CHEK
Image/Chard Development
Victoria Council voted to grant a development permit for a two 21-storey tower downtown condo development on Thursday night.
The Chard Development project will be built on Yates and Johnson between Blanshard and Quadra on what is now a parking lot.
The two residential towers include 113 units on Johnson and 111 units on Yates.
There will be shops and services at street level according to the developer.
The plan originally called for two 10-storey towers but the developer requested permission to build taller buildings.
The project was praised for bringing more housing density to the area but three of nine on council voted against it.
“What we’re getting is one building after another that basically all look the same,” said councillor Pamela Madoff.
“I’m really fearful in thirty years people are going to look back and say “what are you thinking?”
One of the two towers is slated to feature more affordable units and Mayor Lisa Helps said that is key for the downtown core.
“I think this is a model development” said Helps.
Chard Development bought the property last May and hopes to begin construction in early 2018.
Ben O'Hara
