Amazon HQ2 bid by Langford/Westshore in Victoria

I'd agree with you on every point except the traffic one. Did you try the traffic at peak times? Try getting from downtown Victoria to Westhills starting at 4 PM.

Yes, it's short time-wise overall compared to big cities; but for the distance travelled its way too long. We aren't a big 'city', 370k people is medium sized. I moved from Vancouver 5 years ago, and bought in Saanich solely to avoid the traffic. Absolutely no regrets, the only traffic I ever see adds maybe 5 minutes to a 15 minute commute (if I drive). Maaaybe 10 minutes if there is an accident at a key point. 

Keeping on point, it's really hard to imagine Amazon HQ2 anywhere in the CRD. If it would happen, which it won't, I'd see the population of greater Victoria increase over 500k very quickly.

Edited by lanforod, 24 September 2017 - 07:07 PM.

Going to weigh in here as I find it interesting all of the polarization regarding Langford. We moved here recently and have been searching all areas for a place to live and seem to have a different take on Langford than a lot of you.

 

Here is what has transpired in the last week as we explored the "Langford Option".

 

- found an abundance of shopping options  - not high end but more than adequate for us- groceries, gas, restaurants etc.

 

- found the traffic tolerable to town and back. Certainly better than most big cities we have lived in

 

- found the people extremely friendly and helpful to us as newcomers

 

- found unbelievable sports and recreation facilities - virtually all new and upbeat

 

- went to a great family event called "Light up the Hills" in an area called Westhills -even met the mayor there and he welcomed us as possible new residents of Langford!

 

- Discovered that the new YMCA also has the arts covered with the Conservatory of Music and a regional library in residence.

 

- Learned that Royal Roads offers fully accredited university learning and there is even a World College just  short drive away in Metchosin.

 

All in all an extremely positive and productive week. Langford is now high on our list as place to settle. I have no idea how the tech sector might view Langford but good on the Mayor for throwing his hat in the ring. Obviously that way of thinking has helped envelope this growing area.

I agree that traffic is not too great but it does depend on what one is used to. The same distance in a Toronto commute or a Vancouver commute is far greater than anything here. Besides, from what I am seeing there is very little reason to make that commute as most of the things we would need are seemingly found in the Langford area anyways.

I think things like the Mayors idea of Amazon, while a bit far fetched perhaps, does promote the thought of other industries coming to the Westhore instead of the Westhore going downtown to them. From what I am finding out the regional transportation plan is a mess so instead of promoting a "live in Langford - work downtown" mentality the solution is probably be a reduction in the need for people to go to downtown Victoria in the first place.. In other words bringing more and more well paying jobs to the Westhore.  Amazon or whomever - they should be welcomed with open arms on the Westhore!

^ most of the things you need are in Langford? That's all good and fine, so long as your job is there too. Most people work in Victoria/Esquimalt/Saanich

I was only referring to us. We work from home and the commute is not a factor in our decision. It is more where do we "feel comfortable" and offers the best value for he money spent.

I agree that traffic is not too great but it does depend on what one is used to. The same distance in a Toronto commute or a Vancouver commute is far greater than anything here. Besides, from what I am seeing there is very little reason to make that commute as most of the things we would need are seemingly found in the Langford area anyways.

 

I think things like the Mayors idea of Amazon, while a bit far fetched perhaps, does promote the thought of other industries coming to the Westhore instead of the Westhore going downtown to them. From what I am finding out the regional transportation plan is a mess so instead of promoting a "live in Langford - work downtown" mentality the solution is probably be a reduction in the need for people to go to downtown Victoria in the first place.. In other words bringing more and more well paying jobs to the Westhore.  Amazon or whomever - they should be welcomed with open arms on the Westhore!

...which in fact is the real intent. Young is astute enough to know that Langford has zero chance of hooking and landing Amazon. As I noted above it will almost certainly be one of Toronto, Boston, Austin TX with probably Dallas, Atlanta and perhaps Denver also in the conversation.

I wouldn't put too much stock in the "anti" Langford comments; those of us actually born here remember all too well the Langford of the 1970's and early 80's, the one where the theme to "Deliverance" would play in your head along with the sound of banjo music. It was needless to say a very different landscape 30-40 years ago compared to today. Its that Langford that is the source of much of the "anti" sentiments today.

While I personally could care less about living in a muni or neighborhood with what is glibly referred to as "cachet", many others in Victoria frankly do. I was born here, lived the first couple years of my life in Oak Bay (yawn.....) then grew up in Gordon Head/Mt Tolmie where I lived until I was 27. Like most people of the time to me "Langford" was that place somewhere way out to the west where tumbleweeds blew, pickup trucks predominated, the women had loose morals and if you weren't careful coyotes would snatch and eat your children off the street....

The Langford of today however obviously bears no resemblance to that place or time therefore I suggest you ignore the naysayers: if it suits your needs then that is all that matters. In fact my wife and I, currently residing in the Gorge area, have seriously considered buying in West Hills. The only things stopping us for now are the teen daughter who still lives with us and the fact my job is in the downtown core. Otherwise we'd very strongly consider it. Some of most miserable, pompous and insufferable people I know live in places like Dean Park Estates, Oak Bay and/or Broadmead. Their 'commentary' on Langford therefore is, or should be, utterly irrelevant insofar as you are concerned....

