[aastra]

More pictures of Uptown at T&C under construction:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1233/4721453444_17592dd0c3.jpg
Picture by Ryan Goldvine at www.flickr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryangoldvine/4721453444/

****

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1363/4721448200_d79b3784b1.jpg
Picture by Ryan Goldvine at www.flickr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryangoldvine/4721448200/

[aastra]

Small office building on Fort Street under construction:

http://gingert.net/images/victoria-2010.07.05-03.jpg
Picture by Dylan Leblanc.

[Innersoul1]

Just wanted to post on Uptown. I am from Calgary and have a place in Victoria. Only made it out about 3 times last year so I have seen Uptown in its various development stages. I must say that it really isn't my cup of tea. Sure, from some angles it looks fantastic but WOW there is NO street-level interaction whatsoever. It's not a very inviting structure from Blanshard or Douglas. If you are on Saanich Rd. you are SOL. I am sure that it will be well used and it must look nice on the inside but wow, the design really fails on the exterior.

[Spoolmak]

Im still waiting on good pics of uptown so I can see what all the cafuffle is about

[aastra]

It's the biggest dropped ball in a long time.

I still remember when they had the initial hearing (in front of Saanich council) and the media reported that no significant issues were raised. Unbelievable! This is the same Victoria/Saanich that examines every residential proposal in hyper-minute detail, regardless of how big or small the development in question might happen to be. I'm not exaggerating.

But a mega shopping centre that will flaunt giant blank walls all along the surrounding sidewalks? No problem! Just stick some bushes here and there and we'll all agree that it's pedestrian-friendly and green.

I have no problem with the expansion/redevelopment of the shopping centre (even if I worry that it will sting downtown more than a little bit). I just wish Saanich had put some pressure on them with regard to the blank walls. I still say two or three small commercial units here or there along the perimeter could make a huge difference. I'm not clear on the plan for the empty corner.

Victoria can be a bizarro place sometimes. If something is bad, then it's good. Nobody will complain. If something is good, then it's bad. Many people will complain.

[Innersoul1]

Not trying to be a troll at all with regard to Uptown. I took a visit today to check out the new Wal-mart supercentre and to get diapers for my baby.

HOLY **it-show Batman. If this is a sign of things to come you better think twice on when you choose to visit. As we pulled into the underground parkade my wife says to me "it might take us forever to get out." Indeed this is the case, the Walmart underground parkade is serviced by one entrance. that leads on to a T-intersection. this is also the outlet for the underground parkade of the Futureshop. It was crazy busy, so much so that they had two contruction guys directing traffic. This doesn't bode well for when there are no more construction guys to help out.

The inside of the store is nice and large. The grocery section actually takes up 1/3 of the store with automotive, electronic an hardware upstairs. It's nice and bright and new looking but I would say that on the weekend this place is going to be a ZOO. A number of the aisles are quite narrow so I can see there being as many traffic jams in the store as in the parkade.

Anyway, it should be an interesting place to watch and see how consumers feel about it. I can tell you that 15 mins to get out of a parkade is not going to be fun at all.

[aastra]

More people are discussing it here:
http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=1349&page=47

Few pictures.

[Innersoul1]

Yeah thanks! I saw that thread. Just too lazy to create a profile and log in LOL

[Phil McAvity]

It's the biggest dropped ball in a long time.

I still remember when they had the initial hearing (in front of Saanich council) and the media reported that no significant issues were raised. Unbelievable! This is the same Victoria/Saanich that examines every residential proposal in hyper-minute detail, regardless of how big or small the development in question might happen to be. I'm not exaggerating.

But a mega shopping centre that will flaunt giant blank walls all along the surrounding sidewalks? No problem! Just stick some bushes here and there and we'll all agree that it's pedestrian-friendly and green.

I have no problem with the expansion/redevelopment of the shopping centre (even if I worry that it will sting downtown more than a little bit). I just wish Saanich had put some pressure on them with regard to the blank walls. I still say two or three small commercial units here or there along the perimeter could make a huge difference. I'm not clear on the plan for the empty corner.

Victoria can be a bizarro place sometimes. If something is bad, then it's good. Nobody will complain. If something is good, then it's bad. Many people will complain.

Lots of people are jumping on the "down with uptown" bandwagon but I just don't think Uptown's all that bad-especially when you consider what was there before-a suburban blight that received more derision than all the other malls in greater Victoria combined. While Saanich may have been a bit hasty in approving this thing, it is a quantum leap forward from it's predecessor. I also didn't see a lot of blank walls. Saanich Rd. seems to be the side people are most critical of yet there are artistic etchings in the walls, windows and trees there. I'm not saying it will win any architectural awards, I just don't think it's the disaster others do. Shopping malls are usually pretty bereft of external architectural details anyway-just look at Mayfair and Hillside. Most malls look like a giant mishmash of competing architctural styles and designs.

