A new library, community centre or childcare centre could be coming to the Hillside-Quadra area B次元官网网址� at least thatB次元官网网址檚 the hope of local neighbourhood associations.
The land parcel at 950 Kings Rd., which hosts the former Blanshard Elementary School building, is the focus of an upcoming community rally organized by the Hillside-Quadra (HQ) Collective and supported by the the North Park Neighborhood Association (NPNA) and the Hillside-Quadra Neighborhood Association.
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In 2015 the Capital Regional District purchased the plot from the Greater Victoria School District as a buffer in the construction of the neighbouring site at 955 Kings Rd. There, the Capital Regional Hospital District (CRHD) is building The Summit, a 320-unit residential care facility for seniors living with dementia. In the meantime, the CRHD has been using the land as a staging area for the construction site, and parking space for project contractors. Upon purchase, the CRHD committed to initiating public engagement to decide on the landB次元官网网址檚 future use, but local residents are concerned about losing green space.
Rally for community space in Hillside-Quadra. Sun. Feb. 10, 1-4pm. Show City Council the strong community support to purchase Blanshard Elementary site to be a space for community events & meetings, a daycare, library, gym, green space & play area for everyone to enjoy.
B次元官网网址� North Park Neighbourhood Association (NPNA) (@WeAreNorthPark)
B次元官网网址淲e see it as a park being lost,B次元官网网址� said Allison Ashcroft, board member of the NPNA. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a green space in part, and also the gym and services that theyB次元官网网址檙e able to offer to the Quadra Village Community Centre (QVCC), which is at full capacity.B次元官网网址�
Currently, the schoolB次元官网网址檚 gymnasium is being subleased by the City to the Quadra Village Community Centre for events and activities, including cultural and athletic programs, while the second floor is being leased to the Vancouver Island School of Art. Their leases are up in 2021.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been told that thereB次元官网网址檚 basically a plan to not extend the leases for ourselves or the Vancouver Island School of Art,B次元官网网址� said Kelly Greenwell, executive director at the QVCC. B次元官网网址淏ut, weB次元官网网址檝e been actively engaging with the city council about securing some kind of ongoing expanded community services centre.B次元官网网址�
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Ashcroft argued that the fastest-growing neighbourhoods in the city are North Park, Harris Green and Hillside-Quadra and that the neighbourhood demographics are the least wealthy and least served parts of the city.
B次元官网网址淲e need to make the best use of public assets,B次元官网网址� Ashcroft said. B次元官网网址淧articularly for a marginalized community.B次元官网网址�
Now that construction on The Summit is wrapping up B次元官网网址� with an anticipated opening date of 2020 B次元官网网址� other uses of 950 Kings Rd. are being explored.
B次元官网网址淪ome of the ideas IB次元官网网址檝e heard include proposals for an allotment garden, a library branch or proposals for child care spaces,B次元官网网址� said Hillside-Quadra liaison Ben Isitt. B次元官网网址淭he idea of a park with a community centre located in it has been the most popular.B次元官网网址�
Isitt noted that expanding the Quadra Village Community Centre is one of the items on the CityB次元官网网址檚 Strategic Plan and that adding more community resources to the area would be an opportunity for alignment between the City and the CRHD.
The CRD told Black Press that at this point there are no official plans for the site.
The rally will happen on Sunday, Feb. 17 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 950 Kings Rd.
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