Victoria is firmly behind the Royal B.C. MuseumB次元官网网址檚 expansion plans, but a proposed commercial office space on site is raising questions.
Last week, Victoria city council discussed the rezoning application to support new gallery space and collections tower.
To generate income in the short term, the museum proposes to lease up to 450 square feet in its proposed 16-storey building.
Eventually, as the museumB次元官网网址檚 collection grows, it plans to gradually displace its office tenants until it occupies the entire building.
B次元官网网址淭hat might or might not happen,B次元官网网址� warned Coun. Pam Madoff.
If the museumB次元官网网址檚 collection doesnB次元官网网址檛 expand as planned, the tower could remain an office in perpetuity, confirmed senior planner Kevin King. B次元官网网址淪taff decided to steer away from the idea of a covenant that would phase out the office in the long term,B次元官网网址� he said.
The possibility didnB次元官网网址檛 concern Coun. Geoff Young. Office space is not an undesirable addition to the downtown, he said.
On the whole, councillors approved of the application, which could potentially double the floor space of the museum.
ItB次元官网网址檚 proposed 300-stall underground parking lot is not as big as generally required, but bike parking and change rooms are included to compensate. Other green features include a rain garden and thermal heating.
The museum is currently zoned for two family dwellings. The rezoning application under review entails moving St. AnneB次元官网网址檚 schoolhouse to Thunderbird Park, where Helmcken House and Mungo Martin House are located.
The height of any future buildings would be capped at the same height as the current Fannin Tower, which the museum plans to demolish.
B次元官网网址淚f it wasnB次元官网网址檛 the Royal B.C. Museum, if this wasnB次元官网网址檛 our most important cultural asset, I certainly wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be even considering the kind of density that weB次元官网网址檙e looking at on this site,B次元官网网址� Madoff said.
Tourim Victoria also wrote a letter of support for the museumB次元官网网址檚 expansion.
B次元官网网址淩ecognizing the extreme importance of the Royal B.C. Museum to our visitor economy, Tourism Victoria believes strongly that the City of Victoria should support the zoning proposal,B次元官网网址� wrote Rob Gialloreto, president of Tourism Victoria.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
