A 48-unit condominium proposal slated for the present-day Pic-A-Flic Video property and two adjacent properties in Victoria’s Cook Street Village could materialize with a unique amenity, if development plans are approved.

 

A subsidized daycare with capacity for 50-to-57 children is now part of Aragon Properties’ proposal to build a four-storey residence on Cook Street at Pendergast Street along the popular commercial thoroughfare.

 

The space, sized at approximately 2,500 square feet, would be accompanied by an outdoor play area of some 1,500 square feet, in a commercial unit adjacent to the development site at 380 Cook Street.

 

As part of its application packaged before the City, the proponent says it has submitted a request for proposal to solicit interest from daycare operators who could sustain services with a 50% lease rate subsidy for the first seven years of operations and a 25% subsidy for an additional three years.

 

In addition to lower operating costs introduced to ensure a daycare operation would remain financially viable at the high-profile site, the developer will also subsidize daycare fees to the tune of 50% for five children of parents who purchase a suite within the building. The subsidy would remain in effect for a period of two years per child.

 

Aragon Properties initiated its proposal process for the Pic-A-Flic site last year. Since initial plans were laid under the design direction of Cascadia Architects, the project has settled on a height of four-storeys while the unit count has nudged up to 48 from an earlier 46. Residences will be in the form of one, two and three-bedroom layouts with parking in the form of a single-vehicle parkade in addition to several ground-level stalls for commercial clients.

 

The updated proposal will go before the City of Victoria’s Committee of the Whole next week. If council approves of the plans a public hearing date will be set for some time in early 2019.

 

The developer is currently involved in a number of local infill developments like Esquimalt’s Town Square complex, a multi-building mixed-use office, retail, condominium and rental apartment project now under construction along Esquimalt Road adjacent to the town hall, the redevelopment of Esquimalt’s English Inn property along Lampson Street and a subdivision in Saanich near Mattick’s Farm. Aragon has also proposed a 133-unit residential subdivision in the community of Sooke on the Victoria’s Westshore. C

 

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