Burnaby Updates

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Klazu

It is truly on its own level compared to what we could have found or afforded in Downtown. Just wait.

Sovereign penthouse?

[Large Cat]

Originally Posted by Vin

SUN, 1 MAY AT 1:30 PM, BURNABY, BC
SKYWALKING THROUGH BURNABY: A Tour of Town Centres on Rail

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/skywalking-t...20(and%20Past)%20of%20Burnaby%20(May%204)

Im going, don't worry. anyone else?

[vanman]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Yep. Moving to Metrotown on next Thursday. My new work is in Burnaby and we found an amazing pad in there.

Very cool. I was just in Metrotown taking pics of some of the construction mayhem. In the middle of uploading them now. There is so much action right now in a small area.

[vanman]

Originally Posted by urbancanadian

I just came across this very preliminary render for the development by Belford properties, in between Silver and Metroplace. Reminder that this will consist of two towers, at 41- and 26-stories.


http://belfordproperties.ca/projects/2015/10/06/metrotown.html

My pic from yesterday.

[Klazu]

Wow, that street is going to be packed!

[VarBreStr18]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Wow, that street is going to be packed!

There is some sort of competition between Metrotown and Brentwood. I can see the future of Beresford is the parallel to Dawson. Both are going to be dynamic walkable districts. Dawson may have more potential because it is wider and a little further away from skytrain track, hence quieter and more room with sidewalk markets.

[Klazu]

I have always been thinking that the underside of the Skytrain tracks could be made to a nice narrow yet long park. Currently it is quite under-utilized, but I think Burnaby has some plans up in their sleeves.

[officedweller]

It already is - it's the BC Parkway.

**********

Metrotown area update calls for major event centre

By Eric MacKenzie

Thursday, April 28, 2016 5:26:11 PDT PM

Burnaby residents will be asked in the coming months for their input on a long-term vision to make Metrotown the city’s “true downtown.”

A city report, seen Tuesday by the city’s Planning and Development Committee, outlined preliminary ideas behind an update to the southwest Burnaby neighbourhood’s development plan, which aims to make the area an “inclusive,” “exciting” and “vibrant” downtown in the decades ahead.

That would include re-designating areas along Kingsway and other major streets from single-use to mixed-use in an attempt to create a hub of residential, commercial and professional spaces in a concentrated area.

What’s more, the updated plan calls for the construction of a “major performance/event centre” and perhaps a new arena.

...

The updated plan would see a downtown core formed along Kingsway, Central Boulevard, Beresford and Grange streets, featuring high-rise office and residential buildings with commercial frontages. The hope is that the diverse mix of amenities will draw in visitors and keep residents close to home in a pedestrian-oriented approach.

...

As for the event centre proposed, the preliminary plans say little about what such a facility could look like. But Dhaliwal said he would expect something along the lines of a convention centre that is capable of hosting a wide range of activities.

“We believe a city our size requires a medium-to-small sized convention centre or performance centre where entertainment can occur, and also some small gatherings of delegates or conventions,” said Dhaliwal.

...

http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/2016/04/28/metrotown-area-update-calls-for-major-event-centre

[Klazu]

Damn, you sure are always current with your replies, OD! I really like the tone they have and that is exactly right. I hope ultimately also Metropolis will be redeveloped to support all that as the middle hub.

So does that mean that the city of Burnaby is planning for Metrotown to be the de facto downtown and not Bretwood? Or is that just some individuals talking?

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Klazu

So does that mean that the city of Burnaby is planning for Metrotown to be the de facto downtown and not Bretwood? Or is that just some individuals talking?

The plan has been for Metrotown to be downtown Burnaby for a long time. It's only been in the recent past with all the development that Brentwood has really caught people's attention.

[Sheba]

What’s more, the updated plan calls for the construction of a “major performance/event centre” and perhaps a new arena.

Maybe that's what they're going to do with the empty Target space...

Then again maybe that's not such a far fetched idea. Retail has been moving towards smaller spaces and that's a big spot to fill (even if they cut it in half and had each floor being it's own store). I'd suggested before about it being converted into something 'non-retail' - and it has outside entrances.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by Klazu

So does that mean that the city of Burnaby is planning for Metrotown to be the de facto downtown and not Bretwood? Or is that just some individuals talking?

Brentwood has only been in the spotlight lately because of the height of the towers. Metrotown still has the bulk of the employment, and I would be surprised if the future towers didn't increase in height to match or exceed Brentwood.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by VarBreStr18

There is some sort of competition between Metrotown and Brentwood. I can see the future of Beresford is the parallel to Dawson. Both are going to be dynamic walkable districts. Dawson may have more potential because it is wider and a little further away from skytrain track, hence quieter and more room with sidewalk markets.

The only problem is now this competition is eating into the supply of affordable homes at Metrotown. At least around Brentwood there are acres worth of under used land, but around Metrotown now people are being forced out of their rental apartments.

