With city council’s rezoning application approval for the Roundhouse at Bayview property in Vic West, redevelopment plans of the historic railsite may finally be ready to leave the station. That’s two-and-a-half years after council OK’d rezoning and amendments to the official community plan, 17 years since initial rezoning and development plans got city approval and nearly 20 years since developers started buying up land for the site.
The approval makes way for the proposed redevelopment of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway roundhouse property running along Esquimalt Road, Catherine Street and Kimta Road, which was constructed in 1912 and designated a national historic site in 1992. It has largely been left unused since its closure.
The redevelopment plans would preserve the heritage buildings on site while adding nine new buildings — ranging from 10 to 32 storeys — adding close to 1,900 residential units to the area with 215 designated as affordable rental units. The proposal also includes the addition of retail and commercial space, public plazas and a child-care centre aimed at creating a new Vic West community.
Image: bayviewplace.com
