Great Northern Way Campus and Area Updates

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

https://renx.ca/cape-group-shifts-east-vancouver-project-high-density-tower

The previous building was intended as rental. Pre-selling enough condos to launch a project with 139 units for sale might be a stretch in the current market, so they might be ok with the City taking a while. Jim Pattison's smaller condo project nearby on Main should indicate how strong the market is in the area.

[jollyburger]

Nice.

1155 E 6th Ave rezoning application

The City of Vancouver has received an application to rezone the subject site from I-2 and I-3 (Industrial) District to CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District. The proposal is to allow for the development of a 19-storey office building (west tower) and two 35-storey mixed-use rental buildings (centre and east towers) and includes:

600 rental units with 20% of the floor area for below-market units;
Commercial and industrial uses within the podium, including a grocery store;
A 64-space childcare facility dedicated to the City; and
A floor space ratio (FSR) of 8.67.

https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/1155-e-6-ave

All the renderings in here:

https://rezoning.vancouver.ca/applications/1155-e-6-ave/application-booklet.pdf#page=65

[officedweller]

Wow, that's ugly.

[jollyburger]

The office building sort of reminds me of that Quantum Park concept from Concord Pacific.

[madog222]

That office tower design is really out of place.

[giallo]

My little corner of Mount Pleasant is going through some major changes. Wow.

The office building looks good on its own, but it's really mismatched with the two towers. The thing I'm most surprised about is more large office proposals in the city.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by giallo

My little corner of Mount Pleasant is going through some major changes. Wow.

The office building looks good on its own, but it's really mismatched with the two towers. The thing I'm most surprised about is more large office proposals in the city.

Happy to be getting a grocery store closer by I image. This will be a very slightly shorter walk than B̶u̶y̶-̶L̶o̶w̶ Save On for me.

[Architype]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Wow, that's ugly.

It won't attract many photographers, and seems a bit out of date with the 21st century.

Originally Posted by giallo

My little corner of Mount Pleasant is going through some major changes. Wow.

The office building looks good on its own, but it's really mismatched with the two towers. The thing I'm most surprised about is more large office proposals in the city.

It's all a bit random in character, but will integrate the area better with the rest of the city.

I've been wondering what is happening with the parking lot across the street (VCC), as it's appeared abandoned for some time now, but there is no sign of anything being built.

[giallo]

Originally Posted by madog222

Happy to be getting a grocery store closer by I image. This will be a very slightly shorter walk than B̶u̶y̶-̶L̶o̶w̶ Save On for me.

For sure. The grocery store will be a block and a half away from me.

Originally Posted by Architype

I've been wondering what is happening with the parking lot across the street (VCC), as it's appeared abandoned for some time now, but there is no sign of anything being built.

They're prepping to build this.

[jollyburger]

VCC just got issued excavation permits two weeks ago

STAGED CONSTRUCTION
Stage 1 - Excavation & Shoring - [BP in advance of DP] - (Reza.H)
ISSUED: July 31, 2024

https://plposweb.vancouver.ca/Public/Default.aspx?PossePresentation=Guest&PosseObjectId=218279887

Just noticed it includes a convenience store retail space on the ground floor.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by giallo

My little corner of Mount Pleasant is going through some major changes. Wow.

The office building looks good on its own, but it's really mismatched with the two towers. The thing I'm most surprised about is more large office proposals in the city.

I like the mismatch. It’ll be many years by the time the office building is complete.

[Architype]

Originally Posted by giallo

For sure. The grocery store will be a block and a half away from me.

They're prepping to build this.

...

Thanks, I knew another campus building was in the plans, but the lot has been unused for a few years I think. It has a bit of a walkie-talkie look. I guess they don't need much parking, considering all the transit that's in the area. About three blocks from me as well, but proximity doesn't always equal utility.

Originally Posted by jollyburger

VCC just got issued excavation permits two weeks ago

https://plposweb.vancouver.ca/Public/Default.aspx?PossePresentation=Guest&PosseObjectId=218279887

Just noticed it includes a convenience store retail space on the ground floor.

Thanks, that's encouraging. The area could see big increases in density.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

I like the mismatch. It’ll be many years by the time the office building is complete.

It'll be interesting to see how this moves forward. Given the Employment designation in the Regional Growth Strategy, housing essentially has to be secondary. This office and light industrial building may have to go through early regardless of the market to justify the housing.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by Architype

but the lot has been unused for a few years I think.

Pretty sure it was still open until a few months ago, I believe it's student only so it often wouldn't look used.

[giallo]

Originally Posted by madog222

Pretty sure it was still open until a few months ago, I believe it's student only so it often wouldn't look used.

Yeah. It only got blocked off in the spring. It was actively being used by film productions and students up until then.

[Architype]

Originally Posted by madog222

Pretty sure it was still open until a few months ago, I believe it's student only so it often wouldn't look used.

That's probably correct then, but it was also used for some temporary tents during the pandemic.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by Architype

That's probably correct then, but it was also used for some temporary tents during the pandemic.

Yes, they had a drive up testing station there.

[urbanight93]

I recommend those interested to dive into the planning rationale booklet for more renderings, visuals and explanation as to the thought process going into the East 6th proposed development.

I find there is a lot of thought given to the ground level to break it up and activate it (on both sides; Great Northern Way and Maker's lane at the back). My main issue is the rental towers look very busy, dated and lack coherence, especially juxtaposed with the office building.

It's all doing too much though maybe that's better than not doing enough. A design like 300 Barangaroo in Sydney, or the previous iteration of the Commercial Broadway development would better interface with the office component.



Source: Google Images

[GenWhy?]

Oo that Sydney project looks really nice too IMO.

Rezonings are height and massing, uses (you mention the interaction with the bus loop to the north), and materials and finishes are not a part of the approval of this application. So what you see in the renders are just for show, for the most part. The package is over-designed which gives off a "this is what will be built" feeling, but it's packaged this way likely due to its use as a "document to convince" as there is a lot going on for the site via planning but also the various uses.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by urbanight93

I find there is a lot of thought given to the ground level to break it up and activate it (on both sides; Great Northern Way and Maker's lane at the back). My main issue is the rental towers look very busy, dated and lack coherence, especially juxtaposed with the office building.

The East 6th project design reminds me of the over-worked design for the Broadway & Commercial Safeway site before the most recent simplifications.


https://rezoning.vancouver.ca/applications/1780ebroadway/resubmission/renderings.pdf
https://rezoning.vancouver.ca/applicatio...bmission/application-booklet.pdf#page=93