It's one thing for a business or a detached home owner to sell to a developer willingly for profit, it's another thing to tear down a walkup of already decent density. Part of what makes Metrotown interesting is the concentration of migrants, students, and young people that are attracted to the area due to lower rents and transit connectivity.

Originally Posted by Sheba

The plan has been for Metrotown to be downtown Burnaby for a long time. It's only been in the recent past with all the development that Brentwood has really caught people's attention.

The problem is that even with redevelopment around the mall on Kingsway, Kingsway is still incredibly disconnected from the Skytrain. It would be like if you exited Granville station and you wanted to get to Georgia and Granville you first had to walk down Dunsmuir to Hornby and then back.

Around Brentwood it is pretty much brownfield. And the street grid is much smaller and grid like (and could be even more so easily). Dawson could make for a nice walkable urban street between 2 stations.

The Brentwood area is also closer to a lot of jobs and offices and BCIT and the Hospital. While Metrotown might be at the center of a larger portion of Burnaby's population, Brentwood feels closer to more things of other importance. As well it is close to the freeway and on the rail line (if ever there is intercity rail in BC, you could plop down a station right there in the heart of "Downtown Burnaby").

And if they are looking for event space, there is no available land around Metrotown for something the size of an area or convention center. It would cost a fortune. If Burnaby wants an arena/convention center, buy Carter GM. Done. It's right at the station too. It would be epic.

Metrotown had it's chance to be a "Downtown" but they sat back and collected development fees and allowed it to get so built up with apartments and condos before actually thinking about downtown like amenities, services, or layout that it is too late. Brentwood is much closer to a clean slate and they still have time to shape it into a perfect downtown.

[logan5]

I have a hard time seeing Metrotown developing into a true downtown with the mall creating such a huge barrier. There was an opportunity to split the complex up with the station square development. A new street could have been created that would connect Kingsway with central and Beresford. A huge missed opportunity imo.

With regard to the land underneath the guideway, Metrotown should emulate Berlin and have retail utilizing that land.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by logan5

I have a hard time seeing Metrotown developing into a true downtown with the mall creating such a huge barrier. There was an opportunity to split the complex up with the station square development. A new street could have been created that would connect Kingsway with central and Beresford. A huge missed opportunity imo.

I have commented the same about Station Square (at least currently) feeling like a missed opportunity to bridge the two areas. That only leaves the current service alley between Metropolis and Station Square, but I don't know easy it would be to relocate those service entrances.

Originally Posted by logan5

With regard to the land underneath the guideway, Metrotown should emulate Berlin and have retail utilizing that land.

I know what you are thinking, but I think that would create yet another barrier between Beresford street and rest of Metrotown. I think it needs to become a proper park, allowing for people moving across.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Brentwood has only been in the spotlight lately because of the height of the towers. Metrotown still has the bulk of the employment, and I would be surprised if the future towers didn't increase in height to match or exceed Brentwood.

I know that you mean, but all the recently announced masterplanned megaprojects (Concord, Gilmore Station) in Brentwood have changed my opinion. Like others have alluded, Brentwood has so much more land that is easy to redeveloped vs. Metrotown and has a better connectivity to Highway 1. The current plans also call for developing a much bigger piece of area without the barriers that Metrotown has and the street grid is more manageable.

I think both areas are moving to the right direction, but Brentwood would be a better downtown.

[cornholio]

I always figured Brentwood and Metrotown would merge in the distant future. With the re development of the Dogwood lands and parts of the BCIT lands right between the two the entire Willingdon area will be increasingly tied together. In fact any convention space I would focus close to the highway and BCIT in between Brentwood and Metrotown.

[Klazu]

Considering that both are currently growing in the east-west direction, I think it will take a while for them to merge. Metrotown will merge with Edmonds and Brentwood with Lougheed before each other. If there would be a streetcar or SkyTrain line between the two, maybe then a merger would be more imminent. Now we are talking about 50+ years into the future, I would say.

[GilmoreStation]

Brentwood area still feels more upscale than Metrotown. Not sure if this is going to last after all of the developments are completed though.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Brentwood has only been in the spotlight lately because of the height of the towers. Metrotown still has the bulk of the employment, and I would be surprised if the future towers didn't increase in height to match or exceed Brentwood.

Does Metrotown really have the bulk of employment? If you exclude retail and other minimum wage type jobs, I think the 2 areas start to even out.

Maybe not right in Brentwood center at the moment (there are some office buildings though along Lougheed), but within 2km of Brentwood Station you have all the offices along Still Creek Drive, BCIT, Burnaby General, EA, offices on Guilmore Way, the offices on Canada Way, the Casino (and businesses surrounding it). And so many acres of land that are ready to redevelop without evicting low income tenants. The Broadway Tech Center to Brentwood corridor would make a great employment center.

It would be great to capture the business of all those high income employees in a downtown like environment.

And the street grid is pretty good for providing transit in the area. All you really need to add is the Wayburn Drive overpass over the TCH and Railway and it's far easier to get around than Metrotown. A nice circulatory bus route and done (instead of the current insane Burnaby bus routes that zigzag everywhere over the city).