The public is likely just months away from getting its say on a project that would add almost 1,900 residential units, new businesses, public plazas and more to a harbour-side spot in Vic West.
On Thursday (Oct. 26), the Roundhouse at Bayview Place proposal was back in front of councillors who had asked for several tweaks to the plan in the spring.
The project is a comprehensive reimagining of the area within Catherine, Esquimalt, Sitkum and Kimta roads – bisected by the E&N Railway – and is the second phase of the 20-acre project after the Hillside redevelopment directly to the east.
The redevelopment of what city staff have called underutilized land will have a public hearing no later than mid-January – should several conditions be met by the developer – after Mayor Marianne Alto put that approved date forward.
“It’s been a long time and perhaps that’s good in the sense this is a significant and will, ultimately should it be adopted, be iconic and a remarkable showpiece for this part of the city,” Alto said, alluding to the over 15 years the project has been in the pipeline.
“It is in fact something that will be transformational and in my view, this is a vision of the future.”
A main request back in May was for developer Focus Equities to reduce the site’s overall density from the proposed floor-space ratio (FSR) of 4.75 to around 4.4 FSR. The new proposed density of 4.58 splits the difference and has resulted in the reworking of the nine planned towers.
In line with other council requests, the updated density would see slimmer towers that add five stories to a building hosting affordable housing along with seven additional stories of rental housing. Overall, the site will now see towers ranging from 10 to 32 storeys instead of the previously proposed 19 to 29 storeys.
The density changes mean the condo-driven, 1,870-unit proposal will now have a larger proportion of the residences – about 25 per cent – dedicated to rental housing.
Staff said the move to make towers narrower and taller will create better relationships between buildings by creating more separation. That would improve privacy, allow more light to reach the ground, reduce shadowing and help emphasize the podiums so the full height of the towers isn’t right at the sidewalk, staff said.
The developer also responded to council wanting child-care space included and added a 5,200 square-foot centre with an outdoor play area to the plan.
The updated plan reduces the height of a building along Esquimalt Road by 13 storeys to make the structure less imposing on the industrial buildings, which hold National Historic Site status and are set to be revitalized. The project site is located in the vicinity of a historic Songhees village and was used by the Lekwungen people for thousands of years before it became industrial lands.
Focus Equities’ application said its proposal would complement the heritage complex by making it the neighbourhood centrepiece and an adjacent turntable plaza would provide cultural and commercial programming.
READ: 1,900-unit overhaul of underused Vic West heritage site faces further revisions
