[aastra]

A review of current construction, recently completed projects, and pending proposals:

BAYVIEW (www.bayviewvictoria.com)

http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/6532/bayviewhc4.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/vibrantvictoria3/0004/bayviewone_mar16_2007a.jpg

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/2804/bayviewcranesxc0.jpg


JULIET (www.julietliving.com)

http://img333.imageshack.us/img333/9239/julietbldgrenderingjx5.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/chard001.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/chard007.jpg

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2590/ambulance003hw8.jpg


THE FALLS (www.thefallsvictoria.com)

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/4053/thefallsyu5.jpg

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/6416/thefallsgroundbreakingva3.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/thefalls019.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/vibrantvictoria3/0001/thefalls_mar16_2007b.jpg


ARIA (www.ariavictoria.com)

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/505/ariamodel1na.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/ressen/IMG_1796.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/vibrantvictoria3/0003/aria_mar16_2007a.jpg

THE PIER (www.thepier.ca)

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/2047/thepierqf5.jpg


SWALLOWS LANDING (www.swallowslanding.com)

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/6919/swallowslanding21oqjp0.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/vibrantvictoria3/0007/swallows_mar16_2007a.jpg


SYNERGY (www.docksidegreen.ca)

http://www.docksidegreen.ca/database/images/display/sb4564a37e5e2d4.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/vibrantvictoria3/0009/synergy_mar16_2007a.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/ressen/IMG_1787.jpg


THE HUDSON (www.hudsonliving.ca)

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/1779/hudsonho6.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m256/5955483/P1010215.jpg


OSWEGO HOTEL(www.oswegovictoria.com)

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/261/oswegoor3.jpg


PARKSIDE (www.parksidevictoria.com)

http://img280.imageshack.us/img280/9231/parkside8id.jpg

http://img423.imageshack.us/img423/8093/img4821pg0.jpg



RADIUS (www.radiusvictoria.com)

http://host.activeworlds.com/moff/new/radius.jpg


SHUTTERS (www.shuttersvictoria.com)

http://www.westbankcorp.com/images/shutters-full2.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_5126.jpg

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2672/shuttersro3.jpg


UPPER HARBOUR PLACE

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/369/tyeeroadfeb1707ag9.jpg


REFLECTIONS (www.liveatreflections.ca)

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/6678/reflections1cc.jpg


VICINO (www.vicinovictoria.com)

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_5100.jpg


GATEWAY GREEN (www.gatewaygreen.ca)

http://gatewaygreen.ca/images/GatewayGreenPlan.jpg


THE WAVE

http://www.therealvictoria.ca/images/the_wave.jpg


BELVEDERE

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7452/belvederedm1.jpg


ASTORIA
http://www.platinumvacationgroup.com/listing_images/p1f2050090784.jpg


CORAZON
http://www.mcmparchitects.com/img/photos/Corazon%20Bldg%20(horiz%20Img%203).jpg


CITY PLACE
http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/6088/cityplace8kl.jpg


PARC RESIDENCES
http://www.westbankcorp.com/images/Parc-full6.jpg


BALANCE (www.docksidegreen.ca)
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/295/balancedo3.jpg


THE HIGHLANDER (www.thehighlander.ca)
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6781/highlanderwh3.jpg


LAGOON ESTATES (www.lagoonestates.ca)
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/7545/lagoonestateseh9.jpg


THE MICHELLE
http://img423.imageshack.us/img423/973/themichelleqv1.jpg


THE CONDUCTOR (www.theconductor.ca)
http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/5756/conductorzj0.jpg


COLWOOD CORNERS
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/2129/colwoodcornersnh3.jpg

http://www.dysarch.com/UserImages/WebImages/ProjectImages/1.%20RESIDENTIAL/Market%20High%20Rise/Royal%20Roads/Royal%20Roads%20-%20perspective.jpg


Save-on Foods Memorial Centre

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/TheWellProposal009.jpg


THE REEF
http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/1269/thereef5tx.jpg


SAYWARD HILL (www.saywardhill.com)
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1449/saywardhill3vo.jpg
http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/196/10saywardhill1qn.jpg


MARRIOTT HOTEL
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1470/marriot7wj.jpg


THE GATEHOUSE
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/6756/9953gatehousems2kg.jpg


860 VIEW
http://rwglobal.com/re/common/pictures/203030.jpg


SHOAL POINT
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/3923/gallerylarge016yz.jpg


And others...

http://img349.imageshack.us/img349/2229/langford7sw.jpg

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/6126/cookjohnson4cr.jpg

[excel]

wow lots of nice looking projects going on in victoria.

[Mike K.]

The crane footings for Juliet are being installed


http://members.shaw.ca/vibrantvictoria3/0002/juliet_mar16_2007a.jpg

[Lyle]

What are Brian Tobin and Mike Harris up to here?!?

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/idl/vitc/20061116/143932-54139.jpg

[Lyle]

Great thread, btw.

[Mike K.]

They all bought into this (http://www.bayviewvictoria.com) development.

[osirisboy]

wow im surprised how much is going on in victoria. thanks for the pics. i9 cant wait to gget there for a visit

[renthefinn]

what the hell is the conductor? I think there's also another building going up at sayward hill. My ex's parents live there and the last time I was there I'm pretty sure I saw another 5-8 storey building rising on the west part of the site. Thanks for putting these projects together, it really puts the construction in Victoria into perspective, we have some great stuff going on in that city!

[Mike K.]

Conductor is a 12-storey condo going up on Jacklin and Station in Langford across the road from the Lordco.

[raggedy13]

Looks like a lot of great projects going on. :tup: Victoria appears to be booming for sure. Last time I was there was last May. Hopefully I'll make it there at least once this spring/summer, if not a couple times.

[Lyle]

They all bought into this (http://www.bayviewvictoria.com) development.

Looks like the Bayview will fill up the last empty space on the old Songhees reserve. Finally. When I lived in Victoria in the 1980s there was nothing but weeds and oil storage tanks there. Not a great view across the harbour. While some of the Songhees buildings are a bit kitschy, it's nice to see the area fully developed.

[G-Man]

It is too bad that the Songhees Lands were developed in such an autocentric way. It would been much better if they had some sort of retail in the area.

[Mike K.]

Thankfully that's what the last phase will be all about. Once Songhees Hilltop is developed, (for your out of towners, that's the one with Brian Tobin in the picture), the developer will start work on the rail yard (http://www.roundhousevictoria.com) immediately to the west with residential, commercial and office space.

[East Van]

Is there any recent photos of the core showing new buildings -

http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/victoria/2007/vih2007_013.jpg

Is much of whats listed above in this picture ? I only see a few sites.

[Smooth]

I think that list is missing The Wing in Vic West ;)

[G-Man]

About 15 of those pics are in the picture shown, many are out in the Western Communities.

[Holden West]

^That Waite aerial photo includes the neighbourhoods of Downtown, Harris Green, James Bay, Fairfield, Vic West, North Park, Rock Bay, Burnside and Hillside/Quadra. If the photo extended another inch to the right, it would include Oaklands, Fernwood and possibly Rockland too! In fact I think that might be Oaklands at the extreme upper right (Haultain and Cook).

And that's not including sub-districts like Cathedral Hill, Humboldt Valley, Chinatown etc.

[m0nkyman]

I can see my house in that pic! ;)

[Mike K.]

Me too :)

[G-Man]

Me three!

[aastra]

Methinks some people are playing fast and loose with the term "house."

[aastra]

So is there any inkling as to what the inside curve of the big "C" at Shutters will look like when it's finished?

Songhees buildings are notorious for their particularly unappealing back sides.

[aastra]

Several Songhees buildings are also notorious for their particularly unappealing front sides, but that's another story...

[m0nkyman]

Methinks some people are playing fast and loose with the term "house."

Perhaps. I'm not though....

[m0nkyman]

Several Songhees buildings are also notorious for their particularly unappealing front sides, but that's another story...

So. Which is the front, and which is the back? The side facing the cars, or the side facing the ocean?

[gumgum]

Things in our fair city are definitely improving. Look at all the long gone parking lots in this pic from 1991.
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/vih1991_017.jpg

[gumgum]

And yet many still remain...
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/vih1991_016.jpg

[aastra]

I could do with a nice new hotel on the Laurel Point parking lot.

I like the way the old hospital had such a minimal setback. I don't like the way the new building has such a big setback.

KEEP SETBACKS SHORT! PRESERVE THE REAL VICTORIA!

Methinks some people are playing fast and loose with the term "house."

I should clarify, by "some people" I meant G-Man.

[aastra]

Which is the front, and which is the back?

You shouldn't be able to tell, ideally.

I've done enough for this new thread. You guys can pick up the slack now.

[m0nkyman]

Why am I suddenly humming The Sweater Song (http://www.last.fm/music/Weezer/_/Sweater+Song)?

[Phil McAvity]

And yet many still remain...
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/vih1991_016.jpg

Aastra, you said you could stand seeing a hotel on the Laurel Point parking lot, but the surface parking lot to the right of the Laurel Point condos/hotel (that i think you are referring to) in this picture isn't for the condos/hotel.

Also, good job posting all these pictures and links.

Someone mentioned the Wing in Vic West and wondered why it wasn't mentioned. Probably for the same reason when talking about one's family, people always conveniently forget to mention the inbred, retarded cousin. ;)

[aastra]

Yeah, I know it's just a parking lot. When I refer to it as "the Laurel Point parking lot" I mean to say "the big parking lot at Laurel Point."

