The long-awaited redevelopment of Saanich’s former Mayfair Lanes property could finally materialize following the unveiling of a multi-tower, mixed-use residential and commercial proposal.

 

 

Vancouver-based developer Townline – responsible for downtown Victoria’s Hudson District, multiple affordable housing complexes in the Capital through its TL Housing Solutions subsidiary, and an upcoming rental tower in the 900-block of Pandora Avenue – is seeking approvals to build a 555-unit, three-tower project at 760 Tolmie Avenue and Oak Street through to Roderick Street.

 

Plans call for towers of two 21-storey and one 24-storey massing, with the anchor retail tenant being Victoria’s first non-suburban Great Canadian Superstore. A podium will connect the buildings while providing a rooftop green space and amenity area for residents, according to submitted documents.

 

Townline acquired the 3.4-acre former bowling alley property for $17.3 million in 2021, ending a 16 year streak of the land sitting vacant under the control of grocery and retail giant Loblaw (which operates the Greater Canadian Superstore brand). At the time of the sale, listing documents inferred Loblaw would lease 100,000 square feet of commercial space within a future build poised to take advantage of Saanich’s Uptown-Douglas community plan. The new strategy permits building heights of up to 24-storeys, and allocates significant residential density to the municipality’s ‘core.’

 

Loblaw purchased 760 Tolmie Avenue in 2006 following the closure of Mayfair Lanes. Redevelopment plans were submitted in 2010 for a retail plaza dubbed Oakview Shopping Centre, although the concept was eventually placed on-hold.

 

Meanwhile, multiple proposals are progressing through the permitting process in the immediate area to take advantage of Saanich’s new support for high density development north of its border with Victoria. Projects include a nearly 170-unit, six-storey mixed-use development from Aryze Developments on Douglas Street at Cloverdale Avenue at the former location of Island Outfitters. And near the intersection of Blanshard Street and Cloverdale Avenue (two blocks east from Aryze’s site and the Townline property) Saanich developer Woodsmere Holdings has plans for two rental blocks with nearly 300-units between them. At Uptown Shopping Centre, a 24-storey tower is proposed as the retail hub’s residential component.

 

On the Victoria side of upper Douglas Street, Mike Geric Construction is currently building Tresah, a 12-storey condominium tower with nearly 250-suites on Speed Avenue west of Mayfair Shopping Centre. Townline’s TL Housing Solutions is also overseeing the construction of Crosstown, a mixed-use affordable housing project on Burnside Road south of Finlayson Road. C

 

Receive Citified's timely real-estate news straight to your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter, and connect with us on Facebook: