Though we still seem to be in an economic slump Victoria's downtown continues to grow upwards. Here's a relatively new building on the corner of Johnson and Blanshard Streets (i.e. right downtown) called "The 834". Like some other downtown developments it is a condominium development rather than office space. Though I like the idea of residential housing in the downtown it doesn't seem like it adds to the number of people who actually live downtown since many of the owners are likely to be time-share or owners who are mostly absentee. When I ride through the Songhees, for instance, it makes me a little sad that despite a great many residences the neighborhood is like a graveyard. There is no neighborhood, just a bunch of beautiful condos that are fully owned but largely vacant. At the same time, a young working class family probably cannot afford to buy their own house in Victoria.Thanks to reader Graham's comments this post can be corrected - the building above is NOT "The 834" though it houses the sales office for The 834. This building is "The Juliet".
The dynamic you describe is all too real and very ironic.
ReplyDeleteThe buildings may be attractive and seem like positive additions to the city, but the result is indeed a sense of human street-level sterility.
A new yacht marina scheduled to be built near the Songhees area is going to allow absentee condo owners to have a great non-view of absentee yacht owners.
City councilors need to recognize this disconnect between infrastrucures influential property developers push through and the broader social reality on the ground.
As usual, it seems money talks louder than 'folk'.
That's not the 834, it's the Juliet, which was built before the economy crash. The 834 is 1/2 a block further out on Johnson, is *still* under construction after 3 years (they stopped for a while because of the crappy economy since no one was buying the condos they needed to sell to continue construction), and it's more of a reminder of how the economy has slowed progress here than otherwise.
ReplyDeleteThe showroom for the 834 is in the bottom of the Juliet (still selling 4+ years later) which is why you probably got confused.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dean for your comments. In light of the current occupation of Wall Streets I'd rather blame big financial houses and the whole economic system that pushes developers to do this kind of thing because that's where the most profit is.
ReplyDeleteGraham, thanks very much for pointing out my errors.
I'm beginning to wonder if we are ever going to pull out of this economic slump. :(
ReplyDeleteLove your photos. I always smile when I pass this building - it was built on the site of Romeo's, a local restaurant franchise. I have no doubt that the developer had Shakespeare in mind when deciding on a moniker for this new building.
ReplyDeleteGraham, excavation of The 834 began in November of 2009, or exactly two years ago. The project is nearing completion now. Projects of this size can easily take two years to complete from the moment excavation starts.
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get your three year figure from?