Surrey Updates

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by jhausner

[...]In Vancouver, it is typically replacing something previously. Where my wife used to live for example, there were 10 houses that were torn down and rebuilt. That's 10 houses torn down.. then 10 put in their place so a net increase of _0_ even though on the chart you link it would show "10 single housing starts!"

I think that you are off on your assessment of replacement single family houses (SFHs) in the City of Vancouver only constituting a 1:1 replacement of dwellings. Almost without exception, new detached single family homes are being built with secondary suites, or as small lot duplexes, and with some frequency lane way houses are also being included. With some frequency, too, they are small(er) lot houses that fit in more SFHs per block-face.

Here's an example of that.

The new SFHs are almost half the width of the older existing SFHs across the lane. There are five older houses and nine new duplex houses in the same amount of block-face; a 260% increase in dwelling count (not including basement suites that I assume are present in most of the older houses).

Here are a couple of duplexes built that were built on the site of a former SFH for a four-fold increase in dwelling count.

[GMasterAres]

Ok fair enough you found a few examples out of 9000 housing starts in 1 year. Population increase numbers over the last 20 years seem to contradict unless Surrey added 200,000 homeless people. Nobody has yet to reconcile while the housing numbers seem so amazing for Vancouver yet population growth is consistently higher SoF.

Either population numbers are lying or, like I'm saying, housing start statistics are not telling the whole or much of the true story.

[Blease]

Good news for Surrey LRT as the BC government agrees to increase funding contribution for the project. Altogether the Feds and Provincial governments will now cover 80% of the costs, up until yesterday that figure was only 73%. Mayor Linda Hephner's promise of having shovels on the ground by 2018 just got a little bit closer coming to fruition.

http://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-to-match-2-2b-contribution-for-surrey-light-rail-broadway-subway-1.3349208

[EhJay]

Originally Posted by Blease

Good news for Surrey LRT as the BC government agrees to increase funding contribution for the project. Altogether the Feds and Provincial governments will now cover 80% of the costs, up until yesterday that figure was only 73%. Mayor Linda Hephner's promise of having shovels on the ground by 2018 just got a little bit closer coming to fruition.

http://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-to-match-2-2b-contribution-for-surrey-light-rail-broadway-subway-1.3349208

Now just to hope that the muni gov can find that 20% of funding that they need and can get this going. A whole bunch of other buildings are on hold while waiting for the LRT to get going.

[officedweller]

So there's no "rumour" thread for Surrey, so I'll post this here.

It's gotta be just a pie in the sky concept, but worth posting:

Surrey Signature

Project Description

Master planning and conceptual design for phased redevelopment of one complete block of land sitting
between Hilton Rd and Grosvenor Rd along George Ave, Surrey City Centre, Surrey BC:

A tall architecturally significant, new age building will be highly visible from the Freeway and beyond.
The façade of the building is designed to give the effect of the footprint of the structure wrapping around itself
creating a gap which when illuminated will create a 400 ft tall “S” as a symbol for Surrey.

The second phase of the project is expected to host 4 residential towers as well as retail and public spaces
which would serve as a hub by bringing in together businesses and public alike.

https://www.jka.cc/projects/mixed-use-high-rise/surrey-signature/?portfolioCats=8


https://www.jka.cc/projects/mixed-use-high-rise/surrey-signature/?portfolioCats=8


https://www.jka.cc/projects/mixed-use-high-rise/surrey-signature/?portfolioCats=8


https://www.jka.cc/projects/mixed-use-high-rise/surrey-signature/?portfolioCats=8

For reference (not high-rise purple at the proposed site)
- and not really a good site for office space (being somewhat removed from Gateway Station, with low-rise condos between):

Originally Posted by Shift

[officedweller]

Also, this Surrey Central plan apparently from June 2016 (according to URLs):.
It's for thr bus exchange but shows surrounding buildings too.

Surrey Central Exchange Concept Plan

Surrey, BC

VIA worked with the City of Surrey, TransLink, and Simon Fraser University (SFU),
to reconfigure the Surrey Central SkyTrain Station transit exchange in support of the City of Surrey’s vision
for a City Centre and to facilitate future expansion of SFU.

•Major goal was to meet TransLink’s long-term capacity needs (rapid transit & local bus)
•Plan provides high-quality passenger and pedestrian environment
•Study involved evaluation of multiple bus operation scenarios to address the relocation of pick up/drop off and layover facilities

http://www.via-architecture.com/project/surrey-central-exchange-concept-plan/


http://www.via-architecture.com/project/surrey-central-exchange-concept-plan/


http://www.via-architecture.com/project/surrey-central-exchange-concept-plan/


http://www.via-architecture.com/project/surrey-central-exchange-concept-plan/


http://www.via-architecture.com/project/surrey-central-exchange-concept-plan/

[xd_1771]

Originally Posted by Blease

Good news for Surrey LRT as the BC government agrees to increase funding contribution for the project. Altogether the Feds and Provincial governments will now cover 80% of the costs, up until yesterday that figure was only 73%. Mayor Linda Hephner's promise of having shovels on the ground by 2018 just got a little bit closer coming to fruition.

http://bc.ctvnews.ca/b-c-to-match-2-2b-contribution-for-surrey-light-rail-broadway-subway-1.3349208

Um, no they didn't.

