Meetings ponder future of historic Esquimalt church
Anglican diocese wants to build housing next door, which might affect old building
The committee reviewing plans for seniors housing next to the historic St. Peter and St. Paul’s church in Esquimalt is holding its second public meeting today.
“There is a great deal of interest in the project among a number of people in the municipality,” said committee chairman Steve Barber.
“There is great concern to preserve the integrity of the historic church. It’s very, very important. It’s one of the oldest historic buildings in Esquimalt.”
The Anglican Diocese of Victoria wants to build affordable seniors housing next to the 152-yearold church, and residents have been worried about potential alterations to the heritage-designated church.
St. Paul’s Anglican Church was built in 1866 at the foot of Signal Hill, close to the gates of the Dockyard. It was dismantled board by board in 1904 and relocated to its current location.
“It has a lot of significance to the municipality,” said Barber, who retired from his position as senior heritage planner for the City of Victoria in 2014.
According to Barber, there will be five storeys of accommodation for low-income seniors and a new facility for the church with a hall, offices and washrooms on the ground floor.
“They have to figure out how to connect this with the existing church,” he said.
Deane Strongitharm, senior associate with City Spaces, is the planning consultant. He is working for the diocese and with Number TEN Architectural group, Barber said.
“The architect is looking for a number of different options to connect to the historic church and do it in a way that doesn’t compromise the heritage value of the church,” he said.
“They came up with a design submitted to Esquimalt city council and secured rezoning to allow for construction. But the understanding was they would submit a detailed heritage alteration permit at the municipality for the approval of council.”
Strongitharm made a proposal to council to set up a special committee to review the plans and make recommendations. The heritage alteration permit review committee is comprised of members of the church, the diocese, the Hallmark Heritage Society and an Esquimalt resident.
“They are charged with reviewing these plans, looking at the various options and making a final recommendation to Esquimalt city council,” Barber said.
At the first meeting Nov. 7, Number TEN Architectural Group presented its original design and a number of potential concepts that minimized any negative impact on the church, Barber said.
The architects have explored those different concepts in further detail. They will be presenting those concepts to the committee to see which options look the best.
“Once they figure out which option looks best, the architects will have to go back and develop that in further detail and then it will have to be reviewed by the committee,” Barber said. “Then there will be a public open house to show people which concept they think is the best.”
Today’s meeting is being held at the church hall, 1379 Esquimalt Rd., from noon to 2 p.m.