It's not really on the point or at the point so much as right behind it, but you get the idea.

Great site for a really high end hotel in the 12-14 story range, in my opinion. Good views back to the city and also between the waterfront buildings to the harbour. It would also look great when viewed from the Coho.

[gumgum]

Great site for a big-ass-glass tower.

[aastra]

I just realized Regents Park #2 is almost complete in that second pic. That's a 1991 pic, right? That should settle the infamous and endless debate that's challenged failing memories, pitted brother against brother, and otherwise shaken Victoria to its very foundations.

[renthefinn]

I thought it was unanimous that Regents Park #2 was completed in 1992?

[aastra]

Robert Randall of the Downtown Residents' Association is the subject of a pretty good article in the new edition of Monday Magazine:

A Victoria Visionary... (http://web.bcnewsgroup.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=117&cat=43&id=857627&more=)

He seems to be on the ball. Check this out:

“People are so focussed on height, because the only figure they’re able to comprehend is the height. It’s like looking at a painting and only looking at the width,” he says. “What was that painting like? Oh, it was 18 inches wide. But what colour was it? How tall was it? Was it thick, was it thin, was it oil?”

“A lot of the people on the board and land use committee are artists, so we tend to look at things like, ‘how does it look? How does it fit?’ rather than whether it conforms to the numbers,” he explains.

Interesting cover picture. Are they suggesting he's trying to walk on water? Victoria's notorious naysayers might think he's stuck in the mud. Anyway, we finally get to see what the oft-quoted Randall actually looks like:

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/9602/mondaycovervw5.jpg

[gumgum]

Looks like the south-side retail portion of Castana in Cook St Village is a go-ahead despite Amadon's sell-off of the approved land.
Taken today:
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_6214.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_6216.jpg

[Dylan Leblanc]

That old brick house on Johnson @ Vancouver has had it's rear addition removed. What going in there again?

[G-Man]

I should clarify, by "some people" I meant G-Man.

I have a townHOUSE :)

[Innersoul1]

Just curious, are there any renos going on at UVic for the soccer championships this summer? I heard that additional seating to the stadium was to be added.

[G-Man]

Nope all games will be played at Royal Athletic Park. There are a lot of temporary seats being put in but I am not sure about any permanent modifications.

[aastra]

Here's a nice pic of Victoria. You don't see this angle very often. It's a screenshot from www.oakstreetvillage.ca: (http://www.oakstreetvillage.ca)

http://www.therealvictoria.ca/images/oak_street_village_screenshot.jpg

[m0nkyman]

Picture that once The Hudson gets finished. :)

[Holden West]

From that angle most of it will be blocked by Radius. The tops of the three towers will be visible above it though. I don't know if Gateway Green will be visible immediately behind the Hudson.

[aastra]

Using Corazon as a guide we can guesstimate the tallest building will reach to the snowline on the mountains, if not a bit higher.

Something like this:
http://www.therealvictoria.ca/images/oak_st_village_modified.jpg

[Mike K.]

On VV Holden West brought to our attention an updated highrise proposal for Colwood, a western burb of Victoria. 23-storeys and 77 meters.

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/133a26b3-7939-4ba4-b93e-0c570ecf1751/wessex_tower.jpg

[Galvanized]

Gateway Green has updated their website with some cool new renderings. http://www.gatewaygreen.ca/Concept/Renderings/tabid/59/Default.aspx

[Mike K.]

Here are the updated renderings for this project:

http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/images/mcp/0031/0031d.gif

http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/images/mcp/0031/0031c.gif

[aastra]

This Colwood proposal looks great. Let's hope it's a real proposal and not just a rezoning-for-the-future ploy.

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/133a26b3-7939-4ba4-b93e-0c570ecf1751/wessex_tower.jpg

[m0nkyman]

Here are the updated renderings for this project:

http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/images/mcp/0031/0031d.gif

http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/images/mcp/0031/0031c.gif

The more I see of this one, the more I like it. :banana:

[renthefinn]

Not terrible, but it looks a little too much like a condo, IMO. Especially in the first rendering. I hope they change the colours a little.

[aastra]

Did everybody see this pic of Radius (as shown over at VibrantVictoria.ca)?

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m256/5955483/March07_radius.jpg

[Mike K.]

Here are some more renderings of this project:

Office, north face
http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/images/mcp/0034/0034d.gif

Office, south face
http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/images/mcp/0034/0034c.gif

Office, looking west on Chatham
http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/images/mcp/0035/0035c.gif

The view of the entire proposal with Hudson in the rear
http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/images/mcp/0034/0034e.gif

Residential, north face
http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/images/mcp/0035/0035a.gif

Residential, looking east on Chatham
http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/images/mcp/0035/0035b.gif

[aastra]

This pic almost brings a tear to my eye. There's been endless discussion about invigorating the north end of downtown. Heck, the newspapers were writing about it in the 1960s! Between the Hudson, Gateway Green, and this Radius project, it's clear the developers have embraced the challenge in a big way. Let's hope the decision makers don't drop the ball.

http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/images/mcp/0034/0034e.gif

[gumgum]

The two center buildings should be one, equaling a narrower footprint, and it should be taller that the two outside buildings.

[Holden West]

^I don't know. I like the taller buildings next to the wide arterial streets. Also, the scooped out portion of Radius lines up nicely with the tallest portion of Hudson. Taller buildings would probably make the public space at ground level more forbidable.

[SpongeG]

Public market touted for Crystal Garden
Vendors operating out of the historic building would add vibrancy to the city, proponents say

Published: Monday, April 09, 2007
There's nothing like a big, empty historic building to inspire the imagination.

Trevor Walker, the owner of an eclectic store selling local food products and crafts on Fort Street, is imagining how wonderful it would be to have a public market in the Crystal Garden.

"Public markets are the heart of great cities and they are representative of a rich and desirable civic culture," Walker says in a preamble to a petition he has organized on the subject.

Customers at his store called Plenty at 1034 Fort St. think so as well. Walker has collected almost 270 signatures on a petition he has sent to Victoria city hall. It suggests some space be set aside in the building for such a market.

"Victoria needs a market and the Crystal Garden would be an amazing venue," Walker said, adding the use would still be compatible with the city's interest in utilizing the space to expand the Victoria Conference Centre.

Walker said he has always been inspired by public markets in San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver Island's Granville Market. Saint John, N.B., has had a successful public market in operation for more than 130 years and it is similar in size to Victoria.

A Victoria market doesn't have to be as large, but it would be a great place for both tourists and locals to mingle.

That kind of space is missing in downtown, said Walker. "Locals don't go to the wax museum or a conference centre.

"This would be a stepping stone for anyone who has had a table at James Bay or Moss Street and would like to go somewhere where they can be for six or seven days a week," said Walker, adding the market should specialize in locally produced food or products.

Jocelyn Jenkyns, acting manager of the conference centre, said a daily market wouldn't likely work in conjunction with using the space for added exhibition space. But she said she'd be open to hearing from anyone interested in organizing markets on conference centre shoulder seasons or on Sundays.

There's interest on the part of the city and the landlord, which is the Provincial Capital Commission, to accommodate community and fundraising events in the historic glass-roofed building, said Jenkyns.

But Jenkyns said it isn't the conference centre's role to organize a market. "Our mandate is to fill hotel beds."

Tomorrow the court is poised to hear an application for the city of Victoria to take over the lease of the Crystal Garden from the Royal Bank, which was left as the sole creditor after B.C. Experience went bankrupt in September 2006.

Court approval is the last remaining detail before the lease is transferred and small renovations are done to accommodate exhibition space for conferences.

Jenkyns said initially they will be adding washrooms, upgrading electrical service and making the main hall one contiguous space after the map installed by B.C. Experience operators is removed.

There are no short-term plans for an overhead or underground walkway across Douglas Street, connecting the original conference centre to the Crystal Garden.

http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/capital_van_isl/story.html?id=76ea445e-0d99-43e8-b108-6217fcec3fa3&k=33689

[aastra]

Saint John, N.B., has had a successful public market in operation for more than 130 years and it is similar in size to Victoria.


Saint John: 122,000
Victoria: 330,000

It's also a bit odd that this article didn't mention the long lost public market between Fisgard and Cormorant:

http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/www2i/.visual/img_med/dir_77/d_08871.gif

http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/www2i/.visual/img_med/dir_73/b_09363.gif

[m0nkyman]

I might have posted one of my little photo sets here.... (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=2758126)

[Holden West]

Please don't post those old photos, aastra. I have to wipe the tears of regret from my keyboard.

On second thought, that building was significantly uglified at some point.

Great photothread, m0nkeyman.

[LFRENCH]

well guys

i know i said i was done with this all, i must say i been reading a few stories in the ol rag and i must say, this stuff still got me curious.

although i seem more into the artistic photo's these days i'll try and get some pictures up on here.

[G-Man]

Hi L!

[aastra]

So has anybody had a look at the downtown art gallery/condo tower proposal? Apparently it's a masterpiece in the making.

[LFRENCH]

anyone care to do a rundown of recent proposals?? i really don't know whats going on after the waterfall project

[Mike K.]

Go to http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/resources/mcp

[TheMeltyMan]

Hey, does anyone know when Dockside Greens was first proposed and the dates for the beginning of clean-up and construction?

I just picked this project out of a hat for a paper and I haven't been more impressed by a project in a long time. You lucky guys you.

