Cambie Corridor Updates - Page 33

VanK · #**641** Posted **Sep 11, 2017, 4:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Among other things, the Cambie Corridor Plan is a lost opportunity to move Vancouver ubanity foward in a meaningful way. Outside the scattered, pre-existing commercial nodes and a few isolated exceptions, the plan does not introduce any new urban amenities along the corridor. Outside the few exceptions, if you felt you had to drive to reach basic urban amenities before, then the Plan will not change your feelings; if your walk to access basic urban amenities was inconvenient before, then the plan will not shorten it. For the most part, the Cambie Corridor Plan increases density but only marginally; it increases density but not the availability of urban amenities--the very urban amenities that a more meanignful increase in allowed use and density would have brought. The majority of the corridor was a suburban street before the Plan, and the majority of the corridor will be a suburban street after the Plan, despite the corridor now having a subway running along it. Much of the corridor will have more people, but not more urban amenities for those people to enjoy.

That is in part due to the fact that the City is allocating the bulk of CAC money to subsidized affordable housing and not urban amenities.

VanK · #**642** Posted **Sep 11, 2017, 4:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

There's something fishy about that. Every other bland Cambie Corridor project inches along to completion, yet Langara West blames the city for cancelling? And they claimed to be "Sold Out" on their sign? Anyone know who is really behind the development? With a Chinese company you never know what is really in play.

Vivagrand to my knowledge is a development company run by a fairly young guy who is a Canadian Citizen but yes born in China and yes the money behind it is coming form China. All of these "Chinese Developers" state their China/overseas experiences to gain credibility. Other than that, they are now "Vancouver/Canadian" developers run from Vancouver.

They are blaming the city for the delays but the truth is they were probably not going to make any money (either taking a loss or making very little) if they built the project or they could sell the land and make 2x or 2.5 times what they originally paid.

whatnext · #**643** Posted **Sep 11, 2017, 5:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanK

Vivagrand to my knowledge is a development company run by a fairly young guy who is a Canadian Citizen but yes born in China and yes the money behind it is coming form China. All of these "Chinese Developers" state their China/overseas experiences to gain credibility. Other than that, they are now "Vancouver/Canadian" developers run from Vancouver.

They are blaming the city for the delays but the truth is they were probably not going to make any money (either taking a loss or making very little) if they built the project or they could sell the land and make 2x or 2.5 times what they originally paid.

They certainly aren't going to add to their credibility with behaviour like that. Add in other things like the mysterious felling of the tree on the site that the city had specified be kept, and it looks like they're not really ready to do business here.

Vin · #**644** Posted **Sep 17, 2017, 8:49 PM**

You really want developers to build with losses don't you? It's up to them to decide where and what they will build or do with a piece of land they pay dearly for because ultimately they are the ones taking the financial risks, and not the keyboard warriors who will never really contribute much to city developments.

whatnext · #**645** Posted **Sep 17, 2017, 9:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vin

You really want developers to build with losses don't you? It's up to them to decide where and what they will build or do with a piece of land they pay dearly for because ultimately they are the ones taking the financial risks, and not the keyboard warriors who will never really contribute much to city developments.

Build with losses? They bought the lot, then marketed the project. You can bet this has nothing to do with losses and everything to do with making a quicker buck, contracts be damned.

VarBreStr18 · #**646** Posted **Sep 17, 2017, 11:15 PM**

If Vivagrand allowed to get off commitment relatively easily, very bad precedence for other developers to follow. The whole presale market is about trust and credibility. This is pure greed on the part of the developer. If this happens in this upswing market, can you imagine the number of defaults and abandonment in a down market?

urbancanadian · #**647** Posted **Sep 26, 2017, 7:01 PM**

Here's a major progress update on most of the developments along the corridor. I'm splitting the update into three posts, with a map at the end of each to make it easier.

King Edward Green is now complete. The Hobbit House is still undergoing restoration.

