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UER Forum > Archived Canada: Alberta / BC > Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope. (Viewed 4561 times)
wraze 


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 20 on 10/14/2005 6:05 PM >
Posted on Forum:
 
Still that's sad to here. I actually remember where this place was, saw it while visiting Victoria with a friend. I have some pictures of it somewhere I think although I'll have to check, they might have been deleted. A real shame though.

KublaKhan 


Location: Edinburgh, Scotland


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 21 on 10/14/2005 6:52 PM >
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Posted by bailey_ca

This seems like an awfully intensive investment for the developers; would it not just be easier to incorporate the gutted facade of the building into the design? Problem solved, sadly.



Agreed.

You say 'problem solved, sadly.'

I'd say 'problem solved...conveniently'.

Odd. An amazing little coincidence, this fire business.

Odd that the place went up roughly 24 hours after I wrote about it, and posted pics that then went on to a A-Channel news story. Odd.

My thing about it is that junkies who need a dry place to sleep/shoot wouldn't dare be so careless as to torch one of the few remaining squats in the city.

And reports said that two persons were seen running from the building before the fire was reported.

I'm pretty sure junkies (to use a thoroughly dismissive and derogatory term) don't, generally, do a whole lot of running.

The end result, from my perspective, is that they weren't the people who lit the fire.



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Mowgli-dog 


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 22 on 10/15/2005 4:34 AM >
Posted on Forum:
 
Posted by KublaKhan




The end result, from my perspective, is that they weren't the people who lit the fire.




Now there's a definitive investigation....

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seicer 


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 23 on 10/15/2005 4:46 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by bailey_ca
This is correct; the facade was always slated to be part of the new condo (Bambu). What I have heard-- to add to the theories-- is that to get approval for the condo, the developers had to agree to not only include the facade but restore and build in the original building to the plans.

This seems like an awfully intensive investment for the developers; would it not just be easier to incorporate the gutted facade of the building into the design? Problem solved, sadly.

C


We had some old structures that were essentially demolished except for the front facade so that a new, more modern structure that was taller and bigger could be built behind it. It actually looks quite beautiful, since the developers took great time and measure to blend in the old building with the new. I'll grab some photos of it one day...

Abandoned
xen0fex 


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 24 on 2/11/2006 10:38 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I heard that the Bambu contruction has been CANCELLED.

Either due to the INCREASED cost of construction now that the building is completely destroyed... or possibly due to the fact that when the suites were originally sold, it was before the 21%+ increase in real estate costs in Victoria.

If they cancel the construction, give everyone back thier money, change the blueprints a bit and give it a new name, and then resell the condos... they will probably make WAY more $$.

NOt a for certain, just a thought.

Kinda sad for the people that have been waiting for thier condos to be built for 5 years though!





KublaKhan 


Location: Edinburgh, Scotland


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 25 on 2/11/2006 7:13 PM >
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Posted by xen0fex
I heard that the Bambu contruction has been CANCELLED.

Either due to the INCREASED cost of construction now that the building is completely destroyed... or possibly due to the fact that when the suites were originally sold, it was before the 21%+ increase in real estate costs in Victoria.



Or due to the fact that there is a something of a building boom going on and skilled trades persons are in short supply. I heard recently that one contractor was cherry-picking framers from Calgary.



If they cancel the construction, give everyone back thier money, change the blueprints a bit and give it a new name, and then resell the condos... they will probably make WAY more $$.



Possible. Then there's always the chance that the market will cool (it's already in it's 5th or 6th year of growth...and these things typically run in 8 year cycles...from what I've been told), and prices will drop.



Kinda sad for the people that have been waiting for thier condos to be built for 5 years though!



Sad. Yes. Very sad. Terribly upsetting, really. A fucking pity.

How about building affordable housing? How about integrating low income families into (affordable) posh downtown addresses? How about addressing the needs of Victoria's indigent community?

The people who get their money back are still getting their money back. The people who made their homes in that building didn't get shit. Well...they got wet. Been a rainy season...wet and cold. Miserable and generally cold and shitty.