[Mike K.]

A good place to start would be right here: http://www.victoria.ca/cityhall/currentprojects_dockside.shtml

It's certainly a great project, but many people believe that it is lacking in density. The entire development is only 2:1.

[m0nkyman]

Count me as one of the many people. The project makes me spit tacks.

[G-Man]

I agree it is underbuilt but it is still a very cool project at that density.

So just wondering with the Aria's second crane going up how many do we now have in the core? Eight? I would guess that the Falls first crane is only a month or two away and if Dockside Phase 2 gets going we could possibly get past 10 right?

[TheMeltyMan]

I guess most of you have had the chance to visualize this place as a part of downtown. I've never been to Victoria and I imagined it to be in the industrial ring around the outskirts of the city where that kind of density seems suitable enough.

Victoria does seem lacking a core density and it does seem like its a sprawling vista of mini-rises.

[m0nkyman]

This is right bloody downtown, and while I love that it's LEED, it's a fricking disaster from an urban design point of view, and veins in my head start throbbing when I discuss exactly how bad it is going to be.

[Mike K.]

I guess most of you have had the chance to visualize this place as a part of downtown. I've never been to Victoria and I imagined it to be in the industrial ring around the outskirts of the city where that kind of density seems suitable enough.

Victoria does seem lacking a core density and it does seem like its a sprawling vista of mini-rises.

It's the land of four-storey apartments, it's true. Although The City of Victoria (city-proper) has one of Canada's highest densities with over 80,000 people in 19 sq km.

[gumgum]

You guys may be forgetting that Dockside as a land area is yes, 2:1, but the building densities themselves are around 4:1 or more. That 2:1 figure is taking into account all the space on Dockside, the road space, planned public space/ parks, pathways and sidewalks. It, as a neighbourhood, is 2:1. The individual buildings themselves are a different figure altogether.
I think it will be a great addition to Victoria. There will be a balanced mix of residential, retail and office, as well as public space.
I'd like to see it taller though.

[G-Man]

^ that is a good point Gumgum as you never count roadspace in FSR or sidewalks that are public either.

[Mike K.]

The buildings themselves are only 2.5:1 to 3:1 or something like that, aren't they?

Had the entire development been at least 3:1 that would have sat better with me. The whole point behind the 2:1 was to make a political statement illustrating that Victoria can achieve the triple bottom line at low site-wide densities (and with buildings in the 3:1 density range). Obviously the issues with the affordable units and the cost of market units proves otherwise. Furthermore, as the development continues to build out watch as the prices of units skyrocket irrespective of local trade conditions or average housing values.

Oh yeah, don't forget to check out the webcam at: http://docksidegreen.com/dockside_green/webcam.php (the building with the crane is the start of the Dockside Green land. The blue buildings and the one with the curved roof are not part of Dockside).

[gumgum]

The "highrises" are around 4:1 or more. I don't know the figure exactly.

[Mike K.]

The 5- and 8-storey buildings are 4:1? Now that comes as a welcome surprise! :)

[G-Man]

Victoria's newest office project, "Gateway Green" is one step closer to reality after a 7-1 vote in favour at last night's Advisory Planning Commission. This is a 15 storey 144 000 sqft proposal. This is one of the first major office projects in Victoria's downtown in many years.

For more info: http://www.gatewaygreen.ca/

[renthefinn]

Good stuff, I've been so busy, that I haven't checked VV lately. This comes as a welcome suprise.

[aastra]

The stage is being set for a pretty significant wave of highrise construction in Greater Victoria's suburbs:

Colwood Corners plan applauded by majority

Bill Cleverley, Times Colonist
Published: Thursday, May 03, 2007

More than 250 citizens turned out last night, the majority wanting to tell Colwood council they support local developer Les Bjola in his dream to transform Colwood Corners into a towering city core for the West Shore.

Bjola wants to replace the existing strip mall and pub on the 5.6-hectare site at Goldstream Avenue and Sooke Road with condos, office towers and a hotel, to be built over the next 15 to 20 years. Eleven buildings would eventually occupy the property, some reaching as high as 29 storeys. The site would be home to an estimated 2,800 people.

"Everybody wants Colwood to have a downtown" said Bjola...

And also at Town & Country, which is the gateway to the city core:

Plans include 400-500 Condos
Town & Country secures residential developer for part of $100 million development

By Amy Dove
News staff
May 02 2007

People eager to move into Saanich will have a few more options if they can afford to wait a few years.

A residential developer has been secured for the Town & Country development.

Westbank Projects, a Vancouver-based company, is working with Morguard Investments on the $100-million-project, which could now include up to 500 residential units slated for construction in 2009...

...The highrise issue has not been heavily debated in Saanich yet, however staff in the planning department have already alluded that if the municipal skyline is going to be pierced, this will be the development to do it.

[Holden West]

http://media.canada.com/133a26b3-7939-4ba4-b93e-0c570ecf1751/LAWN%20BOWLING.jpg

[That's Aria under construction with the Executive House Hotel (1965) in the background and Astoria on the extreme right]

Bowling greens thrown a curve (http://communities.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/blogs/news/pages/jack-knox-column-lawn-bowling.aspx)
Victoria evaluating 3 clubs as development pressures, aging membership lead to doubts about sustainability

Jack Knox
Times Colonist

Thursday, May 03, 2007

[aastra]

Interesting article:

But outside the fence is that other Victoria: rumbling traffic, sirens, can't-hear-yourself-think construction noise from the 12-storey Aria building going up next door. Cardboard tucked against the back wall of the clubhouse shows where the homeless sleep at night. Syringe wrappers and an empty 40-pounder of Olde English 800 malt liquor litter adjoining Cridge Park. New highrises proliferate like zucchini. Increasingly, the club looks out of place.

I agree it would be a shame to lose these lawn bowling greens. The fact that this particular club is "out of place" is what makes it special. Not sure I get the zucchini simile.

I seem to recall we were reflecting one time on the shortsightedness that led to the destruction (or bland remodelling) of so many fine historic buildings in Victoria, and somebody (maybe Holden) asked if we might still be destroying things today that we'll regret later. So how about these lawn bowling greens?

I've never played the game but I've also never been 60 years old. I suppose when we're 60 we'll just be watching TV all day?

[Holden West]

I know someone in their 60s--played Oldtimers hockey until he gimped up his knee. Now he does lawnbowling. It sounds good to me. I'll be damned if I'm going to spend my senior years inside some moldy seniors centre playing cards.

an empty 40-pounder of Olde English 800 malt liquor litter adjoining Cridge ParkMike, I told you not to litter.

The zucchini reference is an old joke referring to the amazing ability of zucchini to take over a garden and producing more crop than a family could possibly use, leading to unwanted gifts to neighbours of yet another loaf of zucchini bread.

[aastra]

Shouldn't the new highrises be lying down then? Or do zucchini grow straight up?

[Holden West]

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/8781/gherkinvictoria4vb.jpg

[Mike K.]

I know someone in their 60s--played Oldtimers hockey until he gimped up his knee. Now he does lawnbowling. It sounds good to me. I'll be damned if I'm going to spend my senior years inside some moldy seniors centre playing cards.

Mike, I told you not to litter.

Not mine. I tear off the labels.

[The Great Scaper]

So has anybody had a look at the downtown art gallery/condo tower proposal? Apparently it's a masterpiece in the making.

The proposal is currently at 20 stories including the podium....It looks nice. It's curved glass and the tower is on the east side of the site saving views for the Queen Victoria. Though the taller option that had the tower at 23 stories including the podium was significantly slimmer, as both options were the same density. I am going to be having coffee with Chris Colman soon, I am interested to here his take on the proposal as he is the liason for JamesBay. Jeff Young is in Fairfeild as well. Both Community Groups are against the project.....of course! :haha:

Also the Aria is looking sexy too!!! hahaha

Cheers everyone!

I also had the chance to see whats up with the Town and Country site too....pretty exciting!!!

[Lyle]

^ Any renderings or photos?

[aastra]

Scape! Where have you been, man??

I was thinking maybe our near brawl in the movie theatre that time had scared you off or something.

[The Great Scaper]

The renderings for the T.C. site are not public yet...however I have copies of the Crystal Court site though they are on a pdf file and I don't know how to copy them and post them on here. I never got a chance to take any photos with my camera either at the various meetings that they were on display. However I believe soe of the guys have some photos of the building and site renderings.

Also they are pouring the first floor of the Juliet this weekend!!! :) Some of you know that the hot tub is now gone too from the roof top!!! Thank the new owners for that one!

Here is a photo of the Chrismas hill proposal in Saanich too...total 105 units.
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/bodytransformation042.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/bodytransformation043.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/bodytransformation046.jpg

[The Great Scaper]

Aastra...how's it going buddy!!! :D :D :D Nah.... that old scrap at the movie theatre is all forgotten...

hmmmm probably because I was never there during the scrap...but wish I was in a way!!! hahahaa....

Doing good though how are you?

[aastra]

Wow, I really like those Christmas Hill buildings. They really need some variety in the design around there. Funny how the modern elementary school was followed by acres of Saanich-style faux farmhouse stuff. It's about time they changed things up.

[Holden West]

There are some Crystal Court renderings on VibrantVictoria.ca

I went walking around there yesterday. Does the City also own the little park between the Church of our Lord and the bowling green?

[The Great Scaper]

I was always under the impression that the city does...though I could be wrong.

