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

[Mike K.]

Thanks for the update, Islander!

[jonny]

Great news, especially after the disappointment of learning that the Era is on hold!

I look forward to watching this project progress. I'm not sold on the design, but you could put a hazardous waste depot on that lot and it'd be a massive improvement.

[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 have just run a temporary above ground power line to the site up from Hannington road so maybe something is happening.

[jonny]

Originally Posted by 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)

Did site work start this week?

[Islander888]

Site prep/remediation began this week, should take approx two to three weeks then MOE approval of the work is required.

Originally Posted by jonny

Did site work start this week?

[Mike K.]

Have things remained on track?

[Mike K.]

Anybody?

[Kapten Kapsell]

As of Sunday construction had not started (though fencing remained up)...

[Islander888]

The remediation plan mandated by MOE has been completed and is awaiting certification/clearance. A sign should be going up soon with the Marketing launch scheduled for April/May 2012. I doubt anything will be happening on site until the new year.

[Mike K.]

The developers had initially wanted to get shovels in the ground and launch the marketing campaign by summer 2011. I wonder what caused the nearly year long delay?

[Islander888]

My best guess would be a combination of the technical issues related to the soil remediation (there was a delay while the new disposal site in the Highlands obtained its MOE permit) and market conditions. This put the marketing launch behind and it wouldn’t be prudent to launch a project in December/January given the current economic climate and inclement weather .

Originally Posted by Mike K.

The developers had initially wanted to get shovels in the ground and launch the marketing campaign by summer 2011. I wonder what caused the nearly year long delay?

[jonny]

A new sign on site says "Coming Spring 2012". What that means, I don't know.

[gumgum]

It must mean presales.

[MarkoJ]

January 8th, 2012

[Dylan Leblanc]

oh great a sign!

[jonny]

The building next to this site has been undergoing a de-uglification and the south and west coverings have come off. I only got a quick look today, but it does look better. Not great, but definitely better. I'll try to take a picture tomorrow and post.

[Rob Randall]

This project is still active, although the process is tough. "Like giving birth to an elephant", the developer told me Wednesday.

[Dylan Leblanc]

How would he know what that feels like?

[Mike K.]

Not sure if this rendering has been posted already, but here's a higher resolution look at the upcoming project.

[G-Man]

Still think commercial is a bad choice there. Should be ground floor townhouses. I bet this goes back to those ancient Harris Green Guidelines that give you an extra floor if you put in ground floor commercial.

[gumgum]

I woild just like to see something built.

[mysage]

Am I looking at this wrong or are there a distinct lack of balconies on this building?

[G-Man]

Seems there are a few places that don't have balconies but it would also seem that at least half do. I suppose that would be a premium.

[Kapten Kapsell]

Originally Posted by G-Man

Still think commercial is a bad choice there. Should be ground floor townhouses. I bet this goes back to those ancient Harris Green Guidelines that give you an extra floor if you put in ground floor commercial.

One of the stores in this rendering is a travel agency; it's highly unlikely that such a business would open in this location (Flight Centre and Marlin opt for locations with heavy pedestrian traffic)....

[Islander888]

Originally Posted by G-Man

Still think commercial is a bad choice there. Should be ground floor townhouses. I bet this goes back to those ancient Harris Green Guidelines that give you an extra floor if you put in ground floor commercial.

Actually no, it’s due to the reduced setback requirements if the ground floor is commercial. Adding to that craziness the developer proposed to have these changed to townhouses, which the city decided would then require a complete DVP re-submission. Further asinine red tape is then added by the city bylaw requirement that at least 50% of the commercial units must be ‘retail’. In such small spaces this does not pencil and is not going to be practical.