Innovative And Sustainable Development Includes Affordable Rental Program
VICTORIA – Mike Geric Construction has broken ground on the city’s first mass timber condominium project. Tresah, located between Speed and Frances Avenues in the Mayfair Town Centre portion of the Douglas Street corridor, is also the first major residential development in the area since the City of Vitoria identified it for future residential and commercial growth.
Mike Geric Construction chose mass timber from British Columbia forests to build this project because of the significant carbon benefits as well as the opportunity to support the forestry sector.
Tresah Exterior
“It is thrilling to witness the groundbreaking of Victoria’s first mass timber condo building,” said Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps who attended the official groundbreaking at Tresah. “I was at an event last year with Premier Horgan who profiled the benefits of mass timber for BC’s forestry industry and as a form of climate action. A picture of Tresah was featured as part of his presentation. It’s great today to see that picture turn into reality in our city. I look forward to many more to come.”
Tresah includes two multifamily buildings, Tresah West a 12-storey fully Mass Timber mid-rise with 179 homes and Tresah East, a 6-storey wood-framed building with 66 homes. Ten homes will be affordable rentals for low to moderate income households.
“Mass timber construction provides us a way to store huge amounts of carbon in new buildings,” said Edward Geric, president , Mike Geric Construction. “There’s approximately one ton of CO2 stored in every square metre of wood, which for a building like Tresah means that each home effectively removes one vehicle from the road forever.”
First time homebuyers have shown significant interest in Tresah for its sustainability, starting prices under $300,000 and the opportunity to invest early in the neighbourhood. Convenience is another major factor because the location is centrally located in the region and accessible by bus, bicycle and on foot. For those who don’t want to own a car, parking is being sold separately as an add-on and there will be two electric MODO car share vehicles on site.
With construction now underway, Tresah will be completed in approximately two years.
