Demolition of St. Andrew's Elementary School in the 1000-block of Pandora Avenue at Vancouver Street has begun as crews make way for a mixed-use rental residential and commercial project.

Vancouver-based developer BlueSky Properties, a subsidiary of Bosa Properties, entered into a purchase agreement with the Catholic Diocese of Victoria in 2012 following the organization's decision to amalgamate its south Island elementary schools and close the Pandora Avenue facility.

In 2013 the diocese closed down St. Andrew's operations. Approximately two years later, BlueSky secured municipal approvals to build a six-storey mixed-use building.

Known currently as 1008 Pandora Avenue, the development will be comprised of 195 rental units, 11 of which will be earmarked for below market rents as part of an affordable housing initiative. Homes will range between 453 and 932 square foot studio, one bedroom and two bedroom layouts.

Approximately 50,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space will front onto Pandora Avenue and Vancouver Street, with a 35,000 square foot full-scale grocery store planned as the anchor tenant.

BlueSky Properties is expected to complete demolition of the school site this fall with a construction start by the fourth quarter of 2016. Project completion is expected by mid-2018. C

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