Surrey City Centre Redevelopment Plans

[Whalleyboy]

Originally Posted by TheEmotionalstone

Tien Sher's "Quattro West" development is now in Surrey's July 23 planning reports. The proposal has 4 towers and is 5.5 FAR (above the 3.5 FAR set by the city).

http://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/PLR_7912-0172-00.pdf

(On another note, a crane went up at the City Centre Professional Building being built by the Lark Group last night (July 19/20) - http://www.citycentreprofessionalbldg.com/ - 207.6.222.140:2424/view/viewer_index.shtml?id=637)

since you missed out on adding photos of the Tien Sher's towers







i hope maybe these can spark gateway office park up again. since it will bring a lot of people in to the area and surely more office companys would be willing to invest this time around with knowing there is a good work force near by along with skytrain.

[osirisboy]

oh mother of god!!! is that a brand new parking lot on the corner of 108 and king george they are planning???? good job surrey

a;so, whats going on with the "future building" at the corner of 108 and 138, why is it set so far back from 138?

[invisibleairwaves]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

oh mother of god!!! is that a brand new parking lot on the corner of 108 and king george they are planning???? good job surrey

a;so, whats going on with the "future building" at the corner of 108 and 138, why is it set so far back from 138?

That's not part of this project, it's just a context thing. One hopes that common sense would prevail by the time someone gets around to developing that lot.

What does bother me, though, is the appearance of what looks like townhomes along Whalley Blvd., right across the street from where the very same developer has built a very promising retail streetwall. Really? And I sure hope that "ground floor commercial" isn't limited to just the street corner. Hard to tell from the PDF, but it'll be a pretty big disappointment if it isn't all the way along KGB.

[GMasterAres]

Can also note in the background that the hospital tower is nearly topped out. Final floor complete just doing the top helipad landing roof and elevator shaft.

[GMasterAres]

And about time on the Quatro project.

[tybuilding]

Does including 1 floor of 1 building as commercial qualify as "mixed use"?

[mosup]

Eh, I dunno. I'm a little skeptical of this proposed Tien Sher development. Quattro 3 hasn't sold out, Quattro 4 hasn't started construction and already the company is starting the planning phase of a four tower community. Uhm, where are they getting the money?

The tower concepts are lazily rendered and the community plan looks half assed. Where are the structure blueprints? And detailed reports?

I think the planning a report is a lot of fluff to lure in speculators into investing. I doubt it will work though, any smart investor would take a walk around that neighbourhood and quickly dismiss it as valid property to put money in. The area is too sketchy at the moment, perhaps if the rundown shops (— stores, pawn shops, loan sharks) were torn down and lease signs were up for the empty parcels of land it would give Gateway a clean slate and appear more investor friendly.

[SpongeG]

thats the same thing people used to say about yaletown when it was beginning to redevelop - now look what that turned into

yaletown was full of hookers, autobody shops, empty warehouses, sketchy businesses etc.

[juniorpnm]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

thats the same thing people used to say about yaletown when it was beginning to redevelop - now look what that turned into

yaletown was full of hookers, autobody shops, empty warehouses, sketchy businesses etc.

Some would say Yaletown is now full of gold diggers, a luxury car dealership, high-end/exclusive loft apartments and businesses.

One extreme to another - no happy medium.

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by mosup

Eh, I dunno. I'm a little skeptical of this proposed Tien Sher development. Quattro 3 hasn't sold out, Quattro 4 hasn't started construction and already the company is starting the planning phase of a four tower community. Uhm, where are they getting the money?

The tower concepts are lazily rendered and the community plan looks half assed. Where are the structure blueprints? And detailed reports?

I think the planning a report is a lot of fluff to lure in speculators into investing. I doubt it will work though, any smart investor would take a walk around that neighbourhood and quickly dismiss it as valid property to put money in. The area is too sketchy at the moment, perhaps if the rundown shops (— stores, pawn shops, loan sharks) were torn down and lease signs were up for the empty parcels of land it would give Gateway a clean slate and appear more investor friendly.

