The former location of Victoria’s Great Canadian Casino opposite Mayfair Shopping Centre, and presently a VanCity Credit Union branch at the intersection of Douglas and Finlayson streets, is in-store for redevelopment into an affordable rental tower, Citified has learned.

 

 

M’akola Housing Society and TL Housing Solutions have submitted a rezoning application to the City of Victoria seeking approvals to change the use of 3075 Douglas Street from Limited Casino Commercial District to a Comprehensive Development (CD-site specific) Zone, with a vision of a 23-storey below-market rental tower for Indigenous families, individuals, and Elders, according to application documents submitted by M’akola.

 

The building’s base will feature approximately 6,300 square feet of retail and commercial space, with one level of underground parking and a surface lot.

 

Residences will span from studio units through to three-bedroom suites, and add over 200 homes to the rapidly growing ‘Mayfair District’ community of the Burnside Gorge neighbourhood centred on Mayfair Shopping Centre, where several rental and condominium developments have completed in recent months and years. The tallest among them (a 12-storey condominium-turned-rental tower) is currently nearing occupancy.

 

A unique architectural element of M’kola’s proposed design, via Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership architects of Vancouver, are two 17-storey tall installations of what is described in planning documents as a “central circle with crescents radiating outward, similar to the rippling effect of a drop of water,” on the north and south building facades.

 

In a package prepared for the City, artist Connie Watts, a Nuu-chah-nulth, Gitxsan and Kwakwaka’wakw artist and designer, describes the meaning of the artwork as such:

 

“Water connected us. It was our strength used for healing, providing a wealth of food and ease of traveling. The extension of circle to the three crescents on the top and bottom honours this vast connectivity of our water and waterways. The design is repeated on both the south and north side visual showing the movement of our travels up and down the coast and symbolizes the robustness of water as a central part of our First Nations’ histories, culture, and livelihood.”

 

At the main entrance on Douglas Street at Finlayson Street, a “trigon” art installation will act as a canopy. Watts says the following in regards to the trigon’s significance:

 

“Welcoming you into the building is the trigon. It's [sic] four points, the three surface points and a fourth inner point represent the four parts of human nature: the physical; the mental; the emotional; and the spiritual. Four is an important ritual number and is central to our teachings. In our cultural ways, everything is alive, including was [sic] we create. With this in mind, all the artistic designs are like beings that are honouring the local Nations, our First Nations’ histories and bring respect and good energy to the building residents.”

 

On the east and west facades, MCM has incorporated a slalom to the window placements, creating a wave pattern unique among Victoria’s modern iteration of highrise towers.

 

 

M’akola is also planning a 13,000 square foot resident amenity area on the second floor rooftop extending from Finlayson Street along Douglas Street to Larch Street.

 

The housing provider currently operates more than 600 homes throughout the Capital Region, including 245 recently built rentals in Sooke, several rental buildings in Langford, and has multiple proposals going through the municipal planning process in several municipalities. Province-wide, M’akola currently oversees the management of 2,000 homes.

 

In terms of building massing in the Mayfair District, the District of Saanich recently approved a three-tower redevelopment of the former Mayfair Lanes property on Tolmie Avenue at Oak Street, flanking the north edge of Mayfair Shopping Centre and the border with Victoria. Heights of 21 and 24 storeys are planned as part of that project, spearheaded by Vancouver-based developer Townline, which is affiliated to TL Housing Solutions partnering with M'akola on the 3075 Douglas Street proposal. C

 

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