[Downtown Victoria] View/Vancouver condos | 14-storeys | Canceled

[Scaper]

I took these photos when I attended the open hous for this proposal on Fort St. a few months back.

The proposal is three stories over the 11 story Haris green height limit, though Haris Green has no density limit.


Alex Roney, a Regents Park resident who lives across the street from this site is organizing a protest over the height and massing. Regents Park is a 17 story condo tower in Haris Green. Funny thing is Roney, who has quoted in as saying he wants to "prevent a forest of highrises" in H.G.

Oh and by the way he lives on the 14th floor of Regents Park!

Regents Park is represented in the photo as the very tall wooden building towers which some what dwarf this proposal.[/img]

[Scaper]

I just added my downtown photo which I took tonight!!!

It shows how disgusting this property looks!!!

Excellent Example of Urban Decay!

[Mike K.]

Yeah, but according to Councillor Madoff dilapidated city lots do not warrant redevelopment.

I love the line she once used speaking on the Romeo's redevelopment: "It's heardbreaking to think people want to see development occur just because the current lot is an eyesore."

[Holden West]

I agree that development shouldn't be rushed just for the sake of replacing an eyesore.

I'd rather wait five years on an ugly vacant lot for a great building to be proposed than for an ugly strip mall to be built immediately.

Waiting thirty years like View/Vancouver or The Falls is getting ridiculous, however.

[Mike K.]

She was simply upset that people thought the proposal was "better than the current lot." Through her reasoning proposals can't be thought of as better, because if they are people will blindly support them.

Nobody would support a gruesome shack to take over a gruesome parking lot, but when a fantastic proposal comes along and C. Madoff is upset because people think it's better than whats there, then what on earth is the issue?

[gumgum]

I wonder if the fact that the ground is sinking will be a problem for a building there.

[Holden West]

yes.

[Jada]

Everytime there is a minor earthquake they have a problem at that intersection. The building that used to be there was demolished in 2001 after a minor 3.something quake shook the foundations loose. Granted, it was an older building, but the ground is very soft there.

[Galvanized]

^I remember that happening. Also, apparently there are a ton of pilings in the ground behind where that buiding was, some sort of failed previous development.

[Holden West]

It was for an old 70s MURB (Multi-Unit Residential Building) funded by the Federal Government. A lot of people lost money on these projects.

The consignment store in the old building Jada mentions had to have its ceiling propped up with steel poles while technicians periodically measured the movement of the foundation by watching how quickly the felt pen marks on the brickwork moved apart. Talk about job security!

[gumgum]

I don't know anything about seizmology, but I think you'd have to be nuts to consider buying a unit here.

Doesn't look like there's any commercial in this proposal. Ground level looks like townhouses. I suppose that's okay - seems to be enough commercial in the area for the mo.

[Holden West]

Apparently, the developer decided trying to pull retail over onto View St. would be problematic. They're still committed to an urban-style development as opposed to the suburban-style towers of Regents Park across the street.

Note the exterior glassed-in spiral staircases on the two-storey top-floor suites.

[Scaper]

Is not The Vancouver street side retail? I thought one of the street fronts had retail in it.

[Baro]

If what I've heard of this site is true, plus my limited college geology classes, I'd say this site is not a good place to be.

That road has sunk that much with almost no geological activity. Shaking + water = quicksand.

Unless these guys do some serious pile driving down to the bedrock (maybe it's not that far) I'd not want to be on this street when the big one (or even moderate one) hits.

[Holden West]

Yep, if you download that giant earthquake map of Victoria you'll see that area is one of the only red zones in the core.

And yes, they'll be doing some serious pile driving. But would water seep into the basement like it continuously does over at the Regent next door? Would this exacerbate the sinking intersection problem the City is about to fix?

Scaper, I believe the only ground floor commercial activity is the planned restaurant on the corner that wraps around to Vancouver and will share the interior courtyard.

[Scaper]

interesting.

I also believe that this water table problem, is also going to be the sourse for a possible Geothermic energy system in this building. If I am correct.

[Holden West]

I've never heard them mention that but it is a good idea.

Remember the hippie chick that asked for geo-thermal for the Juliet? Or was it Volvo--I can't remember. Anyway, she was practically laughed at during the Council meeting but it's a good idea in areas where it's practical like here and The Well and The Hudson.

[Scaper]

That was the juliet public hearing.

Someone told me this, it may have been Gene Miller at the open house!

I can't remember for sure. Maybe I should email him and ask him.

[gumgum]

Some pics I took today of the state of the sinking intersection:

[url=http://imageshack.us:c6211][/url:c6211]

[url=http://imageshack.us:c6211][/url:c6211]

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[url=http://imageshack.us:c6211][/url:c6211]

[DelsterX]

Those renderings remind me of Shoal Point.

[HOMBRE]

it looks like some sorta ship from star wars too me. I hate it!!

[Holden West]

And you can see how the little Adria will be completely boxed in.

Turning right from View onto Vancouver you have quite the NASCAR-style bank. Someone said they stand away from the corner when a truck flies around for fear it will tip over!

[G-Man]

Personally I still think that this building is really nice. I like that it is not just a slab and the taller portion of the building is really beautiful. I think that the only commercial space is along Vancouver and it has been hinted they would like it to be a restaurant.

[Holden West]

Yep, the restaurant would be able to use the inner courtyard.

[DelsterX]

Originally Posted by HOMBRE

it looks like some sorta ship from star wars too me. I hate it!!

You mean like a Star Destroyer?

[img]http://www.cynical-c.com/archives/bloggraphics/StarDestroyer.jpg[/img]