Cambie Corridor Updates

[squeezied]

Originally Posted by Jebby

Whatever happened to the plan to building something on top of the King Ed station?

http://cambiestar.com/

[djh]

Originally Posted by squeezied

http://cambiestar.com/

Construction is ongoing. They're still about 3-4 floors below grade at the moment.

Not sure if the original plans are a bit deceptive or not...the building is not really "over" the skytrain station as far as I know. It is right next to it though.

Perhaps there will be some part of the building that hangs over the station entrance, as it appears in the renderings on the website, but looking at how the construction site is set up, I don't think so.

[Krissy]

Originally Posted by squeezied

The setback was always there. It's city land, no developer can build on it. Private property begins inside of the sidewalk.

See google maps: https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2483555,-123.115703,166m/data=!3m1!1e3

This is at the start of the boulevard where it's at its narrowest point, correspondingly the setbacks (at both sides of the street) are at its widest point.

The interaction with the street could be better. But as officedweller has stated, they've established ground level at the south end of the site, thereby elevating the building at the north end. The reason why the elevation of the building can't be substantially lowered is due to the neighbouring site to the south. The parking ramp of the neighbouring site will be shared with this development which essentially determines the P1 elevation and every other floor elevation as well. As a result, the ground floor elevation at the north end is about 9ft above the sidewalk on King Ed, which unfortunately makes a wall the most practical solution. If the landscaping fronting the wall is attractive enough it could turn out quite well. I've never been disappointed with projects from Arno Matis so I'll wait and see how it turns out.

Thanks I didn't know the two developments shared a parkade. I personally like the area south of king ed to remain residential. It has a really pleasant leafy residential feel to it. Adding retail IMO detracts from the character of the neighbourhood. I prefer to concentrate retail north of king ed.

[domusile]

Originally Posted by Jebby

Whatever happened to the plan to building something on top of the King Ed station?

http://cambiestar.com/

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by djh

Perhaps there will be some part of the building that hangs over the station entrance, as it appears in the renderings on the website, but looking at how the construction site is set up, I don't think so.

Yes, the south part of the condo building is supposed to be cantilevered over the station house (without resting on it).
Maybe Floor 2 rests on it, but you can see from the floorplans that there are thick shear walls on levels 3-7 which would tie the cantilevered part back to the main structure.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by squeezied

... The reason why the elevation of the building can't be substantially lowered is due to the neighbouring site to the south. The parking ramp of the neighbouring site will be shared with this development which essentially determines the P1 elevation and every other floor elevation as well. As a result, the ground floor elevation at the north end is about 9ft above the sidewalk on King Ed, which unfortunately makes a wall the most practical solution. If the landscaping fronting the wall is attractive enough it could turn out quite well. I've never been disappointed with projects from Arno Matis so I'll wait and see how it turns out.

Ahh, that's why!
Thanks!

[squeezied]

Originally Posted by djh

Construction is ongoing. They're still about 3-4 floors below grade at the moment.

Not sure if the original plans are a bit deceptive or not...the building is not really "over" the skytrain station as far as I know. It is right next to it though.

Perhaps there will be some part of the building that hangs over the station entrance, as it appears in the renderings on the website, but looking at how the construction site is set up, I don't think so.

No the station was designed such that it could be integrated in this development, although the building floor is not physically resting on the station, rather it's suspended from the building core.

Renderings: http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/plan...9cambie/documents/buildingelevations.pdf

[squeezied]

Originally Posted by Krissy

Thanks I didn't know the two developments shared a parkade. I personally like the area south of king ed to remain residential. It has a really pleasant leafy residential feel to it. Adding retail IMO detracts from the character of the neighbourhood. I prefer to concentrate retail north of king ed.

Technically it's just the parking ramp that is shared. The whole block consisted of 4 lots. The southernmost 3 were consolidated into one development which 'orphaned' the corner lot at king ed and cambie. My understanding is that because it is difficult and impractical for a single lot to incorporate a parking ramp for its eventual future redevelopment, the city imposes upon the developer of adjacent development to incorporate a provisional access to the single lot from their own parking ramp. In other words, the parking ramp is shared between the two developments but the parking areas are separated.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by Jebby

Whatever happened to the plan to building something on top of the King Ed station?

