^^^ 22g's to stay at there school? Thats sounds like a good incentive. What course do you take? Still liking Vic a lot. The job market is hot for electricians, i found a job in 1/2 hour!

Got to love the amount of work here for the building trades. I don't think it is going to slow down either.

Hey guys, new member here. Go to UVic... been lurking for a long while though.

As for development in Victoria... I'm from Toronto. I would like to see urban sprawl there completely stop and density rise dramatically, especially downtown. However, part of Victoria's charm is its small size. What I think would work best here is to

a) "build up" west of the Johnson St Bridge (as will be happening) and north of downtown, from Chinatown to the Rock Bay area

b) stop building big-box stores and residential-only suburbs and instead make new Fairfield-esque suburbs- communities with a pedestrian friendly maindrag that anyone can walk to, like Cook St Village, James Bay Village, Oak Bay/Estavan Village. Perhaps older res-only suburbs do have a chance to be converted into these kinds of villages... for instance, change the zoning on parts of Gordon Head Rd to commercial, and the same with an area in Burnside

c) I would really like to see light rail come to this city :)

d) Perhaps make a new park further north that is as ped-friendly as Beacon Hill Park and Government House... for example, get rid of the golf course at Cedar Hill and put in gardens etc.

What do you guys think? Also, what do you think merging some of the cities? Will it give the region a more intact plan?

Whoa, this thread is still chugging along hey? Welcome KingWilson. I also go to Uvic, btw.

KingWilson, Brent, Jarrod, just so you guys know there's a much more active set of Victoria forumers at www.Skyscraperpage.com (thread located at http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=35) discussing Victoria's development. Just a heads up in case some of you didn't realize that.

And jada, I apologize in advance for blowing out the barn doors :)

Hey Brett - yeah but its spread out. I get $3000 per term and BC Loans are forgiving $2000 a term. It seems rather ironic that I'm FROM OTTAWA, GO TO UW IN ONTARIO and BC Loans help me out. Seems should you spend more than one year outside your home province you adopt where you went too. Still, I'll be moving back so BC will get its investment back. Anyway, the biggest share of my student loan is federal anyway and when the loans come in I get to but in front of all the OSAP people. Seems BC Loans get you into the express line. LOL

Hey Brett - yeah but its spread out. I get $3000 per term and BC Loans are forgiving $2000 a term. It seems rather ironic that I'm FROM OTTAWA, GO TO UW IN ONTARIO and BC Loans help me out. Seems should you spend more than one year outside your home province you adopt where you went too. Still, I'll be moving back so BC will get its investment back. Anyway, the biggest share of my student loan is federal anyway and when the loans come in I get to but in front of all the OSAP people. Seems BC Loans get you into the express line. LOL

Haha, that's kinda funny, I also noticed I had no trouble with my BCSL in Ontario(Lakehead) while others with Ontario student loans had to wait longer to get theirs processed.

I also hear BCSL are a bit more generous than OSAP, not that I'm complaining at all about that. Anyway I probably shouldn't say anything as I need to apply for winter and I'm not sure how much my scholarship is going to impact on how much I get from BCSL. Hopefully not too much. A student can never have enough Tim Hortens money to live on. Well living in this town anyway.

Here's a list of Victoria's recent/present/future projects...

RECENTLY COMPLETED

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/6756/9953gatehousems2kg.jpg
Gatehouse (Selkirk area near downtown - 6 stories - completed)

http://www.trendwest.com/images/resorts/victoria/victoria_ov_2b.jpg
Trendwest Worldmark (Victoria harbour - 9 stories - completed)

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1470/marriot7wj.jpg
Marriott Hotel (downtown - 16 stories - completed)

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/533/28victoria-cityplace02.jpg
City Place (downtown - 7 stories - completed)

http://www.shoalpoint.com/images/gallery_large_01.jpg
Shoal Point (Victoria harbour - 12 stories - completed)

http://www.gulfislandvacationrentals.com/reef-victoria/DSC_1428.jpg
The Reef (James Bay near downtown - 6 stories - completed)

http://www.860view.com/images/renderJune3.jpg
860 View (downtown - 8 stories - completed)

http://www.saywardhill.com/grafiken/hintergrund_index.jpg
Sayward Hill (East Saanich - 6 stories - completed)

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/533/28victoria-arena03.jpg
New Arena (Save-On Foods Memorial Centre - never quite completed, it seems)

http://www.westbankcorp.com/images/Parc-full6.jpg
Parc (Vic West facing downtown - 12 stories - completed)

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/1453/navalofficertrainingcent9im.jpg
Venture Barracks - Navy Officer Training Centre (Victoria harbour - 6 stories)

CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION

http://www.concertproperties.com/data/upload/images//property_full/Astoria_ext1.jpg
Astoria (downtown - 20 stories - under construction)

http://www.bambu.ca/images/model_2.jpg
Bambu (downtown - 7 stories - under revision, even though 90% of the units were sold)

http://www.concertproperties.com/data/upload/images//property_full/Belvedere_ext1.jpg
Belvedere (downtown - 16 stories - under construction)

http://www.corazonvictoria.com/img/corazonmodel.jpg
Corazon (downtown - 12 stories - under construction)

http://www.oswegovictoria.com/images/royalty_free/Rndrng.jpg
Oswego (James Bay near downtown - 10 stories - under construction)

http://www.thewavevictoria.com/images/wave_splash.jpg
The Wave (downtown - 12 stories - under construction)

http://www.parksidevictoria.com/parkside_images/images/pic14.jpg
Parkside Spa (downtown - 8 stories - under construction)

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/533/1186shutters_model_2.jpg
Shutters (Victoria harbour - 9 stories - under construction)

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3413/swallowslanding21oq.jpg
Swallows Landing (Victoria harbour - 9 stories - under construction)

http://www.thepier.ca/images/h_model.jpg
The Pier (Sidney waterfront, north of Victoria - 7 stories - under construction)

http://www.loopnet.com/Attachments/9/9/8/9987EB6C-721A-466D-A4BC-2269CD7A5303.JPG
Upper Harbour Place (Vic West facing downtown - 6 stories - under construction - phase 1 shown)

http://img349.imageshack.us/img349/2450/songheeshilltop9wb.jpg
Songhees Hilltop - Phase 1 of 3 (Victoria harbour - 11 stories - under construction)

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/505/ariamodel1na.jpg
Aria (downtown - 2 x 12 stories - under construction)

APPROVED PROPOSALS

http://img349.imageshack.us/img349/2229/langford7sw.jpg
Suburban Condo Tower (Langford, west of Victoria - 17 stories - approved proposal)

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/533/1186mozart_building.jpg
Mozart Building (downtown - 12 stories - approved proposal - but officially stalled, which breaks our collective heart)

http://www.docksidegreen.com/database/img_41ac2774c832d.jpg
Dockside Green (Vic West facing downtown - 10 stories x 3, 7 stories x 3 - approved proposal)

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/6545/028300259kn.jpg
"Cherry Bank" Condominiums (Fairfield/downtown - 8 stories - approved proposal)

http://synergy.docksidegreen.com/images/home-right.jpg
Synergy (first building on Dockside Green - 10 stories)

PROPOSED/IN THE WORKS

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/3497/untitled0za1.jpg
Waterfall (downtown - 18 & 14 stories - proposed)

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/4899/chard0vr.jpg
Blanshard Street & Johnson Street (downtown - 14 stories - proposed)

Victoria's new buildings are straight pimpin, I hope they don't build anything over 18 stories

Astoria is 20-stories and it fits in just fine (picture taken a few weeks ago).

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/9896/astoria2nb.jpg

astoria, when it's done, i hope looks good. it fits in with it's surroundings with the likes of the marriott and the two other towers around it. and then they're building that 13 story building right beside it. they're going to make that area look pretty spiffy. i was up near central middle school and you can see it up there. it looks kinda neat.

Hey Victoria Hockey Fan!!!! I belong to another Skycraper website so I might know some of you on this one. I am not sure anyways I am a total supporter of highrises downtown. I am not sure if I am aloud to mention the other website on here or not but does every one on here belong to other highrise websites?

Maybe VHF can answer if everyone on here is on the other one I am thinking about....

My main goal is to get as many people as possable who support the view in building Victorias skyline more dynamically, to join voices and support for when proposal come to council and to send letters into the newspapers etc. Anyways nice meeting everyone on here!!! Cheers BOB :)

Victoria's new buildings are straight pimpin, I hope they don't build anything over 18 stories

:weirdo:



Hey Bob, SSC is well known here and vice versa. Most Victorian's have accounts at Skycrapercity but there's little point in holding two identical conversations so everyone just migrated to SSC. Besides, Dylan (a Victorian) runs SSP that was the icing on the cake :)

I was in Victoria this summer...

Heres some pics i took of the downtown area.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/canadian_gino87/044_44.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/canadian_gino87/045_45.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/canadian_gino87/015_15.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/canadian_gino87/012_12.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/canadian_gino87/011_11.jpg

!!!!!! you can see my house from there!! i mean, the last picture of hillside mall. well, you can see the roof. it's over closer to sears.

Oh yeah.....I see it, Nice house!!! ---BOB---

edit...

:) ^ Funny pictures. The building next to the Astoria is the Belvedere. I think one of them might be upside down.

Great pics, I don't come here often, but it's nice to see someone on here, you should keep trying SSP, make sure you note that you're in Vic, as the creator of the site is from Vic too.

will do. and i'll try to fix that one picture that's upside down...

thanks for the compliment. i think that if it wasn't raining, i would have gotten some better shots. believe me, i took like 100shots and a lot of them didn't turn out because it was gross out.

Definitely keep trying on SSP it took me about 4 months to get on but then all of a sudden I was on.

Jarod.....Get over to ssp!!! you should try and email Dylan. Thanks for the pics. I think there are over 20 of us from Victoria on SSP!! The more the marrier!!

i have an account now!!!!

i would take more pictures but something has happened to my camera. it's going to go get fixed..

Yeah , I applied for an account on SSP and was told everything was just great . I go to log in and it says " Invalid User name or Password " what a Joke . I know the info was accurate & i could get into members area just fine. what do you need " Special permition " to post on the forms ?

Yeah , I applied for an account on SSP and was told everything was just great . I go to log in and it says " Invalid User name or Password " what a Joke . I know the info was accurate & i could get into members area just fine. what do you need " Special permition " to post on the forms ?
Maybe they screen users; that is—they check to see if you are ok on SSC first. My point, anyway is, change your signature, you dick; it's not that simple. I guess my first complaint makes the fact that ABBILITY is not a word moot.

thanks for the spelling correction : ) , now anyways , I think think everyone one here would say I'm pretty Mild mannered and take everything in before I comment , go out of of my way to understand situation's before flying off the handle and typing something stupid , Hell I even have tryed to help people find jobs on the site : my point ? If SSP doesnt want me due to my signature I dont care . and as far as you go , Grow up , your the dick , I suppose you have your self tied to a tree crying over your poor friends in the Middle East right ? well , frankly as a Norwegian and German ( watching flags beeing burn and Many christians killed over this, a cartoon ) ... Is that easy , so shut the hell up.

by the way , moot ?
Law. A hypothetical case argued by law students as an exercise.
An ancient English meeting, especially a representative meeting of the freemen of a shire.
good word bone head

I hate to interrupt a good quarrel guys, but the topic is Victoria.

Remember?

Anyway, back in Victoria, City Hall just rejected the Waterfall proposal which was one of the nicest proposals to come to town in years. Apparently City Hall would rather have a surface parking lot than a bunch of new street level shops and a beautiful new condo building. Once again, City Hall shoots everyone in the foot (including themselves!) with their incredibly idiotic decisions.

Unfuckingbelievable.

^ We must always stick to the topic!
Hey Carew! BTW City Hall didn't reject Waterfall, it was the ADP, it's up to council or the developer to bring it to a public hearing. The ADP does'nt have much power, but council seems to sometimes agree with them.

edit:sp

Sounds like victoria has a lot of the issues thats most of B.C. has , fear of change and future ( excuding Vancouver ) . I see the same thing happen here all the time , a great idea squashed.

^ We must always stick to the topic!
Hey Carew! BTW City Hall didn't reject Waterfall, it was the ADP, it's up to council or the developer to bring it to a public hearing. The ADP does'nt have much power, but council seems to sometimes agree with them.

edit:sp

Thanks for that Ren. I totally misunderstood what people were talking about then, because it sounded like the building got rejected. I'm glad to hear it will go ahead. Apparently the builder must take one story off the top and relocate it to the shorter part of the building for some reason. I guess the city made them do this just so those meddling bureaucrats at city hall can all feel like they accomplished something. Man can this city ever micromanage! At least it will still be 17 stories, which is okay.

went by the wave the other nite, looking good. personally i would prefer if they had the blue glass and didn't paint the concrete.

Blue glass woulda been cool!

Yeah, i think the wave is going to look great, even though Parc Residences is the only building with a "wave" on it!

I work on the Vomit Comet and our condo in Victoria is at the Lord Simcoe in James Bay. Do any of you know how old it is, or what the story behind the "monkey love nest" in 812 is? And what's with the guy that dresses up like Darth Vader and plays the same song on his violin over and over again, he's been doing that for at least three years now. We have many more questions about Victoria and James Bay but I will wait to see if anyone responds to this before posting them.

wow , move. Quickly ...

And what's with the guy that dresses up like Darth Vader and plays the same song on his violin over and over again, he's been doing that for at least three years now.
I think you pretty much summed him up.

Anybody know anything more about that Darth Vader guy?

Let's hear some of the other questions!

I'll keep this thread alive with the roll call of recent projects:

RECENTLY COMPLETED

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/6756/9953gatehousems2kg.jpg
Gatehouse (Selkirk area near downtown - 6 stories - completed)

http://www.trendwest.com/images/resorts/victoria/victoria_ov_2b.jpg
Trendwest Worldmark (Victoria harbour - 9 stories - completed)

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1470/marriot7wj.jpg
Marriott Hotel (downtown - 16 stories - completed)

http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/6088/cityplace8kl.jpg
City Place (downtown - 7 stories - completed)

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/3923/gallerylarge016yz.jpg
Shoal Point (Victoria harbour - 12 stories - completed)

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/1269/thereef5tx.jpg
The Reef (James Bay near downtown - 6 stories - completed)

http://rwglobal.com/re/common/pictures/203030.jpg
860 View (downtown - 8 stories - completed)

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1449/saywardhill3vo.jpg
Sayward Hill (East Saanich - 6 stories - completed)

http://www.saveonfoodsmemorialcentre.com/images/saveonfoodscentre.jpg
New Arena (Save-On Foods Memorial Centre - never quite completed, it seems)

http://www.westbankcorp.com/images/Parc-full6.jpg
Parc (Vic West facing downtown - 12 stories - completed)

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/1453/navalofficertrainingcent9im.jpg
Venture Barracks - Navy Officer Training Centre (Victoria harbour - 6 stories)

http://www.mcmparchitects.com/img/photos/Corazon%20Bldg%20(horiz%20Img%203).jpg
Corazon (downtown - 12 stories - completed)

http://www.platinumvacationgroup.com/listing_images/p1f2050090784.jpg
Astoria (downtown - 20 stories - completed)

CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION

http://www.concertproperties.com/data/upload/images//property_full/Belvedere_ext1.jpg
Belvedere (downtown - 16 stories - under construction)

http://www.oswegovictoria.com/images/royalty_free/Rndrng.jpg
Oswego (James Bay near downtown - 10 stories - under construction)

http://www.therealvictoria.ca/images/the_wave.jpg
The Wave (downtown - 12 stories - under construction)

http://img280.imageshack.us/img280/9231/parkside8id.jpg
Parkside Spa (downtown - 8 stories - under construction)

http://www.westbankcorp.com/images/shutters-full2.jpg
Shutters (Victoria harbour - 9 stories - under construction)

http://www.therealvictoria.ca/images/shutters.jpg
Shutters under construction

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3413/swallowslanding21oq.jpg
Swallows Landing (Victoria harbour - 9 stories - under construction)

http://www.thepier.ca/images/h_model.jpg
The Pier (Sidney waterfront, north of Victoria - 7 stories - under construction)

http://www.loopnet.com/Attachments/9/9/8/9987EB6C-721A-466D-A4BC-2269CD7A5303.JPG
Upper Harbour Place (Vic West facing downtown - 6 stories - under construction - phase 1 shown)

http://img349.imageshack.us/img349/2450/songheeshilltop9wb.jpg
Songhees Hilltop - Phase 1 of 3 (Victoria harbour - 11 stories - under construction)

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/505/ariamodel1na.jpg
Aria (downtown - 2 x 12 stories - under construction)

http://synergy.docksidegreen.com/images/home-right.jpg
Synergy (Vic West facing downtown - 10 stories - under construction)

http://img333.imageshack.us/img333/9239/julietbldgrenderingjx5.jpg
Juliet (downtown - 14 stories - approved)

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8743/thefalls0vl.jpg
Waterfall (downtown - 18 & 13 stories - approved!)

