General Vancouver Updates

[spm2013]

The report just got published on Granville Island's future after Emily Carr leaves:

http://granvilleisland.com/repurposing-strategy-ecuad-buildings-granville-island

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by spm2013

The report just got published on Granville Island's future after Emily Carr leaves:

http://granvilleisland.com/repurposing-strategy-ecuad-buildings-granville-island

Summary here:

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/metro/D...ange+Granville+Island/9956575/story.html

And next door...

Daphne Bramham: Residents worry about False Creek South’s future
With leases on city-owned land set to expire, fears are rising about affordability

By Daphne Bramham, Vancouver Sun
June 22, 2014

False Creek South is one of Vancouver’s most desirable neighbourhoods because of its proximity to Granville Island, mixed-income housing, expansive parks and, of course, access to the water.

But nearly four decades after its development, it faces an uncertain future.

Two-thirds of the 5,500 residents live on land leased from the city and their leases are expiring soon. The first runs out in seven years, while the majority are up in 2036.
...


For the past three years, they’ve worked on the False Creek South Neighbourhood Association’s Re*Plan committee (www.replanfcs.ca).

With funding from Vancity, the committee has hired consultants and done surveys.


The goal is to come up with a unified position on lease terms, rates and payment options that can be presented to the city on behalf of both co-op members and condo owners.

Evans and Roy have lived in the community for decades — Evans in a four-bedroom, co-op apartment and Roy in a strata-titled townhouse. Both regard the lease renewal process as an opportunity for False Creek South to become a model for creating affordable, urban housing just as the original development did.

Among the things they’re talking about are different forms of land trusts where the value of long-term leases can be used to finance construction of new housing.

Even though Re*Plan hasn’t yet finished its surveys, Evans and Roy believe the community would not oppose some increase in density.

Done right, they say, it would provide more family housing and free up existing family housing by providing options for current residents — many of whom are now empty nesters and retirees — to downsize without having to leave the neighbourhood.

The committee has identified the 6th Avenue corridor and the now-abandoned railway track as a possible site for new housing.

...

Another thorny issue that the committee is trying to deal with is the fact that at least a few of the wood-frame buildings wouldn’t likely last through another lease term, while other wood-frame buildings might (after hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent fixing leaks).

And then there’s the sleeper issue of the land itself. The soil on the former industrial site was never remediated.

Before the value of the leases is determined, Re*Plan would like someone to determine whether the negative effects of contaminated soil have been outweighed by the benefits of living in the active, engaged community that False Creek South has become.

Meantime, city staff is quietly working away on a report that won’t be ready until early next year, well after the November election, and no one is prepared to comment.

...

http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...out+False+Creek+South/9964481/story.html

[Genauso]

133 West 7th







Focal @ E 7th & Main, 'Shine on Main' crane in background

[Genauso]

Does anyone have updates for the two new breweries/restaurants in Steel Toad in the Opsal SE False Creek building, or Red Truck on Great Northern Way?

I believe there are also a range of office buildings newly completed or under construction along the Millennium Line from the False Creek flats to the Broadway Tech Centre.

For smaller scale buildings I'm noticing a lot of longtime storefront tenants being pushed out for new leases, and long underused properties being developed to make the best use of their current surroundings.

[spm2013]

Originally Posted by Genauso

Does anyone have updates for the two new breweries/restaurants in Steel Toad in the Opsal SE False Creek building, or Red Truck on Great Northern Way?

I believe there are also a range of office buildings newly completed or under construction along the Millennium Line from the False Creek flats to the Broadway Tech Centre.

For smaller scale buildings I'm noticing a lot of longtime storefront tenants being pushed out for new leases, and long underused properties being developed to make the best use of their current surroundings.

I walked past Red Truck last month and they were still pretty busy with construction (looked like a few months away but no clue how far along they are inside) but they have some huge silos in the front of their property. Steel Toad is saying August.

How close is the micro brewery business getting to saturation? It seems nuts to see how many places are opening and all over Metro Vancouver.

[Genauso]

Originally Posted by spm2013

I walked past Red Truck last month and they were still pretty busy with construction (looked like a few months away but no clue how far along they are inside) but they have some huge silos in the front of their property. Steel Toad is saying August.

How close is the micro brewery business getting to saturation? It seems nuts to see how many places are opening and all over Metro Vancouver.

I don't know how much more micro brewery production can grow. There is both a regulatory financial incentive and a fashionable trend at play. Hopefully everyone goes into it with their eyes open in any case, but I much prefer to see a willingness to take a risk and push forward than to impose self-restraint below what the actual limits are.

