Hundreds of rental units proposed at former Mayfair Lanes bowling alley site in Saanich
A former bowling alley site in Saanich, B.C. could soon be transformed into hundreds of rental units and a large grocery store, if a Vancouver-based developer has its way.
The 3.38-acre site located on 760 Tolmie Ave. was the former home of the Mayfair Lanes bowling alley, which was demolished in 2006.
Now, developer Townline has proposed a mixed commercial-residential project at the site.
The proposal includes three residential towers, between 21 and 24 storeys tall, containing 555 purpose-built rental units.
There would also be a Real Canadian Superstore on the ground floor of the property.
Saanich Mayor Dean Murdoch says a development like this could help turn the Uptown and Mayfair area into a downtown zone for the municipality.
"For people who are working in the community, this would be an ideal place for them to find a new home," said Murdoch.
"It's an area where we would expect to have taller buildings, where we would put more people close to services," he said.
Neil Parwar, manager of Leon's Furniture in Saanich, says he thinks an influx of people would revitalize businesses in the area.
"Restaurants, even the mall – you know, we can see how many empty stores there are – and this is just going to help fill the stores," he said.
The proposal hasn't been approved yet and Townline says it doesn't know when shovels could be in the ground.
But, the developer says the municipality has told it that the initial approval phase could move swiftly since the plan involves rental units.
At the very least, Murdoch says it likely comes as "a relief" to the community to see something happening at the former bowling alley site, which has sat vacant for 15 years.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Incident on Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge comes to safe resolution
Nearly 20 hours after a man climbed and remained perched on top of the Reconciliation Bridge in downtown Calgary, the situation came to a peaceful resolution.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.