Victoria-based Redbrick says it plans to redevelop a long-vacant downtown property into a hotel, marking what the company describes as a significant local investment as it seeks to expand accommodation capacity in the city’s core.
The company said that it is in the preliminary planning stages for Westholme, a proposed hotel at the corner of Government Street and Pandora Avenue. The project would redevelop the site at 603 Pandora Ave., which has remained vacant since a fire destroyed the previous building in 2019.
The proposal represents Redbrick’s latest investment in Victoria, where the company was founded and has operated since 2011. The business says it has grown to employ more than 200 people and has invested in companies, initiatives and projects intended to support the local economy over the past 15 years.
The redevelopment application for the property has been active for several years. Redbrick, which recently acquired the site, said it is redesigning the proposal with a new project team in collaboration with Victoria-based developer Aryze.
The property was once home to the historic Westholme Hotel, which first opened in 1911. According to Redbrick, the site has long served as a gathering place in downtown Victoria.
The location sits near Centennial Square and the city’s Industry, Arts and Innovation District. Redbrick said future plans will explore public-facing spaces and street-level uses as part of the redevelopment.
“Victoria is where Redbrick was built,” said Tobyn Sowden, CEO of Redbrick. “It’s where we live, work and continue to invest. After 15 years downtown, we see Westholme as an opportunity to contribute to the next phase of growth in the city, guided by the same mindset that has shaped Redbrick from the beginning: creating lasting, meaningful impact.”
Redbrick said the project is intended to add year-round hotel accommodation to the downtown core. The company said regional planning and hospitality studies have identified a need for approximately 2,000 net new hotel rooms over the next decade, and said the proposed development would help address that demand.
Aryze is working with Redbrick on the project as development partner.
“Victoria has a real gap in hotel supply, yet this property—already zoned for hotel use—has been sitting empty for nearly a decade,” said Chris Quigley, VP of Development at Aryze. “We’re excited to be working alongside Redbrick—a fellow local B Corp who shares a strong vision for not only welcoming more visitors to our city, but delivering an exceptional landmark design that will shape our region’s future potential.”
The proposal remains in its early planning stages.
Redbrick and Aryze said they are holding preliminary discussions with nearby businesses, community members, civic leaders and neighbours before submitting future rezoning and development permit applications.
The company said it is inviting members of the public to register for project updates and future engagement opportunities as planning for the proposed development continues.
More from Retail Insider:
