[Surrey] 3 Civic Plaza | 164m | 48 fl | Completed

[officedweller]

By Yellow Fever posted Jan 9th and 10, 2016:

Originally Posted by Yellow Fever

20160101_152346 by Yellow Fever @ SkyscraperCity, on Flickr

Originally Posted by Yellow Fever

3 Civic Plaza.

20160101_152954 by Yellow Fever @ SkyscraperCity, on Flickr

20160101_153115 by Yellow Fever @ SkyscraperCity, on Flickr

20160101_153158 by Yellow Fever @ SkyscraperCity, on Flickr

20160101_153332 by Yellow Fever @ SkyscraperCity, on Flickr

[Shift]

Area is starting to fill in.. Wonder how long it will take for that Safeway parking lot to be redeveloped. Probably not until Bosa is finished their towers across the street? The urban streetscape is already in place along 104 at least (Light poles, brick sidewalk).

[Shift]

A couple more for the feed from today:

[scryer]

Originally Posted by Shift

Area is starting to fill in.. Wonder how long it will take for that Safeway parking lot to be redeveloped. Probably not until Bosa is finished their towers across the street? The urban streetscape is already in place along 104 at least (Light poles, brick sidewalk).

Personally... I would like to see the entire east side of City Parkway redone at Surrey Central. If I were a developer, I would make the entire east side across from Surrey Central station mid-rises with retail on the ground. And I'm talking about restaurants with patios, shops, etc. It would be at this time that I would also suggest maybe putting in a bar or a live music venue of some sort as well.

As for the safeway parking lot... I would re-do the entire block, build some residential or offices ontop of safeway (making it a mid-rise) and maybe putting a smaller tower in the Northeast corner. Whatever the case, if we tear down the parking lot, we are going to need to provide a parking solution of some-sort so I would also suggest a parkade (either underground or overground) of some sort that is properly integrated.

But that's all in my head and just a fantasy ......

When the Civic Plaza opens, it is going to host hotel guests that are going to need something to do. I don't imagine that the library is going to hold their attention for a long time and I don't think that hotel guests that travel and stay there are going to want to go to the sketchy convenience store across the street. Why not entertain them in Surrey?

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by scryer

Personally... I would like to see the entire east side of City Parkway redone at Surrey Central. If I were a developer, I would make the entire east side across from Surrey Central station mid-rises with retail on the ground. And I'm talking about restaurants with patios, shops, etc. It would be at this time that I would also suggest maybe putting in a bar or a live music venue of some sort as well.

As for the safeway parking lot... I would re-do the entire block, build some residential or offices ontop of safeway (making it a mid-rise) and maybe putting a smaller tower in the Northeast corner. Whatever the case, if we tear down the parking lot, we are going to need to provide a parking solution of some-sort so I would also suggest a parkade (either underground or overground) of some sort that is properly integrated.

I'm pretty sure that section is small lots with various owners -once they get bought up and consolidated then yeah something far more cohesive can go in. Surrey doesn't seem too keen on having residential along King George Blvd between King George and Gateway Stations, which is fine as they have City Parkway and west to 132nd St to build up residential.

The further you get from downtown Vancouver, the more surface parking lots there are. There's a feeling of 'why build up (and down) when we can build out?' Burnaby is now rebuilding it's town centers (mostly around Brentwood and Metrotown right now) and replacing surface parking lots with taller buildings that have underground parking. Until Surrey starts to feel a squeeze on land, I don't expect to see most retail have underground parking.

[Blease]

Originally Posted by Sheba

I'm pretty sure that section is small lots with various owners -once they get bought up and consolidated then yeah something far more cohesive can go in. Surrey doesn't seem too keen on having residential along King George Blvd between King George and Gateway Stations, which is fine as they have City Parkway and west to 132nd St to build up residential.

The further you get from downtown Vancouver, the more surface parking lots there are. There's a feeling of 'why build up (and down) when we can build out?' Burnaby is now rebuilding it's town centers (mostly around Brentwood and Metrotown right now) and replacing surface parking lots with taller buildings that have underground parking. Until Surrey starts to feel a squeeze on land, I don't expect to see most retail have underground parking.

And yet the Save-On in Newton Town Centre as well as the Super Store on 104 Ave. both have underground parking.

[Caliplanner1]

Originally Posted by scryer

Personally... I would like to see the entire east side of City Parkway redone at Surrey Central. If I were a developer, I would make the entire east side across from Surrey Central station mid-rises with retail on the ground. And I'm talking about restaurants with patios, shops, etc. It would be at this time that I would also suggest maybe putting in a bar or a live music venue of some sort as well.

As for the safeway parking lot... I would re-do the entire block, build some residential or offices ontop of safeway (making it a mid-rise) and maybe putting a smaller tower in the Northeast corner. Whatever the case, if we tear down the parking lot, we are going to need to provide a parking solution of some-sort so I would also suggest a parkade (either underground or overground) of some sort that is properly integrated.

But that's all in my head and just a fantasy ......

When the Civic Plaza opens, it is going to host hotel guests that are going to need something to do. I don't imagine that the library is going to hold their attention for a long time and I don't think that hotel guests that travel and stay there are going to want to go to the sketchy convenience store across the street. Why not entertain them in Surrey?

Is there a (major) museum nearby?? Such kinds of cultural offerings can also make a difference.

[Cypherus]

I agree the city core needs something for people to do. There are few restaurants, no movie theatre, and no events centre. The library and city hall may hold someone's attention for an hour, but it is not a reason to rent a room in 3 civic for a weekend. In my opinion, the Hotel will struggle until the core revitalizes itself.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Blease

And yet the Save-On in Newton Town Centre as well as the Super Store on 104 Ave. both have underground parking.

The Newton Save-On doesn't really have underground parking, same as at Highgate in Burnaby. It's much closer to how Ikea builds their buildings above ground level parking. Anyway listing off two newer locations in the entire city doesn't exactly make your case...

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Caliplanner1

Is there a (major) museum nearby?? Such kinds of cultural offerings can also make a difference.

I typed in Surrey museum and was surprised something popped up - but it's in Cloverdale.

Originally Posted by Cypherus

I agree the city core needs something for people to do. There are few restaurants, no movie theatre, and no events centre. The library and city hall may hold someone's attention for an hour, but it is not a reason to rent a room in 3 civic for a weekend. In my opinion, the Hotel will struggle until the core revitalizes itself.

Hopefully the new theatres over by King George Station will be built sooner rather than later. Other than that there's not a whole lot to do in the area. Maybe they plan on enticing visiting professors to stay there and walk over to SFU?

[Nites]

Surrey Central Brewing besides SFU is a great place to eat and drink that no one ever talks about.

[Blease]

The Surrey Arts Centre is a short 1.5 km distance away from the hotel site. There's ofcourse the plan to build a Performing Arts Centre next door to the hotel itself. The Surrey Centre Mall is a very short walk from the area and the Guildford Mall is a 7 minute drive from the hotel. To the people complaining that the hotel will not have sufficient guests, I beg to differ. Greater Vancouver gets severely over-booked in the summer and as such this hotel will likely stay packed over the tourist season. The rest of the year, it will attract business guests, as per the RCMP Office, the hospital, CRA, City Hall, Passport office, SFU, Fraser Health, not to mention the multiple smaller govt. depts, banks, etc in the area. And since it's a dynamic process, the construction of the hotel itself will spur additional development around it.

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by Cypherus

I agree the city core needs something for people to do. There are few restaurants, no movie theatre, and no events centre. The library and city hall may hold someone's attention for an hour, but it is not a reason to rent a room in 3 civic for a weekend. In my opinion, the Hotel will struggle until the core revitalizes itself.

Movie Theatre will come as part of "The Hub" Phase B. Events centre will be coming in the future once they can start redeveloping the North Surrey Rec Center site (once the ice surfaces are moved). Plan is to put a performing arts center much like the Queen E there plus some other space. Restaurants I agree there need to be a few more flagships but they may come over time.

Truth is just being by SkyTrain will benefit the hotel and I'm sure it will be booked during tourist season fairly well. The Sheraton in Guildford which is about the same size as this hotel will be, is really nowhere near SkyTrain but does quite well and only effectively has a mall by it from an amenities perspective. Try finding a hotel room at a reasonable rate next to SkyTrain during tourist season and you'll see why this will likely do fine in the short term and long term. Given the commercial space around and the large conference center that will also likely have cheaper rates than locations in Vancouver.

[koosh]

Originally Posted by jhausner

Movie Theatre will come as part of "The Hub" Phase B. Events centre will be coming in the future once they can start redeveloping the North Surrey Rec Center site (once the ice surfaces are moved). Plan is to put a performing arts center much like the Queen E there plus some other space. Restaurants I agree there need to be a few more flagships but they may come over time.

Truth is just being by SkyTrain will benefit the hotel and I'm sure it will be booked during tourist season fairly well. The Sheraton in Guildford which is about the same size as this hotel will be, is really nowhere near SkyTrain but does quite well and only effectively has a mall by it from an amenities perspective. Try finding a hotel room at a reasonable rate next to SkyTrain during tourist season and you'll see why this will likely do fine in the short term and long term. Given the commercial space around and the large conference center that will also likely have cheaper rates than locations in Vancouver.

what is being done to the rec center

[Spork]

Originally Posted by koosh

what is being done to the rec center

It will be demolished at some point in the future. I assume that they are planning to move it to somewhere else nearby.

[Whalleyboy]

Originally Posted by koosh

what is being done to the rec center

Its going to be moved down by scott road. currently the city is working to see if they can get a partnership to build an event arena at the same time and do it all as one big build.

[Shift]

Im pretty sure 3 Civic will be booked and marketed to visitors to Vancouver looking for a cheaper hotel option, who don't mind being outside the core. It works because it is on the SkyTrain line. People that aren't familiar with the region will likely book it as it will be advertised as a Vancouver area hotel, much like the 'Sheraton Vancouver Guildford' hotel (which is its official name).

Night update from this weekend:

[artmarkii]

Took these photos today. Pictures didn't turn out too well as it was dark.





These are looking into the lobby of 3 Civic plaza, they were taken beside the underground parking lot access elevator.

[officedweller]

Good shot by Daryl of the canopy over the tracks -
Jan 20, 2016 I think


http://blog.daryldelacruz.com/2016/02/04/next-gen-96-bline-buses/

[Jebby]

Looks good. From the previous pictures I was starting to think it would only cover part of the length of the track in front of the building.

I wonder if they're going to put a glass or tin roof on it.