Victoria Construction - #7

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Also the good news is Mayor Alto said the following:

“It’s important for us to signal there is an appetite from the majority of council for something to be here, that it should be a landmark and there is a lot more conversation to happen. My only real hope is that it does not take a very long time.”

So, yah, landmarks aren't 12-storeys. I have to say watching too many council meetings lately, three really stand out as head and shoulders above the rest - Alto, Dave Thompson and Krista Laughton.

[aastra]

I really get the sense watching city planners that they just throw all the 'rules' in the book at any proposal without context or full transparency.

Maybe not so much "all" the rules & guidelines, but rather a curious selection of them for any given project.

[aastra]

So, yah, landmarks aren't 12-storeys.

Methinks they could be, if there weren't a half-dozen other buildings all around the landmark that were equally as tall or considerably taller.

[aastra]

^View Towers blindness is a funny thing. Everyone and their dogs complained about it from day one all the way until ~2010 or thereabouts, but then suddenly its presence became hardly worth mentioning... just as opportunities arose to build potentially more attractive major new buildings around it that could have diminished the prominence of VT.

[aastra]

Did you see the image of the CC Cathedral plans in the TC? Not sure how recent that image is but it shows the height shifted a bit from the tower behind the cathedral over to the other tower (which has now been moved over slightly so it's no longer right on the southeast corner of the block). And seemingly every lowrise building is now a bit taller, which to my eye makes the whole thing look a bit crowded. I didn't have that impression with the first concept.

Anyway, one way or another it looks like they're aiming to do a decent job with it. For now they play that game of pacifying the CoV with arbitrary changes and adjustments.

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Yes, looks like a slight improvement from revised plans submitted in February 2026. They went from a masterpiece to a crappy-piece (a strategic political decision in my opinion) to the Feb 2026 design. At this point I'll be happy if they lock in the rezoning and then we'll see the design evolve hopefully to continue to improve and closer to the original design.

I've updated the MappingVictoria project page, which I'll have to update again tomorrow after the council meeting.

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Updated the MappingVictoria project page for the Christ Church Cathedral master plan with new info and a May 2026 overview Vimeo video from the church as well as the BreakingNews regarding the Old Town proposal for 517 Chatham St.

[aastra]

To my eye the overall massing of the cathedral block redevelopment isn't as good as it was before. I feel like the lowrise buildings are trying to compete with the cathedral building itself now. "But aastra, you must mean the highrise buildings are trying to compete with the cathedral, right?" No, I mean the lowrise buildings. It just seems like the clear distinctions between the towers, the cathedral itself, and the new lowrise construction has been muddled a bit. I like layers, so sue me. Anyway, I'll keep my mouth shut about it.

The Chatham project seems good enough to go now. I just wish the ground-level units could be distinguished from one another, or maybe even just single out one of the units for a distinctive vibe. Most likely those spaces are going to struggle to get/keep tenants (along with the ones on the new build on the other block over) so methinks the less monotonous they are, the better (from the perspective of pedestrians and passers-by).

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I'm afraid once again I'll agree with all you said. So, if it seems obvious to all (or at least two)..

I dunno, maybe we should apply to take over the City Planning Department. They seem to have many managers, senior managers, acting managers judging by the presentations to council. Once again the other day they couldn't answer basic questions about unit numbers, sizes, surrounding buildings etc. Hmm.. maybe if they just plugged in all the info they have anyways into a basic database.. ugh. I really don't want to go on a planning rant, I've been avoiding it, but for how much longer I don't know.

On another note, Camosun uploaded to their Flickr account a rendering showing the student residence building courtyard with the proviso Artist rendering of what student housing may look like at Camosun College's Lansdowne campus.



Courtyard A - Lansdowne Student Housing Project by Camosun College, on Flickr

[aastra]

That Camosun residence actually looks better than I was expecting. But please don't tell me how many oak trees they took out to make room for it.

