[North Vancouver] CentreView | 73.2 & 55m| 24fls & 17 fls | Completed

[mr.x]

Here's the full text of Onni's letter to North Vancouver: http://nvcityvoices.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/onni-letter.pdf


I also wasn't aware that Onni had a previous development proposed for the site. A three 18-storey tower proposal. But it was rejected in 2010. So, Onni went back to the drawing board and listened to what the community wanted. Two years later, rejected once again.

Who wouldn't be frustrated/pissed?

[red-paladin]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/12/05/bc-north-vancouver-omni.html

North Vancouver condo project scrapped by developer
Onni says the public supported the Lonsdale Avenue proposal

After years of public hearings and consultations, a major developer is scrapping plans for a big development in North Vancouver that would have brought affordable housing and daycare to the community.

Last night a divided North Vancouver City council voted to block the project to build two mixed-use towers on Lonsdale Avenue, choosing instead to send it back to another public hearing.

But Onni's vice president of development Beau Jarvis says instead of going through another round of hearings and public consultations they have cancelled the project instead.

Jarvis says they do have community support for the project, but they have been terribly disappointed in the process, and the proposal is now off the table.

"It's been two years. We have engaged the public more than I have ever engaged the public on any one project that I have been involved with in my career.

"Moreover, we have made more changes and response to community concerns than I have ever facilitated in my career and that is over a two-year period." .......

[wrenegade]

Rumor is the site may now be for sale.

[officedweller]

At a discount?

[wrenegade]

No, I heard it was quite a large number.

[Homeowner]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/12/05/bc-north-vancouver-omni.html

Usually projects take awhile to get off ground but it looks like even the developer has given up. Must be some big issues internally with other stakeholders. Too bad, the area could use a change.

[Pinion]

It's alive... alive!!!!

Developer Onni agrees to second public hearing

Developer Onni Group will return to North Vancouver city hall for a second go at a public hearing on the company's divisive Safeway site proposal, after the first hearing was tainted by accusations of bullying and impropriety on all sides.

Onni's vice-president of development Beau Jarvis made the announcement Monday, citing the "outpouring of support" he said the company received over the holidays for its 13th Street and Lonsdale Avenue condo-tower proposal.

“To be quite blunt, we got a bit of an earful over the holidays from people who had publicly expressed support for the project," Jarvis said in a press release Monday.

"Their position was simple – ‘we want the project, we went out and supported the project and Onni should not abandon the project until the council has formally said yes or no’. At the end of the day, we could not ignore those voices,” he continued.

But Jarvis emphasized the company's participation in a second hearing "doesn't change the fact that there is no compelling reason to hold another hearing."

A second round of public input, he said, "is almost unheard of in North Vancouver and other municipalities in the province."

Jarvis went on to call Onni's proposal for a six-storey office building and two high-rise condo towers of 17 and 24 storeys each, “the most heavily consulted residential-commercial project in the history of the city."

Onni has been working on its Safeway site proposal for two years, during which time the company has met with community groups, businesses and city residents about their concerns.

However, the proposal was left in limbo in November when, at a city council meeting following a six-hour public hearing on the project, members of the public and council accused Onni of bullying the public hearing process by stacking the speakers' list with supporters.

Onni eventually fired back, even accusing one councillor of being in a conflict of interest when he voted against the proposal, after the company learned he was working for an Onni subcontractor on a similar commercial-condo development in Richmond.

No date has been set, but the second hearing is certain to draw out hundreds of supporters and opponents when Onni returns with a variant of the same development plan that proved so divisive in November.

http://www.northshoreoutlook.com/news/186871082.html

[wrenegade]

It's back. Public Hearing has been scheduled for March 11th at 7pm.

Onni has revised their proposal. The changes seem to be slightly revised setbacks and new access to parking and loading (off of 13th now instead of 14th/lane).

1308 Lonsdale - February 21st, 2013 Revision

Also, here is the link for the CNV page for 1308 Lonsdale:

1308 Lonsdale Development Proposal

[WarrenC12]

So the next time Onni starts pouting we should believe them because...?

[Millennium2002]

(shrug)

Well let's hope this manages to pass the second time around... although I'm indecisive as to whether the company's public disapproval of the long development process will help or hurt the cause in the eyes of local residents.

[jozero]

Hope it passes. Lonsdale needs an anchor in the middle. Currently it is a rather uninspiring main street of a town, and a dilapidated structure with a huge parking lot in the front as the main street mid town point is a use of space waaaaay out of its prime. That space should serve as a the mid point hub of upper, mid, and lower Lonsdale residences.

[troubleshooter]

Has anyone heard who the anchor retail is going to be..? I heard from a family member at the Safeway that's currently there that Whole Foods was linked to the development.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by troubleshooter

Has anyone heard who the anchor retail is going to be..? I heard from a family member at the Safeway that's currently there that Whole Foods was linked to the development.

Wouldn't Safeway move back in?

[jozero]

Originally Posted by Jebby

Wouldn't Safeway move back in?

My relative overheard workers in West Van Whole Foods saying a Whole Foods may open there. Take that for what its worth. I'd love for that type of grocery store to open. Every Whole Foods I've been to serves as a grocery and community hub, they do a really good job integrating a deli and outdoor seating. Something of a Whole Foods or Urban Fare quality would be simply perfect for that development. Really serve as an mid point anchor for the entire street.

[Joat]

A Fresh St. Market, like the one that replaced the safeway in west van, might be a good fit. Seems like a cheaper version of Whole Foods.

[Pinion]

Whole Foods would be a better fit. If they can make it work in north Burnaby, North Van should be no sweat. There are a lot of wealthy families within 10km.

[WarrenC12]

Whole Foods is great, but you pay for it. As compared to Safeway, where all you do is pay for it.

How about a Trader Joe's in Canada? If only...

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Whole Foods is great, but you pay for it. As compared to Safeway, where all you do is pay for it.

How about a Trader Joe's in Canada? If only...

Never understood the obsession with Trader Joe's. All it is is a glorified Aldi.

[wrenegade]

It will be either a Whole Foods or Thrifty's. At this point it appears more likely to be a Thrifty's (which is a little disappointing).

[Pinion]

But there's already a Thrifty's at the other end of 13th.