Burnaby Updates

[Vin]

Originally Posted by logan5

I doubt Metrotown will ever get all that exciting. Firstly, that massive shopping mall sucks the life out of Metrotown. Secondly, Metrotown has a predominately more sedate demographic. Those walk-up apartments contain the demographic that gives neighbourhoods energy and life, and those are quickly being torn down in favour of towers.

If that bumbling fool and the rest of the City of Burnaby included affordable micro-suites in with all the new development, maybe Metrotown would have a chance at being a cultural focal point for Burnaby.

What "demographic" are you referring to? People still need to use services no matter what kind of housing they live in.

I already see a lot more people walking along Beresford Street after dark nowadays, when there used to be none before. Look up those towers along Beresford and they are not empty as I see many occupied units. Don't tell me unlike the walk-ups, the residents don't need to use transit, shop or simply walk out for recreation?

[logan5]

There'll be shops and services for sure, but most of them will be closed at 5 or 6.

The younger demographic is what keeps a neighbourhood active at night, with the bars and restaurants they frequent. Sure there will be a certain amount of those businesses, but not nearly enough to keep the sidewalks active. Even during the day it's not that great.

Even now Metrotown is as dense as Mt. Pleasant and Kits, but it doesn't come close to matching those neighbourhoods in terms of street life. The combination of the mall, an older, more conservative demographic, and bland architecture has neutralized any chance Metrotown has at becoming anything remotely resembling a great neighbourhood like Mt. Pleasant.

[Krissy]

Originally Posted by logan5

There'll be shops and services for sure, but most of them will be closed at 5 or 6.

The younger demographic is what keeps a neighbourhood active at night, with the bars and restaurants they frequent. Sure there will be a certain amount of those businesses, but not nearly enough to keep the sidewalks active. Even during the day it's not that great.

Even now Metrotown is as dense as Mt. Pleasant and Kits, but it doesn't come close to matching those neighbourhoods in terms of street life. The combination of the mall, an older, more conservative demographic, and bland architecture has neutralized any chance Metrotown has at becoming anything remotely resembling a great neighbourhood like Mt. Pleasant.

I find Metrotown and Brentwood to be quite cold. These proposals are great addition to Burnaby but the urban fabric is really suburban, just with tall towers. I really enjoy the vibe in the Olympic village and Kitsilano.

[VanK]

Originally Posted by logan5

.... Secondly, Metrotown has a predominately more sedate demographic. Those walk-up apartments contain the demographic that gives neighbourhoods energy and life, and those are quickly being torn down in favour of towers.

The younger demographic is what keeps a neighbourhood active at night, with the bars and restaurants they frequent. Sure there will be a certain amount of those businesses, but not nearly enough to keep the sidewalks active. Even during the day it's not that great.

It appears that you are implying that its only old people that live in these new highrise condos? I would have to imagine that a lot of the people living in these new condos are either young buyers and a lot of young renters. More importantly, these old 3 storey-walk up apartments are being replaced with probably 4, 5, 6 times? the number of units/residents which equates to more customers for these bars and restaurants.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Krissy

I find Metrotown and Brentwood to be quite cold. These proposals are great addition to Burnaby but the urban fabric is really suburban, just with tall towers. I really enjoy the vibe in the Olympic village and Kitsilano.

I think early planners made the mistake of not including retail and other services, as well as offices with the high-rise towers, resulting in stale and cold suburban neighbourhoods being established. Certain suburb town centres are starting to steer away from that trend. OV is pretty cold when you are a few blocks away from the centre area where the retail stores are located. By the water, the seawall with downtown vistas also contribute to the good vibe there.

[urbancanadian]

A look at Intergulf's high-rise project called The Peak, which is being billed as the tallest tower at SFU (17 floors).


http://www.intergulf.com/communities...-peak-sfu.html

Model pics, from a real estate website:

http://www.vip-presale.com/peak-cond...tain-intergulf


http://www.vip-presale.com/peak-cond...tain-intergulf

[Prometheus]

Thanks.

I actually count 18 floors from the high ground side and 21 floors from the low ground side.

[officedweller]

I don't think this video for Concord Brentwood has been posted:

• Video Link



Article from the Georgia Straight:
(I didn't know Burnaby had a first Yaletown!?!)

