In the wake of a 2013 article in the Canadian Business Journal magazine that rated the City of Colwood one of the countryB次元官网网址檚 top 100 best neighbourhoods to live in, the municipality continues to see growth and movement in residential housing development.
One of the largest current projects in terms of potential, Royal Bay on the former Lehigh gravel pit, is expected to start building sometime in late summer or early fall. City of Colwood planning director Ian Bourhill says that is probably the biggest single change since the CBJ article came out.
B次元官网网址淚 think theyB次元官网网址檙e hoping to have show homes up by the fall,B次元官网网址� he says.
The servicing for the site is nearly completed, he says, meaning construction will soon be able to start on the first neighbourhood to be built adjacent to the new Royal Bay secondary, which opens this fall.
The Top 100 story also referred to the future impact of the Capital City Centre project, with its 27-storey Skye Tower central to the residential component of the development.
While that project has ceased to exist in the form it was in at the time, the propertyB次元官网网址檚 new owners, The Onni Group out of Vancouver, are expected to bring forward their plans for the site sometime this year, according to Bourhill, who added the residential component of that development will likely remain B次元官网网址渟ignificant.B次元官网网址�
Another project that went through a change in ownership is Ocean Grove, formerly Aquattro, off Esquimalt Lagoon. Changes to the overall development, which aims to put hundreds more living spaces on the lands below Heatherbell Road, are in the process of being considered by city council.
Other smaller, yet significantly- sized projects are also on the go, including the Pacific View condominium project at 300 Belmont Rd., which includes two buildings of four storeys each.
Colwood Mayor Carol Hamilton says sheB次元官网网址檚 seeing interest in properties across the West Shore and as far out as Sooke, as home buyers continue to look for affordable houses and other residential properties.
B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檙e affordable in the scheme of things when you hold it up to the (regional) market,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淧eople can get bang for their buck out here.B次元官网网址�
Other single family home projects, some combined with townhome or condo elements, are in the works or expected to come on stream soon in the Wishart Road area, Metchosin and Painter roads, and others.
On the subject of liveability, Hamilton said city council takes into account the effect of major developments on nearby areas and how the landscape and viewscapes can change.
She gave as an example the Colwood Creek Estates development near Jacklin and Sooke roads as one where something that once looked like it was B次元官网网址渘uked outB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� the development was left vacant for many years until economic conditions improved and a project went forward on the land.
B次元官网网址淕radually houses were built and occupied and the landscaping went in and started to grow. We took some of the bush, the scrubby stuff, and turned it into a park and walkways.B次元官网网址�
When it comes to development and how certain projects fit in with the surrounding area, itB次元官网网址檚 about keeping a thoughtful process to it, but allowing time to take its effect on a project.
B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 the transition part thatB次元官网网址檚 the toughest,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淪ome people just see the intensity of the change and donB次元官网网址檛 see whatB次元官网网址檚 to come.B次元官网网址�
Hamilton says the city has acknowledged that as it looks to the future.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 important that we keep diversity and not create cookie-cutter designs.B次元官网网址�
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
GREATER VICTORIA MARKET UPDATE 禄 MONTH TO DATE, MAY 11/15 COURTESY VICTORIA REAL ESTATE BOARD
禄 270 / 714 -- NET UNCONDITIONAL SALES / TOTAL, MAY 2014
禄 521 / 1,509 -- NEW LISTINGS / TOTAL, MAY 2014
禄 3,984 / 4,672 -- ACTIVE RESIDENTIAL LISTINGS / TOTAL, MAY 2014
