Downtown Vancouver Updates

[jollyburger]

Watch the council meeting for the Bonnis redevelopment on Granville

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrP2hCnfbXE

Staff presentation:

https://council.vancouver.ca/20220719/documents/R7-Presentation-PolicyandDirections.pdf

Report:

https://council.vancouver.ca/20220719/documents/r7.pdf

Staff have provided a preliminary assessment of the proposal to rezone 800-876 Granville
Street from DD to CD-1 and determined the application has not demonstrated sufficient
justification to deviate from existing policies. Other similarly situated properties have
successfully complied with the policy provisions set out in the policy plans noted in this report.

This property has no special considerations or constraints that warrant deviation from the
established policy framework. Neither have staff identified a compelling public interest to
construe a benefit on this property that would not be available to other nearby properties.

The proposal significantly contravenes Council-approved policy. In this way, the application
disregards the policy framework and public trust. Staff are seeking Council’s direction regarding
these policies, prior to submitting the report to Council for referral to a Public Hearing.

The General Manager of Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability recommends completing
the review of the rezoning application at 800-876 Granville Street in accordance with existing
policy, recognizing that this may lead to a staff recommendation of non-support. Should Council
adopt the report Recommendation A, staff would continue processing the application, including
public consultation, prior to bringing forward a rezoning report for Council’s consideration.

[jollyburger]

Development application for 1157 Burrard (community garden at Burrard/Davie)



https://shapeyourcity.ca/1157-burrard-st-2

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Development application for 1157 Burrard (community garden at Burrard/Davie)

Thanks. It's almost unchanged from the rezoning, three years ago, but there are more, smaller, units (now 310) and no hotel in the podium. There's still some modest community office space, small retail on Davie, and a childcare.

[Vin]

Many decades later......

Vancouver City Council directs city staff to explore taller buildings for West End
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-city-council-explore-west-end-taller-buildings

Love end-of terms for City Councilors, when all of a sudden we see massive densification. Last time we had the frantic revision for Oakridge Town Centre. This time we have this, as well as the Broadway Corridor.

Legacy Work of a typical Vancouver City Councilor:

1st year : nothing
2nd year: nothing
3rd year: nothing
4th year: 1st & 2nd Quarter: nothing
3rd & 4th Quarter: *scramble scarmble scramble* : great achievements!

[GenWhy?]

Intracorp wants more money! Let the games begin!

[GenWhy?]

"If city staff’s prioritization of shadowing considerations were maintained, it is likely no redevelopment will be pursued at all."

Ken the truth bender strikes again.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Vin

Many decades later......



Love end-of terms for City Councilors, when all of a sudden we see massive densification. Last time we had the frantic revision for Oakridge Town Centre. This time we have this, as well as the Broadway Corridor.

Legacy Work of a typical Vancouver City Councilor:

1st year : nothing
2nd year: nothing
3rd year: nothing
4th year: 1st & 2nd Quarter: nothing
3rd & 4th Quarter: *scramble scarmble scramble* : great achievements!

It shouldn't be allowed unless it is 100% rental. The city shouldn't be enabling condo investors.

[GenWhy?]

Relying on CACs and increasingly expensive housing in the West End to fund replacements for 60 year old amenities is a poor strategy for sure.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Relying on CACs and increasingly expensive housing in the West End to fund replacements for 60 year old amenities is a poor strategy for sure.

what else can CoV do? they already raise taxes 2x-3x as much as the other cities around them.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

what else can CoV do? they already raise taxes 2x-3x as much as the other cities around them.

To be fair, CoV and surrounding municipalities have almost criminally low property taxes as a share of home value.

Compare the CoV 2021 mill rate of 2.92250‰ with the property taxes they pay in New Jersey.

Those aren't mill rates. Those are just rates. If you lived in Trenton, NJ and owned a home with an average Vancouver house price of $1,250,000, you'd be paying $64000 a year in property taxes or $5400 a month.

We complain about property values, but no one complains about the fact it costs almost nothing to hold property. Would it hurt to tax and spend a little to keep our city amenities from literally falling apart?

[Jimbo604]

Originally Posted by chowhou

To be fair, CoV and surrounding municipalities have almost criminally low property taxes as a share of home value.

