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[BodomReaper]

Originally Posted by GeeCee

Does anyone know what's going to happen with the old Canadian Tire? It's a pretty old building, so I imagine that they are going to redevelop it.. (read: knock it down)

This is just speculation, but I'm almost certain we're going to be looking at 2 or 3 more towers, most likely with a deal to reconstruct the adjacent underpass which at present creates a massive traffic bottleneck and a dead zone in the middle of Downtown Poco. But nothing is going to be announced until the election is over and done with.

Personally I'd like to see the entire mall converted into a mixed-use community a la NewPort Village, but that won't happen until the stripmalls around Coquitlam Centre start redeveloping.

[GeeCee]

Originally Posted by BodomReaper

This is just speculation, but I'm almost certain we're going to be looking at 2 or 3 more towers, most likely with a deal to reconstruct the adjacent underpass which at present creates a massive traffic bottleneck and a dead zone in the middle of Downtown Poco. But nothing is going to be announced until the election is over and done with.

Personally I'd like to see the entire mall converted into a mixed-use community a la NewPort Village, but that won't happen until the stripmalls around Coquitlam Centre start redeveloping.

That would be ideal, but given the recent political uproar with the tower going up just across the street, I don't see any new towers going up in the immediate future.. at least not without Evergreen being extended along that corridor.

[giallo]

Thanks for the pictures, Reaper. The new tower fits in to the Poco cityscape quite well, though I'm sure the NIMBYs are still hating it.

[officedweller]

The 19 storey tower in Austin Heights was appoved by Ciquitlam Council -

http://www.tricitynews.com/news/133493238.html

*************

Big plans for dowtown Maple Ridge:

from the Maple Ridge News:

http://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/133498908.html

Big plans for downtown Dewdney


Hotel, seniors residences, condos and shops are proposed 224th Street corner.

By Phil Melnychuk - Maple Ridge News
Published: November 08, 2011 5:00 PM
Updated: November 09, 2011 7:38 AM

If council agrees, the busy downtown corner of 224th Street and Dewdney Trunk Road will be changing, in stages, resulting in five towers, from 15 to 25 storeys, housing a hotel, seniors residences, an educational institute, condos, restaurants and shopping.

The intent is to create a “people friendly village at the heart of Maple Ridge,” by aligning buildings on the perimeter of the property bordered by Dewdney Trunk, 224th and 223rd streets, and Brown Avenue, architect Peter Mallen told council Monday.

Within those boundaries, a courtyard will create a pedestrian-centred area.

Part of the project would involve re-aligning 224th Street, to remove the bend in the road just north of Dewdney.

Tom Meier, of Johnston Meier Insurance Agencies, first considered the project in 2008, but it was shelved because of the recession. The project will now be phased in over 10 years.

The drawings shown to council indicate the maximum build-out of the project, though it may vary in scale according to market conditions, Mallen said.

“Within the length of time, we’ll have a development that looks very close to the drawings.

“We’re really excited by bringing this forward … and getting this moving along.”

He said the project has been discussed for five years, and was excited to be moving forward on an entire block.

Mallen added later that it’s expected that the rezoning process will generate interest from other developers to partner in the process. A hotel, educational institute, and some large retailers have shown interest, and development applications are expected within a year.

Once larger tenants are signed, others usually follow. The residential towers planned for the north side of the project could be the last to be built. Even given the higher prices of concrete towers, there could be a market for people seeking to live there as opposed to wood-framed buildings, he said.

Coun. Craig Speirs, chairing Monday’s committee meeting, welcomed the project.

“This is a great journey. We’re really looking forward to it.”

The project involves 16 properties, and rezoning 10 of them, the remainder of which already have commercial zoning. All but one of the properties within the block has been assembled for the development. The rezoning application could later be replaced by a comprehensive development plan for the whole area, to be considered by council.

Overall, more than 226,000 square feet of commercial space and 693,000 sq. ft. of residential and hotel accommodation will result.

Mayor Ernie Daykin said the project will be a game-changer for downtown, even though it could take a decade to build out.

“It’s going to change the face of downtown Maple Ridge.

