Surrey Updates

[CoryHolmes]

If I'm guessing correctly, it'll be the undeveloped block between the old Sears store and the Mayflower Co-op.

I've been waiting for that block to be developed ever since I moved into the neighbourhood!

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by CoryHolmes

If I'm guessing correctly, it'll be the undeveloped block between the old Sears store and the Mayflower Co-op.

I've been waiting for that block to be developed ever since I moved into the neighbourhood!

That's the most logical spot - it almost looks like a tree farm on google street view. I wonder how much space they have to play with and where the Skytrain tracks will be vs the buildings.

[Westbased]

I'm fairly certain that new Rize project is at 10138 WHALLEY BLVD SURREY.

Rize submitted an application for 1000+ units for this site last year.

This is on the east side of King George, behind the Staples building and just south of Anthem's Georgetown and the Toys R' Us site.

[Shift]

Yeah the new Rize project 'Passages' is on Whalley Blvd at 101 Ave as mentioned.

It's been under application since last year.

From the renderings and site plans posted, it looks very interesting. Not your standard tower above podium project. Looking forward to more details once it goes to Council (which should be soon since it just passed ADP).

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Cypherus

Very interesting information. It appears the development is called "Passages". The Rize webpage is not active, but I cached the page and found the following details:



Souce: https://rize.ca/project/commercial/passages/

That map isn't very accurate if it's over by 102nd and Whalley Blvd...

It looks like what's there is rental so I hope the new development includes some as replacement.

[Shift]

Originally Posted by Sheba

That map isn't very accurate if it's over by 102nd and Whalley Blvd...

It looks like what's there is rental so I hope the new development includes some as replacement.

Yes the new development will include an equal number of market rental units to what is there now.

[CoryHolmes]

That's pretty darn awesome! Will the existing renters get a crack at those units or no?

[Sheba]

2nd engineer suspended over Surrey condo that failed to meet building code

Two engineers at the helm of a single engineering firm were suspended within months of each other for their work on a condo tower in Surrey, B.C. that later failed to meet building code, CBC News has learned.

John Bryson and John Zickmantel once ran their Vancouver-based firm together. They were both banned from working as engineers in B.C. — Bryson permanently, Zickmantel for a month — after a years-long investigation found a 40-storey tower they each worked on, called the Ultra, is not up to code

The suspension of two engineers over flawed designs for a highrise, now with hundreds of people living inside, has prompted the City of Surrey to review whether there are safety concerns with the building.

The news has also prompted some confusion and unease among residents, some who say they weren't aware of any suspensions or reviews to do with their building.

...

Bryson and Zickmantel both had their names on the door of their firm when Bryson was hired to create structural designs for the tower. Zickmantel was supposed to finish an independent review of Bryson's work before design documents were issued for construction.

On April 1, Bryson resigned and agreed to never again work as an engineer in B.C. after the investigation from the regulator overseeing engineers in the province found his designs for the Ultra weren't up to proper building code.

CBC News has learned Zickmantel was suspended eight months earlier, on July 30, 2018, for failing to complete his review of those flawed designs before paperwork was issued. Zickmantel was fined $15,000 and allowed back to work one month later.

Zickmantel declined an interview with CBC News when reached over email last week. Bryson has not returned requests for comment.

Officials haven't expressed any immediate safety concerns about the building in light of the suspensions, but the City of Surrey says officials are now working with the strata corporation to determine whether there are any safety issues with the tower.

...

[CoryHolmes]

I know it's not technically about a skyscraper, but does anyone have any updates about the widening on 100th Ave?

I don't go up there often since I lost my car, but from Whalley Blvd. it looks like it still narrows down to one lane at the top of the hill. I thought the idea was to double-lane each side?

[paradigm4]

Originally Posted by CoryHolmes

I know it's not technically about a skyscraper, but does anyone have any updates about the widening on 100th Ave?

I don't go up there often since I lost my car, but from Whalley Blvd. it looks like it still narrows down to one lane at the top of the hill. I thought the idea was to double-lane each side?

It's still underway. Only the eastbound side needs to be finished. Still waiting on some utility relocation I believe.

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by Cypherus

This is an issue, because I work in the federal public service, and we have restrictions on what we can release to the public under access to information requests, especially in areas of sensitivity where other parties can be hurt if we do not redact such information. It appears the city may have groundwork to indicate release of sensitive information under FOI as a matter of course in current policy, but if it damages others financially, then there is very little they can fall back on other than a clerk responded to the FOI request based on current policy without concern to third party implications. It's not a strong argument in a court of law. As the city also indicated they were not making this an issue about the building, then their subsequent behaviour to release sensitive information under that mindset without concern for others, shows them to be lackadaisical. City or provincial policy (Legislature of Public Bodies) does not overrule law in the modern framework to which it may apply, especially when it impacts the rights, privacy and financial matters of third parties.

I think you're kind of missing the point though. I also said in my post that the engineering oversight body itself released the name of the building well before the City ever said anything. So while I may agree in part about their responsibility in principle, the truth is the information was already released so they were simply stating something that was already publicly known albeit not well known. So if anything someone would have to sue the engineering oversight body who is the first that released that information.

