Business school eyes addition
The University of Victoria’s business school is considering adding an extension to the existing business and economics building by raising about $20 million. Before proceeding, the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business wants to know if it is feasible to raise the money through a capital campaign.
UVic has published a request for proposals to carry out a study. Submissions close Jan. 24. Plans call for the contract to be awarded Feb. 15.
The analysis would include an estimate of the fundraising potential and how long it would take to reach its target. It would include a preliminary fundraising strategy, the RFP document states. The contract would also describe the community’s attitudes and feelings about the project and the school of business, and it would identify potential leaders and donors in such a campaign.
Further information is online at uvic.ca/gustavson.
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Housing prices up slightly
Prices for new Greater Victoria housing inched up by 0.2 per cent in October from the previous month but were down by 2.5 per cent year-over-year.
Among the 21 urban centres surveyed by Statistics Canada, four saw yearly price drops. The largest decline was in Victoria. The national monthly rate was on par with Victoria, at 0.2 per cent.
October’s slight increase comes as B.C.’s home sales values dropped by 24.6 per cent, or $2.3 billion, in November compared to that same month in 2011. The number of B.C. sales slid to 4,680 in November, a drop of 17 per cent from November of last year, the B.C. Real Estate Association said. For the province as a whole, the average home price through the multiple listing service was $480,861, a drop of 9.1 per cent from the previous year.
Sales through the Victoria Real Estate Board’s MLS listings were lower in November at 366, from October at 373. The average price for a single-family house was $643,832 last month, when 17 homes sold for $1 million or more. The median was $545,000. October’s average was $592,097.
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Airport donates
Instead of sending out holiday greeting cards this year, the Victoria Airport Authority has donated $1,000 to the Mustard Seed food bank. The donation follows a November campaign to support the food bank that saw airlines, other airport partners and the authority collect donations of food and money. “We are very appreciative of our staff, tenants and partners who helped make this food drive a huge success. The food bank plays such an important role in our community, and we were delighted to support them this year,” said Geoff Dickson, president and CEO of the Victoria Airport Authority.
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Real estate agent back in town
Real estate agent Phil Warren is back in Victoria after spending time in Vancouver, where he was involved in residential sales in Canada’s hottest and most competitive market. Licensed since 1971, Warren had been selling real estate in Victoria for 30 years. He’s back in the local market with ReMax Camosun and can be reached at 778-678-1124.
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