The days appear to be numbered for Victoria’s last downtown strip club.
Twenty downtown residents applauded after feasting their eyes on proposed plans to redevelop the corner of Government Street and Pandora Avenue, home to Monty’s Showroom Pub and the Victoria Plaza Hotel.
When the sale of the building is finalized next month, businesses such as Cabin 12 restaurant and several hotel tenants will have to find a new home.
Still, there was enthusiasm for the $14-million six-storey residential-commercial project when it was presented for the first time at a Downtown Residents’ Association meeting Thursday night.
“While we may have some of the most to lose in this, we’re actually wholly supportive,” said Cabin 12 co-owner Corey Judd, who asked that developer Lorne Milne consider his eatery for the building’s future ground-floor restaurant. “We’d love to serve as your ambassador into that community.”
Should Victoria city council approve the rezoning, the development will include retail space and possibly live-work units on the ground floor, said Milne, CEO of Griffiths Milne Clough Projects, which is partnering with League Capital Partners in the sale.
It would take about 15 months to construct the project, beginning in late 2013, early 2014, said Milne. Plans also call for underground parking, 30 rental units and 75 strata units.
The front of the 101-year-old hotel will be preserved, and a sidewalk café may replace the city’s green urinal location.