Cambie Corridor Updates

[easy as pie]

i think if you look at what's to come in that gateway area, you'll see that the marine gateway project is just the first volley in what's set to be a major increase of residential density at that site. with time, we could imagine the 3-4 blocks around the station as a high rise area similar-but-superior to collingwood, with thousands of residents and jobs. though it could have been better in a lot of ways (better design, taller, more residents, more commercial space, better street orientation, etc) seems to me that the marine gateway is broadly in line with that vision.

[squeezied]

Originally Posted by federal777

I understand that density=ridership, but hasn't Canada Line already exceeded ridership targets and will probably for the forseeable future with development that's already been approved and population increases in other regions of Metro Vancouver.

You're advocating for office space along Cambie Corridor, giving reason that the Canada Line has already exceeded ridership targets and that further residential developments will only further overburden the system.

Apparently you don't realize office space per square footage attracts 4X more ridership than that of residential space. So by your reasoning there shouldn't be any office developments.


The fact is the Canada Line can still accommodate more ridership and office, residential, and retail space is needed.

[LeftCoaster]

Office space will get built as demand dictates.

You can't force office space to be built simply by restricting residential.

There is plenty of transit accessible space outside of the core across the metro for new office developments.

Also mixing uses such as what is seen at Marine Gateway is the right way to create a 24/7 transit node. Pure office areas outside of the financial district are relics of an outdated method of city planning and do not create the most desirable urban spaces.

[squeezied]

Display boards from last Thursday's open house on the Public Realm: http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/cambie-public-realm-open-house-information-boards-dec-2012.pdf

[hollywoodnorth]

I was happy to see this happening sooner than later. this is a great chunk of land for redevelopment and hopefully we get the skytrain station out of it!


The City of Vancouver’s Planning Department and Vancouver Coastal Health are initiating the first phase of a comprehensive planning program to consider the redevelopment of the Pearson Dogwood Lands, located on Cambie Street, between 57th and 59th Avenues. VCH would like to renew the existing site to meet the current and future health care needs of the community while introducing a mix of new uses.

You are invited to attend a public open house to view background materials, learn about the goals and objectives of the project and provide your feedback. Staff from the City of Vancouver and Vancouver Coastal Health will be available to receive your input and answer your questions.

Dates & Times

Thursday, January 31st , 5-8 pm
Saturday, February 2nd, 10 am - 2 pm
Location:

Pearson Dogwood Project Office

601, West 59th Avenue, Vancouver



For more information please go to:


www.Vancouver.ca/pearson




Policy Review Schedule
As of January 2013, the City has intitiated a comprehensive planning program in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health to create a policy statement to guide the redevelopment of the Pearson Dogwood site. The process will include many opportunities for community members and stakeholders to provide their feedback and ideas.
The following is a typical timeline for a policy planning program:

Major Projects Process: 12-18 months
•Initial meetings with community
•Identify and clarify objectives
•Develop concepts with community
•Refine and evaluate concepts with community
•Draft area policies
•Public input on policies
•Policies presented to Council for approval
•Rezoning process (if supported)

Rezoning Process: 12-18 months
•Enquiry by developer
•Submission or proposal (application)
•Public information meeting
•Staff evaluation and recommendations
•Outcomes: approval, conditional approval, or refusal


Background

George Pearson Centre was built as a tuberculosis sanatorium in 1952. Currently, it houses 120 residents who live with a range of physical disabilities. The facility includes a warm-water pool that is a valuable asset for rehabilitation. The site is also home to Dogwood Lodge, which was built approximately 30 years ago and provides complex care to 113 seniors. Both facilities are operated by Vancouver Coastal Health.

[whatnext]

Great news, long overdue.

[officedweller]

Hopefully they will be smart enough to phase the project so the current residents do not get displaced during the construction process.

The "future" Canada Line station should be a mandatory part of the project.

