[Downtown Victoria] The Jukebox | Condos | 8-storeys | Approved

[jklymak]

^ I agree that commercial on View is a tough sell.

[Kapten Kapsell]

Originally Posted by jklymak

^ I agree that commercial on View is a tough sell.

And there have been some vacancies on Fort Street as well due to various factors (antique business downturn, etc.).

But there may be a decent chance of successful retail @ the Jukebox if the spaces are leased to "neighbourhood" shops such as a dry cleaner and a convenience store. Downtown's antique dealers & clothing retailers rely on the entire region for support, but neighbourhood retail can succeed with a much smaller pool of customers.

And the 1000 block of View Street is about to become one of the most densely populated residential blocks in all of Victoria (with Jukebox, Regents Park, and Tara Place apartments).

[jklymak]

Sure, but fort and yates are so commercial already that it doesn't make sense to try to make view be commercial as well.

[Islander888]

Its getting closer, but no. I should have four persepctives soon which i will send to Rob. Its deceiving, the exterior is actually a very contemporary aluminum panel sysetm painted in metalic colours, will look much better than any of the renderings IMHO.

Originally Posted by aastra

So does this image represent the final product?
http://www.timescolonist.com/4124584.bin?size=620x400

This building in Portland made me think of the View Street proposal:
http://hoytliving.com/slideshows/bui...Bridgeport.jpg

[Islander888]

Its not so much a mistake as a city requirement, in order to obtain the density to make the project feasible the setbacks had to be at the minimum, the only way this was achievable was to make the View street ground floor units commercial. The consensus is that it makes no sense as straight commercial, but that it would be more prudent to zone these units as 'live work' allowing the smaller home based businesses on the lower of what will be two storey units.

Originally Posted by gumgum

I think the commercial is a big mistake. Just look at the View St side of the London Drugs building. If it weren't for the liqour store,'it would be a dead zone - and that's a more populated area.

[Mike K.]

AH, that makes a lot of sense, Islander. Thanks for the heads up!

[MarkoJ]

Does anyone know what the average unit size is going to be? Foot print is big but still 25 units/floor.

[Dylan Leblanc]

Found this pic here - http://www.campbellconstruction.ca/G...on/uconst.html

[jonny]

The ugly salmon coloured building to the east of the Jukebox site has scaffolding all the way up on the east and south sides. Perhaps that building is being remediated? Hopefully they choose a difference colour.

[Mike K.]

I ran into one of the partners involved with this project and was told that construction could begin as early as August.

[MarkoJ]

No pre-sales required to get this one going?

[Rob Randall]

^When Fraser and Don did the Mosaic they didn't start sales until renovations were well under way.

[Dylan Leblanc]

[Kapten Kapsell]

The lot has been fenced for some time now; I wonder when work will begin on the Jukebox? Is it possible that the additional competition in the entry-level segment of the market (i.e. Era, Mondrian) is giving pause to the developers...?

[Mike K.]

Jukebox was to be the first project to hit the market and built ahead of the others, according to the developers initial plans. The marketing component of the project was in the works early in the year but so far nothing has been released for public consumption but the developer does insist the project is still on track.

But right now if the developers were to move on Jukebox they'd be facing competition from five major projects (Mondrian, Era, Promontory, Hudson and Union) and several smaller ones (601 Herald, Kunju, LeFevre's renos, etc.).

[VicBooster]

The failed Bear Mountain tower The Highlander was a project by the same people behind Jukebox I think. The Highlander is still sitting atop the hill with only several floors of poured concrete among single family dwellings.

[LJ]

Originally Posted by VicBooster

The Highlander is still sitting atop the hill with only several floors of poured concrete among single family dwellings.

Actually, there is another condo right next door to it.

[Mike K.]

And that changes the Highlander's impact on the neighbourhood? The little condo is higher up atop the hill and Highlander has barely even reached it's first floor. In any case, the situation is illustrated quite well here. I'd be furious if I bought into one of those homes, but that's just me.

[aastra]

It would look pretty good if it could be finished with just another couple of stories on it.

[LJ]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

And that changes the Highlander's impact on the neighbourhood? The little condo is higher up atop the hill and Highlander has barely even reached it's first floor. In any case, the situation is illustrated quite well here. I'd be furious if I bought into one of those homes, but that's just me.

I didn't say it changed anything, I just corrected a statement made by vicbooster.

All the people that built houses there knew what was proposed for the adjoining sites and thus paid appropriately for their lots.

You're not secretly "knot-a-yacht" are you???

[Mike K.]

All the people that built houses there knew what was proposed for the adjoining sites and thus paid appropriately for their lots.

Buying a house next to a proposed 14-storey condo and ending up a neighbour of a four storey concrete shell are two very different things All I'm saying is I'd be less than enthused with a half finished building being the centerpiece of my neighbourhood.

[Kapten Kapsell]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

Jukebox was to be the first project to hit the market and built ahead of the others, according to the developers initial plans. The marketing component of the project was in the works early in the year but so far nothing has been released for public consumption but the developer does insist the project is still on track.

But right now if the developers were to move on Jukebox they'd be facing competition from five major projects (Mondrian, Era, Promontory, Hudson and Union) and several smaller ones (601 Herald, Kunju, LeFevre's renos, etc.).

I wonder what amenities will be offered to residents of the Jukebox...? Are there plans to incorporate a residents' lounge or gym?

Given the number of major and minor projects coming onto the market I would think that the developer of the Jukebox would want the project to *stand apart* from the competition. For example, the Mondrian will not offering amenities (aside from a residential caretaker & suite). Maybe, in keeping with the theme, the Jukebox will include a rec room with a vintage jukebox and a dance floor?

[LJ]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

Buying a house next to a proposed 14-storey condo and ending up a neighbour of a four storey concrete shell are two very different things All I'm saying is I'd be less than enthused with a half finished building being the centerpiece of my neighbourhood.

Well they didn't give any timelines I guess. It will be built eventually but it wont be 14 stories.

Think of it this way, the people in their SFD's beside it have got a reprieve from the noise and traffic from all those extra neighbours for awhile.

[Islander888]

Not quite correct, only one partner was involved and he pulled out before the project stalled.

Originally Posted by VicBooster

The Highlander was a project by the same people behind Jukebox I think.

[Islander888]

Site work is scheduled to start next week, the piling permit is approved however there are several MOE requirements to comply with first, and that was partially responsible for the delays (test results had to be received before a plan could be formulated)

Originally Posted by Kapten Kapsell

The lot has been fenced for some time now; I wonder when work will begin on the Jukebox? Is it possible that the additional competition in the entry-level segment of the market (i.e. Era, Mondrian) is giving pause to the developers...?