General Vancouver Updates

[jollyburger]

That black building at West 2nd and Alberta is getting demolished.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Personally I think it's better to have alleys for services versus the Toronto scenario where garbage is put out on sidewalks (ie on Yonge St downtown). They also prevent multiple sidewalk cuts for driveways when the parking entrances and drop-off areas are off the alley. The Capitol condo should have had its driveway off the alley, but I guess the alley was too sketchy for that.

I think the way certain services are delivered could be tweaked to make lanes more pleasant. I would never advocate for the Toronto- or NYC-style of waste collection, but we could make use of something like Amsterdam's buried bins.

With most of the wide lanes I live close to, 50% of the space is just used for parking. Maybe that parking is needed, but I think the laneways could be used for something more productive.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

That black building at West 2nd and Alberta is getting demolished.

I guess they got all the asbestos out. At least I hope they did.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

I think the way certain services are delivered could be tweaked to make lanes more pleasant. I would never advocate for the Toronto- or NYC-style of waste collection, but we could make use of something like Amsterdam's buried bins.

With most of the wide lanes I live close to, 50% of the space is just used for parking. Maybe that parking is needed, but I think the laneways could be used for something more productive.

I don't think any Downtown lanes are wider than the rest of the city. They are in the West End, which is why they were given names, and the West End Plan allows laneway apartment buildings. About ten have been built so far. The wider lanes means emergency services can access the buildings, so they can have a street address, which is why they were given names.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

If you successfully activate the alley it will no longer be remote.

Some of Vancouver's alleys downtown and in the West End are incredibly wide. I think there is a lot of potential, but as long as buildings only use them for waste disposal and parking access that will always go untapped.

As far as I remember all West End alleys are required some degree of "activation". For older buildings the Laneway 2.0 policy is quite hard to meet, unfortunately. A few examples in the West End, but (since they in alleys) I can't recall exactly where they were (or if they are associated with Laneway 2.0 and just just regular infill).

1551 Henshaw lane

[GenWhy?]

I think MA+HG tried one Laneway 2.0 project and it didn't go through (I remember them saying how hard it was (seismic trigger I think) and so did my company (Client abandoned it due to seismic trigger)

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

I think the way certain services are delivered could be tweaked to make lanes more pleasant. I would never advocate for the Toronto- or NYC-style of waste collection, but we could make use of something like Amsterdam's buried bins.

With most of the wide lanes I live close to, 50% of the space is just used for parking. Maybe that parking is needed, but I think the laneways could be used for something more productive.

Since council voted to relax parking minimums you can bet those spaces will be more needed than ever.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

With most of the wide lanes I live close to, 50% of the space is just used for parking. Maybe that parking is needed, but I think the laneways could be used for something more productive.

I have not read the Laneway 2.0 policy but I think I recall they were slowly eliminating parking and swapping it out for "front doors" and sidewalk and landscaping.

1551 Henshaw you can't park infront for instance, same as 1534 Henshaw.

Seems like the way we are headed is an accidental woonerf

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I guess they got all the asbestos out. At least I hope they did.

Seems like at least one of those buildings was wrapped in plastic back in April (Google Maps) so you assume they remediated it.

Strand has a mid-2025 completion for the project.

https://www.threesixtybystrand.com/building

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

https://www.threesixtybystrand.com/building

Oh, that one!
Good to see it moving forward.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by Changing City

I don't think any Downtown lanes are wider than the rest of the city. They are in the West End, which is why they were given names, and the West End Plan allows laneway apartment buildings. About ten have been built so far. The wider lanes means emergency services can access the buildings, so they can have a street address, which is why they were given names.

Thanks for the background. I was mostly thinking of the West End lanes, which are currently quite underutilized.

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

I have not read the Laneway 2.0 policy but I think I recall they were slowly eliminating parking and swapping it out for "front doors" and sidewalk and landscaping.

1551 Henshaw you can't park infront for instance, same as 1534 Henshaw.

Seems like the way we are headed is an accidental woonerf

I had never walked down Henshaw so I wasn't aware of those front doors. I think some of the newer developments unfortunately are ignoring the potential of the back lanes. For example, maybe some of the Landmark units could have had direct access off the balconies into the laneway?

The laneways could also use some pedestrian improvements. Many have very narrow sidewalks, are poorly lit, and could use some shade trees and other landscaping.

