General Vancouver Updates

[LeftCoaster]

Nothing new?? There are some almost incomprehensible chaotic renderings seemingly made in paint!

Honestly those things are complete madness, I can look at them 10 different times and find something new every time, it's really quite impressive.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Nothing new?? There are some almost incomprehensible chaotic renderings seemingly made in paint!

Honestly those things are complete madness, I can look at them 10 different times and find something new every time, it's really quite impressive.

It's a subtle technique for making see you perceive what they want you to perceive, without making any real commital as to what the final product will look like.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Lol could they cram in anymore trees and marshland in this thing

Originally Posted by djmk

this place might beat out disneyland for the happiest place on earth. I want to live here!

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Honestly those things are complete madness, I can look at them 10 different times and find something new every time, it's really quite impressive.

This is indeed something different than the normal renderings we see with skinny models living their pretentious lives. I counted at least three wheelchairs and yeah, the amount of marshland is spectacular. How would then even archieve that in this location?

Funny stuff.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

That VanCityBuzz article is nothing more than the Pearson Dogwood Lands Policy Statement. There's absolutely no new information in there that hasn't been public available for months.

Breathe deeply please. I didn't know about it. I do other things then post on here. frankly I'm tired of the cattyness on here.
I was wondering if anyone had new info and trying to contribute to the forum.

[logan5]

Pretty sure it was more of a shot at VanCity Buzz than at you.

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by logan5

Pretty sure it was more of a shot at VanCity Buzz than at you.

Indeed. Wasn't meant as a snap at you, retro_orange. More of a 'throw up your hands at what passes as news for VanCityBuzz'-sort of situation. And in fairness, I haven't seen the renderings before.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

Indeed. Wasn't meant as a snap at you, retro_orange. More of a 'throw up your hands at what passes as news for VanCityBuzz'-sort of situation. And in fairness, I haven't seen the renderings before.

The article on VanCityBuzz was from Feb. 2014, I randomly stumbled upon it yesterday. I have always wondered about the property but didnt know what to call it. I also found this after posting: http://pearsondogwood.vchnews.ca/

Is there a thread for it I missed?

[officedweller]

Another industrial infill project, this time also a preservation project:

http://changingcitybook.com/2015/08/31/22-east-5th-avenue/

22 East 5th Ave.


http://changingcitybook.com/2015/08/31/22-east-5th-avenue/

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

The article on VanCityBuzz was from Feb. 2014, I randomly stumbled upon it yesterday.

Ah, that makes perfect sense!

So far as I know, the rezoning process is slowly, quietly chugging along behind the scenes between Onni and the City. The Pearson Dogwood Lands project is what is considered a 'large site' Major Planning Project, which requires a Policy Statement to be adopted by Council (which has happened) describing the order of magnitude scale of development. The Policy Statement includes general heights (up to 28 storey, if I recall), general density (2.8 FSR/FAR), mixture of uses (residential - market & non-market; retail; institutional; public amenity), and a notional site plan that gives everyone a general sense of what the future development might look like.

Next comes the rezoning and that is where the project stands right now. Onni and its architect and consultants will take the Policy Statement and turn it into a viable development plan, site plan, development program, phasing, and broad-stroke architectural designs. Should the rezoning proposal be approved by Council - assuming that it has not strayed too far from the Policy Statement, this should be a given - it is then free to proceed to detailed design and the development permit stage. This time the Development Permit Board will approve the project and issue the development permit(s) and Onni is free to proceed, taking out building permits to build specific parcels on the phasing schedule and market conditions.

So we still have a ways to go, but this one is real and I expect that they are going to try hard to beat Oakridge to the punch to bring a large amount of new housing product to market in that part of the Cambie Corridor. Plus, the future 57th Avenue Canada Line Station will be funded (details TBD) by the redevelopment of this site and the adjacent Langara Gardens site. That's an extra wrinkle that will need to be ironed out in order to design and phase construction of the Pearson Dogwood Lands project, since the station house and considerable underground mezzanine area will be located on the property.

[vanman]

A drive by shot of that midrise office building going up near Renfrew station. The white cladding looks slick.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Another industrial infill project, this time also a preservation project:

http://changingcitybook.com/2015/08/31/22-east-5th-avenue/

22 East 5th Ave.


http://changingcitybook.com/2015/08/31/22-east-5th-avenue/

I walk by the current building fairly often. I am very happy they are preserving it. Good project, that area must be undergoing some of the most change in the city.

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by csbvan

[...] Good project, that area must be undergoing some of the most change in the city.

