General Vancouver Updates

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

So Phase 2 would wipe out the recently overhauled "WeWork" building? Seems a little short sighted.

Phase 2 occupancy could easily be in 10 years.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

So Phase 2 would wipe out the recently overhauled "WeWork" building? Seems a little short sighted.

I suspect that's why the makeover of that 1947 building was pretty superficial - it was a temporary fix-up, good for a few years while the new campus behind of M2 and M4 were built.

The renders for this tower also suggest a re-think on M3 - the 1970s brick building at 111 E5th that hasn't been altered yet (and is partly occupied by Hootsuite at the moment). Originally renders showed it being replaced with another building like M2 and M4. Now it looks like they'll add floors to the existing bunker.

[officedweller]

I thought the same, but if it's 10 years, the superficial makeover makes sense.

[GenWhy?]

To elaborate, I saw 10 years because Broadway Plan rezoning enquiry responses are only coming back by March 2023. I assume the same or later for ones that go straight for rezoning. Then there's the backlog of 2022 Public Hearings... think the 1st one is Dec. 6

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

To elaborate, I saw 10 years because Broadway Plan rezoning enquiry responses are only coming back by March 2023. I assume the same or later for ones that go straight for rezoning. Then there's the backlog of 2022 Public Hearings... think the 1st one is Dec. 6

Let's see if ABC can streamline things as much as promised. One can only hope.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Most parties which promise to "cut red tape" almost instantly drop that line as soon as they're in office. It's anybody's guess as to whether or not ABC actually means it.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Most parties which promise to "cut red tape" almost instantly drop that line as soon as they're in office. It's anybody's guess as to whether or not ABC actually means it.

As an insider I'd argue parts of rezoning and building multifamily has improved over the years because of City Staff streamlining and changes and mostly paperwork modifications and read-ability, accessibility (lots of changes to finding things online like applicable policies etc).

We've received a lot of formal "on paper" checklists and streamlining of programs and documents. Where before it was "you had to know" or else just get stuck waiting for a response from a different department.

The biggest issue we have today is the workload on Staff, too many complex rezonings (the SRP is getting us away from that with rental only zonings) where they have like a few dozen projects per person, not enough sprinkler permit staff (a few years ago the city asked for 120 new staff and they only got 60 I beleive? Then there is the issue of departments to talking to eachtoher which can cause a 6-month delay.

Lastly we're getting month delays from Hydro at all stages of development. We've had to have a building sit idle for over a month before Hydro is hooked up. They're understaffed too...

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Most parties which promise to "cut red tape" almost instantly drop that line as soon as they're in office. It's anybody's guess as to whether or not ABC actually means it.

I think we've reached the breaking point for city bureaucracy.

Here's an example. As of earlier this year, in order to install a residential heat pump in Vancouver, you need a specific certification from the City. Nobody else requires this. We're trying to encourage heat pumps in Vancouver.

It's complete 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 overreach.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Here's an example. As of earlier this year, in order to install a residential heat pump in Vancouver, you need a specific certification from the City. Nobody else requires this. We're trying to encourage heat pumps in Vancouver.

It's complete 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 overreach.

No arguments there, I'm just half-expecting ABC to get sworn in and then change absolutely nothing (or try to and fail). Looking forward to being proven wrong.

[GenWhy?]

I assume they'll claim work that is ongoing since 2016:

https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/addressing-the-permit-backlog.aspx

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I think we've reached the breaking point for city bureaucracy.

Here's an example. As of earlier this year, in order to install a residential heat pump in Vancouver, you need a specific certification from the City. Nobody else requires this. We're trying to encourage heat pumps in Vancouver.

It's complete 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 overreach.

Hey, but at least you don't have to struggle with the horrors of opening a door with a knob instead of a lever.

[seamusmcduff]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

No arguments there, I'm just half-expecting ABC to get sworn in and then change absolutely nothing (or try to and fail). Looking forward to being proven wrong.

In addition to this, he was asked about what other housing policy he would enact, and his answer was essentially, " the previous council started some great things, so we're going to complete what they started, and that's about it". So if changes to permitting do happen, that's literally the only housing change that will happen apparently...

"Reporter: “Some of the commentary has been that your party in particular didn’t have a substantial housing platform, we’ve talked a lot about reducing permit wait times, was that theonly focus for housing for ABC?”

Sim: “There are a lot of great things going on in our city. There’s rezoning applications, there’s the Broadway Plan, there’s Jericho lands, there’s Sen̓áḵw – there are all these things that are already happening. The one thing that is missing is that it’s taking forever to get a permit. We can have all these great things going on but if you have to wait six to12 years to get a permit to build a condo building it’s a complete waste of time. We are focussing on, what some would say, the ‘not 🞵🞵🞵🞵 stuff.’ But it’s the best way to affect change and build housing faster.”

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/ken-sim-talks-publ...rview-as-vancouver-mayor-elect-1.6113469

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Hey, but at least you don't have to struggle with the horrors of opening a door with a knob instead of a lever.

I hope you're not being sarcastic because the difference is very important.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

I hope you're not being sarcastic because the difference is very important.

The Urban Dictionary suggests one meaning of 'knob' is an obnoxious person. I'm not suggesting whatnext is a lever, so...

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by Changing City

The Urban Dictionary suggests one meaning of 'knob' is an obnoxious person. I'm not suggesting whatnext is a lever, so...

It's also British slang for a descriptive part of the male anatomy, ......which itself in turn in North American slang...often means an obnoxious person,.......

...or is just the short-form name for a person called 'Richard'.
(I've never understood how that works out like that. Or how 'Bob' derives from 'Robert'. But I digress.....)


So it all kind of comes full circle in the end.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

No arguments there, I'm just half-expecting ABC to get sworn in and then change absolutely nothing (or try to and fail). Looking forward to being proven wrong.

It's a small thing but I would hope they look at stuff like this and remove it. It's low hanging fruit.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Hey, but at least you don't have to struggle with the horrors of opening a door with a knob instead of a lever.

That's an accessibility issue and there's zero additional cost. I'm ok with that.

[jlousa]

While we are talking about knobs vs levers, personally I prefer using the levers but there is a real cost to using them, they are easier for criminals to use for applying leverage and they amount to lots of broken pins that require replacing something that was much more uncommon on the older knobs.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by jlousa

While we are talking about knobs vs levers, personally I prefer using the levers but there is a real cost to using them, they are easier for criminals to use for applying leverage and they amount to lots of broken pins that require replacing something that was much more uncommon on the older knobs.

I mean, sure, but what is the marginal cost we are talking about here?

[jlousa]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I mean, sure, but what is the marginal cost we are talking about here?

Probably ~$50-75 per repair time/parts, but it 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 in a commercial building when between all your doors you are doing a few a week plus a door out of service and forcing people to find their way around because the door is inoperable.