Developers don’t know what Victorians want

Re: “Rejection of 35-storey Victoria tower sends chilling message to developers: CEO,” March 14.

I have not often been moved, lately, to congratulate Victoria city council for much of what they’ve done or failed to do.

In relation to Andrew Duffy’s reporting, I can only say that Jon Stovell (of Reliance Properties) has a very poor grasp of what the people of Victoria need or want in terms of development in our downtown.

In fact, as a result of decisions already made, what used to be a vibrant and people-friendly place is now a wasteland of failing businesses, half-built buildings constructed for the benefit of investors and the profits of developers, all done with little or no consultation with or for the people who actually live and work downtown.

Developers like Reliance have ruined Vancouver. Keeping them out of Victoria isn’t just a good idea, it’s a necessity.

At this fall’s election, city council (or at least some of them) will discover exactly what the people of this city think of their record.

James King

Victoria

I don't think it's possible that successful developers like Reliance have "a very poor grasp of what the people of Victoria need or want".

https://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/letters-march-19-developers-are-out-of-touch-iran-war-12023719

Gotta love the earthquake people.

More condos are not needed

Re: “Rejection of 35-storey Victoria tower sends chilling message to developers: CEO,” March 14.

I’ve never known a developer who is altruistic. Jon Stovell’s claim, “Policy 1, progress 0,” is interesting. Victoria certainly seems to need another 321 condos. Or at least that’s what Stovell claims. In fact, there are almost 1,300 condos for sale in Greater Victoria.

If he had included mixed use, such as rentals for low- and medium-income folks, there might be a claim. But 35 storeys for yet another condo building seems to be an over-the-top folly. Isn’t Victoria in a high-risk earthquake zone?

Susan Worrall

Chemainus

Seems like everything Vancouver developers build here gets snapped up pretty quick.

Vancouver built Victoria, in recent decades. The overwhelming majority of development here, since the 1990s, is thanks to Vancouver developers taking a chance on Victoria.

All but one of the projects currently under construction downtown, bringing 2,200 rental units to market between 2026 and 2029, is at the hands of Vancouver developers and Toronto developers. Even BC Housing, building the 20-storey tower on Pandora, is a Vancouver entity.

...half-built buildings constructed for the benefit of investors and the profits of developers, all done with little or no consultation with or for the people who actually live and work downtown.

Dare I ask what a half-built building is? Or how it could be profitable for investors?

I dunno, there are thousands more people living downtown today than there were even 25 years ago. Isn't a fair bit of consultation implied by the very act of choosing to purchase a particular condo or choosing to rent a particular apartment? Or are we suggesting all the people who currently live downtown would much rather be living downtown in an altogether different fashion?