Olympic Village & Southeast False Creek Updates Discussion

[wrenegade]

Thanks for the updates SFU. I have to say, the purple spandrel is different, I quite like it compared to the usual — that we see in this city. I'd still rather something else was used though.

Also, I've been told Maynards Block is looking at occupancy in October/November, and it's looking like occupancy with begin in late July for James (I've been told my unit will be early August).

[dleung]

Originally Posted by phesto

You can fault the developers all you want, but quite simply if the value of ground floor retail met or surpassed the value of residential upon completion of the project developers would be all over building retail as it often supports values for the residential. The fact is that retail rates (or strata sales as the case may be) for retail in most areas, including SEFC, do not make it profitable to build.

For reference, Intracorp's Silver project in Metrotown pre-sold all of it's strata retail at $700 psf in less than a week. If other areas like OV could do this, you'd see much larger and more creative retail spaces.

The reality for OV is that it is going to be locally oriented. The national brands and more specialized shops will stick to higher pedestrian traffic areas like West 4th and Broadway. In the absence of these types of tenants, lease rates for CRU spaces will remain low for the SEFC area. In turn, developers will avoid building it short of being required by the City on a project by project basis.

The city needs to require it then. To allow retail rents to dictate land use is a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure.

Ironically there seems to be no end of pressure to build car oriented type retail developments such as in tsawassen and sea island...

[vanman]

THanks for all the comprehensive updates SFU! Good to have you back for howhever a brief amount of time.

[SFUVancouver]

^ Thanks. I'm enjoying doing the updates. It's getting me out of the office and seeing what's changed in the city in my absence.

[Jimbo604]

Excavation continues at Omni's Central


Excavator and bin parked at Bosa's Lido development.


Excavation at Opsal.


Urban Fare all stocked up and ready to go for tomorrow's opening.

Photo credit: me

[officedweller]

Thanks for the pics!

[vanman]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

^ Thanks. I'm enjoying doing the updates. It's getting me out of the office and seeing what's changed in the city in my absence.

It is crazy how rapidly SEFC is developing.
I'm seriously thinking about buying a condo in the area in 2-3 years, if the prices remain stable.

[hollywoodnorth]

URBAN FARE opens in 18 minutes! 5 pm

I will be en route very soon!

now we just need the LD

[Jimbo604]

Status update!

Urban Fare is now open. Lots of people at grand opening. This will add a much needed boost of energy to the village. Their 7am-9pm seven days a week opening times will help with this boost too.

London Drugs: no progress on inside since the last photos here on this thread. They even removed the shop-lifting detecting posts outside (a step backwards??). However, not to be left out in the cold by the Urban Fare opening they put up half a dozen large signs announcing their grand opening on August 31st! Kudos for committing to a specific date.

Tap and Barrel restaurant: coming along, workers working on interior today.

Subway: also coming along, workers inside dry walling today.

[hollywoodnorth]

my photos from today!

[memememe76]

I went to OV to check out the new Urban Fare. A good number of people were at the cafe, but the actual lines for groceries were small. But it looks good.

It was the first time I got something at Terra Breads. It's usually not my favourite place (It seems all their products have fruit in them and their coffee is subpar). But I did order a mocha (which was good) and sat at the table overlooking the water. I must say, in terms of atmosphere, it may become my favourite place to get a coffee. The view is great, there is a good number of people in the area (there was a small number of women doing yoga near the big birds), and the seawall is just so lovely. I LOVE that pedestrian bridge. Just LOVE IT.

Why don't they have anything similar at the Convention Center? I mean--De Dutch? Really?

[SpongeG]

I can't wait to get back and check out urban fare, in all the stores I have been to the cafe is the draw, no one seems to shop there, not like regular buying it seems, I've never encountered a line up and never seen that many shoppers at any given time, I used to work at the one on alberni I quit last week...

[hollywoodnorth]

and we are at 70% occupancy .... from the RENNIE facebook page >>

Updated numbers for The Village On False Creek are in: 517 owners have already moved in—only 220 more will be able to call The Village home! http://ow.ly/bvOoa

[Trocadero]

Yeah Urban Fare! I've been living in a high density food desert until this week. It's a long walk to T&T, Buy Low or Save-On from Citygate. Not my ideal grocer, but I've been there 3X already. Hallelujah!

[sacrifice333]

West is reporting a 70% opening weekend sell.

And both Lido and Maynard's Presentation Centres will be closing soon.

[Jimbo604]

A lot of talk about sites under development in Southeast False Creek, what about sites that are not under development. Please add any information/comments you have.

First a map of SEFC developments:

This city web page has the map and a lot of information about the sites on the map:
http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/southeast/rezoning/index.htm

A map of other sites in SEFC:

Map source: © OpenStreetMap contributors, CC BY-SA



Site A - Automotive stores


Site B - Various stores


Site C - I think someone said some kind of supportive services were offered out of this building?


Site D - 201 West Second Avenue - Concord Pacific now owns this site. Changing City Blog has some more information - update


Site E - Blue building


Site F - Carwash. Opsal towers will be to the west and east of this.


Site G - Beside Pinnacle


Site H - Beside village. Vancouvermarket.ca has a June 12th article about how Translink sold this property to Concert Properties for $47 million.
source


Site I - Beside gas station


Site J - restaurant


Site K - Parking lot. City owns this? No plans for it?
Photo credits: me

A lot of talk about sites under development in Southeast False Creek, what about sites that are not under development. Please add any information/comments you have.

-Updated with information about "Site H" at 1st and Quebec, Translink sold this to Concert Properties for $47 million. source: vancouvermarket.ca June 12th

[jlousa]

The sale to Concert happened quite a while ago, pretty sure I posted it back when it occurred. I don't believe they will plan on building it all out immediately and will be slightly patient with it.

[SpongeG]

Vancouver is awesome is running a blog series on life in the village, someone moved in there and is bringing about life there, there is a good entry with lots if pictures on urban fare...

[sacrifice333]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Vancouver is awesome is running a blog series on life in the village, someone moved in there and is bringing about life there, there is a good entry with lots if pictures on urban fare...

Yeah, Bob Kronbrauer, the founder of VIA moved with his wife and son to the village about 6 weeks ago now. It's a 'partnership' with Rennie Marketing Systems. I don't know how long this partnership is set to go on for.

Whole series of "Life at The Village" here.

[entheosfog]

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

A lot of talk about sites under development in Southeast False Creek, what about sites that are not under development. Please add any information/comments you have.


Site G - Beside Pinnacle

Good work on all of this
However, I'm not sure why you have this building earmarked. 'Site G' is not going to be developed, it's privately owned and that building was only built in the early '90s. Whatever gets built on that corner will be built right up to this building.