Travis Paterson
B次元官网网址 Staff
The developers behind a proposed 27-unit rental building on Alder Street plan to include 68 photovoltaic solar panels on the roof.
ItB次元官网网址檚 part of a move to be more innovative, says Luke Mari, whoB次元官网网址檚 Purdey Group is building the project in partnership with Aryze Developments at 3216 and 3218 Alder St.
ItB次元官网网址檚 one of three purpose-built rental developments the partnership are currently proposing. The others are in Royal Oak and James Bay.
B次元官网网址淲e are constantly trying to innovate in our development projects, we have others that will be coming with renewable energies to stay ahead,B次元官网网址� Mari said.
After nearly a decade without purpose-built rentals there are several on the way in Greater Victoria including a major 14-storey tower at Uptown.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a need for it, as developers weB次元官网网址檙e the ones shaping community and thereB次元官网网址檚 a social obligation to do this,B次元官网网址� Mari said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a hole in the market, people need housing, itB次元官网网址檚 not always profit driven.B次元官网网址�
All three Purdey-Aryze rental projects will be managed by Devon Project Management.
Because the cost of solar panels has come down so significantly, they are becoming more attractive. At Alder, the power will tie back into the B.C. Hydro grid but the estimated capture will be enough to power the common areas and also offset the elevators, which are a major electrical draw.
The installation will be done by Power 2 The People, who convinced Mari through their work retrofitting a local condo building.
B次元官网网址淭he idea is weB次元官网网址檒l tie into the grid and maintain a [lower pay rate] for a building of this size,B次元官网网址� Mari said.
The building will be constructed to a Build Green standard and Mari said there are plans to include conduits for electric car chargers, though thatB次元官网网址檚 yet to be finalized.
B次元官网网址淭his is a long term building, and we assume mass marketed electric cars are on the way,B次元官网网址� Mari said. B次元官网网址淲e want to have a charging station ready.B次元官网网址�
The Alder units range from studio to two-bedroom units, and are purposely larger than the market standard, Mari explained.
B次元官网网址淭he two bedrooms will all have two bathrooms, which is different than other new rentals, to accommodate families or roommates sharing the space.B次元官网网址�
When Purdey and Aryze took over the land it was zoned for a condo development with 1,300-square-foot units and underground parking.
B次元官网网址淭he unit sizes were too big, so we changed the design with Low Hammond Row Architecture by shrinking the size of units and removing the underground parking, which is extremely expensive,B次元官网网址� Mari said. B次元官网网址淪urface parking helps make the cost more attainable for renters.B次元官网网址�
Public consultation in the neighbourhood has gone well, Mari added, with a neighbouring Pacifica Housing complex, Accent Inns, and both the border for Mount View-Colquitz and Quadra Cedar Hill community associations supportive (Alder Street is the border for those associations).
The plan has passed through SaanichB次元官网网址檚 Advisory Design Panel and is expected to make it to council for a few minor variances, hopefully by late summer or the fall.
reporter@saanichnews.com
