VICTORIA HARBOUR MIGRATORY BIRD SANCTUARY CASE STUDY (Attachment 6)

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.

Selkirk Waterfront

Purple Martin Kinetic Sculpture at Selkirk Waterfront by Douglas Neufville Taylor

Purple Martin Nest Boxes at Selkirk Boardwalk

Selkirk Waterfront Community

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