[The Great Scaper]

An ariticle today in the B section of the T.C. page two on the Town and Country site. In the article is suggests a floor space of 300,000 square feet of residential there, though that number from what I have heard could be between 400,000 to over 500,000 square feet of residential.

Also from what I have heard, Saanich Council and Frank Leonard realize this is the future LRT right of way, and they recognize the need for high density here. I wouldn't be surprised in the future if the Wang building site and the Gateway village get redeveloped into high density residential too.

I also live in this community association too and am a member, so I will find out as the project comes down the pipes what the mood is within the association.

[The Great Scaper]

That's awesome that the Radius was approved!!! Got a new tallest office tower and a 17 story condo tower too. Exciting. That whole block is going to be nicer than the Humbolt Valley. With Gateway Green, The Hudson, and now the Radius and even the Juliet down the road and the Corazon....North town is going to be quite the City look!!! Exciting!!!

I wish I could have made it to the public hearing! :(

[rrskylar]

^ Nice to see you back posting in a real forum!

[The Great Scaper]

Wow....could I say so much!!! hahaha...:cool:

Seriously though...it's really cool seeing the city change. And really a large part to do with the participation of the people on here. People joining community associations ( I belong to mine), people writing articles to the news paper, people attending city meetings and speaking their hearts, people attending the downtown workshops, people meeting with councilors, and most of all the people on here educating those who aren't aware of the importance of downtown revitalization. It's so exciting. Not only do we now have highrise, high density condo developments being built downtown, but we are providing underground parking and bike parking with them, and now we are building high density office towers for these new residences to work at. It's so exciting the city is changing so much before our eyes, yet the people on here have had a huge part in it. Just looking at the new developments, such as the Crystal Court now proposed at 22 stories and a new Art Gallery, the restoration of the Hudson Bay with three towers from 15 to 24 stories and six hundred units, the Gateway Green office proposal at 15 stories, the Radius with a 13 story office tower a 17 story and 13 story condo towers, and under construction the Falls at 18 and 13 stories (condo) the Aria two 12 story condos, The Victoria Parkside at 7 and 9 stories, the Juliet condos at 14 stories, Songhees hilltop with three towers from 11 to 13 story condo towers, dock side green with multi highrise and mid rise condo and office buildings housing over two thousand new residences, The Wave just finished at 13 stories, and now in Saanich several new towers are in the proposal stage at what will be a Lrt cross roads for the CRD. It's amazing yet again bravo for everyone on here for their hard work and determination to help our Council and developers build the City that Victoria needs to be and has been waiting to be.

A very exciting time in the History of this city yet it's just the start.

Cheers all!!!

[zoomer]

and don't forget the Roundhouse, with likely 4 new towers, the tallest proposed being 24 stories.

the image below is taken from their website (http://www.roundhousevictoria.com/)

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/4289/roundhousecq0.jpg

[The Great Scaper]

Right...thanks Zoomer, :) I was meaning to include that one! :D :D :D

Also there are all the Colwood and Langford towers too. I don't think it will be long before Esquimalt will have to start looking at increasing it's tax base too. As they almost had to close their Rec Center. While Langford has built three new ice rinks and Colwood is building a 10,000 seat outdoor stadium, Esquimalt can hardly keep it's own rec center alive. Yet Esquimalt has some of the most expensive water front property being sold off by the Feds. I would hope that these properties would be developed into high density high property tax income for Esquimalt.

I just hope the growth in B.C. continues. Yesterday the Federal Government said that they are increasing the House of Commons, and that B.C. will be getting 7 more m.p.s. and Alberta 6 I believe. Finally the Feds recognize the growth of the West. So politically B.C. and Alberta will finally have better representation as Quebec will keep their current amount of M.P.s

I also wonder what the Olympics will do for the province as well. :)

Cheers

[The Great Scaper]

Zoomer...Where's those photos? I can't find them....:shrug:


Also....good thing you didn't go see that movie with me...."REALLY REALLY REALLY BAD!!!!" hahaha....funny bad though! :haha:

[Galvanized]

Esquimalt has already amended it's CP doubling its height limit to 10 stories, they will also consider more height if there are amenities provided.

[The Great Scaper]

I know that :) . Though my thoughts are for the Dnd properties being sold off. I am not sure what the status is of the proposed sewage plant off shore from Esquimalt but I think that's a "stinky" idea!!! hahaha...seriously though those water front properties could easily be home to future twenty to thirty story towers. They could plan for this and drastically increase the population base of Esquimalt and also increase the tax base. My thoughts anyways.

I was actually excited to here of Esquimalts new plan. I hope it blossoms. That municipality needs help. :D

[Jarrod]

Looks like a lot of stuff is still happening in Victoria. Awesome!

I'm glad to hear that there are some office componants that are being proposed as I believe that a city can not just focus on housing, but more on a broader scale of view. As such, I hope that there starts to be more proposals for entertainment purposes directed at young families as I found that when I lived there, there just wasn't much to be directed to the younger generations.

Hope everything goes well.

[The Great Scaper]

Glad things are going well for you in Calgary Jarrod! :)

ZOOMER where's those photos??? I have no idea what you are talking about? hahaha

I also found out that Kennetic has got the Radius Contract, and Cambell has got the Hudson, and is probably getting Gateway Green. Farmer has got the Roundhouse as well Farmer contracted out Victoria Parkside and the workmanship is suppose to be substandard. Also Farmer has got Lagoon Estates. And obviously Laser has Westbank's contracts.

I also heard of another exciting development downtown too, though I can't post it yet. :)

[zoomer]

/\they are in the pdf files on this page (http://www.roundhousevictoria.com/about_roundhouse/rezoning_application.htm)

Section 05 I believe, or just view the complete rezoning application

[The Great Scaper]

Zoomer not those photos....you said you posted some photos, I can't find them!!! :) ( Er aaahhh yeah o.k. ... I kinda feel dumb now :P ) (also sent you a message back too, if you can remember what we talked about, if not maybe I am loosing it!!! bahahaha.... Or maybe I already have!!! :D )

I am just about to post some photos I took today too :D :D :D

[The Great Scaper]

Some of these photos from the windows have a small amount of glare, also some street level shots are a little dark, I didn't have much time as I was taking photos downtown for two proposals I am working on, so I thought while I was there I would snap a few city shots too :D :D :D

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings002.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings003.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings004.jpg

Falls excavation
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings005.jpg

Juliet Crane
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings007.jpg

Parkside Crane
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings009.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings015.jpg

Aria
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings010.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings014.jpg

Chateau
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings011.jpg

Some Y lot shots
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings019.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings021.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings022.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings023.jpg

and others
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings025.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings027.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings026.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings024.jpg

This is also 200 Douglas St. is being proposed at 12 stories with great contest. :(
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/fallsanddowntownbuildings028.jpg

Like I said I was in a rush but thought I would take some photos for fun as it's been awhile since I had the camera out!!!

Cheers all!!!

[m0nkyman]

My body is still sucking up moisture, but it sure is nice to be back in Victoria for the week. The crane actions here is pretty sweet. I'll be out tomorrow taking some pics too. Thanks for yours Scaper!

[aastra]

Great pics.

[G-Man]

Very cool! I am just blown away by how fast the Aria is going up.

[Holden West]

great pics. I was curious to see the Falls site from Vista 18.

200 Douglas--why demo a nice little affordable apartment when there are so many vacant lots and derelict buildings that need development?

[Lyle]

200 Douglas--why demo a nice little affordable apartment when there are so many vacant lots and derelict buildings that need development?

Cuz it's right on Beacon Hill Park, no doubt.

[Dylan Leblanc]

Hey Bob it's great to hear some updates from you!! :)

[Mike K.]

Who owns the little apartment that stands there now? It's not Quadra Pacific, is it?

[Dylan Leblanc]

Here's construction progress on the Beach Club in Parksville.

http://www.thebeachclubparksville.com/

http://www.thebeachclubparksville.com/images/constructionapr07-03.jpg

http://www.thebeachclubparksville.com/images/constructionmar07-02.jpg

and for you fans of river rock there will be plenty of it for ya! :tup:

http://www.parksvillebeachclub.com/images/constructionapr07-02.jpg

[zoomer]

wow, great pics Scaper! Finally, some cement at the Falls! That excavation seems to have taken forever.

[The Great Scaper]

Thanks Dylan, and everyone else for the compliments :D...

Zoomer I sent you the funniest link!!! Wow...hahaha....

Also so cool to see that develoment going up in Parksville. I remember going up to Parksville every summer as a kid to go camping...It's looks like a completely different place today. Really weird actually.

That 200 Douglas Street development, I think the building is pretty exhausted, I know the care taker very well as well as the previous owner. She sold it a few months ago to a developer who had full intent on ripping it down. Originally it was only going to be 8 stories which the 188 Douglas owners were fine about, now he has changed the plans to 12 stories. I am indifferent about it. It's not my favorite place for new development. I think with the amount of condos going up there has to be a saturation point. I worry that projects like this could eventually water down better developments in the City.

G-Man... I too am amazed at how fast the Aria is going up. It started so much late than Victoria Parkside yet it's blowing it away in construction time. Also the Juliet is about two months behind due to blasting and ground conditions. Though they have poured the first underground parking level now! Again I have heard rumours of another future Farmer Contruction project...some of you may know of...I will get confirmation on it in more detail before letting you know!!! :D

[G-Man]

General construction question:

Holden and I walked past the Juliet site yesterday and it is alomost cmpletely excavated. So now that it is almost empty how do they get the backhoe out of the hole? It would seem to be too heavy for a crane...