Agreed. That's a dynamic area that is flying somewhat under the radar for many people. It's a testament to the efficacy of the 'no new residential' rule that the city imposed on it to preserve it as an employment district. I'm certain that some, possibly many, of the property owners weren't thrilled that they lost the option to rezone to residential, but on the other hand they're smack-dab in the middle of a desirable area for quality tenants. I have high hopes that as Railtown fills out this area will pick up steam as the next "it" place for start-ups and the tech sector and "art school capitalist" set (my phrase for the young entrepreneurs who make and sell things, whether it's beer, art, furniture, Film & TV hardware, etc.).


For the Renfrew Centre (?) office building, it is looking nice and simple, almost mid-century moderne in appearance. I like it a lot, and it bodes well for the quality of the rest of the build-out of the Renfrew Business Centre precinct, of which this is just the first building.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by vanman

A drive by shot of that midrise office building going up near Renfrew station. The white cladding looks slick.

I agree. Here's a shot today from the Skytrain. Can't wait for the rest of that scaffolding to come down so we can see the whole thing. I really like this building. Very simple, bold and understated.



Sept.4 '15, my pic

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Spot - 2800 Cambie Street (just south of Vancouver City Hall) seems to be happening now.

Originally Posted by osirisboy

So what's the deal with those? Is it being moved completely off the site or repositioned somewhere with the project?

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Don't know for sure. There is one heritage house sitting on the site right now. I think it used to sit at the other end of the site facing City Hall. See this old Googlestreetview image:

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Cambie+...!1s0x5486738a0d3dd221:0xeba980555c530bc6

I saw one pic of a model in the sales centre that seemed to have a house of that shape incorporated into the project on the southeast corner, where it's positioned now. We'll see if they continue to dig around it.

Yup, they're digging around it.



Sept.4 '15, my pics

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

Ah, that makes perfect sense!

So far as I know, the rezoning process is slowly, quietly chugging along behind the scenes between Onni and the City. The Pearson Dogwood Lands project is what is considered a 'large site' Major Planning Project, which requires a Policy Statement to be adopted by Council (which has happened) describing the order of magnitude scale of development. The Policy Statement includes general heights (up to 28 storey, if I recall), general density (2.8 FSR/FAR), mixture of uses (residential - market & non-market; retail; institutional; public amenity), and a notional site plan that gives everyone a general sense of what the future development might look like.

Next comes the rezoning and that is where the project stands right now. Onni and its architect and consultants will take the Policy Statement and turn it into a viable development plan, site plan, development program, phasing, and broad-stroke architectural designs. Should the rezoning proposal be approved by Council - assuming that it has not strayed too far from the Policy Statement, this should be a given - it is then free to proceed to detailed design and the development permit stage. This time the Development Permit Board will approve the project and issue the development permit(s) and Onni is free to proceed, taking out building permits to build specific parcels on the phasing schedule and market conditions.

So we still have a ways to go, but this one is real and I expect that they are going to try hard to beat Oakridge to the punch to bring a large amount of new housing product to market in that part of the Cambie Corridor. Plus, the future 57th Avenue Canada Line Station will be funded (details TBD) by the redevelopment of this site and the adjacent Langara Gardens site. That's an extra wrinkle that will need to be ironed out in order to design and phase construction of the Pearson Dogwood Lands project, since the station house and considerable underground mezzanine area will be located on the property.

thanks for the update! I walked through the grounds earlier this year and the buildings and grounds are in a sad state. VCH isn't wasting much time, they want to begin the construction in 2018 so we may start seeing advertising in the next year or so. hopefully they put in at least one tall tower!

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Yup, they're digging around it.



Sept.4 '15, my pics

So glad this project is finally happening, for Cambie and 12th being such a major intersection, it was quite decrepit with the empty gas station lot, mostly empty Plaza 500 hotel and conference centre and the underutilized City Square Mall site, its finally getting spiffed up. the new windows are in the Plaza 500, hopefully the podium will get a complete makeover after the tower is complete.

Any hope in the City Square mall getting any additional density from an office or residential addition? possibly a complete rebuild of the mall? It's rather fugly, cheap and dated finishes and fixtures. It's always empty aside from the Safeway and Kins.

[osirisboy]

Well that's kinda weird. You would think they would put the house facing 12th and have the lane open out onto 13th.

[vanman]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

I agree. Here's a shot today from the Skytrain. Can't wait for the rest of that scaffolding to come down so we can see the whole thing. I really like this building. Very simple, bold and understated.



Sept.4 '15, my pic

How do you cover so much ground so often?

Great shot it is turning out well for sure.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by vanman

How do you cover so much ground so often?

Great shot it is turning out well for sure.

I'm retired. I have a transit pass, a $99 Sony Cyber-Shot and a lot of time on my hands.

[SFUVancouver]

Well, all of your photo updates are heartily appreciated. Please keep them coming!