A major stretch of Blanshard Street is one step closer to a massive transformation.
On Monday, Victoria city council unanimously approved a rezoning application from BC Housing to redevelop Evergreen Terrace—formerly known as Blanshard Courts—into a nine-building residential complex that will dramatically reshape the area over the next decade or two.
The sprawling 7.8-acre site currently includes 175 low-income housing units and 21 supportive homes, some of which have been there for decades.
Under the new plan, those 23 existing buildings would eventually be replaced by a mix of taller, more modern structures—one reaching 20 storeys, three at 15 storeys, and five others at six storeys.
Related: BC Housing proposes 900 unit multi-storey development projects in Victoria
In total, the proposed redevelopment would introduce about 900 residential units to the neighbourhood, including a mix of market rentals, geared-to-income housing, supportive housing, and below-market rate units.
At least 341 of those would be considered affordable under the current plan.
Council also directed staff to continue working with BC Housing to explore the potential for adding more homes for people with low and very low incomes as the project evolves.
Councillor Matt Dell took to Facebook, calling it “the largest affordable housing project in Victoria’s history.”
“Very proud that Council supported the new Evergreen Terrace,” he said.
“This site will have 900 non-market homes, including 175 low-income units, supportive housing, 15% three-bedroom units, and tons of beautiful green space (56% open space) and community space. Council asked the applicant to explore adding even more housing units, and daylighting Rock Bay Creek through the site. We need way more housing projects like this in the CRD!”
The transformation won’t happen overnight. Construction is expected to take between 10 and 20 years, with the first phases possibly beginning in late 2025 or early 2026.
Buildings will be removed in stages, and current residents will be supported through the relocation and re-housing process as new units are built.
One of the existing buildings, Spaken House, is a supportive housing site near Hillside and Blanshard operated by the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness. It was built as a temporary solution after a fire in 2016 and currently supports Indigenous women.
The project marks one of the largest housing investments BC Housing has made in the region to date—and one that could reshape the Hillside neighbourhood.
For more information and to view the proposals, check out BC Housing’s website.
With files from Nevada Alde