A second Yaletown is coming to Burnaby
Concord Pacific’s expertise building large-scale communities to help complete revitalization of Brentwood neighbourhood
posted on March 15th, 2016 at 4:44 PM...
(This article is promoted by Concord Pacific.)

...
Designed by award-winning architect James K.M. Cheng of Vancouver, Concord Brentwood will consist of
10 glass and concrete towers, most between 40 and 45 storeys tall. Tower 1 of Phase 1 will consist of 426 units on 45 storeys.
Signature proposed exterior architectural elements include asymmetrical supporting pillars that extend approximately 11.6 metres from ground level,
creating “a dynamic visual presence as well as architectural support for the tower,” says Peter Udzenija, director of corporate relations with Concord Pacific.
...

http://www.straight.com/news/658336/...coming-burnaby


http://www.straight.com/news/658336/...coming-burnaby

[vanman]

Thanks for posting. I always cringe whenever I hear Yaletown used to market anything other than Yaletown.

The angled columns on the towers fronting Lougheed look interesting. The podiums of all the other towers look craptacular.

[cairnstone]

This is one development I wish would never get built. As the land is industrial/ warehouse now so you are going to force the existing tenants out and increase the rates in the surrounding business parks. Its going to be soon if you need a part for something will have to drive to Langley to get it as there will not be any shops to sell it.

So the overall cost will go up and also will increase the traffic on the roads. This goes for all the different municipalities. Richmond is doing this Vancouver barely has anything close.

I had a service call on thursday last week to service a HID lights. went to 2 wholesalers neither had the bulbs and said had to go to Burnaby. Whats next We will have to ship them from Hope.

[Spork]

Yaletown Station Square vs. Yaletown Brentwood Concord vs. Yaletown Yaletown

Coming 2020 to a theatre near you.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by cairnstone

This is one development I wish would never get built. As the land is industrial/ warehouse now so you are going to force the existing tenants out and increase the rates in the surrounding business parks. Its going to be soon if you need a part for something will have to drive to Langley to get it as there will not be any shops to sell it.

So the overall cost will go up and also will increase the traffic on the roads. This goes for all the different municipalities. Richmond is doing this Vancouver barely has anything close.

I had a service call on thursday last week to service a HID lights. went to 2 wholesalers neither had the bulbs and said had to go to Burnaby. Whats next We will have to ship them from Hope.

I agree with this, pushing all such districts further away and making them inaccessible from transit is not always they best case. Also I always though being snug in the middle of the metro with easy access to the region's main freeway made this a good spot for such an industrial district.. It is not as if the area has run out of land closer to and north of the stations to build towers.

What is the point

Surrey want to do the same around Scott Road...literally he best place to retain an industrial district. Along the SFPR, next to a big park and Ride at Skytrain, River front access, flat land, the Patullo, etc...

But nope, every station and waterfront must become residential these days.

[cairnstone]

And business already pay a huge property tax load. My landlord thinks city hall is using taxes to push out a lot of the business, I think he said in one year taxes went up 15 or more percent. I know of a couple othe business owners looking for space as they live in burnaby. Would suck yo move across the river to drive to work.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by cairnstone

This is one development I wish would never get built. As the land is industrial/ warehouse now so you are going to force the existing tenants out and increase the rates in the surrounding business parks. Its going to be soon if you need a part for something will have to drive to Langley to get it as there will not be any shops to sell it.

So the overall cost will go up and also will increase the traffic on the roads. This goes for all the different municipalities. Richmond is doing this Vancouver barely has anything close.

I had a service call on thursday last week to service a HID lights. went to 2 wholesalers neither had the bulbs and said had to go to Burnaby. Whats next We will have to ship them from Hope.

What we need is better use of "mixed-use" zoning. Currently mixed up simply means retail+residential or office+residential.

What needs to happen is mixes such as:

At grade: Retail and Light Industrial (such as warehouses or repair shops)
2-3 stories of office
Residential above (be it tower or just a few more floors)

[mgbcca]

From what I gather there is also another 5 towers being planned just west of Concord Brentwood, should be interesting. Plus the whole brentwood development this areas gonna be busy.

