False Creek South Planning

[whatnext]

An article in Globe & Mail from Kerry Gold on South East False Creek. I have to agree with those who say a more assertive, government-led, plan than justs elling it off to developers is needed.

Vancouver eyes development of last waterfront site
Kerry Gold
SPECIAL TO THE GLOBE AND MAIL
PUBLISHED JUNE 2, 2023

The City of Vancouver is working on a proposal to rezone publicly owned industrial land that is also the last of the developable inner city waterfront, making it highly valuable real estate.

Former City of Burnaby senior planner Robert Renger made a freedom of information request last year about the Southeast False Creek site and recently received a largely redacted document from Vancouver’s real state services department. The city proposes making height and density changes to the Southeast False Creek official development plan of 2007 (amended in 2018), and then rezoning the area to allow residential and commercial uses. It’s the first step in the rezoning process for the area, which is about 10.8 hectares, or 24 acres.

Mr. Renger believes that such an important rezoning of public land should have more transparency, and it should have been made public by now.

“I don’t think it is, or should be, the natural order of things for establishing public policy for public lands,” he says. “Real estate services are not a private developer. Public consultation and discussion is warranted for such an important public development area.”

Anyone who walks regularly along the sea wall on the south side of False Creek between Olympic Village and Cambie Bridge will be familiar with the largely under-utilized mostly industrial site. The parcel falls within one of three defined pockets of the Southeast False Creek ODP, which planned early on for residential use.

The plan is to rezone the work yards for retail and residential housing, with some units below market, some moderate rate market housing and mostly market strata or leasehold strata, depending on economic viability and council decisions. It’s unclear whether the idea is that it remains public land or is sold off. The part about the sizes of the projects allowed has been redacted, as well as transportation networks, view cones, massing, heights, floor area, and shadowing.

The acreage would be developed in phases, starting in the east and framing around Hinge Park and working westward.

The requested changes would impact height and density, allowing owner-occupied housing for first-time buyers. The document says that 19 storeys are possible within current view cones...


....Many housing advocates would like to see publicly owned land used for social housing, more in line with the Vienna model, where the city owns considerable affordable housing. The Vancouver way is to sell off public lands to maximize values.

“It’s the last waterfront site in the inner city, and as much as we argue for complete community with mixed equal tenure, there’s another view that can’t be discounted that says it’s a taxpayer owned asset, so exploit the hell out of it – meaning, 100-per-cent market housing … with magical views,” Mr. Hein says.....

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/real...terfront-site/

[GenWhy?]

If they have a new funding model for the park and build it 1st and start in 2 years then they should build more public housing here, sure.

[fredinno]

Originally Posted by whatnext

An article in Globe & Mail from Kerry Gold on South East False Creek. I have to agree with those who say a more assertive, government-led, plan than justs elling it off to developers is needed.

Vancouver eyes development of last waterfront site
Kerry Gold
SPECIAL TO THE GLOBE AND MAIL
PUBLISHED JUNE 2, 2023

The City of Vancouver is working on a proposal to rezone publicly owned industrial land that is also the last of the developable inner city waterfront, making it highly valuable real estate.

Former City of Burnaby senior planner Robert Renger made a freedom of information request last year about the Southeast False Creek site and recently received a largely redacted document from Vancouver’s real state services department. The city proposes making height and density changes to the Southeast False Creek official development plan of 2007 (amended in 2018), and then rezoning the area to allow residential and commercial uses. It’s the first step in the rezoning process for the area, which is about 10.8 hectares, or 24 acres.

Mr. Renger believes that such an important rezoning of public land should have more transparency, and it should have been made public by now.

“I don’t think it is, or should be, the natural order of things for establishing public policy for public lands,” he says. “Real estate services are not a private developer. Public consultation and discussion is warranted for such an important public development area.”

Anyone who walks regularly along the sea wall on the south side of False Creek between Olympic Village and Cambie Bridge will be familiar with the largely under-utilized mostly industrial site. The parcel falls within one of three defined pockets of the Southeast False Creek ODP, which planned early on for residential use.

The plan is to rezone the work yards for retail and residential housing, with some units below market, some moderate rate market housing and mostly market strata or leasehold strata, depending on economic viability and council decisions. It’s unclear whether the idea is that it remains public land or is sold off. The part about the sizes of the projects allowed has been redacted, as well as transportation networks, view cones, massing, heights, floor area, and shadowing.

