Attachment 6: Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary Case Study

A CASE STUDY OF RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE VICTORIA HARBOUR MIGRATORY BIRD SANCTUARY (VHMBS)

Since its creation in 1923, the 1,841 hectare sanctuary comprises 60% open sea, 20% rocky seashore, and 20% tidal channel. It is managed by the Canadian Wildlife Service.

As a case study precedent for responsible development within the VHMBS, the Selkirk Waterfront Community was developed beginning in the early 1990s on a former industrial site on the Selkirk Waterway, between Victoria's Upper Harbour and the Gorge Waterway. Comprising a number of 3-to 6-storey commercial, residential, personal care, and mixed-use buildings, many of the buildings, including the waterfront structures, are owned and operated by Jawl Properties Ltd. and were designed by D'Ambrosio architecture + urbanism.

The design of a new waterfront boardwalk included the creation of new habitat for the local Purple Martin population. Nest boxes were installed along the boardwalk as a collaborative effort with the Gorge Waterway Initiative. In the past 25 years since development began in the Selkirk Waterfront community, Jawl Properties has been alerted to only one incident of a bird collision with a building in the area.

D'Ambrosio architecture and urbanism prides itself on designing communities and buildings which balance social and environmental sustainability, and along with Realstar, are committed to realizing a responsible, ecologically-sensitive design for Christie Point which protects and enhances the environment of the VHMBS.

Project Information

D'AMBROSIO architecture + urbanism 2960 Jutland Road Victoria BC Canada V8T 5K2 tel 250.384.2400 fax 250.384.7893 eml mail@fdarc.ca web www.fdarc.ca