General Vancouver Updates

[jlousa]

I can't imagine they would redevelop it themselves but who knows they have pondered that idea in the past. I would assume they are strictly rezoning in order to leave less money on the table before selling.

[whatnext]

Interesting article in The Tyee that pegs 60 West Cordova as embarassing failure to provide affordable condos. Did Westbank get other breaks from council from this, in addition to the reduced parking?

http://thetyee.ca/News/2014/05/08/60-West-Cordova-Condo-Experiment/

[Metro-One]

Would they not need to purchase and build another facility though? Seems strange to me, this location seems quite strategic for bus operations. It is not as if the site is empty and not used, it seems jam packed with buses.

[SFUVancouver]

The site of the proposed 7 storey Renfrew Centre office building in front of the Art Institute Building at Renfrew Stn on the Millennium Line is now a big hole in the ground!


My photo, taken May 18, 2014.


My photo, taken May 18, 2014.

Also, the last building of Broadway Tech Centre (phase 7?) is nearly complete.


My photo, taken May 18, 2014.

[Jimbo604]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

My photo, taken May 18, 2014.

Excellent news.. any news on the new office center just to the east of this between the Broadway Tech Center (pictured) and the Liquor Distribution Branch? I think I read Peter Wall had bought that property??

[spm2013]

Renfrew Centre

http://www.renfrewcentre.com/

AIMCo Realty Investors LP of Alberta, working with asset manager Blackwood Partners Management Corp. has acquired Renfrew Centre from its development partner Pacific Capital Real Estate Group.

The deal closed earlier this fall but was announced in early November, coinciding with the start of construction of the 170,000-square-foot office project. A value wasn’t disclosed for the property, located at Renfrew and East 12th Avenue in Vancouver adjacent to the Renfrew SkyTrain station and opposite the Art Institute.

Pacific Capital had undertaken pre-marketing for the seven-storey project but without lease commitments in place it hadn’t proceeded with construction. The investment by AIMCo and Blackwood allowed construction to proceed with a completion date of 2015.

Jonathan Button, senior vice-president of asset management and operations for Blackwood, said the property was attractive because of its central location in the region on transit and as well as the Central Valley Greenway bike route.

Blackwood owns a variety of projects in B.C., including the Central City office complex in Surrey, and manages a portfolio of industrial and mixed-use properties. •

Credit: BIV

[officedweller]

888 SE Marine Drive (near Fraser) is for sale:

https://www.collierscanada.com/11799


https://www.collierscanada.com/11799

[Jebby]

2975 Oak Street

The Van Arsdel apartments were built in 1928, designed by Townley & Matheson (who also designed City Hall and the Stock Exchange, among many other projects). The building featured poured concrete walls with applied decoration, so it still looks very much as built. In the 1940s the name was changed to the Santa Fe; now a Heritage Revitalisation Agreement is scheduled for a public hearing that would see the facade retained and an eleven storey midrise tower added to the site.

The project is designed by CEI Architecture for Aquilini Developments, It stays as rental, and the number of apartments would increase from 14 to 50.

http://changingcitybook.com/2014/05/15/2975-oak-street/

[Spork]

I noticed a development permit application board outside of the site just east of MC2 on Marine Drive, today. I believe that it is some sort of rental housing right now?

[VanK]

Originally Posted by Spork

I noticed a development permit application board outside of the site just east of MC2 on Marine Drive, today. I believe that it is some sort of rental housing right now?

I think you are referencing the Concord Pacific application? (currently rental townhomes)

[hollywoodnorth]

looks like Tower 3 at `Wall Center Central Park`is moving to sales .... now that's what I call a PODIUM

[osirisboy]

I like podiums like that!!! That's what I'd like to see downtown. No 2-3 storey townhouse podiums

[NewWester]

While it is certainly an efficient use of space, look at the monstrous shadow being cast on the houses behind the tower. I feel like a few of these podiums in a dense urban environment could be tolerated, but if they were common street life would reach Bladerunner levels of darkness.

[osirisboy]

Ever been to New York? Its Streets seem fine to me and they have huge shadows. I like it. I know most don't especially here in vancouver

[SpongeG]

i don't think those houses have much of a future there, they iwll be gone and replaced in a decade or so i imagine

[Smooth]

Originally Posted by NewWester

While it is certainly an efficient use of space, look at the monstrous shadow being cast on the houses behind the tower. I feel like a few of these podiums in a dense urban environment could be tolerated, but if they were common street life would reach Bladerunner levels of darkness.

That rendering is probably a bit misleading because all those homes are to the south of that building. That side of the building will be in the shade most of the year.

[csbvan]

Some action happening in the Broadway/Cambie area. Not sure if these have been posted, but found them both courtesy of Changing City:

First off 'Citti' on the 200 block of Broadway


Second the long proposed project across from City Hall on Cambie seems to have been approved:


Source for both.

[officedweller]

Thanks!
The Citti project had an application some time ago - but that's the first pic we've seen.

[Prometheus]

Has this been posted? It will occupy an entire block of Cambie Street from 34th to 35th:

Washington Properties (whose project you might be familiar with on West 41st across from Oakridge) is planning the development of three six-storey concrete residential buildings containing a total of 202 units all over two levels of underground parking. The total site frontage is 626 feet, and the total site area is 76,825 SF.

The Cambie Corridor Plan suggests this site can achieve 1.75 to 2.25 FSR, but before a road dedication and a transfer of heritage density, the proposed density is 2.39 FSR (or 2.60 FSR after the road dedication). Approximately 20% of the $5.5 Million CAC will be the transfer of heritage density.

Source: http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2014/05/28/202-unit-project-proposed-for-cambie-and-w-35th-ave/

[officedweller]

Not that rendering - Thanks!

Not a fan of those big gray blocks.