Victoria looks at putting housing next to new pool

Victoria will explore the idea of building housing over underground parking on a site next to a new Crystal Pool.

“To be clear, this is not a city capital project,” said Mayor Lisa Helps. She brought the idea forward, saying it was initiated by community members.

“It would be similar to what we’ve done in other places when we’ve said here’s a piece of land [and] here’s a rough vision for it, subject to community input. What can the market bring back to us?”

Victoria councillors endorsed a proposal on Thursday that staff, working with community stakeholders, develop a request for proposals to build underground parking for 100 cars topped with up to six floors of affordable housing and community space. This would be in place of planned surface parking.

Helps told councillors the proposal was not part of the Crystal Pool project but a chance to “explore the possibility of a better and higher use for publicly owned land than a surface parking lot.”

The proposal asks staff to design a process for engaging community groups about public space in the building. Those groups include residents of North Park, Harris Green and downtown, and the Indigenous and immigrant communities. Staff is also being instructed to explore funding sources.

A key area to be explored is steps that would have to be taken to use parkland, at Quadra Street between Queens Avenue and Pembroke Street, for a use such as housing. Coun. Pam Madoff said determining that process prior to making a decision will be critical.

“I’m already getting questions from people about which park is going to be next for this kind of consideration,” she said, referring to pressures for community amenities and housing.

Coun. Marianne Alto said council was simply taking a preliminary exploration of options.

“It’s important for us to remember we really want to protect the greenspace,” she said

Alto echoed the sentiment that, since the city was already looking at surface parking, there is the opportunity to see what other options might be available.

The proposal suggests any ground-floor community space would, at a minimum, be able to accommodate a welcome centre for newcomers to Canada, a child-care facility, community kitchen and space for youth, seniors and other groups.

Victoria council voted last year to replace the Crystal Pool complex, built in 1971. The cost estimate is $69.4 million. Reserve funds will provide $10 million, and $6 million is expected from the federal Gas Tax Fund.

The city is hoping federal and provincial governments will each fund 40 per cent of the project through grants, leaving it to cover 20 per cent.