[Downtown Victoria] Era | Condos | 15-storeys | U/C

[Mike K.]

Surveyors were on site today and yesterday a group of individuals was taking photos of the adjacent two-story property (one lot to the east). I'm not sure if both activities are related in any way.

[Rob Randall]

I've just been contacted by CEI Architecture representing the site owner. They want to meet with the DRA to talk about using the site for an office building. That's all I know right now. We'll meet with them next week. CEI was the designer of the original Mozart proposal.

[Mike K.]

Nice.

[Dylan Leblanc]

So there is hope for another crane downtown!

[concorde]

Originally Posted by Rob Randall

I've just been contacted by CEI Architecture representing the site owner. They want to meet with the DRA to talk about using the site for an office building. That's all I know right now. We'll meet with them next week. CEI was the designer of the original Mozart proposal.

I've had lunch several times with the guys from CEI, this has been going around for over 6-8 months. Don't plan on anything happening in 2009, its a long way off.

[aastra]

At the pace at which this one has moved over the past 3+ years, methinks another year will go by pretty quickly. That old rendering seemed to show a huge setback that was all wrong for Yates Street, so here's hoping they take some time to un-botch that.

[Rob Randall]

Here is the original design, posted by Scaper:



I'm not liking blank walls either--maybe 819 Yates' original S-curve design would fit nicely here.

[jklymak]

^ Blank walls?

[Holden West]

Page one of this thread alludes to blank walls on the east (possibly north, too) due to proximity to the lot line. The original rendering seen on the JJB site is offline now.

[aastra]

I wouldn't be too worried about the north side but that's just me. But the setback on Yates definitely needs to match up more closely with the buildings on either side.

[Holden West]

There's already a massive open area across the street in front of the St. Andrew's entrance.

[aastra]

So are you saying enough is enough or are you saying an open area on one side of the street makes it okay to put another open area on the other side?

[Holden West]

I'm thinking enough is enough unless there is a spectacular use like a cool art piece, dynamic fountain. Hell, I'd settle for a mini-donut cart. It's south-facing so there is potential for the ubiquitous podium cafe.

[G-Man]

What about a giant clock playing mozart?

[Rob Randall]

Ideally, they would like to consolidate three lots, Mozart, 738 Yates, and the one storey that houses the old hair salon and florist and fronts Millie's Lane/Odeon Alley.

738 Yates (home of the English Sweet Shop) is heritage registered. If they want to incorporate it they would have to save the facade.

No change to the height at 43 metres.

No drawings released yet.

The building would be freestanding, ie: not touching any other building, including the post office. A green wall or similar would be needed to cover up the blank wall of the post office. This is where the underground parkade entrance would be.

This is office with ground floor commercial. Millie's Lane would be widened, possibly making a straight-line view through to Odeon Alley/Johnson St.

[Ms. B. Havin]

Who are the golden creatures that still venture such ideas in the current financially depressing era? What mythic lands do they rule?

(Seriously... I'm all in favor, since I hate that eyesore of a hole that's there now. But I'm just agog that anyone is still making plans. I thought we were all supposed to hide under a rock for the next 10 years...?)

[Rob Randall]

Concert Properties wants to develop it and they think long-term.

[spanky123]

Originally Posted by Rob Randall

Concert Properties wants to develop it and they think long-term.

They can think 'long term' all they want, unfortunately the banks which fund their developments think short term.

[aastra]

I'm not sure what you're trying to say. Do you think the situation is so bad that nothing new will ever be built again, ever?

Not that i think Mozart will be going anytime soon...but in all fairness to Concert, if a Developer were to get financing in these tight markets, I feel that they would at least have a better shot than some of the other developers out there, they have a good track record, with Astoria, Belvedere, Marriot, The Chelsea, 365 Waterfront etc in the last couple years...that being said, still don't see this project happening anytime soon

[G-Man]

I am sure Concert can get funds (they have enough themselves anyway) to build office which is still in demand.

Not that i think Mozart will be going anytime soon...but in all fairness to Concert, if a Developer were to get financing in these tight markets, I feel that they would at least have a better shot than some of the other developers out there, they have a good track record, with Astoria, Belvedere, Marriot, The Chelsea, 365 Waterfront etc in the last couple years...that being said, still don't see this project happening anytime soon

[victoriaguy]

I tend to respectfully disagree that banks think short-term. They typically think long-term on all financing projects. They also think long-term when it comes to your monthly service charges as well!

Hopefully something gets built on this site in the next few years.

[Mike K.]

I've seen a lot of people surveying the properties bordering Millie's Lane and the post office building (owned by Concert) over the last two months. I wondered what they were up to.

[Rob Randall]

Bought from Eric Charman by Concert. They will demolish everything (except possibly one heritage facade) all the way to Millie`s Lane. The lane will be widened, creating clear-line sight to Johnson. 11 storey office. Same architect but different design from earlier Mozart.