The Beachlands just flipped the switch on a $1.2 billion vision – and the West Shore will never look the same.
On Friday, The Beachlands – a 134-acre master-planned development in Colwood – opened its first building: a sprawling 15,000-square-foot Experience Centre that’s already setting a new bar for real estate presentations on the Island.
“This building is going to become the beacon for the whole future of this community,” said Jon Stovell, president of Reliance Properties, co-developers alongside Seacliff Properties.
But the Experience Centre is just the start.
The Beachlands is poised to transform a once-gritty industrial gravel pit into a vibrant West Coast waterfront neighbourhood with 2,850 homes, hundreds of commercial and retail spaces, and nearly 50 acres of parks and green space along 1.4 kilometres of shoreline.
“This project has been over 25 years in the making,” said Georgia Desjardins, vice president of development at Seacliff Properties. “The city and past owners started re-envisioning this industrial property back in the ’90s. My involvement began about eight years ago, working through official community plan amendments, rezoning, and master planning. Now, seeing this first phase of construction completed is a monumental milestone and one we are incredibly proud of.”
Currently under construction are two multi-family buildings with 181 homes, including a boutique collection of 16 townhomes. The first 36 single-family lots have been subdivided, half of which are already sold.
Home prices on those lots range from the high $500,000s to low $600,000s, according to Stovell, with waterfront lots expected to command higher prices.
The Beachlands’ commitment to sustainability is clear – from restoring the brownfield site with trees and native plants to integrating geothermal heating and cooling in the Experience Centre itself. Bike lanes and close proximity to schools, shops, and community centres aim to reduce car dependency.
This development offers sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains, the ocean, and downtown Victoria.
Beyond the buildings and parks, The Beachlands is expected to generate roughly 10,500 full-time jobs during its 15-year buildout – a major boost to the region’s economy.
Amid all this future-focused development, the site location provides a rich history. In the 1960s, gravel crews uncovered a mammoth fossil – a stunning reminder of the ancient history beneath the new community.
“There is a long history of association between the mammoth and this property,” Desjardins explained. “Back when it was an operating gravel pit for over 100 years, the operators found a mammoth tooth. That tooth is still with the Royal BC Museum, which is opening a new centre right now – right across the street – a pretty amazing tie-in.”
The mammoth story doesn’t stop there.
“Years ago, there was a beautiful public art piece of a mammoth down at the waterfront, but unfortunately it was destroyed by arson last summer," Desjardins said. "So, for our first piece of public art in the parkland we’re delivering back to the city, we reached out to the original artist to bring the mammoth back – this time with her baby.”
The new mammoth sculpture will be nestled in landscaping designed to mature over time, creating the impression of the mammoth and her calf walking through grasses.
“It’s a meaningful connection to the land’s history, and something people can experience as the community grows,” Desjardins said.
While initial plans included reserving a ferry terminal spot and parking spaces, in the case of B.C. Ferries moving forward with a downtown-to-West Shore route, Stovell says that has not been discussed further.
After decades of planning, The Beachlands is no longer just a vision. It’s becoming a vibrant waterfront community – where past, present, and future intersect along the shores of Colwood.