From a consumer perspective I see a good product and good execution around the product. A perfect example is a new out of the way tiny brewpub in Mt Pleasant called 33 Acres, it doesn't have a lot of advantages that a bigger initial investment could buy but they make great use of what they do have. How else are the larger and older players going to learn and appreciate what is possible today, if they don't see it done first.

On that note, there are a also couple cranes working on some sites behind the Molson Brewery on Burrard if anyone wants to investigate and photograph.

[jlousa]

Some good news in my opinion, looks like CHMC is on the verge of transferring control of Granville Island over to Port Metro Vancouver. Seems like the city made a play at buying it and an offer to manage it but the feds turned it down. Can't say I blame the feds for not wanting to deal with the city. Besides we know in COV hands it would only be a matter of time before residential crept onto the island and the cement plant kicked out. This should bold well for Granville Island as the Ports have deep pockets and can invest some money into renewing the place.

http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...uver+correct+landlord/9994868/story.html

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Some good news in my opinion, looks like CHMC is on the verge of transferring control of Granville Island over to Port Metro Vancouver. Seems like the city made a play at buying it and an offer to manage it but the feds turned it down. Can't say I blame the feds for not wanting to deal with the city. Besides we know in COV hands it would only be a matter of time before residential crept onto the island and the cement plant kicked out. This should bold well for Granville Island as the Ports have deep pockets and can invest some money into renewing the place.

http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...uver+correct+landlord/9994868/story.html

I don't understand the affection for the cement plant.

[SpongeG]

it makes it a working island, plus the city would lose it to a suburb if it has to move out, the city wants the industrial business since so much is gone

[NewWester]

My brother worked for Ocean for a while and pointed out that for the cement business travel time is money and travel distance is risk. Having the cement so close to construction is good for both the provider and the consumer.

[SpongeG]

that makes sense

....

once the market is closed its a dead zone on gi. the handful of restaurants open isnt much of a draw, in the winter they usually only open the market 6 days a week and its really dead the day they do that

[phesto]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

that makes sense

....

once the market is closed its a dead zone on gi. the handful of restaurants open isnt much of a draw, in the winter they usually only open the market 6 days a week and its really dead the day they do that

The market only closes for a few Mondays every January and it's only for cleaning purposes.

[Porfiry]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Some good news in my opinion, looks like CHMC is on the verge of transferring control of Granville Island over to Port Metro Vancouver. Seems like the city made a play at buying it and an offer to manage it but the feds turned it down. Can't say I blame the feds for not wanting to deal with the city. Besides we know in COV hands it would only be a matter of time before residential crept onto the island and the cement plant kicked out.

It could simply be that the Port is offering more money than the city, or it could be petty politics. Either is just speculation since there are no details.

[officedweller]

I agree that Port Metro Vnacouver is better than the City owning Granville Island - deeper poskets, plus less political. I could see the City diverting profits (if any) from Granville Island into social housing.

Besides, as has been commented on before - the City appears to be a lousy property manager - with various City-owned sites vacant for extended periods of time.

****

The cranes behind Molson's are for the Seaforth Armoury expansion.

[spm2013]

Well the concrete is used to build condos, so I doubt they would do anything about it.

[Metro-One]

Having the cement plant adds a lot of interest to Granville Island.

It keeps the location connected to its industrial past.

It makes the area feel busier (adding to the environment)

It adds a great level or urban interest and style to the shopping area (essentially it really helps the area from becoming another sterile environment).

I like the cement plant on Granville Island for similar reasons why I like the viaducts, it helps create a unique urban environment that in the end can be far more creative and fun than just another open green space and glass condo.

[quobobo]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Besides, as has been commented on before - the City appears to be a lousy property manager - with various City-owned sites vacant for extended periods of time.

So true. I live in a market-rate apartment building owned by the City - when there are vacancies they hardly even bother to advertise. They're a little better now, but for years they would post once on Craigslist with zero details and a single super-blurry picture. Unsurprisingly, vacancies lasted for ages.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by NewWester

My brother worked for Ocean for a while and pointed out that for the cement business travel time is money and travel distance is risk. Having the cement so close to construction is good for both the provider and the consumer.

Meh, it would be better off moved to the vacant industrial land along the North Arm.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by quobobo

So true. I live in a market-rate apartment building owned by the City - when there are vacancies they hardly even bother to advertise. They're a little better now, but for years they would post once on Craigslist with zero details and a single super-blurry picture. Unsurprisingly, vacancies lasted for ages.

Why does the City own market-rate rentals? And why do they manage them themselves?

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Genauso

133 West 7th

Isn't that Collection 45 on East 8th? Regardless, it turned out nicely, I wonder what kind of retail will open up underneath.