Today's large proposals for 2002 follow in the wake of other large projects which were guided to completion these past seven years.  These handsome projects in Victoria include the Stieger Lake Stores and Cabin Fever Complex, the Dr. Bruce Baker Building, the large addition to HEI, the Holy Family Catholic High School, Nature's Bounty, the Village Hall, and the Acorn House.
One might also mention here the new 500,000 gallon water tower and the numerous beautiful residential neighbor-hoods with their accompanying streets, tot lots, and infrastructures.

Other ocean liners are on the Victoria horizon, but have not sailed into view yet with the seriousness of those highlighted on these pages today.  When they do arrive, their drawbridges might deliver townhomes on the Sidco property, an in-tensive walk-through retail area on Main Street, with storefronts on ground level and living units on the upper level(s), a senior care community, new city offices, a library, ... and the list goes on.
The market seems to be doing the driving now, and it has taken a while -- like 40 years.  The downtown sort of died when Victoria farmland was bought and sold and turned into Carver Park.  As the farmers and their families disappeared, there was no need for a creamery or a feedmill or the two hardware stores and implement shop.  There weren't enough people to keep alive the dance hall nor the grocery and dry goods store.  Even the two schools disappeared.  Prior to 1970 Victoria had its own public school and Catholic schools.
But the population of the area is again increasing, much more than in times past, and the channel for ocean going vessels has been made navigable -- and attractive -- through the navigating skills of the helmsmen.  Mayor Mary and the various city fathers over these past seven years put up the city's mast and ably supported and guided the boom for the benefit of us all.
Further details are reported, as always, on the City Scoop Centerfold of The Victoria Gazette .. And the City Hall click online.

CAPTIONS FOR THE SKETCHES & DRAWINGS:

The Victoria Field House, which includes an ice arena and many other community amenities such as a walking track and kitchen facilities, is pro-posed to be located at Diethelm Park along with lighted softball and baseball fields, lighted soccer and football fields, tennis courts, a sport court, the Acorn House, four parking lots, tot lot, shelter, and other great spaces.
Diethelm Park is bordered on the west by Kochia Lane, which also borders the nearby Holy Family Catholic High School.  Kochia is expected to be constructed north to State Highway #5 where it will eventually have signal lights at that intersection to accommodate school buses and the new development underway today at Park Drive.
The field house is projected to carry a $5 to $6 million price tag.  Groundbreaking could occur in May, 2002, with completion in the fall of 2002.  It is proposed to have 38,000 square feet on the first floor and 6,800 square feet on the upper floor.  The development team includes Mike Ayres of Oppidan Investment, Chuck Fryeberg with RSP Architects, and Krause Anderson as construction manager.

Stieger Lake Condominiums, proposed to be built on Stieger Lake between the Victoria Dairy Queen and down-town Victoria, are projected to consist of 45 units, each selling for between $150,000 and $300,000.  Groundbreaking could occur as early as August, 2002.  A 16-month construction period would complete the project in 2003.  The development team in-cludes Apex Asset Management, Trend Architects, and Krause Anderson Construction, a team that acquired development rights from the City of Victoria in 2001.

Hartman Retail Office Building, proposed to be located on Main Street Victoria, carries a construction value of $1.5 million.  Possible groundbreaking is this summer of 2002.  A six-month project would have to work around the Christmas season.  It is projected to contain 7,000 square feet of retail space on ground level and 7,000 square feet of office space on second level.  The development team includes Terry Hartman of Hartman Communities, who received development rights in February, 2002, and KKE Architects.

The St. Victoria Catholic Church is propos-ing a $7 million addition to the existing church on Victoria Drive, with a groundbreaking this spring.  It is projected to be a 16-month construction job, being completed in 2003 and containing 20,000 square feet per floor.  Architect is Dan Gallagher of Gallagher Architects.

Stieger Lake Bridge, is projected to be approximately 200 feet long, 36 feet wide, and carry a $600,000 price tag with most or all of the funding coming in the form of a grant.  It lies along Stieger Lake Lane between the proposed Stieger Lake Condominiums and Victoria City Hall.  Projected groundbreaking is June, 2002, with completion in late fall, 2002.  Architect is TKDA.