One for the road Ultra-cyclist celebrates with 70-hour sit down. Page A3
NEWS: Health and safety still of concern at UVic /A5 ARTS: Christian filmmaker challenges tradition /A12 SPORTS: WHL vet fires up Jr. A Grizzlies /A14
OAK BAYNEWS
BOORMAN’S SINCE 1933
Real Estate Insurance Property Management 2045 Cadboro Bay Rd, Victoria
250-595-1535 www.boorman.com
Watch for breaking news at www.oakbaynews.com
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Oak Bay values stay steady in declining market Oak Bay and West Shore see marginal gains in residential values Natalie North
Little lumberjack
News staff
Homeowners living in Oak Bay are among the few in Greater Victoria likely to see little or modest gains in their assessed property values this week. While the area’s 18 jurisdictions experienced a two to six per cent decrease in assessed values from B.C. Assessment, only Oak Bay and Langford saw average increases in residential property values, at 0.78 per cent and 0.47 per cent, respectively. “The numbers are “People are very specific to local still paying fairly markets. Oak Bay is a premium dollars very strong market and it still continues to see to get into Oak strong investor demand. People are still paying Bay.” - Reuben Danakody fairly premium dollars to get into Oak Bay,” said area assessor Reuben Danakody. “And Langford is a growing area; they’re very aggressively growing new developments out there. The affordable, single-family market is growing (in Langford).” Waterfront acreage on Humber Road worth $12.1 million topped the list of the highest valued property in the entire Capital Region, let alone the municipality, while a residence in south Oak Bay assessed at $350,000 was the lowest valued residential property. “That tends to indicate that the land value is driving the total value,” Danakody said of the lowest assessed property. “It’s very likely that the predominant component is the land value, followed by the improvement value.” PLEASE SEE: Owners may be surprised, Page A6
Nick Adsett, 7, helps his dad, Oak Bay firefighter Duane, drag a Christmas tree to the pile to be recycled during the annual Oak Bay firefighters’ Christmas tree recycle. The firefighters hosted by-donation tree chipping at the Oak Bay Fire Station, with all proceeds to benefit the newly created Oak Bay Firefighters’ Charitable Foundation. Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Transit union threatens shutdown Jan. 22 pegged as strike day, unless B.C. Transit returns to bargaining Kyle Slavin News staff
The union representing some 650 B.C. Transit employees will grind Greater Victoria’s public transportation network to a halt on Jan. 22 unless B.C. Transit returns to the bargaining table. Ben Williams, president of Canadian Auto Workers local 333, said the union
OAK
BAY
tomf@vreb.bc.ca
250-360-4821
feels it’s the only way management will get the message. “We’re hopeful that we can get a negotiated settlement without withdrawal,” he said. “The last thing we want to do is disrupt the riders in Greater Victoria, but it just doesn’t appear B.C. Transit is going to co-operate without us escalating the job action.” The threat of a full, one-day shutdown
of the transit system is the latest tactic in the union’s ongoing job action. Drivers have indefinitely halted all overtime work, cancelling periodic bus service every day. As well, drivers continue to wear street clothes rather than uniforms while on the job. PLEASE SEE: Job action hoped to spur talks, Page A4
Located on a very special sun drenched 20,400 sq.ft. lot, nestled behind a wonderful 30 foot hedge that offers complete privacy. The home has been completely renovated top to bottom to a very high standard sure to please all. The main offers hard to find one level living on 2230 sq.ft with generous size rooms that open onto wonderful patio areas. Upstairs offers 2 large master bedroom alternatives each with a full 4 piece en-suite bathroom, large games room and office areas. The double garage, with lots of additional parking area and a semicircular driveway for easy access and egress top off this wonderful home. Offered at $1,500,000.
Buying or selling in Oak Bay? Give me a call. Area specialization does make a difference!
Royal Le Page Coast Capital Realty INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED