Dec
29
By Marg Gardiner, President, JBNA
The Victoria Accord includes Q-lot, the parking lot and social housing west of Menzies at Superior, and South Block, the parking lot and properties East of Menzies to Government Street.
Redevelopment of South Block, and eventually Q-Lot, in accordance with a modernized Victoria Accord is the most exciting prospect that has come to the James Bay community in many a year. It is essential that redevelopment be done with care, with imagination, with first rate architects and building contractors, and with community support.
The James Bay Neighbourhood Association (JBNA) will be doing its utmost to ensure that community interests are kept at the forefront as the redevelopment planning process takes shape, through its regular monthly meetings (on the second Wednesday evening of each month) and other public forums.
Twenty years ago, as the Victoria Accord was created, there was considerable community input. Principles of use, design, and public amenity were ensured through an agreement between the City and Provincial government. At that time the density, meaning square footage to be built and the heights and set-backs, was agreed upon.
Volume 1 of the Victoria Accord and the slides presented in February at a JBNA meeting are available on the JBNA website main page "Bulletin Box", see .
The implementation of the Victoria Accord will mean the elimination of the "temporary" buildings that were built in the 1940s, and their replacement with new office buildings, to be used by government departments. It means buildings along Menzies with main floor commercial/retail activities and housing on upper floors, and most likely townhouses along Michigan. It also means the relocation and restoration of 4 or 5 heritage houses (5 if all are structurally sound) which will be sensitively placed on the property. The Accord sets out heights, site-lines to protect the views of the Legislative Building, and amenities.
Although the Accord continues to be the critical planning document, it is 20 years old. Some of the property associated with the Legislative Precinct area has been used for other purposes. Changes will need to be made to the plans to make them current. Technology and building expectations have evolved. The main office buildings are expected to meet LEED standards.
While changes are made in the months ahead, it is important that the vision and principles of the Accord are maintained. The City and the BC Government have expressed commitment to ensuring that the Accord is respected.
The South Lawn, directly south of the Legislative Buildings, has undergone changes over the past few months. The hedges have been lowered, enhancing public space. The South Lawn connection is part of the vision of the Accord. The Accord details pathway extensions of Parry and Powell Streets from Michigan through to the South Lawn.
The redevelopment of the South Block presents an opportunity to better integrate government personnel with the James Bay community, as employees and as residents. It will form a critical segment of the Menzies Corridor joining the Legislative Grounds to 5-Corners.
In 2007, there was a zoning amendment that unfortunately eliminated office use in the area. To permit office use, a specific zoning correction was needed. This was the principal subject of the JBNA November meeting.
Dividing Q-Lot into two separate parcels, one to be redeveloped in conjunction with South Block, and the other to be reserved for a second redevelopment phase, will be discussed at the JBNA December meeting.
Redevelopment of the legislative precinct should accomplish at least three objectives:
(a) to reinforce the presence of the Provincial Government in James Bay;
(b) to complete the development of central James Bay and to kick start the Menzies Corridor as committed in the City's Official Community Plan, and
(c) to integrate the government sector into the James Bay community, thereby attracting more government employee families into our neighbourhood.
JBNA is planning further meetings to ensure community input into the redevelopment project as it begins to take shape. Given the importance of Legislative Precinct redevelopment to the future of James Bay, it is vitally important to prevent external forces or special interest groups from overtaking our neighbourhood's involvement in this process. The viewpoints of James Bay residents must be respected - by the Province, by the City, and by the eventual developer.