Compare the CoV 2021 mill rate of 2.92250‰ with the property taxes they pay in New Jersey.

Those aren't mill rates. Those are just rates. If you lived in Trenton, NJ and owned a home with an average Vancouver house price of $1,250,000, you'd be paying $64000 a year in property taxes or $5400 a month.

We complain about property values, but no one complains about the fact it costs almost nothing to hold property. Would it hurt to tax and spend a little to keep our city amenities from literally falling apart?

COV wouldn't be so short of cash if they didn't cover other levels of government. Straight from city hall staff the city spent 15% of budget on provincial/federal responsibilities.

City of Vancouver spent $219 million on provincial and federal responsibilities in 2021
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/city-of-vancouver-downloaded-provincial-federal-costs

"Expenses that are traditionally the responsibilities of the federal and provincial governments accounted for the equivalent of almost 15% of the City of Vancouver’s annual operating budget.

The municipal government is increasingly being criticized for taking on responsibilities that are beyond its mandate, which come at the expense of its basic municipal responsibilities and service levels, and places upward pressure on property taxes.

Based on city staff’s recent breakdown of expenses, upon the request of city council, following the approval of a motion by independent city councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung, the municipal government spent at least $219 million in “downloaded” costs from senior governments in 2021."

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by chowhou

To be fair, CoV and surrounding municipalities have almost criminally low property taxes as a share of home value.

Compare the CoV 2021 mill rate of 2.92250‰ with the property taxes they pay in New Jersey.

Those aren't mill rates. Those are just rates. If you lived in Trenton, NJ and owned a home with an average Vancouver house price of $1,250,000, you'd be paying $64000 a year in property taxes or $5400 a month.

We complain about property values, but no one complains about the fact it costs almost nothing to hold property. Would it hurt to tax and spend a little to keep our city amenities from literally falling apart?

If you lived in Trenton NJ $1.25 million would get you a lot more than some crappy 2 bedroom skybox.

Nevermind that Cdn federal and provincial taxes are generally higher as well.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

COV wouldn't be so short of cash if they didn't cover other levels of government. Straight from city hall staff the city spent 15% of budget on provincial/federal responsibilities.

"Expenses that are traditionally the responsibilities of the federal and provincial governments accounted for the equivalent of almost 15% of the City of Vancouver’s annual operating budget.

The municipal government is increasingly being criticized for taking on responsibilities that are beyond its mandate, which come at the expense of its basic municipal responsibilities and service levels, and places upward pressure on property taxes.

Based on city staff’s recent breakdown of expenses, upon the request of city council, following the approval of a motion by independent city councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung, the municipal government spent at least $219 million in “downloaded” costs from senior governments in 2021."

Sure but nobody forced them to buy SROs and other expensive line items that aren't part of their mandate.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Sure but nobody forced them to buy SROs and other expensive line items that aren't part of their mandate.

The $660k in Big Oil lawsuits might be a stronger argument. The province and feds have completely dropped the ball on Vancouver's homeless crisis, so at least City Hall's doing something (albeit a questionably-effective something).

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by whatnext

If you lived in Trenton NJ $1.25 million would get you a lot more than some crappy 2 bedroom skybox.

Nevermind that Cdn federal and provincial taxes are generally higher as well.

New Jersey + US income tax is pretty comparable to BC + Canadian income tax. Sales tax is a bit lower.

[jlousa]

Suprised no one has posted about this yet, the PWC building at Cordova and Howe has had a couple exterior window panes pop out and come crashing onto the sidewalk and street. First one happened Wednesday, and then again yesterday. They closed the street and sidewalk from Cordova westbound from Granville to Howe. Apparently they believe there are additional panels yet to fall. Took a pic with my cell phone but it's not great. Looks like one from the 2nd top floor and then another one a couple floors lower. Perhaps related to the heat wave exposing issues with the seals? I'm sure we'll hear about it soon.

[jollyburger]

I was wondering why the exit was blocked off from the Skytrain station underneath there, I assumed it was window washing but didn't see anyone up there. Was it from the section of the building with the vertical mullions?

[jlousa]

Yes, sorry for the bad pic

[officedweller]

Thanks - hadn't heard about it.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

thats not good and super dangerous to those below, or even in the office depending on some factors. hopefully its isolated and the rest of the building is fine.