, close to future high-density/highrise commercial nodes and close to what will eventually become places of employment for all strata of workers.

 

The main problem right now with the West Shore growing way more than the rest of the CRD is the strong dependence on jobs in the core, so it's still quite a car-dependent lifestyle. However, with the current densification wave and generally pro-business climate there you could have employment shifting there on a larger scale as well as making a case for public transit projects.

[rjag]

You don’t have one which is why Estevan and South Oak Bay are more desirable....

 

Desirable is a frame of mind, urban villages are just one small part of the whole package. I agree that North OB should have had a small urban centre, the closest is the market at the bottom of Foul Bay Hill or Peppers or the strip mall at Cedar Hill / Shelbourne

 

And yet my house is worth as much and is in similar demand as similar properties in those areas. UVic, Camosun, Henderson Rec, parks, elementary, bus routes all within a 5-10 min walk

[PraiseKek]

It takes ten minutes to walk from the bowling alley to princess auto....  Are you talking 100 years from now? 

You must be a slow walker

[PraiseKek]

The main problem right now with the West Shore growing way more than the rest of the CRD is the strong dependence on jobs in the core, so it's still quite a car-dependent lifestyle. However, with the current densification wave and generally pro-business climate there you could have employment shifting there on a larger scale as well as making a case for public transit projects.

You'd have a point I guess if there was no commercial development in the westshore but that's the opposite of what's happening. There's a huge focus on commercial development so that there's no need for residents to ever go into the core. I myself haven't been in several months. People who hate the westshore don't understand that we hate the core.

Edited by PraiseKek, 30 October 2018 - 07:26 AM.

[Nparker]

...People who hate the westshore don't understand that we hate the core.

Yet you participate in a forum called "Vibrant Victoria", not "Liveable Langford". Perhaps you need to start something along the lines of the latter so others can post their dislike of the west shore there.

[tjv]

Or more accurately, Saanich wants to continue to rely upon Victoria to deal with the CRDs drug addiction and homelessness problem.

Or more accurately, the rest of the municipalities don't want to deal with the problems in the CoV created by their own politicians with statements like "Bring it on".

[Coreyburger]

You don’t have one which is why Estevan and South Oak Bay are more desirable....

 

And sadly the neighbourhoods loudly objected during the last OCP development - that lack of commercial was identified and they wanted to create some commericial land use right at Cedar Hill X Rd and Henderson - speifically the gravel parking lot that the baptist church owns.

[Midnightly]

You'd have a point I guess if there was no commercial development in the westshore but that's the opposite of what's happening. There's a huge focus on commercial development so that there's no need for residents to ever go into the core. I myself haven't been in several months. People who hate the westshore don't understand that we hate the core.

 

 

i live just off the downtown area.. within a 5 min walk to crystal pool.. and i will be honest i don't like going downtown.. i used to love going downtown. even late in the eve (it was very pretty when very few people were around the trees twinkled the streets looked almost fresh )now i wouldn't dream about walking through the downtown core with my camera alone at 2am.. i barely go down during the daytime either.. it is always dirty, lacks parking, people begging and smoking infront of businesses (thought that was illegal.. but i guess the police in this city don't have time to deal with that issue)  i've been flicked with cigarette butts (damaged a jacket) downtown feels a little seedy, and it might just be me.. but people don't seem as happy downtown.. the last time i went down was to get my ring checked (the place we bought it from moved from mayfair to downtown for some random unfathomable reason they now have to buzz people into the store) and before that was probably to see a specialist with my kid..i will even make a point to go to a further away library.. i should like downtown.. i should love downtown... but sadly i don't.. then add in the plastic bag ban and it pushes me to shop outside victoria proper (head to the tillicum save on vrs the fort street one)