Burnaby Updates

[SpongeG]

Nearly 1,000 non-market rentals proposed for various Burnaby properties

Dustin Godfrey / Burnaby Now
OCTOBER 6, 2020

The proposals include two six-storey buildings, totalling 241 units of non-market and supportive housing for the George Derby campus, in a joint proposal with BC Housing.

A separate application is seeking to build a supportive housing facility, described in a city staff report as similar to Derby Manor. The building would house 120 units, and the facility would provide meals, housekeeping and other services related to assisted living.

In another unrelated application, a city-owned site in the 6800-block of Royal Oak Avenue could see 148 “affordable” independent living units in a six-storey development. The proposal had originally reached public hearing last fall, but it was noted that the development, then proposed for two city lots, should include a third lot on the block.

That is also the case for the remaining three rezoning applications, including one in the 5900-block of Sunset and Kincaid streets and one at 6488 Byrnepark Dr.

The projects would both be run by Vancouver Native Housing Society, M’akola Development Services, TL Housing Solutions and IBI Group.

The Sunset/Kincaid proposal is for two six-storey buildings with a combined 296 affordable independent-living units for Indigenous and non-Indigenous seniors. About 11% of the units would be two-bedroom suites for seniors with dependents living with them, according to a city report.

Meanwhile, the six-storey Byrnepark building would include 200 “affordable” rental units for Indigenous and non-Indigenous families and singles, according to city staff.

https://www.burnabynow.com/news/nearly-1...13LpJ3VtID_2eeVb1owEyTI6PYSqyX53jC1ucmYI

[Sheba]

Copied from Suburban Updates

Originally Posted by Canucks223

I thought this was interesting; while listening to Donny and the Moj on TSN1040 this morning (sports station for those who are unaware), they briefly mentioned the growth of Burnaby and all of the highrises that are springing up "like weeds" and how its becoming unrecognizable. It was neat to listen their perspective on the drastic changes occurring in Burnaby as they are both long time lower mainland residents, born and raised.

You can hear their 30 discussion on the topic at the link below at the 5 minute and 30 second marker. "VANCOUVER 1040 Donnie and The Moj October 15 2020 Hour 1"

https://www.tsn.ca/radio/vancouver-1040/donnie-and-the-moj-october-15-2020-hour-1-1.1539315

[vanman]

It's always interesting to hear the perspectives of non skyscraper enthusiasts. Thanks for sharing.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by vanman

It's always interesting to hear the perspectives of non skyscraper enthusiasts. Thanks for sharing.

All they said was they were surprised that there were skyscrapers popping up in Burnaby. I don't think they were exactly bashing the existance of them.

[officedweller]

From Mark Teasdale twitter:


https://twitter.com/MarksGonePublic/status/1319889268005761024

[giallo]

Great shot!

[supercanuck]

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/3777-kingsway-burnaby-the-boot-telus

"Four new towers proposed for TELUS "The Boot" office site on Boundary Road"

Interested to see what they come up with here without replacing the building altogether.

[Klazu]

Interesting! And very interesting to know that there has been a plan for a SkyTrain station there. I have always considered this locatio bad as it is far from nearby stations. I wonder what are the chances of a new station happening?

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by supercanuck

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/3777-kingsway-burnaby-the-boot-telus

"Four new towers proposed for TELUS "The Boot" office site on Boundary Road"

Interested to see what they come up with here without replacing the building altogether.

They would tear down the extension and only keep the original tower.

[logan5]

> not a lot of space for 4 towers. There will certainly be a tall tower in the mix. Maybe something very tall if they are allowed to use the current office space to calculate for extra rental density, as per the new rezoning guidelines (which allows for 50% conversion of office density to rental density).

[Klazu]

This could be beginning of the two skylines of Joyce and Metrotown to start merging. Only a small gap to fill between Boundary and Patterson...

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

They would tear down the extension and only keep the original tower.

Yeah, there's an article at Urban YVR that says:

PC Urban is in the preliminary stages of a rezoning application with the City of Burnaby to redevelop the site, retaining the 21-storey ‘Boot’ office tower, and demolishing the other buildings on the site to make way for a new, mixed-use project.

That would make room for a podium with a couple of towers where the Mini Boot is now. I could also see them cutting off part of the 'toes' of the main boot to make space for another podium with a tower or two on that side of the site.

Originally Posted by Klazu

Interesting! And very interesting to know that there has been a plan for a SkyTrain station there. I have always considered this locatio bad as it is far from nearby stations. I wonder what are the chances of a new station happening?

There were plans for it when the Skytrain was being built - it ended up being built at Patterson instead. Since then the chances are somewhere between slim and none. To be fair, from the intersection of Boundary and Vanness Ave (aka right next to the site) it's only a 10 minute walk to Joyce Station and 15 minutes to Patterson, and the 19 bus on Kingsway is pretty frequent.

