General Vancouver Updates - Page 491

Migrant_Coconut · #**9801** Posted **Jul 20, 2021, 11:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

I wouldn't use that term, but I will say there's only two landscape architects on the panel. Still, they are volunteers, and don't deserve hate-mail.

None planned. It's just that one suspects that they volunteered in the first place because they got sick of writing hate mail...

rofina · #**9802** Posted **Jul 20, 2021, 11:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

Short answer, city council. Though I would add that the panel's membership is currently turning over, so there will be at least a couple new faces on it soon.

Its not like contacting council yields any results in this City. Thankful for the turnover, at least.

Quote:

In this case, the applicant responded by acknowledging it was a subject that needed to be taken seriously, and stated they would potentially work and engage with groups to build a stronger message. That said, city staff pointed out that there was no formal requirement to do so, but also stated that the panel's comments were heard, and would inform things going forward.

Take that for what you think it's worth.

Not directed at you; but this naval gazing and its gross.

Its a building façade that if you squint and look just right resembles perhaps, a weave of some sort.

To connect this to some FN culture is so far fetched its insulting this got brought up.

This is not ok, and its not logical, and FN culture shouldn't be used as some talking point because its current.

These people are gross.

GenWhy? · #**9803** Posted **Jul 20, 2021, 11:59 PM**

It might be because they recently reviewed the Frances Street proposal which was intentionally designed as a First Nations weave inspired design. They probably got confused.

officedweller · #**9804** Posted **Jul 21, 2021, 1:28 AM**

Provides an easy "out" for "the cheapening".

officedweller · #**9805** Posted **Jul 21, 2021, 11:56 PM**

2336-2366 Charles Street

I actually like the new design better. The old design looked like a church with the angled windows and would have limited the views from the units.

Drastic redesign, parking halved for future rental housing building on Nanaimo Street
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/2336-2366-charles-street-vancouver-development-redesign

Before:

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/2336-2366-charles-street-vancouver-development-redesign

Now:

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/2336-2366-charles-street-vancouver-development-redesign

csbvan · #**9806** Posted **Jul 22, 2021, 12:04 AM**

It went from an interesting homage to the sawtooth roofline, if not particularly well designed, to deathly bland. It's infill, whatever, but I'm not sure I would consider this an improvement. Less parking in a centrally located rental is a win though.

SpongeG · #**9807** Posted **Jul 22, 2021, 6:36 AM**

I've noticed NO MEGA TOWERS AT SAFEWAY signs popping up in the Clarke Drive/Commercial Drive area recently. But they Support Affordable Housing. lol.

giallo · #**9808** Posted **Jul 22, 2021, 6:51 AM**

Too bad, protesters.

You don't get to live at the second busiest transit interchange in the province, and demand to keep it suburban forever. I honestly can't wait until that entire stretch of Broadway is redeveloped in to a district that actually takes advantage of all of the transit infrastructure. There should be 1000s of new units of housing in that area by now.

It boggles my mind every time I think about it. Any other "green" city would have seen that transit hub as an absolute asset for new residential and commercial development.

Migrant_Coconut · #**9809** Posted **Jul 22, 2021, 6:59 AM**

It's Commercial. Those hippies have been practicing doublethink since the Eighties.

giallo · #**9810** Posted **Jul 22, 2021, 7:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

It's Commercial. Those hippies have been practicing doublethink since the Eighties.

The thing is, nobody even needs to touch a single strand of hair on North Commercial's head. Keep it untouched from Broadway all the way down to Powell St. Let Broadway and Commercial (south of Broadway) do all of the heavy lifting.

Realistically, it should have been rezoned a couple of years before the Millennium Line opened, but here we are - two train lines worth billions surrounded by multi million dollar SFH.

Jimbo604 · #**9811** Posted **Jul 22, 2021, 3:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

I've noticed NO MEGA TOWERS AT SAFEWAY signs popping up in the Clarke Drive/Commercial Drive area recently. But they Support Affordable Housing. lol.

Anyone have any updates on this project? What's next, Development Permit Board? When?

Last update on city rezoning page is that it passed through Urban Design Panel last October.

"October 28 2020
Urban Design Panel
This application was reviewed by the Urban Design Panel with the outcome of support with recommendations"

GenWhy? · #**9812** Posted **Jul 22, 2021, 3:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

I've noticed NO MEGA TOWERS AT SAFEWAY signs popping up in the Clarke Drive/Commercial Drive area recently. But they Support Affordable Housing. lol.