[Mike K.]

They bring in large mobile cranes capable of lifting heavy machinery. The standard construction crane craps out at 15 tonnes or something like that.

[hollywoodnorth]

thx for all the pics :)

[The Great Scaper]

G.Man during excavation of the Juliet there was a ramp that they brought the excavators down to do the digging. When it rained a lot in the spring the ramp gave way and created a mud slide & they almost rolled one of the large excavators down the hill. They also buried some of the intitial form works too.

Talking about excavators on that site, a contractor had in operation there a month ago and the seal broke on the oil filter. It was smoking so bad you couldn't even see the buildings next door. My friend Frank who is the labour foreman for Farmer told the guy to shut it down but he refused since his contract was buy the working hour. He continued to use the machine for over an hour until the new filter arrived. Anyways so many people walked up to the Juliet Show suite and made a complaint to David Chard. Dave actually had to walk down and see what was going on, he also wrote a very strong letter to Farmer. I know David Chard is trying to keep a good face and a good reputation with the City of Victoria and this was the last thing he needs...so I know why he would be upset. Frank said he had never seen anything like it people were yelling and screaming at them out windows and from the sidewalk. Crazy :)

[zingzamzoom]

Hey I walked to work that morning! It really was awful. The smoke was so thick and it felt impossible to breathe. Everyone around the area looked pretty pissed off! Anyways......

Aaron

[zingzamzoom]

Oh, by the way, I have a question? I was wondering why new signs have been put up at construction sites lately? ie- The Falls, The Juliet, and Parkside? Has council changed the bylaw of what kind of signs are allowed? I have to say that these new signs look way more decent. Finally, it seems as though Victoria is acting as a city rather than a small, english, town! The developers must love that they have been permitted to actually advertise proper signs on site! Haha, why would they not be able to in the first place?

Aaron

[Mike K.]

Parkside had a tough time with their fence signs but I don't think there was a peep in the media about the Fall's or Juliet's. Perhaps signage above the street during construction is ok, but signage at street level around a fence requires a variance.

[The Great Scaper]

Aaron...nice hearing from you again!!! it's been awhile!!! :cheers:

I didn't get a chance to see the smoke show but from several people I heard it was pretty nasty!!! The Excavator operator was supposedly a real ass and didn't care at all about the pollution and stench. :yuck:

[The Great Scaper]

I was driving to Oakbay Rec tonight and noticed that Paul's motor Inn finally has closed at night. I remember having dinner there with my Mom and Dad a couple of months back when a waitress told me that they would be closing at night. Too bad actually it was a good place to go at night. I wonder maybe when the Hudson and the Radius are complete, having a good 1500 people living next door if they will change back to 24 hours.

Also I went to the Vic theatre this week. I hadn't been there for so long. I asked the manager if the new highrises next door had helped business, he said not at all. Though he stated that the construction workers always come over for popcorn during the day and has increased sales!!! hahahaa... I explained that maybe when the Falls, The Aria, The Parkside are completed that it may help to, as well as the Crystal Court project. He had no idea of the Crystal Court redevelopment but was extremely excited to here of the Art Gallery portion and that another highrise was planned for the neighbourhood.

It was kinda sad actually maybe fifteen people were watching a movie there, I wonder how they can stay in business. Maybe The Fall's and company will save this theatre.

[Jarrod]

As I am trying to be awake until about 10 a.m. (it's almost 2 a.m.) after working an 8 hour shift at the hospital and I work 11 p.m. - 7 a.m. later on and I'm not one for staying up that late anymore, I was just wondering why it takes such along time for a building, once approved, just to get started, or, they start and then stall. It seems that way in Victoria and it's a total different situation in Calgary. Perhaps it's an over-saturation of buildings being built in Victoria and the over speculation of buildings in general being built there. But I was just wondering why it takes along time for a building to get off the ground?

Victoria is a strange, strange city in more aspects than one. But as I have to find things to do to pass time, I felt the need to ask this question. It's just for my knowledge since really, how does it apply to my life now as I don't live anywhere near the city, nor will any of my family live there in the next 4 months.

[Holden West]

The various lengthy committees and panels and such at City Hall combined with the escalating cost of construction combined with the unknown factor of soil contamination (and who pays for it). If the lending bank doesn't like how the numbers are adding up they'll pull their financing.

The original proposal for the Aria site was just one project that died over soil contamination disputes. Mozart and View/Vancouver stalled for similar reasons. Is this an issue in Calgary? Aria's problem was industrial fill from the harbour. A lot of the other sites in downtown are due to the fact that at one time there was lots of industry in town, including tons of leaky gas stations.

[G-Man]

That soil remediation is based on provincial legislation there may not be as stringent environmental necessities in Alberta but I would imagine that they are the same. I would bet that two of the reasons that buildings get off the ground faster in Calgary is 1) booming economy 2) Buildings have more financial backing so therefore that takes away the time to find investors.

[The Great Scaper]

Some buildings in Victoria have gone up right away and quickly too. Such as the Falls which started immediatly as well as the Aria. Though projects like the Juliet took time which I know had to do with slow pre-sales. Also the Juliet is two months behind because of unexpected blasting. Could massive Rock beds and blasting be more time consuming here than in Calgary? I would imagine that there would much more Rock here than in Calgary.

Some projects like Victoria Parkside had financial troubles and had a contractor that was short of workers until Farmer took over. Though I know Calgary has labour shortages too.

Also the approval process of building proposals are so much quicker in Calgary than in Victoria too.

[Mike K.]

This rendering shows another angle of the planned Roundhouse development and to its right the u/c Bayview Victoria development being built by the same developer.

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/734/roundhousemi8.gif

[gumgum]

Where is the commercial component planned? Will it be a significant one or just a token corner store or something?

[Mike K.]

Commercial will go in the podiums of the towers and the white low-rise buildings partly obstructed by the towers. Those would be the existing brick roundhouse structures that will be remediated.

[Baro]

aweful lot of green space. I hope the towers and shops can actually use it all to capacity or if it's just some lovely "radiant garden city" nonsense where people will have to cross meandering paths and track mud durring the day, and sneak around a scary haunted forest at night to get home. I need to make a club out of the bones of Jane Jacobs and beat planners over the head with it untill they stop suburbanising urban projects with wastefull vibrancy destroying "open space" obsessions. Green is nice, well used parks are great, but trying to isolate every building from interacting with the urban fabric by setting it within a large unused "open space" isn't serving anyone. "open space" or "Green space" is a great buzzword to win over the planning-unimformed, but in many cases it ends up not as an amenity and sometimes even a negative.

That said, with well planned "open space" and enough cross-use throughout the day such an open space can become vibrant and be a source of attracting further vibrancy. But if the critical mass of use isn't high enough, an oposite reaction can occur and people avoid the area as it feels empty, dead, dangerous.

[G-Man]

I agree Baro it does seem like an awful lot of green space. Especially when you consider how much is already around that area. Its too bad council doesn't look at larger parcels and say things like sorry too much of this area is underdensity you guys are going to have to cover much more area.

[Jarrod]

I dunno, it looks rather nice. It could be more compact with green space though, but otherwise I like it.

There are jobs at the RJH and VGH and SPH that I could apply to. I think I might.

[Mike K.]

Cool. Is this the project that's pulling you back this way? :)

[aastra]

Give me an abundance of townhomes that engage convenient/sensible pedestrian thoroughfares and I can live with the excessive green space.

[gumgum]

Yeah, as long as it's more pedestrian oriented, as compared to the rest of Songhees, I'll be happy. (As well as significant retail.)

[Mike K.]

Much of the greenspace in that rendering is trees along pedestrian walkways. The greener patches must be public courtyards since the street-level theme of this entire development is a public shopping/retail destination.

[aastra]

Check out this pic of the Radius proposal's office tower. I'm liking the Radius project more and more. This building is much better looking (in my opinion) than the proposed Gateway Green tower down the street. I can't wait to see a good rendering of the residential building:

Radius office/commercial component (www.radiusvictoria.com)
http://www.radiuscommercial.com/images/RC_building_rendering.jpg

Gateway Green seems like a terrific project in its own right, don't get me wrong, but I was hoping for a fancier design:

Gateway Green (www.gatewaygreen.ca)

http://www.gatewaygreen.ca/Portals/0/Building-sm.jpg

[m0nkyman]

I like them both. Gateway Green looks like it'll be a better floor plan for office space....

[zoomer]

Perhaps when a more detailed/glossy rendering of Gateway Green comes out, it'll look as good or better than Radius. Assuming of course they also address the rather generic backside design.

[Mike K.]

I see the website states Radius is 40% pre-leased.

[G-Man]

Gateway Green has not released any final design drawings yet. The drawings that we have seen so far are just massing studies. While I do like the radius building at large I remain unconvinced that the bottom floor will not turn out to be just like the Convention Centre.

[The Great Scaper]

Wow, what a crazy long weekend!!! bahahaha....Anyways, just got a chance to post on this stuff.

I agree Aastra, I was really not liking the Radius project when it first came out, with the large wall look down Caledonia, but now I am so excited about it. Yesterday when I drove downtown I was looking at the Jack Davis Building and was visualizing the Radius there, with the Hudson behind it....very sexy!!!