Woodwards?

But clearly you can't sell anything in a sketchy part of town. And besides, this proposal gets rid of a large focal point of that area being sketchy, the Flamingo. With the Dell closed down and teh Flamingo demolished with this proposal, the sketchy factor will reduce even more. I have friends who moved just north of 108th into a new townhouse complex. They had the same concerns you've voiced when they moved in, coming from Port Moody.

"Oh god there will be druggies everywhere and break ins and and and..." now 1 year later, they are saying "Not anywhere near as bad as I thought." There are more homeless people rumaging through your garbage in Kitsilano than in the Gateway area right now honestly. I've also lived in Surrey my entire life and have had someone take a giant — on the hood of my car (no joke) only in 1 place, Kitsilano. Is that a sketchy area? I dunno. From my perspective, I don't have people taking craps on the hood of my car anywhere in Surrey...

So a little perspective and reality here. Gateway is not _that_ bad. Not anymore. If you have someone in your building growing pot, welcome to metro Vancouver. Ask any VPD and they'll tell you every single high rise in downtown Vancouver has at least 1 growop and a 50% chance of at least 1 meth lab. Is all of downtown Vancouver sketchy then? That stuff happens in a big city.

As for Quatro 3, you will recall they had a massive fire that set back the overall project considerably. Most people invested pulled out and it takes time to start getting that interest back. I am however skeptical of any project until it breaks ground including this one.

But I don't think it is as unrealistic as you think. City Pointe?

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by jhausner

"Oh god there will be druggies everywhere and break ins and and and..." now 1 year later, they are saying "Not anywhere near as bad as I thought." There are more homeless people rumaging through your garbage in Kitsilano than in the Gateway area right now honestly. I've also lived in Surrey my entire life and have had someone take a giant — on the hood of my car (no joke) only in 1 place, Kitsilano. Is that a sketchy area? I dunno. From my perspective, I don't have people taking craps on the hood of my car anywhere in Surrey...

That's just cause all the kids in Kitsilano are stoned out of their minds.

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by Jebby

That's just cause all the kids in Kitsilano are stoned out of their minds.

Very true. Still the point was that I just constantly hear people looking down on Whalley, Surrey Central, or even Surrey as a whole when really they should look in the mirror and realize that where they live is just as good/bad as everywhere else in the region. I hear people in Abbotsford say "Glad I don't live in Surrey" and I look at them and wonder if they realize the organized crime and drug trade going on in their own city. Or people in Kits saying "Wow you live in Surrey Central? Do you pack a —?" while their car is having someone — on it and homeless guy #78 is picking through their garbage.

It just makes me sigh at the ignorance there is. All areas in metro-Vancouver have their issue. Some have drugs, some have car theft, some have break ins, some have fraud. That's part of being in the big city. But to stick up noses like someone's area is magically better than another or even within Surrey where people will say "Oh I live in White Rock" or "I live in Ocean Park" instead of "South Surrey" where they actually live, makes me just sigh.

You can't FIX issues if you don't acknowledge them and Surrey has a big leg up on a lot of areas regionally in that it admits to its problems and has been actively working on them for several years now. There are many areas in the region that could and should be taking notes because in 10 years they'll be wondering what happened in their "better than Surrey" areas.

[CoryHolmes]

The only thing that really bothers me with this location has to be the amenities near it. By that, I mean shops and services. The nearest large-scale grocery store is Safeway on 104 and KGB, and you'll have to drive there to get any decent amount of groceries and not have your arms fall off at the end.

I guess I'm just a bit spoiled since my recent visit to Plaza 88 in New West, where the closest Safeway... was about 37 storeys down

[memememe76]

There is the Buy-Low Foods (even the IGA on 148 may be closer than the Safeway or Save On). I would love a No Frills in that space instead.