[craneSpotter]

Lots of people are jumping on the "down with uptown" bandwagon but I just don't think Uptown's all that bad-especially when you consider what was there before-a suburban blight that received more derision than all the other malls in greater Victoria combined. While Saanich may have been a bit hasty in approving this thing, it is a quantum leap forward from it's predecessor. I also didn't see a lot of blank walls. Saanich Rd. seems to be the side people are most critical of yet there are artistic etchings in the walls, windows and trees there. I'm not saying it win any architectural awards, I just don't think it's the disaster others do. Shopping malls are usually pretty bereft of external architectural details anyway-just look at Mayfair and Hillside. Most malls look like a giant mishmash of competing architctural styles and designs.

I agree. As far as lifestyle centres go, it is decent. Many times the improvement to the eyesore that was there! Also, it is just in phase 1 and an active construction zone! Why anybody would even bother comment on the parking situation or access right now I don't know. I'll judge when phase 2 is done at least.

I also think most of the people (few in number really, but vocal) who are on the "down with uptown" wagon are not the target market anyway. Watch. This place will have some of the highest gross sales/sq ft in the city (T&C already had the highest grossing Wal-Mart in the west) - and it will bring new retailers that Victorians were starved for. Retailers that people here saved for trips to Nanaimo and the LM (like us and most everyone we know here!). The retailers collect stats, there were large numbers of Victorians shopping at certain stores in Nanaimo and the LM.

I am just thankful we didn't get something backward to replace it - they could have built something horrid like Crossiron Mills!

[aastra]

Picture of the new office block at Yates and Blanshard:

http://vibrantvictoria.ca/wp-content/gallery/atrium/Atrium-07-28-2010a.jpg

[ClaytonA]

Lots of people are jumping on the "down with uptown" bandwagon but I just don't think Uptown's all that bad-especially when you consider what was there before-a suburban blight that received more derision than all the other malls in greater Victoria combined. While Saanich may have been a bit hasty in approving this thing, it is a quantum leap forward from it's predecessor. I also didn't see a lot of blank walls. Saanich Rd. seems to be the side people are most critical of yet there are artistic etchings in the walls, windows and trees there. I'm not saying it will win any architectural awards, I just don't think it's the disaster others do. Shopping malls are usually pretty bereft of external architectural details anyway-just look at Mayfair and Hillside. Most malls look like a giant mishmash of competing architctural styles and designs.

Phil I like your sig!
I think what most people may be discussing is not the aesthetic flourishes, but the human scale of the development. Some architects don't seem to get the difference either. Whether it encourages walking for example. Long walls whether they have windows, trees, and architectural etchings do not encourage walking. It's wasted space that is dead. Somebody's said conciously or otherwise: "What do we want to do with street frontage on "x" street or "y" road?" "Aww f^%$ it."

By wrapping larger bix box stores with smaller retail units (ie store entrances) there are reasons to use the exterior, it's safer (eye's on the street), and the development (not familiar with Uptown specifically) integrates more with it's surrounding neighbourhood versus being closed off and oriented to a large parking lot that itself faces a freeway.

Innersoul - I don't completely understand parking lots as they're built now. It must be a code thing to make them as hard as possible to get in and out of with as many curbs, islands (with the obligatory greenery), and other parking lot debris as possible. It also limits the use of the parking lot for special events such as pancake breakfasts.

[Innersoul1]

Crane Spotter - I agree Crossiron Mills isn't a beauty at all but it is an urban scale thing in my opinion as ClaytonA points out. At least CrossIron Mills is out in the country so although it is large and ugly it is not overwhelming. I also completely agree that the sales at Uptown will skyrocket. It will be a successful development because it meets the big box demand that Victorians previously had t to to Langford for.

[Phil McAvity]

^yeah, I don't know many people that went to Vancouver or Nanaimo for their big box fix but I know lots of people that went to Langford for it, myself included.

Clayton, I couldn't agree more, the trendy thing to do with every piece of paved road is to build as many obstacles on it as possible. The best example I can think of is the Fairways parking lot on Quadra. They probably used up at least 8 parking spots with all their benches, greenery and artsy vases in the parking lot which is all very nice as you get to see them again and again and again driving around looking for a parking spot. :hell: We seem to have fallen in love with nature and parks so much that we are putting them everywhere, including places where they clearly don't belong.

It may be the final sign in man's devolution. :koko:

[Dylan Leblanc]

Hudson Mews - 12 storey tower with subsidised rental units and market condos on the top three floors. Construction should start by the end of the year.

http://gingert.net/images/victoria-hudson-2010.08.28-03.jpg


The Hudson - occupancy should be within a month.

http://gingert.net/images/victoria-hudson-2010.08.28-01.jpg

My pix taken Saturday.

[Phil McAvity]

^Nice shots. You should also post them in the "Your City's Tallest U/C" thread.

[Fairbanks]

Excavation has begun at Westshore Town Centre on the new Cineplex Odeon 7 scheduled to open in spring 2011. Let's all go to the lobby...let's all go to the lobby...let's all go to the lobby and have ourselves a treat.

[aastra]

North downtown by Mike K. at www.vibrantvictoria.ca:

http://vibrantvictoria.ca/pictures/North-downtown-Victoria-from-Atrium-July-29-2010.jpg

[Mike K.]

^Nice shots. You should also post them in the "Your City's Tallest U/C" thread.

Wouldn't our cities "tallest u/c" be The 834?

[Mike K.]

