[Surrey] 3 Civic Plaza | 164m | 48 fl | Completed

[Millennium2002]

They should really close that residency/citizenship for cash "loophole"...

[theQ]

Originally Posted by OilerNut

Went to the Nov 22 showing. Didn't say/show much. Kept saying how the tower will be a landmark, be the focal point of the city, be the most desired building in the Vancouver area. Compared it to the living shangri la.

Also there will only be one lobby shared by the condo and the hotel along with a coffee shop and restaurant.

So I am guessing it is going to be insanely overpriced.

Personally, I'm glad to see an "exclusive" development come to Central City. This tower, along with the Concord Pacific Park Avenue, will test how much people are willing to pay to live in Whalley. It's not that long ago that the only reason that many people would move to Whalley was because it was/is cheaper than Burnaby and New West, but still on the skytrain line.

These new expensive/exclusive developments have a chance to change that attitude and, depending on their success, will probably shape future developments.

IMO if 3 Civic Plaza and Park Avenue are a success, then we'll see other higher class developments in the area. At this point, proposed developments like Bosa and Holland Point could go either way - I'd prefer seeing them on the "exclusive" end of things. I'm still happy to see cheaper developments like the Wave, but I'd be happy if there were some nicer units built.

I'm hoping that the hotel portion of the development will be well branded. I feel that having a Westin or Pan Pacific or Fairmont (maybe Hilton) hotel in Central City will do a lot to improve the reputation of the Whalley and to the entire Civic Centre re-development. If the hotel is branded as a Holiday Inn or Best Western, it'll almost cheapen the whole project. I think that people will be more willing to pay top $$$ to buy a condo in the same project as a Westin (or similar) hotel. Most of these hotels are franchises, one just needs to pay enough $$$ and keep high standards to use the name (Fairmont may be an exception, I'm not sure).

[OilerNut]

Was just told "the 2 bedroom homes will be priced in the mid $400,000 range. These homes will range is size from 800 square feet to approximately 1,000 square feet."

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by OilerNut

Was just told "the 2 bedroom homes will be priced in the mid $400,000 range. These homes will range is size from 800 square feet to approximately 1,000 square feet."

If that's true those prices are actually quite respectable given this project especially when you compare to Ultra's prices and equal projects in Burnaby or Vancouver.

[Whalleyboy]

so looks like they are getting ready to do the real estate centre

http://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/PLR_7912-0322-00.pdf

[CoryHolmes]

Hmm. It looks like their sales centre will be in the former Go Bannas building.

[Diet Butcher]

Looks like the Presentation Center is scheduled to open Mid-Late Feb

[Klazu]

There are some new renderings on the New Condo Guide magazine, if I am not mistaken.

[officedweller]

Nice find. Thanks.

[Whalleyboy]

so looking at council report looks like this has a few minor changes
http://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/CR_2013-L002.pdf

The original proposal considered by Council in June, 2102 comprised of a 76-metre (250 ft.) high,
26-storey hotel tower and a 144 metre (472 ft.) high, 45-storey commercial, office and residential
mixed-use tower.
The development is now being modified to reduce the height of the hotel from 26 to 24 storeys
and to add two floors to the residential component of the northerly tower of the project. The
developer also proposes to remove the indoor and outdoor amenity spaces and to replace the
amenity spaces with residential dwelling units. A second floor is being added to the roof-top
residential units to create 5, 2-storey townhouse-type units at the top of the building.
As a result of these revisions, the northerly tower has increased in height from 45 storeys to
48 storeys, or from 158 metres (518 ft.) to 164 metres (538 ft.), measured from ground level to the
top of the mechanical penthouse.

[officedweller]

Very nice!
I guess a thread title change is in order.

That would be the 3rd tallest in the Lower Mainland after Shangri-La and Vancouver's Turn (and potebntially further down if Brentwood maxes out).

[CoryHolmes]

Originally Posted by Whalleyboy

so looking at council report looks like this has a few minor changes
http://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/CR_2013-L002.pdf

I've been thinking about this for the last few days, and I have to admit that the idea of there being NO amenity space is a big turn-off. It's almost a deal-breaker I'm sad to say. I love the location, I love the idea, I love almost everything about the 3 Civic Plaza project (*cough*except prices*cough*).

But no gym or theatre space or games room at all? Then what are we paying for with the high prices? Will the montly strata fees be less because of it?

[red-paladin]

I have updated the title

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by CoryHolmes

But no gym or theatre space or games room at all? Then what are we paying for with the high prices? Will the montly strata fees be less because of it?

I would expect that strata fees would be lower without amenities. Residents often don't use the amenites either.

Is there a gym in the hotel that residents can use? The library and the rec centre are also close by (maybe the City wants to encourage use of civic facilities).

The alternative is what's seen in other condo-hotel mixed use projects in Vancouver - where there is a shared facility and the condo owners effectively subsidize the hotel use of the facility.

[privatejet]

If you take a look at the plans, the hotel has a full floor spa/fitness / pool area. I would imagine that access will be marketed / included with the condos. A way to keep costs down.

And given they are seeking some parking easements (less than one stall per unit [~40 ish stalls]) it seems they are trying to price keenly.

[Whalleyboy]

I believe i read some where they will have access to the some of the hotel amenities that was part of the reason why the council agrees with taking away the amenities from the apartment part.

Plus with north surrey rec being right there they have easy access to there as well. Note plans only call for the ice rinks to be taken out not the gym and pool.

[GMasterAres]

Yes it is to remove duplication of amenities and to allow them to build more residences aka make more money. Also note the top 2 floors will now be townhouse style units which opens up the possibility of 3 bedroom units within a tower of this size. Obviously they will go for a huge premium but if there is something I've learned in shopping for 3 bedroom units in Surrey Central recently (and buying 1), city center lacks options and because of that the 3 bedroom available units are grossly overpriced in many projects.

If I want 3 bedrooms I shouldn't need to move out to Fleetwood or down to Newton to afford something. So I think this is good and let's face it, more height. 164 meters nice.

[Innsertnamehere]

interesting article on this..

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on...cities-become-developers/article8169738/

[huenthar]

More height=good

[sryboy]

here's some new renderings on Surrey604.com

http://surrey604.com/civic-hotel-at-3-civic-plaza-surrey-glimpses-of-the-future/