Vancouver Infill & Lowrise Updates Discussion

[whatnext]

Uh oh, looks like they'll be losing their cherished communtiy garden

[IMG]view-from-west-16th-and-cambie by whatnextyvr, on Flickr[/IMG] Credit: Vancouver Courier

Six-storey condo proposed for former Chevron site
Wesgroup files rezoning application for property at Cambie and West 16th

[Galaxy]

There are so many vacant gas station lots that if all of them had a project like this one and or denser there would be a whole lot of housing that would be created across Vancouver. Let's hope this one moves along fairly fast and we see progress on other vacant lots.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

There are so many vacant gas station lots that if all of them had a project like this one and or denser there would be a whole lot of housing that would be created across Vancouver. Let's hope this one moves along fairly fast and we see progress on other vacant lots.

If you want to put pressure on redeveloping former gas stations, get the city to remove the 2/3 tax reduction the landowners get by converting them to community gardens. They cover the remaining third with what they collect renting out the plant boxes. It's a scam, nobody should be eating produce that's grown on land that is actively releasing toxic fumes and hydrocarbons anyway.

Vancouver tax fairness should include end of 'community garden' tax scam

...What Vancouver really has given multimillionaire, and even billionaire, property owners and developers is a market-timing and tax-reduction tool at the expense of everyone else.

“Community gardens” actually incentivize and subsidize wealthy developers to keep their lands fallow until it suits them. When developers restrict the supply of their land, they drive up prices. That’s Economics 101. Remember, these are the same people who told us that Vancouver’s affordability crisis was largely due to a short supply of land available for development.

In 2010, The Vancouver Sun reported that in 2009 the city gave more than $212,000 in tax abatements to Prima Properties’ community garden at Burrard and Davie Streets. In that same year, a garden on a parking lot next to the Astoria Hotel reportedly earned the Sahota family $132,000 in tax breaks. That was a decade ago. That is only two properties in 2009. In April 2017, a smaller gas station property across the street from the Burrard and Davie Street garden was valued at more than $36 million.

Ten years ago, then-Vancouver Courier columnist Alan Garr reported that the cost of each tomato plant grown in community gardens was about $500. That was before Vancouver property values sky-rocketed and the number of “community gardens” proliferated...

https://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/s...include-end-of-community-garden-tax-scam

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

If you want to put pressure on redeveloping former gas stations, get the city to remove the 2/3 tax reduction the landowners get by converting them to community gardens. They cover the remaining third with what they collect renting out the plant boxes. It's a scam, nobody should be eating produce that's grown on land that is actively releasing toxic fumes and hydrocarbons anyway.

Oh, I have every chance I get I write or comment to planning staff and whenever the city asks for ideas for solving the housing crisis I have voiced my ideas/opinion!

[Feathered Friend]

Vancouver City Council just voted to reject the 21 townhomes at 4575 Granville (In Shaughnessy, next to the hospice.)

Kennedy, Boyle, De Genova, Dominato in favour

Carr, Fry, Wiebe, Bligh, Hardwick, Kirby-Yung and Swanson against.

Swanson voted against as the homes were too unaffordable, and would only support social housing.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

If you want to put pressure on redeveloping former gas stations, get the city to remove the 2/3 tax reduction the landowners get by converting them to community gardens. They cover the remaining third with what they collect renting out the plant boxes. It's a scam, nobody should be eating produce that's grown on land that is actively releasing toxic fumes and hydrocarbons anyway.

The City doesn't control how the site is assessed - that's the BC Assessment Authority. Vancouver City Council has asked to be briefed on the topic again, but last time it was looked at about 10 years ago the Council of the day decided to let the existing situation remain. There's no simple fix, and there won't be many more gas stations closing anyway - there were once 99 Downtown - now there's one, (and that's been sold to a developer).

If you see any of the temporary community gardens on former gas stations, there's always raised beds with clean growing medium brought in, usually over a membrane that's been put over the hydrocarbon soils. The only time any fumes are generated would be if the soil was disturbed or exposed to the air.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

Vancouver City Council just voted to reject the 21 townhomes at 4575 Granville (In Shaughnessy, next to the hospice.)

Kennedy, Boyle, De Genova, Dominato in favour

Carr, Fry, Wiebe, Bligh, Hardwick, Kirby-Yung and Swanson against.

