The Prospect Neighbourhood
Oak Bay’s first Heritage Conservation Area
Celebrating the 4th anniversary!
A January 2024 article from the Globe and Mail argues for heritage conservation being at the heart of thoughtful housing developments today.
Help respect & preserve this national treasure in Oak Bay:
Annandale, 1587 York Place
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You can make a difference
Whether you live in the neighbourhood or not, please write or email Oak Bay’s Mayor and Council now, saying you’d like respectful and sensitive development in accordance with The Prospect HCA Guidelines. Your letter will be read and counted. And when this proposal comes before Council for public re- view, consider attending the public hearing. Call the District of Oak Bay, 250-598–3311, for the date. Your voice and presence will make a difference.
Have your say!
Do you like to walk, cycle, or drive past Annandale on York Place, with its historic homes and enjoyable streetscape? Please express your appreciation in an email, then state your concerns and end by asking Mayor and Council to reject the current proposal or send it back to the applicant, municipal staff and Heritage Commission for modifications that will bring the proposal into line with the HCA Guidelines.
Setting up your email
In the “To” field put [email protected]. In the “Cc” field load Mayor, Council and CAO email addresses listed below. In the “Subject” field put “Heritage Revitalization Agreement (HRA00010) and Heritage Alteration Permit (HAP00029) – 1587 York Place.” Address your email “To Mayor and Council.” By rule, you must include your full name and residential address in any letter or email correspondence.
Mayor Kevin Murdoch:
[email protected]
Councillor Andrew Appleton:
[email protected]
Councillor Hazel Braithwaite:
[email protected]
Councillor Cairine Green:
[email protected]
Councillor Esther Paterson:
[email protected]
Councillor Carrie Smart:
[email protected]
Councillor Lesley Watson:
[email protected]
Chief Administrative Officer, Selina Williams:
[email protected]
For more on Annandale Click here
Sign our petition to save 1558 Beach Drive
We, the undersigned, urge Oak Bay Council to preserve
the original streetscape of the historic home at 1558 Beach Drive, restore the gardens, and protect the iconic Garry Oaks. For the benefit of the community, we support keeping this property unburdened by any development in front or behind this exceptional historic streetscape.
Sign our petition here: https://chng.it/FGHgQkn2dk
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In 2020, Oak Bay Council unanimously gave approval to the bylaw which officially establishes the area bounded by Oak Bay Avenue, Beach Drive, San Carlos Avenue, Prospect Place, York Place and includes Broom Road as The Prospect Heritage Conservation Area.
Today this neighbourhood remains the most intact historic neighbourhood with almost all its original buildings by such notable architects as Francis Rattenbury, Samuel Maclure and P.L. James.
 |
 |
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You can make a difference
Whether you live in the neighbourhood or not, please write or email Oak Bay’s Mayor and Council now, saying you’d like respectful and sensitive development in accordance with The Prospect HCA Guidelines. Your letter will be read and counted. And when this proposal comes before Council for public review, consider attending the public hearing. Call the District of Oak Bay, 250-598–3311, for the date. Your voice and presence will make a difference.
Speak up!
Do you like to walk, cycle, or drive past the J.W. Morris House on this part of Beach Drive, with its historic homes and pleasing streetscape? Please express your appreciation in an email, then state your concerns and end by asking Mayor and Council to send this development proposal back to the applicant for modifications, and further review by the Heritage Commission.
Setting up your email
In the “To:” line, load all the email addresses listed below. In the “Subject:” line put: “Heritage Revitalization Agreement (HRA00011) and OCP Amendment (OCP00006) – 1558 Beach Drive” Address your email: “To Mayor and Council.” By rule, you must include your full name and residential address in any letter or email correspondence.
