The fate of the long-debated Roundhouse development in Vic West, Victoria, is set to be decided next week. Following more than three and a half hours of video submissions during the public hearing, the Victoria council decided to adjourn the session until January 25, when it will deliberate and make a decision.

 

Over 100 people provided input via video messages during Monday night’s session, following a previous marathon session where over 80 people spoke in person or online.

 

The Roundhouse project, proposed by Focus Equities and in the making for over 15 years, entails nine buildings ranging from 10 to 32 storeys. The plan includes the renovation and restoration of heritage buildings on the site, the addition of 70,000 square feet of commercial space, and the creation of 1,870 residential units, with 215 designated as below-market rentals. Rezoning of the land at 251 Esquimalt Rd., 210 Kimta Rd., and 355 Catherine St. is necessary for the project to proceed.

 

The development has stirred controversy in the city, with differing opinions on whether the proposed project should be approved as is, scaled down, or handed over to a different developer.

 

In the final part of the public hearing on January 25, the council is expected to pose questions to the project developer, deliberate on the proposal, and ultimately make a decision. Mayor Marianne Alto emphasized the council’s commitment to making informed decisions and adhering to the time constraints of meetings.

 

The Roundhouse, designated a national historic site in 1992, holds significance as an E&N Railway Roundhouse completed in 1913. The site served as a vital hub for locomotives and rolling stock during the steam railway era in Canada. The decision on the proposed development will have a substantial impact on the use and preservation of this historic site.