[phesto]

"Signature proposed exterior architectural elements include asymmetrical supporting pillars that extend approximately 11.6 metres from ground level, creating “a dynamic visual presence as well as architectural support for the tower,”.


A few exposed angular columns at the base of an otherwise cookie cutter tower...this probably tested the limits of James Cheng's architectural creativity...

[LeftCoaster]

Much bigger than I expected for this development. Also I don't know where the numbers are coming from but I counted 48 storeys on the tallest tower plus the supporting pillars below plus a mechanical penthouse. I'm guessing the tallest end up in the 160M range.

I share everyones concern here with the industrial. I don't mind the towers closest to Lougheed, but the park next to the tracks could be half the size with the rest of the space devoted to mid-density industrial.

[WarrenC12]

I agree with the industrial comments. This is a bit of a "no man's land" between stations, and should remain as such with warehouses and typical industrial businesses.

As for the Yaletown thing.. they used several shots of the actual Yaletown instead of renders of what they are building. Pretty laughable.

[Kisai]

Originally Posted by cairnstone

This is one development I wish would never get built. As the land is industrial/ warehouse now so you are going to force the existing tenants out and increase the rates in the surrounding business parks.

I'm kinda wondering what exactly is already there


From just looking at google, one would think it was a junk yard, and the business park on the south end (Brentwood Industrial Park, Juneau Street) is where the "greenspace" is in the rendering.

https://burnaby.civicweb.net/document/15882

BURNABY ZONING BYLAW 1965,
AMENDMENT BYLAW NO. 19, 2015 – BYLAW NO. 13489
Rez. #13-20
4756/4828/4874 Lougheed Highway, 4818/4828/4829 Dawson Street,
2235/2285/2311 Delta Avenue, and 2316 Beta Avenue

From: M2 General Industrial District, R3 Residential District and CD
Comprehensive Development District (based on P3 Park and
Public Use District)

To: CD Comprehensive Development District (based on RM4s,
RM5s Multiple Family Residential Districts and Brentwood
Town Centre Development Plan as guidelines) and P3 Park
and Public Use District, and in accordance with the
development plan entitled “Woodlands Site Master Plan and
Phase Ia” prepared by James K.M. Cheng Architects Inc.
The purpose of the proposed zoning bylaw amendment is to establish
a Conceptual Master Plan, Design Guidelines and a detailed first
phase of development for the subject site, which would provide for
specific development rights for the initial phase; and guide further site
specific rezoning applications for the development of a multi-phased
high-rise apartment and ground-oriented townhouse development with
neighbourhood scale commercial uses along Dawson Street.

http://www.burnabynow.com/news/woodl...vote-1.2021933

...

The project is expected to take 15 to 20 years to build out in three phases, depending on market conditions.

The first two towers proposed for the Phase 1a would be 42 and 47 storeys tall along Lougheed and will total 892 apartment units.

At the July 21 public hearing there were questions about traffic but the concept plan does not go into that level of detail at this point, noted Coun. Colleen Jordan, chair of the city’s planning and development committee. If the concept plan is approved, more details would come as each phase of development comes to council for rezoning.

There appeared to be a lack of enthusiasm for yet more condominium towers, but “I think people are torn between [that and] they want to see those horrible ugly red barns [of the industrial park] gone and a park there,” Jordan said.

The park will be on the south end of the site, just north of railway tracks, due to the soft soil conditions making it less desirable for development, she explained. The higher density projects will be up the hill closer to Lougheed where soils can accommodate underground parking. There will also have to be some soil remediation due to the industrial use of the land over the years.

...

[VarBreStr18]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Much bigger than I expected for this development. Also I don't know where the numbers are coming from but I counted 48 storeys on the tallest tower plus the supporting pillars below plus a mechanical penthouse. I'm guessing the tallest end up in the 160M range.

I share everyones concern here with the industrial. I don't mind the towers closest to Lougheed, but the park next to the tracks could be half the size with the rest of the space devoted to mid-density industrial.

I disagree halfing the park. This is the only green space for the whole precinct of Brentwood which will only get denser by the years. We need as much greenspace as possible to draw people out. I don't count cemeteries, linear park as places where people can gather, relax and have fun.