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CANCELLED
Speed and Frances, west tower
Uses: condo, commercial
Address: 606 Speed Avenue
Municipality: Victoria
Region: Urban core
Storeys: 12
Condo units: (loft, 1BR, 2BR)
Sales status: in planning
Speed and Frances, west tower, is a 12-storey residential building with 83 condos, six townhomes and ground fl... (view full profile)
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[Burnside/Gorge] Speed and Frances towers | condos; commercial | 12 & 12-storeys | Cancelled


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255 replies to this topic

#141 martini

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Posted 15 October 2012 - 09:32 PM

Yeah, apparently. I was surprised too.

I guess they are having difficulty filling the current subsidized units (presumably you need to meet income requirements?)

There is also the desire to have a good mix of housing types in the area, which I guess is currently weighted more towards lower income and rental???


May I ask who made these statements?

#142 D.L.

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Posted 15 October 2012 - 09:51 PM

Darn, I wanted to go to the meeting but thought it was 1075 Pandora project that was tonight, but was wrong.

My impression of this project: Is it ideal? No. Could a few tweaks be made to improve it? Yes. Should we expect perfection? No. Should we insist the developer make so many changes that it becomes unfeasible to build? No. Make a few reasonable improvements to it and then... JUST. BUILD. IT!

#143 Robb

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Posted 15 October 2012 - 09:52 PM

Ok now I'm really upset I couldn't get there!

There's a huge waiting list for subsidized housing! Years wait! I'm really shaking my head right now!
:o:mad::confused:


PM'd with the name so as to not "through someone under the bus" if I misunderstood what was said.

#144 martini

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Posted 15 October 2012 - 10:02 PM

Darn, I wanted to go to the meeting but thought it was 1075 Pandora project that was tonight, but was wrong.

My impression of this project: Is it ideal? No. Could a few tweaks be made to improve it? Yes. Should we expect perfection? No. Should we insist the developer make so many changes that it becomes unfeasible to build? No. Make a few reasonable improvements to it and then... JUST. BUILD. IT!


I'm still going back to the fact that the community voted in favour of the exiting project. Then somehow it got scaled down with no subsidized units?

Now there is a wiff of no need in the community?

There seems to be a break in the chain between city and community here?

Something is amiss.

(Thanks Robb for messaging me)

#145 Holden West

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Posted 15 October 2012 - 11:26 PM

You can't just throw some subsidized housing in and hope for the best. Those investors in Sidney did that with an old folks home and the place went into receivership. Someone has to pay for it and if Pacifica Housing or BC Housing or whoever doesn't have the cash to take on a new project then it won't happen.

Now, the idea that this neighbourhood is not a good candidate for low-income housing is ridiculous. Anyplace is a good place for it. It's so dumb I wonder if the person was misquoted. Yes, on the whole, Burnside-Gorge has a disproportionate share of low-income housing but this particular street, which is in a state of evolution can hardly be said to be at the limit.
"Beaver, ahoy!""The bridge is like a magnet, attracting both pedestrians and over 30,000 vehicles daily who enjoy the views of Victoria's harbour. The skyline may change, but "Big Blue" as some call it, will always be there."
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#146 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 16 October 2012 - 12:19 AM

Burnside Gorge started to get wary of too much social housing with the Travellers conversion of Gorge(ous) manor, that's not new.
<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#147 Robb

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Posted 16 October 2012 - 05:35 AM

You can't just throw some subsidized housing in and hope for the best. Those investors in Sidney did that with an old folks home and the place went into receivership. Someone has to pay for it and if Pacifica Housing or BC Housing or whoever doesn't have the cash to take on a new project then it won't happen.

Now, the idea that this neighbourhood is not a good candidate for low-income housing is ridiculous. Anyplace is a good place for it. It's so dumb I wonder if the person was misquoted. Yes, on the whole, Burnside-Gorge has a disproportionate share of low-income housing but this particular street, which is in a state of evolution can hardly be said to be at the limit.


I don't think anyone is saying the neighborhood doesn't need more low-income housing, just maybe not more subsidized housing. The addition of 90+ rental units would be a huge benefit to working people who don't qualify for subsidized housing. (even if it's just to increase supply and exert downward pressure on rents)

I agree with that in terms of the neighborhood not being a great place for young families. I think Ecole Quadra is the closet elementary school, a 15min walk along busy streets. No really close green-spaces. Lack of grocery stores within walking distance (except Lifestyles).

