What started life as a plan to build a replacement velodrome for the aging facility on the West Shore has ballooned into a concept that could result in a $120-million multi-use complex in Saanich.
The Greater Victoria Velodrome Association is floating the idea of a massive project that would include an indoor velodrome, recreation space, commercial space, residential units and a hotel.
David Attwell, who sits on the association’s board and is championing the idea, said the project is in the early stages — there’s no funding in place, no development partner and no site picked — and they are just getting it onto the municipal radar screen.
“There’s lots of detail to figure out and this is going to take a while — the timeline is anywhere from five to eight years — but you have to start somewhere,” said Attwell, who was to appear before Saanich’s parks and recreation advisory committee Thursday night.
Attwell said the idea has been floating around for about 18 months and they have been speaking with potential development partners, investors, interested stakeholders and all three levels of government.
He knows it will require buy-in from all levels and that starts with the municipality signing on as an interested party. “We see some convergences that make this a nice opportunity. We recognize if we want to make Victoria a real cycling powerhouse and we want to grow the sport here we need to invest in an indoor velodrome,” he said.
He acknowledges that velodromes do not pay for themselves. “A standalone velodrome doesn’t make economic sense almost anywhere in the world. We don’t want a white elephant, we want to create a facility that is a community asset.”
They have six or seven sites in Saanich in mind, including near Uptown, Tillicum Shopping Centre and University Heights Shopping Centre. Depending on the site chosen, the cost would likely be between $90 million and $120 million.
Attwell said because of the high cost, the only option is to build a mixed-use project that suits the needs of the region — ticks the boxes of sport, tourism, affordable housing and commercial space — and would cover the cost of a velodrome.
Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes said at first blush the project has merit. “Anything that talks about expanding our economic base with activity and infrastructure such as this has appeal,” he said.
But he noted the project is in the early stages and a lot of questions are unanswered. “The business model, funding, location are all unknown. But I think it’s worthwhile looking at all opportunities and ideas. It’s a good time for Saanich to embrace bigger-thinking ideas and connect some of those ideas together.”
