Olympic Village & Southeast False Creek Updates Discussion

[spm2013]

However, the city isn’t coming out of this fully recompensed. In 2010 it took a $48 million writedown on the properties. It is also unclear whether the debt recovery includes the balance of the outstanding $170 million debt Millennium owed to the city for the land. It had agreed to buy the land for the development from the city for $200 million but only put down a deposit of $30 million. In 2011 Coun. Geoff Meggs said he didn’t expect the city to recover that amount from the sales, and in fact the city could be on the hook for upwards of $100 million once the dust settles.

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Aqu...lympic+Village+condos/9784174/story.html

[svlt]

Thanks nds88 and wrenegade. I'll be checking out the area more and more as the weather begins to improve. Any word on when this supposed school will be built? I'm assuming it's an elementary school, which I'm sure that would reinforce the need/desire to make the area safer. Have you guys also noticed any changes in the overall water quality of the False Creek area, being a former industrialized site? I know it's not safe to swim in yet, but are they taking steps to have it cleaned up a bit?

[spm2013]

Originally Posted by svlt

Thanks nds88 and wrenegade. I'll be checking out the area more and more as the weather begins to improve. Any word on when this supposed school will be built? I'm assuming it's an elementary school, which I'm sure that would reinforce the need/desire to make the area safer. Have you guys also noticed any changes in the overall water quality of the False Creek area, being a former industrialized site? I know it's not safe to swim in yet, but are they taking steps to have it cleaned up a bit?

There are water reports on Coastal Health website:

http://www.vch.ca/your_environment/water...uality-report/beach_water_quality_report

Pretty sure raw sewages goes into there when there are heavy rainstorms and the sewers overflow.

And the elementary school would be between the Cambie bridge and OV. The school board will seek funding from the ministry from between 2016-2018 and the hopefully build them post-2018 along with another school around Science World. Wouldn't expect anything in the near term. (From a March 2014 report from the VSB)

Olympic Village Elementary (K-7 capacity 438)

[SpongeG]

water was clean enough a few years ago for that whale to swim to the end of false creek


Photo credit: @katerainy on Twitter

[spm2013]

^^ It's probably dead after swimming in there.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by spm2013

There are water reports on Coastal Health website:

http://www.vch.ca/your_environment/water...uality-report/beach_water_quality_report

Pretty sure raw sewages goes into there when there are heavy rainstorms and the sewers overflow.

Yeah, there are still a number of "Combined Sewer Overflows" that empty into the creek (but fwer than there used to be).

Sewers in Vancouver and New West are "combined" - carrying both sanitary sewage and storm water sewage. When there is a rain storm, storm water (from streets, etc.) overwhelm the capacity of the sewer pipes and the "overflows" are like relief valves that prevent combined sewage from backing up into people's homes and businesses.

There's a Metro Vancouver project to replace all combined sewers in both cities (to separated sewers) that started some time ago (1980s?) - but because of the tax burden, the plan is being implemented over 50 years.

There is also an isue with moored boats dumping untreated sewage into the creek, but that has lessened since licensing became required a few years ago.

The East Basin (east of Cambie) does not "flush" well with the tides, so it is the worst part of the creek.

[jlousa]

I believe the combined overflows in False Creek are now a thing of the past, the city has been replacing roughly 1% of the combined pipes every year plus and of course all new developments. They have targeted certain areas first with the false creek basin being one of them. I believe the PNE sanctuary basin and trout lake were the other 2 top priorities.
Personally I believe if they were to ban mooring east of the Cambie st bridge the water would meet health Canada guidelines within a decade.
A couple of years ago the water levels were actually quite respectable but last year it took a turn for the worse again.

[officedweller]

I understand there is at least one just west of Marinaside Marina. You notice the flow when paddling past.

[spm2013]

There were two combined storm sewer outfalls left in 2010:

Crowe Street East and Heather Street

Crowe had 92,300 M(3) and Heather 3,652,000 M(3) annual overflow.

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/regions/low...rrard-Point-Source-2010-Report-Final.pdf

No idea on their current status, but Heather was still discharging in 2012. Heather is Metro Vancouver's.

[officedweller]

Thanks!
The one I mentioned is probably just a storm water outfall then (#451).

[WarrenC12]

On the school topic it's worth noting that school near International Village is already approved and should begin construction shortly. I think the VSB should really wait a few years to gauge demand. I think it will happen, but no need to build it too soon.

[spm2013]

FYI: Here's the Vancouver School Board report:

http://ourfuture.vsb.bc.ca/report/sectoral-review-mar30.pdf

[whatnext]

In an election year, Vision gets bailed out by a developer and gets to close the books on this. How convenient....

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by spm2013

FYI: Here's the Vancouver School Board report:

http://ourfuture.vsb.bc.ca/report/sectoral-review-mar30.pdf

thanks!

interesting stuff


Redevelopment of
VSB
Sites
On the list of schools for seismic upgrade or potential
replacement, there are schools where the site is very
large or strategically
located on major transportation
routes. When the Education Centre was constructed,
it was done in cooperation with a developer who
entered into a 99 year lease with the Board. As a
result of this partnership, funds were obtained to
build a new school board
office. There is the
potential either on existing school sites or on
other
school
-
district owned sites to consider partnerships
with developers. While this would be a controversial
topic, in the case of non
-
school sites
that are owned by the VSB, consider
ations for long term
leases or repurposing the property may be considered. Examples of such properties are:

Kingsgate Mall
(370 East Broadway)

VSB Nursery (5905 Wales Street)

VSB Maintenance Shop (1549 Clark Drive)
While there have been public discussions
about the future of Kingsgate Mall it should be noted
that there have been no discussions about the Nursery or Maintenance Shop. The above list is
only to illustrate sites that are examples of non
–
school sites.
The potential for redevelopment or leasing
of lands owned by the VSB does not have to be
limited to non
-
school sites. There are school sites (e.g. John Oliver) where the school is up for
seismic renewal, the land size is large and there is potential to use a portion of the site for other
purposes t
hat would generate revenue for the district.

[TwoFace]

Originally Posted by whatnext

In an election year, Vision gets bailed out by a developer and gets to close the books on this. How convenient....

I took a double take on that news. 67 units for $91 Million or $1.3 M average per unit??
Boy, I would like to see the fine print or conditions with that sale.

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by TwoFace

I took a double take on that news. 67 units for $91 Million or $1.3 M average per unit??
Boy, I would like to see the fine print or conditions with that sale.

I would imagine it would say, in legalese, something along the lines of "you're it, no backsies".

[TwoFace]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

I would imagine it would say, in legalese, something along the lines of "you're it, no backsies".

Smart businessmen don't normally do Charity work by buying stuff at a premium that no one else wants.

I'm sure the real story will come out in time.

[spm2013]

Originally Posted by TwoFace

Smart businessmen don't normally do Charity work by buying stuff at a premium that no one else wants.

I'm sure the real story will come out in time.

Smart businessmen don't buy hockey teams.

[TwoFace]

Originally Posted by spm2013

Smart businessmen don't buy hockey teams.

He paid $207 M in 2005 today it's valued at $700 M (Forbes).
Probably even more now that Gillis has been fired.

[theKB]

Originally Posted by TwoFace

He paid $207 M in 2005 today it's valued at $700 M (Forbes).
Probably even more now that Gillis has been fired.

The land play alone will probably pay for the purchase price of the team/stadium many times over.