Northeast False Creek | Proposed

[SpongeG]

no buildings on the waterfront, more green space. ugh. people 🞵🞵🞵🞵.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

no buildings on the waterfront, more green space. ugh. people 🞵🞵🞵🞵.

"too much density, buildings too high"

[Feathered Friend]

As can be seen in the photos, this site, along with the park, will achieve a FSR of 4.9. The site benefits from being behind some of the new Gateway Towers, allowing it reach heights above the view cones. Also, I was given the impression that the structure of the buildings is more for massing right now, rather than their final designs.

It seems like two of the biggest bones of contention between Concord and the City right now are the Georgia Wharf Street and the marinas. There is debate whether Georgia Wharf should have any traffic, or have a set up more similar to Granville Island. The City would also like to see the marinas have some public element/accessibility.

My personal feelings on this project, and something I heard echoed, was this truly completes Downtown; There was something always missing, and this project was that element. On a side note, I have to say the Concord Board had my favorite sticky notes, "I agree, Concord has "Vision"". I think everyone (no matter their political leaning) that saw that note, be it the general public, city staff, or even the development team was given a good snicker. I should be able to get the photos of the city project, and the model of the entire area, uploaded tomorrow.

[Migrant_Coconut]

I know I've been advocating a restaurant promenade ad nauseum, but there's only so many eateries you can cram into an area before they start poaching off one another.

Any retail variety? Convenience stores? Furniture? Electronics? Hairdressers? Books? Clothing? Gyms? Maybe a small club or two?

[Marshal]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

As few people do much handwriting these days, a lot of it is of poor quality and difficult to read. These post-its are highly suspect. They must be planner's writing down the public's comments. Or, some of their own.

[WarrenC12]

Wow, looks great overall. Concord certainly has better presentation designers than the CoV.

[Tetsuo]

"indie lane"

Cringe

[jollyburger]

Kudos to whoever decided to write cafes on all the CRUs

[AverageJoe]

I take it there's no more discussion in putting any kind of streetcar down Pacific in the future? There doesn't seem to be any mention of it anywhere.

[Vancity]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

I believe it's a compromise between the developers and urbanists on one side and the NIMBYs on the other - half the crowd yesterday was complaining that they were too tall and wanted it all to be park space instead.

the park space that isn't used fully for 8 months of the year

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by AverageJoe

I take it there's no more discussion in putting any kind of streetcar down Pacific in the future? There doesn't seem to be any mention of it anywhere.

I asked around. They're keeping a ROW for future rail down Quebec and/or Pacific... unfortunately, the streetcar's not planned to be any faster than the bus, only larger (articulated).

Originally Posted by Vancity

the park space that isn't used fully for 8 months of the year

Preaching to the 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 choir - the splash park, beach and oval lawns will be useless between October and April. Regardless, this plan's a pretty good compromise between urban and green space, and still WAY better than the original giant lawn.

[Vin]

They finally realized the logic to have an abundance of retail/restaurants in the entire node, especially so for the waterfront area. If built at this scale, this area will be a vibrant hub, with locals and tourists swarming there to hang out.

At least they have incorporated many items that forumers here had been asking for years, including some very tall towers in the mix. If only they allowed Parc Casino hotel to be built taller, more of BC Place Stadium would be showing today.

Now I wish they can consider putting in a big underground pedestrian tunnel with retail from the Stadium Station all the way to the waterfront, with access to the different buildings and lane courtyards. That would really help in easing traffic flow in the area.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by Vin

Now I wish they can consider putting in a big underground pedestrian tunnel with retail from the Stadium Station all the way to the waterfront, with access to the different buildings and lane courtyards. That would really help in easing traffic flow in the area.

Not nearly enough value for the amount of money it would cost to bore a tunnel closely beneath all the buildings and stabilizing them as you go, not to mention the investment needed to reconfigure the basement levels of buildings, the vast majority of those downtown are just parking below street level.

That would easily be in the hundreds of millions. Might be somewhat useful in the winter but useless in the summer. I would still prefer to use an umbrella in the winter and have the money used for better things than some dated underground concept. Not to mention all the buried infrastructure that would have to be rerouted.

Our winter is really quite acceptable to walk outside in, we rarely even get a heavy rainfall.

[officedweller]

Looks encouraging overall.

It'll be interesting to see if the midrise residential in the middle of the Concord site (without views) will be marketable (or maybe there's some rental in there?)

The one area that's a bit disappointing is the Plaza of Nations site - but hopefully that's just a placeholder.
It just looks like a dumped heap of child's building blocks.

