Link to letter on the Times Colonist website
Massive structure would cut off the vista
Re: “Proposed 17-storey James Bay tower deemed too high, sent back for redesign,” July 29.
Referring to the proposed condo development on the Kingston/Montreal/Quebec St. parking lot in James Bay, this article states that “council directed staff to work with the developer on a modified proposal that would likely include a shorter tower, but ideally have the same number of housing units.”
Later in the story, Victoria Coun. Stephen Hammond is quoted as saying that “at 112 units, this is too many units.”
So what council wants regarding density in the project’s revised proposal remains unclear, but it makes a huge difference. If municipal authorities truly prefer “the same number of housing units” in a significantly lower tower, the outcome will be disastrous for surrounding residences with respect to their views and sunlight (not to mention traffic, parking and safety).
This is because if the building’s height is reduced by half to more closely approach that of the neighbouring Harbourside condo towers (seven and nine storeys above street level, respectively), then its “footprint” will have to be doubled in the amount of area covered.
The resulting massive structure would permanently cut off the eastern vista for most of the Harbourside units currently enjoying that prospect, an outcome that the proponent’s originally proposed narrow tower largely avoided.
Council needs to get its act together on this density issue before sending the proposal back for revision, and it would do well to proactively engage local residents in these deliberations.
—Robin Farquhar, Victoria