Olympic Village & Southeast False Creek Updates Discussion

[jlousa]

The IGA in on Robson st, there is no IGA at Woodwards, that would be a Nesters.
If the streetcar is ever built I think OV would become pretty well the perfect in my opinion. The talk about more density if the buildings were taller is pretty off base as It's already denser then Yaletown. If they had gone taller they would've thinned it out and ended up at the same fsr regardless. Personally I'd take the OV form over another point tower neighbourhood. Not sure why some find it so hard to see the demand for different forms for different needs.

[WarrenC12]

Speaking as a Yaletown resident, the Save on Foods on Cambie is actually pretty close (closer than Costco), and the walk over the Cambie St. Bridge is great.

And I can get to Urban Fare without going outside.

[VanK]

Originally Posted by Vin

The OV neighbourhood was conceived to be a sustainable and green neighbourhood, but yet residents need to drive out if they need shopping/dining. ......... It is truly appalling that the neighbourhood is currently served by only one bus line: Number 84 I believe on 2nd, and it is infrequent and wouldn't work for most residents.

Both skytrain lines are walking distance from OV.

Having a grocery, London Drugs, Bank, Dentist, Medical Clinic, Terra Bread, Dry Cleaner, Liquor Store, pet store, Subway, restaurants, almost every coffee chain + Creekside Community Centre seems like a neighbourhood that promotes walking to me & sustainability to me.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by VanK

Both skytrain lines are walking distance from OV.

Having a grocery, London Drugs, Bank, Dentist, Medical Clinic, Terra Bread, Dry Cleaner, Liquor Store, pet store, Subway, restaurants, almost every coffee chain + Creekside Community Centre seems like a neighbourhood that promotes walking to me & sustainability to me.

Maybe if you are young and quite fit. Still a drag for the older folks, or if you are carrying stuff. Not that fun to walk to those stations (especially Canada Line) on a cold windy wet day. Like I said, it would make more sense to locate the commercial centre by Cambie near the station, as it would even encourage people from outside to get to the services at OV. Coming back from the airport, one finds the luggage wheels being worn down to nothing after the walk to OV from the station. Would be nice to have a community shuttle bus going around Main Street, 1st, Cambie up to Broadway, and then back down to 2nd and over to Main. This would help people who are lugging vacation bags, groceries, parcels, etc.

Having one of each selective retail store when many other services seem missing doesn't make it a convenient community. Remember the neighbourhood is growing a lot faster than other areas. Seems like there won't be any more new retail stores coming, except for a few more along 2nd.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by jlousa

The IGA in on Robson st, there is no IGA at Woodwards, that would be a Nesters.
If the streetcar is ever built I think OV would become pretty well the perfect in my opinion. The talk about more density if the buildings were taller is pretty off base as It's already denser then Yaletown. If they had gone taller they would've thinned it out and ended up at the same fsr regardless. Personally I'd take the OV form over another point tower neighbourhood. Not sure why some find it so hard to see the demand for different forms for different needs.

Is it really denser than Yaletown? Yaletown had converted low-rise heritage warehouses and buildings which would have decreased the overall FSR.
For OV, it's like saying you should include the warehouses south of 2nd Ave for the overall FSR calculations.

Also, OV achieved its density by having almost no gaps between the buildings. Therefore the views from most units are terrible, and those narrow streets around OV always seem real dark compared to the streets in Yaletown, which actually allow more sunlight to get to the ground levels through the very wide gaps between the much taller towers. At the OV, sure looks nice now that the buildings are new, but once they turn old, that place would be claustrophobia central when you open up your windows to grimy walls.

Many folks would not even pay much for an expensive penthouse unit without the views. Therefore, once they had the chance, almost all developers applied to have a couple more floors added to improve the views of those expensive units. Bosa, Pinnacle and Wall all applied to have their buildings go higher. Therein lies the problems of restricting heights at OV.

And regarding the streetcars, very much agreed that they are a necessity, but it doesn't seem that it is part of the City's agenda anymore. While we wait for future Councils to resuscitate the idea, perhaps Translink should step in and provide an interim community shuttle bus line to improve residents' mobility without having to use the car.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by Vin

Translink should step in and provide an interim community shuttle bus line to improve residents' mobility without having to use the car.

no they shouldnt. that would be a bad idea. it would be such a stupid thing if they did that.

the OV and streetcar is Vancouver counsels pet project so if it does well or fails its all on counsel.

