An application to build a custom $26-million office and warehouse complex for Victoria Shipyards in the new Allandale District, on the Langford-Colwood border, has been submitted to Colwood city hall.
The 81,500-square-foot space would allow Seaspan Victoria Shipyards to amalgamate its supply-chain operations on one site.
The company currently uses three office locations for its logistics and procurement services and stores materials in four warehouses in Greater Victoria.
Joe O’Rourke, vice-president and general manager of Victoria Shipyards, said Wednesday that the “growth and complexity” of Seaspan Victoria Shipyards’ long-term customer contracts have increased its need to consolidate sourcing and management of materials for vessel repair, refit and conversion projects.
New space will help the company grow, he said.
The development application for the shipyard site was submitted by Omicron Development Inc. and Lotus Capital Corp., partners in developing a 20-acre mixed-use development plan with new businesses and services on four parcels at Veterans Memorial Parkway and Allandale Road. The 3.95-acre lot destined for shipyard use is on the west side of the parkway.
New zoning is not required on the lot planned for the shipyard because it already allows a range of related uses.
Development of the entire site is estimated to be worth $100 million. Once it’s built out, about 353,000 square feet of buildings are expected on the four parcels, Peter Laughlin, Omicron’s director of development on Vancouver Island, said earlier. A rezoning application for other parcels has been submitted to Colwood.
The shipyard project would see about 44 employees relocated to the Colwood site, Seaspan said.
Construction would take about 18 months and create an estimated 90 jobs.
Mayor Rob Martin said Colwood is thrilled at the prospect of Seaspan Victoria Shipyards and its employees moving to the municipality.
Martin said he welcomes the construction jobs and the long-term shipyard jobs.
“We look forward to it being the first of many announcements for the 20-acre Allandale District which will expand Colwood’s tax base and create jobs for residents close to home.”
Colwood council is vetting plans to develop a total of more than 5,000 homes, plus commercial and office space and other uses, in its Royal Bay area.
