On the way to renovating an 1892 building, developer Stan Sipos has created an important retail link to Chinatown.
"The new retail stores he is opening in the Vogue building on Government Street will create a vibrancy in the area and rejuvenate a city block that had been dead for decades," said Victoria Coun. Pam Madoff.
Sipos stripped off the reflective window-coatings that had discouraged shoppers from continuing down the block to Chinatown.
"His project took a lot of vision," said Madoff.
The building at 1450 Government St. occupies the entire block between Pandora Avenue and Johnson Street. It originally housed the Victoria Hotel around the turn of the century and an addition was added in 1940. For the last few years, it was used as office space by the province.
Apart from the street-level retail space, the project also offers 46 strata condominiums on two floors comprising 42,000 square feet.
The development gives buyers a choice of 12 different floor plans.
Sipos's decision to renovate instead of tearing down the 60,000-square-foot heritage building has paid off handsomely with the signing of outdoor equipment retailer Mountain Equipment Co-op as its main tenant. MEC was attracted to the heritage aspect of the building and the fact that its store would be downtown. MEC will be joined by a Fresh Cup coffee shop, which will occupy space at the Pandora corner and feature a courtyard around a newly constructed atrium.
The exterior of the building will be adorned with a number of ornamental pieces and spandrels provided by the City of Victoria. Originally rescued from buildings demolished to make way for what is now the Bay Centre, the pieces are leased to the Vogue project for 99 years. The original iron beams have been cleaned and the street-level columns have been restored. Sipos explained that the stucco on the building will be retained, as the cost of removing it down to the brick would be prohibitive and not add any esthetic value to the project.
"I wanted to create unique spaces," Sipos said of the final floor plan choices. Architect Charles Kierulf took a former commercial/office space and created residences with an urban chic that is popular these days. Kierulf described what he had to work with as "an amazing building with very good bones."
The challenge was to create spaces for urban professionals wanting to be close to their work while retaining all of the amenities offered by being close to downtown. He praised Sipos as, "a client who had a good vision."
Owners will be constantly reminded of the original commercial function of the building by the well-preserved exposed support beams and the original brick walls found in every suite. All of the third-floor units have outside decks with a view of either the city or mountains. The upper suites feature loft-style units with ceilings up to four metres high. The sleeping areas also boast small but functional ensuites.
The second-floor units are more conventional, with more compact spaces. The smallest units are 500 square feet and are best suited for those who have mastered the art of downsizing. The most generous units are 1,070 square feet, featuring two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The residences feel larger than they are on paper, thanks in part to the four-metre ceilings and large windows retained from the renovation. Units all include four kitchen appliances as well as stacking washer and dryer.
Parking may be an issue for some prospective tenants, though. Although there are 46 units in the project, there is parking for only 32 cars underground. A parking space in the basement of the building is included in the price of some suites. For others, the parking space is an extra $25,000 that buyers can choose to purchase. Off-site surface parking is also available in nearby commercial space.
To get around this shortfall, the developer has provided every purchaser with a lifetime membership in the Victoria Car-Share Co-op. According to Susan Belford, information outreach co-ordinator at the co-op, including a membership is catching on.
"It's a new kind of trend we starting to see with new developments," said Belford. "It allows the project's residents to have a say in their transportation needs."
As well, there is a bicycle lock-up in the basement.
Buyers of the condos also benefit financially from the building's escape from the wrecking ball. They are exempted from paying property taxes for 10 years. This means a potential saving of $31,941 over the same period of time for a property assessed at $400,000.
One of the first purchasers was Danny Melville, a semi-retired businessman from Jamaica. Melville was attracted to the project because its location. Although he also owns a condo in Toronto, he says he prefers the Victoria home because it feels more intimate due to its proximity to the street and the tourists in the summertime.
The project is just weeks away from first occupancy and is almost sold out.
DEVELOPMENT DETAILS:
What: Vogue Project. Downtown heritage condos at 1450 Government St. between Johnson Street and Pandora Avenue, with 46 units on two floors.
Features: Upper units are loft-style designs, many with outside decks.
Developer: Stan Sipos of Cielo Properties
Builder: Farmer Construction
Architect: Charles Kierluf, DeHoog & Kierulf
Sizes: Units range from 500 square feet for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit to 1,070 square feet for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo
Price Range: $239,900 to $469,900
Warranty: St. Paul's
Interior Design: Heather Kallos 658-4472
Title: Strata condominiums
Schools: James Bay Elementary, Victoria High School
Sales office: Cielo Properties, 938 Fort St.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 1 to 5 p.m.
Information: 592-8171
Website: www.cieloproperties.ca/Vogue