Northeast False Creek | Proposed

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by Smooth

So the City propose to remove the viaducts because they say the structures are not built to today's seismic standards and are ugly. Then they propose to repurpose part of the viaduct for a park. Doesn't that contradict their original excuse for removing the structure?

Apparently, the part the City wants to keep is on solid ground.

Also, they're very obsessed with the High Line.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by whatnext

It was never about the viaducts per se, it was about Vision Vancouver throwing a bone to their naive SJW base.

please, what is their SJW base?

[Migrant_Coconut]

Yeah, Social Justice Warriors care about social justice (identity politics), not nature or super-healthy lifestyles. It's not a catch-all term for everything one hates about the far left.

[Metro-One]

OMG... did we just see two elements creep into the re-design that us evil "keep the viaducts" crowd have been advocating?

Do my eyes deceive me or do I see a new elevated structure offering connectivity to the areas atop the bluff and along the NEFC??

Do I also see what is essentially a tunnel structure over top of the new super road???

Also do I see the elevated structure being shown as providing funky spaces below (with examples from around the world) and being used as shelter for activities below?????

Wow, I honestly don't know how to feel here. Vindicated? Smug? Confused?

[Migrant_Coconut]

No kidding. The open house proved that, fortunately, some people at City Hall actually have good ideas.

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Do my eyes deceive me or do I see a new elevated structure offering connectivity to the areas atop the bluff and along the NEFC??

Do I also see what is essentially a tunnel structure over top of the new super road???

Sorry, what? There's two elevated structures - the Expo Line viaduct, and a rebuild of the Duinsmuir Viaduct (bike/pedestrian only) that slopes down to the new park.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Do my eyes deceive me or do I see a new elevated structure offering connectivity to the areas atop the bluff and along the NEFC??

That's just the new elevated bike path/connector.
It was touted as being attached / cantilevered from building podiums.
The drawings seem to have unrealistically wide cantilevers.

... and as to the tunnel, they don't have enough money to build a platform over the super-road and SkyTrain tracks.
It would also create dangerous areas under such a structure - though I suppose it could be a new shelter for the DTES.

[Metro-One]

Oh I know it is for bikes and pedestrians only, but it looks far beyond an average pedestrian overpass. It seriously looks to be 2 or 3 car lanes wide at points. It also extends east more than halfway through the park (over the new super road) before landing, where it may then meet the potential tunnel structure.

Again, it is almost as if they are sneaking in elements that people such as myself have been touting slowly enough so it doesn't upset their extreme base?

It pretty much feels "Okay, how do we have grade separation without looking like we want any grade separation?"

I still don't like viaducts been torn down (with so many other issues in the city this feels like fixing a problem that did not really exist if they just allowed development to happen around them) buuuuuut, if this viaduct structure, the park "overpass" and what look to be a few wharf like structures along the seawall (instead of just being completely "natural" waterfront) are built as part of this project, well, then I am much warmer to it than I was before with the simple big empty field with no interesting structures / spaces.

I don't think that tunnel would be a problem if manage properly. For example around the stadiums now is not a problem for sleeping homeless. Not from what I have seen, and especially no more than anywhere else downtown.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by officedweller

... and as to the tunnel, they don't have enough money to build a platform over the super-road and SkyTrain tracks.
It would also create dangerous areas under such a structure - though I suppose it could be a new shelter for the DTES.

Depending on public feedback and/or feasibility, there's talk of building the Carrall Promenade intersection as a kind of land bridge or green corridor instead, connecting Creekside to Andy Livingstone over/under Pacific Boulevard. That's the only tunnel I can see.

[Vin]

500mil now to do this whole fiasco? No wonder they hired the New York Lansdcape architect. I hope the next City government cancels the entire thing. What a waste of money.

[Aroundtheworld]

Originally Posted by Vin

500mil now to do this whole fiasco? No wonder they hired the New York Lansdcape architect. I hope the next City government cancels the entire thing. What a waste of money.

