Victoria Construction - #7 - Page 83

vicdevelopments · #**1641** Posted **Feb 2, 2018, 12:13 AM**

That Hudson Place One by Townline looks so awesome. Does anyone know weather they have to go to council for the extra story? I'm writing an email to the mayor and some others. I'll post my replies on here.

Thanks for posting the new pics. I have to get my but in gear and take some pics. I'm just not into taking photos right now but one of these days I'll do it.

Phil McAvity · #**1642** Posted **Feb 12, 2018, 9:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicdevelopments

That Hudson pit is amazing definitely deeper than the Fall's.

No kidding! That hole's so deep it's almost like a reverse skyscraper

I wish I could find info on Hudson Place One because that picture makes it look like 21 stories but i've heard it proposed anywhere from 24-30 stories over the years so that building has become like the vertical version of the Johnson St. bridge.

vicdevelopments · #**1643** Posted **Feb 13, 2018, 6:49 AM**

yeah I'm not sure. I heard it was 25 stories now. However it was approved at 24 stories so I'm not sure if Townline needs to go back to a public hearing for getting a 25 story tower there. I'm really looking forward for this building to start construction. I'm emailing Lisa Helps tomorrow.

aastra · #**1644** Posted **Feb 13, 2018, 5:58 PM**

They were trying for taller as per some of the earlier images in this thread but apparently they've settled back on 25 stories. Somebody on VibrantVictoria.ca posted a screenshot of a blurb from Hudson Place One's website but I can't seem to find that same screen myself.

Also, check out their "Explore the Community" page:
http://www.hudsondistrict.ca/the-com.../#district-map

It sure took a long time but the finish line is actually in sight now. And the whole thing has actually come together fairly well, all things considered.

Phil McAvity · #**1645** Posted **Feb 13, 2018, 7:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by aastra

They were trying for taller as per some of the earlier images in this thread but apparently they've settled back on 25 stories. Somebody on VibrantVictoria.ca posted a screenshot of a blurb from Hudson Place One's website but I can't seem to find that same screen myself.

Also, check out their "Explore the Community" page:
http://www.hudsondistrict.ca/the-com.../#district-map

It sure took a long time but the finish line is actually in sight now. And the whole thing has actually come together fairly well, all things considered.

I've asked this before but I never get an answer. Why do bylaws like height restrictions even exist? Don't developers have to
have their proposals vetted by the city anyway? So what's the point of an extra, arbitrary layer of red tape saying only buildings this tall can go here and only buildings that tall can go there? We all pay for this through taxes and it adds nothing. Langford figured this out and has been the fastest growing municipality for years, so why can't Victoria?

Also, thanks for the link to the Hudson website, it's a cool, interactive site that gives a little info on each building. I agree that the overall project is nice I just wish they could finish it once and for all. How many years have passed since it was originally proposed, 12? 15? By the time it's finished an entire generation will have passed.

vicdevelopments · #**1646** Posted **Feb 14, 2018, 7:45 AM**

Aastra thanks for posting that link. It was informative.

Phil I think there is laws or guidelines so that developers just don't build crap buildings. One good thing is the city has had a good affect on some of the finishings of new developments. Unfortunately they have had a horrible impact on building heights. One good thing is there are new developments being approved or have been approved that Victoria would have never accepted in the past. I hope that the new council when elected in November will be pro developent and pro taller buildings as we have now.

I emailed Lisa Helps and Stew Young tonight.

aastra · #**1647** Posted **Feb 14, 2018, 5:18 PM**

YYJ Departure building expansion is in the news again:

Article:
https://victoria.citified.ca/news/27...ional-airport/

osirisboy · #**1648** Posted **Feb 16, 2018, 6:56 AM**

The expansion cost is only 19 million?! But will take 27 months? Am I missing something? That cost seems way too low

Airboy · #**1649** Posted **Feb 16, 2018, 3:52 PM**

Phased construction in an active airport is time consuming. The actual expansion may not be that large though.

But its about time. the current domestic departures lounge is quite congested some days.

craneSpotter · #**1650** Posted **Feb 16, 2018, 4:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by osirisboy

The expansion cost is only 19 million?! But will take 27 months? Am I missing something? That cost seems way too low

It's not really that extensive of an expansion - here is the phased airport expansion plan from of the YYJ master plan - which you can compare phase 3 (Lower hold room) to the render above. Phase 2 (blue) was completed in early 2017 to facilitate this building expansion - I think 27 months probably is a bit conservative.

Phil McAvity · #**1651** Posted **Feb 17, 2018, 1:35 AM**

Man, you guys are all coming up with anti-socialist signatures, no wonder I love this site!

Vic, as I said, every project has to jump through various hoops before approval is given anyway so why the city pays lawyers to draft things like height bylaws is redundant, pointless and wasteful.

I'm glad you e-mailed Lisa Helps and Stew Young but what did you say to them?

vicdevelopments · #**1652** Posted **Feb 17, 2018, 5:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil McAvity

Vic, as I said, every project has to jump through various hoops before approval is given anyway so why the city pays lawyers to draft things like height bylaws is redundant, pointless and wasteful.

I'm glad you e-mailed Lisa Helps and Stew Young but what did you say to them?

