Leftcoaster has provided you guys with a few juicy hints lately, but obviously hasn't been able to release too much info. Well he'll no longer be held back as the info has been made public now.
Here are a few renders of what it might look like.
Details
Marine Gateway is anchored by a 2-level retail podium which surrounds the pedestrian plaza (or ‘high street’). The architectural and landscaping design of the plaza is inspired by the nearby historic Fraser River.
Above the retail podium sits the movie theatre, located on the north and east portions of the site; the office building, located along the south portion of the site with intermittent decks and green spaces; and the residential building, located above the Canada Line station at the northwest portion of the site (overlooking both the Canada Line station and Bus Loop).
The residential building will be located above the Canada Line station, providing “eyes on the street” to ensure safety and security at both stations, and creating identity for the site as a major transit location. There is also the option for an addition of a rental housing building.
The residences will be at the centre of everything with all retail, amenities and services located conveniently onsite, including a direct connection to transit which takes you into downtown and to the airport, in 15 and 9 minutes, respectively. They will have spectacular views over the Fraser River and into Vancouver, and will offer numerous important benefits to the City and community.
The Marine Gateway office building will have large floor plates - which are uniquely suitable for transit-oriented employers, and are more compatible with modern office technologies (including LEED® Gold requirements). These types of employers are attracted to the 'complete' environment where all of their employees' daily needs can be met - including shopping, personal services, entertainment, daycare, fitness, restaurants - all conveniently located on transit. In the case of Marine Gateway, some of those that work onsite can also choose to live here.
Marine Gateway places an emphasis on connectivity both with the 2 onsite transit stations, and within the project itself. All areas will be accessible via weather-protected stairs, escalators, elevators, and bridges, all centered around the plaza and green spaces.
The retail and services at Marine Gateway on Canada Line play a significant role in creating the lively, active and safe environment at Marine Gateway. They will be targeted to the onsite population of residents and workers, as well as transit-commuters, the general public, and immediate Marpole and South Vancouver neighbourhood. The retail and services onsite will provide daily necessities and conveniences, leisure shops and services, as well as numerous food and entertainment options. Examples include:
* Grocery store
* Drug store
* Movie theatre
* Banks
* Restaurants
* Coffee shops and cafes
* Convenience services such as drycleaners
* Significant fitness centre
* Daycare
* Various medical and dental offices
* Other retail shops and services
Marine Gateway will include over 330 residences, and an option for an additional 245 residences in the form of rental housing, which would contribute to addressing City Council's mandate to provide more alternative and affordable housing options throughout Vancouver, particularly on transit.
The residences at Marine Gateway will provide residents with an opportunity to live, work, shop and relax without the need of a car; and to hop on the Canada Line or a bus to travel downtown, to YVR or anywhere covered by transit.
These residences also offer benefits to the broader community and all Vancouver residents by:
* Providing “eyes on the street” around the clock , increasing safety and security, and discouraging crime – Marine Gateway is supported by the Vancouver Police Department and Translink Security as an essential component of a safe environment around transit stations
* Increasing the number of people at Marine Gateway on Canada Line, which in turn increases transit ridership (maximizing the significant $2 Billion transit investment)
* Contributing to an "ambient energy loop" which facilitates the exchange of heat and cooling between the residential, office and retail buildings that have different energy needs. Without these residences – which use more heating energy than office or retail uses, this energy-use reduction would not be possible
* Making the development financially viable by underwriting the office and potential rental housing components which could otherwise not be provided
The Marine Gateway team is proposing an alternative which incorporates a long term rental housing commitment. The alternate for a rental tower which will include 245 units, serves to strengthen a number of aspects of the development and would be complementary to the project’s goals: transit-oriented with a diverse mix of uses. We offer to include this tower as part of our application if directed by the City.
The benefits of adding rental to the project are as follows:
* Helps work toward the City’s goals of providing alternative forms of housing (smaller, more efficient rent-conscious units, as well as some larger units for family accommodation), and increasing the stock of more affordable and inclusive housing
* Enables greater overall site density, maximizing ridership
* A greater human presence = greater safety (“eyes on the street”)
* As a Gateway to Vancouver, the additional tower will strengthen the site’s identity as an important site at a major transit location
* From an environmental perspective, mixing uses is beneficial for district energy (ie: Ambient Energy Loop) and is strengthened through the addition of a rental tower
Complete Community
Marine Gateway on Canada Line’s offices, stores, residences, restaurants, theatres, cafes and plaza will offer one-stop work, shop, live and play opportunities. Complete - or “mixed-use” - communities such as Marine Gateway on Canada Line support and encourage increased transit ridership. The world’s most livable cities offer the opportunity to walk or use convenient transit services to carry out their day-to-day activities; thereby minimizing the use of and need for personal vehicles.