Photos taken from the rooftop patio of The Hudson.

http://vibrantvictoria.ca/pictures/Downtown-looking-southeast-Sept-2010.jpg


All three of the buildings in this picture were designed by the same architecture firm, Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership of Vancouver.
http://vibrantvictoria.ca/pictures/MCMP-buildings-seen-from-the-hudson-Sept-2010.jpg


http://vibrantvictoria.ca/pictures/First-Island-and-Corazon-Sept-2010.jpg


http://vibrantvictoria.ca/pictures/Downtown-looking-south-Sept-2010.jpg


http://vibrantvictoria.ca/pictures/Downtown-looking-down-Douglas-Sept-2010.jpg


http://vibrantvictoria.ca/pictures/Downtown-looking-down-Douglas-Sept-2010b.jpg

[Holden West]

http://vibrantvictoria.ca/pictures/Downtown-looking-down-Douglas-Sept-2010.jpg

You can't really see it in this photo but I was told that this building (originally the Centra Gas building) featured exterior glass in different shades of blue to represent a look of a natural gas flame.

[SpongeG]

Townline completes Victoria transformation

Hudson's Bay store, abandoned after 80 years, now an address for 152 residenceswhile incorporating ideas on recycling, sustainability

By Suzanne Morphet, Special To The Sun October 16, 2010

Four years and $80 million later, the transformation from old Victoria department store to new condominium project is complete.
...

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Townline+completes+Victoria+transformation/3682444/story.html#ixzz12qldpXCZ

[Edited by admin]

[Dylan Leblanc]

Another rendering of an upcoming condo project.

More info here - http://vibrantvictoria.ca/local-news/new-admirals-inn-development-seeks-approval/

http://vibrantvictoria.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/257Belleville-copy.jpg

[aastra]

New office block on Yates Street:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1061/5124941805_6bf46eb516_z.jpg
Picture by ngawangchodron at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ngawangchodron/5124941805/

Interior of the same building:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1122/5124940761_99e48dd94a_z.jpg
Picture by ngawangchodron at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ngawangchodron/5124940761/

[hollywoodnorth]

New office block on Yates Street:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1061/5124941805_6bf46eb516_z.jpg
Picture by ngawangchodron at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ngawangchodron/5124941805/

Interior of the same building:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1122/5124940761_99e48dd94a_z.jpg
Picture by ngawangchodron at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ngawangchodron/5124940761/

wow she looks great! whats the addy?

[Dylan Leblanc]

800 Yates St. It's on the NE corner of Yates & Blanshard, and also the SE corner of Johnson & Blanshard.

[YYCguys]

Whoa! It's a really sexy building! Love the skylight and all the curves!

[Xelebes]

I love the articulation. Especially on the elevators.

[Phil McAvity]

^And this is the same building that many people at VibrantVictoria whined about for not being tall enough. While it isn't very tall, it is otherwise pretty nice and a massive improvement over what existed before. It kind of reminds me of the Vancouver Public Library.

[Dylan Leblanc]

the atrium would not have been possible if the building were taller

[bicycles]

now you have me imagining the Atrium as the new Victoria Library... a smaller version of this on Fisgard and Douglas would have been awesome.

also, the first page desparately needs an update. if aastra doesn't mind, i'd be willing to do it..

[aastra]

Which page do you mean? Update away, I'm just not sure which page we're talking about. The "city compilations" page?

[bicycles]

Which page do you mean? Update away, I'm just not sure which page we're talking about. The "city compilations" page?

that, but also the first page of this thread

[Phil McAvity]

the atrium would not have been possible if the building were taller

Huh? I don't understand.

This thread is so old that some of the buildings that were just renderings/models in the original post are now finished so if the weather and my schedule allows, I may be able to go on a shooting rampage in the next few days and provide photographic updates on many of the buildings in this thread if anyone is interested.

[aastra]

I made some updates to the City Compilations list. Let me know if I missed anything:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=83659

[Phil McAvity]

Well I guess I don't need to go on that shooting rampage now after all so thanks for that. You can probably remove Radius from the list though since i'm pretty sure it's dead.

[Dylan Leblanc]

heres mor pix of the atrium for those interested - http://www.flickr.com/photos/ngawangchodron/sets/72157624906911789/with/5183474187/


Huh? I don't understand.

typical :rolleyes:


:D

[Phil McAvity]

Given that there are plenty of buildings out there with larger atria, your comment didn't make any sense Dylan but rather than admit that, you would rather just suggest that i'm a troll.

That's helpful.

[bicycles]

is this the only forum besides vibrant victoria for Victoria discussion? I can't handlt it over there anymore and I'd like some place people can have reasonable discussion about moving this city forward.

[Phil McAvity]

^Well VibrantVic and SSP are the only two I participate in but I expect if you knew how to use a search engine you could find other local discussion forums.

[Phil McAvity]

Also, what's "unreasonable" about the discussion at VibrantVic?

[aastra]

There's also Skyscrapercity.com but it's completely dead over there.

[bicycles]

Also, what's "unreasonable" about the discussion at VibrantVic?

note the moving the city forward part. everyone over there is a little paranoid with their conspiracy theories.

[aastra]

What are the conspiracy theories?

