Burnaby Updates

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by logan5

It seemed like a lot of sq footage for 1 tower, even with a large podium. It’s over a million square feet. Maybe somebody with some modelling skills can make a massing of what a 1 tower 70 some odd floors at 1.1 million sq feet looks like.

it's massive and doesn't work for residential.

Something else is up here and I can't quite figure out what.

Even assuming the entire 87,000 sf site is a podium for 2.5 floors there is a 15,000 foot plate to get back up to a 73 storey tower... which is far too wide for a resi point tower.

Maybe they are including parking in the FAR? or maybe there is a smaller second tower that just wasn't included in the vancouvermarket writeup. Maybe it's some very odd design with 15k plates for office and residential. Could be a ton of office space, which would be an odd location for it, and not really in Bosa's M.O.

We will have to wait and see I guess.

[Spr0ckets]

Can anyone tell how many storeys or levels this tower is?

It's the recently proposed development at Telford and Beresford next door to, and in between Metroplace and Highline on Beresford's Tower row, and this was a more recent render I got from the Developers website (Westland) than the drawings shown in their recently submitted rezoning application.

My eyes aren't what they used to be (or maybe my monitor just sucks....), and I can't quite tell, but it looks considerably taller than Metroplace and seems (to me anyway), to be about 8-10 storeys taller than the 48 storey Highline next door (or it could just be the perspective view angle screwing with me).




But then again it's probably worth remembering that the initial early renderings of the Sun Tower project to the west also seemed to show it considerably taller than Metroplace, and we all saw how that turned out to be.


They also seem to have a partial rendering of yet another highrise project in the works in the area at the Willingdon/ Cassie block across the way from Central park.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by Spr0ckets

Can anyone tell how many storeys or levels this tower is?

It's the recently proposed development at Telford and Beresford next door to, and in between Metroplace and Highline on Beresford's Tower row, and this was a more recent render I got from the Developers website (Westland) than the drawings shown in their recently submitted rezoning application.

It's 51 floors and 175.6m tall. The info was posted by vancouvermarket.com at the start of the year.

https://vancouvermarket.ca/2021/01/15/metrotown-mixed-use-project-heads-to-public-hearing/

That's a nice shiny new rendering though!

[logan5]

Really would like to see the space underneath the Skytrain tracks along Metrotown utilized a lot more. There is a enough space in a lot of spots to have basketball courts, skateparks, open plaza's, and more. It would also make the area feel far more urban.

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

It's 51 floors and 175.6m tall. The info was posted by vancouvermarket.com at the start of the year.

https://vancouvermarket.ca/2021/01/15/metrotown-mixed-use-project-heads-to-public-hearing/

That's a nice shiny new rendering though!

Yes it is.
Kinda disappointed the design didn't get jazzed up a little.

It's going to be a landmark tower for that tower row (as things stand), if it remains at that height and you'd want the tallest tower on that side of the mall to be something more........expressive?

It's also disappointing that Highline next door lost 5 storeys when they went back to office podium from the hotel use they were planning prior, in going from 53 storeys to the now current 48 storeys, because I actually like its design far better.
(personal preference).

It would have made for a better "tallest tower" title holder, south of the mall.

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by logan5

Really would like to see the space underneath the Skytrain tracks along Metrotown utilized a lot more. There is a enough space in a lot of spots to have basketball courts, skateparks, open plaza's, and more. It would also make the area feel far more urban.

They tried to spruce up the area directly underneath the station itself when they recently refurbished the Skytrain stations, but they only went as far as the station extends on either side, and a little bit over.

The rest of it all along Beresford avenue from Dow on the east to pretty much Willingdon on the west is just ripe for homeless camps and tents (which frequently pop up).

I guess it's more a question of whose responsibility it would be (read : who's gonna pay for it?).
Whether it's the City of Burnaby, or Translink.....or the Park system (since it could rhetorically qualify as public recreation space if they do what you're suggesting).

