Crane Tower Forest

  The former Town and Country shopping center, state of the art in the 50's, which will now be known as Uptown, is going to be the crown jewel of mixed commercial and residential use in Victoria. Morguard Investments, the developer of the site will not be starting the residential component of 650 condos in two, 33 story towers, until sometime in 2011.

See for yourself at their website www.shopuptown.ca.

Crane forest begins to come into view on the drive into Victoria. Two of North America's larget cranes are on site here.

Finally the City of Victoria has started putting in the services for one of the best kept secrets in South Fairfield. A lot of 8200 sq.ft. behind the house at 1456 Thurlow Road in Fairfield. It is an exquisite setting for a very private residence. It is only a short walk  around the corner to the Fairfield Plaza where you have, Thrifty Foods, the Ross Bay pub, TD bank, Ross Bay Home Hardware, Island Runner Footware, just to name a few of the local offerings. It's right across the road from the Ross Bay cemetary which is a very interesting place to walk through and see how many famous names you can spot on the grave stones and monuments. Back to my lot; it is sunny, south facing,  zoned R1-B and you can build a home up to 3500 - 3600 sq.ft. It would make the most delightful retirement residence in a quiet residential neighbourhood where you are a block from the sea! You are only 10 mins from downtown and all it has to offer. Fully serviced and only $489,000.

Tweed Curtain Rent Asunder!
Hardly, but what is important is that Oak Bay's secondary suite committee will host its next public consultation meeting today (April 16) at 7 p.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 2121 Cedar Hill X Road.

The committee is studying whether rental suites should be allowed in single-family homes in Oak Bay. Residents will have a chance to ask questions and say their piece at the meeting. Expect lots of fireworks.

Further information can be had by calling Oak Bay municipal hall at 250-598-3311.

I recently attended a Victoria Real Estate Commercial Realtor's luncheon presentation at the Coast Harbour Hotel where Bob Law, Grant Evans, of Colliers and Kal Sandhu of Morguard Investments gave a very uplifting presentation of the new development that is known as "Uptown".  A two level Wal-Mart on stilts, which in it self is a break through. Around 600,000 sq.ft. of Retail and Commercial Office space with a residential component of around 200,000 sq.ft. They have two of the largest tower cranes in North America on site and I was amazed and delighted to see them working on Easter Saturday! The shopping is going to be great. There is a road with parking in front of each store front. The stores themselves will be on two levels, similar to existing shopping on St. Catherines St. in Montreal and Robson Street in Vancouver. B.C. Assessment Authority has signed up to take at least one complete floor. It will be Greater Victoria's largest office and retail development with over 1.3million sq.ft. of state-of-the-art mixed use. Its environmental credentials are impeccable - Leed Neighbourhood Development Gold standard. Phase 1 completion is set for Summer of 2010 and from the way they are going it will be on budget and on schedule. The leasing rates, (it's all leased, no strata offerings) are $30 a sq.ft. for the first five years and $35 a sq.ft. for the second five year term. They did say in the presentation the value of their units at handover is at a $15 per sq.ft. value. All in all a very attractive opportunity for anyone considering a move.