I emailed Lisa Helps thanking her for supporting the newer developments that are taller and higher density. I said that for years nothing ever got built and these developments are creating a newer and higher populated downtown. I said if we keep up with approving these developments the bike lanes will make sense. A high density and populated downtown. I also said that maybe the city could collaborate with a developer to build a new parkade.

She emailed me back and said she agreed with the exception of China town and old town. That the new developments will create a beautiful new town. She also said that the city is working with David Chard to create a new parkade in the Yates on Yates development.

I emailed Stew Young on whether he was still supporting the larger arena and 40,000 seat stadium from his stance from the commonwealth game's bid. His city director replied and said that they are not. In response to my comment on how we got screwed with the small arena and how we missed out on what could have been a great venue he emailed me this.
“Make no small plans” – Daniel Burnham (1846-1912), Architect and urban designer. Director of Works for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

vicdevelopments · #**1653** Posted **Feb 17, 2018, 5:25 AM**

He also thanked me for my interest and ambition in improving the region. I also told Lisa Helps that Victoria's skyline is so flat and we needed a signature tower or two to which she also agreed with.

Phil McAvity · #**1654** Posted **Feb 21, 2018, 2:40 AM**

Since i'd been given conflicting answers as to whether or not Lisa Helps supports taller buildings downtown, I emailed her myself and asked her and she said she simply goes along with whatever is in the 160 page Downtown Core Area Plan (who writes these things, Leo Tolstoy?), so apparently she has no opinion on the matter which seems odd to me given that so many others have opinions about tall buildings here.

vicdevelopments · #**1655** Posted **Feb 21, 2018, 9:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil McAvity

Since i'd been given conflicting answers as to whether or not Lisa Helps supports taller buildings downtown, I emailed her myself and asked her and she said she simply goes along with whatever is in the 160 page Downtown Core Area Plan (who writes these things, Leo Tolstoy?), so apparently she has no opinion on the matter which seems odd to me given that so many others have opinions about tall buildings here.

Did you email her after I did? My response was that she was in favor of taller buildings and high density projects except for old town and China town.

The NDP came out today saying that in Vancouver Victoria and Naniamo they are charging a 20 percent tax on out of Country real estate buyers. I hope this does not squash new developments in the future.

Phil McAvity · #**1656** Posted **Feb 22, 2018, 5:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vicdevelopments

Did you email her after I did? My response was that she was in favor of taller buildings and high density projects except for old town and China town.

Yeah, I e-mailed her after you did. I have no idea why she answered you but steadfastly refused to answer me

vicdevelopments · #**1657** Posted **Feb 23, 2018, 1:22 AM**

That's weird she never responded to you. I sent a reply to her first response but she didn't email back after that. What's your thoughts on the government's 20 percent tax for foreign investors?

I might take a couple of pics soon.

vicdevelopments · #**1658** Posted **Feb 27, 2018, 10:18 PM**

The excavation hole with the base of the crane. This will be the tallest building in Victoria and on Vancouver Island. 25 story condo building.

thumbnail_IMG_0264 by steven roberts, on Flickr

thumbnail_IMG_0263 by steven roberts, on Flickr

Phil McAvity · #**1659** Posted **Feb 28, 2018, 2:03 PM**

Now it's 26 stories

26-storey Hudson Place tower moves closer to fruition

Council votes 6-2 to approved development permit; immediate neighbours can still weigh in

DON DESCOTEAU
Feb. 26, 2018 3:30 p.m.

If the Hudson Place 1 tower gets built at 26 storeys, it’ll be downtown Victoria’s tallest building.

In a 6-2 vote, city council approved the development permit with variances for the project at 777 Herald St. – the most contentious of which was to add three more metres to the structure’s height than called for under the previous application.

The building is the third of four phases of the Hudson District on the former Hudson’s Bay Company retail site. The City of Victoria will be looking for a final injection of public input from adjacent property owners before council considers giving the final stamp of approval.

The initial application by Townline Properties was for 29 storeys, which raised many eyebrows, and prompted council to send the company back to the drawing board.

In discussions at committee of the whole last Thursday, Mayor Lisa Helps indicated the stepping up of building heights from the Inner Harbour to the area in question was appropriate, based on sketches provided of the skyline.

Coun. Margaret Lucas agreed.

“Looking at the sight lines, it doesn’t stick out as much as when people just hear the height,” she said, acknowledging emails the City has received opposing a 26-storey structure. “It is in a good place in the downtown and I think there’s enough here that makes it very supportable …”

While staff recommended approval of the new plan, noting that it helped create an “urban amphitheatre” feel for the Hudson District with between-building common spaces and public areas, Coun. Pam Madoff voiced concerns about the long-term impact of saying yes to going higher on Hudson Place One.

Not only did it feel like council was moving back to the one-off style of development planning for downtown, she said, future developers along the corridor would use the project as a benchmark to measure their projects.

https://www.vicnews.com/news/26-stor...r-to-fruition/

vicdevelopments · #**1660** Posted **Feb 28, 2018, 11:32 PM**

Thanks for the information and link.

That is so exciting. I never thought growing up here that a building over 20 stories would be built here. Now we have 3. I'm so excited to see a 26 story built. I hope Pam is right and that it will set a new standard an that new proposals will follow suit.