General Vancouver Updates

[SpongeG]

ok, that tim hortons seems like such a waste of land.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Aug.22 '19, my pics

Oct.15 '19, my pics

[s211]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

ok, that tim hortons seems like such a waste of land.

All Tim Hortons are!

[SFUVancouver]

Good to see 500 West Broadway coming along. It's too small, I know, and agree, but what an improvement it will be over what was there before.

[Feathered Friend]

(Better photos of the existing model)

Urban Design Panel Review Highlights Dismal Moderate Income Rental Housing Success Rate

445 Kingsway and 2935 St. George Street
Given my complaints about the scope of the Urban Design Panel, you might be surprised to hear that Hannah and I generally enjoy attending these meetings. I’ve never questioned whether these volunteers play a valuable role, rather it feels like sometimes they exceed their mandate, or are force to review concepts that are so heavily prescribed they could be easily handled by our city’s professional planners. This one straddles that line, as, despite its scale, there’s been little community interest.

One could argue that means this site is being under-built, but city staff literally pleaded with the panel not to comment on that issue. As C-2 zoned properties are only allowed to reach 14 floors under the Moderate Income Rental Housing Pilot Program, there’s simply no policy that would allow for more height here. This restriction likely would’ve been relaxed if the previously approved CD-1 Rental 100 zoning had been enacted, but that version was never going to move forward.

Even though this property has been family-owned for over 30 years, increasing construction costs have made that six floor building unviable. A member of the applicant team revealed this has even impacted the MIRHP Program.

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2019/10/17...rate-income-rental-housing-success-rate/

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

I don't go by Cambie and West 12th very often now these days but I was there yesterday and took these pics. The main floor corner space at The Spot is still under renovation. To see pics and previous discussion from about five months ago go here.

Dec.12 '18, my pics

Update since my last post about ten months ago.

Quanjude.




Oct.19 '19, my pics

[truenorth44]

"Since 1864"

They need to add another line to that - "Under construction since 2018". The "now hiring" has been up for a month or so, and should buy them another 8 months. Ridiculous.

[truenorth44]

Oh, Daily Hive has an article about it:

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/quan-ju-de-vancouver

[officedweller]

From the restaurant thread:

Originally Posted by officedweller

At The Spot - 12th & Cambie...

Canada’s 1st 5D Restaurant to Offer Incredible Experiences in Vancouver
https://www.retail-insider.com/retail-in...e-restaurant-quanjude-opens-in-vancouver

[SpongeG]

there is a restaurant with that name in Dubai but it doesn't look all that fancy lol

my friend from China said its very expensive, i've heard its like easily a $500 dinner.

The Dubai one must have just used the name
• Video Link

[SpongeG]

Four-storey condo building slated for West 49th and Columbia
October 22, 2019 By Peter Meiszner

GBL Architects has designed a four-storey strata condominium building for a corner lot at West 49th Avenue and Columbia.

The upcoming development at 203-263 West 49th Avenue will include 78 units over ground floor retail space, and 143 parking spaces and 280 bicycle spaces.


West 49th Avenue looking northwest. Credit: GBL Architects


Perspective, lane looking south. Credit: GBL Architects

...

The development is located across the street from Langara College, and the Langara YMCA redevelopment, which will include two towers of 14-storeys and 20-storeys.


Aerial view of the new Langara YMCA from the northwest. The market condominium tower is shown adjacent to the new facility. Credit: Endall Elliot

https://urbanyvr.com/203-263-west-49th-avenue-gbl-architects

[Feathered Friend]

Option 1A






Option 1B






Option 2






Option 3

Conspiracy Theorists Blame Lazy Millennial Care Aides For The Destruction Of Kerrisdale’s Character

2803 W 41st Ave – Crofton Manor
After over two years of attending various engagement events, Darren and I still cannot understand the hostility expressed at these meetings. We appreciate some are fearful of change, and others are outright opposed to it, but there is never a reason to expressed one’s thoughts in such a hateful manner. Then again, I do not think we have ever attended an open house at this venue without hearing something outrageous. Unfortunately, this night only continued that streak.

Darren hoped this would not happen again, but I worried any large increases in height could draw out the worst in people. So, as soon as I realized the four options all offered buildings ranging in height from four to fifteen stories, I prepared myself for the worst. Sure enough, many of the sixty attendees did not even get past the first information board, and one city staff member spent the whole night surrounded by various members of the public.

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2019/10/23...he-destruction-of-kerrisdales-character/

[cov]

All these options look fantastic, although I think height will be reduced after public hearing no doubt. Heres hoping they add ground-floor retail along the courtyard space just so the community is a bit more walkable.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by cov

All these options look fantastic, although I think height will be reduced after public hearing no doubt. Heres hoping they add ground-floor retail along the courtyard space just so the community is a bit more walkable.

Why? It's not like there's a shortage of retail in Kerrisdale. Who wants a Kingsway-like strip stretching down 41st?

[cov]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Why? It's not like there's a shortage of retail in Kerrisdale. Who wants a Kingsway-like strip stretching down 41st?

What makes something Kingsway? Is there shopping along a courtyard there that I didn't know about? 41st is narrower with decent existing retail experience much like Main st or 4th. Retail along a courtyard is fairly common in Europe and makes for a great shopping/dining experience because it isolates the public from traffic noises and pollution. It would also make it possible for Kerrisdale retail to extend westward in the future. Kerrisdale is inevitably expanding with a few big projects already approved, adding retail space along with housing sounds very intuitive. The logic that building retail along a road makes it Kingsway lacks basic reasoning.

[Migrant_Coconut]

The city is growing. Cambie-Oak is slowly going big, and it stands to reason that the Oak-Arbutus stretch will and should follow that trend.

Arbutus-Dunbar, that's where things get iffy.

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Why? It's not like there's a shortage of retail in Kerrisdale. Who wants a Kingsway-like strip stretching down 41st?

41st is a very busy corridor so retail additions especially with a few large anchor retailers would be great. The new rapid bus line plus all the new mid rises being built on the corridor mean more people so spaces for a mix of services makes sense only if to allow people to be able to walk to get some milk or a cup of coffee. I’m very much in favour of this development and others like the Jewish Community Centre and many others along 41st. : )

I would argue that Kingsway is not a great example and it is in it self in a period of significant change which is more similar to say Hastings St.

[Feathered Friend]

https://rezoning.vancouver.ca/applications/2725-2751kingsway/documents/perspectives.pdf

Like Night And Day – Urban Design Panel Unanimously Supports A High Mark In Kingsway’s Public Transformation

2725-2751 Kingsway
This is one of those occasions where I’m left wondering whether this Urban Design Panel review, or even the proposal’s open house, was necessary. Only about twenty people come out to the later event at the First Lutheran Church, and most were already on their way to a confirmation class. It seems, like in the Cambie Corridor, many in this area are so familiar with their community plan that they are no longer interested in the changes it prescribes.

This application slightly departs from that vision, as the building between these two ten-storey towers reaches five floors instead of four. The reason for that is to make up for increased setbacks which have created more public space along both Kingsway and Earles, as well as a better transition to the single-family homes to the north. Which seems unnecessary, as under the plan, those properties can reach up to four floors in height.

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2019/10/24...mark-in-kingsways-public-transformation/

[GenWhy?]

My feeling exactly too when I looked at the Landscape Drawings. Spot on.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by cov

All these options look fantastic, although I think height will be reduced after public hearing no doubt. Heres hoping they add ground-floor retail along the courtyard space just so the community is a bit more walkable.

I'm in total agreement with you. Retail should expand away from the traditional retail street and go further.