Try sitting on the sidewalk in the cold and generally shitty rain for a day. Even an hour. It sucks ass...and not in a good way.

So that's what some people got.

Maybe squatters should set up a tent city in that now blowed-out, gut-kicked vacant lot. Wake up one morning and HELLO...there's 200 people camping in the now dashed dreams of luxury living condo-space.

That would be fuckin awesome.

"The truth is knowable. But probably not, ever, incontrovertible."
--Don DeLillo
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xen0fex 


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 26 on 2/11/2006 8:11 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Sad. Yes. Very sad. Terribly upsetting, really. A fucking pity.

How about building affordable housing? How about integrating low income families into (affordable) posh downtown addresses? How about addressing the needs of Victoria's indigent community?

The people who get their money back are still getting their money back. The people who made their homes in that building didn't get shit. Well...they got wet. Been a rainy season...wet and cold. Miserable and generally cold and shitty.

Try sitting on the sidewalk in the cold and generally shitty rain for a day. Even an hour. It sucks ass...and not in a good way.

So that's what some people got.

Maybe squatters should set up a tent city in that now blowed-out, gut-kicked vacant lot. Wake up one morning and HELLO...there's 200 people camping in the now dashed dreams of luxury living condo-space.

That would be fuckin awesome.


I appreciate your point of view, and the homeless that have been displaced definitely have my sympathy, but I think you are taking what I said a little out of its intended scope.

The point of what I posted was that it is a little fishy that the building burned down, and seems like it was rather handy for the development company for the Bambu property.

As for those that were displaced... I have a difficult time making a determination of what is really right. I don't deny that the homeless have a right to space, but I also have respect for the rights of the property owners. So while I recognise your point of view, I myself am sort of trapped between having consideration for both points of view, and finding them to be irreconcilable.




KublaKhan 


Location: Edinburgh, Scotland


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 27 on 2/11/2006 8:36 PM >
Posted on Forum:
 
Posted by xen0fex
I appreciate your point of view, and the homeless that have been displaced definitely have my sympathy, but I think you are taking what I said a little out of its intended scope.

The point of what I posted was that it is a little fishy that the building burned down, and seems like it was rather handy for the development company for the Bambu property.


Re-read this thread. I made that exact same point early on.


I don't deny that the homeless have a right to space, but I also have respect for the rights of the property owners.


Agreed. But the property owners were perfectly content to let the place sit vacant for eons, and thus enabled a community of indigent persons to take up residence in their building.

Which brings us back to how remarkably convenient it all is that the place went up in flames about 24 hours after I posted my pics and report.

Ya follow...?

"The truth is knowable. But probably not, ever, incontrovertible."
--Don DeLillo
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J Peterman 


Location: Victoria B.C.


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 28 on 2/11/2006 9:27 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Which brings us back to how remarkably convenient it all is that the place went up in flames about 24 hours after I posted my pics and report.


I follow. Mmmmmm, I love a hot cup of conspiracy in the morning.
[last edit 2/11/2006 9:32 PM by J Peterman - edited 2 times]

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J Peterman 


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 29 on 2/12/2006 1:39 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Anywho...Here are some pictures of the site now.

See the fireplace up where the second story would be? Neat.

Reminds me of an old Hollywood set where there is no actual structural building, just a front prop of one side of it.

53431.jpg (51 kb, 519x389)
click to view


53432.jpg (46 kb, 519x389)
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53433.jpg (59 kb, 519x389)
click to view


53434.jpg (45 kb, 519x389)
click to view


53435.jpg (38 kb, 519x389)
click to view


....

I'm going hunting for mysteries, cover me.
xen0fex 


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 30 on 2/14/2006 9:01 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Agreed. But the property owners were perfectly content to let the place sit vacant for eons, and thus enabled a community of indigent persons to take up residence in their building.

Which brings us back to how remarkably convenient it all is that the place went up in flames about 24 hours after I posted my pics and report.

Ya follow...?


Yup. And the whole point of my post was to further develop and expand upon the fishyness of the whole situation. We are, essentially, agreeing.

