Suburban Updates - All Other Metro Vancouver Municipalities

[SpongeG]

brentwood gate is landscaping today - its a hive of activity there

walmart in burnaby is painted now - not fully completed looks like some touch up spots but its looking nice

gable in coquitlam is looking really nice too - the ones on the street look complete and make a nice transition into the area

[SpongeG]

there is something going up at lougheed and beta - just next to the perspectves presentation centre they have started on some building and brentwood gate in the background...







collage is coming along



watercolour in the background

[jlousa]

Hopefully this a completely seperate from rumours of the dragon boats leaving false creek. A postive for Bby lake.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=ab009c1d-33d8-47e5-a07f-831f0a6354e0

Burnaby Lake getting $20 million facelift
Vancouver Sun
Published: Friday, June 06, 2008

VANCOUVER - The provincial government and the city of Burnaby are spending $10 million each to dredge Burnaby Lake, re-establishing it as an international rowing venue and improving the lake's fish and wildlife habitat, Premier Gordon Campbell said Friday in a press release.

"Burnaby Lake has a rich history of rowing competitions, and this work will bring the lake back to the standard required for international rowing and kayaking competitions, as well as improve the
lake's habitat for fish and wildlife and restore its stormwater management function," Campbell said in the release.

The rejuvenation project will include removing 360,000 cubic metres of lake bed sediment to improve water quality and enhance the lake's fish and migratory bird habitat. The dredging will also restore the open water environment on the lake that will allow for a 2,000-metre rowing, canoe, kayak course required to accommodate competitive, international-standard events, the release said.

A rowing venue was initially created on Burnaby Lake for the 1973 Canada Summer Games. For the next two decades, the lake was host to a number of major rowing and kayaking competitions, the release said. Inflow of sediment began to impact the rowing course in the 1980s and 1990s, degrading the water quality and decreasing the depth of the water to the point where it was unusable for competitions, the release said.

[mr.x]

^ yay! we've got a rowing venue for Vancouver 2032 now! :p

j/k

[jlousa]

We already know about this one, still extremely early, but here's a few more details.

COMPREHENSIVE MULTI-FAMILY, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Port Moody, BC CONTEMPLATED
Ioco Lands Redevelopment, Ioco & Anmore areas $

Note: Planning is very conceptual at this time. No formal plans are expected for one or two years. A formal application has not yet been made to the City or the Village. Formal design, working drawings and construction schedules are undetermined. Further update in Spring 2009.
Budget is undefined.
Project: redevelopment of the abandoned Ioco Townsite and adjacent land owned by Imperial Oil into a comprehensive residential subdivision with a mix of single family lots, condominiums, townhouses, light industrial & commercial businesses; possibility of related major roadwork such as an extension of David Ave to take pressure off Ioco Rd & a new bypass.
Scope: 263 hectares
Category: Apartment bldgs; Retail, wholesale services

[jlousa]

I'm suprised this one is still going ahead, my source in the orangevest had told me this was dependant on the Evergreen line taking the southern route. Glad to see it's going ahead regardless, looks like there won't be a park and ride though.

HOTEL, RESTAURANT, CLUB EXPANSION
Coquitlam, PREPARING PLANS
Boulevard Casino Hotel & Nightclub, 2080 United Blvd, V3K 6W3
Start: 2009
Note: In preliminary planning and a Public Open House/Info Session is tentatively planned for June 19/08. Application for rezoning has recently been made. Working drawings and construction schedules are undefined at this time.
Project: Demolition of the exsiting restaurant space; the hotel will be on a four-sty podium level consisting of a main floor lobby/office area, 2nd floor restaurant & bar, 3rd floor conference space and meeting rooms, 4th floor nightclub with roof-patio with seasonal seating, upper floors for guest rooms & will incorporate green roofs.
Scope: 130,000 square feet; 21 storeys; 202 units
Development: Addition/alterations

[SpongeG]

that casino is crazy busy on a friday or saturday night

and when a concert is on its nuts

a hotel would do good there

[raggedy13]

I guess I felt like killing time so I made this quick chart to show the relative skyline heights (based on tallest building) of the various cities in the Metro. However, some are based on proposed buildings rather than completed ones. And the blank cities I just couldn't find any building data on. Also, some of them are rough estimates based on known storeys of their tallest building (10ft per floor converted to meters). The populations are also in brackets and the cities are listed in descending order based on this.

[jlousa]

Don't think theres anything new that I haven't already posted, but since it's be relisted thought I'd repost it.


