Burnaby Updates

[officedweller]

Yup - it was posted over in the Solo thread.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

regarding a 34 storey on Kathleen in the metrotown area

Burnaby mega-rental tower approved - with changes to 'awful' design, says councillor

https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/bu...-to-awful-design-says-councillor-3473047

I guess the "awful" aspect was no balconies.
Hope they keep the grid.

[Klazu]

Where exactly on Kathleen Avenue this would be? I hope it will replace the shack on the corner of Kemp and Kathleen, or the opposing lot with few trees. Nice addition to the area and I don't mind the look.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Where exactly on Kathleen Avenue this would be? I hope it will replace the shack on the corner of Kemp and Kathleen, or the opposing lot with few trees. Nice addition to the area and I don't mind the look.

It looks like the shack corner?



https://www.urbanyvr.com/burnaby-rental-tower-bluesky/

[officedweller]

Hmm. Never seen a "hammerhead" street-end before.
Better than a dead-end, I guess.
Strange how it does not connect to the adjacent lanes.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Hmm. Never seen a "hammerhead" street-end before.
Better than a dead-end, I guess.
Strange how it does not connect to the adjacent lanes.

I think that's someone trying to get creative vs calling it at dead end street - which is what you see looking at Google maps. At least the 2009 street view (oldest available) looks much nicer than the overgrown mess of trees and shrubs that are there now.

It's strange how it doesn't connect to the lane to the east. The one to the west isn't a full lane, it's just mini parking lots for the a couple of the buildings fronting Wilson and doesn't connect all the way as shown in this image.

[Klazu]

Sweet! This will be a great boost to start cleaning up the area together with the Wilson Avenue towers. It is currently a low-rise area surrounded by towers further away but these will pierce the open sky.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Sheba

I think that's someone trying to get creative vs calling it at dead end street - which is what you see looking at Google maps. At least the 2009 street view (oldest available) looks much nicer than the overgrown mess of trees and shrubs that are there now.

It's strange how it doesn't connect to the lane to the east. The one to the west isn't a full lane, it's just mini parking lots for the a couple of the buildings fronting Wilson and doesn't connect all the way as shown in this image.

I just realized - It may just be a right-in, right-out configuration that will be linked to the lanes when those [out of scope] projects get completed in the future.

[Klazu]

That's what I was thinking would be the case. Cul-de-sac would make more sense here as it is easy access from Kemp.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Hmm. Never seen a "hammerhead" street-end before.
Better than a dead-end, I guess.
Strange how it does not connect to the adjacent lanes.

Burnaby is really redoing a lot of roads right now, a lot of I don't what they are called but previous road islands are have been filled in or made into dead ends.

Lougheed and Austin is currently having their turning lanes removed and redone, similar to how they did it at Edmonds and Kingsway a few years back. The traffic lights were on those islands in the road and are being moved onto the road side and the old island things will get removed.

Lougheed itself west of Bell Avenue has had the middle under the skytrain removed all the way to gaglardi, the fencing and cement dividers are totally gone. will be interesting to see what they will be doing there. Also, a lot of trees along Lougheed between Austin and Gaglardi have been getting removed, not sure why. Also, the trans-Canada project is in full swing in the area and a lot of trees have been removed and more to come down.

[officedweller]

Byrne Creek Manor (Cedar Place)
BC Housing project for seniors


https://twitter.com/dysarchitecture


https://twitter.com/dysarchitecture


https://twitter.com/dysarchitecture

[osirisboy]

Why do developments make those green boxes so friggin prominent. could they not hide it behind a hedge or fence

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Why do developments make those green boxes so friggin prominent. could they not hide it behind a hedge or fence

It needs to be easily accessible, just like a fire hydrant. I've seen plenty that have been 'wrapped' in images of plants / maps / etc so they either blend in or look more artistic.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Sheba

It needs to be easily accessible, just like a fire hydrant. I've seen plenty that have been 'wrapped' in images of plants / maps / etc so they either blend in or look more artistic.

3m in front of the door and another 1m on the other sides.

https://www.fortisbc.com/safety-outages/electricity-safety/padmounted-transformers

And I guess you are limited to where the hydro supply lines are located.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by Sheba

It needs to be easily accessible, just like a fire hydrant. I've seen plenty that have been 'wrapped' in images of plants / maps / etc so they either blend in or look more artistic.

They don’t need to be THAT accessible. But if it only needs 1 meter clearance on 3 sides they could easily hide it. I’ve seen some tucked behind fencing or sunken down. Also, if you are excavating out a whole lot you could reconfigure the supply line.

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

They don’t need to be THAT accessible. But if it only needs 1 meter clearance on 3 sides they could easily hide it. I’ve seen some tucked behind fencing or sunken down. Also, if you are excavating out a whole lot you could reconfigure the supply line.

I don't believe that's up to the developer, owner or architect to determine how those lines run.

You get the info from Hydro where those lines are and the best accessible spot to place the pad for the transformer then you design your way around that.
You can't even excavate underneath it (i..e have structure below ground below it).

You can landscape around it per the link shown to better help conceal it or fit it into the environs - while keeping those minimum clearance distances and accessibility paths for the Hydro folks if they need to get to it, but beyond that, it's limited what you can do with it. And that's by design.
They obviously don't want people messing around with it after its set-up and the building is connected. You're talking really high lethal voltages.

It's one of those necessary "evils" or burdens you have to bear with,.....otherwise, you don't get power.

[osirisboy]

You can apply to move it. A lot of times they need to move them for excavation or didn’t even exist before. And that aside I realize what you’re saying. That’s my point. They could hide it with shrubs or something. More than enough room based on their guidelines.

[jlousa]

On countless occasions for build outs we've had to provide a spot to BC hydros approval to place a transformer and on our property, and pay for the transformer outright and they own the transformer and won't even guarantee they won't end up feeding neighboring properties from it. And in most cases no they won't let you bury it or place it in parkade.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by jlousa

On countless occasions for build outs we've had to provide a spot to BC hydros approval to place a transformer and on our property, and pay for the transformer outright and they own the transformer and won't even guarantee they won't end up feeding neighboring properties from it. And in most cases no they won't let you bury it or place it in parkade.

That’s very interesting. Do cities have any say in where they should go or is it strictly up to Bc hydro?

[jollyburger]

It seems like they rarely stick transformers underground anymore because they are a pain to maintain and are more expensive. Here's the rules on building into an alcove:

https://app.bchydro.com/content/dam/BCHy...-on-Private-Property.pdf?accept=accepted