APPROVED PROPOSALS

http://img349.imageshack.us/img349/2229/langford7sw.jpg
Suburban Condo Tower (Langford, west of Victoria - 17 stories - approved proposal)

http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/8435/mozartbuilding0cf.jpg
Mozart Building (downtown - 12 stories - approved proposal - but officially stalled, which breaks our collective heart)

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/6545/028300259kn.jpg
"Cherry Bank" Condominiums (Fairfield/downtown - 8 stories - approved proposal)

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/295/balancedo3.jpg
Balance (Vic West facing downtown - 9 & 10 stories)

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/196/10saywardhill1qn.jpg
10 Sayward Hill (East Saanich - 6 stories)

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/6678/reflections1cc.jpg
Reflections (Langford, west of Victoria - 6 stories - approved)

http://www.dysarch.com/UserImages/WebImages/ProjectImages/1.%20RESIDENTIAL/Market%20High%20Rise/Royal%20Roads/Royal%20Roads%20-%20perspective.jpg
Royal Roads Place (Colwood, west of Victoria - 29 stories - approved)
*If it gets built, this would be the tallest building in the Victoria CMA, until "Michelle" (see below) gets built.

PROPOSED/IN THE WORKS

http://img429.imageshack.us/img429/6828/viewvancouver2zm.jpg
View Street at Vancouver Street (downtown - 14 stories - proposed)

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/6126/cookjohnson4cr.jpg
Cook Street at Johnson Street (downtown - 10 stories - proposed)

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/7545/lagoonestateseh9.jpg
Lagoon Estates (Colwood, west of Victoria - proposed)
*this is just a concept rendering from their website*

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/1779/hudsonho6.jpg
Bay department store redevelopment (downtown - 3 towers - proposed)

http://img423.imageshack.us/img423/973/themichelleqv1.jpg
"Michelle" condominium tower (Colwood, west of Victoria - 41 stories - proposed)
*If it gets built, this would be the tallest building in the Victoria CMA.

http://skyscraperpage.com/temp/images/thehighlander.jpg
"Highlander" (Langford, west of Victoria - 14 stories - proposed?)

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/6057/getimagedllmo9.jpg
Langford Station (Langford, west of Victoria - 15 stories - proposed)

Good List! Im interested to see dockside green when it gets going. Even a little tempted to buy in there...

Kick ASS !

Here's a nice pic of Victoria:

http://www.therealvictoria.ca/images/orchardhouseview2.jpg

do you think Victoria will ever get some kind of LRT? I remember reading somewhere that the idea of one was being considered or investigated

VICTORIA is starting to go up real nice like . I think it will have a great skyline & URBAN feel some day soon .

Hey Wow, I forgot all about this site!!! hahaha

Been over at SSP for so long, I forgot. By the way, I have to take credit for that photo above!!! I know, it's bragging but what a view from the Orchard house! Man if anyone ever gets to look out from the 22nd floor balcony, do it!

Anyways Cheers I will post some photos sometime on here!

^I wish I could get up to the roof of that place, that would be even cooler!

Colwood's 29-story condo tower was just approved. If it gets built it will be the tallest building in Greater Victoria.

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/1848/colwoodtower5nx.jpg

I agree Victoria really does need allot more talller buildings. For it is an island and room is running out. So build Victoria up so high, that it can become the tallest Canadian island city. It would look so cool and population and tourist attraction should rise. If crazy tall buildinds were built in Victoria.

people live in Victoria? haha only jokin:).......

i was just watching the CH news and they were taling abouty the new bus improvements underway and at the end of the story they said the changes now will make way for the future LRT...

hmmm

Some of the business folk they spoke to weren't too thrilled with the idea of a dedicated bus lane down the middle of Douglas. I can understand where they're coming from, it's next to impossible to get from one side of Douglas to the other in certain places even now. I presume the bus lane will have "pass through" sections for vehicles making left turns? Or do I presume incorrectly?

Some of the business folk they spoke to weren't too thrilled with the idea of a dedicated bus lane down the middle of Douglas. I can understand where they're coming from, it's next to impossible to get from one side of Douglas to the other in certain places even now. I presume the bus lane will have "pass through" sections for vehicles making left turns? Or do I presume incorrectly?

The busway won't start until Fisgard if not Cormorant, which leads me to believe CH is playing the fearmongering game by asking unlearned individuals about the project. Few, if any, businesses will be impacted by the buslane. Either way the solution is getting rid of onstreet parking and reclaiming it for a traffic lane. What can happen then is what happens in Richmond, where there's a turning and u-turn lane at every intersection. Problem solved? Yup. Thanks CH news!

Of course in Victoria getting rid of a few parking spaces is a suicidal proposition. It's funny though, as residents bitch about a reduction in parking and "having to drive around for a few minutes finding parking" but herald traffic calming which slows them down to a crawl and increases travel time. I just don't get it.

The businesses in question weren't downtown, they were around Mayfair and beyond.

www.thefallsvictoria.com is up and running, even though the building hasn't been approved yet:

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8743/thefalls0vl.jpg

And there are two new highrises in the works out at Bear Mountain:

www.soaringpeaks.ca (http://www.soaringpeaks.ca/)

www.thehighlander.ca (http://www.thehighlander.ca)

^^ Thats an awesome looking building!

Build streetcar system, urges transport group



Esquimalt should pressure other levels of government to ensure a rail-based commuter system to service its naval base.

Such is the view of David Faulks and Gerry Howell Jones.

The two, representing a citizen-based volunteer group called Island Transformations.Org, want the Capital Regional District, the province and the federal government to consider using a potential $2 billion slated for road construction to form a regional rail-based commuter system instead.

Faulks said "many of the strands of the south Island's infrastructure and transportation needs are coming together" and called the E&N a "significant corridor" for moving people.

The potential for using the E&N rail system to ease the flood of commuter traffic to CFB Esquimalt is vast, Faulks argued.

As part of a tour of local councils, the two presented a vision for a region-wide rail-based transit system, featuring spurs to the University of Victoria and the B.C. Ferries terminal to Esquimalt council June 6.

Jones, the president of the group, pointed to similar concepts already in place in Portland, Ore., that moves thousands of commuters each day.

"They have used their transit system to revitalize their downtown," he said. "The result has been a great increase in their tax base. Portland invested $56 million in their downtown, free-ride street-car system."

The result, he argued, has been impressive: most of the new development within the city, particularly condominiums, lie clustered near the rail spurs.

A cost-benefit analysis of highways versus rail show the latter as a more viable means of public transport, he added, and new electric-based trains and streetcars provide a quiet, environmentally sound method of moving people.

"It can accommodate ridership with the least impact on suburban neighbourhoods," he said, adding that there "is broad-based public support."

Under questioning, Faulks also said that unlike the automated Skytrain system in Vancouver, Island Transformations.org envisions fully staffed streetcars to service the Capital Region.

"We're talking about- all driver-operated, so you have somebody there, operating the vehicle," Faulks said, carrying as many as 300 passengers.

He pressed Esquimalt to call for a regional rail feasibility study, including a visit to Portland to determine the validity of a rail-transit models and also called for a unification of local transit interests in a model similar to Vancouver's Translink.

That idea intrigued Coun. Jane Sterk, who said the challenge is dealing with the 13 far-from-unified municipalities in the Capital Region.

The same, Jones said, once held true for Portland - but the success of one city's initiative soon flowed into support from neighbouring municipalities.

Victoria is different, he argued, because "our region is pretty self-aware about transportion planning. People are more aware, and I think they will be able to tap into the political leadership."

Coun. Hy Freedman said the idea had merit. Once a native of Calgary, which itself explored a regional rail transit system, Freedman said Victoria should do the same.

"We have to start soon, before the problems with population overtake the ability to do anything," he said.

However, he wasn't certain that a Translink-style entity made sense.

Translink, he noted, was a "child of the regional district there, and has many problems with municipalities in the mainland."

That said, he noted that the province and B.C. Transit is looking at alternate governance models for the region.
:) :)

Towering dreams for 'uptown'
Triple vision tops city height limits at 25, 19 and 15 storeys

Carolyn Heiman and Malcolm Curtis Times Colonist
Saturday, July 15, 2006

Manhattan has its "uptown." Now, Victoria might have one that includes 25-storey, 19-storey, and 15-storey towers.

Victoria's downtown plan currently limits the height of buildings to 43 metres, roughly 14 storeys, so changes to the rules will be necessary for the towers to be built.

The towers are part of two large projects proposed for the site of the former Bay store, on Douglas Street, and an adjacent block to the north. While the projects have a ways to go before getting a green light, developers are already calling the area "uptown."

Vancouver developer Rick Ilich, owner of Townline Group, has outlined the tower ideas in plans submitted to the city. They are to be located on what is now the Bay parkade, part of a four-phase project.

The first phase would create 145 residential units above commercial space in the four-storey, heritage-protected Bay building. Later phases may be more controversial. A 71.7-metre tower with 178 condos, planned as the second phase, would become the city's tallest building at 29 storeys. (The 22-storey Orchard House in James Bay is the tallest now.)

Third-phase plans include a 129-unit, 19-storey tower. An 85-unit, 15-storey building is part of the fourth phase.

Meanwhile, Principle Holdings Inc. has submitted plans for a 350,000-square-foot commercial, residential complex called The Well. It would be built on the block immediately north of the former Bay and bounded by Caledonia Avenue and Herald, Douglas and Blanshard streets.
A rezoning request will be considered on July 20.

City planner Deb Day said the two projects offer an opportunity to see the north end of downtown revitalized.

The president of the Downtown Residents Association called the changes exciting. "Residential density is absolutely essential to bringing vibrancy to the downtown," said Sandra Meigs. Constructing higher buildings is also a more sustainable kind of growth, she said.

But Coun. Dean Fortin is concerned about pressure from developers to build taller buildings.

"We have more and more experts in the sustainable development community telling us about building at a human scale," said Fortin. The city risks destroying the unique, small-scale nature that makes it attractive to live in and visit, he said.

Brenda Ferguson, who sells and leases real estate for Sutton Group Westcan Realty, said the nature of the area makes it difficult to lease property north of City Hall. "There are a lot of older buildings that are one level.

"Everything dies after City Hall because there is little density and if you don't have walk-by traffic, retail becomes very tough."


© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2006


*********************************

Bay project offers great opportunity

Residential, retail mix could spark life and growth in north end of downtown for years to come

Times Colonist Editorial
Saturday, July 15, 2006

It's being called a megaproject and, by Victoria standards, it is -- a $200-million commercial and residential complex built around the old Hudson's Bay building at Douglas Street and Fisgard Street that would extend north to cover two blocks.

The proposal, announced this week, would be a mix of commercial and residential development. The Bay building would get a major renovation, including additional storeys, to clear the way for 147 living units on the upper floors and retail space at ground level. The parkade would be replaced by a new retail/residential building.

And another developer plans an adjacent project to the north with 84 residential units, extensive retail space and a 400-car underground parking lot.

This isn't the first time there's been excitement about the future of The Bay building, which the retailer sold in 2003 to move to the former Eaton Centre downtown. Vancouver developer R.G. Lee took an option on the building as a complement to his Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre across the street. There were also hopes that the Greater Victoria Public Library would find a new home in the Bay building.

However, after extensive wrangling the deal feel through in 2004 and the property was bought by Townline Group.

The latest proposal could give a needed boost to a part of the downtown core that has struggled compared to the livelier harbour area. A refurbished retail setting could bring a commercial spark to this area while the hundreds of residential units will add to the livability of Victoria's downtown.

This is also a chance for council to negotiate a downtown home for a cultural attraction such as the art gallery, currently exiled away from the tourist foot traffic on Moss Street.

The challenge will be protecting the public interest without entangling the projects in unwarranted delays. Too many would-be Victoria-area developers have experienced the negativity that can lead to slow approvals, endless revisions and, sometimes, abandonment of the project. It's a miracle, for example, that owner Kevin Walker hasn't given up on his attempts to revitalize the Oak Bay Beach Hotel after years of delays and revisions.

Undoubtedly, the projects will face many challenges. There will be legitimate debate about the height of the buildings, for example, balancing the development's economic viability with the value in preserving Victoria's low-rise, human-scale core. Council can be expected to insist on trade-offs for benefits the developers seek.

But Victorians, and their council, also have to recognize that no development is perfect and try to make the process as swift and aggravation-free as possible.

The area around the old Bay building is languishing, in part because of the dead zone created by the empty building. The projects could be just what this part of downtown -- and the entire core -- needs.


© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2006

The Jack Davis block (one block north of the Bay) is also slated for a couple of junior highrise buildings.

No renderings of any of this yet, of course. (sigh)

Here's a pic of the newest phase of Dockside Green:

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/295/balancedo3.jpg

Here's a great rendering of the Juliet, currently under construction at the corner of Douglas Street and Johnson Street (Romeo's Pizza site). What a beauty.

http://www.mcmparchitects.com/photos/Juliet%20-%20Bldg%20Rendering.jpg

Don't forget, the hearing for the Falls (big Douglas Street parking lot across from the Sticky Wicket) is this THURSDAY, July 20!

If you care about what happens in Victoria, be down at city hall at 7pm on Thursday and say your piece.

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8743/thefalls0vl.jpg

...so apparently this beauty got the knod this evening!

Here's a rendering of the Bay department store redevelopment:

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

Thats great , Im so empressed with the amount of work beeing done In Victoria .
What is it the drives the Construction there and what are the migration numbers .
WHY is there such new demand ?

^^ I think the climate is the biggest draw.

I'm going to say Victorians are rediscovering their downtown and they're liking it more and more.

The first wave of highrise construction in the 1960s-1970s was artificially cut short because some people didn't like what was happening. So downtown languished in a funny sort of limbo for a few decades.

In the late 1980s the Eaton Centre project came along. In the 1990s a few new office buildings and a few new condo buildings followed. The downtown London Drugs expanded. A new supermarket opened next door...cynics said it would fail, but it's actually been a gold mine and the franchise is expanding to other areas.

So now here we are in 2006 and there are a bunch of new downtown condos, which has only fuelled the demand for even more (and even better). Parking lots are disappearing. Things are coming together.

There's a new downtown arena. There's a new MEC store downtown. Public reaction to key condo projects like Dockside, The Falls and now the Bay revitalization has been supremely positive.

The dark days are waning, folks. If the Bay thing happens then downtown will be over the proverbial hump (dare I say it) forever.

yes , I could see that , housing seems high though ( in comparison with here) but I guess Beeing the capital would cause that & yes the climate

The carmudgeons are still out in force, though, and the media is largely on their side. I find it amusing that some individuals insist these new condos may already have or will soon destroy downtown/periphery hoods but when you look at the stats all that's been built since 2002 is:

20-storeys - Astoria - downtown
16-storeys - Marriott hotel - downtown
15-storeys - Belvedere - downtown (u/c)
13-storeys - The Wave - downtown (u/c)
12-storeys - Corazon - downtown
12-storeys - Parc Residences, Vic West (across harbour fr downtown)

Those are the only highrises that have thus far made a physical impact on the downtown area. And for the most part these are not standalone towers but instead are clustered in with similarly sized buildings. The 20-storey Astoria is barely visible from most vantage points, for example!

The 41-story Colwood proposal was revealed today. Just look at this list now (minus the two junior highrises proposed for the Jack Davis block). If everything pans out, this may well constitute the biggest spurt of construction in Victoria's history.

