The veil is about to be lifted on one of the most exclusive large-scale re-development efforts in Victoria’s history, which over the past half-decade, quietly transformed an Esquimalt landmark property into refined condominiums and a boutique hotel.

 

The work has piqued the curiosity of locals, tourists and homebuyers alike, and by late summer, a grand opening event will celebrate a turning point for Victoria’s housing industry, as Esquimalt readies to welcome yet another real-estate achievement delivered within the municipality under the auspices of a key player in British Columbia’s housing industry.

 

For generations, the Old English Inn on Lampson Street south of Esquimalt Road drew visitors from around the world to a Tudor Revival mansion dating to the early 1900s. The home was converted into a hotel in the 1940s, and courted guests until 2010. In 2015, the estate was acquired by homebuilder, hotelier and developer Aragon Properties. Guided by Aragon’s founder and president Lenny Moy, in 2018 the Inn’s stately hotel manor and its beautiful grounds – considered by many as a blend between the Butchart Gardens and a Scottish Highland estate – would start down the path of a much needed refresh and renewal.

 

With little fanfare or notice as to what was taking place on the inn’s private expanse along Lampson Street (between Munro and Lyall streets), Moy and his team began meticulously restoring the Old English Inn into a 28-suite modern destination now known as Rosemead House. 14 restored manor rooms and 14 rooms in a newly constructed wing called the Grove Collection, now offer hospitality to visitors, as up-market condominium and townhome residences, called Oakwoods (see project website | view Citified profile), have taken shape on its storied grounds.

 

Local homebuyers, real-estate agents and purchasers from afar looking to establish residency in Greater Victoria, have reached out to Citified on numerous occasions asking for insight into what was being built at the Old English Inn property, when it would be completed, and what the home offerings would entail.

 

An aerial rendering of Oakwoods, located along Lampson Street between Lyall and Munro streets in the Township of Esquimalt. The project redeveloped Esquimalt's storied Old English Inn estate into up-market condominiums, townhomes and an opulent hotel.  Aragon Properties

 

Although details were few, what was known over the years is three condominium buildings and a collection of stand-alone townhomes from an established, well capitalized development firm would eventually hit the market as move in-ready, high-end residences alongside a restored boutique hotel. Exactly when that would happen, and what the finished product would be, was kept well under wraps by the developer, a practice uncommon in Victoria’s housing market, but a trademark of Oakwoods’ Aragon Properties pedigree.

 

The fortunate few who have had a chance to take a sneak peek at the project’s soon-to-be suites for sale, unanimously state the wait was indeed well worth it, and say homebuyers will be left enamoured by the builder’s attention to detail, the setting of the project, and its views towards the Salish Sea from above Esquimalt’s lush urban canopy.

 

On July 26th Oakwoods will quietly launch its first phase of sales to discerning registered buyers who have been anticipating just such a project, in an established, walkable neighbourhood close to amenities and nature, while set well back from the din of the city. Comprised of a trio of six-storey condominiums called Aves, Flora and Woodland, and a townhome collection named Fallow, the first release will feature 58 homes at Flora.

 

While the market awaits a formal reveal in September and real-estate agents gather insights into the specs of 179 new-build homes in one through four-bedroom and townhome configurations, Lenny Moy tells Citified the investment into Oakwoods has been a passion project that has taken the long way to completion, and will set a new standard for urban living in the Capital.

 

“The Aragon team, and our many partners who helped make the Old English Inn’s transformation a success story, dedicated many years to raising the bar for all facets of the project. We are honoured to welcome future residents to this beautiful property and its stunning homes,” Moy said, adding that Aragon “invested the time, the resources and the expertise to make Oakwoods a unique, one-of-a-kind homeownership opportunity, and revitalized Rosemead House into a hallmark destination for visitors to Esquimalt and the Capital Region.”

 

Residences at Flora are priced from $598,900. Homebuyers wishing to learn more about the offerings at Oakwoods, information on specific suites and prices, amenities and the community, can connect with the Oakwoods Sales Team via the project website, here.

 

Oakwoods has transformed the multi-acre Old English Inn estate in Esquimalt into a legacy condominium community. The first phase, known as Flora and pictured in this rendering, will start sales in late July.  Aragon Properties

 

Meanwhile, the company is full steam ahead on construction at its Wadams Farm housing community in Victoria’s coastal suburb of Sooke, where a collection of West Coast-inspired single-family homes are now selling and are move in-ready in a variety of floorplans and designs. Wadams Farm also includes townhome rental opportunities that are leasing fast, and all just a short stroll from Sooke’s town centre.

 

In Victoria’s Cook Street Village in the Fairfield neighbourhood, Aragon is in the early stages of construction on its ‘Cook and Pendergast’ condominium development that will deliver 49 one, two and three-bedroom suites in one of the most sought after urban neighbourhoods in Victoria, close to Beacon Hill Park, the Dallas Road oceanfront and at the heart of a thriving commercial node.

 

As for Aragon’s prior involvement in Esquimalt’s new housing sector and its economic investment strategy, the company was selected by the Township to redevelop its town square lands adjacent to the Esquimalt Road municipal hall. Aragon completed a duo of now sold-out condominiums in 2021, along with a rental block, and an office complex that is now the new home of Bell Media’s south Island CTV television studio, and studios for CFAX 1070 and Virgin Radio.

 

Additionally, Aragon is involved in a large-scale housing community coming to Saanich’s Cordova Bay area. The mixed-use, multi-acre development is in the planning stage, and is expected to showcase a variety of housing types featuring views across Haro Strait. C

 

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