“Not very often do you get a chunk of property under one ownership, which is one of the biggest challenges in our downtown.”

A staff report says the proposal “aims to significantly increase” the downtown population and calls it one of the “most significant developments in the town centre in the past decade.”

A set of design guidelines will ensure that the project remains consistent over the number of years it is built.

The proposal went to council’s regular meeting on Tuesday.

[vanman]

^Thanks for posting. Found a rendering of the Austin looks decent:
http://www.beedieliving.ca/

Also on the same page that massive redevelopment of Station Square is listed as "Coming Soon".

[Metro-One]

Awesome news for Maple Ridge! Hope it happens, they will be our first towers built since the early 90s i think (or even 80s?). These towers are in a perfect spot too, downtown next to 224th (which is full of nice little shops/restaurants) close to a couple grocery stores, not to mention the city Leisure Centre, Library, city hall, etc...

[SpongeG]

area residents are trying or campaigning to get the coquitlam mayor out of office for approving that tower - how dare they do that in their neighbourhood - oi vei

anyone in coquitlam who can vote to support the mayor... really gona be quite the visible building

[GeeCee]

I'll never quite understand that particular brand of NIMBYs.. the area is so old and badly in need of redevelopment.

The whole Austin heights area is in dire need of a reboot. Hopefully this tower will give that a kick in the right direction.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by vanman

^Thanks for posting. Found a rendering of the Austin looks decent:
http://www.beedieliving.ca/

Also on the same page that massive redevelopment of Station Square is listed as "Coming Soon".

Should be .com, not .ca

Looks good.

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by vanman

^Thanks for posting. Found a rendering of the Austin looks decent:
http://www.beedieliving.ca/

Also on the same page that massive redevelopment of Station Square is listed as "Coming Soon".

good call!


Uploaded with ImageShack.us
pic c/o http://www.beedieliving.com/

[SpongeG]

i'd like to see the safeway site at austin redeveloped next - thats a great site with lots of potential

[Dylan Leblanc]

There was a segment on the news last night about the Austin tower in Coquitlam. An image was shown which had two towers, the second one appearing to be 25-30 floors, although I'm not sure it this was really a second tower or just a rendering of a taller design for a single tower, and was displayed alongside of a rendering of the 19 story tower.

Will there indeed be a second tower?

[officedweller]

I think the area is being intensified - so there probably is more than one - whether or not from the same developer.

[BodomReaper]

Originally Posted by Dylan Leblanc

There was a segment on the news last night about the Austin tower in Coquitlam. An image was shown which had two towers, the second one appearing to be 25-30 floors, although I'm not sure it this was really a second tower or just a rendering of a taller design for a single tower, and was displayed alongside of a rendering of the 19 story tower.

Will there indeed be a second tower?

The recently formulated Austin Heights Neighborhood Plan calls for "a series of high-rises joined by a 2-4 story street-wall" along Austin. I'm not sure if Beedie is planning a second tower, but there will certainly be many other projects.

The plan: http://www.coquitlam.ca/NR/rdonlyres/35E...4/111799/AHNPAdoptedApril42011forweb.pdf

[officedweller]

Thanks for the link.

I guess the reasoining for Auston rather than North rd. is that there was already a smaller neighbourhood centre there and it's more likely to be pedestrian friendly than trying to tame North Rd.

[SpongeG]

north road is changing though a lot of condos - lower rise ones and townhouses going up in the area - the area behind burquitlam plaza expecially is rapidly changing with many projeects either on the go or coming soon

a couple houses just near lougheed and north road were demolished a few months ago and a new low rise is going up right now - as well as a the townhouse development that went up at the old trailer court behind the husky is adding a whole bunch of new townhouses to the west just next to it

[officedweller]

From the Richmond News.

That strip mall where Michael's and Tim Horton's is is pretty new, too.
Too bad this isn't closer to Bridgeport Station.

Twin hotel and office tower plan lodged at city hall
By Alan Campbell, Richmond News
November 16, 2011

The City of Richmond is considering a plan to construct two hotels and a 12-storey office block in north Richmond.

