Victoria’s iconic Turner Building, located at the triangular lot across from Royal Jubilee Hospital on Richmond Avenue, has been deemed unsafe following a fire that broke out in the early hours of January 15th.
The fire was discovered by Victoria firefighters who were returning to Johnson Street Fire Headquarters from an emergency medical call at around 4 a.m.
Noticing smoke wafting from the roofline of the second story, Captain Rawlins and the crew immediately initiated a 911 call, requested additional apparatus, and began coordinating efforts to address the blaze.
Upon conducting a 360-degree assessment, it was confirmed smoke was visible from all sides of the long-vacant building. However, significant structural damage from a previous fire rendered interior suppression efforts unsafe.
Firefighters worked defensively, cutting into the building’s exterior to combat the flames, eventually bringing the fire under control.
The following morning, crews returned to the site to ensure there was no risk of re-ignition.
Victoria Fire Department investigators believe “human activity” in the vacant building likely contributed to the fire. The investigation into the exact cause is ongoing.
The aftermath of the fire revealed extensive damage to the Turner Building, leading Fire Chief Paul Atkinson and Battalion Chiefs to declare the structure compromised and unsafe.
A safety zone has since been established to mitigate the risk of debris falling onto the surrounding area, including a blocked-off lane on Richmond Avenue.
The Turner Building, a landmark in Victoria, has long been the subject of redevelopment plans aiming to revitalize the site. While the fire is a setback, those plans are expected to continue in the coming months.
Last year, developer Karl Robertson, founder of Empresa Properties Ltd., has received unanimous support from the City of Victoria’s Committee of the Whole.
The next step is securing final approval by early this year, with construction slated to begin by mid-2025, assuming all goes smoothly.
The new development will feature 55 purpose-built rental suites inspired by the flat-iron design of the original Turner Building, which was once home to the popular Ian’s Coffee Shop, a beloved neighbourhood fixture.
Along with residential units, the project will include ground-floor retail spaces and a pedestrian-friendly plaza, creating a village-like atmosphere that will serve as a gateway to the North Jubilee area.
The redevelopment will take place on a parcel of land bordered by Richmond Road, Birch Street, and Pembroke Street, where the Turner Building has stood vacant for two decades.
The site was purchased by Island Cardiology Holdings in 2013, with initial plans for a five-storey medical office building that never materialized. In 2022, Empresa Properties acquired the site and shifted focus to a mixed-use development.
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