[Burnaby] Concord Metrotown | 230.1m | 65,45,33 fl | U/C

[Lexus]

2023-09-17

Untitled by Lexus LX600, on Flickr

Untitled by Lexus LX600, on Flickr

Untitled by Lexus LX600, on Flickr

[djmk]

thats a big hole!

thanks for all the pics

[Lexus]

2023-10-01

Untitled by Lexus LX600, on Flickr

Untitled by Lexus LX600, on Flickr

Untitled by Lexus LX600, on Flickr

[jasonpark]

Aerial shot of Concord Metrotown



Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXVrmQFv...1%80%E9%87%91%E7%89%8C%E7%B6%93%E7%B4%80

[Klazu]

Third yellow luffing jib tower crane is now up! The site is starting to look pretty busy.

[WBC]

What is the new scaffolding above the mall garage entrance on McMurray for?

[jollyburger]

There's video of the scaffolding here:

• Video Link

Looks like protection for cars/pedestrians.

[officedweller]

Looks like it's to protect cars from falling debris.

[jollyburger]

Phase 2 Approved

The Concord Metrotown project was originally intended to unfold across four phases, each of which would have likely been guided by their own individual rezoning applications. Phase one consists of the three towers that are underway, but Concord Pacific has now consolidated the final three phases into one single rezoning application, which was introduced to Council in October 2022 and approved on Monday evening. (Final approval was originally scheduled for September 25, but was delayed to October 30.)

While the remaining five towers are now being treated as one phase, the towers have been split into three sub-phases.

https://storeys.com/concord-pacific-metrotown-phase-2/

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Phase 2 Approved





https://storeys.com/concord-pacific-metrotown-phase-2/

As currently proposed, the second tower will include a total of 722 market rental units.

with what looks like according to the documents ONLY 3 ELEVATORS...for a 60-storey tower. sickening.



image from >> https://storeys.com/concord-pacific-metrotown-phase-2/

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

As currently proposed, the second tower will include a total of 722 market rental units.

with what looks like according to the documents ONLY 3 ELEVATORS...for a 60-storey tower. sickening.

I wouldn't assume that the schematic is accurate - the final tower hasn't been designed yet. In Phase 1 the 65 storey tower - Grand Tower - with 662 condos has 6 elevators. It's not impossible to imagine Concord building a 3 elevator tower, but if they intend retain and manage their own rental building, it would seem to be setting theselves up for some serious management headaches.

[jollyburger]

Well there's at least one cargo elevator on the side of the stairwell so that makes it 4 elevators.

Phase 2C is a joint project..

Phase 2C establishes guidelines for future commercial
development comprised of two commercial high rise buildings including one office/hospitality tower of 47 storeys in height and one market rental tower of 60 storeys in height. It is noted that the 2C portion of the site has been the subject of a joint venture between Concord Pacific and Ivanhoe Cambridge, and may be advanced under an alternative proposal through a future master planning process for the Metropolis at Metrotown Master Plan and subsequent site specific rezoning. As such, no inclusionary housing obligations for Phase 2Aor2B are located in the Phase 2C development.

Floorplan for some rental studio units



https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/bu...up-to-60-storeys-with-2000-homes-7760907

Old article about Phase 2

Murray said sales for Phase 2, which will include three more high-rise residential towers, will come along in about two years.

“Our planning department has already had discussions on the design and they’ve tentatively approved that,” he said, adding the next phase will have about 2,000 homes in towers of 40, 49 and 58 storeys.

It will also include more than 100,000 square feet of retail and commercial space and Murray said build-out is expected to be about five years.

https://renx.ca/concord-pacific-prepares-second-phase-of-metrotown-mixed-development

[Klazu]

Unfortunate to see Burnaby bending over and approving those unlivable 323sqft dog houses. And yeah, elevator traffic on that 60 floor tower will be crazy even with the fourth cargo elevator.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Unfortunate to see Burnaby bending over and approving those unlivable 323sqft dog houses. And yeah, elevator traffic on that 60 floor tower will be crazy even with the fourth cargo elevator.

I made a 500sqft one bedroom work with a wife, working from home part-time, and an infant. We also had a relative sleep on our couch a few times.

If I was single and living in Metro Vancouver, I wouldn't want to pay for much more than a bed to sleep on and a kitchen to cook in, assuming I had an office to go to. Most people don't move into the core of a major city because they want a guest bedroom or a home office. Those would be nice to have if you can afford it, but the person renting a studio apartment is usually quite willing to give up sqft for proximity to transit, shopping, and entertainment.

