Plans to build a community centre on the historic Craigflower Manor property in View Royal are underway.
Last week, an application from the Victoria Highland Games Association was presented to View Royal council. The application is to re-zone the site so it can be used for various things like assemblies, catering, a museum, a cafe and restaurant and a gift shop, among other things.
Craigflower Manor is a national and provincial historic site and serves as the home base for the Victoria Highland Games Association. It is also considered to be a gateway into the Town of View Royal.
The association has been caring for the property for the past six years, making renovations and performing maintenance on the site.
READ MORE: The land conservancy will drop Craigflower Manor
Jim Maxwell, the president of the Victoria Highland Games Association, said they have been working on plans for the community centre with the province and View Royal for a few years.
If all goes well, the centre will be built at the corner of Admirals Road and the Island Highway.
The manor was originally build for the McKenzie family in 1856. The family immigrated to Canada from Scotland and took care of Craigflower Farm.
Maxwell said the new building will pay homage to the siteB次元官网网址檚 Scottish roots.
B次元官网网址淭he idea is to create a building that recognized the heritage of the McKenzieB次元官网网址檚 that were on the property but also compliment the manor,B次元官网网址� Maxwell said. B次元官网网址淭he manor has always had a place of prominence on the property.B次元官网网址�
Maxwell said the new building will be sunken a little lower, due to the natural slope of the grounds, so the manor can be seen above it. It will be built of stone and wood and the main hall will have glass windows with a view of the manor.
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It will also be circular which, according to the application, is B次元官网网址渋nspired by the historic architecture of gathering spaces.B次元官网网址�
The building is proposed to accommodate up to 200 people and will be able to host a range of events from meetings to weddings.
B次元官网网址淲e welcome all groups to use the facility,B次元官网网址� Maxwell said. B次元官网网址淚 think our group with all the various stakeholders are bringing life back to a crown jewel of a property and one of the main entrances of the Town of View Royal.B次元官网网址�
Public hearings on the community centre are expected to take place in the new year.
shalu.mehta@goldstreamgazette.com
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