JBNA: Land Swap

James Bay Neighbourhood Association

An on-going feature on land use & planning - to alert, inform, and prompt community action - and to celebrate success!

After a brief special event focus, the March 2014 James Bay Neighbourhood Association (JBNA) meeting heard details of the proposed land swap scheduled to take place between the City of Victoria and the Province of British Columbia.

The Special Events presented:

Hockey Night in Canada's Play-On:

A two-day event scheduled for Ogden Point on Saturday, April 27 (8am to 8pm) and Sunday, April 28 (noon to 8pm). Admission is free. There will be divisions for all ages and skill levels of hockey players. Donations from the corporate division event will be donated to James Bay Community School for sports and athletic programs. No road closures are planned. Further details to be confirmed.

CycloVictoria: Beacon Hill Bike Fest:

The Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition is planning an all-ages family event for Beacon Hill Park on September 28 (9am to 1pm) at the end of the cruise ship season. The organizers plan an application to the City for road closures which will affect parts of Dallas Road, Douglas Street and roads within the park. The event is intended to be a safe and fun event, suitable for cyclists of all ages and abilities. Overall, plans for the event were received with enthusiasm, recognizing the potential for a positive family-oriented experience that respects Beacon Hill Park. Watch for more detail this summer.

Not presented, but an event of importance to James Bay, is the TC 10K Run, scheduled for April 27, which will start at Government and Belleville and circle through the downtown before finishing in front of the Legislative Building via the Dallas, Erie, Belleville route. Also on April 27, the 1.5K Family Run, with a later start time of 11:00am from the Government and Belleville corner will circle via Superior, Oswego and Belleville, also finishing in front of the Legislative Building.

Economic Development

The highlight of the meeting was a presentation by Sage Baker, Executive Director, City of Victoria Economic Development Strategy, outlining the proposed land "swap & sale" which was announced on February 25. The swap of Provincial Capital Commission (PCC) properties between the Province and the City, and sale of land to the Ralmax Group will be completed by end of March 2014. Baker described the process as 'opportunities maximised and risks minimized'. The City also benefited from the opportunity to build new partnerships.

Former PPC properties being transferred to the City of Victoria include the Crystal Gardens, 713 Douglas Street, Ships Point, 814 Wharf Street, Reeson Park, 1300 Wharf Street, Quadra Park, 407 Belleville Street, and Belleville Green, 250 Belleville Street.

Point Hope Marine (the former Point Hope Shipyard) on Harbour Road in VicWest is being transferred from the City of Victoria to the Province, and then sold to the Ralmax Group, current lease-holders. Baker outlined some of the new and developing economic factors that may help Victoria to be sustainable as the City moves forward. She discussed marketing Victoria as a place to live, work, and play. Rather than comparing us to Portland and other communities, she emphasized the need for Victoria to create its own brand: "This is Vic".

"Innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity" with primary focus on the prosperity of the residents of Victoria. Success is based on sustainable development which includes environmental, social and economic considerations.

At the beginning of her two-year contract with the City, Baker identified three goal periods: short term, medium term, and long term. The short term goal was completion of the land deal, maintaining Victoria's working harbour. The medium term goal (within the next year) is to bring businesses into the downtown core, encouraging entrepreneurs and others to take advantage of our liveable city. The long term goal (the following year) is to determine the correct development for Rock Bay.

The Questions/Comments discussions added additional clarification:

• the Ralmax Group anticipate that the expansion of Port Hope Maritime will bring over 100 well-paid, skills-trade jobs to the local economy, with other benefits,
• Point Hope Maritime will be under a covenant to protect the lands for marine use,
• the intent is for all properties to be improved but to remain in current useage: ie Ships Point to remain as park, events and parking location, Crystal Gardens as a venue managed by the Conference Centre and other parks to remain as parks,
• although there are no guarantees, and discussions are on-going, there is hope that monies obtained from the sale of the Point Hope property will be reinvested into infrastructure such as the Belleville terminal or for other Victoria needs,
• Ships Point will maintain current operational plans for 2014, prior to engaging Victoria residents in discussions for the future,
• St Anne's and other PCC properties will remain in provincial government ownership.

Residents suggested that the Rock Bay area be considered as a potential site for a bus transportation hub, relieving bus congestion in the city core. Large buses would not proceed further south and a more compact, flexible urban transportation system could be used for downtown. Rock Bay was also discussed as a site for a potential new arts centre.

Ogden Point Breakwater Railings:

A safety issue with the railings on the breakwater was identified late last year when a child, leaning on the railing, fell towards a landing when a gate flew open. A resident who observed it immediately reported the situation to Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA). The safety issue and suggested mitigation in line with building code and hazardous products regulations were suggested to the GVHA Board at the February 20 GVHA Board meeting. The JBNA continues to monitor the situation.

Board Renewal:

Expressions of Interest are invited. If you are interested in serving on the JBNA board in 2014/15 but want to know more about opportunities and expectations, please contact Marg (250-360-0300) or Tom (250-516-8574).

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the JBNA will be held on April 9 at 6:00pm. The regular monthly meeting will start immediately following the AGM at 7:00 pm.

Rob Jawl will present Capital Park, the proposed build-out of the Victoria Accord in the South Block of the Legislative Precinct. The presentation will NOT include design or technical drawings as they are in process. The final agenda will be posted on the JBNA web-site.