[furbe]

Originally Posted by Vin

Maybe if you are young and quite fit. Still a drag for the older folks, or if you are carrying stuff. Not that fun to walk to those stations (especially Canada Line) on a cold windy wet day. Like I said, it would make more sense to locate the commercial centre by Cambie near the station, as it would even encourage people from outside to get to the services at OV. Coming back from the airport, one finds the luggage wheels being worn down to nothing after the walk to OV from the station. Would be nice to have a community shuttle bus going around Main Street, 1st, Cambie up to Broadway, and then back down to 2nd and over to Main. This would help people who are lugging vacation bags, groceries, parcels, etc.

Having one of each selective retail store when many other services seem missing doesn't make it a convenient community. Remember the neighbourhood is growing a lot faster than other areas. Seems like there won't be any more new retail stores coming, except for a few more along 2nd.

You do realize that to walk from the OV to main street skytrain is 5 minutes. You don't have to exactly be young and fit to walk two blocks.

You talk about transit distance, rain and the airport. If you're taking a bus and live at Kingsway and Main, then chances are you're having to walk a ways from your home to your closest bus stop. You're going to have to stand outside (it's raining in your example) waiting for a bus that may or may not come. You also wouldn't have the option to bring luggage onto a bus to make a trip to the airport, so I fail to understand your point exactly when it comes to transit. In fact, transit is a major selling point for the OV. Further to being nestled in between two major trains, a taxi ride downtown is about $10, Car2Go less than $5, and there is also an aquabus that can take you to Granville Island or Yaletown. It's already one of the best communities for transit options; one day there will be an additional stop for the Millenium line (connecting to UBC) and a street car making it arguably the best connected community in the city for transit options if you don't already consider it so today.

I'm curious to hear what are these missing services you speak of? So far in the yes column there is grocery store, drug store, liquor store, bakery, dry cleaner, bank, dentist, medical clinic, coffee shops, brew pub restaurants, pet store, UPS store, hair stylists. All of these are condensed within the community for residents, so they are all walking distance. Which community do you compare this to and conclude that it is so lacking? I would argue that it's pretty comprehensive today, with the exception of some higher quality restaurants.

[sacrifice333]

If one can't walk all the way to the Olympic Village Canada Line station, a 1 block walk South to 2nd Ave will put you on the 84 Bus. Easy peasy.

[Delirium]

"Maybe if you are young and quite fit. Still a drag for the older folks, or if you are carrying stuff. "

Seeing as the OV is a completely new neighbourhood, why would the 'older folks' choose to live there in the first place if it's an issue?

[Vin]

Originally Posted by furbe

You do realize that to walk from the OV to main street skytrain is 5 minutes. You don't have to exactly be young and fit to walk two blocks.

You talk about transit distance, rain and the airport. If you're taking a bus and live at Kingsway and Main, then chances are you're having to walk a ways from your home to your closest bus stop. You're going to have to stand outside (it's raining in your example) waiting for a bus that may or may not come. You also wouldn't have the option to bring luggage onto a bus to make a trip to the airport, so I fail to understand your point exactly when it comes to transit. In fact, transit is a major selling point for the OV. Further to being nestled in between two major trains, a taxi ride downtown is about $10, Car2Go less than $5, and there is also an aquabus that can take you to Granville Island or Yaletown. It's already one of the best communities for transit options; one day there will be an additional stop for the Millenium line (connecting to UBC) and a street car making it arguably the best connected community in the city for transit options if you don't already consider it so today.

I'm curious to hear what are these missing services you speak of? So far in the yes column there is grocery store, drug store, liquor store, bakery, dry cleaner, bank, dentist, medical clinic, coffee shops, brew pub restaurants, pet store, UPS store, hair stylists. All of these are condensed within the community for residents, so they are all walking distance. Which community do you compare this to and conclude that it is so lacking? I would argue that it's pretty comprehensive today, with the exception of some higher quality restaurants.

OV is supposed to be a convenient destination designed as a model community. Not Main and Kingsway, which sprouted from urban expansion decades ago. So I will never compare the 2 when it comes to transportation convenience. OV could be designed to have it all since it is so new. Why does it have to be lacking in any way?

As I mentioned earlier, for such an extensive new high-density community, one of each service is never enough. As far as I can tell, there are no more services planned for the future. Everything else is just condos. The place will turn into another Fairview Slopes bedroom community. See the failing cluster of retail shops around Monks restaurant at Moberly? Earlier planners failed to utilize the waterfront and link and encourage a continuity of those shops to the major roads to help them thrive. I thought new planners should know better.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Delirium

"Maybe if you are young and quite fit. Still a drag for the older folks, or if you are carrying stuff. "

Seeing as the OV is a completely new neighbourhood, why would the 'older folks' choose to live there in the first place if it's an issue?