-X

A. Lien 


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 31 on 2/23/2006 9:05 AM >
Posted on Forum:
 
Posted by Xen0fex:

"I heard that the Bambu contruction has been CANCELLED.

Either due to the INCREASED cost of construction now that the building is completely destroyed... or possibly due to the fact that when the suites were originally sold, it was before the 21%+ increase in real estate costs in Victoria.

If they cancel the construction, give everyone back thier money, change the blueprints a bit and give it a new name, and then resell the condos... they will probably make WAY more $$."

:: Read in the TC, (Times Communist) recently that the developers are giving -would have been- home buyers their money back with interest. If true, and if they didnt' hire a 'torchiere', then; it's impressive in some ways, and shows they are not some sleaze ball company that claimed bankruptcy to avoid paying debts or follwing thru on commitment to build because of projected financial 'shortfalls'. What I found interesting in this article, -which I tried to find but seems to be recycled- is that one of the reasons for the cancellation of the project, was unforseen difficulties with the site. Not an exact quote, but quite close.

And this supports KK's comments:

"The other guy offered a more sinister version: word had got out that the building was burned to destroy evidence of a secret network of passages, and that if this information went public, it would expose City Elite to much unwanted scrutiny. This guy even said "unwanted scrutiny."

I read this as tunnels! True, NSS. No Shite Sherlock! It's not that difficult to save a facade, -has been done for years in Vancouver, and the Sussex here-, and they would have had that info before hand. However, is it not possible they tapped into something, and considered the effort to deal with these hollow spaces?, tunnels, or call them whatever, too much, and this was an unexpected expense and hassle. I dont' know, just a thought, I know these new buildings seem to go at least three stories down for every ten up. And developers could probably handle any subterannean stuff, since they now go at least a story lower. Still, I'm verrry curious what these unforseen site difficulties were.

Anyone have any connections to the MEC project, or the one on Cormorant? The MEC should have and interesting basement to explore. Nice Photos K.K. of the burned out building before the incident. Strange coincidence indeed. I took some too, it was very dramatic, the missing wall, that doll house drop wall, or Oklahoma City look.

Anyone know anything about the Janion, seems odd there are no interior photos at the Archives. Must be some somewhere.

Cheers,

Mr. A. Lien.






My sister is Charlotte Light and Dark. Who am I?

Farewell and thank you... "I was doing something that I thought could have some impact someday. In many ways, it's really these photographs that kept me going creatively." Dennis Hopper
Gorbalskorp 


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 32 on 2/23/2006 4:44 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Mr. A. Lien
Anyone know anything about the Janion, seems odd there are no interior photos at the Archives. Must be some somewhere.



Although the Janion was popular, there were certainly larger and more prestigious hotels in the area, and as such was not photographed to the same degree the others, such as the Occidental Hotel. The Janion was not in business for very long either, the figure being something like 15-20 years, but don't quote me on that. It would be very interesting to see the inside of it, I think I read somewhere that is has a central staircase inside, but thats all I know about the interior.

"Success isn't permanent, and failure isn't fatal" Mike Ditka
nobody 


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 33 on 2/23/2006 4:48 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
There are some somewhere, I believe they are KK's. N.

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J Peterman 


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 34 on 2/23/2006 6:12 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
The Janion is a lost cause. There arent any photos of the interior. I checked at the archives. Since the place went belly-up they thought it wasnt worth while. On anther note: Security is high, and you will get caught and charged with trespassing & breaking and entering. There have security guards who check on the place frequently. And there are frequent police drivebys of the premises.

There are a couple other places I've got on my roster that I'm wanting to check out. Anyone PM me. These other spots I'm talking about are moderately difficult to get into, but rather low-risk. Entry does not need to be forceful. In one of them, I found a way so that you dont need to lay a finger on a dang thing to get in.

I'm going hunting for mysteries, cover me.
nobody 


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 35 on 2/23/2006 6:42 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by J Peterman
The Janion is a lost cause. There arent any photos of the interior. I checked at the archives. Since the place went belly-up they thought it wasnt worth while. On anther note: Security is high, and you will get caught and charged with trespassing & breaking and entering. There have security guards who check on the place frequently. And there are frequent police drivebys of the premises.