So as to the Gateway Gree project I imagine that the rendering posted there is not what is going to come out of the wood works. I think we will be most excited by the actual final product...I know so.

And with the Roundhouse property, being in VicWest I like the green space. Had this been a downtown property I would not like it. I remember those publice boards they had people write what they wanted to see, many many people jotted down Green Space. Like Vancouver's West end I like it!

Cheers all,
Been very busy lately

[The Great Scaper]

David Chard put forward his Johnson St. Billiards proposal today. Some of you have probably already seen it :) . It's the same floor plate as the Juliet and is also at 14 stories.

Farmer is going to be the contractor for the Telus lot site kitty corner to the Juliet as well.

Another tidbit is The Holiday Inn is having a hell of a time getting it's Hotel built in Jamesbay looks like it's another give up, like Chard's Michigan St. proposal....Seems Jamesbay is getting there way again via bullying tactics. However The Jamesbay group is not going to deter Westbank that's for sure.

One of the funniest things regarding the Crystal Court Motel site is Pita VanDyke. She lives on the 14 floor in a highrise building in Jamesbay. She is the strongest voice against highrises in and around Jamesbay. I wonder if She wants to keep her view? I also wonder if voting on neighbouring proposals at APC meetings would be a conflict of interest?

Chris Coleman and some of the other Councilors are in Calgary this week till the 10th of June for the Municipalities Conventions of Canada. Maybe being in Calgary will inspire him to favor the Crystal Court Project!!! :haha:

[The Great Scaper]

I am also excited about Westbank getting their "Awareness Campaign" in gear. I think it's imperative that the Gallery gets in high gear to make this proposal a highly publicized event. By doing so and getting the City residences and business owners excited about having a new Art Gallery of 22,000 sq feet right beside the Museum and Conference Center it will put pressure on the City to vote in favor of it, and in essence put them in a place of voting the right decision and not voting in fear of the JBNEA.:D

[aastra]

Victoria is funny that way. The harshest criticisms of tall buildings often come from people who live in tall buildings. Remember that letter-to-the-editor from the guy and his wife who owned a unit in Astoria? They had a problem with the Aria proposal, which is ironic because Astoria is 20 stories tall and the tallest building in south downtown.

And we can't forget the fellow in Regents Park who wanted to "preserve" Harris Green as a lowrise district. He didn't seem to have a problem with the fact that the building he lived in was 17 stories tall.

[The Great Scaper]

Hey Aastra, I think aboutthat guy in Regent's Park a lot actually. When I do I always laugh at him because it's So crazy. He's the most outspoken guy in Harris Green and really he's only concerned about his view.


I drove by the Aria today I am really liking it. Even only at twelve stories it's got such a nice design. When the Crystal Court goes in too, hopefully at around 20 stories, The Aria will have such a nice contrast in height. I don't like seeing every building the same height so in fact having the Aria at two twelves may actually be a much nicer fit between taller buildings. :)

By the way, I had a coffee with Dave from Westbank the other night. I asked him if when the shangri la is done if we could go to the top and take some photos and or just check out the view....he said he would let us up!!! :cheers:

Also We can do the same with the Juliet downtown when it gets completed. :D

[m0nkyman]

And some of the fiercest advocates for highrises are those of us who actually own and preserve Victoria's heritage buildings.... ;)

[The Great Scaper]

MonkeyMan:

I absolutely love Victoria's old town and the revamped old heritage buildings. I always here that saying by those who hate highrise development..."We don't want to be like Vancouver". Well Victoria would never be like Vancouver. With Victoria's old town and the layout of the downtown even with many more hudson's and gateway green projects, Victoria will never be anything like Vancouver. The cities are totally different than each other.

I am just so excited to see the city change and so fast with the all the new residential buildings and now new class A office towers. Like I have said before just the Hudson and Radius developments alone will add over a 60 percent increase to the downtown population. And with the new office towers going up these new residences will now have downtown jobs! Included into that is the Crystal Court proposal with the art gallery amenity, the city is now increasing it's public entertainment infastructure.

All in all with in such a small period of time the City of Victoria is completely revitalizing itself. I am so excited. Also because everybody on this board had a part in kick starting this change. It's all about "can one person make a difference?" And the answer is yes, as every individual on this forum from Victoria has made this difference. AND How exciting is that? :D

[The Great Scaper]

Hey Zoomer and I are going out to take some photos tomorrow ( Weather permitting) :)

Anyone else want to join you're more than welcome.

Cheers

[aastra]

So where are those pics????

[The Great Scaper]

Hahahaha!!!

Aastra! Sorry buddy!

J. Man and I were going to go out this afternoon to take photos. I ended up having a good friend call for a hand on something unexpectedly. However I phoned Zoomer and he ended up having company come over at night so we weren't able to do it, except for about an hour window between four and five which really didn't give us enough time.

Soooooo in short, pictures will be posted by next weekend, we are going to go out sometime this week after work and have a fun evening of photo taking.....

Goal to see if we can get the manager of the Orchard House to grant us a photo shoot!!! hahaha....serious. We also have a few other cool spots to take some photos from that we haven't shot yet...so I am kinda excited to see how they turn out.

Anyways...till then! :)

[rrskylar]

MonkeyMan:

I absolutely love Victoria's old town and the revamped old heritage buildings. I always here that saying by those who hate highrise development..."We don't want to be like Vancouver". Well Victoria would never be like Vancouver. With Victoria's old town and the layout of the downtown even with many more hudson's and gateway green projects, Victoria will never be anything like Vancouver. The cities are totally different than each other.

I am just so excited to see the city change and so fast with the all the new residential buildings and now new class A office towers. Like I have said before just the Hudson and Radius developments alone will add over a 60 percent increase to the downtown population. And with the new office towers going up these new residences will now have downtown jobs! Included into that is the Crystal Court proposal with the art gallery amenity, the city is now increasing it's public entertainment infastructure.

All in all with in such a small period of time the City of Victoria is completely revitalizing itself. I am so excited. Also because everybody on this board had a part in kick starting this change. It's all about "can one person make a difference?" And the answer is yes, as every individual on this forum from Victoria has made this difference. AND How exciting is that? :D



Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...ase.........................................

[The Great Scaper]

Some of you may have read this already, however it was in the Business Examiner!

An interesting and dissappointing comment from Lowe, and a great comment from Rob Randall.

I think the Mayor just doesn't want to make a stand one way or the other. To please both sides. Frustrating really!!!




Does Gateway Green’s variance set a bad precedent, or just a sane one?

A shortage of premium office space could turn the City of Gardens into the City of Towers as plans are afoot to start building some of the city’s tallest structures near the downtown core in violation of time-honoured zoning rules, warns Victoria’s mayor, Alan Lowe.

“This will break new ground definitely. If council sees that this is the only way office buildings can be built in the downtown core, we may see more taller buildings,” says Lowe.

At 15 storeys and 57 metres tall, Gateway Green would provide 140,000 square feet of sorely needed premium space. Located at the corner of Blanshard and Fisgard streets, it will achieve the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver standard and will feature a “living wall” (vertical garden).

“We identified a real need for Class A office space,” Gateway Green developer Travis Lee told the Business Examiner.

The need has gone unmet for so long, says Lee, because the city’s height restrictions make it unprofitable to build office space downtown where it is needed.

“We’re looking at 10 years since Victoria developed a Class A office building (St. Andrews Square) for the private sector. You need to have this type of density to support this type of development,” says Lee.

Lowe readily admits the city gave height allowances to the developers of The Hudson, a tri-tower 500-plus residence and commercial development, that would revitalize the old Bay building area in the north end of downtown. The tallest building will stretch 24 storeys high. But there was a reason.

“Due to the fact they’re saving that heritage Bay building, we’d give them that extra height.”

Lowe says that was a unique project, now one he fears has set a dangerous precedent.

“My comfort level was not there. I felt this project (Gateway Green) was a bit too big and a bit too dense for this site. If it was a larger site, reducing the density and the massing of the building, it might be a different story.”

Lee took the unusual step of revealing his proforma to council in the hopes of justifying the unusual density. The finished square-foot ratio would be 7.6 to 1. That means for every 1,000 square feet of land, there would be 7,600 square feet of finished space, potentially the highest FSR in the city.

“That’s the smallest we can build the building with an expectation that it‘ll be profitable,” says Lee.

Is it justified? Absolutely, says an industrial specialist with Colliers International.

“There’s probably demand for 150,000 square feet,” according to Ty Whittaker.

“There are a lot of companies that are expanding and are needing to find space and they just can’t find anything. The cost of land and the cost of construction is so high that it’s really proving to be a barrier.”

A Colliers market report for 2006 stated Victoria lost more than 105,000 square feet of office in the past eight years, leaving it with an uncomfortable, and so far, unaddressed, deficit.

Whittaker says the city’s residential boom pushed developers to put up living space instead of office space, leaving only condos on the drawing board.

In a recently-released study, Coriolis Consulting said the city needs another 1,000,000 square feet in the next decade, and is at risk of losing more and more business to the suburbs.

That’s the void Travis Lee’s 40-million dollar project would start to fill.

“There’s certainly pent up demand . . . so we’re trying to be the ones that fulfill that need,” says Lee.

According to Lee, support has not only come from council itself, but the city’s Advisory Design Panel and community groups like the Downtown Residents’ Association.

DRA chair Robert Randall says the project actually helps balance the Hudson project, creating a healthy mix of business and residential.

