Developer Jordan Milne says the municipality’s desire to promote itself as a destination for new-build housing and as a progressive locale to do business in has helped Esquimalt ascend to a high point in recent years – due largely to the efforts of its elected officials and progressive community planning – and this has lead to significant interest in the area among developers.

 

“We are excited to have an opportunity to take part in Esquimalt’s evolution and the forward-looking momentum fostered by Mayor Desjardins and elected officials,” Milne said. “We believe Esquimalt has been overlooked by many for too long, and that these properties alongside the vision we have developed on the backside of the Official Community Plan, create the opportunity to deliver an unparalleled amenity-rich and view-oriented community that will attract a variety of households that may have not otherwise considered this form of housing, or this community.”

 

Although 26-storeys is a sizeable massing for the municipality, Esquimalt has seen its building heights rise over the last several years, with a 12-storey condominium (as viewed from Wollaston Street) now under construction kitty-corner from GMC’s site, an 11-storey tower on the western side of the township nearing occupancy along Admirals Road, and a 10-storey apartment recently progressing to construction on Constance Avenue near Esquimalt Road. Down the road in neighbouring Vic West, towers of nearly 30-storeys are proposed on Esquimalt Road between Tyee Road and Catherine Street.

 

An artist's sketch of 900 Esquimalt Road, an eight-storey rental block on Esquimalt Road at Head Street. Beyond are the lower floors of a 26-storey condominium towers.  GMC Projects

 

Speaking to the height, Milne says the massing of the project was derived over a two year span of consultation, shadow studies, and liaising with adjacent property owners and residents in order to propose a design that would have the least amount of impact on adjacent parcels and residential blocks, while delivering enough homes and commercial space to make the proposal viable.

 

“There is a certain level of density required in order to facilitate various public amenities, and in order to create community assets like a public dog park, two plaza spaces, a significant setback from the sidewalk, and a contribution towards housing affordability, we need to secure a set target of units. We can either build a large, lengthy block with an imposing street wall, or we can break up the massing, and focus the majority of density into a highrise tower preserving views and lessening shadowing impacts,” Milne said.