I don't know if you haven't noticed but these past few years the media has been attaching a lot of the senior-level funding announcements to the "LRT" buzzword even though there has been little in terms of a specific commitment to LRT technology or the currently planned project. The announcement last week was to match the amount of money the Federal government would put on the table not for specific projects but for transit in general - all projects are still subject to the usual business case process.

Take it from me, I was at the announcement and the Minister didn't actually use the word "LRT" when asked, instead using the terms "L-Line" and "Langley extension" and also noting that the design and business case work being done is still in progress, and that both will need to be completed.

Originally Posted by EhJay

Now just to hope that the muni gov can find that 20% of funding that they need and can get this going. A whole bunch of other buildings are on hold while waiting for the LRT to get going.

If any developers are actually holding out their development plans for the L-Line LRT, they're in for some bad news when the project team finally releases the (already frequently delayed) project business case which is almost certainly going to look bad. As far as I'm aware the only building that's waiting for the LRT Project is Coast Capital Phase II, and that's because the City made a change to the LRT plan, which is going to require the relocation of a new road through a part of a site where one of the Phase II buildings was supposed to go.

[Blease]

Originally Posted by xd_1771

Um, no they didn't.

I don't know if you haven't noticed but these past few years the media has been attaching a lot of the senior-level funding announcements to the "LRT" buzzword even though there has been little in terms of a specific commitment to LRT technology or the currently planned project. The announcement last week was to match the amount of money the Federal government would put on the table not for specific projects but for transit in general - all projects are still subject to the usual business case process.

Take it from me, I was at the announcement and the Minister didn't actually use the word "LRT" when asked, instead using the terms "L-Line" and "Langley extension" and also noting that the design and business case work being done is still in progress, and that both will need to be completed.

If any developers are actually holding out their development plans for the L-Line LRT, they're in for some bad news when the project team finally releases the (already frequently delayed) project business case which is almost certainly going to look bad. As far as I'm aware the only building that's waiting for the LRT Project is Coast Capital Phase II, and that's because the City made a change to the LRT plan, which is going to require the relocation of a new road through a part of a site where one of the Phase II buildings was supposed to go.

There's a general concensus that Surrey's transit system will be LRT, I don't think it's really up for debate anymore.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by officedweller

So there's no "rumour" thread for Surrey, so I'll post this here.

It's gotta be just a pie in the sky concept, but worth posting:



https://www.jka.cc/projects/mixed-use-high-rise/surrey-signature/?portfolioCats=8


For reference (not high-rise purple at the proposed site)
- and not really a good site for office space (being somewhat removed from Gateway Station, with low-rise condos between):

According to google maps it's only a 5 min walk from Gateway Station over to King George Blvd, which is still the main drag. It's not unreasonable to expect taller buildings and some non-residential in that location. Also it's marked as striped red - mid to high rise, mixed use.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by xd_1771

Um, no they didn't.

I don't know if you haven't noticed but these past few years the media has been attaching a lot of the senior-level funding announcements to the "LRT" buzzword even though there has been little in terms of a specific commitment to LRT technology or the currently planned project. The announcement last week was to match the amount of money the Federal government would put on the table not for specific projects but for transit in general - all projects are still subject to the usual business case process.

Take it from me, I was at the announcement and the Minister didn't actually use the word "LRT" when asked, instead using the terms "L-Line" and "Langley extension" and also noting that the design and business case work being done is still in progress, and that both will need to be completed.

I am sooo waiting for the business case announcement. Maybe if the LRT plan is scuppered then it'll go ahead as Phase 1 of the Langley Skytrain extension instead (it's not as if there's been no planning on that). Honestly there's more need for that and King George can stay as a B Line for the time being.

They did work on King George not that long ago to help out the B Line, and now they want to cancel that out with rail down the middle of the road instead? That doesn't seem like the best planning ever.

Originally Posted by Blease

There's a general concensus that Surrey's transit system will be LRT, I don't think it's really up for debate anymore.

It's open season until until shovels are in the ground. The Evergreen Extension was supposed to be LRT too.

[Blease]

Surrey's current mayor as well as all parties who ran for the mayor's office in the last election supported LRT. Asides one particular citizens coalition that makes it into the press from time to time, there's no one pushing for skytrain in Surrey. The City of Surrey has preliminary plans for LRT in place and it looks like this train has left the station.

[Shift]

Originally Posted by officedweller

So there's no "rumour" thread for Surrey, so I'll post this here.

