Plans to open a brewpub in downtown Victoria’s Hudson District are making their way through the City of Victoria's municipal approvals process.

 

Vancouver-based Hudson District developer, Townline, has a proposal before the City for a 7,000 square foot brewpub and restaurant situated along the Blanshard Street frontage of its 15-storey Hudson Walk Two rental tower, currently under construction kitty-corner from the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

 

According to conceptual plans presented at a public meeting held by the Victoria Downtown Residents Association, Townline’s vision for the space includes capacity for approximately 300 patrons, an open patio area with some 50 seats fronting Hudson Walk Two’s inner common area, and a possible games room situated below street level.

 

The brewpub operator has not been formally identified, however, Townline has confirmed the proponent is an established publican in Victoria’s downtown core.

 

If approved, the facility will be Victoria’s first brewpub situated within a residential building. Although traditional breweries are not necessarily ideal neighbours in high-density residential settings, utilizing state-of-the-art micro brewing technology (designed for the purposes of enabling breweries to situate in mixed-use, residential and commercial areas) to mitigate odours and through added soundproofing to eliminate disruptions to tenants residing above the space, Townline says it is committed to ensuring all necessary steps are taken to address potential issues.

 

City of Victoria council will hold a public hearing on Townline's application this spring.  Pending a successful approvals process, the brewpub is expected welcome patrons by late 2017 or early 2018.

 

The Hudson District is bordered by Fisgard, Douglas and Blanshard streets, and Caledonia Avenue in north downtown. The area is centred on the former Hudson’s Bay Department Store, which Townline converted to a six-storey residential and ground floor commercial complex in 2009. Since then the district has grown to include the 12-storey, 120-unit Hudson Mews rental tower, the 16-storey, 178-unit Hudson Walk One rental tower, and nearing completion at the corner of Caledonia Avenue and Blanshard Street, the 15-storey, 106-unit Hudson Walk Two rental tower. Planned on the site of the former Hudson’s Bay parkade are two additional residential towers (dubbed Hudson Place), one of which is destined to become the City of Victoria’s tallest building at 24-storeys (or taller). Upon build-out the district will include approximately 900 residences. C