Oak Bay marina needs $12 million in repairs and upgrades – and that’s just the buildings.
Council sought a technical survey of the buildings at Spewhung (Turkey Head) currently under lease – with the exception of the former restaurant space – to Oak Bay Marine Group. Oak Bay Marine Group continues to lease the lower coffee shop space in the restaurant building on a month-to-month basis.
A recent 30-year lease expired in December 2022.
In 2020, the district launched a request for proposals that ended last year with a five-year lease to “allow for meaningful consultation” for a longer site plan. That lease ends in 2027.
To help inform decisions during the next rounds of consultation, council sought updated condition reports and potential associated costs.
The first of such reports, covering the three buildings – restaurant, commercial and boat works – and the concrete support structure for the marina came to council recently.
READ ALSO: Oak Bay gathers information as it embarks on renewed marina lands process
The impacts of the assessment by Herold Engineering Ltd. were seen even sooner by those who visit 1327 Beach Dr. frequently.
While doing the assessment, Herold flagged safety concerns implemented immediately by district staff, including closing the lower level deck until structural steel supports are repaired and shoring up the steel columns – that also need replacing – in the breezeway.
Assessors also found the steel connection of the gangway to the congregate needs monitoring and to be inspected every six months to determine continued suitability. Potential water egress should also be further investigated in the soffit above the breezeway.
The report includes an assessment of both condition and performance of the building enclosure systems, mechanical systems and electrical systems, as well as seismic code compliance of the buildings and the condition of the concrete support structure.
“Much of the building enclosure, mechanical system, and electrical system will require replacement to increase performance and to meet current code provisions. The Seismic Force Resisting System (SFRS) in all three buildings requires retrofit work to increase the capacity and to establish a continuous load path from roof to foundation to meet current code provisions. The concrete support structure requires extensive repair work to address multiple areas of deteriorated concrete and corroded steel,” the report states.
READ ALSO: Iconic Oak Bay Marina eatery closes its doors
The hard construction cost for replacement, repair and retrofit is estimated at just over $12 million. It’s a rough cost projection intended to help with ranking and decision-making, a representative of the engineering firm told council during its July 10 meeting.
That’s just hard costs, not including permits, consulting, insurance and the like. Herold Engineering suggested it could be beneficial to evaluate new construction options along with rehabilitation options when considering future uses for the site.
Council asked staff to prepare a heritage statement of significance for the three marina buildings, something Couns. Carrie Smart and Cairine Green said the Heritage Commission has desired for a while.
“This is a significant heritage building,” said Smart, who made the motion noting it’s “respectful to make decisions going forward in a balanced way.”
Mayor Kevin Murdoch described the heritage statements as a way to “capture those narratives before we lose them.”
In a continuation of the information gathering, in June, council asked staff to retain a consultant for a condition survey for the docks. The district leases the foreshore from the province, subleasing to Oak Bay Marine Group which owns the docks.
Murdoch brought the motion back for reconsideration during the July 10 meeting, including a March backgrounder and flagging the $37,000 cost associated with dock inspection. A quote noted as “not current.”
“I also thought when you’re doing an assessment of this nature it does benefit from an understanding of what you’re assessing it against, as opposed to what is there currently,” he said.
Murdoch questioned whether it would be more beneficial later with more context and potentially other parties to help pay for the cost.
While Couns. Andrew Appleton and Hazel Braithwaite agreed, council reiterated its desire for information with the rest of council approving the motion to retain a consultant.
Coun. Ester Paterson pointed to the Herald report showing the deterioration of the buildings, walkway and concrete adjacent to the docks.
“I don’t see how we can’t go forward with the further exploration at this point,” she said.
Find the Herold presentation to council at oakbay.civicweb.net on the July 10 agenda.