If awards are any indication, the West Shore construction scene is alive and well.
More than 50 awards presented at the Construction Achievements and Renovations of Excellence (CARE) Awards of Vancouver Island featured the best of the West Coast design and construction from up and down Vancouver Island including strong projects in the West Shore.
Casey Edge, executive director of the Victoria Residential Builders Association who put on the awards, said not only is the West Shore on the map, in some categories, they are the standard bearers.
“(Our awards) are about professionalism and not just expensive homes, or dream homes, it is also affordable family communities,” he said. “The West Shore is actually a leader in the Capital Regional District (CRD) in terms or creating affordable family communities and the homes highlighted in the CARE Awards show that you can build homes beautifully - and with energy efficiency and affordability.”
Edge said builders like Parsi Development Ltd. and The Limona Group, both of whom took home gold CARE Awards in best Single Family Detached Spec Home, under 2,500 square feet, and Green Builder of the year respectively, actively build here and represent the best in style, design, construction and environmental standards.
But another area he said local construction benefits from working here is the expediency of local municipalities. “The West Shore has been an innovator in a number of areas. As an example it is one of the most efficient communities to build in which also contributes to affordable timelines for developers,” Edge said. “Specifically Langford is really the standard that other communities are compared to in terms of getting building permits development applications (and more).”
Developer Moji Shahab, director of Parsi Development Ltd. who built out the award-winning first phase of the Piano Project on Happy Valley Rd. in Langford, said working here has yielded important benefits not only to himself, but the communities in which he builds.
“We have an extremely good experience with Langford, it is perfect, they are very accommodating and they are (both) professional, realistic and they are on time for you all the time,” he said. “So they are helping us to shape up the housing aspect of the community.”
Shahab, said he plans to add 40 more houses to the potentially three-phase Piano Project with another 187-unit condo project on the corner of Latoria and Veteran’s Memorial Parkway in Colwood on the way.
The award-winning developer said making these affordable homes for the community, while concentrating on keeping them green and affordable is important for him as a developer. Shahab said he enjoys building projects aimed at helping young families and not just the affluent, into the housing market.
“We do care and that is the focus of our attention and the Piano Project is concentrating on energy efficiency and first-time home buyers by being modern and stylish and also flexible and affordable,” he said.
The CARE Awards took place at the Fairmont Empress Hotel Oct. 17, for more information including a full list of all winners, visit careawards.ca
alim@goldstreamgazette.com