Royal Quays

Royal Quays is a 90-home waterfront condominium on the Songhees harbourfront in Victoria West, completed around 1990. It comprises two matched five-storey buildings of 45 homes each: Royal Quay East at 10 Paul Kane Place and Royal Quay West at 11 Cooperage Place. The complex sits within the City of Victoria, a short walk along the waterfront from downtown.

The buildings & history

Royal Quays was part of developer Bob Evans's transformation of the former industrial Songhees lands into a waterfront residential community, the same vision that later produced the Victoria International Marina. Construction of the two buildings stalled over cost overruns in 1990; a receiver was appointed and the project was completed by another company.

The two five-storey buildings sit directly on the Songhees waterfront walkway, 45 homes in each, sharing the harbourfront setting and a secure underground parkade. Between them is a crescent-shaped amphitheatre with a commissioned sculpture of a woman swimming with dolphins, unveiled in 1990. The complex underwent a full building-envelope remediation in 2003. A standout for its era is the ceiling height: many homes have 11-foot ceilings paired with large picture windows, taller than most condos of this vintage.

The homes

The 90 homes range from one-bedroom-plus-den layouts around 1,200 square feet to larger two-bedroom and corner homes above 1,800 square feet, several big enough to feel more like a townhome than a condo. Common features include 11-foot ceilings, large picture windows, gas fireplaces, in-suite laundry, and split floor plans with bedrooms at opposite ends for privacy. Most homes have water views; southwest- and east-facing homes take in the Inner Harbour, the Legislature, the Empress, and sunsets over the Olympic Mountains. Many have been fully renovated.

Amenities

• Secure underground parking, with EV rough-in available
• Kayak and bike storage
• Separate storage lockers
• Elevator
• On-site caretaker

The strata fee is broad, typically covering gas, water, building insurance, caretaker, management, garbage, and yard maintenance, which folds several running costs into one payment.

Location & walkability

Royal Quays sits on the Songhees waterfront walkway, with the Harbour Ferry stopping at the doorstep. The West Song Walkway leads to downtown in one direction and to West Bay Marina and Spinnakers in the other; Boom & Batten and the Galloping Goose Regional Trail are close by. Restaurants, groceries, and everyday amenities are within walking distance.

Who it suits

Royal Quays suits buyers who want established, low-rise waterfront living within walking distance of downtown: downsizers, retirees, and harbour-view seekers. The 11-foot ceilings and generously sized floor plans make the homes feel larger than typical condos of the era, and the broad strata-fee package folds gas, water, and several services into one monthly payment. The 2003 envelope remediation is worth noting when reviewing the depreciation report; a completed remediation is generally reassuring, but the strata's financials and any maintenance history since are worth a look before purchase. Rentals and pets are permitted, with no age restrictions.

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