Coquitlam, Greater Vancouver RD BC PREPARING PLANS
The Village at Fraser Mills - Master Plan, 1 & 2 King Edward St,
Start: 2009
Note: The OCP (Official Community Plan) for this area has been approved, but more work is needed on the Fraser Mills official Neighbourhood Plan. Working drawings will commence by late Fall/Winter for phase one (details to this phase are being worked out). Further update in Oct/08.
A proposed construction budget has not been determined at this time. Website: http://www.villageatfrasermills.com/project/index.php
Project: Proposed redevelopment of the old Fraser Mills site into: 3,700 units of mixed housing (to be defined); 275,000 sq ft of retail, coffee shops & high-end restaurants, misc comm/office space; Mill Museum; community centres & playing fields; a new Fraser Mills area elementary school a new pier & outdoor stage; & a parkade and on-site prkg for the Fraser River waterfront commercial strip.
Scope: 3700 units; 26 hectares
Development: New

INDUSTRIAL, OFFICE BLDGS
Coquitlam, Greater Vancouver RD BC PREPARING PLANS
The Village at Fraser Mills - Industrial Business Park, 1 & 2
Start: 2010
Note: The OCP (Official Community Plan) for this area has been approved, but more work is needed on the Fraser Mills official Neighbourhood Plan. This is in preliminary planning. Working drawings and construction schedules are undefined. Further update at the end of 2008.
Scope: 650,000 square feet; 14 acres
Development: New

[twoNeurons]

Originally Posted by raggedy13

Cool image. If you put it in two data series you could display "current" and "proposed" heights next to each other for each metro too.

[deasine]

District of North Vancouver approved application by Grouse Mountain: we'll be seeing a wind turbine on our mountain: it is said that it will produce 25% of the electricity used at Grouse Mountain. Apparently, Grouse Mountain has been studying this for 4 years already and they may decide to build more...

It's going to be pretty hard to spot on the mountain, especially in the winter (when everything's white) [well I'm not sure what colour the wind turbine will be, I'm guessing it's white =P]

Pretty interesting stuff... =) We should explore doing a few more to power the region =D, though we'll be needing quite a bit.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Don't think theres anything new that I haven't already posted, but since it's be relisted thought I'd repost it.


Coquitlam, Greater Vancouver RD BC PREPARING PLANS
The Village at Fraser Mills - Master Plan, 1 & 2 King Edward St,
Start: 2009
Note: The OCP (Official Community Plan) for this area has been approved, but more work is needed on the Fraser Mills official Neighbourhood Plan. Working drawings will commence by late Fall/Winter for phase one (details to this phase are being worked out). Further update in Oct/08.
A proposed construction budget has not been determined at this time. Website: http://www.villageatfrasermills.com/project/index.php
Project: Proposed redevelopment of the old Fraser Mills site into: 3,700 units of mixed housing (to be defined); 275,000 sq ft of retail, coffee shops & high-end restaurants, misc comm/office space; Mill Museum; community centres & playing fields; a new Fraser Mills area elementary school a new pier & outdoor stage; & a parkade and on-site prkg for the Fraser River waterfront commercial strip.
Scope: 3700 units; 26 hectares
Development: New

INDUSTRIAL, OFFICE BLDGS
Coquitlam, Greater Vancouver RD BC PREPARING PLANS
The Village at Fraser Mills - Industrial Business Park, 1 & 2
Start: 2010
Note: The OCP (Official Community Plan) for this area has been approved, but more work is needed on the Fraser Mills official Neighbourhood Plan. This is in preliminary planning. Working drawings and construction schedules are undefined. Further update at the end of 2008.
Scope: 650,000 square feet; 14 acres
Development: New

nice - coquitlam can now have some waterfront something its never really had

[officedweller]

From the Richmond News:

[quote]City centre vision closer to reality
Building heights, density, affordable housing and transit all part of plan

Alan Campbell, Richmond News
Published: Friday, June 20, 2008

The blueprint for the future vision of Richmond city centre was approved this week.

But before it's formally accepted by council, the people of the city will get their chance to air their views on the City Centre Area Plan (CCAP) at a July public hearing.

Building heights, density, affordable housing and proximity of new developments to transit are all contained in what is being described by many as the most important plan for Richmond in more than a decade.
The CCAP has been three years in the making and promises to shape the look of the city centre for the foreseeable future.

It was passed unanimously by city council's planning committee Tuesday.

"The depth and complexity of this report will impact on our city centre for many years," Coun. Derek Dang said.

"This is the most important document I've come across in 12 years."

A public hearing next month now looks likely, although Coun. Sue Halsey-Brandt expressed reservations about the timing.

"We should be moving forward with this, but having (the hearing) in July when people are away...," she said.

"Have we had hearings like this in July before?"

