Smart approach by the developer to make the ground floor childcare-friendly - there's way more demand than supply for spaces right now so there should be no trouble finding tenants. A good way to get goodwill at council without needing to bribe them.

MGC submitted a formal application for a development permit & rezoning this week.

One of the interesting revelations in the letter to the city (accompanying the rezoning application) is the affordable housing component of the application. Apparently MGC has acquired 131-139 Menzies and is proposing to build a 40-unit purpose-built rental building on this site (currently occupied by two houses); it's in a prime spot across from Thrifty Foods and ideally located within the James Bay Village. This would be the affordable housing 'contribution' component of the Quebec Street rezoning.

Does anyone have renderings of the proposed rental building ...?

That's a good place to add density. Probably going to need off-street parking for that, street parking is pretty competitive around there.

(139 is hidden by the tree on left, is directly south of the building containing the JB Coffee Shop)

I walk by there regularly. I have often thought of the possibility of something else going in there to expand the James Bay Village area. I'm glad the City is making this move. There was a perfect opportunity a couple of years ago in Vic West when there was a sketchy duplex for sale right next to the main village area. The City missed an opportunity there.

Posters here seem quite optimistic that this one will be approved; based purely on some earlier FB comments I saw when this proposal was initially announced I'm thinking the usual grumpy, crotchety James Bay NIMBY crowd will give this a pretty rough ride, no?

I mean....its COLOSSAL, its MONSTOUS, it'll HIDE THE SUN, and worst of all it will turn James Bay and by extension all of Greater Victoria and the South Island into a......................MINI-VANCOUVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!