I'm kinda surprised the city didn't force concessions from the developers of those towers along the row (in exchange for FSR or density increase) to develop or help pay for the development of the portion underneath the guideways right infront of their towers as part of the effort to make Beresford street that market walkway that was proposed years back (and then for some reason abandoned)

[jollyburger]

And who's going to pay to maintain those new areas.

From the Metrotown Master Plan

The key directions are to:
a. work with the Provincial government, TransLink, and other agencies to enhance the linear park
space;
b. integrate the BC Parkway with the Metrotown and Patterson SkyTrainStations;
c. improve the existing urban trail under a unified urban design approach that encourages and enables citizens to walk, cycle, and use transit;
d. develop a unified urban design approach to address both the aesthetic and functional requirements of integrating the BC Parkway with Beresford Street, Central Boulevard;
e. improve linkages to adjacent neighbourhoods;
f. create a significant urban plaza as a public gathering space below the Metrotown SkyTrain Station; and, g. consider creating different experiences along the urban trail
that are linked to adjacent land
uses.

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

And who's going to pay to maintain those new areas.

From the Metrotown Master Plan

Good question.
Probably whoever currently maintains the existing urban trail right next to the guiderail heading to Central Park.
(like if it needs repaving and that sort of thing).

Would that be the City itself or the Parks and Recreation services?

I'm assuming the existing area directly underneath the Skytrain station and just adjacent to it under the guideways is maintained by Translink themselves, since they're the ones who refurbished it (I think? Not really sure how that one was worked out since the Joyce-Collingwood station area got a much better looking facelift than the more frequented Metrotown station).

[logan5]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

And who's going to pay to maintain those new areas.

From the Metrotown Master Plan

The City of Burnaby, like they do all the other parks.

Plazas would certainly add to the walkability of Metrotown, as it would make the area under the guideway much less of a physical and psychological barrier.

The area immediately west of Metrotown Station should be a plaza all the way to McKay street. Right now there are trees, gravel and fencing that dissuade people from crossing over. Normally I wouldn't want to cut down trees, but I would in this case I would, in order to provide maximum visibility and openness to the rest of the immediate area. Then provide plenty of lighting for nighttime access. So here you've killed 2 birds with one stone - you've got a much more urban environment, and you've created a more walker friendly environment.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Spr0ckets

I'm kinda surprised the city didn't force concessions from the developers of those towers along the row (in exchange for FSR or density increase) to develop or help pay for the development of the portion underneath the guideways right infront of their towers as part of the effort to make Beresford street that market walkway that was proposed years back (and then for some reason abandoned)

Burnaby forced the developers to pay for public art - the plan is to turn Beresford there into an 'art walk'.

Originally Posted by logan5

The City of Burnaby, like they do all the other parks.

Plazas would certainly add to the walkability of Metrotown, as it would make the area under the guideway much less of a physical and psychological barrier.

I know when I went to the BC Parkway upgrades meetings many many years ago the idea was to keep it as a green linear park with a few small plazas in key spots. Of course since then almost none of the upgrades has happened...

One of the upgrades was for lighting the bike path. The only section I know of that has that is through Central Park and then it was only because they had to redo some piping so fixing up the bike path through there at the same time wouldn't cost much more.

[phesto]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

it's massive and doesn't work for residential.

Something else is up here and I can't quite figure out what.

Even assuming the entire 87,000 sf site is a podium for 2.5 floors there is a 15,000 foot plate to get back up to a 73 storey tower... which is far too wide for a resi point tower.

Maybe they are including parking in the FAR? or maybe there is a smaller second tower that just wasn't included in the vancouvermarket writeup. Maybe it's some very odd design with 15k plates for office and residential. Could be a ton of office space, which would be an odd location for it, and not really in Bosa's M.O.

We will have to wait and see I guess.