There are a couple other places I've got on my roster that I'm wanting to check out. Anyone PM me. These other spots I'm talking about are moderately difficult to get into, but rather low-risk. Entry does not need to be forceful. In one of them, I found a way so that you dont need to lay a finger on a dang thing to get in.


Your right, lost cause, my memory did not serve me correctly this time. N.



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A. Lien 


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 36 on 2/24/2006 4:14 AM >
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Posted by Gorbalskorp:

I think I read somewhere that is has a central staircase inside, but thats all I know about the interior.

Heard that too, thanks for interesting info. If it was used as a warehouse, (not whorehouse) for many years, some of the hotel ambience may be lost to renovations, except maybe for the staircase. The room walls may have been taken down in some areas. I like the idea that some homeless people may be getting shelter out of it, although how they would get in is a mystery.

I agree with J.P. A recent look confirms -from my abilities at least-, it's sealed up very well.

My sister is Charlotte Light and Dark. Who am I?

Farewell and thank you... "I was doing something that I thought could have some impact someday. In many ways, it's really these photographs that kept me going creatively." Dennis Hopper
KublaKhan 


Location: Edinburgh, Scotland


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 37 on 2/24/2006 5:12 PM >
Posted on Forum:
 
Posted by Mr. A. Lien
Posted by Gorbalskorp:

I think I read somewhere that is has a central staircase inside, but thats all I know about the interior.

Heard that too, thanks for interesting info. If it was used as a warehouse, (not whorehouse) for many years, some of the hotel ambience may be lost to renovations, except maybe for the staircase. The room walls may have been taken down in some areas. I like the idea that some homeless people may be getting shelter out of it, although how they would get in is a mystery.

I agree with J.P. A recent look confirms -from my abilities at least-, it's sealed up very well.


There is no human activity, aside from occasional security patrols, inside that building. Any potential access points have been re-inforced. I checked it out last weekend. There is new lumber enforcements...new, mind you...which suggests to me that there has been a re-evaluation of the building's vulnerability. As there is heavy indigent traffic around the area, it seems reasonable that the building's security would be pretty tight.

My history notes indicate that the Janion, once a fairly decent hotel, was used as a train station. It was used as a cold storage facility. Many of the old old Old Town buildings, long before anyone realized their economic potential as tourist draws, were used as storage. Most of the buildings in Bastion Square were warehouse facilities for moving companies, storage companies, etc.

I am reasonably certain that the Janion will remain as impenetrable for some time.

"The truth is knowable. But probably not, ever, incontrovertible."
--Don DeLillo
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anvil 


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 38 on 2/24/2006 5:57 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
The Janion was associated with the E&N Railway, but not as a station. It served as the offices for the railway. The station was next to it, when Store Street continued along to Johnson (before Pandora - actually Cormorant - Street was extended through to the bridge). Archival photos show trains pulling up between the Janion and the station (where the tracks still are today). In the 1960's, there was a bar/nightclub operating there. The 1975/9 City of Victoria heritage inventory lists the building as a warehouse.

KublaKhan 


Location: Edinburgh, Scotland


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Re: Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope.
<Reply # 39 on 2/24/2006 6:28 PM >
Posted on Forum:
 
Posted by anvil
The Janion was associated with the E&N Railway, but not as a station. It served as the offices for the railway. The station was next to it, when Store Street continued along to Johnson (before Pandora - actually Cormorant - Street was extended through to the bridge). Archival photos show trains pulling up between the Janion and the station (where the tracks still are today). In the 1960's, there was a bar/nightclub operating there. The 1975/9 City of Victoria heritage inventory lists the building as a warehouse.


As always, your info is Top Shelf. Thanks.

"The truth is knowable. But probably not, ever, incontrovertible."
--Don DeLillo
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UER Forum > Archived Canada: Alberta / BC > Pandora St. Squat: Abandon all Hope. (Viewed 4561 times)
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