[bicycles]

NDP overthrows, the ballot machines being easily hackable, the bridge being some sort of legacy for the current council? I really don't follow most of them.

[RTA]

^ Sounds like plenty of the stuf getting posted to Connect2Edmonton (http://www.connect2edmonton.ca/forum/) these days. I think every online forum that reaches a certain level of general popularity (as opposed to a more specific target like SSP) hits that point eventually. I believe the expression is "jumped the shark."

[The Great Scaper]

I'm also off V.V. in fact I've not logged on that site for over 4 years and will not do so again..... That said I should browse on here more often and post some pics every now and then.

As far as the Atrium goes the only recent pic I took was about a month ago..

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/235/5074539958_47f2f0b178_b.jpg

[The Great Scaper]

I also have hosted a bunch of images from old Victoria Newspapers I have. The newspapers range from the 30's to the 80's.

Here's a cool one. please ask permission before posting this image on other sites.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1326/5130688229_e5d33464ed_b.jpg

I also have but haven't posted a similar grand opening for the old T.D. building advertisement. ( the 5 story ugly gray office that replaced the permanent loan building.


Also I have a news paper article from the January paper from 1964 that states a proposal for a 25 story building on the corner of Blanshard and Pandora streets.

I'll post these images on here later.

Cheers all, Bob

[Dylan Leblanc]

That's rad Bob!


A tower crane has just gone up at phase 2 of the Uptown development in Victoria. The crazy thing about this photo is the city's two tallest buildings can be seen.

http://gingert.net/images/victoria-uptown-2010.12.01.jpg

[gumgum]

I find it funny that people are dissing VV for the reasons stated.
There are a lot of very progressive people on the forum.

And I wouldn't lump everyone who wanted to see the bridge preserved having the inability to imagine change.

I can name many people, including myself, that wanted the bridge preserved that are ALSO loud advocates for progression.

Honestly, Bike, you really have to stick it out because you cannot take a person's one opinion and lump them into simple categories.

The JSB issue was a bizarre and isolated issue that intermingled a lot of strange boundaries. Heritage advocates wanted to see it destroyed. Progressives wanted it to stay. Eco warriors wanted it thrown in the garbage. You couldn't guess where people opinions lay, based on their background; just as you couldn't guess a persons background by knowing their opinion on the bridge debate. It was diabolically complex.
Every person had their own individual reasons for wanting it to stay or go.

I, for example, love the new design, but could also couldn't find the right reasons why the old bridge shouldn't stay. It seemed to me it had enough heritage value to at least explore the options more thoroughly. I also embraced pretty much every unpopular development that has been proposed in Victoria in the last 5 years - accepted or rejected. I would also like to see downtown's height restrictions raised to 20 stories, including in old town. I want to see the Wharf parking lots developed, the proposed marina to go ahead, all surface parking lots to be obliterated, every major street possible to have bike lanes. I would love to see Centennial Square disappear for new development. I want to say goodbye to the bowling green and Cridge park for development. I could go on. And I know from being an addicted member for 4 years now, that there are many like me.

I challenge anyone to look at it with a pair of fresh eyes. The opinions on VV are as dynamic and numerous as their are members.

THERE IS NO CONSENSUS ON VV!


(As for people that haven't visited for years: Well... how can you hate something so bad without knowing anything about it?)

[The Great Scaper]

I find it funny that people are dissing VV for the reasons stated.
There are a lot of very progressive people on the forum.

And I wouldn't lump everyone who wanted to see the bridge preserved having the inability to imagine change.

I can name many people, including myself, that wanted the bridge preserved that are ALSO loud advocates for progression.

Honestly, Bike, you really have to stick it out because you cannot take a person's one opinion and lump them into simple categories.

The JSB issue was a bizarre and isolated issue that intermingled a lot of strange boundaries. Heritage advocates wanted to see it destroyed. Progressives wanted it to stay. Eco warriors wanted it thrown in the garbage. You couldn't guess where people opinions lay, based on their background; just as you couldn't guess a persons background by knowing their opinion on the bridge debate. It was diabolically complex.
Every person had their own individual reasons for wanting it to stay or go.

I, for example, love the new design, but could also couldn't find the right reasons why the old bridge shouldn't stay. It seemed to me it had enough heritage value to at least explore the options more thoroughly. I also embraced pretty much every unpopular development that has been proposed in Victoria in the last 5 years - accepted or rejected. I would also like to see downtown's height restrictions raised to 20 stories, including in old town. I want to see the Wharf parking lots developed, the proposed marina to go ahead, all surface parking lots to be obliterated, every major street possible to have bike lanes. I would love to see Centennial Square disappear for new development. I want to say goodbye to the bowling green and Cridge park for development. I could go on. And I know from being an addicted member for 4 years now, that there are many like me.

I challenge anyone to look at it with a pair of fresh eyes. The opinions on VV are as dynamic and numerous as their are members.

THERE IS NO CONSENSUS ON VV!


(As for people that haven't visited for years: Well... how can you hate something so bad without knowing anything about it?)

I'm with you on almost every issue, except I like the lawn bowling green.

