General Vancouver Development Updates II

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

It would be interesting to see what caused the crane to collapse. I assume since it was a wood frame that it would just have been locked in at a single point in the foundation.

A wood kindled fire, while likely not hot enough to melt steel objects, can nevertheless still get hot enough to cause the structural members of the Crane's truss support system to buckle. And a simple buckling or deformation is all you need to create an imbalance that causes a collapse.

It all depends on how close to the base of the crane the fire's flames got and for how long the frame was exposed to the heat.

Remember that at any given time a crane - even when not in operation - is usually always supporting at a minimum, the massive counterweight slabs at the top of the rigs and anything upsetting that balance (like support members down below buckling) would be enough to bring the whole rig collapsing down.

It's a good reason why cities always have restrictions on where and how you can erect cranes - especially close to public infrastructure like highways or skytrain guideways.

I suspect heavy fines and a lawsuit or more are incoming depending on the Fire chief's report - especially if the cause of the fire was related to, or can be traced to the construction activity.

[jollyburger]

The fire looks like it started on one of the top floors so I guess it most likely weakened that section of the mast near the roof where it tipped over.

https://preview.redd.it/41st-and-dun...=webp&b64991e0

2021 article about a Kelowna 4-storey wood frame fire and one of those tiny cranes operated from the ground.

Huber says by the time he arrived on site, fire crews had already been fighting the blaze for a couple of hours. By that time, the tower had started to straighten itself up, but fire crews told him there had been a 20 to 30 per cent bow in the crane due to the heat, which was causing it to lean over.

“Once we started getting the fire knocked down, the heat went away and it straightened itself right back up,” says Huber.

https://www.craneandhoistcanada.com/...n-kelowna-b-c/

Google Streetview shows the crane in May with 4 larger counterweights and one tiny one on the end (?)

[Feathered Friend]

Despite winning city council’s approval in 2020, the development application for this 6 floor strata building at Cambie & W 37th Ave was cancelled last month. A reason wasn’t provided, but the new Transit-Oriented Areas Zoning does allow for 12 storeys here.

https://x.com/City_Duo/status/1821317643854606779

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

https://x.com/City_Duo/status/1821317643854606779

Very glad about this cancellation.

Developers can't make a profit with the current 6-storey condo. Also, despite the ultra expensive units, the quality would be sub-par with no good amenities, as well as being situated along a busy roadway corridor. With less foreign money coming into real estate now due to the current global climate as well as high mortgage interest rates, it would be a hard sell especially when marketed to locals.

A mixed-use commercial development would be best suited along a noisy corridor, especially for one close to a skytrain station. Unfortunately, many developers already rushed into building those 6-storey condos around here, and this is very inefficient land usage for this new town centre.

[MalcolmTucker]

Originally Posted by Vin

Very glad about this cancellation.

Developers can't make a profit with the current 6-storey condo. Also, despite the ultra expensive units, the quality would be sub-par with no good amenities, as well as being situated along a busy roadway corridor. With less foreign money coming into real estate now due to the current global climate as well as high mortgage interest rates, it would be a hard sell especially when marketed to locals.

A mixed-use commercial development would be best suited along a noisy corridor, especially for one close to a skytrain station. Unfortunately, many developers already rushed into building those 6-storey condos around here, and this is very inefficient land usage for this new town centre.

Or the site is now well within the 400m rule for TOD development.



https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/ho..._map_day_1.pdf


The defunct project had an FSR of 2.41 and a height 66.3 feet (6 storeys).



Now they are entitled to 4.0 FSR and up to a height of 12 storeys.


Even if the old project penciled, why would a developer leave money on the table with 1.6 more FSR.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

I understand that once a Development Permit has been issued, the developer has 12 months to move onto construction, and the Director of Planning can extend the permit for up to an additional 12 months, but after that the developer has to resubmit. A C Queen Ltd seem to be a first time developer.