The developer did emphasis the need for affordable housing for all the people that work at Mayfair Mall.

#148 Mike K.

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Posted 16 October 2012 - 07:32 AM

Robb, thank you for keeping us updated.

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#149 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 16 October 2012 - 08:34 AM

I agree with that in terms of the neighborhood not being a great place for young families. I think Ecole Quadra is the closet elementary school, a 15min walk along busy streets. No really close green-spaces. Lack of grocery stores within walking distance (except Lifestyles)


If you ask me, 1/2 of kids don't walk to school anymore, they get a drive. And from this project to Quadra school is not very far, walking. It's about the distance I rode my bike to elementary school for 6 years. EDIT: it's 1.0km, I rode 1.3km each day.
<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><em><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I don’t need a middle person in my pizza slice transaction" <strong>- zoomer, April 17, 2018</strong></span></em></span>

#150 ZGsta

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Posted 16 October 2012 - 08:56 AM

Yeah but that was uphill both ways.

#151 Mike K.

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Posted 16 October 2012 - 09:01 AM

I used to walk 1.5km to my elementary school. No big deal.

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#152 Robb

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Posted 16 October 2012 - 09:44 AM

I used to walk 1.5km to my elementary school. No big deal.


I think it's more an issue of the major roads being crossed than the distance.

I don't think I'd want my elementary aged child walking or riding a bike by themselves form Speed Ave. to Ecole Quadra.

Not a huge barrier to density here, but the location may limit it's attractiveness to families.

#153 D.L.

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Posted 16 October 2012 - 12:54 PM

With regards to not having enough park space in the neighbourhood, it's too bad that the dead-end of Speed Ave. couldn't be turned into a small park with a playground.

#154 Robb

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Posted 17 October 2012 - 11:21 AM

With regards to not having enough park space in the neighbourhood, it's too bad that the dead-end of Speed Ave. couldn't be turned into a small park with a playground.


The Brizo 19 plans call for a green space at the end of the street, but nothing in the way of a play area that I can see.

#155 martini

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Posted 17 October 2012 - 04:45 PM

If you ask me, 1/2 of kids don't walk to school anymore, they get a drive. And from this project to Quadra school is not very far, walking. It's about the distance I rode my bike to elementary school for 6 years. EDIT: it's 1.0km, I rode 1.3km each day.


Also unfortunately Burnside School was closed in 2006. Many of those kids did walk to school.
That was an issue once they had to go further to Tillicum and Quadra schools.

Now I think a lot of 'fear' have parents driving their kids.

#156 Holden West

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Posted 13 July 2013 - 09:41 AM

I don't have confirmation but I'm led to believe this project is still chugging along. Hopefully we'll hear something soon.
"Beaver, ahoy!""The bridge is like a magnet, attracting both pedestrians and over 30,000 vehicles daily who enjoy the views of Victoria's harbour. The skyline may change, but "Big Blue" as some call it, will always be there."
-City of Victoria website, 2009

#157 Mike K.

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Posted 29 October 2015 - 01:27 PM

Speed-and-Francis-rendering-2.jpg
 
12-storey towers near Mayfair Mall receive nudge of support
http://victoria.citi...dge-of-support/
 
A proposal to construct a mixed-use residential and commercial complex consisting of two 12-storey towers between 605-629 Speed Avenue and 606-618 Francis Avenue has taken a step forward at the City of Victoria's Planning and Land Use Committee.

 

Developer Oakwood Park Estates plans to provide 83 condos in the west tower and 83 condos in the east tower. Fronting onto Speed Avenue will be a collection of 10 two-level townhomes while 26,242 square feet of ground floor commercial space will be accessed via Frances Avenue. [Full article]
 
Speed-and-Frances-site-plan.jpg


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#158 Mr Cook Street

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Posted 29 October 2015 - 01:36 PM

Excellent!



#159 sdwright.vic

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Posted 29 October 2015 - 01:58 PM

12 story "towers"...
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#160 Mike K.

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Posted 29 October 2015 - 02:03 PM

I know, I know, but that's actually fair. Any building over 35 meters in height, which is typically a 12-storey residential building, is officially a "highrise" at that point. A skyscraper is a building of at least 150 meters.


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