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
BREAKING Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Calgary police to release more details on pro-Palestinian protest
Details on arrests, tickets and charges against a number of pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at the University of Calgary will be released on Friday, police say,
Her SUV was stolen in Montreal. A Good Samaritan on Facebook helped her get it back
Just as she had feared, a restaurant owner from eastern Quebec who visited Montreal had her SUV stolen, but says it was all thanks to the kindness of strangers on the internet — not the police — that she got it back.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.