“We’re so excited. It provides safety and vibrancy. Y

ou have a busy area with the business during the day, and a busy area with the residences at night.”

Randall says the creation of new space not only aids the economy by bringing in new operations or companies to the city, but also enables smaller companies to move into Class B or Class C space vacated by existing companies who choose to upgrade. Plus it addresses an aesthetic issue as well.“We have a lot of land sitting fallow and no one seems to know what to do about it. It’s heartbreaking to see it sit like this.”

Randall cautions those who might ask to scale down Lee’s development with seemingly minor alterations would actually create more problems.

“We could lop three or four storeys off Gateway Green, but that means we’d have to put it somewhere else. If you start stripping density, it simply pushes it somewhere else. Where can it go?”

Lee wants to build more in the donwtown, especially aroun Antique Row on Fort Street. “I think this will, you know, put Victoria back into the seat of being the business centre for the CRD.” BE

[The Great Scaper]

rrskylar??? Please what? confused!!! :shrug: :)


Hey I am doing a job for the V.P. of Harbour Air. As a tip I am getting a round trip for me and some friends on the harbor to harbor flight with some Canucks tickets and Hotel! Pretty Exciting since I have never been to a Canucks game before!

I am also taking a four month Course in Vancouver starting in January - April of 08. It's a full time course so I will be living in Vancouver for four months for the first time...while I have someone run my business for me over here. I'm looking forward to it!!! :)

[Lyle]

Hard to believe your mayor could be so ambivalent about this project. How many jobs are going uncreated, how many tax dollars uncollected, because of the unreasonable limits to development of office space? Nobody wants to see heritage buildings destroyed, but that's certainly not the case here. It would be great to redevelop many of those one-story antique stores along Fort St. too.
Anyway, Victoria changed so little and so incrementally (apart from the Eaton Centre fiasco) when I lived there, now every time I visit there's something new to go check out.

[m0nkyman]

He's frightened to actually take a stand. On anything. I've been more and more disappointed in him.

We need this building, and if I have to fly back to Victoria to kick some asses about this, I will. Fifteen stories for fucks sake. We're not talking a towering behemoth.

[Dylan Leblanc]

Quote by Mayor Alan LoweMy comfort level was not there. I felt this project (Gateway Green) was a bit too big and a bit too dense for this site. If it was a larger site, reducing the density and the massing of the building, it might be a different story.
What would be the point of putting the same size building on a larger site? Look at the Centra Gas building down the street from this site. It has a large one floor section at the back with the same footprint as the tower portion, almost halving the density at the site. What's the point of building useless one floor sections on the the back of buildings just to reduce the density on paper? The First Island Financial building that is beside the Gateway Green site has what is esentially a blank facade on one side so it certinly doesn't hurt to have another large building abutting quite close to it.

I think Lowe is just now sounding wary of these large buildings because he doesn't want to look like he supports large buildings in the city after supporting the three Hudson towers.

[rrskylar]

rrskylar??? Please what? confused!!! :shrug: :)


Hey I am doing a job for the V.P. of Harbour Air. As a tip I am getting a round trip for me and some friends on the harbor to harbor flight with some Canucks tickets and Hotel! Pretty Exciting since I have never been to a Canucks game before!

I am also taking a four month Course in Vancouver starting in January - April of 08. It's a full time course so I will be living in Vancouver for four months for the first time...while I have someone run my business for me over here. I'm looking forward to it!!! :)

Well I agree Victoria is finally headed in the right direction, I don't think those of us in this forum can take responsibility for it. Good luck in your course next winter, what exactly are you going to be studying?

[m0nkyman]

You'd be surprised at how much credit the individuals here on SSP and on VV can take. They showed up for the meetings...

[Mike K.]

RR, if you haven't already go take a peek at www.vibrantvictoria.ca/forum (http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/forum) and see what the group in Victoria is up to. You'll see why we needed to branch off of SSP as the main forum. That site's content, resources (http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/resources) and discussions continue to make a big impact on the city. Just the other day a local business magazine used VV's data for its construction update and a week before that a story broke on VV before it hit the major media, leading the big guys to acknowledge they learned of it second-hand. Councillors, planners and other local politicians regularly peruse the content so our way of thinking is indeed making a big difference in the community. It's been a long time coming since 2003 when the original group, thanks to SSP's support, began to form and organize events to combat nimbyism and irresponsible media coverage.

[Galvanized]

^And don't forget that we are so cutting edge our avatars have to be on the right hand side! :cool:

[aastra]

Seriously, it's no exaggeration to say we played a very big part in getting the ball rolling again re: serious (non-hysterical) discussion of development in Victoria. Our materials have been referenced all over the place.

[The Great Scaper]

Absolutely Aastra.

I am beginning to wonder if Mayor Lowe really doesn't want to see height limit of 14 stories broken, even though it is all over the place. I thought that maybe it was more of a political game that he was playing to keep good face with the Nay Sayers of the JBNEA, The Fairfeild and Vic West groupies. However the more I have been reading and trying to figure him out, maybe he is really a anti height guy. However I keep going back to the Fall's proposal and the Hudson and he was so excited over them. And then he voted against the Clock Tower proposal a 6 stories saying it was too dense. He really makes no sense at all. :koko: <--- Just kidding. Personally I like Alan, but politically I don't know where he stands on key issues and to me that shows weekness.

[The Great Scaper]

Rrskylar... I don't want to say publicly what I am doing in Vancouver, but I will send you a private message. Cheers Mate. :cheers:

For some reason it won't let me send you an email.....Oh Well!!! :(

[The Great Scaper]

Hey we got ranked 8th in North America!!! :tup:

http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2006/results.cfm?cat=citiesusca

[gumgum]

Has anyone ever stopped to think that Lowe's position on Gateway Green isn't personal, or political, but business? It's no secret he has others close to him in the development game.
I'm not saying I know anything, just posing it as a possibility. I mean, is it really that far fetched?
Am I overstepping some kind of line by suggesting?

[gumgum]

Hey we got ranked 8th in North America!!! :tup:

http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2006/results.cfm?cat=citiesusca

I'll be sure to remind my Toronto friends that their city didn't even make it on the list.

[m0nkyman]

Has anyone ever stopped to think that Lowe's position on Gateway Green isn't personal, or political, but business? It's no secret he has others close to him in the development game.
I'm not saying I know anything, just posing it as a possibility. I mean, is it really that far fetched?
Am I overstepping some kind of line by suggesting?

Are you suggesting a mayor who fails to see a problem with continuing to design buildings in the city he's the mayor of, might let his business associations colour his feelings towards the projects of developers that haven't hired him?

Perish the thought. :koko:

[gumgum]

edit

[The Great Scaper]

Gum Gum...

You are most definately not over stepping any boundries. However I would hesitate to believe that would be the case. If it was ever discovered that the Mayor ever held up a project to give a business buddy an upper hand on a similar proposal it would destroy his career. Especially since he has sights on a Federal Liberal MP job. However you never know for sure. On that note maybe when the Fed's give Victoria an extra riding or two soon he will make the switch.

I am still really perplexed by his swinging support from one proposal to another. It really is strange. Again maybe he's just playing the politcal game.

I really do believe if a Mayor Candidate came out and made a firm stand on Development issues in this city. If he had a clear cut vision for the revitalization of the Downtown etc. A kind of guy that was true to his word yet respectful and had strong leadership skills. He would gather a lot of support. I find with a lot of Voters in Victoria, that I talk to, they don't know who to vote for because they don't know where the councilors and mayor candidates stand on specific issues.

[The Great Scaper]

On another issue, Lindsay Chase sent me an email regarding this seminar at Uvic. It looks interesting I am going to go. :)

The Division of Continuing Studies in partnership with the City of Victoria and the District of Sannich is pleased to offer People, Places, Perspectives, a series on shaping dynamic communities. Join us on June 19th 2007 at the University of Victoria as we welcome the honourable Mike Harcourt to present:

City Making in Paradise: A Conversation with Mike Harcourt

The communities, lifestyles, and surroundings that make southern Vancouver Island such an appealing place to live are under pressure in the face of significant growth and environmental change. Join the Honorable Mike Harcourt, former Mayor of Vancouver and Premier of British Columbia, for a lively and thought-provoking discussion of the ways in which the daily choices we make as leaders, activists, and citizens influence our capacity to build liveable and resilient communities. Mr. Harcourt relates the lessons learned in three decades of urban planning and development to the special challenges that confront Victoria and its neighbouring communities, and offers ideas for policy and practice that support sustainable city-making in our west coast paradise.

Instructor: Mike Harcourt
As the former mayor of Vancouver and premier of British Columbia, Mike Harcourt helped Canada's westernmost province earn its reputation as one of the most livable places in the world. His focus on conservation and sustainable development has played a significant role in promoting quality of life for those he represented in office.

Course Code: CMCR238 2007K C01

Dates: Tuesday(s), June 19, 2007 to June 19, 2007: 7:30pm to 8:30pm, 1 session

Fee: $15 plus GST

Register: By telephone at 250.472.4747 or via e-mail at register@uvcs.uvic.ca

Or visit http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/WebSite/CourseDetails/index.aspx?se%20ctionid=37548&SectionCourseID=37534

For more information on this lecture and others offered in the People, Places, Perspective series, please contact:



Lisa Mort-Putland

Program Coordinator, Cultural Management Programs

Continuing Studies, University of Victoria

PO Box 3030 Stn CSC, Victoria, BC V8W 3N6

250 721 6119

Cultural Resource Management Program http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/crmp

Aboriginal Language Revitalization Program http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/calr

Intercultural Education and Training Program http://www.uvcs.uvic.ca/iet

[Holden West]

The most important planning lesson I learned from Mike Harcourt is never build a deck without a railing.