By applying an integrated approach to design – working with the whole site as opposed to a single building – the project can realize economies of scale, creating higher performing green buildings. The environmental approach at Marine Gateway complies with the City’s Action A-2, Rezoning for Larger Greener Sites (a comprehensive, sustainable approach to significant developments), and importantly, Marine Gateway will be the first purpose-built Canada Line station community - a showcase for sustainable Transit Oriented Development in Vancouver.
One of the measures of the sustainability of buildings is a system called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®). LEED® is a building rating system created by the United States Green Building Council and adapted for Canada by the Canada Green Building Council.
The third party rating system provides points to projects for environmental initiatives in the following categories:
* Sustainable Sites (How the building interacts with its environment and neighbourhood)
* Energy and Atmosphere (A measure of the buildings' energy efficiency and if that energy is renewable)
* Water (A measure of the water efficiency of the buildings and landscaping)
* Materials (A measure of recycled content, local materials, and amount of waste diverted from the landfill)
* Indoor Air Quality (A measure of both indoor air quality for healthier environments and access to daylight)
Marine Gateway’s Sustainable Strategies to Reduce Carbon Footprint
Mixed-Use Ambient Energy Loop
An energy recovery system that shares heat and cooling between buildings, and is only possible in a Mixed-Use development (which requires both commercial and residential uses). Office buildings require cooling while residential buildings require heat – the “excess” heat from the office can be used to heat the residential, thereby reducing energy requirements, and reducing the energy that is typically wasted in a non-mixed-use development.
Geoexchange Energy Loop
This system retrieves energy stored in the ground to heat or cool buildings. This system does not rely on fossil fuels but would be supplemented by a more conventional source of heat and cooling for peak loads.
Building Orientation
Buildings are oriented with large long north and south-facing facades which are easier to shade, reducing heating loads.
Shading Strategies
Shading the building face with sunshades, other buildings, and balcony treatments reduces heating loads resulting in lowered energy requirements.
Water Conserving Fixtures
Low flow fixtures will be used throughout the project reducing the project’s overall water consumption.
Green Roofs
Extensive green roofs will provide many benefits ranging from wildlife habitat to a delay in stormwater discharge.
Rainwater collection
Rainwater on the site will be collected along with grey water from the residences, eliminating the use of potable water for irrigation.
Solid Waste Reduction Strategies
Project-wide strategies will be in place to reduce solid waste as well as collect all recyclables.
Marine Gateway capitalizes on the diversity of uses (commercial and residential together) to create a comprehensive environmental approach. This approach focuses on the reduction of energy and water resources while maximizing its relationship to the onsite transit infrastructure.
Co-Op Cars
Both residents and office tenants will have the opportunity to use “co-op cars”; through a car-share program that allows people to access – and pay for - single vehicles when they need them; and use transit, bikes or walk when they don’t. Co-op cars are becoming increasingly popular in Vancouver and are available in various models and sizes including hybrids and, when needed, SUVs.
A study by MMM Group of the impacts of Marine Gateway on Canada Line on vehicle traffic concluded:
"In conclusion, the benefits of adding residential to an otherwise all-commercial development are significant and important. It ensures that the overall development maximizes ridership, minimizes vehicular and transit congestion by way of counterflow, and it affords a far more sustainable approach to parking- which is consistent with the goals of the Province, City, TransLink, and the community."
* Maximum density = mixed use = maximum transit ridership.
* Marine Gateway adds 1,700,000 riders to the Canada Line annually (5,000 daily).
* Translates into over 40% increase in ridership generated by Marine Gateway.
* Mixed use mitigates vehicular congestion as different components (in and out) occur at different times of the day.
* Office creates 5 times more congestion than residential due to counterflow.
* Mixed use enhances transit efficiency and quality of service due to counterflow.
* Shared parking strategies reduce parking by 25%.
* Marine Gateway transportation contributions include:
• Bike storage & 'Mobility Centre' - on-site shower/cycle storage, maintenance/support for recreational/commuting cyclists
• Enhancement of neighbourhood cycling lanes
• Co-op cars for residential and office uses
• Additional vehicular lanes on SW Marine Drive and Yukon Street to mitigate traffic congestion
• 1.7 acres (75,000 sq. ft.) of the Marine Gateway site is dedicated to 2 significant transit stations
• Marine Gateway parking is also available for transit users
Jobs & Economy
The offices, stores and other retail outlets at Marine Gateway on Canada Line will create approximately 2,300 new jobs at this convenient transit location. The previous business on this site was an ICBC Claims Center, which housed approximately 60 jobs.
A third-party study prepared in February 2009 by Coriolis Consulting found that potential development under the current light industrial zoning would accommodate no more than 250 jobs.
Construction of Marine Gateway on Canada Line will create 750 construction jobs which would begin shortly after a rezoning by Vancouver City Council. Overall, the development project would contribute $340,000,000 to the local economy and approximately $8.6 to $8.9 million in annual property taxes.