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Victoria condo buildings · Updated October 13, 2026

Orchard House

647 Michigan St, Victoria · Also known as 647 Michigan Street

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Orchard House is a 22-storey steel-and-concrete leasehold condo tower at 647 Michigan Street in James Bay, built in the late 1960s. At 62 metres it was Victoria's tallest building until the 1990s, and the head lease on the land runs to 2073, which is the main thing to understand before you buy.

Address
647 Michigan St, Victoria
Neighbourhood
James Bay
Completed
Late 1960s
Storeys
22
Height
62 m
Towers
1
Developer
Not named in the sources we could verify
Transit
Victoria has no rail or rapid transit; BC Transit buses serve James Bay, and the Inner Harbour and Beacon Hill Park are within walking distance

About Orchard House

Listings describe Orchard House as a leasehold building, with the head lease expiring in 2073. Leasehold ownership means you own the right to occupy the unit for the lease term rather than the land, which affects financing, resale and what happens as the lease shortens. Ask your lender and your lawyer how they treat the remaining term.

The building dates from the late 1960s; listings give 1967, 1969 and 1970. Amenities reported in listings include a seasonal heated outdoor pool, a sauna, a hot tub, a workshop, underground parking and bike storage.

Storeys are 22 or 23 and year built is 1967, 1969 or 1970 depending on the listing, so we show 22 and "late 1960s". Unit count and developer are not given in the sources we could verify. There is no free-licensed photo of the building, so this page has none.

Where Orchard House is

Orchard House is at 647 Michigan St in James Bay. Victoria has no rail or rapid transit; BC Transit buses serve James Bay, and the Inner Harbour and Beacon Hill Park are within walking distance.

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Looking at other options in the area? See real estate agents serving James Bay or the best neighbourhoods in Victoria.

Orchard House building amenities

  • Heated outdoor pool (seasonal)
  • Sauna
  • Hot tub
  • Workshop
  • Underground parking
  • Bike storage

Resale listings for units in the building; the strata's own list was not available.

Orchard House reviews: the Google rating

Google rating data has not been collected for this Victoria building yet, so none is shown.

Who Orchard House suits, and who should look elsewhere

A good fit for

Buyers who prioritise a low entry price in James Bay with an elevated view and a walk to the Inner Harbour, and who understand and can finance a leasehold.

Look elsewhere if you are

You plan to hold for decades or sell to buyers who need a conventional mortgage. A leasehold with a lease ending in 2073 narrows both.

Before you buy in any strata building, ask for the Form B information certificate, two years of strata council minutes and the depreciation report; together they show the strata’s finances, special levies and upcoming repairs. For a leasehold such as Orchard House, also read the head lease and ask your lender how it treats the remaining term. Use the condo fee calculator to check monthly costs and the property transfer tax calculator for closing.

Orchard House FAQ

Is Orchard House leasehold?

Yes. Listings describe it as a leasehold building with the head lease expiring in 2073. Confirm the current terms and any renewal rights in the lease and strata documents.

How tall is Orchard House?

Listings give 22 or 23 storeys; news coverage describes it as 22 storeys and 62 metres, and it held the tallest-building title in Victoria until the 1990s.

When was Orchard House built?

In the late 1960s. Listings give 1967, 1969 and 1970 as the year built.

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Next steps for Orchard House

Sources

Researched October 13, 2026. Ratings and resident opinion change; check the linked sources for the latest before making a decision.