Victoria Construction - #7

[vicdevelopments]

All of 2 stories taller and we would have had an art gallery there and a much nicer looking building. This city is nuts. Mind you the current council seems to be much more in favor of taller buildings.

[vicdevelopments]

An article in today's Times Colonist shows that Townline is looking at building Vancouver Island's tallest building at 29 stories here in Victoria.


http://www.timescolonist.com/news/lo...ria-1.21881691

Here's the artist's rendering.

! Hudson Place One by steven roberts, on Flickr

[Vin]

Not bad at all...Vic is looking up, literally.

[240glt]

We're looking to spend the Labour Day long weekend in Victoria, I'm excited, haven't been there in 15 years. Such a picturesque city

[csbvan]

This would undoubtedly be Vic's nicest and most sophisticated high-rise.

[scryer]

It looks great amazing. Really happy for Victoria on this one.

[vicdevelopments]

It's been approved at 24 stories but they are seeking 29 stories. It's not guaranteed to go through. I'm going to send Victoria Council members an email in support of the taller version. I really hope it goes through.

[Phil McAvity]

For some reason the T-C website won't come up so here's Victoria News' link to the same story: http://www.vicnews.com/news/skyline-...-coming-years/

In it, they mention the height limit of 74 meters but since when was this the height limit? The last I heard the height limit was an equally arbitrary 43.5 meters and for what reason? Can anyone explain to me why these numbers even exist?

It would also be nice to see someone in these articles explain why taller buildings offer nothing but benefits for everyone.

[Phil McAvity]

Originally Posted by vicdevelopments

Mind you the current council seems to be much more in favor of taller buildings.

I believe this is another of mayor Alan Lowe's legacies, not only did he leave that horrible old bridge you like so much to rot and die but he also was a big proponent of taller buildings and convinced other council members of their merit.

[Phil McAvity]

Here's Victoria's NoDo neighborhood. Two years ago you would have seen one of these midrises (The pink one in the middle) where there are now six

[aastra]

I seem to recall that Alan Lowe was not keen at all about the height of Gateway Green.

The height limit was relaxed a bit on the Hudson's back lot as part of the deal re: restoring the department store building.

[Vin]

Victoria's NoDo neighbourhood is in a fringe area of downtown where, other than the Bay building and across Douglas Street at Chinatown and City Hall neighbourhood, pretty much nothing of heritage value to preserve. Therefore having a few taller towers here seem to be appropriate as they wouldn't really alter the overall heritage character of the city. Same thing can be said of the neighbourhoods further east of Blanshard. They should densify the former warehousing areas to become part of the commercial/residential downtown fabric.

I wouldn't agree to having 30-storey towers erected, say, around Empress Place hotel or the legislature building neighbourhoods. That would totally spoil the mood of the harbour area.

[vicdevelopments]

Originally Posted by aastra

I seem to recall that Alan Lowe was not keen at all about the height of Gateway Green.

The height limit was relaxed a bit on the Hudson's back lot as part of the deal re: restoring the department store building.

That's how I recall it.

[vicdevelopments]

Phil McAvity that's a really cool angle. Where did you take that from? Great picture.

[vicdevelopments]

I watched CTV news yesterday. They interview Stew Young mayor of Langford. He said if Victoria gets the commonwealth Games They will build a new arena and a 40,000 seat stadium in Langford. I hope we get to host the games. With a large stadium we could attract a CFL team. Alan Lowe screwed us over on the Saveonfoods memorial arena. It's so small it may be a blessing if the games go through as Langford will build a larger arena. Maybe we could attract an AHL team a farm team for the Canucks.

[aastra]

There's no way they could build a larger arena for a reasonable price tag today (and a second half-decently large arena in Greater Victoria would sit empty much of the time, anyway). SOFMC was actually quite a bargain (the arenas in Winnipeg and London, ON were even better bargains).

[aastra]

He's crafty but he must have been up at SJ Willis or thereabouts when he snapped that pic.

[vicdevelopments]

That's probably right. I think I might take some photos this coming week of the various construction sites.

[Phil McAvity]

Originally Posted by aastra

He's crafty but he must have been up at SJ Willis or thereabouts when he snapped that pic.

Yup, near Topaz on Blanshard

Originally Posted by vicdevelopments

Alan Lowe screwed us over on the Saveonfoods memorial arena.

When SOFA was built I was disappointed since it wasn't much bigger than the Memorial Arena but after seeing all the shows it's attracted, it might have been the right size after all.

Originally Posted by vicdevelopments

They interview Stew Young mayor of Langford. He said if Victoria gets the commonwealth Games They will build a new arena and a 40,000 seat stadium in Langford.

It sounds like Stew Young is as much a dreamer as many high-rise developers have been in the Westshore with his idea that a 40,000 seat arena will get built there. I started a thread about the games here in the BC/Alberta section

[SpongeG]

any updates on mayfair mall?