Cambie Star is now complete. The Regent is under construction behind.

Bennington House was the first building in the King Edward area to complete, not too long ago.

The site has been cleared for Cambie + King Edward, with Parc 26 topped out behind.

Parc 26:

The Grayson:

OPAL Seniors' Residences is now at grade.

OPAL again, with The Grayson behind.

Lots of cranes for a once sleepy area.

Excavation is underway for Edward.

Monarch at QE Park is getting close to completion.

Parc Elise:

Bonus pic of BC Children's Hospital:

All pics are mine, taken about a week ago. Here is a map of all the projects, with some extra info below:

Complete (Yellow):
1. King Edward Green | TH | Circadian/DT5
2. Cambie Star | 8 fl. | Yuanheng
3. Bennington House | 4 fl. | Pennyfarthing
4. Empire at QE Park | 3 x 6 fl. | Intergulf

Under Construction (Green):
5. The Regent | 6 fl. | Regent
6. Cambie + King Edward | 6 fl. | Tianco
7. Parc 26 | 2 x 6 fl. | Dava
8. The Grayson | 6 fl. | Pennyfarthing
9. OPAL | 6 fl., 4 fl., 4 fl. | Element
10. Edward | 2 x 4 fl. | Mosaic
11. Monarch at QE Park | 6 fl. | RDG
12. Parc Elise | 2 x 6 fl. | Dava

Demolition Underway (Red):
13. Amber | 4 fl. | Aragon

Approved/Proposed (Blue):
14. Marquise | 6 fl. | Blairmore
15. 431-455 West King Edward Avenue | 4 fl. | South Street
16. 512 West King Edward Avenue | 6 fl.
17. 4138 Cambie Street | 6 fl. | Pennyfarthing
18. 210-262 West King Edward Avenue | 4 fl. | Strand
19. 4238-4262 Cambie Street | 6 fl. | Create
20. Chelsea | 2 x 6 fl. | Cressey

urbancanadian · #**648** Posted **Sep 26, 2017, 7:04 PM**

Part 2. I included a map and extra info for the first half. I figured most people generally knew where the projects in the second half are, so I didn't make a map for those. If anyone wants, I can make one.

Elizabeth was the first development along the entire corridor to be completed.

Hawthorne, which includes the retention of Eastern House is undergoing excavation.

35 Park West is topped out and looks like it'll be complete by early next year.

Livingstone House is now complete. Sorry, I don't have any better pics of this one.

So many of the houses in this area are boarded up, waiting to be demolished. This is where Contessa will stand.

All pics are mine, taken about a week ago. Here is a map of all the projects, with some extra info below:

Two blocks east is Washington Properties' 41 West Living, which should be finishing up any day now.

The Leo Wertman Residence for seniors completed last year I believe. 41 West Living is to the left.

At Cambie & 50th, Mosaic's Cambria is now complete. To the left (south), Camellia, is just getting started.

Camellia, by MingLian:

Mosaic's sequel development, Cambria Park is well underway.

Bonus shots of the most recent Langara College expansion.

urbancanadian · #**649** Posted **Sep 26, 2017, 7:07 PM**

Part 3:

Excavation is just getting started at Belpark.

Here is the site for VivaGrand's cancelled Langara West project.

South Street's rental development at 7655 Cambie Street is very far along.

Demolition is imminent for Cambie62.

Winona Park is now complete.

These townhome developments by Intracorp are, from west to east, nearly complete/complete/under construction.

Churchill:

Couldn't get a good pic, but the Park & Metro townhomes are nearing completion.

The Park & Metro condos are complete however.

I didn't take any pics of the high-rise projects around Marine & Cambie since they're already pretty well covered in separate threads.

All pics are mine, taken about a week ago. Here is a map of all the projects, with some extra info below:

excel · #**650** Posted **Sep 26, 2017, 8:11 PM**

Great update man. Thanks!

officedweller · #**651** Posted **Sep 26, 2017, 8:47 PM**

Awesome update, thanks!