The city's policy planning manager, Terry Crowe, told committee that many hearings had been held in June and July, but not in August.

Committee chair Coun. Harold Steves warned his colleagues that delaying the process could prove costly.

"I think we should go ahead with the July hearing," Steves said.

"Delaying it until October or November would be right in the middle of silly season of civic elections.

"Let's get it dealt with by this council and not the next one."

Mayor Malcolm Brodie agreed, saying that the "big enemy here is delay."

Public hearing scheduling aside, another hurdle for the CCAP to overcome is the proposed Pinnacle high-density housing development at Capstan Village, which has yet to receive council re-zoning approval.

The proposal's approval would mean the developer pledging to provide funds for an extra Canada Line station at the site, between Sea Island and Capstan ways.

But at the time of Tuesday's planning meeting, city staff said they weren't 100 per cent certain that Pinnacle would follow through with its plan.

According to staff, Pinnacle seems to change its mind "from one day to the next."

And with close proximity of the Canada Line and transit options to new housing developments integral to the CCAP, it was decided to seek further assurances from Pinnacle as to its intentions.

Studies conducted or commissioned by the city have shown that people are generally willing to walk up to 200 metres for transit access.

"(Pinnacle's) development is a cornerstone of this area plan and it seems, depending on what day it is, they're either on board or not," Coun. Derek Dang said.

"They're also providing 50,000 square feet of affordable housing.

"They are a huge piece of the puzzle."

City staff told Dang that Pinnacle has a deadline of June 30 to commit funds to cement its intent and they're confident the deadline will be met.

The need for further city centre development is highlighted in the CCAP due to projected population growth from 40,000 in 2006 to 120,000 in 2100.

The CCAP's implementation strategy includes direction for developers to pay for transportation improvements, utilities, parks and open spaces.

A density bonus could also be applied under the strategy to new developments to pay for affordable housing or childcare space.

After the public hearing in July the CCAP would require to be approved by the province in August before coming back to Richmond city council for adoption in September.

[Bert]

Found something in the June 23, 2008 Burnaby City Manager's Report.

There's a new 28-storey, mixed-use development proposal from Intracorp Lands and Busby, Perkins, & Will located immediately south of Metrotown Station (right beside it).

It's extremely similar in many ways to the Bosa development proposal at Willingdon & Kingsway: both are pursuing Built Green Gold standards, including car coop parking spots, having a bit of retail, public art, and a non-profit space as the amenity. The main difference in specs is this proposal has no office component, but will form a part of a public plaza integrating it with the Metrotown Transit Village concept.

Looks like Metrotown finally might be beginning to heat up again. I think this is the 3rd recent proposed/planned tower (besides Jewel & the Bosa one), while Metrotower III is now under construction.

[vanman]

Nice Find Bert! If it is immediately behind the station they must be tearing down that pink, hideous (and completely out of place) warehouse finally.

ooks like Metrotown finally might be beginning to heat up again. I think this is the 3rd recent proposed/planned tower (besides Jewel & the Bosa one), while Metrotower III is now under construction.

I agree. I've wondered for a while now why Metrotown hasn't joined this current regional boom yet. It is clear that there is a high demand for the area, as Centerpoint sold out within a month if I remember correctly. I am dissapointed with the height of this latest proposal though. In this day and age of 40 story condos in Surrey and even Coquitlam they should build higher in metrotown.

[Bert]

Definitely agree with you there, vanman. And, yes, that warehouse's days are numbered.

Without bothering to actually check, it seems like roughly 2.6 FAR (inclusive of amenity bonus) is about as dense as it gets for Metrotown's current zoning (Bosa's Kingsway & Willingdon proposal is 5.2 FAR, but that's hitting the 2.6 FAR limit for each of its residential and commercial components; though, as I recall, if it was an office-only tower, the limit would have been 6.0 FAR).

There is a note in the manager's report linked to that this new proposal is subject to the results of the Maywood Community Plan review. So, there's some small hope this one could still get taller.

[officedweller]

I think that most of the buildings south of Metrotown Station are lowrise rental stock - may be some community opposition to demolishing them. i.e. like the 4 storey walk up that blocks Central Blvd from being widened to the west all the way to Patterson Station. They'll probably eventually go tough, just because of their central location.

[vanman]

As long as the rental units are replaced in new developments so that there is no net loss of affordable housing units I don't see what the problem is.

[officedweller]

I think providing "affordable" replacement units could be a problem given construction costs.

[SpongeG]

yeah i read somewhere where some construction/developer guy said that to make a rental building today it would end up costing $1800/mo rent for a 600 sq ft apartment or something like $200 a square foot to make it worth doing and that rents at that price would just be sky high for most renters so they just don't bother