Some Victoria residents fear the prominence of the area’s Christ Church Cathedral landmark will be overshadowed by proposed residential housing plans.
Since Nov. 10, residents have been able to make their opinions known about the church’s proposal for 500 housing units for 1,500 people on the city block they own bordered by Burdett and Rockland avenues, and Quadra and Vancouver streets. Residents have until Dec. 10 to address their thoughts about the plans.
“I feel like it should be something that shouldn’t even be thought of because they’re trying to dominate a historical building like the architecture of this cathedral,” said Adam Irwin-Gunn, who’s lived a block away from the church for five years.
The Fairfield resident is concerned his grandma won’t be able to access her home with the road changes. She has owned the properties for at least 50 years and Irwin-Gunn said if Vancouver Street is closed, she’s worried about the potential “gong show” Cook Street could turn into during rush hour.
“It’s almost like we’re being given one or two options. We’re going to have to spend time waiting in traffic sitting and idling for another whole 20 minutes for nothing, or then that’s where it’s really difficult for driving around. An 82-year-old lady is not going to be biking,” said Irwin-Gunn.
READ MORE: Victoria church wants to develop downtown property to add homes for 1,500 people
Many residents shared similar concerns at a meeting held on Nov. 27 with church officials and the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association. Irwin-Gunn was one of the 75 people who showed up last week.
To make the road accessible to residents, a public space saver was suggested at the meeting. A public space saver is “pedestrian-friendly, but vehicles have the ability to go through,” said Irwin-Gunn.
The five-year Fairfield resident also worried that it would be hard for emergency vehicles, plus garbage and recycling services to access the neighbourhood.
“There is some public space-saver designs they’ve been looking into trying to feed off of Europe models mostly, but that section of Victoria Quadra Street doesn’t work to be able to have that landscape layout,” he added. “Our vehicle users already have more than enough difficulties since Vancouver’s (Street) forced roadblock and barrier.”
In response to the concerns, Brendon Neilson, executive director of the Anglican Diocese of British Columbia, noted that they will be working with residents.
“Improving site accessibility for all has been a priority for this work and functional access, such as waste management, is a key component of this,” Neilson said. “The plans reflect these needs, and improve what is not a fit-for-purpose access plan for current users.”
At the meeting, many parents feared the development would try to make Fairfield into a commercial zone, bleeding into downtown.
“It’s a family-friendly residential neighbourhood, so it can’t be used as a commercialized thing,” said Irwin-Gunn.
Adding to the concern, according to Irwin-Gunn, parents of children who attend Christ Church Cathedral School are worried the construction might take away green spaces for the children to play on. In response, the executive director noted that the construction, “includes enhancing the green space from not just paved play areas, but other opportunities both on the precinct and on adjacent sites and amenity spaces, as urban schools do across the world.
The school, in parallel to this work, is undertaking business planning and program planning to develop a concrete long-term plan for enhancement of their educational offerings.”
The church is currently in the process of applying for a land use change, which are pending development permits, building permits and a development partner to support funding and financing.
Neilson and his staff believe the development will be beneficial for the community.
“It was clear through nearly three years of engagement with internal diocese stakeholders, external users, visitors, city staff, and neighbours that enhancement of heritage, reservation of greenspace site accessibility and permeability, new housing types and sizes, and more activity through more users and residents were priorities,” he said. “These new uses and therefore increased on the precinct not only provide more amenities for the current users, but also secures the site in the long-term as a community asset by ensuring it is sustainable, relevant, and diverse.”
