The Capital Regional District (CRD) has announced the sale of 808 Viewfield Road – a two-acre industrial property in Esquimalt near the Victoria-Esquimalt border – acquired in 2014 along with an adjacent parcel (836 Viewfield Road) for the purposes of building a sewage biosolids facility as part of the now-defunct Sea Terra sewage treatment program.

 

The regional government purchased both sites for $17 million prior to securing the Township of Esquimalt's support for their intended use, and subsequently leased the buildings to commercial tenants while pursuing their sale when it became clear Esquimalt would offer no support for a biosolids operation.

 

“The sale of one of the two properties is good news for taxpayers as the proceeds will be used to pay down the short term loan on the original purchase with an overall positive return expected when the second property sells,” said CRD Board Chair Colin Plant. “Any positive return on the investment will be credited to the Core Area Wastewater Treatment Project participants.”

 

 

808 Viewfield Road's purchaser is Paul Hadfield, owner of Vic West-based Spinnakers Brew Pub. Hadfield has leased space in the building for some time, along with the Mustard Seed Street Church food bank and Flying Squirrel Trampoline Park. The total square footage is just shy of 60,000 square feet.

The Mustard Seed is working to secure funds to purchase its space within 808 Viewfield Road through financial contributions from the provincial government and Victoria Foundation. An anticipated purchase date has not been confirmed.

 

836 Viewfield Road, home to Driftwood Brewery and several smaller tenants sized with a floorplate sized just below 60,000 square feet, remains for sale.

 

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