That said Gum Gum. on your last comment.. I started V.V. with several other people...and in fact I originally owned the website and still have the Original Government papers I paid for, to register the name with The Registry of Companies... That said I walked away peacefully from the site out of respect for the people on it...even though I loath specifics I won't mention. I won't go into details..but it has nothing to do with not knowing what the site is about after being away for 4 years. It's called having enough self respect that I will never log on that site again for the experience that I encountered. Only 2 people know the intimate details of what transpired...and it was brutal and evil. That said you are unaware of any of this..... I respect you enjoy the site..I know a lot of people do. In fact I'm still friends with many people who belong to the site.

I'll just not have anything to do with it ever. That said I still try my best to do what I can do to speak my voice. I'm constantly messaging certain councilors and the Mayor. I still communicate quite well with West Bank and other Developers. In fact some of your secret info you get on V.V. is supplied by myself to certain people on your site. As I still let people know the things I've heard or have been told. Though somethings I'm told to keep hush.

I do miss chatting on a forum with people I called and call friends and I still enjoy keeping my feet wet when I can, and taking photos when I can.

Anyways I'm glad you enjoy the site.. as I know a lot of people do...

I'll post on here once and a while and do what I can do.

in a nut shell though...I don't believe much will change until this city is amalgamated.

[rrskylar]

Glad to see you back on the real forum Scaper!;)

[aastra]

Heritage advocates wanted to see it destroyed. Progressives wanted it to stay. Eco warriors wanted it thrown in the garbage. You couldn't guess where people opinions lay, based on their background; just as you couldn't guess a persons background by knowing their opinion on the bridge debate. It was diabolically complex. Every person had their own individual reasons for wanting it to stay or go.

Methinks political allegiances can explain many of the contradictions. To say that the "heritage preservation" mission in Victoria has been politically compromised would be a grotesque understatement. In fact, preservation of heritage seems to be way down on their list of priorities. The "green" movement? Come on, they argue against densification, against alternative transportation...

[Phil McAvity]

Glad to see you back Scaper. Hopefully you will keep that camera of yours clicking because you have a knack for it. Also, if I may nitpick something-the grey concrete TD building at the corner of douglas and johnson that replaced the Permanent Loan Building is actually 6 stories, not 5. Still, a pretty sad replacement. I loved that ad for the CIBC Building but they describe the building as 14 stories when it is clearly 12 unless it has two invisible, mechanical floors.

[Mike K.]

Methinks political allegiances can explain many of the contradictions. To say that the "heritage preservation" mission in Victoria has been politically compromised would be a grotesque understatement. In fact, preservation of heritage seems to be way down on their list of priorities. The "green" movement? Come on, they argue against densification, against alternative transportation...

...and the Chamber of Commerce swayed the opinions of many business owners at the last minute. A lot of them seemed to have been sitting on the fence until the Chamber released loss estimates (who some feel were unsubstantiated) into the millions.

[Dylan Leblanc]

Here's the (City of) Victoria highrise developments map - http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/maps/?cityID=37&z=13&status=1

18 proposed and under construction highrise buildings are marked (though only one is actually U/C :P )

[Phil McAvity]

Aren't the Hudson buildings under construction?

[Dylan Leblanc]

No. Construction was supposed to have started this fall but it has been delayed until spring. The site is excavated and the tower crane is in place, but no actual construction has taken place.

[rrskylar]

Bear Mountain


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/current-former-nhl-players-lose-more-than-13-million-in-resort-deal/article1883049/

[Dylan Leblanc]

New proposal for a 14 storey residential building. Info and pic at - http://www.timescolonist.com/business/Affordable+housing+units+included+proposal+near+Mayfair/4181456/story.html

[Phil McAvity]

New proposal for a 14 storey residential building. Info and pic at - http://www.timescolonist.com/business/Affordable+housing+units+included+proposal+near+Mayfair/4181456/story.html

Another project that is about as likely to happen as those residential highrises behind Tillicum Mall. Yeah, the ones that never happened.

[Dylan Leblanc]

Here's "the 834." There was some sort of issue with excavating the west side of the site, or doing the foundation work, so even though most of the building is up 10 floors already, the west side of the podium and tower is not yet complete.

...the West side of the building was muddy and slowed down progress in terms of pouring concrete (which is now underway).


Quite a bit of the concrete for the west side of the building (the podium and the tower) has not yet been poured. There is exposed rebar on every floor on the west side of the tower where additional floorspace has yet to be poured. Here are some photos I took today.


See the rebar sticking out of the floors. An extra 10 to 20 feet of floor slab still needs to be put in place on this side.

http://gingert.net/images/victoria-the834-2010.02.15-01.jpg


The west side of the tower.

http://gingert.net/images/victoria-the834-2010.02.15-02.jpg


There is supposed to be a four storey podium (plus foundations) here between the tower and the red building. This is what will support the extra floorspace on the tower.

http://gingert.net/images/victoria-the834-2010.02.15-03.jpg


The east side looks good.

http://gingert.net/images/victoria-the834-2010.02.15-04.jpg


Work continues.

http://gingert.net/images/victoria-the834-2010.02.15-05.jpg

[roccerfeller]

Hello Victorians! Not certain if this is best for the "Construction" thread here, but I am not used to the BC forum

Didn't know whether to start a new thread or not, perhaps a mod can move it if so:

Victoria upgrading to AHL?

http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/Rumours+swirling+again+Victoria+return/4364351/story.html

From the Victoria Times

Rumours swirling again of Victoria's return to WHL
BY CLEVE DHEENSAW, TIMES COLONIST MARCH 1, 2011
A rumour racing across Victoria, about a potential announcement regarding the return of the Western Hockey League, has been scotched.