[gaviscon]

Three Sixty by Strand



20230612_162725 by globalbusinesscentre105 H, on Flickr

[IMG]20230612_162708 by globalbusinesscentre105 H, on Flickr[/IMG]

Archetype


You can see that they've removed all the power lines and hydro poles along the construction site on E 1st Ave

Before:





After:

[IMG]20230612_172204 by globalbusinesscentre105 H, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]20230612_172211 by globalbusinesscentre105 H, on Flickr[/IMG]


Demolition started on Eight on Broadway:



Screenshot_20230613-011638_Gallery by globalbusinesscentre105 H, on Flickr

Screenshot_20230613-011727_Gallery by globalbusinesscentre105 H, on Flickr

[officedweller]

810 Evans St
Abcellera Lab and Manhufacturing Facility

Pic by me today:

[Feathered Friend]

https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/2325-2377-w-49-ave


https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/3803-3823-w-10-ave

June 15, 2023 Public Hearing – Secured Rental Homes Set The Mood For A Multi-Millionaire Lawsuit
Public Hearing – June 15th, 2023

Whether you’re a morning person like Hannah, or a night owl like me, there’s never really a good time to sit down for a public hearing, especially when they often drag on late into the night. City council’s recent decision to move the start time for these meetings from 6pm to 1pm might disenfranchise some speakers too (pg 8). However, it will almost certainly save city staff from a bit of overtime, as Item #1 will likely generate a long discussion this day.

Until now, these five floor buildings under the Secured Rental Policy have drawn little interest, yet it may take a court of law to decides this one’s fate. That’s becoming more and more common lately, and seems to be fueled by increasing home values, as one of the strongest critics of Item #2 can attest to. Then again, if not for their actions (pg 1), this six floor mix of moderate income and market rental homes would have never reached this point.

The desire to win the housing lottery is spurring one person’s opposition to Item #3 as well. They hope city council will delay the 142 market rate, and 34 moderate income rental homes in this 18 floor building until they’ve had a chance to sell their own home. Item #4 demonstrates a way these conflicts can be avoided, as it simply enacts what the Broadway Plan already lays out, albeit on a select few commercial, and industrial zoned properties.

Backlash Expectations

Item #1 – 2325-2377 West 49th Avenue – Extreme
Hundreds of complaints have come from those who aren’t afraid to sue to get what they want

Item #2 – 3803-3823 West 10th Avenue – High
The upcoming Jericho Lands reveal means this project will likely be forgotten by Friday afternoon

Item #3 – 427-449 West 39th Avenue – Very Low
Most have come to terms with the pace of change around the Oakridge Centre

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2023/06/14...he-mood-for-a-multi-millionaire-lawsuit/

[GenWhy?]

230 letters of support for 2325-2377 West 49th Avenue rezoning Public Hearing?! What the hell happened?

[giallo]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

230 letters of support for 2325-2377 West 49th Avenue rezoning Public Hearing?! What the hell happened?

Marpole NIMBYS of the highest order happened.

"These multi-millionaires are terrified that this will destroy the community’s heritage, worsen traffic, lower property values, and, oddly enough, increase homelessness, and crime (pg 6). Ironically, it appears one individual also took part in a failed lawsuit to overturn New Westminster’s own rental rezoning policy."

[madog222]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

230 letters of support for 2325-2377 West 49th Avenue rezoning Public Hearing?! What the hell happened?

One of these was posted on Reddit a day or two ago asking for support to counter the organized opposition, it must have been this one.

[mcj]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

230 letters of support for 2325-2377 West 49th Avenue rezoning Public Hearing?! What the hell happened?

Originally Posted by madog222

One of these was posted on Reddit a day or two ago asking for support to counter the organized opposition, it must have been this one.

I love that this happens and hate that this needs to happen, especially over such a small building. Good on the poster for highlighting the ridiculous opposition to this project on reddit, and amazing they still received that level of support despite the reddit blackout. Amazing how much support there truly is out there for denser housing!

Edit: Seems like it was Russil Wvong who garnered the support for this project. Such a shame he wasn't elected to council.

[WarrenC12]

Online brigading on any side devalues the whole process IMO.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Online brigading on any side devalues the whole process IMO.

The whole process is in the negative so I think this is okay.