Oak Bay Council:
[email protected]
Mayor Kevin Murdoch:
[email protected]
Councillor Andrew Appleton:
[email protected]
Councillor Hazel Braithwaite:
[email protected]
Councillor Cairine Green:
[email protected]
Councillor Esther Paterson:
[email protected]
Councillor Carrie Smart:
[email protected]
Councillor Lesley Watson:
[email protected]
Chief Administrative Officer, Selina Williams:
[email protected]
The Prospect Neighbourhood
Oak Bay’s first Heritage Conservation Area
February 2020
We have been meaning to share this good news for a while, and now — during the COVID-19 pandemic — it may be a welcome reminder of the good things a community can achieve when working together on a shared cause.
In February, Oak Bay Council unanimously gave approval to the bylaw which officially establishes the area bounded by Oak Bay Avenue, Beach Drive, San Carlos Avenue, Prospect Place, York Place and includes Broom Road as The Prospect Heritage Conservation Area.
It is wonderful that this special area is formally recognized for today and future generations.
To watch the historic vote by Council, visit this link: https://youtu.be/qB1Oe5osYkU
There are so many people who helped to make this grass-roots, resident-led, neighbourhood initiative happen. Our sincere thanks to community members, volunteers, heritage consultants, planning staff and council.
To see the bylaw and related design guidelines, go to this link:
https://oakbay.civicweb.net/document/42593/4620.003%20Prospect%20Heritage%20Conservation%20Area.pdf
HISTORIC FEATURES OF NEIGHBOURHOOD CRUDELY ATTACKED
Abstract Developments owner Mike Miller has defied Oak Bay Council and enraged local neighbourhood by smashing through historic 122 year-old walls on York Place and Prospect Place.
A DISGRACEFUL ACT OF CORPORATE VANDALISM
On October 17, 2019, Abstract Developer Miller flagrantly disregarded a stop work order issued by the District of Oak Bay to protect heritage assets on his 1561 York Place property. His blatant motive was to exercise private property rights before the final approval by Council at the end of the month of a Heritage Control Period for the entire neighbourhood.
Public outrage was immediate and has drawn extensive attention on social media and by local papers and television.
STATEMENTS BY DISTRICT OF OAK BAY
Read statement by the District of Oak Bay about this controversial incident at this link:
A NEED FOR RENEWED COMMITMENT AND COMMUNITY VOICES
We call on all friends of heritage protection and sensitive development to condemn this outrageous action by Miller and to express their support for robust heritage conservation by
- writing a letter to your local paper [Times Colonist (email [email protected]), Oak Bay News (email: [email protected])]
- writing to Oak Bay Council and Mayor – Link to list of email addresses
- spreading the word with friends
- sharing the news on social media:
OUR CALL TO ACTION
THAT Oak Bay Council designate 1561 York Place as a heritage property – including the surrounding walls
THAT any restoration of the walls on the property be done by qualified heritage specialists under the supervision of the District, and, to that end, all pieces from the breaks in the walls be retained on the property
THAT the District obtain legal clarification as to the validity of the recent actions by Abstract Developments on this property
Protect This Historic Landmark Mansion and
Preserve One of Oak Bay’s Earliest Neighbourhoods!
We are citizens of Oak Bay
who care deeply about supporting and respecting the heritage values and historical characteristics of our community.
Oak Bay is
a municipality in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. We are located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island.
As residents of the neighbourhood
bordered by Beach Drive, Oak Bay Avenue, York Place, San Carlos Avenue, and including Prospect Place and Broom Road, we are actively exploring making our neighbourhood Oak Bay’s first Heritage Conservation Area (HCA), “The Prospect”.
Mansion worthy of restoration
Solid and imposing, the mansion has good bones and is worthy of preservation and restoration. A lavish and expensive home to build originally, it cost nearly double most other homes of the period.
Presentation: Learning About Heritage Conservation
We are pleased to inform you of an upcoming community presentation, sponsored by the District of Oak Bay, on Learning About Heritage Conservation: Practices and Insight From Around the World.
One of Oak Bay’s first planned subdivisions: “The Prospect”
York Place, Prospect Place, San Carlos Avenue, Broom Road, and part of Beach Drive and Oak Bay Avenue is one of the earliest planned subdivisions in Oak Bay, and illustrates one of the ways in which Oak Bay developed in the early years.
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