The proponents of a $70-million mixed-use development on the former St. Andrew’s School site in Victoria’s North Park neighbourhood believe they have addressed residents’ concerns with a new design and hope to start construction this fall.
Vancouver developer BlueSky Properties, a division of Bosa Properties, hopes changes to the project assuage concerns raised about traffic and impact of buildings on the site, bordered by Pandora Avenue, and Mason and Vancouver streets.
The school building was shuttered in 2013.
“I wouldn’t say we have changed it significantly, but we have made some changes that will ameliorate the project,” said Bosa senior vice president Daryl Simpson, noting the developer pulled the project out of a rezoning process last fall to make changes. “I’m glad we slowed down and took the time and consulted [the neighbourhood].”
The North Park Neighbourhood Association told city council it had problems with the traffic access on both Pandora and Mason streets, a lack of green space, walkway safety on the block and the impact one large building would have on the streets.
Simpson said the project will now have a more sensitive landscape design and the buildings facing Mason street will be dropped down to as few as three storeys from the six initially proposed. “That lessens the street wall on Mason and I think that’s a significant change,” said Simpson. “We’ve also offered to provide subsidized rental housing for the market.”
The project includes 210 units of rental accommodation in two buildings, separated by a courtyard, and 50,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor facing Pandora and Vancouver.
There would be 11 suites set aside in a rental pool of affordable housing.
Victoria Coun. Jeremy Loveday, the council liaison for North Park, said it’s important the developer and city get this project right. “This is a high-profile spot and in a neighbourhood this size, you don’t often get a chance for a redevelopment of this size.
“It’s about helping to build community as well as building a development.”
The developer has scheduled another open house to discuss the project on Tuesday at St. Andrew’s School (1002 Pandora Ave.) from 1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.
Simpson said the hope is to get the project onto the city’s agenda in late June and start construction later this year. It’s expected to take just under two years.
