Preliminary designs are being drawn up for the replacement of the Turner Building on Richmond Road.
The proposal for a five-storey building is in early stages, architect Alan Lowe said Wednesday.
At this point, the concept would retain the distinctive rounded shape of one end of the building at 2002 Richmond Rd., near Fort Street.
Its new owner, Island Cardiology Holdings Ltd., is looking at ground-floor retail including a coffee shop, with medical and professional offices on the upper floors, Lowe said.
First on the agenda is a meeting this month with the executive of the North Jubilee Neighbourhood Association, Lowe said. After that, “we will have a better idea of where we are going,” he said.
No applications have been made to the City of Victoria, he said. The property would require rezoning.
Part of the vacant Turner Building crumbled and fell in September, prompting a safety inspection that revealed black mould, among other concerns. In October, the city ordered the former owners to either repair or demolish the building, but gave them a reprieve to allow a sale.
The Cardiology group bought the building, which had been on the market for $1.4 million, in December.
The building has been stabilized, Lowe said. No construction is underway yet. A house that was also part of the sale has been demolished.
The feasibility of retaining some of the original building is being examined, Lowe said. “We’ve got a lot of decisions to make yet.”
