General Vancouver Updates

[djmk]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

so that site must be a nightmare below grade to have remained vacant since the USSR was still a thing.

https://goo.gl/maps/PnsKhBJH4oZyTUq77

it might be a nightmare around all the neighboring sites as well.

if the property has been vacant for so long, its possible that the original owners are dead and the estate has no idea what do with it (especially if there is a possible massive environmental liability attached to it). just guessing of course.

[GenWhy?]

I find the largest issues with contaminated sites is not the remediation that needs to be done on YOUR site but what has to be done on other people's property (mainly the City) before you can get Occupancy. Those legal agreements and repaving and road closure and off-site tests add up

[jollyburger]

Sounds like Esso still owned the property as of July 2014 because they had SNC Lavalin to do record searches on the property for contamination etc.

https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/2020-034-release.pdf

This FOI was from 2020 so something might be happening with it.

There was some talk about excavating soil in the 1990s but not sure if it was ever done. A 2014 provincial form seems to indicate it was still contaminated.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

I find the largest issues with contaminated sites is not the remediation that needs to be done on YOUR site but what has to be done on other people's property (mainly the City) before you can get Occupancy. Those legal agreements and repaving and road closure and off-site tests add up

Then the city or province should buy the sites, take responsibility for it and build subsidized housing. Having them vacant for decades is ridiculous.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Then the city or province should buy the sites, take responsibility for it and build subsidized housing. Having them vacant for decades is ridiculous.

Yeah it's that simple. Why didn't they think of that.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Then the city or province should buy the sites, take responsibility for it and build subsidized housing. Having them vacant for decades is ridiculous.

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Yeah it's that simple. Why didn't they think of that.

i dont see why it couldnt be. with those temp. modular housing, there is very little ground disturbance. even site services are above ground in a lot of the cases. they could probably find a way to do it without needing to excavate much, if at all.

or, since its government, they could waive the requirements. not like governments haven't done that before with other things.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

i dont see why it couldnt be. with those temp. modular housing, there is very little ground disturbance. even site services are above ground in a lot of the cases. they could probably find a way to do it without needing to excavate much, if at all.

or, since its government, they could waive the requirements. not like governments haven't done that before with other things.

Seems risky if there is any chance of contaminated soil to stick housing above it and create liability for vapours coming into the building.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Seems risky if there is any chance of contaminated soil to stick housing above it and create liability for vapours coming into the building.

true, though how contaminated is this site? they must have had some serious underground leaks going on for awhile. i didn't even know there was a gas station there.

does anyone know about the site at Broughton & Robson? that has been an empty lot as long as i can remember. seems crazy that a large lot downtown would sit empty for decades.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

does anyone know about the site at Broughton & Robson? that has been an empty lot as long as i can remember. seems crazy that a large lot downtown would sit empty for decades.

The same as 10 years ago, when Frances Bula reported. (But the owner's name has changed)

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Changing City

The same as 10 years ago, when Frances Bula reported. (But the owner's name has changed)

I think Daily Hive sourced their information from this Sun article from 2016 which had more details about Central.

https://www.pressreader.com/canada/vancouver-sun/20160910/281513635605674

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I think Daily Hive sourced their information from this Sun article from 2016 which had more details about Central.

https://www.pressreader.com/canada/vancouver-sun/20160910/281513635605674

Looks likely, and no actual change in ownership. Currently valued at $11.8m, Paying $45,136 tax a year and not using any City services.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Looks likely, and no actual change in ownership. Currently valued at $11.8m, Paying $45,136 tax a year and not using any City services.

Isn't that property broken up into four lots? I counted around $40 million I think combined.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Isn't that property broken up into four lots? I counted around $40 million I think combined.

You're correct, the lots are tied, but not consolidated. So the site is valued at $47,948,000 and taxes are $183,372.33 (and still no City services required).

[VanK]

Originally Posted by gaviscon

Does anyone know what's gonna happen here? (Across the former Toyota dealer on W. Broadway, and beside Staples.

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2635614,...eT3M0EEzS5S_LpehuiEsw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Owned by Concord Pacific.

[Feathered Friend]

It’s no wonder why Vancouver’s Development Permit Board was willing to overrule their own staff’s demands when they approved T3 Mount Pleasant, as it will be one of the largest mass timber office buildings in Western Canada, with nearly 200,000 sqft of job space.

Even if the civic employee who suggested this proposal upgrade the Simon Fraser Annex to Passive House Standards had been present, it likely wouldn’t have mattered. The fear was this would have eliminated the very heritage features whose preservation has earned this extra density

This wasn’t the only shock for the applicants, as a week before they learned they would be paying the full cost of upgrading the intersection at Main & 6th. They hoped to revisit this issue, but instead were told they’ll have to recoup part of these costs from future developments

https://twitter.com/City_Duo/status/1587596297179402241?s=20&t=ksuhYJTxIYyBpINrsxpP-A

[officedweller]

Nice.
I can see Quebec St. becoming a retail high street along the corridor from Broadway leading down to Olympic Village (as a quieter more pedestrian friendly alternative to Main St.).
Hopefully there is retail (at least service/cafe/restaurant) planned along the strip, as the office workers will need nearby services.

[logan5]

Ontario seems like the better candidate for that, being a fairly busy bike route. Maybe more of restaurant/cafe type strip.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Nice.
I can see Quebec St. becoming a retail high street along the corridor from Broadway leading down to Olympic Village (as a quieter more pedestrian friendly alternative to Main St.).
Hopefully there is retail (at least service/cafe/restaurant) planned along the strip, as the office workers will need nearby services.

Well it will always be the same problem of having enough customers to fill the seats either from people in other areas visiting or more people living/working in Mount Pleasant.

[WarrenC12]

Ontario already has multiple restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, even two breweries.

Quebec is dead after Earnest Ice cream on 2nd. It will have a lot of catching up to do, I can't see it happening.

[madog222]

Update on the former MEC site on Broadway, according to Daily Hive, including a single new render of the podium park.

Reliance Properties states its preliminary project details align with the Broadway Plan, with two towers up to 28 or 29 storeys sitting on top of a one-storey commercial base podium. The proposed density is 8.46 FAR.

There will be a total of 524 secured rental homes, with a unit size mix of 33 studio units, 287 one-bedroom units, 150 two-bedroom units, and 54 three-bedroom units.

The one-storey base podium with 43,500 sq ft of commercial space will contain uses such as a grocery store, restaurant, cafe, and a non-market childcare facility for up to 37 kids.

Image from Reliance Properties

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/130-west-broadway-vancouver-former-mec-redevelopment-update