Olympic Village & Southeast False Creek Updates Discussion - Page 89

BCPhil · #**1761** Posted **Apr 22, 2010, 7:20 PM**

Wow, times must be tough, they can't even afford a third podium that they need to hold the building up with some sticks.

Zassk · #**1762** Posted **Apr 22, 2010, 7:24 PM**

Maybe it is just me, but I find this new wave of "suspended in air" buildings to be really ugly.

Yume-sama · #**1763** Posted **Apr 22, 2010, 7:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zassk

Maybe it is just me, but I find this new wave of "suspended in air" buildings to be really ugly.

Yeah, if only they had random and odd protrusions, too.

LeftCoaster · #**1764** Posted **Apr 22, 2010, 8:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

There are new side streets on either side of the project. It will take up the whole "block".

Yes, this is the site of the closed Chrysler dealership.

Hmm interesting, I hadn't heard anything about a new alignment. Is there anywhere online with more info about what is planned?

flight_from_kamakura · #**1765** Posted **Apr 22, 2010, 8:52 PM**

streets on either side... so a continuation of industrial way on the one side and an alley on the other? pushing industrial forward gives the burger king development (and the new lane on the other side any future mcdonalds development) great new options for the parking. though, for the sake of the courtyard thing on the car dealership site, it would be unfortunate if these were anything more than lanes to parking, something like they did down the road at city gate.

hm, and though i think this suspended 'skybridge' is strange and wasteful, you can at least see how the courtyard complements the massing of the burger king development, allowing for light from that side.

wrenegade · #**1766** Posted **Apr 22, 2010, 9:18 PM**

Open house tonight at 1 Kingsway regarding the height reviews, I'm sure they'll have people there you can ask about new street alignments. I think this building is interesting, definitely something different. Not sure I'd want to live in it, but we lack originality in this city so it's nice to see.

Canadian Mind · #**1767** Posted **Apr 22, 2010, 9:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

It is market housing, right? You think they'll be able to sell units that are 8 feet wide?

Like, not even joking.

So about the same width as a mobile home?

Yume-sama · #**1768** Posted **Apr 22, 2010, 10:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canadian Mind

So about the same width as a mobile home?

Mobile homes probably won't cost you $400,000 lol

Canadian Mind · #**1769** Posted **Apr 22, 2010, 11:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Mobile homes probably won't cost you $400,000 lol

Are you kidding me, this is Vancouver. Course they would.

SpongeG · #**1770** Posted **Apr 22, 2010, 11:41 PM**

there are some in south surrey in that range

Wooster · #**1771** Posted **Apr 23, 2010, 12:39 AM**

Very similar concept to Le Germain in Calgary.

wrenegade · #**1772** Posted **Apr 23, 2010, 4:02 AM**

There are some interesting people at these open houses. I was there from 6-7 tonight, only a handful of people showed up (at least while I was there). All of the reaction was negative towards the additional height. In fact, 2 people were shocked that the buildings were going to be as tall as they were. They went on to complain about the views looking from downtown/cambie street bridge southwards. As if that's what we need, arbitrary view cones going the other direction as well.

No one seemed to grasp what it costs to build anything. Thor (from the CoV) was trying to explain that currently, the city receives about $30 per square foot in DCCs and CACs, and that if the city were to allow the additional 2 stories the city would receive an additional $100 per square foot from these DCCs/CACs, which would amount to between $35-$50 million depending on how much the individual developers took advantage of. This wasn't good enough for most. As per the usual nimby attitude, they wanted all of the amenities and none of the new development.

One woman was complaining that the city hasn't built a new hospital yet (because that's the city's problem, not the province or anything) ignoring the huge construction that has been ongoing for years at VGH. I was trying to tell her this, but some people don't hear what they don't want to hear.

Anyways, if you missed the open house, please still going to vancouver.ca/SEFC, view the boards, and submit your comments.

