A 20-storey affordable rental and supportive housing tower opposite Our Place is nearing its construction start along the 900-blocks of Pandora Avenue and Mason Street after months of demolition and site prep, Citified has learned.

 

The highrise will stand as the tallest below-market housing development in the Capital Region and on Vancouver Island, with 158 rental apartments, 47 supportive units, a daycare facility and community space where two nondescript structures (at 926-932 Pandora Avenue) once stood. The properties were acquired by the City of Victoria in the spring of 2020.

 

Officially known as 930 Pandora Avenue, the BC Housing-led project ran into a ‘very Victorian’ quagmire during building demolition over the summer, due to the discovery of a domicile of an often maligned, yet protected, bird species.

 

“While demolition of the buildings is underway, work has slowed due to the discovery of a seagull nest which we must ensure is not impacted,” BC Housing noted in an update issued in June of this year. “We are working with a biologist on this issue. This may have impacts on construction start. We will keep neighbours notified.”

 

Now that the structures have been cleared, work crews are expected to arrive on-site this fall to begin excavation for a two-storey parkade.

 

Occupancy is expected in 2028.

 

Although 20 floors will give BC Housing’s tower a landmark status among below-market buildings on the Island, the title of a tallest in that category may be usurped by a fresh proposal that was recently unveiled for upper Douglas Street at Finlayson Street by M’akola Development Services. The non-profit has submitted plans to the City of Victoria with a vision to build a 23-storey affordable rental tower. More information on that concept can be found here.

 

Regarding the City’s purchase of the properties five years ago, private sector development proposals had attempted to secure approvals from the City for market residences and ground floor commercial spaces. Over the span of several years, Victoria-based developer Kang & Gill pursued plans for several design iterations, before stopping its pursuits and opting to sell the land to the municipality.

 

Victoria, meanwhile, had secured the funds for the purchase from the sale of the City-owned Apex Site on Douglas Street at Humboldt Street to telecom Telus. The company bought the Apex Site after its proposal for a 10-storey office tower, known as Telus Ocean, was selected by the City from among several parties that pursued the land for redevelopment in response to a call for proposals. C

 

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