Victoria;s condos have held up well in comparison to Vancouver and Toronto but I wonder if that will be the case going forward? Where did I put that crystal ball anyway?

One thing the folks choosing to live at Beachlands will get very familiar with is - WIND!

Colwood has even dutifully posted for the new homeowners! - https://www.google.ca/maps/@48.4136821,-123.4835174,3a,20.7y,222.83h,84.42t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sYXbKG9xKXvdD15qRYKIWkw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D5.577439614364977%26panoid%3DYXbKG9xKXvdD15qRYKIWkw%26yaw%3D222.83403823169758!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDUyOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

1000%; we have friends further out beyond this site on Taylor Rd; they have acreage and a stunning view of the waterfront. Its also like being in a wind tunnel whenever we venture out that way. Yesterday I was at a buddy's 65th b-day bbq/family celebration in the rec/play areas down behind the Juan de Fuca rec center. Beautiful sunny day. Hardly a cloud anywhere. But that "Taylor Rd wind tunnel" certainly showed up. Winds were probably 50-60km at their peak and in spite of the bright sun it was frigid.

I wonder if you were at a bday party my friend was at, too. Was there a whole lotta handmade pizza there by a locally famous pizza legend?

No this was a strictly "dogs and burgers" b-day shindig. Not surprising though there were a LOT of people there including rugby and baseball and soccer games, hundreds of kids and adults, families etc., as well as several other groups like your friend's. Can't say that facility and playing/picnic area is underused. It was jammed......