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by CoryHolmes

I know it's not technically about a skyscraper, but does anyone have any updates about the widening on 100th Ave?

I don't go up there often since I lost my car, but from Whalley Blvd. it looks like it still narrows down to one lane at the top of the hill. I thought the idea was to double-lane each side?

As paradigm said, utilities. Looks to be pretty much Telus Fibre optic cabling left that is all on the poles that need to come down. The Hydro cabling looks to have been all moved for the most part.

Site says they had anticipated end of spring 2019 so we still have a few weeks left until they are officially behind schedule.

[EhJay]

Originally Posted by jhausner

As paradigm said, utilities. Looks to be pretty much Telus Fibre optic cabling left that is all on the poles that need to come down. The Hydro cabling looks to have been all moved for the most part.

Site says they had anticipated end of spring 2019 so we still have a few weeks left until they are officially behind schedule.

I thought the signage for finishing up 100th ave was late 2018... must have misread it unless it got extended a while back?

[GMasterAres]

Originally Posted by EhJay

I thought the signage for finishing up 100th ave was late 2018... must have misread it unless it got extended a while back?

It's said Spring 2019 for the better part of at least 6 months now but I think you're right that it originally said that.

[EhJay]

Originally Posted by jhausner

It's said Spring 2019 for the better part of at least 6 months now but I think you're right that it originally said that.

Must not have noticed the updated signage. Well, at least spring is almost over...

[Sheba]

Surrey should have a ‘wandering canal,’ mayor says

Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum says he’d like to see what he calls a “wandering canal” running through his city.

He floated the idea on Thursday at a Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association event.

McCallum said he envisions the canal running from the Fraser River to the agricultural lands in south Surrey along “a street that’s not used that much.”

In fact, he says he has asked the city’s engineering department to start the search for such an underutilized road.

McCallum concedes it is an idea that is outside the box.

“The idea certainly came to me when I noticed that in Qatar, when I was there, that shopping centres had canals instead of walkways in a lot of their shopping centres. But if you look at other places, like Venice, they have canals that they use for transportation.”

Downtown Surrey BIA CEO Elizabeth Model says she’s open to the idea.

“I think it’s important, whatever we do in Surrey, to keep our minds open to new and different ideas,” she said.

McCallum says he’d also like to see the Fraser River waterfront in the Bridgeview neighbourhood developed into a walkway.

[SFUVancouver]

^ "I also noticed that they have a lot of sand in Qatar and people go off-roading in 4x4s on the sand dunes. I have asked Engineering to see if we have any leftover land where we could deposit a few million cubic meters of sand and do so in an expeditious but cost-effective manner."

[Shift]

"McCallum said he envisions the canal running from the Fraser River to the agricultural lands in south Surrey along “a street that’s not used that much.”


Apparently the mayor's never heard of the Sepentine River - which is essentially a wandering canal from almost the Fraser River (Tynehead Park), through low-land ALR to Boundary Bay in the south.

If he's envisioning a winding canal through the City Centre or any other urban area of the City (which is what it sounds like) - apparently he's not aware that all urban areas of Surrey are at quite higher elevations than the Fraser River, and the engineers will also need to figure out how to make water flow uphill..

[e-clam9]

Originally Posted by Shift

If he's envisioning a winding canal through the City Centre or any other urban area of the City (which is what it sounds like) - apparently he's not aware that all urban areas of Surrey are at quite higher elevations than the Fraser River, and the engineers will also need to figure out how to make water flow uphill..

You really are funny

Some projects in Surrey really don't have enough planning, or they lost the reality of the real world. How can they make 100th Ave narrower and removed all parking/loading space near the Park Ave buildings ? They spent millions of tax payer's money to make our area worse. The bicycle lanes and green space on both side of it are wasting too much space just for few bicyclists. My strata is requesting Surrey to set aside a loading space for us, but I already know it is too late. It makes moving in/out and any delivery to our building more difficult and more time consuming.

[Tfreder]

Originally Posted by e-clam9

You really are funny

Some projects in Surrey really don't have enough planning, or they lost the reality of the real world. How can they make 100th Ave narrower and removed all parking/loading space near the Park Ave buildings ? They spent millions of tax payer's money to make our area worse. The bicycle lanes and green space on both side of it are wasting too much space just for few bicyclists. My strata is requesting Surrey to set aside a loading space for us, but I already know it is too late. It makes moving in/out and any delivery to our building more difficult and more time consuming.

The city can pretty much do whatever they feel is the best use of city land, like roads and sidewalks. I'm guessing they decided the city as a whole would benefit from a widened road for cars and improved safety for cyclists and pedestrians.

If you're upset that you can't use the public road as a loading space, then I think you should be blaming Concord Pacific for not spending the time and money to plan dedicated loading space on the building's property.

I don't agree with everything the city decides to do, because some decisions don't make my life better/easier, but they usually don't do things without a reason.