SpongeG · #**1773** Posted **Apr 23, 2010, 4:55 AM**

many people are expecting and wanting the st pauls hospital next to the train station

Canadian Mind · #**1774** Posted **Apr 23, 2010, 4:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by awvan

There are some interesting people at these open houses. I was there from 6-7 tonight, only a handful of people showed up (at least while I was there). All of the reaction was negative towards the additional height. In fact, 2 people were shocked that the buildings were going to be as tall as they were. They went on to complain about the views looking from downtown/cambie street bridge southwards. As if that's what we need, arbitrary view cones going the other direction as well.

No one seemed to grasp what it costs to build anything. Thor (from the CoV) was trying to explain that currently, the city receives about $30 per square foot in DCCs and CACs, and that if the city were to allow the additional 2 stories the city would receive an additional $100 per square foot from these DCCs/CACs, which would amount to between $35-$50 million depending on how much the individual developers took advantage of. This wasn't good enough for most. As per the usual nimby attitude, they wanted all of the amenities and none of the new development.

One woman was complaining that the city hasn't built a new hospital yet (because that's the city's problem, not the province or anything) ignoring the huge construction that has been ongoing for years at VGH. I was trying to tell her this, but some people don't hear what they don't want to hear.

Anyways, if you missed the open house, please still going to vancouver.ca/SEFC, view the boards, and submit your comments.

You get a chance to openly counter these opinions with your own to the people that matter?

wrenegade · #**1775** Posted **Apr 23, 2010, 5:49 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

many people are expecting and wanting the st pauls hospital next to the train station

People can except and want anything they like, but if there isn't the money for it (see skytrain: evergreen line), it may not happen.

And yes, I submitted my comments and talked to the planner from the city about my opinions. I asked him what the possibility would be of bringing some general financial notes to show where the money comes from and where it goes. It'd be nice to show to the nimbys that things actually cost money and that developers aren't all evil/born from the bowels of hell, out to destroy their lives.

SFUVancouver · #**1776** Posted **Apr 23, 2010, 6:33 AM**

A couple of other updates.

The social housing project at 1st and Main is under excavation.

The Maynards Block is undergoing site clearance and it looks like excavation may have started.

s211 · #**1777** Posted **Apr 23, 2010, 3:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by awvan

No one seemed to grasp what it costs to build anything. Thor (from the CoV) was trying to explain that currently, the city receives about $30 per square foot in DCCs and CACs, and that if the city were to allow the additional 2 stories the city would receive an additional $100 per square foot from these DCCs/CACs, which would amount to between $35-$50 million depending on how much the individual developers took advantage of. This wasn't good enough for most. As per the usual nimby attitude, they wanted all of the amenities and none of the new development.

WOW. For an 800 sf apartment, that means $80,000 of the price is on account of these "blackmail" charges, as my old boss used to call them.

Another reason why Vancouver prices are out of whack?

whatnext · #**1778** Posted **Apr 23, 2010, 5:18 PM**

Council votes to leave 252 restricted as social housing. Optics win out over common sense, not surprising with Vision.

...The overall cost of the units is $110 million and there was some discussion as to whether that money could have been better spent in other parts of the city. But Mayor Gregor Robertson held firm by telling council keeping the units for social housing will follow through on promise made during the bidding process for the 2010 games...
http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/47942--athletes-village-to-contain-social-housing

LeftCoaster · #**1779** Posted **Apr 23, 2010, 5:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by s211

WOW. For an 800 sf apartment, that means $80,000 of the price is on account of these "blackmail" charges, as my old boss used to call them.

Another reason why Vancouver prices are out of whack?

I believe that means the city receives an additional $100/sf for the ADDITIONAL units allowed, not every unit. When amortized across all the units in the building the $/sf would be much lower. You could figure it out with a quick calculation if you really want to know the premium paid by the developer.

SFUVancouver · #**1780** Posted **Apr 23, 2010, 6:13 PM**

They can call DLCs/CACs extortion if they like but developers certainly tout nearby parks and community centres when they sell their product.