The acreage would be developed in phases, starting in the east and framing around Hinge Park and working westward.

The requested changes would impact height and density, allowing owner-occupied housing for first-time buyers. The document says that 19 storeys are possible within current view cones...


....Many housing advocates would like to see publicly owned land used for social housing, more in line with the Vienna model, where the city owns considerable affordable housing. The Vancouver way is to sell off public lands to maximize values.

“It’s the last waterfront site in the inner city, and as much as we argue for complete community with mixed equal tenure, there’s another view that can’t be discounted that says it’s a taxpayer owned asset, so exploit the hell out of it – meaning, 100-per-cent market housing … with magical views,” Mr. Hein says.....

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/real...terfront-site/

This is SEFC, not South False Creek.

[WarrenC12]

If I had a dollar for every time I heard "last waterfront site", I'd have many dollars.

I'll bet now this get developed before the school promised for 2010 gets built.

[whatnext]

This the first time I've seen a dollar figure attached to SFC lease renewals. If it is correct it doesn't seem that bad, although it should be longer than 20 years (bold mine):

About this home
Wake up each day with all that Granville Island has to offer at your doorstep. This bright and airy 2 level contemporary townhouse has an open plan main floor with beautiful oak hardwood floors, wood burning fireplace with feature tile wall to skylight, vaulted ceiling with expansive light, and balcony with a beautiful vista through the cherry blossoms of Sutcliffe Park. Kitchen beautifully remodelled in 2016 with Bosch appliances and custom cabinetry. The large master bedroom has walk-in closet and ensuite with Nuheat heated floor. Both bedrooms have direct access to the garden patio that leads straight out to Granville Island, a short walk to the market! Fully rainscreened in 2014. Pets and rentals allowed subject to strata bylaws. Prepaid lease to 2040. The City of Vancouver is offering to extend to 2060 for $153,608 for this unit. Showings by appointment.

https://www.rew.ca/properties/484827...erty_click=map

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by whatnext

This the first time I've seen a dollar figure attached to SFC lease renewals. If it is correct it doesn't seem that bad, although it should be longer than 20 years (bold mine):

About this home
Wake up each day with all that Granville Island has to offer at your doorstep. This bright and airy 2 level contemporary townhouse has an open plan main floor with beautiful oak hardwood floors, wood burning fireplace with feature tile wall to skylight, vaulted ceiling with expansive light, and balcony with a beautiful vista through the cherry blossoms of Sutcliffe Park. Kitchen beautifully remodelled in 2016 with Bosch appliances and custom cabinetry. The large master bedroom has walk-in closet and ensuite with Nuheat heated floor. Both bedrooms have direct access to the garden patio that leads straight out to Granville Island, a short walk to the market! Fully rainscreened in 2014. Pets and rentals allowed subject to strata bylaws. Prepaid lease to 2040. The City of Vancouver is offering to extend to 2060 for $153,608 for this unit. Showings by appointment.

https://www.rew.ca/properties/484827...erty_click=map

I think this is the formula

Those who accept would be required to provide a rent prepayment based on a formula of an annual rental rate of 2.25% multiplied by land value, an annual rent escalation of 3,5% to the annual rental rate and the net present value of the rent for the extension using an annual discount rate of 5%.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/fals...-renewal-offer

[GenWhy?]

January 22 meeting to discuss the RFP for area planning

2. Contract Award for Consulting Services for City of Vancouver False Creek South Landowner’s Conceptual Development Plan
https://council.vancouver.ca/20250122/pspc20250122.htm

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

January 22 meeting to discuss the RFP for area planning

2. Contract Award for Consulting Services for City of Vancouver False Creek South Landowner’s Conceptual Development Plan
https://council.vancouver.ca/20250122/pspc20250122.htm

Interesting choice of consultant. Arup Canada, with offices in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Ottawa. An engineering business that ,started in London, and has broadened to include transportation and planning, operating around the world. They also have a Seattle office.

[jollyburger]

They should turn it into a higher density corridor with zero private vehicles and a redesigned service vehicle/transit road. Senawk, a new COV rental development next to the Cambie Street Bridge, Olympic Village.

