Developer has high hopes for Jordan River community
By
Judith Lavoie
Victoria Times Colonist
October 24, 2007
There's conflicting zoning, properties mired in controversy and a local population that wants the province to reverse the whole process that put more than 2,000 hectares of prime southern Vancouver Island land on the market
There's conflicting zoning, properties mired in controversy and a local population that wants the province to reverse the whole process that put more than 2,000 hectares of prime southern Vancouver Island land on the market.
Still, developer Ender Ilkay couldn't be happier.
The forested and waterfront lands around Jordan River, Shirley and the Sooke Potholes represent a huge opportunity, he said in an interview.
Surfers, tourists and other recreational users are worried about losing access to the popular beach at Jordan River.View Larger Image View Larger Image
Surfers, tourists and other recreational users are worried about losing access to the popular beach at Jordan River.
"There aren't any other big ones like this. This is by far the biggest project I have taken on. This is special," said Ilkay, 40, whose deal to buy tracts of Western Forest Products land closes in March.
"This is an incredibly beautiful part of the province, and the opportunity to be involved in the future of this area is something I'm very excited about," said Ilkay, president of Ilkay Developments.
At a community meeting Monday in Shirley, he told the audience that they are better off with his vision of a planned development than they would be with separate sales of all 65 titles.
"I would like to see a sustainable, environmentally friendly, complete community. My idea is not to divide it into 10 acre estates. ... I think this is a pretty unique opportunity to be able to look at all these lands in one context," he said.
Although Ilkay does not yet have a plan for the area, and wants to consult with the community and groups such as the Land Conservancy, he suggests it will take about 20 years to complete.
The land, the nearest coastal wilderness area to Victoria, is part of the 28,283 hectares of private forest land that the province has allowed Western Forest Products to pull out of Vancouver Island tree farm licences.
It includes the Jordan River townsite, campsite and surfing beach. Ilkay said he wants community input before deciding how the area should be developed.
Opponents are furious the province did not ask Western Forest Products for compensation for the years of access it has enjoyed to Crown timber and did not make sure some of the popular waterfront areas wind up as parkland.
Tiny communities such as Otter Point, Shirley and Jordan River are worried about managing population growth when services such as fire protection are limited.
However, Ilkay said the issue of the TFL lands is not his concern.
"I walked into a situation where I understood there were issues -- and I can't speak to that. A piece of land came on the market offered for sale, and I am under contract to purchase it," he said.
Ilkay, who also does real estate coaching, has four developments on Vancouver Island -- one at Sheringham Point near Shirley, Vista Grande Estates in Chemainus, Seaside Woods Estates in Saltair and one in Mill Bay now at the application stage. He also has two projects at the planning stage in the Kootenays.
"Vancouver Island is my main focus," he said.
Ilkay, who started selling real estate in Ontario at the age of 18, said financing is in place for the South Island portfolio, but would not reveal the price.
Ilkay was born in New Brunswick and sold real estate in Ontario for 14 years before moving to B.C.
He now lives in Vancouver, but plans to keep one of the Sheringham Point lots as a vacation home.
jlavoie@tc.canwest.com
Still, developer Ender Ilkay couldn't be happier.
The forested and waterfront lands around Jordan River, Shirley and the Sooke Potholes represent a huge opportunity, he said in an interview.
Surfers, tourists and other recreational users are worried about losing access to the popular beach at Jordan River.View Larger Image View Larger Image
Surfers, tourists and other recreational users are worried about losing access to the popular beach at Jordan River.
"There aren't any other big ones like this. This is by far the biggest project I have taken on. This is special," said Ilkay, 40, whose deal to buy tracts of Western Forest Products land closes in March.
"This is an incredibly beautiful part of the province, and the opportunity to be involved in the future of this area is something I'm very excited about," said Ilkay, president of Ilkay Developments.
At a community meeting Monday in Shirley, he told the audience that they are better off with his vision of a planned development than they would be with separate sales of all 65 titles.
"I would like to see a sustainable, environmentally friendly, complete community. My idea is not to divide it into 10 acre estates. ... I think this is a pretty unique opportunity to be able to look at all these lands in one context," he said.
Although Ilkay does not yet have a plan for the area, and wants to consult with the community and groups such as the Land Conservancy, he suggests it will take about 20 years to complete.
The land, the nearest coastal wilderness area to Victoria, is part of the 28,283 hectares of private forest land that the province has allowed Western Forest Products to pull out of Vancouver Island tree farm licences.
It includes the Jordan River townsite, campsite and surfing beach. Ilkay said he wants community input before deciding how the area should be developed.
Opponents are furious the province did not ask Western Forest Products for compensation for the years of access it has enjoyed to Crown timber and did not make sure some of the popular waterfront areas wind up as parkland.
Tiny communities such as Otter Point, Shirley and Jordan River are worried about managing population growth when services such as fire protection are limited.
However, Ilkay said the issue of the TFL lands is not his concern.
"I walked into a situation where I understood there were issues -- and I can't speak to that. A piece of land came on the market offered for sale, and I am under contract to purchase it," he said.
Ilkay, who also does real estate coaching, has four developments on Vancouver Island -- one at Sheringham Point near Shirley, Vista Grande Estates in Chemainus, Seaside Woods Estates in Saltair and one in Mill Bay now at the application stage. He also has two projects at the planning stage in the Kootenays.
"Vancouver Island is my main focus," he said.
Ilkay, who started selling real estate in Ontario at the age of 18, said financing is in place for the South Island portfolio, but would not reveal the price.
Ilkay was born in New Brunswick and sold real estate in Ontario for 14 years before moving to B.C.
He now lives in Vancouver, but plans to keep one of the Sheringham Point lots as a vacation home.
jlavoie@tc.canwest.com
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