FAQ

Why is the building this tall?

The municipality of Saanich and our developers have collaborated to provide a building that is beneficial to the local community, on a limited sized lot. To maintain this small footprint and protect the green space and trees, the height of the building had to be increased to include all amenities and services. This includes several floors dedicated to Women's Transition Housing, several floors allocated for commercial space, and several floors for rentals. All in all, the building needed to go taller rather than wider to fit it all in.

What impact will this have on the value of surrounding properties?

There are not a lot of home immediate surrounding area. It is expected that the homes that are currently on Shawnee will be developed into a 6 storey condo/rental project.

What measures are being taken to ensure that the privacy of nearby residents is not impacted by the project?

There are not any nearby neighbours to be concerned about.

What are the plans for the commercial space?

The plans are yet to be determined, as we are still in the process of exploring potential options. We are open to considering various uses that would complement the overall vision for the building and enhance the community experience for residents and visitors alike.

Will there be any community engagement or consultation process before and during the development?

We have already engaged with the community through meetings with the Royal Oak Community Association (ROCA) and will continue to have open communication throughout the development process. However, no further meetings are scheduled at this time.

What are the costs of the project?

We are estimating the cost to be around $50 million to $57 million.

What are the timeframes for completion?

We anticipate it will take two years for the building to be built, once the ground is broken.

Will this be the first of many tall buildings like this?

It is very likely that more buildings like this will be constructed in the future as the Royal Oak Mall undergoes redevelopment. As the need for housing grows, it is necessary to build up rather than out. This project could serve as a model for future development and ensure that future buildings are tall enough to meet the needs of the community in the coming years.

Where is the next nearest tall building?

Saanich has plans for two 11-storey buildings on the Marson and Bird of Paradise sites. Although they are slightly shorter than our building, we aim to anticipate the future needs of the community so that we won't regret not having built higher in the coming years.

Why was this particular location chosen for the building project? Why not build closer to other tall buildings?

This is the best location in Royal Oak for us to develop a project of this size, and the best location in the urban core zoning area.