The demand for Victoria Real Estate is in strong demand and we (out team)Â will try to keep you posted on new projects coming to the market in the Greater Victoria Area both on our website and in our blog.
An article in today’s Times Colonist by Bill Cleverly reads;
What a difference a full council makes. Following a public hearing last night, Colwood councillors gave the green light, in a 5-2 vote, to a $44-million, 23-storey high-rise condo development called Silkwind on Wale Road.
The triangular building at 2708 Wale Rd. is being developed by Edmonton companies Aquinas Corp. and Urbia Developments under management of Wessex Project Management. It will be a high-end high-rise with 153 larger-than-normal units, said Wessex president Peter Laughlin. Its target market is affluent, aging boomers.
Fourteen people spoke at the public hearing, all in support. Voting against the project were councillors Cynthia Day and Jason Nault, who have consistently spoken against approving individual high-rise projects until Colwood’s Official Community Plan is updated.
Nault said he will continue to oppose one-off development proposals until the OCP is updated, adding that 14 people speaking out of a population of 14,000 was an “abysmal” turnout.
Both Nault and Day took heat from fellow councillors for their opposition to Silkwind, given their approval almost two years ago of a 17-storey building almost next door at 2695 Nob Hill Rd..
Coun. David Saunders said he was “appalled” that Day and Nault would oppose the project after unanimous support at a public hearing. “It goes against the city’s wishes. It goes against the citizens’ wishes and I find it appalling. I’m sorry,” Saunders said. In his defence, Nault said he “had made a mistake” in voting in favour of the 17-storey building.
Day said a first draft of the new OCP could be completed in six months so a delay is not that onerous. But she said the public that comes to a council chamber is not the only public and she hears from several residents who support her position.
Colwood’s decision to move Silkwind forward comes just two weeks after councillors rejected developer Les Bjola’s proposal to rebuild neighbouring Colwood Corners in a project calling for 11 buildings of up to 29 storeys.
In the Colwood Corners vote, however, Mayor Jody Twa and Saunders had excused themselves because of potential conflict. That meant Bjola needed either Nault’s or Day’s vote to get the OCP amendment. Day was absent due to illness and Nault stayed firm to his position that the development shouldn’t be considered until the OCP review is done. With both Twa and Saunders eligible to vote, Silkwind didn’t face the same numbers crunch.
Colwood’s policies will require the developer to pay about $228,000 in amenity fees and development cost charges of about $344,000 for roads.
Payments to the city include: $1,500 per unit for community amenities such as parks or playing fields or buildings such as a community centre or youth centre; $500 per unit for an affordable housing reserve; $73,000 to build playground equipment at Ecole John Stubbs; $15,000 for firefighting training; $40,000 for firefighting equipment; $15,000 for public art in the Colwood Corners area; provision of six cars to be used as a car co-operative; land for a transit stop and 20 bicycles and bike parking. End of Article.
We at Properties In Victoria Professionalshave seen many changes and new developments over the years. Many people do not want to see changes in our communities, but we also have to keep in mind that the development also brings in much needed tax revenue. So when we go and complain about high property taxes we also have to think how we voted and where we put our support in the future expansion and development of Greater Victoria. We would love to hear your comments.
Enjoy the sunshine,
Cheers, Anders
Royal LePage Coast Capital – Properties In Victoria Professionals.