RECENTLY COMPLETED

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/6756/9953gatehousems2kg.jpg
Gatehouse (Selkirk area near downtown - 6 stories - completed)

http://www.trendwest.com/images/resorts/victoria/victoria_ov_2b.jpg
Trendwest Worldmark (Victoria harbour - 9 stories - completed)

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/1470/marriot7wj.jpg
Marriott Hotel (downtown - 16 stories - completed)

http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/6088/cityplace8kl.jpg
City Place (downtown - 7 stories - completed)

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/3923/gallerylarge016yz.jpg
Shoal Point (Victoria harbour - 12 stories - completed)

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/1269/thereef5tx.jpg
The Reef (James Bay near downtown - 6 stories - completed)

http://rwglobal.com/re/common/pictures/203030.jpg
860 View (downtown - 8 stories - completed)

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1449/saywardhill3vo.jpg
Sayward Hill (East Saanich - 6 stories - completed)

http://www.saveonfoodsmemorialcentre.com/images/saveonfoodscentre.jpg
New Arena (Save-On Foods Memorial Centre - never quite completed, it seems)

http://www.westbankcorp.com/images/Parc-full7.jpg
Parc (Vic West facing downtown - 12 stories - completed)

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/1453/navalofficertrainingcent9im.jpg
Venture Barracks - Navy Officer Training Centre (Victoria harbour - 6 stories)

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/1281/corazon1vk.jpg
Corazon (downtown - 12 stories - completed)

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2668/picture1255pm.jpg
Astoria (downtown - 20 stories - completed)

CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION

http://www.concertproperties.com/data/upload/images//property_full/Belvedere_ext1.jpg
Belvedere (downtown - 16 stories - under construction)

http://www.oswegovictoria.com/images/royalty_free/Rndrng.jpg
Oswego (James Bay near downtown - 10 stories - under construction)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tGuerrero/P4200528.jpg
The Wave (downtown - 12 stories - under construction)

http://img280.imageshack.us/img280/9231/parkside8id.jpg
Parkside Spa (downtown - 8 stories - under construction)

http://www.westbankcorp.com/images/shutters-full2.jpg
Shutters (Victoria harbour - 9 stories - under construction)

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/601/shuttersuc5fr.jpg
Shutters under construction

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3413/swallowslanding21oq.jpg
Swallows Landing (Victoria harbour - 9 stories - under construction)

http://www.thepier.ca/images/h_model.jpg
The Pier (Sidney waterfront, north of Victoria - 7 stories - under construction)

http://www.loopnet.com/Attachments/9/9/8/9987EB6C-721A-466D-A4BC-2269CD7A5303.JPG
Upper Harbour Place (Vic West facing downtown - 6 stories - under construction - phase 1 shown)

http://img349.imageshack.us/img349/2450/songheeshilltop9wb.jpg
Songhees Hilltop - Phase 1 of 3 (Victoria harbour - 11 stories - under construction)

http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/505/ariamodel1na.jpg
Aria (downtown - 2 x 12 stories - under construction)

http://synergy.docksidegreen.com/images/home-right.jpg
Synergy (Vic West facing downtown - 10 stories - under construction)

APPROVED PROPOSALS

http://img349.imageshack.us/img349/2229/langford7sw.jpg
Suburban Condo Tower (Langford, west of Victoria - 17 stories - approved proposal)

http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/8435/mozartbuilding0cf.jpg
Mozart Building (downtown - 12 stories - approved proposal - but officially stalled, which breaks our collective heart)

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/6545/028300259kn.jpg
"Cherry Bank" Condominiums (Fairfield/downtown - 8 stories - approved proposal)

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/295/balancedo3.jpg
Balance (Vic West facing downtown - 9 & 10 stories)

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/196/10saywardhill1qn.jpg
10 Sayward Hill (East Saanich - 6 stories)

http://www.mcmparchitects.com/photos/Juliet%20-%20Bldg%20Rendering.jpg
Juliet (downtown - 14 stories - approved)

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/6678/reflections1cc.jpg
Reflections (Langford, west of Victoria - 6 stories - approved)

http://www.dysarch.com/UserImages/WebImages/ProjectImages/1.%20RESIDENTIAL/Market%20High%20Rise/Royal%20Roads/Royal%20Roads%20-%20perspective.jpg
Royal Roads Place (Colwood, west of Victoria - 29 stories - approved)
*If it gets built, this would be the tallest building in the Victoria CMA, until "Michelle" (see below) gets built.

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8743/thefalls0vl.jpg
Waterfall (downtown - 17 & 14 stories - approved!)

PROPOSED/IN THE WORKS

http://img429.imageshack.us/img429/6828/viewvancouver2zm.jpg
View Street at Vancouver Street (downtown - 14 stories - proposed)

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/6126/cookjohnson4cr.jpg
Cook Street at Johnson Street (downtown - 10 stories - proposed)

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/7545/lagoonestateseh9.jpg
Lagoon Estates (Colwood, west of Victoria - proposed)
*this is just a concept rendering from their website*

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/1779/hudsonho6.jpg
Bay department store redevelopment (downtown - 3 towers - proposed)

http://img423.imageshack.us/img423/973/themichelleqv1.jpg
"Michelle" condominium tower (Colwood, west of Victoria - 41 stories - proposed)
*If it gets built, this would be the tallest building in the Victoria CMA.

Of course, there are some people who regard this big spurt of new proposals as an indicator that the real estate bubble is about to burst. They may well be correct. We'll see.

Deleted -- will move to another thread

Here's the new "Langford Station" proposal in Langford. It's supposed to be 15 stories but this image makes it appear to be only 13 stories.

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/6057/getimagedllmo9.jpg

Construction updates:

THE WAVE:
http://www.therealvictoria.ca/images/the_wave.jpg
http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/5629/img4391rb0.jpg

SHUTTERS:

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

*Recent Construction Pics*
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/8979/img4605qx0.jpg
http://www.therealvictoria.ca/images/shutters.jpg


SWALLOW'S LANDING (Esquimalt):

*Rendering*
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3413/swallowslanding21oq.jpg

*Recent Construction Pic*
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2507/img4608ua2.jpg

BELVEDERE

*Rendering*
http://www.concertproperties.com/data/upload/images//property_full/Belvedere_ext1.jpg

*Recent Construction Pic (rear side)*
http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/1669/img4646to2.jpg

MEANWHILE...work is well underway on ARIA...

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

*Recent Construction Pic*
http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/6592/img4657az6.jpg

...and the JULIET...

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

*Recent Construction Pic*
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a340/tGuerrero/P9210134.jpg

While THE FALLS is just getting started.

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8743/thefalls0vl.jpg

Here's a rundown of the suburban proposals, including the latest multi-tower concept for "Colwood Corners":

http://img349.imageshack.us/img349/2229/langford7sw.jpg
Suburban Condo Tower (Langford, west of Victoria - 17 stories - approved proposal)

http://www.dysarch.com/UserImages/WebImages/ProjectImages/1.%20RESIDENTIAL/Market%20High%20Rise/Royal%20Roads/Royal%20Roads%20-%20perspective.jpg
Royal Roads Place (Colwood, west of Victoria - 29 stories - approved)
*If it gets built, this would be the tallest building in the Victoria CMA, until "Michelle" (see below) gets built.

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/7545/lagoonestateseh9.jpg
Lagoon Estates (Colwood, west of Victoria - proposed)
*this is just a concept rendering from their website*

http://img423.imageshack.us/img423/973/themichelleqv1.jpg
"Michelle" condominium tower (Colwood, west of Victoria - 41 stories - proposed)
*If it gets built, this would be the tallest building in the Victoria CMA.

http://skyscraperpage.com/temp/images/thehighlander.jpg
"Highlander" (Langford, west of Victoria - 14 stories - approved?)

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/6057/getimagedllmo9.jpg
Langford Station (Langford, west of Victoria - 15 stories - proposed)

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/2129/colwoodcornersnh3.jpg
Colwood Corners (Colwood, west of Victoria - 29, 22, 16, & 12 stories - proposed)

Anyone know what the little project on Cook beside Larson music is going to be?

No idea on that Cook Street project you mentioned.

Here's Bayview (also known as Songhees hilltop)...phase 1:

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4229/bayviewxt3.jpg

There was a public presentation of the office tower proposal for the Gold's Gym (Blanshard & Fisgard) site the other night. The design includes a "living wall" on two sides. They're shooting for 15-stories (57 metres).

The naysayers have been protesting new condo construction downtown by claiming there's no new office construction happening. So now we've got this significant project and also the recently proposed ~12-story office complex just two blocks north (part of "The Well" project).

Expect the naysayers to do an about face and start complaining that there's too much office space being built downtown.

Well it isn't building news but I just read in the latest MacLeans that Victoria is thinking of getting automatic public toilets but not the kind Vancouver is getting but rather the kind that are telescopic urinals that lift out of the ground at night.

Article at canada.com -
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=d8c08525-43f2-45d5-9672-ef1277594d51&k=15965

An example of Urilift in London's Embankment-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38409000/jpg/_38409345_westminsterloo300.jpg

Urilift website where you can view videos-
http://www.urilift.nl/movie2.php

Today!

Swallow's Landing

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1369.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1342.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1374.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1373.jpg

Bayview

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1358.jpg

Shutters

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1341.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1356.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1363.jpg

Rail Yards

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1352.jpg

Upper Harbour Place

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1351.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1350.jpg

Dockside Green

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1345.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1348.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1354.jpg

James Bay, Oswega St

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1336.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1339.jpg

James Bay, Low Rise

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1343.jpg

The Falls

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1332.jpg

Aria

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1331.jpg

Juilet

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1334.jpg

Fairfield & Blanshard

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1326.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1325.jpg

Random School? in Esquilmalt

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/brett420/Cities/IMG_1375.jpg

Man do I love upper harbour place—maybe just because it's such a rare oasis of (practically) balcony-free construction. I don't much care for the wave-motif on the east side of the Wave building. It's the same image from every piece of schlock art that comes out of Japan. Couldn't they have done something unique?…

i wish kamloops had all the construction like what victoria has..hell even kelowna. we will have some biggies pretty soon.

Here's the model of the Falls as shown at the groundbreaking this week:

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

That would be an awesome building to live in...

Now if only somebody would do something with that triangular city-owned "flatiron" lot immediately north of the Crystal Garden...

Here's a recent picture of The Pier in Sidney:

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

Here's the massing model for the Capitol 6 proposal (actually on the parking lot behind the Capitol 6, between Yates and View). The Wave is the building at the left:

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m256/5955483/P1000990.jpg

Here's the "Gateway Green" office tower proposed for the old Gold's Gym site at Fisgard and Blanshard:

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

I like the office tower! I was going to ask when you made your last post what a massing model is?

Here's a definition:

"A massing model is a very simple, exterior-only type of architectural 3D model, used to study the essence of the overall 3D form and proportions..."

Exterior details are not incorporated into such a model, in other words.

Hello,

Anyone care to offer their "best guess" as to possible future development plans for the big waterfront parking lot at the east end of Johnson St. Bridge, between bridge VIA Rail station and Mermaid Wharf condos?

Stay a parking lot? More condos? City park/walkway? Or?

Thanks.

No plans for that place but someday there will be condos.

Come over and visit www.vibrantvictoria.ca that is where the discussions really happen!

I haven't heard any rumours for that site but I'd sure like to see something happen there. Be sure to check out the forum at www.vibrantvictoria.ca (http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca) for the full scoop on Victoria's development scene.

Here's a rendering of "The Conductor" out in Langford:

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/5756/conductorzj0.jpg

http://theconductor.ca/

The height/density rezoning necessary for the Bay redevelopment project was approved last night.

The abandoned Bay department store is shown at the left of the following pic. The hole in the roof would be a key aspect of phase 1, in order to make the heritage building suitable for loft apartments. The towers at the back would follow in phases 2 and 3.

The developer is calling it "the most significant heritage restoration in western Canada."

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/32f7eb68-074a-454b-8e37-832c8bb262cb/vka-thehudson-2.jpg

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/32f7eb68-074a-454b-8e37-832c8bb262cb/vka-thehudson-08.jpg

^ looks awesome.

A review of the more notable current construction projects:

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://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


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



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


VICINO (www.vicinovictoria.com)

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

Thanks for the great update aastra!

I am so glad to see that car park at The Falls finally getting dug up! Now when I stay at the Strath I'll have a great view of it. I love the size of the project, when is it supposed to be completed anyway?

The developer's website indicates a completion date of Spring, 2009.

Here's a screenshot of the website for www.oakstreetvillage.ca (http://www.oakstreetvillage.ca/). Nice picture of Victoria.

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

^ sweet pic.

Delete

Here's a 23-story proposal for "Colwood Corners," on Wale Road:

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

An excerpt from the article in the paper:

Bill Cleverley
Times Colonist
Monday, April 02, 2007

Colwood councillors will get their first look Tuesday at a proposed $44-million condominium project that would tower as high as any building in the capital region.

Wessex Project Management Inc. is proposing to build the 23-storey triangular-shaped tower on a 1.36-acre site at 2708 Wale Rd. along the Galloping Goose Trail near Colwood Corners.

“I like it,” said Mayor Jody Twa of the design.

A staff report says it’s an area where it wouldn’t be wise to make any design mistakes.

“A poorly executed tower project may have unfortunate consequences and a good project may have neutral or beneficial consequences,” says a staff report on the application going to Colwood’s planning and zoning committee.

“We feel it’s a good project. The staff recommendation is to approve it,” Twa said.

“We’ve got detailed design of the building. The building’s shaped like the lot. It’s interesting in shape because it’s not even a square building.”

Twa said the proposal is bona fide and the company hopes to have a development permit and begin construction by this summer. Completion is scheduled for May of 2009.

That building will have awesome views

I hope to visite Victoria someday.lol:

nice building . What is the Tallest in Vic. right now?

Rhino, the tallest is 22-storeys and 62 meters. The recently approved 24-storey Hudson tower will be 72 meters tall but as you can see that 23-storey suburban proposal will surpass the Hudson (actually, some suburban projects are proposed at over 130 meters).

Below are renderings originally posted on VibrantVictoria.ca for a couple new project.

This is a 15-storey office proposal for north downtown dubbed Gateway Green. It'll become the tallest office building in the city if approved.

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

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


And this is a 13-storey office, 18- and 9-storey residential development two blocks north of Gateway Green dubbed Radius. If approved, Radius' office building will be the second tallest in the city if Gateway Green is approved at 15-storeys.

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

^^ Can't see any pics

Construction continues on the first phase of Aria:

http://members.shaw.ca/vibrantvictoria3/0003/0003_apr28_07a.jpg

And on Bayview:

http://members.shaw.ca/vibrantvictoria3/0004/0004_apr28_07a.jpg

And on The Falls:

http://members.shaw.ca/vibrantvictoria3/0001/0001_apr28_07a.jpg

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.

I can't wait to see more highrise springing up, Its about time!

Here's a concept image of the Roundhouse project:

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

More info at: http://www.roundhousevictoria.com/

Is there still a really strict height limit in Vic!?

Is there still a really strict height limit in Vic!?

Yeah because of the Parliament buildings. It's like that in Ottawa too.

There are actually many buildings in Victoria that exceed the height restriction. The height restriction was introduced after the highrise apartment boom of the 1960s & 1970s.

Some new buildings on south downtown's Y-lot have also exceeded the height restriction, but if I'm not mistaken the site in question had special zoning for taller buildings as part of a deal to save/restore the St. Ann's Academy building.

Still, those buildings are shorter than Victoria's tallest buildings, which were built almost 40 years ago.

Here's a beautiful rendering of the office/commercial portion of the Radius proposal:

Radius office/commercial component
www.radiusvictoria.com

http://www.radiuscommercial.com/images/RC_building_rendering.jpg

I'm a big fan of the Gateway Green office tower proposal down the street but I think Radius is a finer design:

Gateway Green
www.gatewaygreen.ca (http://www.gatewaygreen.ca)

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

holy crap, what's up with all the domestic rabbits at UVIC?

Didn't you know? Rabbits have been a big problem at UVic and also at the suburban hospital (Vic General) for years and years.

The irony being that Vancouver Island has no native rabbits or hares.