You design an urban neighbourhood for everyone, not just for you.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by sacrifice333

If one can't walk all the way to the Olympic Village Canada Line station, a 1 block walk South to 2nd Ave will put you on the 84 Bus. Easy peasy.

Like I mentioned before, 84 bus is very infrequent.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

no they shouldnt. that would be a bad idea. it would be such a stupid thing if they did that.

the OV and streetcar is Vancouver counsels pet project so if it does well or fails its all on counsel.

Why would having a Translink shuttle bus running around the neighbourhood to benefit the movements of the residents be 'stupid'? Please give constructive criticism instead of being so 'high school'. It's not like we can hop onto a phantom streetcar right now....

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by Vin

Why would having a Translink shuttle bus running around the neighbourhood to benefit the movements of the residents be 'stupid'? Please give constructive criticism instead of being so 'high school'. It's not like we can hop onto a phantom streetcar right now....

oops, my bad on that. a community shuttle bus would be fine for TransLink to do. when i read the comment i thought it was referring to TransLink running the street car.

[memememe76]

Some posters have a very poor image of elderly people. They're not all frail, inactive imbeciles who think crossing the street is too far a distance. And if they can't lift their groceries, they bring those steel strollers. You see enough them in Chinatown.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

oops, my bad on that. a community shuttle bus would be fine for TransLink to do. when i read the comment i thought it was referring to TransLink running the street car.

Okie dokie

[Vin]

Originally Posted by memememe76

Some posters have a very poor image of elderly people. They're not all frail, inactive imbeciles who think crossing the street is too far a distance. And if they can't lift their groceries, they bring those steel strollers. You see enough them in Chinatown.

No one says they are all "frail, inactive IMBECILES". Some posters really LOVE to exaggerate and put words into others' mouths. I bet you can't discount on the fact that there ARE frail elderly people around? Also, even for a fit person, it would be nice to be able to get from point A to B if you are in a bit of rush, like trying to get to work in the morning. A bit of convenience wouldn't hurt anyone, especially more so for a 'model neighbourhood'.

[Jimbo604]

Source: Concert Properties website

The Concert property site, aka that current giant parking lot between Science World and the Olympic Village is coming up soon for a public hearing.

At the May 13, 2014 Regular Council Meeting, Council referred this application to Public Hearing.

PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED:
Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at 6 pm
Council Chamber, Third Floor
City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue

Source: City of Vancouver Rezoning webpage for 1551 Quebec Street

[furbe]

Originally Posted by Vin

OV is supposed to be a convenient destination designed as a model community. Not Main and Kingsway, which sprouted from urban expansion decades ago. So I will never compare the 2 when it comes to transportation convenience. OV could be designed to have it all since it is so new. Why does it have to be lacking in any way?

It's not lacking, it's just not your ideal. Find me your ideal in Vancouver so we can compare the pros and cons.

It was you that suggested that Kingsway and Main offered way better services and options. So we agree then that transit is not one of them.

As I mentioned earlier, for such an extensive new high-density community, one of each service is never enough. As far as I can tell, there are no more services planned for the future. Everything else is just condos. The place will turn into another Fairview Slopes bedroom community. See the failing cluster of retail shops around Monks restaurant at Moberly? Earlier planners failed to utilize the waterfront and link and encourage a continuity of those shops to the major roads to help them thrive. I thought new planners should know better.

One is plenty if the amenity meets your needs.

I also believe your comparison is well off the mark. You are suggesting the community does not (will not) have the foot traffic to sustain the businesses? I would suggest that Craft, Tap & Barrel, Village Cleaners, Terra Breads, Legacy are all thriving today. The others will follow suit once Central, Lido, Block 100, Meccanica, Opsal, Opsal 2, The One, West 1, West 2, Concert 1, Concert 2, Concert 3, Concert 4, Concert 5, etc., are completed. There will be plenty of density to support and sustain the businesses, and the neighbourhood already attracts plenty from outside this community. They are nothing alike.

Olympic Village is not Yaletown. I think people belabour the point that it's not, and that it should have been (more retail, higher density, criticisms of residential zoning). Yet every month I meet more and more people who moved from downtown to the OV because they like that it feels more like a community, that it's less crowded, they prefer the scale, etc. It's not for some people, but it's certainly for others.

[dreambrother808]

What a great post to buck the near-sighted negativity, furbe.