In terms of all the condo developments in that area, Quattro would be my last choice. All the other developments are A LOT closer to a Skytrain.

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by CoryHolmes

The only thing that really bothers me with this location has to be the amenities near it. By that, I mean shops and services. The nearest large-scale grocery store is Safeway on 104 and KGB, and you'll have to drive there to get any decent amount of groceries and not have your arms fall off at the end.

I guess I'm just a bit spoiled since my recent visit to Plaza 88 in New West, where the closest Safeway... was about 37 storeys down

That happens everywhere though. If you live on the beach in the west end your closest grocery store is a long ways away. There are a few small little corner stores right next to that space. Safeway in the westend? Over on Robson. If you don't live near there it's just as far to walk.

You basically have Safeway on Robson and then Super Valu on Davie. So I don't think it is too bad. It's about 4 blocks (6-8 Vancouver blocks away).

[memememe76]

Originally Posted by jhausner

That happens everywhere though. If you live on the beach in the west end your closest grocery store is a long ways away. There are a few small little corner stores right next to that space. Safeway in the westend? Over on Robson. If you don't live near there it's just as far to walk.

You basically have Safeway on Robson and then Super Valu on Davie. So I don't think it is too bad. It's about 4 blocks (6-8 Vancouver blocks away).

You have a No Frills in Denman Centre (or mall? oh, whatever). There are a Safeway and London Drugs on Denman *very* close to English Bay. The West End has a lot of options.

And where is the closest beach to Quattro?

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by memememe76

You have a No Frills in Denman Centre (or mall? oh, whatever). There are a Safeway and London Drugs on Denman *very* close to English Bay. The West End has a lot of options.

Define very close?

Denman market is 550 meters from English Bay. Also if you look at No Frills and a 300 meter radius, you miss most of the west end. Do the same 300 meter radius around this project and there is Buy Rite Foods and 7 Days Grocery within the same distance as the equal downtown.

The project is 230 meters from Buy Rite and 150 meters from 7 Days. Don't think that is too unreasonable. Not to mention for people on skytrain coming, just stop at Safeway at New West station and you're a 5 minute walk from Gateway.

People will manage. That's what little grocery pull carts are for.

And where is the closest beach to Quattro?

Huh? There is no beach near Quattro. I don't quite understand you? I said "Beach in the west end." if that's what you're refering too. Last I checked, the west end was in downtown Vancouver.

[LotusLand]

Originally Posted by memememe76

You have a No Frills in Denman Centre (or mall? oh, whatever). There are a Safeway and London Drugs on Denman *very* close to English Bay. The West End has a lot of options.

And where is the closest beach to Quattro?

There are a ton of options for Grocery in the West End. I counted 12 in total. 2 safeways, Urban Fare, Whole Foods, No Frills, Cardero's Grocery, IGA (On the eastern edge could be considered downtown) Denman Market, Windsor Market etc.. c'mon son.

[GMasterAres]

Don't distract from the fact there are probably as many people living just in the west end of downtown Vancouver than there are in all of central Surrey right now. Obviously I don't have any true stats at my finger tips to back up my outlandish claim, but realistically you're looking at two completely differently ages population centers. Population needs to be there first. I'd wager most of the stores mentioned didn't exist 20 years ago in the west end.

My point is that there are enough little grocery stores within rock throwing distance of 108th/KGB to justify a project of this scale. And who is to say a food store won't go into the retail.

And if a few people need to drive, oh well. People moving to Surrey still can't get rid of their cars. I still think Surrey Central and truely car free living is a decade or 2 away at our current pace.

[sryboy]

I think this Project is cool. I like the tree on the roof take borrowed from English bay high rise. Realistically I dont see these being comp[leted before 2017-18. I would love to see the comments about Yaletown and Kits from 20 years ago! lol I bet they prob sounded the same as these do about Surrey Central.