The truth is that the rabbits were introduced for hunting purposes to western Washington in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. Shortly thereafter they dispersed to the lower Fraser Valley in BC. It wasn’t until 1964 that cottontails were introduced to Sooke, on southern Vancouver Island.

Another thing people might not realize about Victoria is that there were hardly any squirrels at all in the city until a few years ago. I was a young adult the first time I saw a live squirrel in Victoria. Nowadays there are two or three squirrels in every tree.

Eastern grey squirrels were first introduced into Beacon Hill Park in 1945 by Park Administrator W. H. Warren and the Parks Committee...The animals released in the Park in 1945 completely disappeared.

Grey squirrels living in the Park and throughout the Victoria region today are most likely descendants of squirrels acquired from Ontario in the fall of 1966 by the Vandermeer Game Farm in Metchosin. These animals “escaped accidentally shortly thereafter,” according to a 1975 article in the Provincial Museum publication Syesis by C. J. Guiguet. In August 1974, several families of grey squirrels in widely separated locations in the Metchosin area were reported and a specimen was donated to the Museum.

Grey squirrels have continued to spread across southern Vancouver Island. They are extremely successful generalist foragers and can survive in a variety of habitats.

Though not present in Beacon Hill Park, native Vancouver Island squirrels--noisy Red squirrels with distinctive ear tufts--are still seen and heard in many areas of southern Vancouver Island (even though aastra has seen maybe two or three in his entire life). Little research has focused on whether or not introduced grey squirrels have displaced native squirrels on the Island.

^ wow, so it's kinda like the Australia and their rabbit problem.

interesting that a domestic rabbit's gestation period is only 28 days and they can have as many as 2-12 babies at a time.....and those babies can reproduce when their 3 months old. no wonder how it became such a problem....

Pics of the new Oswego Hotel in James Bay (courtesy of gumgum over at VibrantVictoria.ca). We weren't paying particularly close attention to this project but it looks like it turned out to be a pretty nice building:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_6826.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_6825.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_6832.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_6824.jpg

Construction updates from Vic West/the Songhees courtesy of gumgum over at VibrantVictoria.ca:

BAYVIEW
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_6862.jpg

from another angle:
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_6849.jpg

DOCKSIDE GREEN (Phase 1)
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_6866.jpg

in context:
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_6863.jpg

SHUTTERS
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_6838.jpg

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

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

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

^ holy crap is that nice. so sexy. love the curve.

Wow! Shutters looks great!

My cousins want me to go visit next year so I think I may take up their offer. Its only been about 2 years since I last stepped foot in Victoria, I wonder how much has changed.

Here's the proposal for 834 Johnson Street. Same builder as the Corazon on Cormorant St. and the Juliet on Blanshard.

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m256/5955483/834%20Johnson/P1010506.jpg

And here's the latest incarnation of "SilkWind at Westshore" in the 'burbs:

http://www.silkwindwestshore.ca/images/SilkWind_building_rendering.jpg
http://www.silkwindwestshore.ca

Is there any limit for foreigners to buy property in Canada?

The first phase of Aria is almost topped out. From this angle it completely obscures the much taller Astoria behind it:

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/Photosofdowntownfromnewvistas017.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j283/thegreatscaper/Photosofdowntownfromnewvistas014.jpg

Wow, I have forgotten all about this website. hahhaa

Another highrise office proposal for downtown! (the other two being Radius and Gateway Green)

This one is actually west of Douglas Street, which is generally considered to be the old town. Thus, they probably won't get the height they're after.

There's also an office proposal out at Town & Country which will possibly be a highrise.

Historic St. Andrew's Church faces development test
Building adjacent to St. Andrew's would likely endanger its architecturally significant neighbour
Carolyn Heiman, Times Colonist
Published: Monday, July 09, 2007

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church defined Victoria's skyline long before there was an Empress Hotel, City Hall, or the present legislative buildings.

The heritage building, built in 1889, is considered so significant to the landscape of the city, rules prohibit nearby buildings from blocking the view of its tower. Indeed, the kitty-corner Sussex Hotel, in its redevelopment, had to step back additional storeys to give the bricked church tower breathing room.

Now the congregation wants to join with Vancouver-based developer Westbank to build a taller-than-allowed 11- to 12-storey project next door to its sanctuary that would bend rules intended to preserve viewpoints.


Full story available here... (http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/capital_van_isl/story.html?id=7eaa35c1-bd13-4dd2-a56f-f5795002b5f8&k=68098)

The site in question (courtesy of gumgum over at VibrantVictoria.ca):
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_7187.jpg

Radius
http://www.radiuscommercial.com/images/RC_building_rendering.jpg

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

The model for the downtown Bay store renovation was presented the other night. Here's a picture, courtesy of Robert Randall of the Downtown Residents' Association. Check out the forum at www.vibrantvictoria.ca for more pics:

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m256/5955483/Hudson%20Model/Douglas_herald.jpg

Is there any limit for foreigners to buy property in Canada?

No, you can buy as much as you want :)

Here's a model of the downtown art gallery/condo tower proposal. Looks too chunky for my tastes:

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/5706/aggvsatellite0001lf3.jpg

And a rendering:

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/2531/crystalviewphotos027za6.jpg

The model doesn't look that great, but the rendering looks fantastic. My only criticism is that the tower could have a more pronounced blunt curve. It's too busy. The wedge shaped building is sexy, especially how the glass meets the pavement. Hopefully, that pavement is stone or something better than standard pavement concrete.

TheGreatScaper has posted some new night shots over at Flickr.com. This guy is quite the shutterbug:


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1090/1048584439_22364e4bc0_b.jpg

***

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1065/1049465542_8b277c89c8_b.jpg

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http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1015/1048584345_8883dca140_b.jpg

***

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1036/1048584289_23a27fe8f7_b.jpg

***

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1069/1049368742_1f4401436a_b.jpg

***

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1280/1048584103_bde45aba10_b.jpg

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http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1415/1048584209_f56acbbf4b_b.jpg

Some more seldom seen angles of downtown Victoria, courtesy of the Great Scaper:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1088/1070297628_f96d0ec85a_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1162/1069417553_a21d09430a_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1276/1069421259_a7c54595bb_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1392/1070308856_730b091bdc_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1284/1070300680_94a0e47d7d_b.jpg

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


Construction giant eyes harbour project
Prestigious company helped build Toronto's SkyDome, Canada's pavilion at Expo 86

Carolyn Heiman, Times Colonist
Published: Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Talk of redeveloping Victoria's Inner Harbour has the attention of a Canadian construction giant -- even though the ink is barely dry on a task force's $100-million plan for the area and the province remains silent on what it thinks about the recommendations.

A representative of EllisDon said yesterday the company is working with a consortium interested in putting in a bid should the B.C. government call for proposals.

John Schucht, board chairman for EllisDon, said the waterfront development would be a natural for his company, "but the project has to make economic sense and the various levels of government have to make a decision on whether to proceed."

EllisDon has been involved in prestigious and large projects around the globe, including Canary Wharf in London, the Olympic Village Medical Clinic in Athens, the SkyDome in Toronto, and the host pavilion for Expo 86 in Vancouver, now called Canada Harbour Place.

According to the company's website, Schucht "is based in Victoria where he is active in business development for EllisDon."

Schucht also owns WayWell Development Inc. with his son, the company that is building the Radius commercial/residential project at the corner of Blanshard Street and Caledonia Avenue.

Schucht was spotted at a special meeting of Victoria city council on Monday where the task force appointed by Mayor Alan Lowe presented its report on development of the Belleville Street side of the Inner Harbour. He said he's leading the consortium on behalf of the company.

Mohan Jawl, a task force member and leading city developer, said at least two groups have expressed interest in putting in proposals. He did not name the companies, but said his is not among them.

The task force was asked to develop a vision for the 2.8-hectare harbourfront area that didn't require any money from the province, and that could be delivered using a private-public partnership. It came up with a blueprint for a $100-million project that calls for a new passenger ferry terminal, a hotel, cafs and retail shops, restoration of the historic CP building that now houses the wax museum and relocation of the MV Coho vehicle and passenger ferry service.

The task force said the Coho, which travels between Victoria and Port Angeles, requires too much space, and incorporating it into the plan would cost an additional $20 million in redevelopment costs and lost revenue.

Yesterday, municipal politicians and opposition MLAs criticized the province for not funding the project.

Rob Fleming, MLA for Victoria Hillside, accused Tourism Minister Stan Hagen of favouring Vancouver over the Island.

"He has no problem finding $400 million for ballooning cost overruns for the Vancouver Convention Centre," Fleming noted.

Hagen's office released a statement yesterday for the minister, who is on vacation, indicating the report would be reviewed.

The Belleville Street harbourfront lands are managed by the Provincial Capital Commission on behalf of the province.


© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2007

The Great Scaper has put together a nice collection of recent photos over at Flickr.com:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/sets/72157601565921979/show/

Rooftop volleyball by The Great Scaper:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1332/1293095417_b409b7b813.jpg

More from the Great Scaper:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1294/1334171889_e5de658677_b.jpg

And still more:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1296/1334130393_4daee01a2e_b.jpg

All pics courtesy of gumgum at VibrantVictoria.ca...

Aria - North side (phase 1):
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_0026.jpg

Aria - South side (phase 2 at left):
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_8284.jpg

Shutters:
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_8290.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_8292.jpg

Bayview under construction in the background:
http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_8295.jpg

Pic from the official groundbreaking for Victoria's first suburban highrise, Silkwind at Westshore (in Colwood):

http://web.bcnewsgroup.com/portals/uploads/goldstream/.DIR288/silkwind_4C_5x_070914.jpg
Pic by Goldstream Gazette (http://www.goldstreamgazette.com/ (http://www.goldstreamgazette.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=12&cat=23&id=1064445&more=0))

http://www.silkwindwestshore.ca/

Between Fort Street and View Street on the parking lot beside View Towers:

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m256/5955483/View%20Fort%20Condo/view1-1.jpg

Geez, this thread is dead. Here's a rundown of the latest news:

http://www.therealvictoria.ca/images/834-JohnsonSt-MassingModel.jpg
834 Johnson Street condos (14 stories - downtown - proposed)

http://www.therealvictoria.ca/images/608-BroughtonSt.jpg
608 Broughton Street (downtown - proposed)
http://www.charddevelopment.com/

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m256/5955483/View%20Fort%20Condo/view3.jpg
Between Fort Street and View Street (downtown - proposed)

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m256/5955483/750%20Pandora/pandora_elevation.jpg
"Centro" (downtown - proposed)

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m256/5955483/750%20Pandora/centro_Jan08_a.jpg
The massing model for "Centro" (pic by Robert Randall at www.vibrantvictoria.ca/forum)

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/4354/atriumbuildingln7.jpg
"Atrium Building" office block (downtown - proposed)

http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/images/mcp/0051/0051a.gif
"Capella" by Quigg at Bear Mountain (Langford, west of of Victoria - proposed?)
http://www.quiggcapella.com

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/9320/capitol6proposalhx5.jpg
"Capitol 6" condo tower (parking lot behind Capitol 6 theatre, between Yates and View - downtown - approved proposal)

Great pictures. :)

A picture of the model for Radius, courtesy of Robert Randall over at VibrantVictoria.ca:

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m256/5955483/model1.jpg

This picture of the ground floor of the model for Gateway Green is also by Mr. Randall:

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m256/5955483/model2-1.jpg

Here's the same Gateway Green model, but illuminated. Picture courtesy of the Great Scaper over at Flickr.com:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2021/2077711796_eabbc679f4.jpg?v=0

A nice pic of The Residences at the Pier out in Sidney:

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/3148/residencesatthepierxd0.jpg
http://www.thepier.ca/

A couple of new buildings along the Selkirk waterfront just north of downtown Victoria:

http://concertproperties.com/database/images/display/sb470395a75d2c0.jpg
365 Waterfront
http://www.365waterfront.com/

http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/images/misc/Boardwalk-Rendering.jpg
Boardwalk
http://www.jawlproperties.com/overview/selkirk_waterfront_overview.html

The Juliet under construction in downtown Victoria:

http://members.shaw.ca/vibrantvictoria3/0002/0002_dec19_07a.jpg
http://www.julietliving.com/

Reflections in Langford, west of Victoria:

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/ressen/IMG_0668.jpg
http://www.liveatreflections.ca/

A new rendering for Crystalview on Belleview Street. No more art gallery. :(

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m256/5955483/Crystal%20Court/northrendering.jpg

Here is an article in the Tyee..

Wider Roads Touted as 'Green'
In Campbell's new era, projects promoted as good for planet can surprise.

By Andrew MacLeod

The provincial and federal governments have found a novel way to help Nanaimo fight global warming: spend money on roads.

"The City of Nanaimo will reduce greenhouse gases and vehicle congestion by improving a busy stretch of road," promises a Jan. 22 announcement. "New traffic lights, widened traffic lanes and improved access to the Swy-a-lana Lagoon Park... will improve traffic flow and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from idling vehicles."

The federal and provincial governments are spending $790,000 on the project, out of a fund dedicated to helping communities become "healthier, greener and more sustainable places to live."

So, just how many tonnes of greenhouse gases will the project eliminate?

A spokesperson for Western Economic Diversification Canada was not able to provide an answer, nor was the province's community services ministry spokesperson, who did say the City of Nanaimo will be studying how the construction affects emissions. At Nanaimo city hall, no one was available to answer the question Monday afternoon.

Unorthodox response

Expanding roads and encouraging traffic are normally seen as major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming, not as part of the solution.

"It's a really unorthodox response," says Jamie Biggar, a researcher and co-founder of Common Energy, a group represented on the premier's Climate Action Team. "In general, I'd much rather see money going to public transportation than road expansion."

Biggar says he's not familiar with the details of the Nanaimo project, but adds, "Almost all the time, more money to public transportation means less greenhouse gas emissions, and more money to road expansion means more."

As more and more is done in the name of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, he says, there are two ways to test the claims. The first is whether a project is an efficient use of funds. When you look at the amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduced per dollar spent, how does that compare to other projects? The second is whether it puts infrastructure in place that will lead to future reductions, he says.

The province's transportation plan, for instance, will not result in large reductions immediately, he says. But it builds a system that will make huge reductions possible in the future.

'Silly' logic: scientist

The Nanaimo announcement comes at a time when Premier Gordon Campbell is making headlines for leading Canada's premiers in the fight against global warming, but many are still watching for substantial progress.

University of Victoria earth and ocean sciences professor Andrew Weaver says the Nanaimo announcement is "silly," but should not be taken as a sign of the province's direction on climate change. Weaver, a lead author on one of the International Panel on Climate Change's reports last year, sits on the premier's Climate Action Team.

"It's a sign of the times, isn't it?" The announcement may be a misstep, he says, but it does show the officials think reducing greenhouse gas emissions is important. "Good on them for at least wanting to, but you've got to do more, folks."

The assertion improving roads will help is silly, he says, but it's ultimately harmless. "You want to get people off the roads, not make more roads," he says. "It is silly pegging it to greenhouse gasses. It's silly, but not in a mean way.... This is a harmless announcement."

'Everything becomes green'

Echoing the green claims of other federal and provincial politicians quoted in the Jan. 22 press release, B.C.'s Community Services Minister Ida Chong applauded the City of Nanaimo "for taking steps to ensure their community is more sustainable and vibrant."

But Central Saanich councillor Zeb King says proposals like the Nanaimo one need closer scrutiny. "How many tonnes of greenhouse gases are they proposing to reduce?" he asks in an e-mail. "If we don't hear figures, then this appears to simply be greenwashing, and we can't afford that when the consequences of not taking serious action are so grave."

In a December interview, King told The Tyee he's seeing a lot of fairly brown projects getting wrapped in green. At the time, Central Saanich was considering a proposal from daffodil farmer Ian Vantreight to use part of his land for a housing development. Vantreight promised the project, which would have required changes to the official community plan and the regional growth strategy, would be done to high environmental standards and would reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"I see these stretches," says King. "We'll find a way to use the language that will satisfy people for the green angle.... It's fairly dangerous if we think of the predicament we're in, if they don't understand the seriousness and they're just using green talk."

When a developer has a pitch like this, and Vantreight for instance was working with some very good environmental consultants, it can be pretty confusing, King says. "It's like Alice in Wonderland, this stuff."

