Hallmark Society

#18 Centennial Square
Victoria, BC V8W 1P7
Phone/fax: (250) 382-4755
office@hallmarksociety.ca

Mount St. Angela threatened

Current status, 2009:

Citing the downtown in the economy, the owners have made a deal with VIHA to house mentally ill patients in the buildings for the next two years.

May 2008 Update:

Council has approved the development with four-storey towers in wood rather than concrete. The developer has made minor changes to the parking arrangements in front of the house being moved from McClure to Burdett but the concept remains the same.

We first broke this story in the winter 2006 newsletter (click here for a copy of the article) and covered the story in more detail in the Spring 2007 issue.

February 7, 2008 Update:

Today at Committee of the Whole, the motion to proceed with the development was passed with a proviso that minor cosmetic changes be made to the facade of the twin towers to produce a more street-friendly look. There was one minor change made to the Burdett Street facade with the parking removed from the front of the moved Temple house. According to the City solicitor, minor changes can be controlled by the Planning Department during the course of the process. It would appear that final approval will be granted by Council at the next meeting.

Issue:

This issue is still very much undecided. At the Victoria City Council meeting of January 17, 2008, a slightly revised proposal was presented by the developer. The height of the condominium towers has been reduced from 6 storeys to 4 storeys and the material has been changed from concrete to wood construction.

There has, however been no change in the plan to demolish the later addition to the main building, to remove the Stevenson house on Burdett and to move the Temple House from McClure to Burdett. Further, parking for the relocated would be in the front yard - not acceptable for a heritage property. Also, the house had been designed to face south with wide verandah and porch to take advantage of the view and the prevailing breezes. It would face north overlooking a parking lot in its proposed location.

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