A report placed before city council's planning committee last week detailed the Ampar Ventures' proposal to build adjacent to the Oak Street Bridge one nine-storey hotel, an 11-storey hotel and a business centre with near 130,000 square feet of office space.

If successfully hurdling a public hearing and gaining city council approval, the buildings would be constructed on the same site, a strip mall where Michael's and Tim Horton's reside.

However, current zoning on the proposed site allows only for single-family homes and school and institutional uses. Ampar has asked for four exceptions to city rules and currently enjoys city staff support of the plans.

Also, the office tower in question would stand at 47 metres, exceeding the area's height limit by 12 metres.

© Copyright (c) Richmond News

http://www.richmond-news.com/story.html?id=5720190

Richmond Review has a render (UGLY!)

Proposed trio of towers includes two new hotels


The proposed $100-million Ampri International Gateway Centre, as seen from Bridgeport Road.
artist rendering from IBI Group

By Matthew Hoekstra - Richmond Review
Published: November 10, 2011 9:00 AM
Updated: November 10, 2011 4:41 PM

A plan to build two hotels and a 12-storey office tower near the Oak Street Bridge is being pitched at Richmond City Hall.

A public report presented to a council committee Tuesday details an Ampar Ventures Ltd. proposal to build one nine-storey hotel, another 11-storey hotel and a business centre boasting 128,628 square feet of office space.

All three towers would be built on the same eight-lot site, sandwiched between Bridgeport Road, Beckwith Road, the Highway 99 viaduct to the Oak Street Bridge and Airport Gateway Plaza—a small strip mall anchored by Michael's and Tim Hortons.

"This proposed development represents a significant addition to the inventory of office space within the City Centre," said senior planner Brian Guzzi, in his report.

Guzzi, who is recommending approval, also noted the development "will serve as an important catalyst to encourage light-industrial development in the Bridgeport Village as well as continue to improve the visual interest and variety of architectural design in the surrounding area."

Current zoning of the lots allow for single-family homes and school and institutional uses.

Ampar Ventures Ltd., whose directors are Amitpal Sandhu and Paramjit Sandhu, is seeking four exceptions to city rules—but has the support of staff.

If built as proposed, the office tower would stand 47 metres tall, exceeding allowable height in the area by 12 metres (39 feet). But staff note the City Centre Area Plan allows for "flexibility."

The plan states: "Increased height may be permitted where it enhances public views to a designated 'gateway' or provides some other public benefit..."

The proposal also exceeds allowable density. But staff argue the plan is acceptable, in part "because the proposed hotels will support nearby industrial uses."

Staff also recommend exceptions allowing the hotels to extend beyond permitted boundaries of Bridgeport Road and to have non-industrial uses exceed industrial uses.

The project still requires council approval and will be subject of a public hearing.

http://www.richmondreview.com/news/133620888.html

Two hotels and an office block sounds like this one (at a different site unless the paper is mixed up) - but that link is now dead:

Originally Posted by Echowinds

Perhaps more significantly, on the same website there apparently are 2 hotels and an office building "coming in 2012" called Versante Hotel.

http://www.myiehomes.com/upcoming-projects/versante-hotel/

[Vancity]

Originally Posted by officedweller

From the Richmond News.

That strip mall where Michael's and Tim Horton's is is pretty new, too.
Too bad this isn't closer to Bridgeport Station.


http://www.richmond-news.com/story.html?id=5720190

Richmond Review has a render (UGLY!)


http://www.richmondreview.com/news/133620888.html

Two hotels and an office block sounds like this one (at a different site unless the paper is mixed up) - but that link is now dead:

I really hope that the render above is a first draft. better not be the final draft of what the buildings will look like. we need better buildings here in richmond. lol. the apartments look all the same. a little bit of style is all we're asking. is that too much?

[Echowinds]

Yeah, it is that one.

http://www.myiehomes.com/?p=38

The address is identical to the project in the news.

Personally, I rather prefer the bulk of developments to take place near the transit line rather than the highway, especially if the development has a large office component to it.

[SpongeG]

does richmond really need all those hotels? i know its so close to the airport, but thats a lot of them, and with the casino hotel expansion just completed