I can't see TransLink wanting to pay for a station here (esp now) so unless the developer puts money towards it I really can't see it happening.

[Klazu]

Maybe they could do like they did with the Capstan Station in Richmond and have developer pay for it?

[Spr0ckets]

With Translink taking a heavy hit this year due to the Pandemic and low ridership and having to be bailed out by the Feds and the Provincial government; ......with the NDP promise to help with funding extend the Skytrain line to Langley as part of their campaign platform in winning the election last weekend; ....with the ongoing and soon to begin serious excavation and construction work on the Broadway extension line......

....I would posit that the addition of a new station in the middle of two high volume stations and within close proximity of the third busiest station in the entire network is way way waaaay low down on the list of Translink's priorities (if ever on it at all) and dare I say, their capabilities, right now.
Particularly when the justification for such a station would be just a singular development (And possibly Wall Center next door) in terms of the riders that would benefit from it.
Unless the Developer chooses to shoulder most, if not all of the financial burden of such an undertaking - and even then, I don't think Translink would be willing to stomach the disruption it would likely cause to the line while this happens.
This isn't like building a new station on a line while it's under construction, or being extended and therefore essentially being upgraded or added to it.

Ironically, part of the argument or justification against building a station in such a location would actually be........the location itself.
For one thing it sits right adjacent to a large tract of land that is will never get developed (i.e. Central Park), which means most of the development in the area will happen either much farther East close to Patterson (where a station already exists, and where they are looking at close to seven tower developments in the near vicinity either currently in the application process or under proposal) or towards the immediate west in the area close to the Joyce station, which is already seeing development right now to increase density in the area - and a station I might add that underwent major renovations and improvements recently to handle higher capacity and volume or riders and foot traffic.

If you're going to put a new station on the line then you'd want it to be in an area that's going to experience a lot of growth (read : new developments and increase in densification) and sustain the kind of ridership that would justify the cost of putting a station there. And just one (or two) developments simply don't, in my view anyway, justify that kind of outlay.

I could be wrong, but I just don't see even the developers in this case being moved in this direction when "Within walking distance of Joyce and Patterson Skytrain stations" is a much easier (and cheaper) selling point.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Spr0ckets

....I would posit that the addition of a new station in the middle of two high volume stations and within close proximity of the third busiest station in the entire network is way way waaaay low down on the list of Translink's priorities (if ever on it at all) and dare I say, their capabilities, right now.

I'd put it as even lower priority than the Woodlands station in New West - which they already did planning for when they built that section. I already asked and it's not part of their latest 10 year plans. FYI adding it would help solve some of the problems with transit on that side of New West.

[supercanuck]

Originally Posted by Sheba

That would make room for a podium with a couple of towers where the Mini Boot is now. I could also see them cutting off part of the 'toes' of the main boot to make spa ce for another podium with a tower or two on that side of the site.

Thanks! That would make sense. Tower 2 has been basically empty for years now. Probably 10 Telus people per floor on a good day. Can definitely see that going with no issues.

[vanman]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

All they said was they were surprised that there were skyscrapers popping up in Burnaby. I don't think they were exactly bashing the existance of them.

Where did I say I thought they were bashing the existance of them?

All I meant was that it's interesting hearing the opinions of people outside this echo chamber.

[SpongeG]

Burnaby tower closer to approval, despite councillor's density objections
Dustin Godfrey / Burnaby Now
OCTOBER 30, 2020


A rendering of the proposed 34-storey rental tower as seen from Kemp Street (left) and Kathleen Avenue.
Photograph By CITY OF BURNABY


A proposed rental tower in Burnaby’s Metrotown area is edging closer to final approval, despite one councillor’s vocal opposition to what she called a “really awful” design.

The Bosa development is planned for three lots on the 5900-block of Kathleen Avenue, currently occupied by single-family houses. The development, if approved, would see a 34-storey building on a lot of 1,727 metres squared.

...

https://www.burnabynow.com/news/burnaby-...raCj3NgwHVrssJMr2qI-Onf2O3Gd_4MqeMQfCKis

[BobLoblawsLawBlog]

Looks sleek. I'm really liking the direction residential apartment buildings are going with balconies. I hate balconies that just jut out (as an example, the first phase of Station Square). I see many newer builds (Grosvenor in Yaletown, Phase 5 of SS) have them tucked in. Can't wait for the day they just get rid of balconies all together. Is there a law that mandates them?

I've also noticed how seafoam is on its way out, and more builds are going for a dark black (Sussex, Amazing Brentwood), which I approve of.

[Klazu]

Tucked-in balconies are a good idea but I wouldn't give up my massive balcony (almost a patio) for anything. It adds a nice outdoor space year-round.

The only thing I hated about living in One Wall Centre was they lack of balconies.