I thought that the building currently u/c will be

[Krissy]

Originally Posted by squeezied

Technically it's just the parking ramp that is shared. The whole block consisted of 4 lots. The southernmost 3 were consolidated into one development which 'orphaned' the corner lot at king ed and cambie. My understanding is that because it is difficult and impractical for a single lot to incorporate a parking ramp for its eventual future redevelopment, the city imposes upon the developer of adjacent development to incorporate a provisional access to the single lot from their own parking ramp. In other words, the parking ramp is shared between the two developments but the parking areas are separated.

Oh I see, makes sense to have those regulations as that would create a disincentive developers in leaving single orphan lots. But sometimes I think smaller "less usable" lots do create more interesting and creative developments.

[urbancanadian]

Here's a render for a development called Langara West, at the SE corner of 59th & Cambie. The developer is VivaGrand which is the "North American" name for Chinese development company Xiangli. They have another project coming soon at Cambie & 42nd, and are also behind the X61 development in North Van.

There are a ton of shady developers and other companies coming in from China these days, but this one at least seems honest. Others I've tried to find info for are not always so easy...


http://www.langaraliving.com/

[Jebby]

That project looks really good. I hope it's brick and not painted concrete, though.

[connect2source]

Hmmm, pretty average and bland to me, and somewhat dated looking already.

[officedweller]

The massing is pretty good and responds to the hill.
The first floor on the left building looks a bit odd, especially with that emergency exit front and centre. There's no front door on that corner space with the big windows, so I assume its an amenity, not retail (although there is a door partway down the side of the building).

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Jebby

That project looks really good. I hope it's brick and not painted concrete, though.

Really? Why?

it looks pretty disjointed and mundane to me.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Really? Why?

it looks pretty disjointed and mundane to me.

As officedweller said, the massing is good.

I also like the fact the spandrel color isn't seafoam green. I like the use of the brick framing and I think the height is decent.

[officedweller]

This one must be the one just east of Cambie - south side of 41st Ave:.

Aria (rental) - 450 West 41st Ave.


https://twitter.com/GBLArchitects


https://twitter.com/GBLArchitects


https://twitter.com/GBLArchitects

[squeezied]

Originally Posted by officedweller

This one must be the one just east of Cambie - south side of 41st Ave:.

Aria (rental) - 450 West 41st Ave.


https://twitter.com/GBLArchitects


https://twitter.com/GBLArchitects


https://twitter.com/GBLArchitects

This one turned out ok. I'm usually a little skeptical about GBL's contemporary design, at least from the renderings they provide anyway. Contemporary design tends to get dated pretty quickly. Or perhaps I'm just a little troubled that GBL is designing so many developments along the Cambie Corridor. So far their other two finished projects between 41st and 49th have turned out alright, although it's not my taste. But I wouldn't want their other projects looking like that though.

[Jebby]

I don't mind the GBL projects. They seem to be quite well thought out and give some architectural variety.

[vanman]

I did not realize PCI already owned 8530 Cambie, the Volvo and Subaru site immediately south of Marine Gateway.

This five-acre car dealership and service centre is located immediately south of the South Vancouver Bus Loop and Marine Drive Canada Line Station, across from Marine Gateway. This site is envisioned to continue to transform the Marine and Cambie intersection into a vibrant mixed-use precinct that embraces the transit-oriented lifestyle and provides jobs to the immediate area. Identified as within a Frequent Transit Development Area due to its immediate adjacency to rapid transit and the bus exchange, 8530 Cambie may include a mix of commercial, service and residential uses.

After digging through the Marpole Community Plan 8530 Cambie falls within the area where "developer initiated rezonings will be considered". I wonder how soon PCI will move forward with a proposal now that construction at Marine Gateway is wrapping up.