Through this RFEOI, the City is seeking a multi-disciplinary consulting team to support the delivery of the following:
1. Master development plan options. Develop a set of False Creek South Master Development Plan options,
accompanied by supporting rationale including consideration of density options, and financial proformas
2. Technical parameters. Develop the full set of technical parameters that will inform the master development
plan options, e.g., required infrastructure and amenities, soil remediation, sea level rise mitigations,
transportation infrastructure, and so on
3. Support regulatory submission. Once City Council in their role as landowner has selected a preferred master
development plan option, support City landowner staff to consult with the City’s Director of Planning to
develop the appropriate regulatory/policy plan.
The consultants’ work will be primarily technical/financial, with detailed architectural design out of scope. Key work
components will include:
Civil engineering and infrastructure modelling, with particular attention to the management of coastal flooding
risk
Urban design and planning, conceptual block diagrams to support the other studies
Transportation engineering
Hydro-geotechnical and soils studies
Environmental and remediation consulting
Construction cost estimation for infrastructure and development options
Financial feasibility analysis

https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/2024-...plan-rfeoi.pdf

[whatnext]

More findings from the audit report into the city's real estate department dealings:

Vancouver’s Handling of False Creek South Is Officially a Scandal
The city’s auditor general found ‘serious mismanagement of public funds’ and more to criticize.
Robert Renger 17 Feb 2026 The Tyee

....The investigation by the OAG stemmed from my whistleblower complaint based on documents obtained through freedom of information, or FOI, requests. I flagged concerns about apparent irregular procurement in the purchase of consulting services regarding False Creek South from Harris Consulting in 2019 to 2021.

Payments for the services totalled $945,438.79 and largely consisted of professional fees for two individuals, Gordon Harris ($287,375) and Chuck Brook ($330,181.25), billed initially at $325 and later at $350 per hour.

The OAG found many violations of the city’s procurement policy. No request for proposals nor competitive bidding were pursued for this project. In violation of policy, it was sole sourced by the city’s Real Estate and Facilities Management department, or REFM. There was no documentation that sole sourcing represented “best value” to the city, a requirement under the policy, nor to obtain three bids or prices from internal price records, an alternative option for avoiding a public call for contracts under $75,000. Nor was the approval of the city manager to the procurement obtained, although required by city policy....

https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2026/02/1...e-Creek-South/

[LeftCoaster]

Officially?

I'm not saying there may or may not be a scandal here but what a ridiculous headline.

All based off the authors own FOI. Journalism is such a joke these days.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Officially?

I'm not saying there may or may not be a scandal here but what a ridiculous headline.

All based off the authors own FOI. Journalism is such a joke these days.

Is there any reason for getting bids for such a big project? I wonder how many Vancouverites make $300+ an hour?

[LeftCoaster]

I would assume anyone with the chops to be advising on development is making that kind of money as a contractor. Development is a lucrative business if you're any good so if you want to get someone who knows what they're talking about to consult you need to pay them close to what they could be making otherwise.

With that said I don't know why there was not an RFP. Could be a very good reason, could be laziness, or could be corruption. Who knows at this point, other than those involved and possible the OAG.

Also, it's $900,000K, scandal or not it's hardly a sum worth getting that worked up about.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Also, it's $900,000K, scandal or not it's hardly a sum worth getting that worked up about.

Agreed that it's probably a nothingburger, but TBF you could buy Rich Coleman for far less.

[Alex Mackinnon]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Is there any reason for getting bids for such a big project? I wonder how many Vancouverites make $300+ an hour?

That's their bill out rate, not their take home. A fairly large number of professionals bill out around or above there.

[urbanight93]

Yeah, this article is making a mountain out of a mole hill. Consultants with 15 years of industry experience bill 300$ an hour so anyone with more years then that could reasonably charge more. The title and whole article is alarmist, likely to drum up clicks or to ride the bandwagon of the recent audit failure related to the city’s land deals.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by urbanight93

Yeah, this article is making a mountain out of a mole hill. Consultants with 15 years of industry experience bill 300$ an hour so anyone with more years then that could reasonably charge more. The title and whole article is alarmist, likely to drum up clicks or to ride the bandwagon of the recent audit failure related to the city’s land deals.

It’s my impression that the issue isn’t the rate but the fact that no RFQ was done. It was just given to someone picked by city staff.