Where did you get that $500 M from? The number I've heard is around $250 M. Also, this project will open up a lot of land for development that will probably be easily worth more than the demolition and construction costs.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Vin

500mil now to do this whole fiasco? No wonder they hired the New York Lansdcape architect. I hope the next City government cancels the entire thing. What a waste of money.

Please stop with the baseless FUD.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Please do not feed the troll.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Aroundtheworld

Where did you get that $500 M from? The number I've heard is around $250 M. Also, this project will open up a lot of land for development that will probably be easily worth more than the demolition and construction costs.

$250 m is still way too much. The Downtown-OV-Granville Island streetcar could have been built for less.

[Vin]

Yes Streetcar system costs about 300mil or less.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Please stop with the baseless FUD.

Speak for yourself, Mr!

Originally Posted by Aroundtheworld

Where did you get that $500 M from? The number I've heard is around $250 M. Also, this project will open up a lot of land for development that will probably be easily worth more than the demolition and construction costs.

Back in 2015:
http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/10/vancouver-viaduct-removal-cost/

The proposed plan to demolish Vancouver’s Dunsmuir and Georgia viaducts and build new park space has soared to $200 million, an increase of $70 million from earlier estimates when the City of Vancouver began exploring the feasibility of the project.

During a media event held today, the City’s planners confirmed that the plans include:

tearing down the 1.3-kilometre-long, 1972-built viaducts and replacing it with a new 8-lane reconfiguration that merges Expo and Pacific boulevards;
building a five per cent grade ramp at the end of Georgia Street between Rogers Arena and B.C. Place that leads to Pacific Boulevard;
a 13-acre expansion of Creekside Park, a bridge connection for cyclists and pedestrians starting at Dunsmuir Street that gently descends from the escarpment;
and a new neighbourhood for 2,500 units that consists of both market and affordable housing.


What about the Malkin Connector, including land purchase, etc? You can't let a super wide road suddenly end at Prior Street, can you?

FYI, the High Line in New York cost US$150M to construct. That was back in 2008. So if we have our own version, wouldn't that be at least another Can$150M?

Therefore $500M in total for the entire area to be reconstructed for viable traffic flow, plus all the bells and whistles, isn't surprising.

[logan5]

The "Future Neighbourhood" and "Future Creekside Park" should switch locations. The future neighbourood will forever be isolated because of its location tucked between the stadiums, False Cree, and the massive new park. Building the future neighbourhood on the eastern half of NEFC would create better neighbourhood continuity with the eventual development of the City owned blocks that flank Main Street, and the current City Gate site, which in itself is very isolated.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by logan5

The "Future Neighbourhood" and "Future Creekside Park" should switch locations. The future neighbourood will forever be isolated because of its location tucked between the stadiums, False Cree, and the massive new park. Building the future neighbourhood on the eastern half of NEFC would create better neighbourhood continuity with the eventual development of the City owned blocks that flank Main Street, and the current City Gate site, which in itself is very isolated.

Not going to happen - the park's there partly because that's the side contaminated with all the industrial waste.

Remember that the neighbourhood is also an entertainment district too. The closer to the stadiums, the better.

[Metro-One]

"Neighbourhood" and "Entertainment District" really doesn't go well together... Unless it is a mature approach to such a neighbourhood where most of the people living there are the club / restaurant owners and employees...

[jlousa]

Always found the site contamination to be a bit of a red herring. This is some of the most expensive land on the continent. If it's not viable to ship it offsite from here then it wouldn't be viable anywhere. They could make it work, they are just choosing the cheapest way possible to do it.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Not going to happen - the park's there partly because that's the side contaminated with all the industrial waste.

Remember that the neighbourhood is also an entertainment district too. The closer to the stadiums, the better.

A park would seem to fit better inside an entertainment district. This is a large park that could host sizeable events and shows. You could almost fit BC Place inside that park space.