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Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut
That's the argument. And I think we're forgetting that "Vancouver can't grow to 70+ floors right now" doesn't mean "Vancouver can't grow." Broadway. Cambie. False Creek. Etc etc etc. 1000 x 6 floors and 50 x 20 is much, much more than 5 x 80, so as long as we're doing those, Vancouver is still the centre.
The viewcone discussion is on whether a taller tower would be as pretty/prettier than the sliver of mountain it blocks. The answer is yes... but let's please not act like Vancouver's killing itself by saying no.
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The COV is, however, turning away big businesses that demand more space with these out dated view cones.
The COV has been built out to its limits land-wise (for the most part) so it can't offer sq. footage to big businesses the same way that other cities in Canada can. With the death of brick & mortar small businesses from this pandemic, the COV (along with the rest of Canada) needs to do better with attracting larger businesses
(and all kinds of businesses in general, large or small) that can sustain these kinds of global set backs. One way to attract more white collar businesses is to create city policies that are friendly towards the construction of buildings that house these employers. And because Vancouver cannot offer large swaths of empty land for large businesses to build onto, it would have to offer the sq. footage to these businesses with height.
From my perspective, with the COV's reluctance to allow taller structures in the downtown peninsula to get built has provided a plethora of opportunities elsewhere both inside and outside the Lower Mainland to take advantage of. And we are seeing this in many forms ranging from the tallest structures in BC getting built in Burnaby and Coquitlam, to Surrey's vast amount of proposals. The only mayor in the region that seems keen on attracting larger white collar businesses seems to be Surrey's mayor (back when he was demanding an office tower be made taller). The COV can
gently slowly up zone all it would like along Cambie and Broadway
(to like 6-20 floors or whatever) but it's not going to attract larger employers that demand more sq. ft, and that provide wages that people could legitimately live off of in this region. In other words, the economy can't depend upon chain restaurants and chain shops to provide people with a legitimate living in this region
(as these new buildings can only really accommodate established businesses, not small businesses with their lease rates IMO); the COV and the Lower Mainland is going to have to cater to larger businesses if it wants to appeal to middle-class workers.
Looking in the near future: I can predict that the Post and Senakw are all going to challenge the current city policies on various fronts. The Post is going to provide data that supports that larger office development in the core is great for the economy
(I know this is basic, but hey, take it up with your politician) and that the COV should be taking steps to attract more of these large-scale employers. And I do believe that there is large business interest in Vancouver as our office buildings are built to their height limits, AND we have a local culture that's getting passionate about tech and start-ups.
Senakw is going to challenge the city on the viability of its parking requirements, height across False Creek, among other fragile mentalities.
I know that this has been said before but in the downtown core I think that there should be height restriction exceptions for large businesses and HQs as a place to start. And then housing in the core can follow.
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