The potential future owner of what locals call B次元官网网址渢he Turner buildingB次元官网网址� sees the recent fire that ravaged its interior as an unfortunate disruption, but the company is pressing on with plans to redevelop the site.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 relieved that no one was hurt and grateful for the swift response from Victoria police and fire crews,B次元官网网址� said Karl Robertson of Empresa Properties Ltd., the company under contract to purchase the building after rezoning.

Constructed in the 1940s near the Oak Bay border, the Victoria building once housed a coffee shop, convenience store, flower shop and apartments on the second level. The building at 2002 Richmond Rd. was shuttered in 2001 and has faced the wrecking ball since it suffered significant damage in 2013.

Fire crews spotted smoke wafting from the building on Jan. 15 around 4 a.m. while returning from a medical call.  Firefighters entered the building but quickly retreated upon discovering significant structural damage from a previous fire, taking a defensive approach B次元官网网址� cutting holes in the buildingB次元官网网址檚 exterior to access the fire.

The next morning, fire crews returned to 2002 Richmond Ave. to perform trench cuts on the roof and douse inaccessible spots. Fire officials determined the buildingB次元官网网址檚 structural integrity was compromised, posing a public risk.

As fire investigators continue to look into the cause, public works secured the area for safety, and Empresa continues to work with the city to move its project forward.

B次元官网网址淭he propertyB次元官网网址檚 condition poses significant challenges. It requires a scenario 10 demolition due to extensive contamination, rot and biohazards that have accumulated over decades of neglect. Addressing these issues will involve substantial remediation and removal costs,B次元官网网址� Robertson told the Victoria B次元官网网址. B次元官网网址淲e are pushing to secure City of Victoria approvals by spring of this year, which will allow us to carefully remove the derelict structure and move forward with redevelopment.B次元官网网址�

The company hopes the city will find a way to B次元官网网址渆xpedite the processB次元官网网址� for the project underway for more than 18 months.

The development proposal pitched in 2023 with updates in spring 2024, is for a six-storey building with a village node at the base and 55 purpose-built rental residential homes on the other five floors.

The project also proposes a partnership with the city, creating a community by closing the intersection of Richmond Road and Birch Street to create a public plaza.

B次元官网网址淎t this stage, I donB次元官网网址檛 anticipate that the recent events will alter our plans for the property. Our vision remains to transform the site into a vibrant community space, featuring a pedestrian-focused plaza with local retail shops at grade and residential rental homes above,B次元官网网址� Robertson said. B次元官网网址淚mportantly, we intend to honour the social heritage of the space in its reincarnation.B次元官网网址