Officials and the public need to be looking for the substance in these pitches, he says. There needs to be real numbers that prove the claims are rational, not just spin.

"Everything becomes green. The big thing is to scrutinize this. That's what's lacking," King says. "If you don't have people asking tough questions and people just accept it, then we've got trouble."

As usual the Tyee spouts of without getting their facts striaght, although most would argue that the Tyee and facts are for the most part, complete strangers. Having lived very near to the proposed road upgrades, I can tell you first hand that with the ferry traffic, combined with the park and general downtown traffic, that stretch of road gets clogged, especially so in the summer months with the increased traffic the nice weather brings to the park and the ferries. So will a better flow to traffic have a direct effect on green house gases? You bet, less sitting idling for three or four lights at a time = less emissions. Very simple really and not too surprising that the leftist rag Tyee can't figure it out....for the life of me I can't figure out why anyone would put ANY stock in anything that they offer up?

Here's a recent picture of the Juliet under construction (pic by Pyroteknik at www.vibrantvictoria.ca):

http://bp2.blogger.com/_R_Q2dmWncmk/R8C9ax5xV8I/AAAAAAAABJI/1ULk5ofn360/s1600-h/_DSC0131.jpg

And here are some pics of Aria from a month ago (pic by gumgum):

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_8720.jpg

The first phase of Aria is almost done (pic by gumgum):

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_1028.jpg

Parkside, also from a month ago, also by gumgum:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_1031.jpg

Synergy at Dockside Green, as captured by gumgum a few days ago:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_1108.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_1100.jpg

Bayview, also by gumgum. This place seems to have nice finishing but it's too wide:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_1124.jpg

Swallows Landing, also wide, also by gumgum:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_1119.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_1113.jpg

Back downtown, The Falls is rising (pic by gumgum):

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_8731.jpg

Some new pictures by my favourite local shutterbug (The Great Scaper):

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2199/2333413891_977d31fe8e.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/2333413891/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/2334240498_a547082d97.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/2334240498/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3081/2333413489_c3ca238455.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/2333413489/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3033/2333413551_21454b5ed4.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/2333413551/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2068/2334240142_6d6f6ba79f.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/2334240142/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2065/2333411977_b0fe320259.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/2333411977/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2370/2334238596_db142ee4ae.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/2334238596/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3079/2307207120_a756c91bf9.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/2307207120/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2006/2306382703_7e874a7755.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/2306382703/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2376/2306382209_537c0b8040.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/2306382209/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/2307127014_e2eea4c412.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/2307127014/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/2307126948_d035921a0d.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/2307126948/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/2306382383_f50e985f29.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/2306382383/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2118/2306382633_34107d899d.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/2306382633/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3055/2334240076_e2505a250e.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/2334240076/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3296/2334238844_53ab42c0b4.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/2334238844/

More pictures by the Great Scaper at Flickr.com:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3087/2369687605_8a0c02c66e.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2177/2370520672_791ac29545.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/2370521216_ce7812745c.jpg

I found these photos in my old collection of photos.

These are some of the old B.C.B.C. Y lot photos I took in the early 90's. The development was approved but the government ended up pulling out of the concept and later sold the property to Concert who has since built three high rises on it.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2320/2444868508_9e61611a63_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/2444868714_55a55ae7aa_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2327/2444041793_c28dc6533e.jpg?v=0

This is what Concert ended up building on this lot.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3290/2334240456_ee74da951e_o.jpg

not bad at all !!!

Thanks,

Here's some photos I've taken the last few weeks,


Here's a few photos of Victoria. These are all photos I've taken and are from my own personal Flickr account. :tup:

Downtown
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3184/2469517821_c398077071_o.jpg

The Juliet condo's going up...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2282/2470340754_3c314a9ccf_o.jpg

The Bay redevelopment. Two 24 story towers will be built on the parkade section.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2083/2470340848_b61f20df9a_o.jpg

The Juliet again,
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2098/2470340480_34ed81dd10_o.jpg

The Bay,
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/2468353527_aed908c638_o.jpg

Dock Side Green development,
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/2468239909_a508e827a7_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2342/2469517893_fb5cb2613c_o.jpg

The Johnson Street Bridge,
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/2468165921_538022712b_o.jpg

B.C. Ferries new Headquarters going up, soon to be excavated.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2242/2468865878_5a26c22791_o.jpg

The Fall's condo's going up, 18 and 13 stories,

The crane...
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1094/1026623500_97c33fcb56_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2414/2467613834_02e7a2f2e6_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3079/2466787803_4a7f3b7a08_o.jpg

The Juliet in behind the New B.C. Ferries Headquarters new building being developed.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2333/2457965913_9c4f6a1284_o.jpg

The Aria Development,

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3081/2333413489_9b429fe228_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3108/2370519534_c0f2e9fc54_o.jpg
Roof top.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2266/2375992344_3195197cdc_o.jpg

The Belvedere,
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2380/2373077202_f74703994d_o.jpg

Astoria,
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3087/2369687605_dc61486428_o.jpg

The Marriott Hotel,
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2187/2370520734_c997050223_o.jpg

Swallow's landing (in the back ground)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2200/2370520164_d5511a2f49_o.jpg

The Cherry Bank Condo's going up,
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/2370520088_bc976351b7_o.jpg

Victoria Parkside,
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2386/2369685531_2698127652_o.jpg

The Executive House getting new windows,
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/2369684421_b382a3ded0_b.jpg

Downtown Office towers,
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2225/2469861977_49b9bc2d85_o.jpg

Songhees Hilltop, (Bay View)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2243/2333411685_46e531c5ba_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2376/2306382209_930af34384_o.jpg

Gateway Green's soon to be 15 story office tower,
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2376/2470685060_213bb21b9c_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3126/2469862245_c30696640b_o.jpg

Victoria's Skyline today from Mt Tolmie... a little hazy today.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/2470685312_4526ffaa9a_o.jpg

Wow I didn't realize Victoria was such a beatiful city, it really puts most other Canadian cities to shame.

I was in Astoria a couple times in the last few days, my buddy just moved in there. Its a really nice building inside and out!

Wow I didn't realize Victoria was such a beatiful city, it really puts most other Canadian cities to shame.

Thanks, Victoria is an awesome city.

Here's some harbor shots I took about a year ago.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1154/627966564_c754093808_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1422/1026081728_b954dca36a_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/2293188192_a6c5af7874_o.jpg

and some old town photos,

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1062/1255544018_693ee58784_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1151/1035591674_c835ece558_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1072/1026942341_3b088901fb_b.jpg

The B.C. Ferries,
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2060/2046220859_34f10c0444_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2331/2046960042_397a97aadc_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/2293187812_90c1bacd4a_o.jpg

The Coho Ferry leaving for Washington State
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3036/2293188122_332a41f61c_o.jpg

Looking out across the harbor,
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2254/2370519846_1709fe6a86_o.jpg

The Parliament Buildings,
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2148/1529371510_ce6efc66cc_b.jpg

Some Victoria Cathedrals
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1062/1211630157_87e55974ed_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1334/1212489770_2602bf9b36.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1144/1212494726_f50670e591.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1284/1212505418_e753d933eb_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1250/1212518478_110c233dde_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1421/1213024942_0ba96638a1_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1183/1211670615_34f7df2814_b.jpg

Beacon Hill Park (Downtown)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2249/1501457973_2fb421a335_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2174/1501467769_d650fc4f72_b.jpg

Hatley Castle,
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/212/523038013_c62a0a4830_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/228/523038017_265a9a7ffe_o.jpg

Downtown
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1261/1190560322_2ade066fb7_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/251/1501497285_a3f4c18d3c_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1411/1189772222_b78693a7b6_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2343/1528508107_8d98948c6d_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1391/1025810154_a6a8bca46b_o.jpg



Hey Brett, can you get to one of the top floors of Astoria to get a good photos? I'm sure there'd be some good photos from there! :D

Maniac! You've got some great shots in there. I'm not kidding when I say you show Victoria like nobody has ever shown it. You're breaking the rules! You should publish a book. Most of the books you find in the tourist shops or the airport or ferries or wherever show the same old (OLD) pics.

http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/images/hosted/bayview_may_16_08_johnsonSt_+juliet.jpg

New BC Ferries HQ?

Another new buyer considers foot ferry
Past attempts to develop service were done the 'wrong way,' says businessman

Paul Walton, Daily News
Published: Monday, May 26, 2008
A new company is looking to start another downtown passenger-only ferry service between Nanaimo and Vancouver.

Capt. Ihab Shaker, who ran a high-speed service on Lake Ontario between Toronto and St. Catherines about 10 years ago, and is initiating a service between Gibsons and Vancouver this year, said he wants to start the Nanaimo-Vancouver run in about two years.

"Nanaimo is where the real money is," said Shaker.


He has worked with Ed Life, who tried to establish the Sealink service after the HarbourLynx service failed.

"I'm very well aware of all the past experiments," said Shaker.

He said that the HarbourLynx and Sealink were good operations, but missing details he thinks were essential for success.

"All these attempts were good attempts," he said, "but they were doing it the wrong way."

Shaker knows the real problem lies in finding the size and type of vessel with the right speed that can be big enough to handle a large volume of passengers and adverse weather. But Shaker won't say what type of vessel he has in mind. "I'd rather not say that in public," he said. "The key is the right vessel, and I have the design."

He said his experience with the Gibsons to Vancouver run, building a vessel on time on budget, indicates he can also deliver for a route between Nanaimo and Vancouver.

Shaker said he has had no discussions with B.C. Ferries under its Alternative Service Delivery plans.

"This is a private venture, and it's going to stay private," he said.

Bill McKay, one of the principals in the HarbourLynx venture, said B.C. Ferries will be one of the biggest challenges should Shaker get his operation going.

"They consider you to be competition and they do what they can to thwart you," said McKay.

Shaker said being economical is the best way for the service to remain feasible, and said he plans a $24 one-way ticket.

"I want to fill my boats up, it has to be competitive price-wise," he said.

But McKay said that $24 sounds high.

"The trigger point for this market would be closer to $19.95, with connections to mass transit on the other side," said McKay.

"I'm concerned that he will go too small."

Shaker also knows that the startup for Nanaimo will be more costly than the Gibsons to Vancouver route. He has financed that project himself with cash.

"The plan is when Gibson succeeds I can raise some capital," he said.

Though Shaker wants to "under-promise and over-deliver," McKay said that a focus on increasing the business will be as important as having the right vessel.

He thinks Shaker will need an aggressive promotional program, with the budget to match, to quickly increase the customer base.

"You would need do double the numbers HarbourLynx did, and do it very quickly," said McKay.

Shaker said he's not yet initiated talks with the Port of Nanaimo, and McKay said securing good working relationships with the ports and municipalities is another key in unlocking a door that can lead to making the operation a success.

"I really believe there's demand in the market place," said McKay.

PWalton@nanaimodailynews.com

250-729-4230

http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=88f275fa-a98e-4e6c-b9ba-1b000a70a4be

I hope too see a harbour too harbour ferry back in service again. It was a busy service when it was in operation. The old owners just had no luck, the engine blown just after the warranty.
It always seemed fairly busy when I took it. It was also great for hockey and football games.
I remeber reading that there are about 900 communters to Vancouver from Nanaimo and about 400 from Vancouver too Nanaimo.

Anyways it would be nice to have it in operations soon at least before the Olympics in 2010.

Construction to start on towers
Robert Barron, Daily News
Published: Saturday, May 24, 2008
Now that the construction of the Port of Nanaimo Centre is nearing completion, Suro/Triarc is preparing to build the anticipated twin condo towers at the old Foundry/Civic Arena site.

Phase 2 of the proposal to build the PNC (narrowly approved in a referendum in 2004) calls for Suro/Triarc, the PNC's builders and the City of Nanaimo's private partner in the project, to acquire the Foundry/Civic Arena site and build two condo towers.

The towers may be more than 20 storeys each and house up to 300 housing units. The development company will pay the city $9 million for the site.


Email to a friend

Printer friendly
Font:****Both towers will be constructed near Terminal Avenue, between Comox Road and the Pearson Bridge.

Al Kenning, Nanaimo's deputy city manager, said the city's agreement calls for Suro/Triarc to begin construction of the first tower by 2010 and the second one by 2013, if the company decides to build them in two stages.

Kenning said the agreement stipulates that Suro/Triarc must have at least started building the approximately $50-million, 18-storey, 170-room hotel at the PNC site before construction of the condo towers begin.

However, Suro/Triarc is expected to break ground for the hotel by this summer.

The agreement also calls for Suro/Triarc to build a parkade to replace the parking for Maffeo-Sutton Park that will be lost when the condo towers are built, which the city will pay for at an estimated cost of up to $3.5 million.

Road upgrades worth $1.3 million are also now underway in preparation for the increased traffic from the two towers and other projects downtown.

RBarron@nanaimodailynews.com

250-729-4234
http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=52cc068e-9913-401b-94b9-297079fcfe53

Nanaimo could tap oil reserves
There could be fuel worth $500 billion off the B.C. coast, but it remains unexplored
Robert Barron, Daily News
Published: Wednesday, May 21, 2008
There could be as much as $500 billion worth of oil and natural gas under the waters off B.C.'s coast.

But a federal moratorium of offshore oil and gas exploration, in place for more than 30 years, has prevented tests to determine if the resources are even there.

With the price of oil reaching unprecedented heights ($129 per barrel this week) and with B.C.'s forestry and other natural resource industries in decline, oil industry advocates hope there will soon be some movement towards developing a viable offshore oil and gas industry in the province.



Environmentalists say it isn't worth the risks for the government to lift the moratorium on offshore oil and Canada should be working to wean itself off of fossil fuel dependency.


However, environmental groups continue to be adamantly opposed to any notion of lifting the federal moratorium, stating it isn't worth the environmental risks and society should concentrate on weaning itself off of its dependence on fossil fuels and develop alternative and renewable energy sources.

Barry Holmes, past-chairman of Ocean Industries B.C., said the fact that the industry can't even confirm studies by the Geological Survey of Canada estimating there may be as much as 9.8 billion barrels of oil and 25.9 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Queen Charlotte Basin, off B.C.'s north coast, is "ridiculous."

"Seismic exploration for oil and gas is going on worldwide for many years and there has not been any damage done to aquatic environments anywhere because the technology is there to mitigate the environmental risks," he said.

Nanaimo Mayor Gary Korpan voted for a successful motion in 2004 for the city to support the lifting of the federal moratorium.

He said Nanaimo would stand to benefit economically if an oil and gas industry was developed off of Vancouver Island, with Duke Point's deep water port and industrial infrastructure.

But Korpan said the whole issue is moot until such a time as the existence of large reservoirs of oil and gas off the coast are confirmed through exploration and testing.

"There no use debating on whether we should develop an offshore industry if, in fact, there's nothing there to extract," he said Tuesday.

"Modern testing methods have been proven to be safe and accurate and should be carried out. We need to ensure the economy of Nanaimo and the region is diversified and I believe there's a lot of potential for us if this industry proceeds."

Korpan said the province and Ottawa should continue negotiations with impacted First Nations and coastal communities "to determine what's viable and needs to be done" to prepare for a possible offshore oil and gas industry.

The Dogwood Initiative environmental organization is one of the group's leading the charge against any plans for offshore oil and gas development.

Spokesman Charles Campbell said non-renewable fossil fuels are becoming more scarce and harder to get at and society should look to other renewable sources of energy to fill its needs.

He said the carbon dioxide produced by fossil fuels is warming the globe "to a frightening degree."

"Global warming is a very real problem and we can't continue hiding our heads in the sand," Campbell said from his Victoria office Tuesday.

Full article http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=b037c804-183e-4b41-80fb-4e069d9dd373

Instead of littering this forum with a whole bunch of Nanaimo threads I figured I should make one.

Work starts on waterfront highrise tower
April 17, 2008 Construction is beginning on SeaWalk, Nanaimo’s premier luxury highrise.

The 24-storey waterfront tower will sit on a hilltop overlooking Nanaimo harbour and the seawall, offering unobstructed views of Gabriola, Protection and Newcastle Islands.

InSight Developments, the company behind SeaWalk, is also the developer of the award-winning Longwood community.