[Dylan Leblanc]

Originally Posted by Phil McAvity

Dylan, I can't edit my posts so it looks like my post count will go through the roof

You should be able to edit your posts now

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A few photos I took the last couple days:

1276 Gladstone, infill next to Fernwood Square



1276 Gladstone Avenue - May 29, 2026 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr

Podium beside University Heights in Saanich:



Podium Construction - May 30, 2026 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr

University Heights



University Heights Construction - May 30, 2026 by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr

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741 Fisgard downtown is still working its way through the planning process with some tweaks in response to city planners feedback. MappingVictoria has a detailed overview.

I like the podium, street level, not so sure about the tower portion. Although no balconies, unusual for a condo building, I do like that in place of balconies in the Cascadia Architect's words there are a "series of double-height outdoor patios ‘skygardens’, located on Levels 7, 9, 12, 17, and 19. Each of these elevated amenity spaces is designed with distinct themes and solar orientations, offering a range of experiences and views of the city, ocean, and surrounding mountains.

I'm sure each while have a different vibe and it will be nice to site outside and follow the sun around the building. I guess you could say to a neighbour, meet you on the 9th and 9 and the 12th and 12 p.m.?



741 Fisgard St, Victoria - April 2026 Revisions by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr



741 Fisgard St, Victoria - April 2026 Revisions by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr



741 Fisgard St, Victoria - April 2026 Revisions © Cascadia Architects by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr

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Last week the developer submitted revised plans for 617 Broughton St, reducing the height from 13 to 12-storeys while increasing the two wings of purpose built rental proposal from 6 to 7 storeys.

High quality design and material which gives the St. Andrew's Church breathing space and a privately owned public plaza. More details - a LOT more details and pics at the MappingVictoria project page, plus a nod to aastra who helped with the research into the history of the site (whether he wanted to or not, lol).

I think this version looks a lot more balanced and natural, not as forced as the previous ones.



617 Broughton St - May 2026 Revision - © MCM Partnership Architects by JohnnyJayEh, on Flickr

[aastra]

Okay, in light of how long we've been waiting for something to happen at Fisgard & Blanshard, I think I'm now officially a fan of that proposal. Strong horizontal lines often irk me but this time around they actually seem like a refreshing departure from the plain panels of Hudson House and the other new building a block away. And (unless those renderings are pulling a fast one) it seems like there will be a fair bit of clear glass. The podium also strikes me as half-decently fresh.

[aastra]

^On the other hand, sky gardens shown in renderings just never seem to materialize in reality. See HP1 for a good example. So I'm expecting those shared corner spaces to be much less green than depicted.

[aastra]

Broughton project looks great now. Who says a development proposal in Victoria must necessarily get worse with each revision? Slap anyone who says that*, because it sure doesn't seem to be happening with this one.

*but please warn me first

[aastra]

Heck, the view to the end of Broad Street alone will be worth the price of admission.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by aastra

Did you see the image of the CC Cathedral plans in the TC? Not sure how recent that image is but it shows the height shifted a bit from the tower behind the cathedral over to the other tower (which has now been moved over slightly so it's no longer right on the southeast corner of the block). And seemingly every lowrise building is now a bit taller, which to my eye makes the whole thing look a bit crowded. I didn't have that impression with the first concept.

Anyway, one way or another it looks like they're aiming to do a decent job with it. For now they play that game of pacifying the CoV with arbitrary changes and adjustments.

I would actually love to see the entire area built to a more classic and ornate style with a single theme to highlight the Anglican church area. All the buildings should be kept to 8 to 12 stories high.

An example of an modern residential building built to this style can be found in Oakville, Ontario:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/U47pJThFJ98vj3WdA?g_st=ac

Or the Coventry, also in Oakville:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/t9BVKNSK4J4E3Ldf6?g_st=ac

[aastra]

^I tend to be a fan of such stuff when it's done well but on the Christ Church block there's already a fair bit of it re: the east end of the cathedral itself. How much would be too much, even if you do a decent job with it? And what if you don't do a decent job? That first building you linked looks pretty good but to my eye it doesn't fit the neighbourhood at all and it's also much too large. But take a portion of it and I'd think it could probably work in an old commercial area.