14.3 FAR is simply the maximum allowable. The proposed density will be much lower I'm sure.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by Spr0ckets

It's the recently proposed development at Telford and Beresford next door to, and in between Metroplace and Highline on Beresford's Tower row, and this was a more recent render I got from the Developers website (Westland) than the drawings shown in their recently submitted rezoning application.

Nice to see a new rendering but this tower will be the same height as Highline. It will be noticeably taller than Metroplace, though.

These three towers will be a lot tighter than all the other ones in the row as the block is smaller and Metroplace is at the east side of its block.

I think the podium would benefit from a better integration with the tower as what they are going for is a great idea but the details could be better. I also fear the shorter tower behind is still the same as previously.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by phesto

14.3 FAR is simply the maximum allowable. The proposed density will be much lower I'm sure.

Where are you getting that 14.3 is the maximum allowable? The land use policy for that site allows for a maximum of 11.0 FAR, pus (I believe) another 1 FAR for rental housing. Unless they are now ignoring that original plan.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by logan5

Where are you getting that 14.3 is the maximum allowable? The land use policy for that site allows for a maximum of 11.0 FAR, pus (I believe) another 1 FAR for rental housing. Unless they are now ignoring that original plan.

Page 218 of the Council Agenda

"Although a suitable plan of development has yet to be determined for the site, it is noted that the maximum potential density may be up to 14.3 FAR, as outlined in Table 1 below,subject to conditions set out in the Burnaby Zoning Bylaw, Burnaby Rental Use Zoning Policy, and the approval of Council.

Zoning District Maximum Potential Density
RM5s 5.0 FAR
RM5r 2.2 FAR
Densitv Offset 1.1 FAR
C3 6.0 FAR
TOTAL 14.3 FAR"

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by logan5

Where are you getting that 14.3 is the maximum allowable? The land use policy for that site allows for a maximum of 11.0 FAR, pus (I believe) another 1 FAR for rental housing. Unless they are now ignoring that original plan.

That comment was for the Willingdon & Kingsway Esso Station site, not the Telford site.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by logan5

Really would like to see the space underneath the Skytrain tracks along Metrotown utilized a lot more. There is a enough space in a lot of spots to have basketball courts, skateparks, open plaza's, and more. It would also make the area feel far more urban.

Yes!
something like a Boxpark would be cool under there, let smaller businesses in the area. Let private enterprise get involved and do something under the tracks.


source

or Understand Avenue - Seoul

www.ingridzenmoments.com

[logan5]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Page 218 of the Council Agenda

"Although a suitable plan of development has yet to be determined for the site, it is noted that the maximum potential density may be up to 14.3 FAR, as outlined in Table 1 below,subject to conditions set out in the Burnaby Zoning Bylaw, Burnaby Rental Use Zoning Policy, and the approval of Council.

Zoning District Maximum Potential Density
RM5s 5.0 FAR
RM5r 2.2 FAR
Densitv Offset 1.1 FAR
C3 6.0 FAR
TOTAL 14.3 FAR"

Ok thanks. I see the RM5s/C3 adds up to 11 FAR and the density offset for subsidized housing makes sense, but how does RM5r get in there? I don't see it on the land use map for Metrotown, and the City of Burnaby defines is as purpose built rental zone. There seems to be 2 residential zones on one site.

It is very difficult to follow zoning rules.

Originally Posted by officedweller

That comment was for the Willingdon & Kingsway Esso Station site, not the Telford site.

I was probly being sloppy, but I was talking about Willingdon/Kingsway.

[officedweller]

Sorry, thought you were flipped around as to the site, but you weren't.

[Lexus]

2021, June 17
Maywood on the Park
6364 Silver Ave
https://intracorphomes.com/communities/maywood/

Untitled by Lexus LX570, on Flickr

Untitled by Lexus LX570, on Flickr

Untitled by Lexus LX570, on Flickr

Untitled by Lexus LX570, on Flickr

[vanman]

Thanks for all the updates!