An aerial rendering of Oakwoods, located along Lampson Street between Lyall and Munro streets in the Township of Esquimalt. The project redeveloped Esquimalt’s storied Old English Inn estate into up-market condominiums, townhomes and an opulent hotel. © Aragon Properties
By Mike Kozakowski of Citified.ca
ESQUIMALT
The veil has been lifted on one of the most exclusive large-scale re-development efforts in Victoria’s history, which over the past half-decade, quietly transformed an Esquimalt landmark property into refined condominiums and a boutique hotel. The work has piqued the curiosity of locals, tourists and homebuyers alike, and by late summer, a grand opening event will celebrate a turning point for Victoria’s housing industry, as Esquimalt readies to welcome yet another real-estate achievement delivered within the municipality under the auspices of a key player in British Columbia’s housing industry. For generations, the Old English Inn on Lampson Street south of Esquimalt Road drew visitors from around the world to a Tudor Revival mansion dating to the early 1900s. The home was converted into a hotel in the 1940s, and courted guests until 2010. In 2015, the estate was acquired by homebuilder, hotelier and developer Aragon Properties. Guided by Aragon’s founder and president Lenny Moy, in 2018 the Inn’s stately hotel manor and its beautiful grounds – considered by many as a blend between the Butchart Gardens and a Scottish Highland estate – would start down the path of a much needed refresh and renewal. With little fanfare or notice as to what was taking place on the inn’s private expanse along Lampson Street (between Munro and Lyall streets), Moy and his team began meticulously restoring the Old English Inn into a 28-suite modern destination now known as Rosemead House. 14 restored manor rooms and 14 rooms in a newly constructed wing called the Grove Collection, now offer hospitality to visitors, as up-market condominium and townhome residences, called Oakwoods have taken shape on its storied grounds. Read more here
LANGFORD
The wait is over for one of Greater Victoria’s most anticipated home offerings of the decade, where surreal views and serene sunrises and sunsets showcase the beauty of southern Vancouver Island like no other project. Vista Point, a spectacular move-in-ready, pet-friendly condominium from developers Seacliff Properties and Keycorp Development, represents the pinnacle of Victoria’s new construction home-buying opportunities, offering unparalleled value in a remarkable location. Newly completed this spring along Selenite Place, off Bear Mountain Parkway’s majestic southern slope on Skirt Mountain, Vista Point’s 93 condominiums across six levels range from nearly 700-square-foot layouts to penthouses nearing 1,600 square feet. A variety of bright floor plans include one- and two-bedroom variations with dens and rec rooms, while ten three-bedroom townhomes offer spacious multi-floor living filled with natural light. Read more here
VICTORIA
One of the largest unions in British Columbia has partnered with one of the Capital’s most diversified real-estate development firms on a proposal to deliver rental homes, offices, a daycare and commercial space to a former automotive lot on the edge of downtown Victoria. Jawl Properties, with development partner BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) and its housing subsidiary Affordable BC Housing Society (not to be confused with the provincial BC Housing organization), have submitted plans to the City of Victoria for a 21-storey rental tower (and a five-storey wing) that include a mix of 177 market, below-market and accessible rental units, 32,000 square feet of office space for use by the BCGEU, a childcare facility with capacity for 37 children, and a restaurant space on Cook Street at View Street. Read more here
First-time homebuyers are now eligible for a tax-free purchase on two move in-ready residences at Haven, a newly-completed, six-storey BC Housing-backed affordable condominium building on Johnson Street at Cook Street. The available layouts – a one-bedroom priced at $444,900 and a two-bedroom available for $629,900, both with parking, storage and bicycle storage included – already sidestep the property transfer tax, and now, will not be levied a 5% GST purchase tax traditionally applied to new-build housing, according to homebuilder Chard Development, which completed Haven in 2024. Read more here
REGIONAL
Greater Victoria’s supply of new-build high density housing reached a head-turning 21,900 units of rentals and condominiums over the last decade, according to Citified’s tracking of south Island construction activity. Between 2015 and May of 2025, an impressive 13,700 units of rental suites from Sooke to Sidney reached occupancy across the housing spectrum, which includes market residences, government-backed affordable homes and niche category units like supportive housing and housing for persons with disabilities. The condominium sector saw a significant growth spurt between 2015 and May of 2025, resulting in 8,200 new-build homes. Read more here
Mike Kozakowski is with Citified Media and can be reached at mailto:mike@citifiedmedia.com
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