Suburban Updates - All Other Metro Vancouver Municipalities

[clee7903]

Now this is an update!! Thanks so much for taking the time to not only take the photos but also adding your comments. I've been to a few to the above showrooms a while back, can't believe some of them have progressed so far.

[urbancanadian]

Thanks for the positive feedback!! Here is the map. As usual, BLUE = Proposed; GREEN = Under Construction; YELLOW = Recently Completed.

I didn't label the completed developments (except for Regan's Walk) because I had covered them in my previous update. The two blue placemarks are meant to represent Concert's recently proposed YMCA development. I have no idea what the site boundaries are so I plopped the two pins down where I'm guessing the towers may go...

[red-paladin]

Thanks for a ll the photos and the map, wow.

I wonder what the timeframe would be for Burquitlam Plaza itself to be completely replaced with a high density development. Probably after the rest of the neighbourhood.

[VanK]

Originally Posted by urbancanadian

Thanks for the positive feedback!! Here is the map. As usual, BLUE = Proposed; GREEN = Under Construction; YELLOW = Recently Completed.

I didn't label the completed developments (except for Regan's Walk) because I had covered them in my previous update. The two blue placemarks are meant to represent Concert's recently proposed YMCA development. I have no idea what the site boundaries are so I plopped the two pins down where I'm guessing the towers may go...

Just one thing that needs correction: The Polygon Cottonwood project is not rental. It is a market condo but they will be selling from finished product and no pre-sales.

[officedweller]

Thanks for the update!

[SpongeG]

i don't know if there is a thread for richmond or landsdowne so i am throwing this in here...

it lists Lansdowne Mall, Richmond, BC as one of the current projects... is something finally going to happen there?

http://www.dialogdesign.ca/open-dialog/transforming-mall-urban-village/

Here’s a list of some of Susan’s current projects:
Northland Village Mall Redevelopment, Calgary, AB
Lansdowne Mall, Richmond, BC
Westbrook Mall, Calgary, AB
Malborough Mall, Calgary, AB

[officedweller]

Yes, eventually.
https://www.biv.com/article/2016/2/lansdowne-redevelopment-signals-demand-malls-near-/

[GlassCity]

I can't wait for the Lansdowne mall redevelopment. It'll be a massive change for Richmond, even with all that's going on already.

[SkytrainCar026]

Here is the future land use map for Lansdowne. Looks like they will build some towers along No.3 road and a long strip of parkland along Lansdowne.

http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/specific_map_transect_lansdowne23857.pdf



EDIT: I think that we should make a thread dedicated to Richmond, do you guys agree? With so many developments going on, it could use its own thread.

[Marshal]

I look forward to seeing how central Richmond will come together once the road network is transformed/completed. Took a little tour today - there is so much under construction over such a large area. It is easily the largest geographic area under such development in the region. As an outsider (though I get out to Richmond ~10 times/year) my impression of it is that it is disjointed & chaotic at the scale of the overall public realm. A lot of connections (as the above map illustrates) need to be made, and hopefully some kind of spatial structure will come to the whole area.

A question for Richmond locals: what's the story with the ridiculous connection between the two shopping mall parts of Aberdeen Centre?

[red-paladin]

Originally Posted by SkytrainCar026

EDIT: I think that we should make a thread dedicated to Richmond, do you guys agree? With so many developments going on, it could use its own thread.

There would probably have to be more talk about it. If there is going to be a Richmond thread, there may as as well be threads for all major areas undergoing urbanization (Burnaby, New West, and Tri-Cities threads) too. Probably we could turn the Burnaby construction and proposal thread into a sticky Burnaby updates one? The question is, is there enough content to warrant different threads?

I think it might be a good idea. However, if one was to start a Richmond thread, they would probably need to write a comprehensive introductory post of all the current major construction sites, proposals, and land zone maps like above, to make it anchored and worthwhile continuing.

[RichmondOval]

Originally Posted by Marshal

I look forward to seeing how central Richmond will come together once the road network is transformed/completed. Took a little tour today - there is so much under construction over such a large area. It is easily the largest geographic area under such development in the region. As an outsider (though I get out to Richmond ~10 times/year) my impression of it is that it is disjointed & chaotic at the scale of the overall public realm. A lot of connections (as the above map illustrates) need to be made, and hopefully some kind of spatial structure will come to the whole area.