[logan5]

That's an awful lot of retail in a tight little area. Being an entertainment district and all, it would be appropriate to have a good number of micro-suites to accommodate a younger demographic, who would frequent all these bars and restaurants.

I would also consider a pedestrian bridge connecting OV to Plaza of Nations.

[Feathered Friend]

Here's the project for the western portion of the City owned land. Like most COV projects, it's an attractive concept. Of course the heights are on the smaller side, but after the recent events in Chinatown it's understandable that the City would be wary of starting a battle of their own in that area.

While there will be development on East Block as well, there was no vision refined enough to put on display by the time of the block party. Also a note about the sticky notes, While I was only at the block party for a couple hours, I noticed plenty of people writing and leaving their comments both in favor and against. Considering this went from 11am to 8pm, I'm not surprised there's a wide variety of sticky notes. While possible, I find it's highly unlikely any of the development staff working that day bothered to write their own notes to sabotage the process.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

Here's the project for the western portion of the City owned land. Like most COV projects, it's an attractive concept. Of course the heights are on the smaller side, but after the recent events in Chinatown it's understandable that the City would be wary of starting a battle of their own in that area.

While there will be development on East Block as well, there was no vision refined enough to put on display by the time of the block party. Also a note about the sticky notes, While I was only at the block party for a couple hours, I noticed plenty of people writing and leaving their comments both in favor and against. Considering this went from 11am to 8pm, I'm not surprised there's a wide variety of sticky notes. While possible, I find it's highly unlikely any of the development staff working that day bothered to write their own notes to sabotage the process.

These buildings have an uncanny resemblance to the remaining expo 86 buildings, just taller. The renders also have an 80's vibe IMO.

[Metro-One]

These plans are far more interesting than the big empty filed of nothing, but there is still a little too much empty green space.

Also, I still feel that much of this could be achieved with the viaducts in place (or at the reasonable minimum retaining the Dunsmir Viaduct, and making it a 2 way street). Not trying to be a doomsday sayer, but I will not be surprised if Pacific Blvd. has pretty heavy traffic, and I would hate to see the day when either Hastings or this new Pacific Blvd. is closed due to an accident.

Anyways, about what is planned, I like seeing the mixed park elements, such as the gardens and spray park.

That is a lot of cafes, a little more variety of businesses would be nice. A craft brewery maybe? A pool hall / small games center? Some funky thrift like stores? (not flea market like, but trendy). A lounge? A karaoke box? (may sound lame but they are actually super fun if they serve alcohol). Would also like to see maybe a couple "layered" retail stores. Half sunken / 2nd story bars and restaurants often have a lot of character that is missing from all the new ground level retail being built in Vancouver.

I also hope to see some more "lush" and "warm" flora used in this project. Enough of the f***ing eastern maples. A couple palms near the waterfront would actually match it with several other locations along the seawall. Some bamboo would also be nice. I would also like to see some aspens used in the park (beautiful trees that bud early and look fantastic in the fall). Maybe even some arbutus trees could be attempted near the water??

Also I hope that Expo Blvd. around BC Place remains open. If they close that as well that would be just crazy. Cant find a clear graphic on that.

It is nice to see some more cracks appearing in the view cone policy.

With all that said, hearing whispers that this project is now reaching north of 300 million for the city.

[jlousa]

I've resigned myself to be disappointed. We will be stuck with this for the rest of our lives and wondering how much better it could've been. The layout is all wrong, the scale is off. It's almost like they've forgotten to build off our own successes. The park should've been linear, picture a long harbour green like park but with southern exposure instead of this, you'd have buildings buffering the new super road and a more pleasant park. Not to mention the buildings themselves would not be blocking each other and they can sell more water views. For scale I'd like to have seen something similar to the Village but increased just a touch to blend into the core. The OV is a huge success urbanwise that deserves to be replicated and built upon. While the sky won't fall with the proposed plan, it just could've been so much more.

[Aroundtheworld]

Originally Posted by jlousa

I've resigned myself to be disappointed. We will be stuck with this for the rest of our lives and wondering how much better it could've been. The layout is all wrong, the scale is off. It's almost like they've forgotten to build off our own successes. The park should've been linear, picture a long harbour green like park but with southern exposure instead of this, you'd have buildings buffering the new super road and a more pleasant park. Not to mention the buildings themselves would not be blocking each other and they can sell more water views. For scale I'd like to have seen something similar to the Village but increased just a touch to blend into the core. The OV is a huge success urbanwise that deserves to be replicated and built upon. While the sky won't fall with the proposed plan, it just could've been so much more.

It's not done. You can still offer feedback and they will listen.