At least for now. "There has obviously got to be interest in Victoria . . . simply has got to be because it's such a great market . . . but nothing is imminent," said Bruce Hamilton, chairman of the WHL board of governors. "It's a question of whether we can find a team for Victoria or not."

Sources have indicated to the Times Colonist an announcement may be coming this spring about a Victoria team in the WHL for the 2012-13 season.

That, however, is not the vibe Hamilton is letting out.

"We aren't expanding, unless Victoria is working on other avenues [moving an existing franchise] that I am not aware of. And I'm as closely connected as anybody," he said.

...


There, however, has yet to be anything of substance to any of this speculation.

Sources close to the situation indicate RG Properties, having built equity in the minor-pro brand with the Salmon Kings of the ECHL, were torn between potentially pursuing the pro AHL or the major-junior WHL. That internal debate has apparently been settled in favour of the WHL.

The issue that could change that equation is if the Canucks' main farm team, the AHL's Manitoba Moose, became available if the NHL quickly decided to move back to Winnipeg this spring with the Thrashers or Coyotes. RG Properties has built a solid secondary farm-team relationship with the Canucks through the Salmon Kings, and Victoria would likely be the first choice of destination for the Moose.

[Phil McAvity]

^Yeah I wouldn't mind discussing this but it does belong in it's own thread.

[The Great Scaper]

Hey everyone...sorry it's been so long since I've logged on here.

I thought everyone might be interested in this old Victoria Time's Article from January, 1964

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/5498521689/

I posted it on my flickr account. It has some cool info in it and reads about at 25 story proposal on the corner of Pandora and Blanshard Street.

I have a few more pics to post from around Victoria too that I've photographed lately. I've yet to upload them. In the next few days I'll get to this.

Cheers, Bob

[Dylan Leblanc]

Last week

http://gingert.net/images/victoria-the834-2011.03.10.jpg

[aastra]

Bosa is partnering with Bayview to build the second phase of the Bayview project. I think this sort of tower is exactly what the Songhees neighbourhood needs:

http://www.bosaproperties.com/bayview/media/images/slide-1.jpg
picture from http://www.bosaproperties.com/bayview/

More info:
http://www.bosaproperties.com/bayview/

[Mike K.]

It's confirmed. The second phase of Bayview will become Victoria's tallest building.

Victoria’s tallest building to rise above Vic West
By Mike Kozakowski, VibrantVictoria.ca
http://vibrantvictoria.ca/local-news/victorias-tallest-building-to-rise-above-vic-west/

After nearly five solid decades of holding the venerable title as Victoria’s tallest building, the 62 meter tall, 22-storey Orchard House in James Bay will slip to second place as a new residential tower proposal in Vic West moves from concept to reality.

Bayview Properties and its newly-introduced partner Bosa Properties confirm plans for a 21-storey, 66.3 meter tall residential tower perched above Vic West as phase two of the Bayview project (see Bayview One for information on the first phase).

“Unit ceiling heights will be in excess of 9 feet making the 21-storey tower the tallest in Victoria,” said Vania Wong of Bosa Properties, adding that project marketing is expected to begin within several months and be in full swing by summer of 2011. Rennie Marketing Systems of Vancouver is charged with the sales and marketing of the tower. [Read more (http://vibrantvictoria.ca/local-news/victorias-tallest-building-to-rise-above-vic-west/)]

[Dylan Leblanc]

Downtown condo site on the block

Dubai company abandons plan for parking lot next to theatre - http://www.timescolonist.com/business/Downtown+condo+site+block/4480189/story.html#ixzz1HSfn8HbF

100
New design for the Cosmopolitian

http://vibrantvictoria.ca/construction-projects/the-cosmopolitan-residential-commercial/

http://vibrantvictoria.ca/pictures/The-Cosmopolitan.gif

100
Tallest building U/C downtown. My pic from today.

http://gingert.net/images/victoria-the843-2011.03.23.jpg

[G-Man]

Hey everyone...sorry it's been so long since I've logged on here.

I thought everyone might be interested in this old Victoria Time's Article from January, 1964

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/5498521689/

I posted it on my flickr account. It has some cool info in it and reads about at 25 story proposal on the corner of Pandora and Blanshard Street.

I have a few more pics to post from around Victoria too that I've photographed lately. I've yet to upload them. In the next few days I'll get to this.

Cheers, Bob

Wow I wish that was a more current article! Anyone know where this was planned for?

[Dylan Leblanc]

NW corner .

[G-Man]

^ Oh where that piddly 3 storey office went in. That is a big density reduction!

[Phil McAvity]

^No kidding. That Rotherham Building is a waste of valuable downtown land. The only good thing about it are the grounds.

Dylan, you said a "new" design for the cosmopolitan. Wasn't the last building with that name proposed for the NW corner of Vancouver and View years ago?

