Vancouver Island's tallest building proposed for downtown Victoria
A new five-tower, 1,500 unit residential and commercial development, complete with a soaring 32-storey building, could soon be coming to downtown Victoria.
Development notices have been scattered across the Harris Green neighbourhood of Victoria notifying residents of the potential project.
The proposed development by Toronto-based Starlight Investment would build over a one-and-a-half block section of Yates Street in the downtown area.
"It includes over 100,000 square-feet of retail commercial space and also 1,500 residential units over various sizes," said Starlight.
The development would reinvent the Harris Green strip mall on Yates Street and Quadra Street, and another half block on Yates and Cook streets.
One of the proposed five towers would be Vancouver Island's tallest structure.
Starlight says it is still considering a 32-storey building.
Currently, the tallest Victoria high-rise is the 25-storey Hudson Place One in the downtown core.
Victoria author Thomas Gurrero writes about development and community.
He says while he worries about the overall aesthetic of the enormous build, the city simply needs to increase density in a big way.
"Having those 1,500 units full of people, who might be working from home, will help the local stores, restaurants, coffee shops and retail in the area. That's the positive," Gurrero told CTV Vancouver Island.
The proposal could place nearly a dozen businesses in jeopardy, including the Market on Yates, Frontrunners, London Drugs and Bin 4 Burger Lounge.
The developer tells CTV News it is offering every existing business the first chance to secure new commercial space and will also work to keep businesses open if they are able to break ground.
The next step for the massive construction proposal is passing through city hall and gaining council approval.
This will likely happen happen during the summer and if successful could move to public consultation in the fall.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.