Vancouver Aquatic Centre - Renewal

LowerLonsdaleMike · #1 Posted **Feb 18, 2025, 10:58 PM**

This has been years in the making but it appears the Vancouver Park Board is going to recommend next week a proposal (link below to agenda and proposal). Sadly they want to downgrade the facility to a 25m pool. As a regular user of the 50m pool there, I'm kinda pissed that this is the recommended proposal. Anyhow some of the renderings look nice of the building but I'm strongly going to oppose the downgrade to a 25m pool (I've already emailed the Parks Board and the City of Vancouver), which is a very short-sighted decision on the part of the Parks Board if they vote this through. There's a petition online that someone started as well which is gaining traction.

If someone can figure out how to reply with the renderings pics, that'd be amazing!

https://parkboardmeetings.vancouver....0224/index.htm

https://www.change.org/p/we-need-a-50m-pool-for-vac

Vancouver_Highrise · #2 Posted **Feb 18, 2025, 11:08 PM**

I don't know why I felt they were hyping this up. This looks like a glorified renovation? I dislike it..

LowerLonsdaleMike · #3 Posted **Feb 18, 2025, 11:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vancouver_Highrise

I don't know why I felt they were hyping this up. This looks like a glorified renovation? I dislike it..

Yeah I agree. It thought it'd be a complete rebuild from the ground up maybe on the plot of land next door but it seems they want to gut it and rebuild from what it currently is.

Vancouver_Highrise · #4 Posted **Feb 18, 2025, 11:11 PM**

Not only that they are downgrading to 25m. I also thought there were talks to integrate housing and other facilities here?

LowerLonsdaleMike · #5 Posted **Feb 18, 2025, 11:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vancouver_Highrise

Not only that they are downgrading to 25m. I also thought there were talks to integrate housing and other facilities here?

Well i think we give the Parks Board too much credit to be innovative. They could easily integrate a tower of housing and add in a coffee shop, retail, and dining options to offset the cost, but as long as there's a Parks Board I think it wont happen.

Now I'm not looking forward to a future plan for the Kits Pool because we're sure to be disappointed.

jollyburger · #6 Posted **Feb 18, 2025, 11:16 PM**

I mean if the park board gets dissolved it seems a bit premature to worry about it. Maybe they'll allow some more higher density developments in the area and you'll get your 50m pool

LowerLonsdaleMike · #7 Posted **Feb 18, 2025, 11:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I mean if the park board gets dissolved it seems a bit premature to worry about it. Maybe they'll allow some more higher density developments in the area and you'll get your 50m pool

They vote next week on this proposal, and I dont see anything concrete in the near future about a dissolution of the Parks Board.

GenWhy? · #8 Posted **Feb 19, 2025, 12:37 AM**

Lol this aquatic centre is a joke. But I'm glad the Parks Board cancelled the Council request to proceed with Phase 1 of the Waterfront Plan, as it looks like they're taking that money and putting it to better use than some plaza upgrade.

I thought the exterior terrace would at least have a revenue-generating cafe, some kind of interaction with the seawall and dock

whatnext · #9 Posted **Feb 19, 2025, 5:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Lol this aquatic centre is a joke. But I'm glad the Parks Board cancelled the Council request to proceed with Phase 1 of the Waterfront Plan, as it looks like they're taking that money and putting it to better use than some plaza upgrade.

I thought the exterior terrace would at least have a revenue-generating cafe, some kind of interaction with the seawall and dock

Exactly why would they not put some sort of revenue space in such a great location? This also strikes me as a facility that should have no problem attracting companies for naming rights. Getting rid of the 50m is ridiculous.

GenWhy? · #10 Posted **Feb 20, 2025, 6:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

Exactly why would they not put some sort of revenue space in such a great location? This also strikes me as a facility that should have no problem attracting companies for naming rights. Getting rid of the 50m is ridiculous.

Their hesitation to add a 2nd level above the front entry area is a real disappointment (even if just for future use) for either more gym space, dance / yoga / multi-purpose as they do at community centres, general multi-use rooms, daycare, F&B.

They know the new West End community centre isn't enough because they too have limited land with the fire hall, library, ice rink and school.

LowerLonsdaleMike · #11 Posted **Feb 20, 2025, 6:55 PM**

Yeah this is a huge disappointment. Aside from the 50m pool missing, I dont like how it looks like it's just a refurbished version of what's already there. They even seem to be keeping all of the wall pillars on the sides. This should be much less of an attempted architectural "landmark" building and more of a practical building with walls of windows to help brighten up the place and take advantage of the views. I really hope they take this back to the drawing board.

GenWhy? · #12 Posted **Feb 20, 2025, 7:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LowerLonsdaleMike

Yeah this is a huge disappointment. Aside from the 50m pool missing, I dont like how it looks like it's just a refurbished version of what's already there. They even seem to be keeping all of the wall pillars on the sides. This should be much less of an attempted architectural "landmark" building and more of a practical building with walls of windows to help brighten up the place and take advantage of the views. I really hope they take this back to the drawing board.

Wonder if they could have had an indoor running track around the perimeter like they do in Edmonton at their The Meadows rec centre.

PBlonde · #13 Posted **Feb 19, 2025, 5:23 PM**

What a foolish idea to reduce from a 50M pool to a 25M pool. Response to 'swim program' feedback regarding the loss of the 50M pool is, "The team is committed to working with the user groups to explore relocation opportunities within the overall aquatic system". What other opportunities are there within the 'overall aquatic system'? As far as I'm aware there's no other publicly available indoor swimming facilities downtown, which means they're acknowledging they would be pushing people to drive/transit away.