1805-11 Feltham
A collection of purpose-built rental homes that continue to rethink the rental experience. Through the TELUS Living experience this project aims to encompass high-quality, eco-living.
Proposed as the future home to TELUS Living—1805-11 Feltham is a mixed-use purpose-built rental concept that is fundamentally rethinking rental living potential. Looking to celebrate the rental experience, TELUS Living will provide high quality, refreshed rental housing to the Gordon Head area, with a commitment to enhance and invest in the existing community fabric.
Project Team
TELUSAryzeOMB Architects + DesignersMurdoch De Greeff IncWant more details?
TELUS Living
For the conscious renter, TELUS Living is the catalyst for connected communities that truly let you live, as TELUS Living deeply integrates design, technology and sustainability for an unparalleled sense of home, community and connection.
TELUS Living is a mixed-use purpose-built rental concept that is looking to reimagine the rental living experience with future-forward programming, residential amenities and services for tenants and guests. These homes will be designed with two key audiences in mind—established millennials and rightsizers who are seeking the freedom that leasing offers, without the burdens of homeownership.
The intention is to re-purpose under-utilized TELUS properties across Canada, to integrate core services to the rental experience and to amplify social contributions by engaging local residents. Providing high quality, well designed homes in a neighbourhood that has room to grow, TELUS Living will bring positive and sustainable change to Gordon Head, while meeting the broader objectives of the Saanich Housing Strategy.
Project Pillars
At the beginning stages of design development, we set out guiding parameters called Project Pillars. These are the guiding elements that our proposal has responded to and are prioritized by the entire project team.
Network Enhancements
TELUS is completing network enhancements in many areas across Canada to bring communities more reliable and sustainable PureFibre Network, which includes the retirement of the legacy copper network. This proposed development represents an opportunity for TELUS to upgrade critical communication infrastructure that serves many parts of Saanich—and even into Oak Bay—while reducing the amount of visible infrastructure within a residential neighbourhood. The TELUS living infrastructure services will be located in the parkade, allowing for continued maintenance and telecommunications access for the community with minimal impact on future residents and no impact on residential parking.
Site Context
Legend
- WHITE = Subject Site Border
- YELLOW = Shared Pedestrian Pathway
The subject site, located at 1805-11 Feltham Road, is a consolidation of three pieces of land in Gordon Head, which is made up of three distinct components—an existing vacant house at 1809-11 Feltham which was acquired by TELUS last year, the existing TELUS infrastructure building at 1805 Feltham and, lastly, a pedestrian pathway that runs north/south between the parcels of land and is currently owned by the District of Saanich. This application proposes to purchase this land from the District in order to retain full public access to the pathway.
Site Layout & Massing
Each of the five “blocks” are expressed as a uniform element that are carved by stacked balconies and punch windows to lend a slender proportion. To distinguish the blocks from each other, contrasting white fibre-cement panels and charcoal profiled metal panels are used to render their volumes.
Project Renderings
Telus Infrastrucutre
As a telecommunications provider, TELUS is completing network enhancements in many areas across Canada to bring communities the more reliable and sustainable PureFibre Network. This includes the retirement of the legacy copper network. TELUS PureFibre provides a 100% fibre connection, directly to your home, or business, bringing faster upload and download speeds than traditional copper-based networks.
With these technological advancements, TELUS no longer requires the same footprint for their infrastructure as they have in the past, which presents a unique opportunity. Rather than maintain the current P-2 Public Utility zoning, TELUS thought to explore alternative uses to regenerate the underutilized site while also responding to Saanich planning objectives in providing purpose-built rental housing. While the renewal of the TELUS infrastructure and overall network enhancements are guided by the federal Telecommunications Act, the development proposal for contributing purpose-built rental housing will follow the municipal process.
Service Coverage Map
The 1805 Feltham Road lot current hosts a TELUS Network Building which serves a very important purpose in providing a large segment of the area’s telecommunications services, highlighted in the map above.
Why Fibre?
Fibre and Internet Service
Fibre-optic embraced as the modern future of internet service
Faster and More Efficient
Data can travel faster and further on the PureFibre Network
Longevity
Durable technology needs less repairs, replacement and service interruptions
Sustainable Infrastructure
Requires less energy to operate and reduces waste
Customer Benefits
More reliable, secure and cost-effective for people and businesses
Renewable Assets
Retired copper technology can be repurposed for new uses
Project at a Glance
5 Storeys
37,092 sqft
26,444 sqft
832 sqft
2.15 FSR
46%
5.14m
3.81m
4.06m
3.84m
91 Homes
27 Homes
30%
31 Homes
34%
24 Homes
26%
9 Homes
10%
Purpose-Built Rental
91 Stalls
6 Stalls
61 Stalls
Neighbourhood
Celebrated for its convenient access to a multitude of parks, schools and other service offerings, Gordon Head is uniquely situated to accommodate increased housing choice for Saanich’s growing population.
Areas along the Feltham Road corridor are particularly suitable for residential intensification and purpose-built rental housing since these sites are well connected to key transit routes. Situated along a key transit corridor for the area, the subject site is well positioned to promote a ‘15 Minute City’ lifestyle. Within a close walking distance—or short bike ride—you’ll find schools, healthcare facilities, numerous parks and the Shelbourne Corridor.
Community Engagement
Having honest, open dialogues within the communities where we do our work is foundational to our engagement process and our commitment to being good neighbours.
Engagement Timeline
Community envisioning exercise survey
October 7th, 2021
Neighbour introduction and 1-on-1 meetings
February 10th, 2022
Gordon Head Community Association Meeting
February 16th, 2022
Follow-up neighbour outreach
February 17th, 2022
CIS Invitation distributed to 200M radius
February 17th, 2022
Wider area outreach
March 2nd, 2023
Community Information Session (CIS)
March 9th, 2022
Gordon Head Community Association follow-up meeting
March 14th, 2023
Follow-up neighbour outreach and 1-on-1 meetings
March 15th, 2023
Questions? Email us.
Application Process
Learn More
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