Olympic Village & Southeast False Creek Updates Discussion

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by BobLoblawsLawBlog

What the hell is this? Why is the City of Vancouver run by such brainlets? This is the most perfect, most ideal place for building apartment buildings in the city, and they're not even doing anything with it. Who thought this was a good idea?

From a City Building, land use, and planning perspective, it's also the best location to retain central employment on quasi-industrial areas, much like the areas in The Flats. Industrial/employment areas are being reduced for residential, and that is an issue for any city.

[cov]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

From a City Building, land use, and planning perspective, it's also the best location to retain central employment on quasi-industrial areas, much like the areas in The Flats. Industrial/employment areas are being reduced for residential, and that is an issue for any city.

3 FSR doesn't exact encourage industrial activities in the city though. factories and labs need space and scale. At the moment the region is mostly car repair, car sales, and furniture storage. Whats the advantage of keeping them in the middle of the city? I fear the urban planners may be pursuing an ideal that isn't practical in reality.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by cov

3 FSR doesn't exact encourage industrial activities in the city though. factories and labs need space and scale. At the moment the region is mostly car repair, car sales, and furniture storage. Whats the advantage of keeping them in the middle of the city? I fear the urban planners may be pursuing an ideal that isn't practical in reality.

The area has shifted dramatically to tech and design. It is full of animation/Visual FX studios, tech companies and clothing designers. The Mt. Pleasant industrial area shift to modern uses is one of the most successful in the city. Almost no part of the region is seeing such a dramatic rewrite of its economic focus and its built form.

[cov]

Originally Posted by csbvan

The area has shifted dramatically to tech and design. It is full of animation/Visual FX studios, tech companies and clothing designers. The Mt. Pleasant industrial area shift to modern uses is one of the most successful in the city. Almost no part of the region is seeing such a dramatic rewrite of its economic focus and its built form.

all of these activities can be accommodated with just regular office buildings. What you are essentially saying is that the area is transforming to serve industries that are not industrial at all. This isn't success as much as people accommodating to policies that hinder their growth.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by cov

3 FSR doesn't exact encourage industrial activities in the city though. factories and labs need space and scale. At the moment the region is mostly car repair, car sales, and furniture storage. Whats the advantage of keeping them in the middle of the city? I fear the urban planners may be pursuing an ideal that isn't practical in reality.

The variety of business is vast, and includes new shops with mechanical equipment for production and small manufacturing, architects, clothing designers, auto repair, breweries, coffee roasters, furniture, wholesalers, rental shops, textiles, metal fabricators...

It's a large mixed employment node in the middle of the city. If you did a cut an paste of Olympic Village almost everyone in Mount Pleasant Industrial would be working in a suburb due to zoning and land use by-laws and sky high rent in new buildings.

[GenWhy?]

The new tech offices and higher FSR and heights are going in, under current zoning and the revised Flats area plan will be on Terminal Ave and Industrial Ave, along with industrial and warehouse uses and food distributors.

[Changing City]

Meanwhile, back in South East False Creek, the Housing Co-op that forms part of the Concert Property development has officially opened (on Monday).

"The 15-storey Railyard Housing Co-op is targeting a mix of tenants, from singles and couples to families with children. There are 44 two-bedroom and 29-three bedroom suites, with the rest of the building being a mix of one-bedroom and studio suites.

The Co-operative Housing Federation of BC (CHF BC) says more than half of the co-op’s suites will be affordable to households with annual incomes between $25,000 and $55,000".

Presumably that means Voda, the first market building, can start occupancy now as well.

[WarrenC12]

With Voda and the non-market rental finished, the City isn't wasting any time with the much needed improvements to Quebec and 1st:

http://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/quebec-and-1st-ave-street-improvements.aspx

Not sure how I feel about another light at Switchman though.

[Migrant_Coconut]

(raises hand) Okay, exactly what happened to the ROW for the streetcar?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

(raises hand) Okay, exactly what happened to the ROW for the streetcar?

I don't think anything has changed, the corner of 1st and Quebec has always been a "tight corner" for the potential streetcar. Quebec north of 1st is very wide though.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

you can never have too many traffic lights on a road...

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

you can never have too many traffic lights on a road...

What are you talking about, it's perfectly fine! Just look at Richmond!

[Jimbo604]

Photo source: me

When will sales for Concert - The Creek phase 3 begin? Picture shows current site configuration (between Science World and Phases 1 & 2).

[WarrenC12]

Before:


Only the northeast corner has the "final" layout, you can see First will get a lot wider west of Quebec as well.


Mar 4 update.
You can see the installation of the fire hydrant and sewer grate at what will be the new curb. I thought the road would get wider, it looks like a lot of sidewalk/bike path space. The crane for the new MEC store was also erected this weekend.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Before:


Only the northeast corner has the "final" layout, you can see First will get a lot wider west of Quebec as well.


Mar 4 update.
You can see the installation of the fire hydrant and sewer grate at what will be the new curb. I thought the road would get wider, it looks like a lot of sidewalk/bike path space. The crane for the new MEC store was also erected this weekend.

seems to be lotsa room for the trendy trolly (coming soon)

[WarrenC12]

There is a big median further down 1st Ave. It's all there... just missing the tens of millions.

[Changing City]

There's a W2nd development site for sale. It's owned by Executive Group, who are just completing The Residences at West, and are also building the Exchange Hotel Downtown.

[SpongeG]

CityNews Toronto
Published on 25 Feb 2018
Vancouver's Olympic village, once mired in controversy is now a booming hub of residential buildings and retail outlets. Greg Harper with how the area has evolved into a thriving community.

• Video Link

[WarrenC12]

Update to 1st and Quebec. Now it's been paved except the orphaned power poles in the middle of the road. This is amusing to watch, if slow and confusing.

[officedweller]

Is that bok choy you're growing?
Looks really healthy for winter growth (that's a mini greenhouse?)