JBNA: Sense of place

James Bay Neighbourhood Association

Councillor Margaret Lucas, newly appointed Councillor liaison to James Bay, introduced herself at the February 2015 meeting of the James Bay Neighbourhood Association (JBNA). She gave a brief background and discussed her assignments as Councillor. In addition to representing the interests of James Bay residents at the council table, she will serve as liaison to both the Downtown Business Association and the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority. We are in good hands.

Capital Park   

Robert Jawl of Jawl/Concert Consortium presented an update on the Capital Park development proposed for the block enclosed by Michigan, Menzies and Superior Streets in James Bay. An agreement between the City, the Province and the community hammered out in 1993, known as the Victoria Accord, has guided the general development concept. The proposal involves a rezoning, Official Community Plan (OCP) amendments, and modification of an existing Section 219 Covenant to facilitate the development of a mixed-use complex. 

The project, incorporating office, retail and residential spaces around three open courtyards, over an underground parking structure, is to be built in three phases. The central plaza, centred on the Parliament Buildings across Superior Street, will be bracketed by two 5-storey office structures.  A 4-storey residential-over-retail space will face Menzies Street.  A variety of residential accommodations along Michigan Street (restored heritage houses, townhouses, apartments and condominiums) will encourage access to the site from Parry and Powell Streets. Vehicle access to the site will be at opposite ends with underground parking access from Menzies and delivery vehicle access off Superior from the lane behind the Queen's Printer.

Phase One, expected to break ground in July/August 2015, is basically an L-shaped footprint, comprised of 5-storey office space facing Superior Street with 4-storey residential accommodation over retail space along Menzies Street.

A new James Bay Branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL) is being considered for a 2-storey block at the Superior/Menzies corner between the two taller wings. It is anticipated that a library in this location, adjacent to the underground parking entrance (from Menzies), will accommodate the daily pickup and delivery of books, with minimal disturbance to residential areas. A dedicated elevator from the parking floor and increased floor load capacity to facilitate a library, all require careful planning and consideration. The City is currently considering the feasibility of a library branch as an amenity.

While enjoying a public profile on an exterior corner, the proposed library will have ground floor access to an interior south-facing courtyard for public programming.

The residential wing will step down to 2-storeys at the Menzies/Michigan corner, a commercial space envisioned for food service with outdoor seating facing the neighbourhood at the south end.

The drawings presented indicated a number of shallow water features surrounded by linear seating/barrier units. The water features will provide guidance and separation in the public courtyards and between public spaces and residential units.

Other amenities being considered are the central public plaza, public art and a fitness centre available to the public. The central plaza is envisioned as an animated public space with seating and other public amenities, hosting occasional programmed events that recognize adjacent communities. Responsibility for programming of the plaza will remain with the owners of the complex. The site will be securely policed with no overnight camping.

The site will provide 198 underground parking stalls for the approximately 1000 projected office workers, with bike storage, change rooms and shower facilities. Busing will be encouraged. Over 200 separate additional parking spaces will be provided for residential and retail parking.

Three heritage houses, relocated to the east end of the site facing Michigan Street, will be re-designed into multi-tenant residential units, with refurbished interiors, complete upgrading and heritage designation. Sites for the remaining two heritage houses are still in discussion.

Public hearings for the development are scheduled for March 12^th at City Hall. Development permit applications are expected to go to the City within the next 30 days, with a start work date of sometime in July/August 2015.

Every effort is being made to minimize the impact of the project on James Bay residents. Provisions have been made for contractors parking on site and on Q-lot during construction.

Sense of Place: A Study of resident perceptions:

Lindsay McCunn, who previously lived in James Bay while researching her Masters degree and now a doctoral candidate, has requested the assistance of residents in her studies. Her research “A Real-World Investigation of a Proposed Conceptual Framework of Sense of Place” will take place during the JBNA meeting on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. Lindsay, a doctoral candidate in the department of psychology at the University of Victoria, is completing her PhD by testing whether spatial navigational strategies, as well as particular imaginable architectural features, influence residents’ levels of ‘sense of place’ within urban neighbourhoods.

Analysis of Sulphur Dioxide levels during the 2014 cruise ship season

Disappointingly, the report of the 2014 cruise ship season indicates that both the maximum 1-hour and 24-hour SO2 levels were the highest recorded since the Erie Street monitor was installed in 2011. The JBNA will continue to be vigilant during the 2015 season with cautious hope for an environmental improvement. JBNA has requested that Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) use its clout to ensure that the intent of the 0.1% fuel legislation introduced January 1^st, 2015 is respected and that all cruise ships switch to low sulphur dioxide fuel before they approach Ogden Point.

Join us next month on Wednesday, March 11^th,  7pm at James Bay New Horizons on Menzies Street.

Mayor Lisa Helps will host an open discussion with James Bay residents at 7pm. An opportunity to participate in a study of resident perceptions, “Sense of Place”, with doctoral candidate, Lindsay McCunn will follow. Lindsay will elaborate on the purpose of the study before and after the meeting.

Time permitting, the meeting will conclude with a discussion on Neighbourhood Voice within the Municipality. Whether there ultimately be one, three, five or twenty-five municipalities within the Greater Victoria Regional District, the question of representation on municipal councils has become part of Amalgamation considerations.