^ Yep. If it weren't for the traffic issue, I'd probably be there now.

If it weren't for the commute I'd seriously consider living in Tofino and working in Victoria.

If it weren't for the commute I'd seriously consider living in Tofino and working in Victoria.

I have a friend who lives in Ucluelet and works in Victoria.

Like most people of the time to me "Langford" was that place somewhere way out to the west where tumbleweeds blew, pickup trucks predominated, the women had loose morals and if you weren't careful coyotes would snatch and eat your children off the street....

 

Shows what you know - there ain't no damn coyotes on the island.

Shows what you know - there ain't no damn coyotes on the island. 

Yeah but the story sounded less impressive to say that Vancouver Island marmots would snatch and eat your children off the street. Then again...

Shows what you know - there ain't no damn coyotes on the island.

See what I mean - just shows how out of whack our impressions were of Langford back in the day: we imagined it was a land of fantastic creatures of all shapes and sizes like fairies, and goblins and.......coyotes. There was also the mythical Langford Cougar, that of the two-legged variety, which could typically be found with her mate who himself was adorned with the infamous Langford Dinner Jacket. I actually still have one of the latter out in my garden shed (.....the dinner jacket, not the cougar)

You really don't have to wander too far off the main "new" streets to see the "old Langford" - for those newbies who doubt that it ever existed

Large lots with a few cars in the driveway, no sidewalks, older and quite small (in some cases) houses ... it's disappearing very quickly, but it's still there to see in more than a few places.

Try a Google Street View run down Hockley Road for a peek at what ALL of Langford used to be like.

I think the commute to langford is only long for people who've never lived or even traveled anywhere else. Basically people who have never left the island and have a very limited view of life off of it. People on the island view a 10 minute drive as really long.

Edited by PraiseKek, 26 September 2017 - 03:44 PM.

In truth, I think residents of the CRD consider the Crawl as being "unnecessarily long" as opposed to just "long".

Over such a short distance, the concept of a one hour commute borders on the ridiculous.

With the completion of assorted overpasses, highway lane widening, and light rail ... none of which are completed (some not even started), the crawl would simply disappear.

Remember, the Crawl isn't due to massive amounts of traffic transiting and overwhelming a well designed highway system ... it's a moderate amount of somewhat local traffic transiting the equivalent of a wide rural roadway that actually doesn't turn into a "highway" until the overpass by the hospital if you're heading up island, and essentially turns into a "street" by the hospital if you're heading into town from the Westshore.

...which in fact is the real intent. Young is astute enough to know that Langford has zero chance of hooking and landing Amazon. As I noted above it will almost certainly be one of Toronto, Boston, Austin TX with probably Dallas, Atlanta and perhaps Denver also in the conversation.

 

I wouldn't put too much stock in the "anti" Langford comments; those of us actually born here remember all too well the Langford of the 1970's and early 80's, the one where the theme to "Deliverance" would play in your head along with the sound of banjo music. It was needless to say a very different landscape 30-40 years ago compared to today. Its that Langford that is the source of much of the "anti" sentiments today.

 

While I personally could care less about living in a muni or neighborhood with what is glibly referred to as "cachet", many others in Victoria frankly do. I was born here, lived the first couple years of my life in Oak Bay (yawn.....) then grew up in Gordon Head/Mt Tolmie where I lived until I was 27. Like most people of the time to me "Langford" was that place somewhere way out to the west where tumbleweeds blew, pickup trucks predominated, the women had loose morals and if you weren't careful coyotes would snatch and eat your children off the street....

 

The Langford of today however obviously bears no resemblance to that place or time therefore I suggest you ignore the naysayers: if it suits your needs then that is all that matters. In fact my wife and I, currently residing in the Gorge area, have seriously considered buying in West Hills. The only things stopping us for now are the teen daughter who still lives with us and the fact my job is in the downtown core. Otherwise we'd very strongly consider it. Some of most miserable, pompous and insufferable people I know live in places like Dean Park Estates, Oak Bay and/or Broadmead. Their 'commentary' on Langford therefore is, or should be, utterly irrelevant insofar as you are concerned....

Thanks for this. As we continue our quest we learn more and more about local attitudes to areas that can be merely blocks apart. Quite fascinating to discover local "prejudices". The nice thing about coming in"new" is we see things a little differently and don't carry any baggage other than that acquired by living elsewhere - ie; we will never live in a neighbourhood that seems to put property values over people interaction. Just us but seems to phoney!

...we will never live in a neighbourhood that seems to put property values over people interaction.

 

 

Interesting point. Can you expand on what you mean by that?

I think Amazon will locate in Detroit.

lots of cheap and available land, centrally located, close to the Canadian border, and metro population over 5 million.

it will make Detroit boom again.

I think Amazon will locate in Detroit.

lots of cheap and available land, centrally located, close to the Canadian border, and metro population over 5 million.

it will make Detroit boom again.

Yeah, and they are building that new bridge from Windsor to Detroit.

They can get Canadian talent that lives in Canada and commutes to Detroit for work.  Lots of professionals already do that now.

...They can get Canadian talent that lives in Canada and commutes to Detroit for work.  Lots of professionals already do that now.

Unless someone makes it difficult for Canadian workers to cross into the US.