Old Town project clears hurdle

The redevelopment of two heritage buildings on lower Johnson Street to establish a five-storey mixed-use project took a step forward Thursday when Victoria council unanimously approved a heritage alteration permit for the site.

The decision will allow building owner Hartwig Industries to demolish 585 Johnson St., a onestorey building that no longer has heritage elements and to designate the neighbouring 579 Johnson St as a heritage site.

The intention is to build a five-storey building to replace the Shotbolt Chemist building at 585 Johnson St. that will maintain street-level commercial space and offer 24 residential units above. The new build will be attached to a seismically upgraded W.G. Cameron building at 579 Johnson St., which will maintain commercial use on its ground floor and add three residential units on its second floor.

The heritage designation of 579 Johnson St. will allow Hartwig to apply for heritage grants and tax incentives to assist with the cost of seismic upgrading.

“What they are proposing here is to add a building to Old Town, which is a touchy spot to add new buildings, but I think they’ve done a nice job at incorporating a modern building that actually I think will complement some of the older buildings there,” said Coun. Matt Dell.

A staff report suggested the Shotbolt building has been altered so much since it was first built in 1876 that it is no longer historically significant.

The report noted the upper storey has been removed and the wood storefront structure replaced. Hartwig has indicated it intends to salvage existing bricks to be reused in the alley and the original columns are to be reused in their original location in the front façade of the new development.

The W.G. Cameron building, built in 1888, on the other hand, fits right in with the look of Old Town. The staff report noted its exterior façade maintains much of its original appearance, has a relatively intact storefront, featuring cast-iron columns and a decorative façade.