[jlousa]

I'm torn on a station at 57th, with a new station in Richmond and another one at potentially 33rd as well there might be too many stations. Looking at the distances it looks like without a station at 57th (which is the fartherest point from Langara/Marine Dr) it's only 900M either way which is just outside the 800m circle transit planners recommend. It's aided slightly by the slope though as most people heading home would probably get off at 49ths and walks down the slope, and those catching the train would probably chose to walk down the slope to Marine Gateway.
Don't know, if we had to pick one station to give up I think this one might be it.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by jlousa

I'm torn on a station at 57th, with a new station in Richmond and another one at potentially 33rd as well there might be too many stations. Looking at the distances it looks like without a station at 57th (which is the fartherest point from Langara/Marine Dr) it's only 900M either way which is just outside the 800m circle transit planners recommend. It's aided slightly by the slope though as most people heading home would probably get off at 49ths and walks down the slope, and those catching the train would probably chose to walk down the slope to Marine Gateway.
Don't know, if we had to pick one station to give up I think this one might be it.

IMHO 33rd should be given up first. The church there isn't going anywhere and neither is QE Park. 57th already has adjacent highrises, is near a school and has now has a big plot of land available from a single owner. Not to mention the possibility of developing some/all of the golf course.

[officedweller]

The RCMP site is near 33rd and the St. Vincent's hospital site is being redeveloped. 33rd would also provide a backdoor stop for Children's & Women's Hospitals and the other Oak St. facilities. The jog in Cambie takes you 1/3rd the way to Oak St. Zoom in - both St. Vincent's and RCMP are across from each other at 33rd & Heather.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&bav=on....i=GCX-ULyNKI_oiALEmIGAAg&ved=0CCwQ8gEwAA

The line was designed for these additional stops. I don't see a problem with them. If there's a redundant staton, it's already been built at Olympic Village.

[logan5]

OV Station ain't a total loss yet, there is still a lot of development potential. An office development right over top of the station seems like a good fit if demand ever warrants it. Still can't believe they skipped past Mt. Pleasant tho. When the M line extension is built, we will finally get a rapid transit station (in Mt. Pleasant).

[officedweller]

I really just meant in terms of proximity to Broadway-City Hall Station.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I really just meant in terms of proximity to Broadway-City Hall Station.

It is incredibly close, although also on a hill, so that's something.

The distance from the actual OV is what bothers me. The station isn't even named correctly. Looking at a map, you could argue that OV Station is in fact closer to City Hall (the building) than it is to the OV...

[huenthar]

Yeah I wish it was just called "False Creek station" like the original plan. I hate the name change...

[officedweller]

There's a plan of the St. Vincent's campus (@ 33rd) in this document:

http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20130312/documents/p1.pdf


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[Alon]

That's not exactly the most pedestrian-friendly design.

[officedweller]

It's an institutional building.
They typically do not have pedestrian friendly designs, as they aren't surrounded by retail, nor multiple access points.

[Alon]

You can have institutional buildings that front the street without setbacks, allow space for street-level retail, and so on. Look at NYU, for example. Even Columbia, with its inward-facing campus, doesn't have setbacks; its buildings just present a blank street wall.

[officedweller]

We have examples of those too, but those are downtown, not adjacent to a single family area.

[jlousa]

Probably the best place for this, looks like a motion going to council on the 23rd. Doesn't say much but certainly implies that we could see some sizable density landed at the Pearson site and the city expects it's share of the money.

Planning Process for Pearson Lands

1. The City of Vancouver seeks to be a leader in the provision of accessible services to people with disabilities;
2. Vancouver Coastal Health has decided to replace the health care facilities at George Pearson Centre as part of a major redevelopment of this site;
3. Council’s Persons with Disabilities Advisory Committee has expressed concern about the nature of the new facilities and heard submissions that the hospital should not be rebuilt but replaced with community- based independent living arrangements;
4. The Province of BC has set early deadlines to achieve significant revenue from the development of the Pearson lands, although the planning process has just begun;
5. The Pearson planning process is separate from the Marpole Community Plan and the Cambie Corridor Plan, and the resulting development will be a major project in the Marpole area.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council direct staff to:

advise Vancouver Coastal Health that the City will require assurances that the mix of health care services, facilities and residential options for people
with disabilities resulting from the redevelopment reflects global best practices and full consultation;

remind Vancouver Coastal Health that increases in land value resulting from rezoning may result in community amenity charges offered to the city, which are not, under current policy, available to subsidize capital investments in health facilities and residential options that are a provincial responsibility;

seek opportunities to ensure that the planned George Pearson development
maximizes the number of fully accessible and appropriately supported units
available to current residents at the existing site.