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Shelbourne Street growing up thanks to several new developments

Six-storey development near Shelbourne Street and Stockton Crescent currently under review
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Nvision properties has submitted a six-storey, 78-unit rental development application to replace the vacant lot, a former gas station site, at McKenzie and Shelbourne (3949 Shelbourne). Nvision rendering

Saanich staff are currently reviewing plans for a six-storey building in an area now consisting primarily out of single-storey homes just off Shelbourne Street.

Plans submitted by Tri-Eagle Development in September call for the construction of a six-storey, 36-unit mixed residential-commercial building at the corner of Shelbourne Street and Stockton Crescent.

Current occupant of the proposed building site in the 3900-block of Shelbourne Street is the DFH Real Estate company. Tri-Eagle Development also plans to develop a four-storey apartment building with 37 units on three Stockton Crescent lots currently occupied by three single-family homes next to the proposed six-storey building.

This development has the potential to change the character of the neighbourhood. Most of the homes along Stockton Crescent — which doglegs towards Mortimer Street — are modest but quaint single-residential homes, with homes serving as rental homes for young families, as well as university students.

The proposed development appears as only one of several new ones in the area.

Eric Barker Architect has submitted plans for a six-storey and a four-storey building, comprising 58 units of two and three bedroom apartments and townhouses in the 3800 block of Shelbourne Street.

Saanich staff are also reviewing plans for the redevelopment of the corner of McKenzie Avenue and Shelbourne Street for which Nvision Properties has submitted an application for a five-storey mixed residential-commercial building.

Plans call for a 78-unit rental project aimed at a younger demographic.

That project itself lies opposite of the proposed redevelopment of the University Heights shopping centre, which Wesbild plans to turn into a new community hub, with 367 residential rental units and 192,000 square feet of commercial space, after having purchased the shopping centre in 2015 for a reported figure of $52 million. The company has announced it will hold a third and final open house in early 2019 after postponing such an event originally scheduled for Nov.1.

RELATED: Plans for University Heights redevelopment could go to Saanich council by end of year

These developments, along with others in neighbourhood, are broadly consistent with the goals of the Shelbourne Valley Action Plan, which calls for increased density along Shelbourne Street.

But they are also likely to inspire scrutiny over the issue of affordable housing. The proposed redevelopment of University Heights includes, as of this writing, 10 affordable housing units — down from 15 initially proposed, prompting questions about the commitment of the development community towards the issues.


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wolfgang.depner@saanichnews.com



Wolf Depner

About the Author: Wolf Depner

I joined the national team with Black Press Media in 2023 from the Peninsula News Review, where I had reported on Vancouver Island's Saanich Peninsula since 2019.
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