When a beloved neighbourhood landmark has to move to make way for a new development, it’s not unusual for community residents to express concern or opposition. What is rare, though, is when the . . .
It’s an important milestone for what would be a significant building for Victoria during a major natural disaster such an earthquake. “The size of the rebar and the amount of concrete is incredible,” Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said Tuesday after a tour of the site. “This is preparing for the future. This building will stand for hundreds of years.” The fire hall and emergency centre are designed to withstand a massive quake and will meet new B.C. Building Code standards for buildings designed to remain operable following a disaster, giving it a seismic design load that is significantly higher than typical commercial buildings. After an earthquake, the building equipped with high-capacity backup generators will be able to deliver emergency services.
A majority of councillors backed the proposal from District Developments and especially the construction of new apartments that will be locked-in as rental units in perpetuity. “I do think that these are units that are desperately needed,” Coun. Marianne Alto said. “It will fill in one of the pieces in the continuum of rental housing … which is very much needed in the city.” Coun. Sarah Potts, however, expressed concern about the loss of affordable apartments in the former Wellburn’s building and the absence of any such units in the new project. “We really need a policy like Burnaby and New Westminister that discourages ‘renovictions’ and ‘demovictions’ without making arrangements for each tenant to continue their tenancy at the same rent, during and after the renovations,” she said.