Vic West’s skyline will soon be much taller.
After the better part of 15 years trying to get approval on the controversial Roundhouse property, with neighbourhood residents pushing back all along the way, Victoria’s city council has approved the development.
On October 26th of last year, developers from Focus Equities Inc. proposed their final submission to council for a multi-building development with over 1,800 residential units as well as multiple commercial opportunities.
The buildings would range between 10 and 32 storeys as per their application. They would include 215 affordable units to be operated by a non-profit organization and 460 of the units (25%) would be specifically for below or at-market rental units.
The site of this project is a unique one for the city council to consider because of its grandeur, its status as a National Historic Site and because of pushback from people in the area who are opposed to building several large towers in their sightline, despite the ongoing housing crisis in Victoria.
Following this October Committee of the Whole session, the city council ultimately decided to push the notion to a public hearing to receive more feedback from community members before making their decision.
In the end, two public hearings took place in special council meetings where residents of Vic West came out in droves to voice their concerns or support for the project.
Finally, on Thursday, January 25th, the city council heard the last of the residents and put the notion to a vote.
“If we’re smart, we’ll make our decisions based on a combination of what staff recommends and what we think, with sound reason, is best for the city,” said Councillor Stephen Hammond at the council meeting, sharing his thoughts on the development.
He also noted, “There are many reasons that people come to Victoria and if charm is what they’re looking for, there is still plenty of charm. If it comes down to charm versus housing, I will side with more housing.”
“But so often, we just look at these binary opposites. ‘I want more housing, but I don’t want a city of too tall buildings,’” Hammond continued.
To conclude his speech, which took a look at both sides of the issue, Hammond said he thought the population density was too much and he thought the historic Roundhouse buildings would be overwhelmed. He decided to oppose the project.
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Once all of the councillors had spoken and said their piece on the development, Mayor Alto shared her final thoughts.
“I think that regardless of whether you thought it was a good thing or a bad thing, something’s going to happen here and it’s going to transform this part of the city,” she said.
“By the very nature of the size of the land, it’s going to transform the city itself.”
I embrace the notion of Victoria as a city—I think it’s important for us to do that intentionally so that it’s not random and I think it’s very important to find how we balance that historical reverence with the imagination, challenge and bravery of a future city where all our children, grandchildren and those beyond can live and remember that this is something we did with intentionality and purpose.
The Mayor concluded by noting that there are still flaws and kinks to work out, but she intends to get the ball rolling and open the door to the developers to begin work on the site after 15 odd years of being in the applicant phase.
Mayor Alto stated her support for the development and moved the notion to a vote for third reading.
Councillors Kim, Caradonna, Thompson, Dell, Coleman, Loughton and Mayor Alto all voted in favour of the development, while Councillors Hammond and Gardiner were the only two to oppose it.
Thus, the “Bayview saga” as Caradonna called it has come to an end and the development has been officially approved.
