Save Ryan Street Greenway with St Alban's
This webpage is dedicated to improving and enhancing the Oaklands Community in beautiful Victoria, B.C., Canada through the appropriate use of the St. Alban's church property next to the Ryan Street Greenway *.
* The Ryan Street Greenway was established in 2008.
Summary:
St. Alban's church hall & church has been transferred to a private developer with plans for demolishing the buildings and putting in 3 to 4 houses, unless the Oaklands Community Association (OCA) can develop a plan with the community.
There is a huge concern that what ever goes happens on St. Alban's property may negatively impact the Ryan Street Greenway.
We must make sure that the Ryan Street Greenway is not only saved, but enhanced by the changes at St. Alban's.
If you would like more information on saving St. Alban's, check out savestablans.com.
This is all work in progress, and we are not sure if this is helpful or not. Please email us if you find this useful, and would like to see more.
Upcoming:
May 18, 2012 OCA must remove all conditions to close sale
Jun 1, 2012 If OCA is able to purchase, sale closes
Jun 30, 2012 If St Alban's is not purchased, developer demolishes hall and church and builds 3 to 4 houses.
Past Activity:
May 1, 2012: Extension given by developer verbally to OCA for removal of conditions by May 18.
Apr 27, 2012: Deadline from Developer for written proof from OCA to pay for property.
Apr 24, 2012: 2nd Community meeting was held at Oaklands Community Center.
Apr 22, 2012: Open house was held at Lansdowne Preschool to help save St. Alban's.
Apr 21, 2012: Work part to weed and clean up the Greenway in front of the Preschool.
Apr 18, 2012: Agreement signed between developer and OCA.
Apr 15, 2012: Meeting with public at Oaklands Community Centre (OCC).
Apr 3, 2012: Meeting with 3 members of the ad-hoc group and the Executive Director of OCC, who reported that April 2 meeting did not go well, and deal was uncertain (no agreement was signed, no "Right of First Refusal" document was signed).
Mar 29, 2012: Email from the Executive Director of OCC indicating indicating the expectation of an accepted offer on April 2, community meeting planned for April 15, and invited group to meet to strategize on how to get the message out, raise awareness and help raise funding.
Mar 14, 2012: Email from the President of OCA indicating there were no updates.
Mar 6, 2012: Email from the President of OCA indicating there were no updates.
Mar 5, 2012: At the OCA AGM, the Parks Committee gained several new members and a new chair, Ben Clark (OCA).
Feb 27, 2012: Planned meeting between OCA and the group was called off by OCA, but instead the President of OCA sent an email report to the ad-hoc group.
The Executive Director of OCC made investigations into funding, and was planning to meet with developer Feb 27 about the "First Right of Refusal" Document.
Feb 8, 2012: There was a presentation and document submitted by the adhoc group of concerned residents (6 in total) to the Oaklands Community Association (OCA) and Oaklands Community Centre (OCC) to suggest the formation of a Task Force to address the upcoming issues relating to St. Alban's. City councillor, Marianne Alto, was also in attendence.
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Proposed Mandate: The proposed mandate of the “St. Alban’s Task Force” (SATF) was to include (among others) dealing with "strategies for the possible utilization of the properties, that helps to maintain and/or improve the quality of life in the Oaklands Community."
One of the deliverables was to deal with the "use of the assets that would contribute to the possible improvement of the quality of life in Oaklands."
It was suggested that the Oaklands Community Association sign a "Right of First Refusal" agreement with the developer by Feb 13, 2012.
Until the "Right of First Refusal" agreement was signed, it was expected that all discussions with the ad-hoc group would be kept strictly confidential, so the opportunity would not be compromised.
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Outcome:
It was agreed, that OCA would step in to assess their role with the upcoming acquistion of St. Alban's property, and look at how the OCA would deliver its mandate to promote community awareness on the impact and how to ensure the quality of life in Oaklands is maintained and ideally improved.
The group stressed the need to accommodate the Lansdowne Preschool and ACF Church. The group handed off their information, asked to be kept informed and offered assistance in any role.
OCA indicated it may take a couple weeks for OCA to get up to speed, and get the agreement signed. It was agreed that the next meeting was to be by Feb 27th.
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Jan 30, 2012: It was discovered that the property is in the final stages of a sale to a developer.
So far no plans for rezoning; but big homes could be put on those lands without rezoning.
Lots of concerns from the community expressed on the potential loss of the community assets: co-op daycare, church, other services to the community and Greenways.
Jan 29, 2012: Meeting of an adhoc group of concerned residents (6 in total) to discuss the future of St. Alban's church. The Executive Director of OCC also attended.
There was strong support to preserve the properties as community assets and work together toward a type of community ownership/partnership/cooperative.
Jan 25, 2012: Surveyors were seen at St. Alban's Church, right next to the Ryan Street Greenway. There were lots of concern from the community about the St Alban's and the Greenway.
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