[WarrenC12]

I lived in 400sf by myself for a few years. Very doable and well worth it for the location. The layout wasn't even that great!

[seamusmcduff]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Unfortunate to see Burnaby bending over and approving those unlivable 323sqft dog houses. And yeah, elevator traffic on that 60 floor tower will be crazy even with the fourth cargo elevator.

I would disagree with you if Vancouvers real estate market was more healthy. There are legitimately people who don't need/want a lot of space, and would love to live in a unit like this for the cost savings. Normally I wouldn't have an issue with this side of the market being catered to. However, most people renting these will not be doing it because they want to, but because they have to.

And they'll be charged a premium for the opportunity. I'm sure they'll be cheaper than other units, but per sf, the price will be higher. A dream for the developers. Why charge $3000 for a 600 sf 1-bed, when you can charge, 2 people $2000 for 300 sf micro suites.

Edit: realistically, the best way to address this would be to allow them, but only allow a certain percent of units (say 10-15%), and require additional amenity space for each unit as a trade-off. I believe the second part at least is something Surrey does.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by seamusmcduff

I would disagree with you if Vancouvers real estate market was more healthy. There are legitimately people who don't need/want a lot of space, and would love to live in a unit like this for the cost savings. Normally I wouldn't have an issue with this side of the market being catered to. However, most people renting these will not be doing it because they want to, but because they have to.

And they'll be charged a premium for the opportunity. I'm sure they'll be cheaper than other units, but per sf, the price will be higher. A dream for the developers. Why charge $3000 for a 600 sf 1-bed, when you can charge, 2 people $2000 for 300 sf micro suites.

Edit: realistically, the best way to address this would be to allow them, but only allow a certain percent of units (say 10-15%), and require additional amenity space for each unit as a trade-off. I believe the second part at least is something Surrey does.

No one is forced to live in Vancouver. I could easily move to Saskatoon and own a SFH in five years or less. I would also be closer to family. But I prefer the lifestyle in Vancouver, and living in a small apartment instead of a SFH is actually a plus for me.

Sure, you could see that as a premium. But housing costs shouldn't scale according to sqft alone. After all, two units also means two kitchens, two bathrooms, two electrical panels, etc.

I really don't want too much meddling in the housing market. I would much prefer for government to strip away all zoning and let the market figure out the rest.

[Forager]

For certain, not everyone needs/wants a lot of space, and there's a market for these micro units. However, these teeny units aren't a long term solution to our affordability crisis. While many units will be rented to individuals, many others will be occupied by families or multiple tenants just trying to get by.

In part, the problem lies with our local real estate market which been overly skewed by the investors who want to maximize profits, which in turn puts enormous pressure on prices and rents. Too many people are now using their properties to fund their retirement, and while the days of using real estate to "get rich fast" are mostly gone, but the perception of using real estate being as a primary means to build wealth (in Vancouver) remains. Of course, I don't blame anyone for trying to make a buck, but there's a difference between profiting and profiteering.

I don't have an answer to the problem, and don't think it's an easy one to figure out. Perhaps, developers should have less influence at our city halls. For a start, we can surely strike a better balance between the needs of the populace while keeping our local market attractive enough for developers.

[seamusmcduff]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

No one is forced to live in Vancouver. I could easily move to Saskatoon and own a SFH in five years or less. I would also be closer to family. But I prefer the lifestyle in Vancouver, and living in a small apartment instead of a SFH is actually a plus for me.

Sure, you could see that as a premium. But housing costs shouldn't scale according to sqft alone. After all, two units also means two kitchens, two bathrooms, two electrical panels, etc.

I really don't want too much meddling in the housing market. I would much prefer for government to strip away all zoning and let the market figure out the rest.

Uh I'll refute that. Some people do in fact need to live in Vancouver, be it family or employment reasons.

For example some people are divorced and need to stay in the same City as their ex in order to have joint custody of their kid, but that's just a choice right? They could always just abandon their kids. Not saying that that's a super common issue, but there's hundreds of reasons someone might actually need to live in Vancouver outside of lifestyle choice.

[Repthe250]

Everyone guffawing at 300 sqft studios… did anyone notice the 700 sqft 2 bedrooms?? I lived in an 850 sqft 2 bedroom in New Westminster two years ago and that was tiny! I couldn’t even imagine a 700 sqft two bedroom!