A question for Richmond locals: what's the story with the ridiculous connection between the two shopping mall parts of Aberdeen Centre?

For pedestrians, yes it is a chaotic mess. Each "node" (communities beside major shopping districts) is basically seperated besides on No.3 road. Garden City road is next to impossible for people to walk on (the new massive Wal-Mart complex on Alderbridge and Garden City did improve things slightly). However, for people who drive, it is quite convenient to get from point A to point B.

The new building (Aberdeen Square) besides the Aberdeen Mall is meant as an extension of the current mall. It connects the Canada Line directly into the mall. I believe it has failed horribly as more than half of the store spaces are still vacant since the square footage of most of the stores are incredibly small. Floors 4 to 6 in that building are office spaces.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

There would probably have to be more talk about it. If there is going to be a Richmond thread, there may as as well be threads for all major areas undergoing urbanization (Burnaby, New West, and Tri-Cities threads) too. Probably we could turn the Burnaby construction and proposal thread into a sticky Burnaby updates one? The question is, is there enough content to warrant different threads?

I think it might be a good idea. However, if one was to start a Richmond thread, they would probably need to write a comprehensive introductory post of all the current major construction sites, proposals, and land zone maps like above, to make it anchored and worthwhile continuing.

I think that's a great idea. It was floated on another thread awhile back but got nowhere.

[Marshal]

Originally Posted by RichmondOval

However, for people who drive, it is quite convenient to get from point A to point B.

I have no trouble getting around when driving either, but as a pedestrian or a driver, it feels like you can't find a place in the 'place.' The street layout is still chaotic and broken up; and the street character seems like it can't decide between 'front street,' 'side street,' or 'service street.' But, like I said, I will be optimistic that things are being built to some reasonable urban plan, and eventually that will come together.

Originally Posted by RichmondOval

The new building (Aberdeen Square) besides the Aberdeen Mall is meant as an extension of the current mall. It connects the Canada Line directly into the mall. I believe it has failed horribly as more than half of the store spaces are still vacant since the square footage of most of the stores are incredibly small. Floors 4 to 6 in that building are office spaces.

Aberdeen Square is not only half empty, it is architecturally poorly laid out and internally disconnected. But the actual connecting elements between it and Aberdeen Mall seem like less than an afterthought. There is potential because the main part is a large space that could be activated somehow. But between it and the two malls, its a disaster - both connections are made through awkward little hallways with the character of mall bathroom accesses.

It is stunning that all elements were designed by a single architecture firm. Almost anything can be fixed, but the programming and layout (including the giant parking block in the middle) of the whole place is a drag on fairly good architectural expression.

[red-paladin]

Does anyone know what the plan is for the Kask Bros. site on the Barnet Highway? They've demolished the cement factory. I found this article about the facility moving: http://www.burnabynow.com/news/burnaby-concrete-plant-shutting-down-1.2227517

I completely agree that Aberdeen Square is terrible. For a building that was supposed to connect the well designed Aberdeen Centre with the skytrain station, even having the foresight for a platform level connection, I can't believe it. I visited and found the route from the station to Aberdeen centre circuitous at best, and as it's been said, like it's a second thought, back of house connection that was added after the fact.

[Marshal]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

Does anyone know what the plan is for the Kask Bros. site on the Barnet Highway? They've demolished the cement factory. I found this article about the facility moving:

Very interesting location. I assume it is zoned industrial. I wonder how it is defined in the OCP.
-stays industrial?
-a public use: new velodrome/high performance cycling centre?
-2 standard condo towers?

[SpongeG]

isn't the aberdeen extension strata retail units? where as the old part of the mall is lease units

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

isn't the aberdeen extension strata retail units? where as the old part of the mall is lease units

That rings a bell. There's a pretty clear delineation between the old and new.

[RichmondOval]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

isn't the aberdeen extension strata retail units? where as the old part of the mall is lease units

I believe that is the case as well. When Aberdeen Square first opened, many of the empty store fronts had a real estate listing of the size and pricing.

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by Marshal

Very interesting location. I assume it is zoned industrial. I wonder how it is defined in the OCP.
-stays industrial?
-a public use: new velodrome/high performance cycling centre?
-2 standard condo towers?

Residential would be a horrible use in that area. it would be in perpetual shadow as its located north of Burnaby mountain. And the north side of Burnaby mountain is steep as well. That site probably gets zero sunshine in the winter months and probably almost none even in the summer months.