Well for the gift of that much density (albeit large amenities are provided, not sure of their proforma) I think the local residents feel that out of 688 units, 452 which are rental, I think only 40-ish units are below market, it seems to them not balanced enough.

Jimbo604 · #**9813** Posted **Jul 22, 2021, 3:54 PM**

Also for fun open this Google street view of Commercial and Broadway and spin around comparing the 2007 with the 2021 version.

They are largely exactly the same despite being nearly 15 years later apart directly outside busiest transit station in the city. So much for transit orientated development.

2007 Google Street View of Commercial and Broadway
https://goo.gl/maps/VPUSVqxXu1iWKWkn9

2021 Google Street View of Commercial and Broadway
https://goo.gl/maps/jcJKU3QxTVegYyvo8

GenWhy? · #**9814** Posted **Jul 22, 2021, 3:57 PM**

They're probably still working through their Prior-To Letter and a mountain of changes / recommendations prior to getting their Report to Council. Public Hearings are booked already until December, so unless they're already on the list, they won't get on until next year to get their Rezoning approved by Council. I imagine.

rofina · #**9815** Posted **Jul 22, 2021, 5:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Well for the gift of that much density (albeit large amenities are provided, not sure of their proforma) I think the local residents feel that out of 688 units, 452 which are rental, I think only 40-ish units are below market, it seems to them not balanced enough.

This is one more of those times where (some) member of the general public scratch their heads; or maybe only me.

This seems hardly inappropriate or even ambitious for a large site next to one or possibly the busiest Skytrain station in the region. That also links to the 99, that's also on one of the most prominent streets in Vancouver.

For this to have to be "gifted" density is so asinine that it hurts my brain.

And yet, predictably as mentioned above there's already no mega towers posters.

This City and its residents are so funny.

I would love to see a survey of what folks view as the "perfect Vancouver.'

From this point on, what's "perfect?"

No more density anywhere? A freeze on building for a decade? How far out would "perfect" be?

GenWhy? · #**9816** Posted **Jul 22, 2021, 6:55 PM**

For many I imagine more than 40 affordable units out of 688. Maybe you get 14 "family-sized" units that are affordable. That's maybe seen as a bad deal.

Just looking at the rental, that's maybe 8% of the 452 that are affordable at Commercial Dr., while at Birch out of 248 rental units, 53 (21%) are affordable. Per my very glossed over math.

With a major tenant locked in, strata, market rental, I'd like to see the math on getting at least 90 below-market units.

jollyburger · #**9817** Posted **Jul 22, 2021, 6:59 PM**

It might be a glass half full/half empty scenario as well with development around Commercial Drive. It could just as easily have been 5 storey infill that would be harder to redevelop any time in the near future.

GenWhy? · #**9818** Posted **Jul 22, 2021, 7:08 PM**

The Grandview-Woodland Plan was a disaster, absolutely.

jlousa · #**9819** Posted **Jul 22, 2021, 8:34 PM**

Not against the Safeway redevelopment at all but lets not pretend the area is lacking density. The Broadway and Commercial area is already quite dense without a single tower. It's also already the busiest station on the network and pre-covid it wasn't unusually to have to wait trains to get on.

giallo · #**9820** Posted **Jul 22, 2021, 9:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

Not against the Safeway redevelopment at all but lets not pretend the area is lacking density. The Broadway and Commercial area is already quite dense without a single tower. It's also already the busiest station on the network and pre-covid it wasn't unusually to have to wait trains to get on.

It's the busiest station in the network by design. It has the two primary subway lines intersect with one another. Commercial/Broadway basically acts as the terminal station for the Millennium Line. It is also the primary bus stop for one of the busiest routes in the country.

The Commercial/Broadway area is vastly under-built given its place as a major transit hub. It should be Vancouver's secondary downtown strictly based on how much transit infrastructure it's received.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

Also for fun open this Google street view of Commercial and Broadway and spin around comparing the 2007 with the 2021 version.

They are largely exactly the same despite being nearly 15 years later apart directly outside busiest transit station in the city. So much for transit orientated development.

2007 Google Street View of Commercial and Broadway
https://goo.gl/maps/VPUSVqxXu1iWKWkn9

2021 Google Street View of Commercial and Broadway
https://goo.gl/maps/jcJKU3QxTVegYyvo8

It'd be funny if the city wasn't so unaffordable.