General Vancouver Updates

[logan5]

From Changing City Updates:




Nice match to the office building across the street. When the other 2 corners are developed, they will likely look very similar, so that intersection will have a very uniform look. TD Bank shut down on 8th Ave, but there is an excellent opportunity for a new location at this intersection. Another Starbucks wouldn't hurt either.

[scryer]

Originally Posted by logan5

From Changing City Updates:




Nice match to the office building across the street. When the other 2 corners are developed, they will likely look very similar, so that intersection will have a very uniform look. TD Bank shut down on 8th Ave, but there is an excellent opportunity for a new location at this intersection. Another Starbucks wouldn't hurt either.

I have nothing against Starbucks but I wouldn't count on them opening anything new in Canada anytime soon...

I would be down for an independent cafe to open up or perhaps some local chain like the Pallet Coffee Roaster company. But with COVID-19 it's anyone's guess .

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by scryer

I would be down for an independent cafe to open up or perhaps some local chain like the Pallet Coffee Roaster company. But with COVID-19 it's anyone's guess .

with this virus thing going on, i would count on many commercial vacancies for at least the near future ~1yr. they are estimating 30ish % of them may close as of now. some already have closed and said they wont reopen.

just a guess of course, but i would like to think it is a realistic assumption.

[officedweller]

Despite the number of storeys for this building, the ceilings look tall in the pics and driving by (since office) so it will have more street presence than I first expected.

[Klazu]

Is that corner height limited by the Cambie Street view cone?

[officedweller]

Yes, it is

[Migrant_Coconut]

I believe it's the viewcones to City Hall from the seawall, which definitely need to go.

[Klazu]

There is a view cone facing southwards? Are there more than that one? I thought they were all facing north towards the mountains...

[Migrant_Coconut]

Earlier in the thread:

Cambie viewcone might be a part of it, but I think the real culprit is those six points at Cooper's/Marinaside/Granville Island. It's especially dumb because even if you wanted to see City Hall from the seawall, you're not going to see much anyway.

[Klazu]

Interesting, thank you for posting. Man, those view cones really make it easy develop land in this city. They just seem so arbitrary like the one from middle of Granville Island?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Cambie viewcone might be a part of it, but I think the real culprit is those six points at Cooper's/Marinaside/Granville Island. It's especially dumb because even if you wanted to see City Hall from the seawall, you're not going to see much anyway.

Well, I do notice you can see City Hall from a lot of vantage points, and this explains why. Does it have value though? I don't know. I'm more interested in seeing the mountains for sure.

Notably, big stretches of West Broadway are wide open. Build baby build!

[scryer]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Well, I do notice you can see City Hall from a lot of vantage points, and this explains why. Does it have value though? I don't know. I'm more interested in seeing the mountains for sure.

Notably, big stretches of West Broadway are wide open. Build baby build!

IMO the City Hall view cones should be the first ones on the chopping block. Half the metro population doesn't even know that there are view cones for the City Hall, never mind valuing them (unless you're a NIMBY).

But yeah, West Broadway and further West have my permission to get crazy with density and height before the other view cones get updated . It's just too bad that over half of the stations' TOD's (for phase 1) will be crippled by view cones to some extent. You can't exactly take advantage of the potential for density (like John Horgan advised municipal politicians) along the Broadway corridor with the view cones remaining the same way as they are.

[GenWhy?]

We've been looking at properties that are affected by the City Hall view cone and it "hinders" less than I think people realize. Most of the south of False Creek view cones allow 10-13 storey buildings which if they were all built would be phenomenal.

Most of the affected property is currently zoned single family and industrial which will not be seeing changes, view cones or not. Supporting the City Hall view cone and being a YIMBY can go hand-in-hand.

[GenWhy?]

Also realize that only now proposed under the current forthcoming plan that there is a rental affordability component...

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

We've been looking at properties that are affected by the City Hall view cone and it "hinders" less than I think people realize. Most of the south of False Creek view cones allow 10-13 storey buildings which if they were all built would be phenomenal.

Most of the affected property is currently zoned single family and industrial which will not be seeing changes, view cones or not. Supporting the City Hall view cone and being a YIMBY can go hand-in-hand.

Which reminds me, rather than gut the South False Creek neighbourhoods whose leases are running out, why not encourage redevelopment of Fairview Slopes? The False Creek buildings have historical value in the sense that they were pioneers of returing residents to previous brownfield sites in North America. Fairview, which followed, was generally not well-constructed due to poor understanding of the effect of tighter building envelopes and moisture etc. Why doesn't the city act to encourage more height there?

[cov]

Originally Posted by whatnext

The False Creek buildings have historical value

lol

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by scryer

IMO the City Hall view cones should be the first ones on the chopping block. Half the metro population doesn't even know that there are view cones for the City Hall, never mind valuing them (unless you're a NIMBY).

Possibly, but looking at the map, honestly the parts that are under the other viewcones are also relatively developed. If we're looking at stations, they could densify further near GNW (being done), a ton to the SE of the Main St station (mostly SFH today), and of course Broadway.

Cambie and VGH stations are the ones that are already developed the most. You can always do more, but there's other low hanging fruit IMO.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Which reminds me, rather than gut the South False Creek neighbourhoods whose leases are running out, why not encourage redevelopment of Fairview Slopes? The False Creek buildings have historical value in the sense that they were pioneers of returing residents to previous brownfield sites in North America. Fairview, which followed, was generally not well-constructed due to poor understanding of the effect of tighter building envelopes and moisture etc. Why doesn't the city act to encourage more height there?

Yeah I think one because it has its own area specific zoning (plan in late 70s and 80s) and was approved for apartments going back to 1928 and I don't recall too much talk around the Broadway Plan on that area. The focus and fear centres around rental stock and affordability. Fairview has lots of strata (if I recall) so that takes time and money to assemble. We looked at a site in Fairview but our Client wasn't interested in condos at the time with a heritage revitalization, so I'm not too familiar.

[s211]

Originally Posted by cov

lol

Double LOL. (while shaking head at the very suggestion)

[scryer]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Cambie and VGH stations are the ones that are already developed the most. You can always do more, but there's other low hanging fruit IMO.

Very true. Plenty of low hanging fruit west of VGH station.

Senakw will also help speed things along in the west as well if it all goes through.