[Galvanized]

:eek:

[The Great Scaper]

Or learning never to vote for the NDP. baahahaha.... O.K. I probably offended someone....but still true for me! :D :D :D

[Holden West]

Huh? Harcourt was probably the best of the lot.

BTW, don't you think it's odd that two NDP Premiers were nearly done in by dubious patio decks (http://www.airfarce.com/video/011102fl.ram)?

[The Great Scaper]

Hey I can't seem to open that file...is it a video? You have me very intriqued I wish I could see it.

I agree Harcourt was better than a lot of the old pack!!! ;)

[Galvanized]

dubious patio decks (http://www.airfarce.com/video/011102fl.ram)?

:haha: I wonder if he makes catamarans too?

[The Great Scaper]

Grrr I can't open that file! :(

My friend David who lives in N. Carolina sent me a cool photo of some sea side character homes in Charleston. We have had some good talks regarding cities etc.

Anyways here is the photo he sent me. I think this is what the James Bay N. E. A. belief they want on the water front on Dallas Rd. However, they don't have it.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s8/dh1031/ocha_1280X1024_wallpaper2.jpg

[Holden West]

^It's a .ram file (RealAudio).

======

Colwood councillor's resolution would remove height restrictions

Bill Cleverley,
Times Colonist

Published: Thursday, May 31, 2007

Colwood Coun. Gordie Logan hopes removing height restrictions in the city's core will break a council log-jam blocking some highrise development proposals.

Logan will bring forward a resolution in two weeks that would see the current six-storey limit removed from the existing Official Community Plan.

That would reduce the need to keep going through the OCP amendment process, Logan said.

If it passes, Logan's motion would open the door for developments such as Les Bjola's proposed $1-billion highrise remake of Colwood Corners that has been stalled one vote short of a council majority.

Logan notes that council recently has approved medium to highrise proposals ranging from eight to 29 storeys. The public has spoken in favour of building up as opposed to sprawling out, Logan said, referring especially to the public backing given the proposed 23-storey Silkwind condominium just approved for Wale Road.

Not all of the projects favoured by the majority of speakers at public hearings have cleared the approval process. Most notable is Bjola's vision to craft a city core, home to 2,800 people, for his 5.7-hectare site at Goldstream Avenue and Sooke Road.

Mayor Jody Twa and Coun. David Saunders have absented themselves from voting on this project because of potential conflict of interest.
Councillors Cynthia Day and Jason Nault don't want to see radical amendments to the OCP until a comprehensive review and rewrite of the document is completed. The other three council members support Bjola's proposal, but four votes are needed for an OCP amendment.

Logan, meanwhile, says his motion isn't just directed at Colwood Corners, but would encompass Colwood's entire core, because "I believe there's going to be more projects coming in, as well."

One question is whether Twa and Saunders would be eligible to vote on Logan's motion or would still be in potential conflict of interest. Twa said they probably are eligible. Colwood chief administrator Chris Pease said it's up to them to decide.

"They must follow what they feel is the right thing," Pease said.
Nault said he's not necessarily opposed to the projects coming forward, he just wants a comprehensive plan for the community before approving them "willy-nilly."

He said people keep talking about smart growth -- building up instead of out -- but with recently approved highrises and subdivisions such as Royal Bay and Olympic View, Colwood is doing both. "So we're sprawling out and going up, We're getting the worst of both worlds."

If Logan is going to propose removing height limits, Nault would want to see a referendum to see how many storeys residents would favour.

Logan said even if his motion passes, council would still be able to regulate the number of storeys through the zoning process. Bjola said he would be "absolutely thrilled" if Logan's motion passed.

© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2007

[The Great Scaper]

I read that in the paper today. Pretty exciting. I really hope this proposal goes through. Being an almost life time resident of Saanich I really don't want the West Shores municipalities to build the way mine did. Saanich is so far spread out with no identity and no core. Colwood has the oportunity to define itself, while significantly broadening their tax base, and increasing pocket densities. Hopefully by have these density hubs it will provide good future Lrt nodes. I also just really like the Colwood Corners proposal. I would like to see that kind of a proposal in Harris Green. :D

[aastra]

Scaper, the Dallas Road waterfront would compare well with or even surpass that stretch in Charleston...if only there were several fine Victorian houses on it.

But there aren't.

It seems the wealthy crowd of a century ago weren't too interested in Victoria's southern waterfront. The best we can hope for now are some fine modern houses, because they'll never let a new condo building be built there. If memory serves me, there are one or two new houses on Dallas Road that are quite appealing.

Anyway, did you see gumgum's pics of Shutters?

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_6840.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_6842.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_6843.jpg

[The Great Scaper]

Aastra,

That's so funny, your comment about "but there aren't any" :haha:

Those are beautiful photos by the way, I love the first one especially. I really like that building. My mom, who is a realtor and who also holds to that cliche of "Victoria is a bit of Old England" thinks that Shutters over powers the songhees. I love those buildings. Also in Vic West, the Dock side development with the Parc and the two new office buildings (Coast Capital) is looking awesome. I want to get some good photos of that this weekend!!! :)

Aastra I had a good talk with Rene on the phone tonight, I am going to be in Vancouver around the end of the month in June. Ren and I are getting together. Maybe we could grab a lunch or the three of us hang out one night and have some fun in Van.

Cheers

[The Great Scaper]

I finally got some of my photos posted on Flickr.com

Here is the link to my photos. I just started to upload some of my photos. Unfortunately lots of my really cool photos are on other memory chips for my camera in time I will upload more. I also bought a new 8 gig mp3 player and have been downloading lots of music. It's good for the work out program!!! :)

Here's my Flickr link .....

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

[Jarrod]

Cool. Is this the project that's pulling you back this way? :)

Yes, higher pay, better benefits and more insentives. But I won't move back to Vancouver Island. I currently have an interview at VGH set for the 12th. I'm excited about that.

Anyway, I'm really liking Radius. It's very modern and sophisticated and will sit very well at the entrance to Victoria.

[The Great Scaper]

Jarrod I am glad things are going well for you in Calgary!!! I also love Calgary too, it's a fun city!!!

Anyone go to the Oakbay Tea party???

I was trying to get Zoomer to go but for some reason he's scard of fairs!!! I am not sure if it's the clowns or the fact that he had someone rip off his glasses and stomped on him at his concert he went to Friday night!!! :haha: Sorry buddy but I am still kinda laughing at the story.

Well....Going out to take some photos tomorrow too Johnny and I are going out for a couple of hours anyways.

Have a fun weekend all!!! :cheers:

[The Great Scaper]

Check this guy out!!! Absolutely amazing!!!

http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=594257&cache=1

[The Great Scaper]

Wow.....

That was one of the longest photo treks I have ever takin'. Crazy...Anyways, I have a ton of photos to share with everyone soon...I don't know if I should make the post on the B.C. section or the Canadian Section....

Anyways I have to charge my battery, I used a full battery today!!! :)


Update..... Crazy I took over 200 photos today! Yikes....gonna take a while to edit through them I think!!! :D

[zoomer]

A few pics I took this weekend, first starting off on Saturday. I'll post more later, if I fall asleep soon!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1037/529234446_da842b9dd0.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1220/529329043_d79210c2de.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1157/529341195_e9420ee338.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1144/529346751_83274dba09.jpg

I really prefer Astoria to Belvedere.

the two together:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1159/529354939_9f8a96039a.jpg

Belvedere:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1160/529276634_06051c72b2.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1218/529276644_dd5ad83b4e.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/206/529276656_55bc716ac5.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1162/529394661_db51f76a4d.jpg

maybe I'll post some construction pics tomorrow. For larger size, visit my Flickr page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/billycorgan/)

[Holden West]

The Fix is an awesome new coffee shop. It's just like an authentic European coffee shop except without the dirty floor, bad food, and cigarette smoke.

I still get Belevedere and Astoria mixed up. They're like the Olsen twins. I know one's skinnier but that doesn't help me remember which is which.

[The Great Scaper]

Zoomer, Fantastic photos buddy!!! Fun day today too. :)

Holden Astoria is the taller one in the middle, The Belvedere is the darker brown twin on the outside!!! :D

I am uploading my photos on flickr and it's taking bloody forever!!! Grrrr....

Oh well, If I don't have time tonight I will post a thread tomorrow in the B.C. section.

Cheers

[Lyle]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1037/529234446_da842b9dd0.jpg

Who can explain the history of the purple glass blocks in Victoria's downtown sidewalks to me? I've always loved them, but never understood their purpose, if any, apart from decorative.

[SFUVancouver]

^ I'll take a shot at it since we've got them in Vancouver too, though Victoria's seem to be in much better shape. Many of the old Victorian and Edwardian warehouses had store rooms below grade that extended out beyond the floorplate of the building. The thick purple glass allowed some natural light to filter down into these workspaces and augment the need for gas and electrical lighting. The glass blocks was thick enough to support the weight of pedestrians and even early vehicles that may have rode up on the curb. In parts of Gastown and Chinatown the glass blocks were asphalted(!) over at some point and only recently, it seems, have the blocks been uncovered, and possibly even