It's gotta be just a pie in the sky concept, but worth posting:


https://www.jka.cc/projects/mixed-use-high-rise/surrey-signature/?portfolioCats=8
:

Yeah I really don't see this happening in this form anyway.

It doesn't go with the City Centre Plan, and the placement of the tallest, signature tower towards the back of the site adjacent to Single Family doesn't make sense either.

That corner of 108/King George is designated for High-Rise, but it's more likely to see the tallest tower brought closer to that intersection.

Surrey wants to concentrate the tallest towers in the City Centre directly around SkyTrain Station nodes however. Not sure of the radius of these nodes but 108/KGB could qualify for Gateway.

Tien Sher has their 41, 35, 30, and 28 storey towers proposed across the street. They are also proposing a similar concept of retail/plaza space at the base.

This JKA concept looks kinda tacky really, and wouldn't be visible from the Freeway as they claim (unless they mean the Coquitlam side).

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by Blease

There's a general concensus that Surrey's transit system will be LRT, I don't think it's really up for debate anymore.

There certainly is no consensus. Anywhere. Though you certainly wish there was for what ever reason. There has not even been a business case released yet. I am also of the opinion that politicians/officials that try to fabricate business case's, or try to start a project before a business case is completed and audited because it would kill the project, should end up sitting a few years in prison. I certainly hope they are not trying to fudge the business case right now so as to force this multi billion dollar waste of tax payer money project through, for a bit of meaningless political gain.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Sheba

According to google maps it's only a 5 min walk from Gateway Station over to King George Blvd, which is still the main drag. It's not unreasonable to expect taller buildings and some non-residential in that location. Also it's marked as striped red - mid to high rise, mixed use.

The tallest signature tower is actually on the orange zoning across from the red.

[Shift]

Tien Sher has submitted an application for a new 5-storey residential project, similar to Quatro, and across the street from this "Signature Tower" site.

Adds to their growing presence in the area.

https://urbansurrey.com/2017/04/04/tien-sher-submits-application-for-new-5-storey-development/

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The tallest signature tower is actually on the orange zoning across from the red.

It would make more sense if they flipped it so the tallest buildings are closest to King George. Let's see if this turns out to be anything more than a fantasy plan.

[EhJay]

Originally Posted by Shift

Tien Sher has submitted an application for a new 5-storey residential project, similar to Quatro, and across the street from this "Signature Tower" site.

Adds to their growing presence in the area.

Just saw this and pretty excited. Hopefully they break ground and get going on it quickly!

[flipper316]

Originally Posted by Sheba

I am sooo waiting for the business case announcement. Maybe if the LRT plan is scuppered then it'll go ahead as Phase 1 of the Langley Skytrain extension instead (it's not as if there's been no planning on that). Honestly there's more need for that and King George can stay as a B Line for the time being.

They did work on King George not that long ago to help out the B Line, and now they want to cancel that out with rail down the middle of the road instead? That doesn't seem like the best planning ever.




It's open season until until shovels are in the ground. The Evergreen Extension was supposed to be LRT too.

They're remodelling Surrey Central Skytrain station as well for like 25 million. I mentioned in another thread how that doesn't make sense either when they haven't decided on LRT yet and how that would configure with Surrey Central.

[iron]

The Surrey Central station renovation is basically prep work for the bus loop rearrangement, and to catch all the people currently using the fire escape. The renovation drawings sketch out the LRT station taking over the section of City Parkway right beside the station. No idea how long it will take for the bus loop plan to be implemented after the station upgrade is done. I'm guessing it can't happen until the rec centre is removed.

There was a PDF that went by to lay down the district energy pipes through from 3 Civic Plaza to the opposite side of City Parkway, just to get that taken care of ahead of future LRT construction on top. I saw they're putting the pipes in now.

[Shift]

Originally Posted by iron

The Surrey Central station renovation is basically prep work for the bus loop rearrangement, and to catch all the people currently using the fire escape. The renovation drawings sketch out the LRT station taking over the section of City Parkway right beside the station. No idea how long it will take for the bus loop plan to be implemented after the station upgrade is done. I'm guessing it can't happen until the rec centre is removed.

There was a PDF that went by to lay down the district energy pipes through from 3 Civic Plaza to the opposite side of City Parkway, just to get that taken care of ahead of future LRT construction on top. I saw they're putting the pipes in now.

I believe they will move forward with the demolition of the current rec centre once the new ice rinks by Scott Rd Station are complete in 2019. So 2019-2020 will likely be when the bus loop is removed and reconfigured and the rest of the block between Civic Plaza and Central City parceled off for re-development.

District Energy pipes are being laid down right now along future 103 Avenue (to be renamed Central Ave). The plan is to extend/widen 103 Ave from City Parkway to KGB within the next 1-3 years.

Once this is done, and the LRT Station is built at Surrey Central, City Parkway will become pedestrian only between 102 and 103 Ave.