SeaWalk boasts mountain and water views from each of its 82 suites and is located just steps from the Nanaimo seawall, shops, galleries, the Port Theatre and the new Nanaimo Conference Centre.

“We’ve given this project lots of thought and received a great deal of community and expert input,” said Doug Bromage, InSight president. “For example, one decision was to create a slender tower to optimize views of the harbour.”

InSight will be working with the city and the community to ensure that interruptions are limited. Construction will take place over the next two years, with the building ready for occupancy in Spring 2010.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/nanaimonewsbulletin/news/17827684.html


This is the project just north of the pacifica building.

North end highrises climb by five storeys
April 10, 2008

Georgiaview Village, the Vancouver developer behind a 15-storey highrise proposed for north Nanaimo, can add another five storeys to the building.

City council approved a zoning amendment to allow for a 20-storey building at 6340 McRobb Road, off Applecross Road.

The building will now be slimmer and taller and will have more, but smaller rental apartments than originally proposed.

The new plan calls for 308 units, up from 240.

Most councillors agreed the additional height, combined with the developer’s commitment to create more, smaller units, will help meet demand for affordable housing.

Coun. Loyd Sherry was the only voice against the rezoning application.

Mayor Gary Korpan called it a classic case of new requirements differing from traditional expectations. And he said modern requirements for sprinkler systems, better warning systems and improved firefighter capabilities mean taller buildings aren’t the hazard they once were.

“It seems the issue of trying to provide more affordable housing in that area is appropriate, and the difference from 15 to 20 storeys is not a big change, in my mind,” Korpan said.

Coun. Diane Brennan called it an example of putting highrises where they belong – at the top of a hill, where they don’t block views, and close to shopping and transit.

Others on council echoed Brennan’s views, although Coun. Bill Holdom said the developer’s offer to the city for the zoning amendment – $175,000 to the city’s affordable housing fund – was “skimpy.”

The original agreement, made several years ago, would have seen the developer give the city $287 per unit, on 240 units, for a total of $68,880 donated toward McGirr Sports Fields.

newsbeat@nanaimobulletin.com

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/nanaimonewsbulletin/news/17443369.html

This project is located in North Nanaimo behind Costco.

Nanaimo now has a VIU
May 06, 2008

On behalf of everyone at the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, we congratulate Malaspina University-College on receiving full university status and to become Vancouver Island University.

Becoming a full-fledged university town will be good for business and for our community in general.

We appreciate this was a long road and say thank you all those individuals both here and in government who worked hard to make it possible. Former Malaspina University-College president Rich Johnston began the process and did a great deal to pave the way for president Ralph Nilson and his team to move it forward.

The City of Nanaimo was able to incorporate the application for full university status into their proposal to government last fall. Receiving this designation is one more example of the benefits of working together as a community.

We also acknowledge the efforts of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce who have diligently pushed the university issue forward.

The B.C. chamber advocated that the skills shortage is the single biggest determinant of B.C.’s economic prosperity and pertains to both trades and career positions requiring a university degree.

University-colleges had been addressing this need by providing affordable access to undergraduate degree programs and comprehensive trades programs.

This designation hampered the ability of B.C.’s university-colleges to serve students, the regions and the province to their fullest potential.

Consequently, the B.C. chamber recommended that a special University Act be created that would allow full academic status while continuing to provide a full range of technical and trades programming. This recommendation has now become a reality.

There are many benefits to our community as a university town.

Now our students will find it easier to obtain full degrees while living at home. With costs being what they are today, this is a real benefit.

Further, it puts Nanaimo on the map in terms of global exposure and will strengthen the Vancouver Island brand and Vancouver Island recognition. As we all know, that will benefit everyone.

The designation will attract new revenue that can be reinvested into new programs and support services for students.

A university will further expand opportunities to develop strategic alliance partnerships with business and industry. Your chamber and the university are partnering on two training programs focused on essential skills.

Finally we wish to compliment the Malaspina team on their selection of the new name. While Malaspina has great tradition, you can’t find it on the map.

Linking the institution’s name to Vancouver Island with the VIU (the view) was forward thinking at its best.

Hard work and tenacity by many individuals working together will certainly benefit this community for years to come.



David Lobay is president of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/nanaimonewsbulletin/business/Nanaimo_now_has_a_VIU.html

$5 million puts Nanaimo Airport upgrade within reach By Chris Bush - Nanaimo News Bulletin - April 18, 2008


The spring runoff of cash into Nanaimo Airport and Port of Nanaimo Centre shows no sign of slacking.

The Island Coastal Economic Trust came to Nanaimo with $6 million for the two projects Friday.

Jack Peake, mayor of Lake Cowichan and Island Coastal Economic Trust chairman gave $5 million for Nanaimo Airport.

The money was presented to Nanaimo Airport Commission chairman Jerry Pink by B.C. Minister of Economic Development Colin Hansen at the Coast Bastion Inn in downtown Nanaimo.

Hansen also presented $1 million for the Port of Nanaimo Centre to city Coun. Jeet Manhas and acting mayor Joy Cameron. The $1 million is the second installment of a $5 million total donation commitment to the PNC project.

The funds announced for the airport will help pay for lengthening the runway, improving the taxiway and aircraft terminal apron and upgrading lighting and navigation systems.

The total cost for upgrading the airport is $16.4 million.

“We’re hopeful to do some work either late this year or next year and we’re looking at those kinds of targets,” said Mike Hooper, chief executive officer of Nanaimo Airport.

The B.C. government presented $6 million earlier this year. The airport commission already had $2.9 million set aside, and expects to put up the remaining $2.5 million, Hooper said.

The province established ICE-T in 2006 to make strategic investments in forestry, tourism, transportation, mining, energy, Olympic economic spin-off opportunities, agriculture and aquaculture and small business.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/nanaimonewsbulletin/news/17928659.html


Nanaimo airport YCD http://www.nanaimoairport.com/

Nanaimo port gets $5M for cruise ship berth

April 04, 2008


It’s full steam ahead for a $15-million cruise ship facility in Nanaimo, with help from $5 million announced by Premier Gordon Campbell Friday.

It’s the signal people like Bill Mills, president of the Nanaimo Port Authority, were waiting for to move forward with the 300-metre dock.

“It now lets us start to move forward with detailed planning to do the environmental review and start to work with the engineers toward working drawings to be ready to go to tender,” Mills said.

He has pushed for several years for a dock large enough to berth ships carrying 2,000 or more passengers and 1,000 crew.

With $5 million already set aside, the port is now two-thirds from its funding target. But it now has enough money – and government support – to move ahead, said Ross Fraser, Nanaimo Port Authority board chairman.

“Our plan is to have it built and ready to accept ships for the fall 2009 cruise season,” Fraser said.

The announcement raises expectations for the federal government to contribute another $5 million.

Fraser said Nanaimo-Alberni MP James Lunney is supportive and everyone is now waiting for new federal legislation to get royal ascent, easing restrictions that limit the federal government’s ability to give cash grants to ports.

Other funding options include the $50-million Island Coastal Economic Trust, which Campbell created to develop the economies of the Island and the Sunshine Coast. The port has already made a strong case for getting funding from that source.

The average cruise ship visitor spends $100 in every port, and the goal is to make Nanaimo the gateway to the mid-Island for the cruise ship industry.

Mayor Gary Korpan thanked the premier and the province for the contribution, which he said would help not only Nanaimo but also the Snuneymuxw First Nation, the city’s new partner in economic development.

Chief Viola Wyse said Snuneymuxw hopes to benefit from new visitors to Newcastle Island park, which the band operates, and through “other things that may happen on the waterfront.”

She wouldn’t elaborate, but said she’s pleased to see the band’s relationship with the city start to pay off so soon.

“It’s the only way,” she said. “We could continue to fight, but what good is that? We don’t want to do that – we’ve come to realize it’s not what we want to do and I’m thankful it’s happening under my leadership.”

Coun. Merv Unger called the announcement one more piece of “fantastic news” among many recently announced by the province – $6 million to expand the Nanaimo Airport, $5 million to make the Vancouver Island Conference Centre more environmentally friendly, and previous cash contributions for a spirit square at Maffeo-Sutton Park and a massive video screen for watching the 2010 Winter Olympics and other public events.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/nanaimonewsbulletin/news/17303524.html

Nanaimo is located on the east side of central Vancouver island. It is 110 km (68 mi) north of Victoria. Served by BC Ferries from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver), a distance of 50 km ( 31 mi) by sea, with a crossing time of 1 hour and 35 minutes.

Vancouver Island's second largest city is situated beside the only natural harbour on the eastern shore of Vancouver Island with the mildest, sunniest climate in Canada. Nanaimo is the third oldest city in BC.


City of Nanaimo website http://www.nanaimo.ca/


Tourism Nanaimo website http://www.tourismnanaimo.com/

Downtown Nanaimo website http://www.nanaimodowntown.com/

Nanaimo chamber of commerce website http://www.nanaimochamber.bc.ca/

http://www.nanaimo.ca/uploadedfiles/Site_Structure/Development_Services/Economic_Development_Department/communitypro.pdf

Nanaimo is serviced with not one but two ferry terminals. One is located just north of downtown in Departure bay. The other located at Duke point is in the south of Nanaimo. While the Departure bay ferry goes too Horseshoe bay in West Vancouver. The Duke point ferry goes too Tsawwassen in Delta.
The second one serves as a route for traffic too the fraser valley and states.


This is a map of the locations of each terminal in Nanaimo.http://www.britishcolumbia.com/Maps/?id=16

This is a really neat virtual tour of the new Vancouver island Convention center. It also shows some of the downtown of Nanaimo.
http://www.nanaimo.ca/cityhall/vicc_03_08_v2/VT_VICCC_2008_01_Tmd_1024x675.html



The Hotel component of the Vancouver island Convention center is slated to start construction on May 31, 2008. It is also is related with post 2 in this thread with the two condo's on the old civic site.

wholly crap Nanaimo is really booming !!!!

wholly crap Nanaimo is really booming !!!!

Funny thing is it seems all in slow motion. Alot of this stuff was supposed to have already been done. The two condo towers for the civic area were supposed too be completed before 2010. Now it looks like it will be 2013 before they are done.
The hotel component of the Convention center was supposed to be done at the same time as the convention center. The developer has had some problems getting the finacing.

Hey, I don't think it is boring! :) Thanks for taking all the time to set up this thread, Nanaimo Bars.. we can learn something about your town! :cheers:

I think it has been a long time in coming. I should have set this thread up awhile ago. It is just me being lazy I guess.

Anyways...... Here is a link too the new Vancouver island convention center scheduled too open in June 2008

http://www.viconference.com/index.html

i noticed last time i was in nanaimo that LOTS of the roads and sidewalks were falling apart.

and what's the deal with Bruce Ave? I mean come on!

That's the "Juliet" condominium building. The office block will go on the site below that skinny communications tower to the right.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2148/1529371510_ce6efc66cc_b.jpg

I love how the parliament buildings light up like that.

i noticed last time i was in nanaimo that LOTS of the roads and sidewalks were falling apart.

and what's the deal with Bruce Ave? I mean come on!

Nanaimo and Kamloops for that matter have much worse problems then falling apart sidewalks.

Not all is roses of course. Nanaimo has lost 700 jobs within the last couple of months. Kamloops also has lost some 200 forestry workers from Weyerhaeuseur layoffs.


Surviving the forestry downturn
By Toby Gorman - Nanaimo News Bulletin - May 24, 2008


The Harmac mill shut down earlier this month after its owner went bankrupt, a potential buyer backed out of the deal and a new agreement couldn’t be reached.
The indefinite closure of the Harmac pulp operation and the loss of 500-plus jobs has many wondering how Nanaimo will survive without the mill.

Harmac, which operated for 60 years and was Nanaimo’s single largest employer and taxpayer, has been a main thread in not only our economic cloth, but our social cloth, as well.

While paying more than $3.4 million in taxes – $2.5 million of which went to the city while another $800,000 went to schools, hospitals and other agencies – the mill also paid out millions in salaries annually.

With other recent shutdowns, the city has been hard-hit by the forestry downturn.

But Nanaimo is not the first city to suffer the loss of a dominant industry. And because of our size and diversification, we’re better situated to absorb the loss should the mill remain closed.

“A loss like this impacts any community and it will certainly be felt in the retail and service community with so many jobs affected,” said Donna Hais, first vice-president of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce.

“Fortunately, the economy is booming in B.C. and because over the past 10 years Nanaimo has really diversified its economy to be more than mining or forestry, we should be able to absorb this. But it still hurts.”

According to Natural Resources Canada, B.C. is hardly alone when it comes to communities suffering from forest industry closures – we’re simply the latest round.

Between January 2003 and April 2007, more than 22,000 jobs were lost at 184 mills across the country. During that time, B.C. saw 23 permanent closures and seven temporary closures with a total of 3,569 layoffs. During that same time frame, Ontario’s northern communities suffered 44 permanent and 17 temporary closures with a loss of 7,937 jobs, while Quebec saw a total of 66 closures with 7,005 jobs terminated.

Al Simard, president of Saving The Region Of Ontario North Group (STRONG), said those communities felt just as isolated and abandoned by provincial and federal governments as those in B.C. do now.

“It is not just economics that are to blame for the hardships we are experiencing in northern Ontario,” said Simard, who recently spoke at a number of ailing northern B.C. mill towns. “Current government policies that allow huge corporations to extract and run the resources that a community or region has depended on for a hundred years or more are putting these communities at risk and having a devastating effect on workers and their families.”

Analysts say the industry is going through a fundamental transition driven by a high Canadian dollar, increasing global competition, aging infrastructure and companies looking to tighten costs.

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2008 has been the worst year ever for the B.C. forest industry, which could see a total of 10,000 jobs disappear before the end of the year.

Weyerhaeuser, a former Canadian industry giant, laid off 196 workers at its Kamloops mill last month. Once the employers of 11,000 Canadian mill workers, Weyerhaeuseur now employs just 2,000 people.

“There is no doubt that Kamloops was built on the forest industry,” said Arjun Singh, a Kamloops city councillor. “But the mill is not tied to our identity. It was a good base foundation in the day, but I don’t think anybody thought it would last forever.”

The same can be said for Vancouver Island mills in Gold River and Tahsis, much smaller municipalities that were able to adapt to life after closures despite being linked inextricably to the forest industry.

In Gold River, Bowater Inc. closed that mill in 1999. The town lost 82 per cent of its tax revenue and 382 jobs in a town of just 2,100 people. It has managed to survive by shifting to a tourism market.

Tahsis was even more directly affected when Doman Industries closed that mill, the centre of the community, in March 2001. Then, 164 people of the town’s population of 800 were laid off and 80 homes were sold at market value to Doman. The population plummeted to just 366 residents.

Today, Tahsis is hardly a ghost town, though the last five years have been a struggle. It has reinvented itself as a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.

“It hasn’t been easy,” said Dave McIntosh, the village mayor. “This will be the first year we’ve been able to meet our costs since the mill closed. We’re optimistic but there is still work to do.”

The village has improved to 500 full-time residents – it swells to capacity of 2,500 people in summer months – though 75 per cent of the homes still belong to out-of-town owners. Ninety per cent of those are Americans who summer in Tahsis to fish, hike, surf or dive.

“We’re making a go of it,” said McIntosh. “We’re sort of waiting to be discovered.”

As forestry falters, other economic drivers are picking up, something Singh calls “part of the cycle.”

“I’m not saying [a mill closure] is not sad and doesn’t bring hardship to people, but there are other opportunities,” he said. “Right now, mining and gas are attracting a lot of workers, and other possibilities include people opening up their own businesses here in Kamloops based on their specializations.

“These days no job is guaranteed forever. It’s how we adapt that determines the outcome.”

http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/nanaimonewsbulletin/news/19218134.html


I wont bother too paste it but here is another link http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=131746dc-cba3-4f72-85bb-f04922a0bf19

I remember when I moved to BC in '89 and went to the Island. I had the same impression as everyone else, a big strip mall with Biker Gangs.

I was last in Nanaimo 18 months ago and what a difference! I know every city always says it is changing for the better but in Nanaimo it was a true metamorphic change. Nanimo also has the blessing of a beautiful habour and the mountains and a lot of history and historic buildings.

My brother and my M&D went to Nanaimo and couldn't believe it was the same city. It's also a pretty liberal and artsy/farsty place being on the way to Tofino and right beside the Gulf Islands. That backed by the Islands pretty easy going relaxed atmosphere and I think Nanaimo is a true gem.

Although I do kinda like Kamloops, I would take Nanaimo over any BC city except Vancouver or Victoria.

Nanaimo really is a cool kinda place and it is finally starting to get the respect it so dearly deserves.

Face of Downtown Is Changing

But some residents are worried about what the area will look like in the future
The Daily News
Published: Saturday, April 12, 2008
Robert Barron Daily News

Nanaimo's downtown merchants are a happy bunch lately. Many of the business owners agree that a flurry of recent funding announcements and development plans will greatly enhance Nanaimo's downtown and should go a long way to realize the city's long-stated goal of revitalizing the downtown core.

Nanaimo's Great Canadian Casino is looking to increase its floor space from 19,000 square feet to 45,000 square feet, as part of a major expansion project and turn the new casino's new front entrance toward the Port of Nanaimo Centre's conference centre component.


During two recent visits to Nanaimo, Premier Gordon Campbell announced the province will invest $16 million into Nanaimo's infrastructure, including $6 million toward the Nanaimo airport's expansion plans to allow larger planes and better services, $5 million toward the Nanaimo Port Authority's plans for a new cruise ship terminal at the Assembly Wharf and $5 million for green projects at the Port of Nanaimo Centre.

The Port Place Mall, adjacent to the casino, is also planning major renovations at the shopping mall and private firms are in the process of building new condo developments downtown, including two towers on Front Street, that are expected to significantly help increase the number of residents living in the city's core.

George Hanson, executive-director of the Downtown Nanaimo Partnership, said he's "thrilled" but not surprised with the recent surge of activity downtown, as planning to revitalize the area has been ongoing for many years.

"These are exciting times for downtown Nanaimo and we're getting closer every day to fulfilling our role in the revitalization and redevelopment of our downtown," he said Friday.

The DNP -- consisting of the City of Nanaimo, the Nanaimo City Centre Association and the Old City Quarter Association -- was formed in 2001 to devise strategies to try and reverse the trend of residents and businesses moving from the city's core.

"We believed all along that the development of the conference centre would likely lead to a major expansion of the casino, and now with the province's announcements of $16 million toward infrastructure projects that will greatly enhance downtown, it looks like 2008 is turning into a big year for Nanaimo," Hanson said.

"Downtown's businesses are excited with the increased opportunities all these developments will bring and we're pleased with all the residential projects being built. They will bring a lot more people back into the core to live."

But Hanson said the process of urban redevelopment in any North American city is one that's measured in decades, not years, and Nanaimo's downtown revitalization initiatives began just seven years ago.

"It's been a huge success so far but we're just seeing the tip of the iceberg of what's possible downtown. There are still lots of properties in the core that are underutilized or are not being used at all," he said.

"Downtown revitalization is like a snowball going downhill that has gone from complete inertia to the point we're having trouble keeping up with guidelines and policies to deal with the increasing amount of interest there is out there in investing in our downtown."

Bruce Barnard and Angie Gottenberg purchased downtown's historic Commercial Hotel in 2004, carried out extensive renovations on the building and reopened it as the Painted Turtle Guest House.

The couple decided to set up business in Nanaimo's downtown after they fell in love with the Harbour City during a visit in 2003.

Downtown was struggling at the time, but Bernard and Gottenberg felt confident enough with the plans for its revitalization to take the risk and are pleased to see tangible results.

"It's pretty exciting stuff and we're just thrilled with all the plans and activity because more infrastructure downtown means growing confidence in the area and that's great for the local businesses and residents, as well as the tourists visiting the city," Gottenberg said while behind the front desk Friday.

However, while "thrilled" with the growing interest in downtown, Gottenberg said many long-time residents and businesses are concerned about what the area will look like in a few years.

She said the best aspect of downtown is its "unique" shops and character and there are fears that downtown could fill up with franchise and block stores that could change the face of the core in negative ways.

"Ensuring planned growth downtown will become a big issue because most of us don't want to lose the grass-roots that make our downtown what it is," Gottenberg said.

Doug Bromage, president of InSight Holdings, said his only surprise with the latest developments downtown was that it all took so long.

InSight, which built the extensive Longwood development in the city's north end and is currently building the Hawthorne housing development off Wakesiah Avenue, has begun excavations for its planned 24-storey condo tower on Front Street, which is expected to be completed in 22 months.

Bromage said the completion of the PNC and plans for the cruise ship terminal, airport expansion and a major expansion of the casino, along with the building of InSight's tower and all the other residential and business developments downtown, are "part of the evolution and re-emergence" of the city's core.

"We've been talking about this for years and there now seems to be lots of interest in downtown these days," he said. "InSight is happy to be part of downtown's revitalization."

Guy Tonack, the owner of Commercial Street's Boo Streetware, said he believes the new investment will attract more young professional people who want to live in a "hip" downtown core and increase business at stores like his.

"It's been incredibly slow lately with all the construction going at the PNC across the street, but I expect all that will change soon," he said.

http://www.canada.com/vancouverisland/nanaimo/vancouverisland/nanaimo/news/story.html?id=504359dc-fc40-449f-920c-7d6a21cec8c5

http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/images/hosted/bayview_may_16_08_johnsonSt_+juliet.jpg

Great angle. I wonder if this was taken from the top of Bayview. I'm getting to the roof next week for some photos. Fun stuff.

Aastra, thanks for the compliments on the photos. I've been thinking of putting a book together actually. I'm going to be looking into it over the summer. When I do I'll give you a copy! :D

TRMD.....

I agree. I love the building itself too. Great architecture!

I think it's my favourite provincial house of legislature in our country. It's truly a divine structure.

I love that building too. Amazing really.

I took some photos yesterday....


Inner Harbor
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/2537506487_cd6641b312_o.jpg

Dock Side Green
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2018/2537740653_18d96b74b7_o.jpg

The Johnson Street Bridge
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2214/2537740765_110d9ff97d_o.jpg

The Juliet Crane
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2357/2537740817_059e2ddb6c_o.jpg

Shoal Point
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2087/2537740887_2fe4c7320e_o.jpg

Shutters and Spa
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2410/2537740957_7b5fae15e2_o.jpg

New Developments South Downtown
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2113/2538559886_4c90182815_o.jpg

Downtown Victoria
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2005/2538559974_8f7ee3159f_o.jpg

Dock Side Green phase 2
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2018/2537741169_93f35a9d3c_o.jpg

Dylan at of Bay View
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3055/2538560088_821c0346fd_o.jpg

The Victoria Legislature
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/2538560144_f1f20c3570_o.jpg

The Johnson Street Bridge
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2417/2538560238_3245abd27f_o.jpg

South Downtown
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2317/2538560380_0c90fc3743_o.jpg

Vic West and Esquimalt
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/2538560466_b4301bef88_o.jpg

The Coho Ferry (Port Angeles)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/2538560506_e0a05024cb_o.jpg

Laurel Point Inn, James Bay
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3015/2538560576_cdf38b57d0_o.jpg

City Core,
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2243/2538560658_53ee1b9bd3_o.jpg

The Empress and harbor
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2538560752_9528df15b2_o.jpg

The Leg. and Harbor
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2338/2537741919_57c87b5a78_o.jpg

City Wide Pano (taken from Dock Side Green)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2392/2537742389_09c72fc1c3_o.jpg

City wide pano (taken from Bay View) ....
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3122/2538561106_1d62f89959_o.jpg

Victoria Harbor Pano
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2133/2537742577_da48c690dc_o.jpg

New Developments Downtown
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2250/2537742655_b15ca2a85d_o.jpg

Dylan finding some interesting Dock Side Materials :D
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3137/2537742699_15466683d3_o.jpg

City Core
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2288/2538561580_0cf4d8a8ec_o.jpg

Dock Side Green phase 3 (currently on hold)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2223/2537742833_f1d5cf6771_o.jpg

Vic West and Esquimalt
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2538561680_d21ece160f.jpg?v=0

Park Residences
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2139/2538561714_4654023a21_o.jpg

Bay View phase 1
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2361/2538561774_5ccdd0a3e5_o.jpg

The Coho Docking downtown
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2098/2537743049_1437579d78_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2175/2538561868_6da128bdcb_o.jpg

Victoria's Inner Harbor
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2288/2537743239_d6ea99b550_b.jpg

man oh man....just moved to Nanaimo from Vancouver, but I'm originally from Victoria, so I've always known to a degree what's going on up here. But I must say its about bloody time there started being some re-vitalization downtown. It seems there hasn't been any significant housing developments since that 26 story tower on the harbour 10-15 yrs ago. Nice to see that there are at least 4 high rise towers on the books. But lets be serious, not til 2013 for the second of two towers at the Civic Arena site. That's a long time. Nanaimo needs increased density in the Old City quarter, re-development of the Howard Johnson site as well as the Port Mall. Only then will Nanaimo be able to claim that it has any hope of having a economically viable and vibrant downtown. Its a bloody shame that all of the development focus has been on the north end adding to the endless Vancouver Island suburban sprawl. Nanaimo's downtown really does have some serious opportunities, but they also need to focus on getting some jobs down there.

As of right now I'm really disappointed with what I'm seeing, but I'm gonna stay optimistic, and keep my eyes open for any public hearings where I can voice my opinions. Lets hope these planners are fairly progressive and can get some people back into the core. Otherwise I may just go crazy living over here.

Keep this thread going Nanny Bars, and I'll do my best to throw some good shit on here too. I believe I ran across a plan on the cities website about their plans for the Port mall, you ever seen that Bars? Maybe I'll look for it tomorrow.

Hello 99 G-Line

Welcome too Nanaimo and the skyscrapercity forums. I have also shared some of the same history as yourself having been born in Victoria as well as lived sometime in the greater Vancouver area.

Nanaimo is certainly a work in progress but very very slow progress. With the price of steel as well as lack of construction workers. It is almost as if one building has too be completed before the next can start construction here.

As you will know the Pacifica is well, just about done. It has been a very slow process too. The old Malaspina building needed lots of work before they could build up.

The Seawalk next door in the old global connections site is just starting construction. It is being done by insight developments, whom have a history in Nanaimo and have done great work. I have high hopes for this building!

The other building that should be starting now but I am not certain if it will or later this summer is the Suro/Triarc hotel next too the recently completed convention center.
This was of course suppose to have been done at the same time as the convention center but has yet too start as far as I know. Perhaps you could update that info if you go past the area? I would but I am presently not in Nanaimo at this time.

You are also right about the city website it is excellent. I know the casino at the port mall is looking at renovating and expanding since it is located next to the convention center.

I have not looked at the city website for a bit so if you do find something please post it!

Nice to have another person from Nanaimo.:)

Large Olympic View TV for the City

When we say large we mean large! At 50 feet in width the new outdoor TV Screen covers most of the Port Theatre's back wall. The big screen TV is meant to provide Nanaimoites with Olympic coverage of the 2010 winter games in Whistler, but will have a lasting effect on Nanaimo long after 2010.

I ran across the downtown urban design guidelines proposal as put together by D'Ambrosio architecture + urbanism (a very highly respected consulting firm out of Victoria). You should look at it Bars....some great 3D renderings and concepts for the downtown core. It includes full re-development of the Port mall, traffic circles on Terminal and Fitzwilliam. A transit exchange where the Port mall is. New parks and trails including along the VIA rail ROW, re-development of Lubbuck sq. 4-5 story residential along terminal within the gulley and a gang of re-development throughout the core and Oldcity. I'll be keeping my eyes open now cause I just hooked a sick pad on Kennedy near that abandoned old warehouse. It's gonna be sick!!!

As for the hotel that was to be included with the convention centre. I was down there yesterday and it had a fence, no excavation as of yet and along the fence was a Millenium properties banner (same developer as the Olympic village). So I don't know if they've sold the property or the development rights, but it seems like it may be breaking ground sometime soon.

On another note, I'm pretty sure I read an article the other day about a proposal for a 20 odd story tower in behind Costco up near Woodgrove.....random. (Maybe you posted it?) Why doesn't Nanaimo try for some consistent density for once instead of going gung ho on towers and single family houses???? Million dollar question...hahaha

Here's a link for the downtown design and concept plans...It's pretty tight!!!

http://www.nanaimo.ca/uploadedfiles/Site_Structure/Development_Services/Planning_and_Development/Current_Planning/DDGWeb.pdf

That is a excellent find 99 G-Line! The city site is very well done and this forward thinking and planning has given me some confidence. The design looks cool with the traffic circles and bus loop island.
Also for your question of density, the city has five urban nodes .Downtown of course, Woodgrove or north end and the south end both designed too house big box stores as well as more density. ( Towers row housing lofts etc...) The other two urban areas are the University and Hospital areas. The city is really only about 20 kilometers long from Lantzville too the south end. With 5 kilometers from the ocean too Mt Benson.

http://www.nanaimo.ca/uploadedfiles/Site_Structure/Development_Services/Planning_and_Development/Community_Planning/20080218NodesandCorridors.pdf

Also for those whom enjoy reading!!!! The long version haha
http://www.nanaimo.ca/uploadedfiles/Site_Structure/Development_Services/Planning_and_Development/Community_Planning/2008_Feb_08_planNanaimo.pdf

^^

I had a chance too get out on Wednesday evening and took some pictures along the waterfront. It was a beautiful evening the pictures were taken between 7:30PM and 8:30 PM.

To start off here are some differant angles of the Pacifica building under construction.

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/347/nanaimowaterfron100qq2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/4127/nanaimowaterfron154mc1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/4733/nanaimowaterfron158sa4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/9382/nanaimowaterfron162cr0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/5481/nanaimowaterfron184vo4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/8073/nanaimowaterfron334dh2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



This last picture is of a welder doing his stuff. The weather was nice so might as well stay till the sun drops.
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/2953/nanaimowaterfron346hn1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Nice, it looks like a pretty slick development.

Thanks for the hook up on the map and OCP link Bars!

That map really shows how well suited Nanaimo is to create some serious infill density between the College and the downtown core, or so I'd hope! I just hooked up a place down in the Old City quarter, so needless to say I'll have some good time to check out the city better!

What do you think about those traffic circles down Terminal & Nicol and at Lubbock Sq? Pretty damn progressive if you ask me. I like it but I believe that Terminal is a prov. hwy. route. I think. And if so then there would be huge amounts of policy to line up between the province and the city, and that may end up being too large of a process. I wonder if that would be the case, that the province would be open to having some sort of standard for a 2 lane traffic circle? I can't think of anywhere in the province where a two lane traffic circle exists? Be interesting to see one!

Either way I would love to see those implemented but I guess I'll go looking for a picture for perspective! I'll post if I find.

So who keeps up with Civic politics around here? Any impending big decisions for City Council or on going development proposals?

Some pics!

These are from downtown Milwaukee
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/216/457230805_e7f39156b2_o.jpg

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/216/457230805_e7f39156b2_o.jpg&imgrefurl=http://milwaukeestreets.blogspot.com/2007/04/wasted-space.html&h=359&w=326&sz=41&hl=en&start=34&um=1&tbnid=Pqv_xYaIh63BSM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=110&prev=/images%3Fq%3D2%2Blane%2Btraffic%2Bcircle%26start%3D18%26ndsp%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/216/457230805_e7f39156b2_o.jpg&imgrefurl=http://milwaukeestreets.blogspot.com/2007/04/wasted-space.html&h=359&w=326&sz=41&hl=en&start=34&um=1&tbnid=Pqv_xYaIh63BSM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=110&prev=/images%3Fq%3D2%2Blane%2Btraffic%2Bcircle%26start%3D18%26ndsp%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=457206840&size=o

One last try! http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/216/457230805_e7f39156b2_o.jpg&imgrefurl=http://milwaukeestreets.blogspot.com/2007/04/wasted-space.html&h=359&w=326&sz=41&hl=en&start=34&um=1&tbnid=Pqv_xYaIh63BSM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=110&prev=/images%3Fq%3D2%2Blane%2Btraffic%2Bcircle%26start%3D18%26ndsp%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN

dude...I'm choked....someone let me know how to post pics? how can a I copy paste into the text...does it have to be a url?

yo Gar-Han... either upload the pics to a hosting site (photobucket, flickr... etc) or take the URL of the image location and put before and after it. some pics wont allow you to link to them like that but most should

Some recent images of Aria:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/2581900537_a1c45725aa.jpg
Picture by thebugs at www.flickr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebugs/2581900537/in/set-1812515/


http://lh4.ggpht.com/baronjutter/SFgKM5XQAFI/AAAAAAAAALI/VtbxLJ1-jfQ/weekend%20004.jpg?imgmax=576
Picture by Baro at www.vibrantvictoria.ca

I am so happy I'll be going to Victoria sometime later this summer! All these gorgious pictures of the new development has been making me salivate haha.