Swanson voted against as the homes were too unaffordable, and would only support social housing.

woo!!! thank god. wrong place and neighbourhood for that. good job council.

[osirisboy]

I wonder why we never see non gas station sites turned into temporary gardens. gas stations sites don't have to sit empty for X number of years before redevelopment. It doesn't cost that much to ship the soil to Alberta.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

I wonder why we never see non gas station sites turned into temporary gardens. gas stations sites don't have to sit empty for X number of years before redevelopment. It doesn't cost that much to ship the soil to Alberta.

Sites that were not gas stations do get turned into temporary gardens. Pinnacle had two in Southeast False Creek for several years. The W2 site on W2nd was a temporary garden until development started last year. There's one on Main Street next to Citygate that's been in place for several years.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

woo!!! thank god. wrong place and neighbourhood for that. good job council.

Yeah a six lane arterial road is no place for density.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Yeah a six lane arterial road is no place for density.

But apparently the ideal location for a hospice!

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

It doesn't cost that much to ship the soil to Alberta.

I like that idea send back to Alberta all the waste and toxic stuff to place there considering there is probably tons of spare rail/road capacity that is underutilized going east while all the oil and all that is shipped west.

[bluefox]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Yeah a six lane arterial road is no place for density.

The ironic part is the developer can build a new mansion and no one can say boo about it.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Changing City

But apparently the ideal location for a hospice!

Indeed. Apparently the hospice may buy the lot from the developer to expand now.

I'm glad a couple NPA councillors broke ranks, disappointed in the Greens and want to tell Swanson to give her head a shake. Not every new rental needs to be below market, especially in Shaughnessy. If that's going to be her tack during her term, she's a waste of space on council.

[misher]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Indeed. Apparently the hospice may buy the lot from the developer to expand now.

I'm glad a couple NPA councillors broke ranks, disappointed in the Greens and want to tell Swanson to give her head a shake. Not every new rental needs to be below market, especially in Shaughnessy. If that's going to be her tack during her term, she's a waste of space on council.

Is it sad that the NPA are the ones trying to make the city affordable?

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Sites that were not gas stations do get turned into temporary gardens. Pinnacle had two in Southeast False Creek for several years. The W2 site on W2nd was a temporary garden until development started last year. There's one on Main Street next to Citygate that's been in place for several years.

Oh wow i completely forgot about those! Lol. I swear you're a computer with the amount of info you have

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by misher

Is it sad that the NPA are the ones trying to make the city affordable?

OneCity is trying to make the city affordable. The City Greens have always been faux-eco NIMBYs, and the NPA seems to be split (two for, three against).

[Feathered Friend]

Double Vision – Transit Orientated Development Leaves East Van Neighbours Wanting More

2603-2655 Renfrew Street and 2543-2583 Renfrew Street & 2895 East 10th Avenue
As the majority of Vancouver’s City Council was preparing to vote against welcoming 21 rental homes to Shaughnessy, Darren and I were watching the exact opposite happen in East Vancouver. Granted, the hundreds who came out to speak on that item dwarfed the roughly 30 who turned out to view these two midrise buildings. I was shocked by the total as, even with a few children running around, the ballroom of the Italian Cultural Centre never felt busy.

Naturally, with so few in such a large venue, it was hard to strike up a conversation, let alone hear what others were discussing. That said, no one seemed opposed to this pair of 6 floor mid-rise buildings, nor the 157 homes they would provide. If anything, those we spoke with felt the area could and should be allowed to offer far more housing.

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2019/06/27...leaves-east-van-neighbours-wanting-more/

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Indeed. Apparently the hospice may buy the lot from the developer to expand now.

I'm glad a couple NPA councillors broke ranks, disappointed in the Greens and want to tell Swanson to give her head a shake. Not every new rental needs to be below market, especially in Shaughnessy. If that's going to be her tack during her term, she's a waste of space on council.

Although the hospice might like to buy the lot, the owners aren't interested in selling it. Instead they're going to build a 12,000 square foot house.

[misher]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Although the hospice might like to buy the lot, the owners aren't interested in selling it. Instead they're going to build a 12,000 square foot house.

I'm sure that'll benefit low income housing. Goodjob Swanson!