A new Victoria public safety building is set to be built downtown under an agreement reached with local developer Dalmatian Developments Limited Partnership, Jawl Residential and Nadar Holdings Ltd. venture.

The facility will be located on Johnson Street as part of a new mixed-use development.

Photo credit: City of Victoria

The 41,700 square-foot facility will replace the current 26,700 square-foot fire headquarters building that has served Victoria since 1959.

This new building will house fire and rescue services and Victoria’s first purpose-built Emergency Operations Centre.

In addition, B.C. Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) has agreed to lease 3,200 square-feet of space from the City to operate a stand-alone facility for paramedics and four ambulances under a planned 20-year co-service agreement.

The building will also be designed to be operational post-disaster.

The City will pay $33.7 million to purchase and own the facility.

Additional costs to the City will include off-site servicing, sidewalk improvements, equipment and project management. This will bring the total cost to around $35.9 million.

The funding will be paid for through available funds in the City’s Debt Reduction Reserve.

The developer plans on submitting a rezoning application to the City within the next six months.

It is anticipated that construction will take approximately 28 months.

“This is an inspiring development that will meet our needs today and well into the future, as we continue to pursue local and regional efficiencies in our effort to provide the public with the highest level of emergency services,” said Victoria Fire Chief, Paul Bruce.