You know it's crazy but I actually havn't been to the Island in 13 years! I don't know how that is even possible considering I live in Vancouver, but I guess it just hasn't happened.

I took a drive by this development today. The corner of Wakesiah and Jingle Pot. It has a really good storm water management system included that runs down towards Jingle Pot. I'll get some pictures up soon when I get my camera working again. None the less the actual corner of Wakesiah and J Pot is awesome. Nice mixture of what looks like a bit of comm. with some residential. Specifically townhouses that could be considered row houses, yet I think the developer is calling them lofts.

http://www.westcoreltd.com/images/residential_hawthorneFinal2.jpg

http://www.westcoreltd.com/images/residential_hawthorneFinal1.jpg

I also heard from a bird that the initial test on the storm water management swale system failed...and the water broke the banks. Nice way to show em how it's done Nanaimo...whoever designed that must have caught an earful. I noticed at the bottom of the fairly steep hill that the storm sewer inlet looked to be very low and the swale did not look to be deep enough nor it didn't look like it could hold a very large influx of water...Like I said, I'll get some pics. None the less they are very nice, very wide infiltration swales, and I'm not sure but they may be the first in Nanaimo! Anyways I'll get back on it!!!

Wow...great pics on here!!! Really doing a good job of making VicCity look great. Those panoramic pics are awesome!!!

Those really need to be a poster.........make it happen....actually frame it and sell me one Bob!!!

I like that little brick section on the corner there.

very cool... love the bio-swales

kind of looks like like somthing you would see in the maritimes doent it?

The Juliet:
(picture by zoomer at www.vibrantvictoria.ca)

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/3649/img47401iu5.jpg

***

Demolition of the parkade at the old Bay department store:
(picture by VicHockeyFan at www.vibrantvictoria.ca)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/VicHockeyFan/Picture456014.jpg

***

"Atrium" construction site at Blanshard and Yates:
(picture by VicHockeyFan at www.vibrantvictoria.ca)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/VicHockeyFan/Picture456018.jpg

***

An older picture of Parkside from July
(picture by gumgum at www.vibrantvictoria.ca)

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r277/gumgum123/IMG_1348.jpg

***

The Falls:
(picture by zoomer at www.vibrantvictoria.ca)

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/2811/img47521ja7.jpg

***

"Balance" at Dockside Green:
(picture by elryerson85 at www.flickr.com)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/2711304818_60bc33db56.jpg

***

An office building proposal for Courtney Street west of Douglas (rendering by de Hoog and Kierulf):
More info about this proposal can be found at http://standrews.pacificcoast.net

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m256/5955483/overview_NW1.jpg

***

A newer picture of the Juliet by BCguy75 at www.vibrantvictoria.ca

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3119/2780104782_a6e4329305_b.jpg

***

An older image of Bayview
(picture by TheGreatScaper at www.flickr.com)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2361/2538561774_5ccdd0a3e5_o.jpg

Wow that proposal by St. Andrew's is quite the unique situation. I've seen and heard of churches and their congregations developing residential housing, but never office space. I really like the proposal and lord knows it would be nice to get some new office space down in the CBD. That church or maybe some if its members must be rolling with some pretty deep pockets. I'd be surprised if we see or hear anything about this project in the near future with the recent shocks in the North American marketplaces, none the less I shall try to stay optimistic!!!

Yeah, it looks like a pretty good proposal, all things considered. It's an awkward site for a few different reasons.

Chard Developments seems to be intent on proceeding with their 834 Johnson St. project. The Juliet will be completely finished in a few weeks, but I imagine they won't be starting up work on this one for many months at least (for reasons I don't need to explain):

http://www.therealvictoria.ca/images/834-Johnson-byChardDevelopments.jpg
www.834johnson.com

Here's what the Juliet looked like in September:
http://www.julietliving.com/images/newgallery//JUL_Construction-Sep08-2.jpg
www.julietliving.com

And here's the Corazon from a couple of years ago:
http://www.mcmparchitects.com/img/photos/Corazon%20Bldg%20(horiz%20Img%203).jpg
picture from www.mcmparchitects.com

Some new pictures from the Great Scaper's collection at Flickr.com:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3046/3021763052_f3195df76f.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/3021763052/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/3021758910_2d3f0381d3.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/3021758910/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/3020919053_03db6a562a.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/3020919053/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/3034122950_87a66c3499.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/3034122950/

And one by skylinemaker over at Skyscraperpage.com:

http://i411.photobucket.com/albums/pp200/skyliner123/skyline034.jpg

More seldom seen angles of Victoria, courtesy of the Great Scaper:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/3033254701_595e5dc788.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/3033254701/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3073/3033254693_d31d8698b8.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/3033254693/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/3031819738_5583f18ac8.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/3031819738/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3253/3034136020_63691c83fe.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/3034136020/

More from the Great Scaper:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/3092160744_26a3bce0aa.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/3092160744/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3178/3070670108_d9d6503d48.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/3070670108/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3238/3092160716_b2c6a4894b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/3092160716/

North tower of the Falls:
http://gs01.com/rets/vreb_img/5574238_1.jpg
Picture from www.terrykurash.com/content.html?id=listing.php&agency_id=2&building_id=93567

Nice towers! I should go to Victoria and check it out sometime.

The Falls by amor de cosmos over at www.vibrantvictoria.ca (there are some funny glitches in this montage):

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/9469/panorama1douglashumboldyq6.jpg

Here's a great picture of the back side of Dockside Green from a few months ago:

http://www.architectureweek.com/cgi-bin/awimage?dir=2008/1015&article=environment_1-1.html&image=14036_image_1.jpg

And here's a more recent picture on Flickr of the front side:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vicfan/3295666527/

Picture of the Falls from a few days ago by Vic Skyscraper Fan over at www.vibrantvictoria.ca:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3548/3333979573_1d00aff798.jpg

Dockside Green and Upper Harbour Place (background) from October, 2008:

http://docksidegreen.com/images/stories/living/construction-photos/balance/oct-2008/IMGP2262.jpg
Picture from www.docksidegreen.com

Terrific pictures of The Falls by Vic Fan over at Flickr.com. This guy is giving the Great Scaper a run for his money:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3555/3369218951_a7acc8b6f3.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vicfan/3369218951/

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3556/3329669543_52b799569c.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vicfan/3329669543/

The Great Scaper:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3649/3397797715_11c4c44ea0.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/3397797715/

Cant wait to see the water flowing down the side!

Hopefully the water won't be flowing inside.

For Immediate Release

2009TRAN0054-000745

April 7, 2009
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

Government of Canada

CANADA-BC PARTNERSHIP TO BUILD INTERCHANGE

NORTH SAANICH – Travellers and residents of the Capital Region will benefit from $24 million in joint federal, provincial and Victoria Airport Authority funding to construct an interchange at McTavish Road and Highway 17 near the Victoria Airport, announced today by MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands Gary Lunn and MLA for Saanich North and the Islands Murray Coell.

The project will be cost shared between the Province ($10.5 million), the federal government ($10.5 million) and the Victoria Airport Authority ($3 million). This project will improve road safety and transportation efficiency for motorists travelling along Highway 17. Construction is slated to begin in November 2009 and finish in March 2011.

“This project will provide a major upgrade to a key intersection in the area – McTavish Road is a vital access point for both airport and ferry travellers, as well as local residents,” said Lunn. “Improving safety and traffic flow here will benefit the entire region for years to come.”

“This government is committed to improving transportation infrastructure in rural and urban areas across the province,” said Coell. “As the Victoria Airport grows, so does the need for increased investments in traffic safety and this project recognizes that need and will fund needed safety measures at Hwy 17 and McTavish Road. We know that every job counts and this project is expected to create more than 150 jobs, at a time when the need for economic stimulus is greatest.”

"The Victoria Airport Authority is very pleased to join with our federal and provincial governments by helping to fund a project that will solve the safety and congestion problems at this critical intersection," said Richard Paquette, president and CEO of the Victoria Airport Authority.

This project is part of the $290-million infrastructure investment, recently announced by the Government of Canada and the Province of B.C.

The Provincial portion of the funding comes from an overall $14-billion capital infrastructure program supported by the Province that will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.

The Federal portion of the funding comes from the $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund to provide funding to provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure projects. Funding will be available for two years for projects that will begin during the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons. This initiative is structured to flow funding and get shovels in the ground quickly.

Dockside Green by the Great Scaper:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3626/3398039835_6cd72be327.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55063726@N00/3398039835/

The front side of Aria by Vic Fan at Flickr.com:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3607/3334668756_969169a812.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vicfan/3334668756/

The back side of Aria by Vic Fan at Flickr.com:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3593/3334671564_d71e8b0a1b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vicfan/3334671564/

The Falls and the Empress Hotel:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25483253@N05/3557631354/

The Falls is coming together:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38729685@N07/3563625266/sizes/l/

Beautiful:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3390/3574473279_b382300a3a.jpg
Picture by ryanthejones at Flickr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanthejones/3574473279/

View it large:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanthejones/3574473279/sizes/l/in/set-72157618941765582/

Holy cow! How long you've been doing all by yourself on this thread? You're so loyal!

great job aastra for keeping this thread alive with wonderful photos!

Everything is happening at www.vibrantvictoria.ca these days. The Victoria threads at SSC and SSP have both dried up because of it.

http://vibrantvictoria.ca/pictures/jul_14_09/0001_jul_14_09b.jpg

http://vibrantvictoria.ca/pictures/jul_14_09/0039_jul_14_09e.jpg

http://vibrantvictoria.ca/pictures/jul_14_09/0040_jul_14_09a.jpg

http://vibrantvictoria.ca/pictures/jul_14_09/0043_jul_14_09c.jpg

I haven't been Victoria for a while, I think its about time for me to go there and checking this beautiful city out again.

I just passed through nanaimo the other day and drove on the new island hqy for the first time up to parksville

Its nice - used to live on the island in 1990-1991 - it was kinda weird - familiar yet not - as i hadn't been to that part since 1992 and than it was really only passing through places coming down from Campbell River...

anyway nanaimo - wow totally grown

Victoria is looking GREAT!!!!

The Falls from a couple of weeks ago:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3486/3862784679_2c0386c66a.jpg
Picture by YVRjerry at Flickr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerryfaust/3862784679/in/set-72157606838870996/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2443/3863568132_357f7e87bd.jpg
Picture by YVRjerry at Flickr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerryfaust/3863568132/

Looks like Miami .

It's the lampposts.

Any info on any of the stalled highrises in downtown Nanaimo?, the only big project I have heard just recently is the funding for the new cruise ship terminal, and the second phase of the new airport.

Hey guys im new to the forum, i'm hoping to get some new updated photo's on here of the development going on in Nanaimo, Im liking all the participaction in here so hopefully I can help contribute, I have lived in Nanaimo for just under a year, and it's a real hidden Gem.

^^ Welcome to SSC, we are looking forward to see your photos of this dynamic 2nd largest city on the island!

http://canada.com/airport+overhaul/2038548/story.htmlhttp://canada.com/airport+will+overhaul/2038548/story.html

http://cimg1316.jpg

^^Are you having problem posting images or photos?

Tillicum Mall residential project:

http://www.mcmparchitects.com/img/photos/2009-05-25%20-%20Tillicum%20view-%20selected_Page_1.jpg
rendering from www.mcmparchitects.com (http://www.mcmparchitects.com/projects.cfm?projectID=202)

*****

Bayview/The Roundhouse

http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/pictures/Bayview-and-Roundhouse.jpg
rendering from www.vibrantvictoria.ca (http://www.vibrantvictoria.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=2029&page=5)

Sandstone development approved

Councillors vote to amend official community plan for 2,400 new homes and industrial spaces in city's south
Derek Spalding, The Daily News
Published: Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Nanaimo city council members gave final approval on Monday night to the Sandstone project, a major urban development planned for the city's south end.

The decision to amend the official community plan came nearly three years after the Snuneymuxw First Nation paired up with Burnaby-based Northwest Properties and bought more than 290 hectares of land that straddles the Trans-Canada and Duke Point highways. Island Wolf Properties is the joint venture between the two groups.

The project's master plan calls for 2,400 new homes as well as major commercial and light industrial spaces to be phased in during the next 15 to 20 years. After a successful public hearing that brought out many supporters, council members had an easy time raising their hands to approve it.
Coun. Fred Pattje reiterated his disapproval for a project that he says takes away from downtown development and creates sprawl. Snuneymuxw band members have eagerly awaited the final approval for the project. Band council spokesman Doug White said the development will bring in new money and provide a new source of jobs.

"We are going to transform the south end of Nanaimo," White said. "We're in the economic development of Nanaimo now and we're looking for something to not only enhance the south end, but to give us employment as well. Employment is really important for the Snuneymuxw." Developers will construct the projects based on market demand. There are not yet plans for specific phases of the development, said Cam McLennan, vice-president of finance for Northwest Properties. Even if approved, Island Wolf still has to work out specific zoning and a phased development agreement with the city.

The property is divided up into six parcels, four of which will be mixed residential and commercial spaces.

The two most southeasterly parcels are designated for light industrial.

Half the property will be designed for parks and open spaces. Residential areas will have low-, medium- and high-density housing mixed with commercial space, providing a new homes for a variety of demographics.

DSpalding@nanaimodailynews.com




© The Daily News (Nanaimo) 2009

I have good sources in Nanaimo telling me a new Walmart super centre ,and a Lowe's home centre will be anchoring the first phase of the retail component

Plan to develop assembly wharf may cost $250,000Industrial property will be site of new cruise ship pier
Derek Spalding, Daily News
Published: Saturday, November 21, 2009
City council members may spend $250,000 to come up with a development strategy for the downtown assembly wharf, where a new cruise ship pier will be built and is the suggested spot for a multiplex.

The $22-million floating cruise ship dock gave the city more incentive to move ahead with their two-phase plan to analyze how to best develop the waterfront property. The politicians already approved $50,000 from the 2009 budget to look at improving transportation at the site that has nearly no public access.

City staff are requesting $200,000 from next year's budget to hire engineering and design consultants to determine the best possible use of the area. Politicians are reluctant to spend taxpayers' money on major projects, such as a multiplex, but they want to come up with a plan for future development.


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Font:****The consultants will work with all stakeholders, including Snuneymuxw First Nation leaders, who are in treaty negotiations for land owned by Canadian Pacific Railway.

"We're looking ahead to see what we can do with this land," said Mayor John Ruttan. "With so many partners with interest in that property, a consultant would be able to talk to everyone and then come up with recommendations."

There have been discussions about transforming the assembly wharf into a transportation hub, possibly relocating bus, train and foot ferry services there, but those ideas are premature, according to city manager Al Kenning. The city and the Port Authority are focussing on finding the best access routes to the property. Once that plan is in place, they will integrate it with the second phase that focuses on land use.

These discussions could have been delayed but with construction of the floating cruise ship dock set to begin early in the new year, the city wants to ensure there is easy and safe access that allows for future development.

"Redevelopment of former industrial lands for a mix of high density residential, commercial and public uses will be reviewed in the context of the critical location of these lands adjacent to the core downtown area," according to the city staff higher-service-level request.

Port Authority CEO and president Bernie Dumas said public access to the property is important with the arrival of the cruise ship pier in 2011.

"We've had a series of discussions with our partners and we're leaning toward a transportation hub but right now we don't have a transportation link or public access really," he said.

Calls to a spokesperson from the Snuneymuxw First Nation were not immediately returned.