Changing City · #**652** Posted **Sep 26, 2017, 9:09 PM**

Thanks - that's an amazing update - and there appear to be still plenty more to follow. It's perhaps worth pointing out that the four storey apartments on King Edward, and the five and six storey along Cambie are possible because of the Cambie Corridor Plan. The townhouses to the south, off Cambie, can be developed because of the Marpole Plan, which initially suggested a larger area where townhouse projects could be built, but there was significant community opposition which resulted in the plan that's in place today.

Feathered Friend · #**653** Posted **Sep 26, 2017, 10:03 PM**

That's a wonderful update! Thank you for taking the time to put it together and post it here.

Prometheus · #**654** Posted **Sep 26, 2017, 10:55 PM**

Thank you for the update.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Changing City

It's perhaps worth pointing out that the four storey apartments on King Edward, and the five and six storey along Cambie are possible because of the Cambie Corridor Plan.

More accurately, the Cambie Corridor Plan restricts new apartments to four, five and six storeys in those areas. Thus, more robust density in those areas are impossible because of the Cambie Corridor Plan.

vanman · #**655** Posted **Sep 26, 2017, 10:55 PM**

Thanks for the thorough update!

whatnext · #**656** Posted **Sep 26, 2017, 11:49 PM**

That Winona Park is fifty shades of ugly. Usually Formwerks has a defter touch with classicism than that.

giallo · #**657** Posted **Sep 27, 2017, 3:40 AM**

Fantastic update. I really appreciate the work that went in to it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

That Winona Park is fifty shades of ugly. Usually Formwerks has a defter touch with classicism than that.

Yeah. That was the one stuck out like a sore thumb in this update.

Feathered Friend · #**658** Posted **Oct 11, 2017, 2:57 AM**

Here's the model for the Chinese Presbyterian Church who's rezoning was approved at the last council meeting. I think it's an interesting design that has elements of the church clearly incorporated into it.

officedweller · #**659** Posted **Oct 19, 2017, 9:33 PM**

Park Elise

By City of Rain, SkyRise Cities Sept 30th:

Quote:

Originally Posted by City Of Rain, post: 1265753, member: 70034

^^^^

IMG_0526 by Hung Lam, on Flickr

IMG_0522 by Hung Lam, on Flickr

IMG_0520 by Hung Lam, on Flickr

IMG_0518 by Hung Lam, on Flickr

Quote:

Originally Posted by City Of Rain, post: 1265752, member: 70034

IMG_0534 by Hung Lam, on Flickr

IMG_0532 by Hung Lam, on Flickr

IMG_0530 by Hung Lam, on Flickr

IMG_0528 by Hung Lam, on Flickr

whatnext · #**660** Posted **Oct 19, 2017, 10:22 PM**

Several pre-sale buyers at Langara West are preparing to go to court to challenge the developers settlement for breaking their contract.

Over a third of pre-sale condo buyers at the cancelled Langara West project in the Cambie Street corridor are challenging the developer’s offer to return their deposits, plus interest and an additional 50 per cent of their downpayment, in exchange for a release.

It is the latest in a Vancouver real estate saga with a bit of everything: a property developer in southern China, a mysteriously felled tree, City Hall defending its permitting process, and land values that have nearly tripled in just under three and a half years.

In an opening salvo, a set of buyers is preparing a so-called position statement for Vancouver-based Vivagrand, according to Timothy Peters at law firm Jenkins Marzban Logan. He has been retained by around 25 of the 71 buyers.

The one-, two- and three-bedroom condos they bought, starting two years ago, were pre-sold from as low as $700 to $900 a square foot in a hot neighbourhood where prices are now going for between $1,200 to $1,400 a square foot...

http://vancouversun.com/business/local-b...ra-west-project-contest-developers-offer

How ludicrous is it that this area of town is going for $1,400 sq/ft?! Speculative mania.