[Downtown Victoria] Emaar project | 17- & 11-storeys | Canceled

[Rob Randall]

Substantial design changes would be referred back to Advisory Design Panel.

It should be noted that despite the fact that Emaar Canada's parent company is based in Dubai, the local reps for this project were trained and live in western Canada. One of the proponents is a UBC-trained architect who lives in Vancouver.

[VicHockeyFan]

Originally Posted by Rob Randall

Substantial design changes would be referred back to Advisory Design Panel.

It should be noted that despite the fact that Emaar Canada's parent company is based in Dubai, the local reps for this project were trained and live in western Canada. One of the proponents is a UBC-trained architect who lives in Vancouver.

Is there a single Jewish person on the entire project?

[Kapten Kapsell]

Does anyone know when marketing will start for this project?

[Nparker]

I would guess not before the new owners decide how they want to proceed.

[Rob Randall]

Emaar Canada reps will visit with the City tomorrow so we will find out then what they have in store.

[Rob Randall]

Busby Perkins + Will architects are proposing 18 and 17 storeys with a large water feature on the west side of the lot. The look is very contemporary.

[aastra]

Good grief. So do we have to go through the whole process again? And why don't these two-building proposals ever seem to have decently staggered heights right out of the box?

[G-Man]

That will never get through Council. They only begrudgingly approved of the last design.

[aastra]

The approved design wasn't great so I'm glad for the chance to correct the error, assuming this one is better.

[G-Man]

I liked the commercial space in the old one and am worried that there will be less in the new design.

[aastra]

Why is that?

[Nparker]

Originally Posted by Rob Randall

Busby Perkins + Will architects are proposing 18 and 17 storeys with a large water feature on the west side of the lot. The look is very contemporary.

Thanks for the update Rob. Are any renderings available?

In light of the softening condo market, did you get a sense of how devoted the new developer is to actually building this project? Since so many other large scale residential developments seem to be languishing in the core (Radius, the Hudson) and the others that are planned (Centro), may never see the light of day, I am wondering if this one will really materialize. The last thing we need downtown is another huge hole excavated and then left abandoned. I'd rather see the surface parking lots remain if nothing ever comes of these "grand schemes".

[Rob Randall]

Emaar is committed to developing projects in Victoria.

This is a rough sketch:

[Nparker]

Thanks Rob.

[G-Man]

Wow that is terrible.

The massing is on the wrong side of the lot (too close to 860 and the Wave) and the buildings are too close to each other.

There was nothing wrong with the massing of the last proposal IMO it just needed the finishing tweaked.

[Baro]

Yeah, why did they turn this into a wall again? It's like they rotated the towers 90 degrees and put them on the wrong side. What the hell??

[jklymak]

This is pretty amusing. One can only imagine the architect has no idea of the nearby buildings, since they have sketched 860 View in as 1 storey. And it looks like they are trying to re-up the density. Sell this lot a few more times and we'll have 60-storey buildings there.

As I've said before, I feel this site is wrong for two towers. One large one on Yates would probably be fine, but the View side of the lot is already pretty blocked in. I don't understand how 1013 Yates made money at 5 storeys, but this lot has to come in at 18.

In an ideal world, this project could be pushed out onto Blanshard, with new theaters underneath, and lowrise infill in most of 819.

[Ms. B. Havin]

^ There is actually a one-storey or so building next to the lot. 860 View isn't immediately adjacent, but is one building over, to the East.

[jklymak]

^ Oh yeah... I really have to get these coke bottles adjusted...

[Nparker]

Originally Posted by Ms. B. Havin

^ There is actually a one-storey or so building next to the lot.

Yes that would be the back entrance to the St. Vincent to Paul store. I imagine this one wil go through a LOT more changes before it gets built - if it ever does.

[Dylan Leblanc]

I hope these developers have to pay fees every time they apply to the city for a change in design, because the way the proposals for this site have been going it sure has been taking up a lot of time at City Hall, which I hope the taxpayer doesn't have to pay for.

Looking at this new design it's almost as if the new developers/owners/architect have no clue as to what concerns people have already expressed for redevelopment of this site. Things like having a shorter tower on the View St. side and having a large enough space between the two towers to not completely block in the other buildings on this block. Do the new developers know any of what has already gone on with the planning for this site?

[Kapten Kapsell]

Originally Posted by Nparker

Thanks for the update Rob. Are any renderings available?

In light of the softening condo market, did you get a sense of how devoted the new developer is to actually building this project? Since so many other large scale residential developments seem to be languishing in the core (Radius, the Hudson) and the others that are planned (Centro), may never see the light of day, I am wondering if this one will really materialize. The last thing we need downtown is another huge hole excavated and then left abandoned. I'd rather see the surface parking lots remain if nothing ever comes of these "grand schemes".

On the other hand, some projects located either downtown or in adjacent areas are moving along nicely: The Falls, Cherry Bank, Dockside Green, Chelsea, Aria, Juliet, SoMA, and the loft developments on Yates (between Wharf and Government). Even the Palladian may finish construction in the next year ?!

[jklymak]

Tall crane in this lot today, hoisting a photographer in a cage to at least 13 storeys up over both the north and south side of the lot.

[gumgum]

Builders of world's highest skyscraper eye downtown lot
Carla Wilson, Times Colonist
Published: Tuesday, May 13, 2008

[Mike K.]

So we're back to "approved" and 17/11 storeys?

Rob, can you confirm that this is the latest set of plans you're aware of?