Royal Bay neighbourhood still developing

Thousands more homes planned for the south side

Royal Bay Secondary School in Colwood was built in 2015 in a quickly developing neighbourhood across the street from the old quarry. The community was growing so quickly, that the school was expanded just four years later to add capacity for 600 more students.

Hundreds of detached houses, townhouses, and apartments have been built, and more are still under construction. Immediately north of the school campus is a triangle gravel patch where 13 townhouses will soon be under construction. Named after the nearby Murray’s Pond, the townhouses start at just under $1 million.

On the south side of the school in another gravel patch, the first of two Monarch apartment buildings is nearing completion. It’s pre-leasing now—bachelor suites start at $1,780; one bedrooms are listed at $2,230; and two-bedrooms suites are $2,835. Construction on the second building has not started. Together both buildings will have 123 suites. More single family homes are also in various stages of construction and planning on the school side of Latoria Boulevard.

Future site of the Quarry and Commons neighbourhoods, south of Royal Bay. (📸 Zoë Ducklow)

On the south side of Latoria Boulevard was a gravel quarry with the best view of any quarry ever. The land has not been mined since 2007 and was since sold to developers. GableCraft Homes, which also developed the north side, owns 158 acres of presently flat land with plan to build a two neighbourhoods named the Commons and Quarry. The Commons will be a commercial-residential mix with more than 1,000 homes, a liquor store, grocery store, pharmacy, and more. The Quarry will have about 800 homes, plus bike paths and nine acres that’s been sold to the Sooke School District for a new elementary school.

Colwood has plans for a seniors care facility in the Commons, though Island Health has not committed to funding the project, yet. The Royal BC Museum owns some land on the former quarry where it plans to build a research and collections building.

Towards the water on the other side of Metchosin Road is Royal Beach: a steep plot of waterfront land where co-developers Seacliff Properties and Reliance Properties have proposed 2,850 homes in a mix of single family houses, townhouses, and condominiums, some commercial space, and parks. Plans and permits on that side are still being worked out.