This building looks unremarkarble but it's still a big improvement over those rundown old buildings that are there now.

[The Great Scaper]

Here's a few pics I took this last week. I got a new Camera just over a week ago. I'm trying to figure out how to use it...it's taking time but I'm enjoying it. I haven't taken City shots for ever just because my better camera broke almost a year ago. I'll be getting a good zoom lens for it soon too.

The Falls Downtown.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5303/5596849579_d227e92b09_b.jpg

A guy doing a front flip in Centennial Square.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5183/5596848171_a4243154f9_b.jpg

Uptown Mall..
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5022/5573849692_ac7de79f55_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5024/5573255043_28cf30c24e_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5065/5573840374_0028f9aa2c_b.jpg

I took this from North Park Tower with my old camera last month..
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5262/5552400426_816a22ef4b_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5181/5552400164_650cde0434_b.jpg

New Atrium
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5060/5552398342_589d489421_b.jpg

I took these pics yesterday...
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5107/5599211637_ae9002c42a_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5599213053_08330a1d2c_b.jpg

Anyways I'll play with the camera a bit more.. These new pics aren't great...it's all trial and error. But at least I'm having fun with it. I'll try and post a bit more next week. :D

[Dylan Leblanc]

Awesome dude nice photos! :tup:

[Jack Doe]

Great pics Great Scaper. Been a while since I've been in Victoria. Some nice building going on.

One question though. That lasts pic looks like a rendering. Did you do something special with that pic?

[The Great Scaper]

I was playing around with the in camera HDR mode. It didn't come out as well as I hoped. The first photo was also an attempt at this too. It was a little under done but still looks better than the last pic. :D

[The Great Scaper]

Finally!!!!

A DOWNTOWN VICTORIA BURGER KING COMING!!!

This was an old Blenz coffee shop. Back in the 80's it was an A&W. Anyways it's going to be soon Victoria's first Downtown Burger King. There use to be a Burger King on the Corner of Bay and Blanshard..but not really downtown. That was also back in the 80's.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5147/5614762243_510f5b601c_z.jpg

I'm looking forward to having this downtown. I like it so much better than MC D's... which we have over 20 of in the CRD.

[aastra]

That's a hell of a thing. The two McDonald's locations that closed recently were the ones that didn't have drive-thru windows. It will be interesting to see if Burger King can work there. The Burger Kings from before both had drive-thru windows if I remember correctly.

[craneSpotter]

I'm looking forward to having this downtown. I like it so much better than MC D's... which we have over 20 of in the CRD.

There is a Fatburger opening DT soon too @ 1209 Douglas St. - Much better than BK ;)

[Phil McAvity]

Finally!!!!

A DOWNTOWN VICTORIA BURGER KING COMING!!!



Couldn't agree more. Burger King's flame-broiled burgers destroy McDick's. This city has needed this for a long time.

Aastra, I only remember the Burger King at Bay/Blanshard (where Alzu's is/was). Was there another?

[aastra]

Yeah, the other one was at Gateway Village (Woolco/Save-On Foods/Q100 area).

[renthefinn]

There is a Fatburger opening DT soon too @ 1209 Douglas St. - Much better than BK ;)

mmm... fatburger is good, BK was good too, recently haven't been a fan of most burger joints... think i need to change my diet a bit....

[Phil McAvity]

Yeah, the other one was at Gateway Village (Woolco/Save-On Foods/Q100 area).

Yeah right, I had completely forgotten that one.

[Mike K.]

http://vibrantvictoria.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Mondrian-Condo.gif

10-storey “The Mondrian” condo expects green light from City Hall
By Mike Kozakowski, VibrantVictoria.ca
http://vibrantvictoria.ca/local-news/10-storey-the-mondrian-condo-expects-green-light-from-city-hall/

The Mondrian, a 10-storey, 30-meter tall residential building with groundfloor retail proposed for the northwest corner of Cook and Johnson streets in downtown Victoria’s Harris Green neighbourhood, will go before the Planning and Land Use Committee at Victoria City Hall tomorrow.

City planners are recommending approval for the 70,000 square foot mixed-use project that is the latest proposal on a site that has seen several concepts surface in recent years. [Read more (http://vibrantvictoria.ca/local-news/10-storey-the-mondrian-condo-expects-green-light-from-city-hall/)]

[Phil McAvity]

^I guess this one doesn't have setbacks because it's not tall enough for anyone to notice it.

I think the previous proposal at that site looked a lot cooler even though it had setbacks.

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/5833/cookjohnson4cruf8.jpg

[The Great Scaper]

I should have waited a few days till the nicer weather came...oh well... Here's a pick from Mt Tolmie I took last week.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5062/5614919591_cbbe58281c_b.jpg

And one a little closer zoom of the 834..if it had been sunny and a bit earlier in the day the quality would be a bit better.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5615345672_69eef7d55e_b.jpg

and another zoom a little different angle. again a little dark.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5223/5614764435_15e5b78f34_b.jpg

I'll get some more pics done when the weather pics up a bit soon. I also need to figure out my new camera better too.

