Olympic Village & Southeast False Creek Updates Discussion

[twoNeurons]

Great post jlousa. I'm also happy about the decision.

Another think that JLousa alluded to but didn't say outright is that Co-Ops are generally not only family friendly, but actually prefer them. Generally families are the ones that want a sense of community and security that co-ops offer.

The disadvantage is that Co-Ops aren't for everyone. Some people like to stay to themselves and don't want to know their neighbors. They don't like having to do mandatory volunteer work and they don't like the fact that everyone tends to know your business.

In most co-ops, you serve on a committee which is responsible for either landscaping, maintenance, membership or other things that are needed. I've always thought to myself that Co-Ops are "Small-scale communism that actually works".

But you bat the C word around and many people automatically think negatively.

[red_lantern]

I'm curious to know if there will be any serious maintenance issues if the buildings go unlived in for the entire year. Ie if the pipes freeze during the winter and the heating/cooling system...if it goes unused wouldn't there be serious maintenance issues to deal with?


On a side note about the social housing...I noticed in the building with the green balconies there was a BMW driving into the parkade...hmmm..makes me wonder how low an income is needed to live there.

[SpongeG]

it doesn't have to be low it can be fixed - you could have had a medical issue and been paid a large sum over it and unable to work again so you get a monthly income or had the money before something happened but no longer get that income etc.
you could have been working pulling in $100,000 a year and than one day unable to work and you can qualify for low income housing cause you can never work again

[Micky Luv]

As per my title, I'm seeking all members of this thread to share any insight about exactly who is in charge of the building efficiencies in the buildings now? The temperature last night was below -12 degrees and I've already heard some units heating weren't even working, with an ambient room temperature at 17-18 degrees at night with their thermostat set to MAX, people are complaining and now Millennium is off the hook, who will be responsible for this type of emergency? Any information will be greatly appreciated.

[jlousa]

I couldn't get my heat above 20 at home and at the office we were even lower at 18 for most of the day the heating system wouldn't shut off as it never reached it's set point. It's sweater season even indoors, that's for sure.

[Micky Luv]

Hi JLOUSA I'm having exactly the same issue here!
Ambient temperature in my living room as of this morning was barebly at 17 degrees!! and the little white digital device of the heat control unit in the ceiling above my den only shows 19 degrees (which I believe is where the hot water for heating coming in). Have you contacted anyone?

[whatnext]

I heard on News1130 London Drugs has confirmed they will not be open in OV until at least April.

[Micky Luv]

That is just wonderful... It explains why the construction which has been going on in the past months suddenly stopped a few weeks ago?

News link: http://www.vancouversun.com/story_print.html?id=3876242&sponsor=

[golog]

Maybe the temperature is a problem because adjoining units are vacant and with their thermostats all the way down?

[Micky Luv]

Could be, even if that's the case, this is totally unacceptable as the existing residents should have enough heating especially during the freezing, record-low cold days... this makes the building a completely living hell..

Originally Posted by golog

Maybe the temperature is a problem because adjoining units are vacant and with their thermostats all the way down?

[officedweller]

Isn't OV heat radiant heat from capillary mats in the ceilings and the walls?
Maybe the system can't keep up with the cooling due to the cold.

[240glt]

Adjoining suites shouldn't have an effect. Depending on what type of system is installed it could be a number of issues ranging from airlocks in heating water lines, improper balancing of heating or condenser loops, boiler systems or setbacks not set properly, improperly sized pumps.. on & on & on....

If there were problems during construction and due to the... umm... circumstances surrounding the buildings perhaps they were not commissioned properly, or maybe not even designed properly, which would result in these types of problems showing up when the buildings are running near design loads.

[SpongeG]

would they turn on the heat in empty units?

[officedweller]

The other factor is that the energy efficiency of the units means that the systems are not designed for a fast response - but act as a passive system, so maybe don't turn it down when you leave home. See info here:

http://www.thechallengeseries.ca/chapter-05/energy-design/#insuite

http://www.thechallengeseries.ca/chapter-05/energy-implementation/

[SpikePhanta]

Originally Posted by Micky Luv

Could be, even if that's the case, this is totally unacceptable as the existing residents should have enough heating especially during the freezing, record-low cold days... this makes the building a completely living hell..

Stop complaining, just wear a sweater walking around, and extra blankets while sleeping and watching tv.

Originally Posted by officedweller

The other factor is that the energy efficiency of the units means that the systems are not designed for a fast response - but act as a passive system, so maybe don't turn it down when you leave home. See info here:

http://www.thechallengeseries.ca/chapter-05/energy-design/#insuite

http://www.thechallengeseries.ca/chapter-05/energy-implementation/

I have the same sort of system in my house, even for the hot water, its much more passive.

[red_lantern]

Too bad that London Drugs isn't open in the village, the residents could purchase some portable fans that would warm any room up in seconds. Much better than the Geothermal system they have in place.

[madmigs]

Originally Posted by Micky Luv

Could be, even if that's the case, this is totally unacceptable as the existing residents should have enough heating especially during the freezing, record-low cold days... this makes the building a completely living hell..

I had a similar issue in the condo(635 sq. ft - 1 bedroom) I moved into like 5 years ago, that I had bought presale, and moved in within a week or two of the final residency date. It was cold that year and even with both my baseboards and 750W electric fireplace going, the baseboard heaters never turned off as the set temp was never reached. It got better as more people moved in, and the rooms above and on both sides were occupied and heated to a normal temp instead of the original temp set by the builder to prevent pipe freezing.

Albeit living above the unheated parkade meant my unheated floors are frigid cold during the winter made me demand the builder give me bigger baseboard heaters as the air temp still wasn't reaching my desired temp to keep me from freezing even with multiple layers on. Note to self - never get a condo above unheated space ever again. The bigger baseboards helped to finally get my place to a decent temp - needless to say I have huge heating bills in winter. Finally had to take the plunge for a heated foot rest so as to keep my feet from freezing off...

I hope you guys figure out the heating problem as its bound to be a cold snowy year this year with La Nina in full effect.

[jlousa]

The Legacy liquor store had it's opening party last night, looks really good.

OV goes back on sale Feb 12th, no idea why they chose that date.
Bob is confident it will sell out within 2-3yrs, perhaps even sooner.
With only 400units downtown completing in 2012 compared to 3300units in 2008 there will certainly be a shortage of new product. We'll see though how much of that is at the high end. We'll see if he can still work his magic.
Go Bob Go.

[city-dweller]

The media hasn't really mentioned inventories. Its interesting that they generally talk about tax payer bailout, when the total loss/gain is measured after all assets from Millenimum have been sold. I don't think its an issue of being able to sell the units, but rather an issue of when and how much. If they cut prices they could move the units faster, and cut the long-term servicing cost. If they wait it out the servicing cost could wipe any possible gains and lead to larger loss. What would be intereting to know, is how unit sales affect the servicing cost or is it pretty fixed until the majority of units have sold? The other risk of lowering the prices for the next two years, is the global economy could improve and the buyers could re-sell for a much better price. The city would take a PR beating for taking a loss.

Anyway, its a good project that got blidesided by the global recession. I think the other developments in that area will benefit the OV by making it less of an island in the city. Also, there needs to be multiple reasons to go to that area besides residents. The community center, liquor store and london drugs is a start. Once more small stores open up, visibility as a place 'to be' will help the sales.

[twoNeurons]

I don't think it was "blindsided" by the global recession as much as it was built near the peak of a housing bubble and no one evaluated what would happen if the market cooled.

There are a bunch of other factors besides a recession that could have caused an even bigger collapse (as opposed to the flattening we got).