[Dylan Leblanc]

fab photos scaper

[hollywoodnorth]

$1B rapid transit line suggested for Victoria

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/04/26/bc-victoria-lrt.html

[aastra]

Condo building proposed for Yates Street between Douglas and Blanshard...

Vancouver-based Concert Properties hopes to build a 15-storey condominium in the 700 block of Yates Street.

Concert, which had the site at 726-746 Yates rezoned last year to build a 12-storey office tower with ground-floor commercial units, is now seeking a development permit to instead build a 157-unit condominium over groundlevel commercial units.

Full story:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/developer-wants-15-storey-highrise-000000739.html

[aastra]

"Neighbours welcomes towers plan for Esquimalt Inn site":
http://www.timescolonist.com/business/Neighbours+welcome+towers+plan+Esquimalt+site/4822039/story.html

So just like that, there are suddenly a lot of proposed/pending condo projects again in Victoria:

- Promontory at Bayview by Bosa (21 stories)
- 700-block of Yates Street by Concert (15 stories)
- The Sovereign on Broughton Street in the old town (11 stories)
- Mondrian at the corner of Cook St. and Johnson St. (10 stories)
- Esquimalt Inn site (proposed - 12 stories)
- 640 Michigan in James Bay
- 1000-block of View Street
- Union (Chinatown)
- Northern Junk site (old town waterfront)

Not to mention the suspended phases of Dockside Green and the first small tower behind the Hudson, and two or three heritage renovations in the old town, too.

Methinks it will take a very long while for all of these to happen.

[The Great Scaper]

Here's a pic I took from the top of Uptown Mall tonight...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2297/5774978925_16afd38347_b.jpg

I also had never posted this pic either. It's older from about 3 years ago..but I really like it. I took it from the top of Christmas Hill. I'll retake this shot sometime this year...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/3100372716_bb14038aaf_b.jpg

Both are on my flickr page. I hope to start taking new pics this year...

I'll add one more I took downtown last week..
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2517/5701673831_65565a94e7_b.jpg

I also took this photo of an eagle out at Hartland Road Dump in May as well. It turned out pretty good.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5310/5670478013_b98a4af37a_z.jpg

[craneSpotter]

Bosa has their project/marketing sign up for Promontory at Bayview Place on the corner of Tyee and Esquimalt road - right in front of Bayview.

http://www.bosaproperties.com/promontory/media/images/rendering-building.jpg


http://www.bosaproperties.com/promontory/media/images/points-of-interest-2.jpg

link to project web site - http://www.bosaproperties.com/promontory/

[aastra]

Condo building proposal has been approved for the site of the Admiral Inn motel:

http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/pictures/257-Belleville-c.gif
picture from http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=162324

Concert's condo tower proposal for the 700-block of Yates Street downtown has also been approved:
http://vibrantvictoria.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/728-Yates-Concert-Properties.gif
picture from http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=3595&page=6

[Travis007]

Photo of the Promontory model from BuzzBuzzHome:

http://www.buzzbuzzhome.com/promontory-at-bayview-place

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/1301/promontory.jpg

[Phil McAvity]

Condo building proposal has been approved for the site of the Admiral Inn motel:

http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/pictures/257-Belleville-c.gif
picture from http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=162324

This one puzzles me because it wasn't that many years ago that the Admiral Inn made substantial improvements.

[Dylan Leblanc]

it will probably turn into a dump by the time this proposal gets approved

[Travis007]

Concert's new project will be called, "Era" :

http://eravictoria.com/

http://eravictoria.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Era_Elevation_cut.jpg

[Lover Fighter]

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/infromthenoise/IMAX.png

I'd never seen this before and thought it was interesting.
It's a 1995 proposal for an IMAX theatre at the corner of Gordon and Courtney, where the Magnolia Hotel is now.

[SpongeG]

Fan Tan Alley alteration approved

By Roszan Holmen - Victoria News
Published: August 26, 2011 4:00 PM
Updated: August 26, 2011 5:06 PM

The strange vending machine that greets passersby through the barred-window of a first-floor room on Pandora Avenue will soon be a thing of the past.

So too the substandard rental units and derelict storage space contained in the heritage building that houses the pop machine.

An overhaul of the building rounding the corner into Fan Tan Alley got the green light at Victoria city council Thursday night.

While the renovations will save the building from destruction, by slow decay or disaster, many neighbours to the project are devastated by the news of the impending upgrades.

"I'm pretty disillusioned," said Allan Edgar, who lives on a third floor unit in Fan Tan Alley. His petition, set up in the Alley, garnered 3,300 names, of which 50 to 65 per cent were signed by people in Greater Victoria. "I thought that would be enough."

Coun. Lynn Hunter called it an uncomfortable compromise.

"We really struggled with this one," said she said.

Council granted a heritage alteration permit for a two-storey addition to the building fronting the alley, though set back enough to be less visible. The added density, architect Alan Lowe argues, is needed to fund the substantial upgrades to the deteriorating property belonging to the Hoy Sun Ning Yung Benevolent Association at 536 Pandora Avenue, and 4, 10-14 Fan Tan Alley.

Neighbours, however, opposed the added density, arguing it will shade the little light that enters the alleyway, and compromise a national heritage site.

...

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_south/victorianews/news/128493493.html