They paid over $9m for the house on the site in 2018, and they've paid taxes, permit fees and GUD's architect's fees, so they have sunk a fair amount into the project. I wonder if 6 storey wood frame and 22 units, as approved, isn't more viable on a limited site? If they (or another developer) switched to rental, they could save some money by having less parking (or even none), but going over 6 floors and having a concrete frame would add a fair bit to the project costs.

[osirisboy]

Oh good!

[jollyburger]

The base of the tower mast is still there so it looks like it did fail at the roof. Maybe the nuts/bolts failed and it sheared off?



https://vancouversun.com/news/refuge...ed-dunbar-fire

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/2-homes-destro...fire-1.6991759

CBC has some closer photos of the mast





https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...ined-1.7287444

Some kids from the neighbourhood were climbing up to the roofs to help put out fires until the firefighters showed up.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

The base of the tower mast is still there so it looks like it did fail at the roof. Maybe the nuts/bolts failed and it sheared off?.

Wow. I once lived in a condo that was across the street from a construction site. If I recall, the developer had to pay the strata for use of the air rights as the crane would swing overhead. Does that still apply?

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Wow. I once lived in a condo that was across the street from a construction site. If I recall, the developer had to pay the strata for use of the air rights as the crane would swing overhead. Does that still apply?

Yes, there was just a lawsuit in June about that issue.

StreetSide Developments didn't attempt to contact the neighbours to make "an overswing agreement" to give the developer permission to use the airspace above their home, according to the documents.

The plaintiffs claim they "made several attempts to contact StreetSide" in April about their safety concerns, but didn't get a response. Then, in May, they contacted the construction company's development manager to request the crane not be left hanging over their property when it's not in use.

The lawsuit says the development manager agreed the crane wouldn't be left over their home at the end of each day, saying a "crane swing agreement was in the process of being finalized."

In mid-May, StreetSide informed the neighbouring residents they "could only agree to either a reciprocal easement or a fee payment for a one-way licence agreement," the lawsuit says. Days later, the company acknowledged the crane was "illegally encroaching" on the residents' property and said it "would continue to do so," according to the documents.

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/crane-repeated...aims-1.6924171

[BaddieB]

4001-4009 Knight St and 1348 E 24th Ave

The City of Vancouver has received an application to rezone the subject site from C-2 (Commercial) and RM-1N (Residential) Districts to CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District. The proposal is to allow for the development of a 24-storey mixed-use building with a 4-storey podium and includes:

233 strata residential units;
Commercial space on the ground floor;
37-space childcare facility;
A floor space ratio (FSR) of 10.47; and
A building height of 79.5 m (261 ft.).
(External link)

This application is not consistent with Council-adopted rezoning policies. The City is required to process all rezoning applications submitted and staff position on the proposal will be summarized in the referral report later in the application process timeline.

https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/4001-40...-1348-e-24-ave

[Feathered Friend]

https://plposweb.vancouver.ca/Public...ctId=148116778


https://ywcavan.org/inner-circle-rsvp


https://www.388slocan.ca/

Five years after they were first proposed, these 70 rental homes at 388 Slocan are ready to welcome people home at either below-market, or shelter assistance rates. This is thanks to the YWCA’s efforts & revenue from the Empty Homes Tax.

https://388slocan.ca

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-bfOItS...NldmxqbzdtNjB4

[Jimbo604]

Crane blocking Vancouver road won't be moved for a week: official
Asst. fire chief says cause of construction site fire needs to be investigated before crews can start cleanup
CBC Aug 8th

Not the first time a wooden building under construction has gone up in flames. Eg this one in 2008 in Surrey.

[Feathered Friend]

https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/750-sw-marine-dr-2

Though its rezoning, & development applications were approved, city staff have cancelled the latter as the proponent of this 7 floor office/light industrial building at 750 SW Marine Dr was unable, or unwilling, to meet the conditions attached to it. #Vancouver #VanRe #VanCre

https://x.com/City_Duo/status/1822054052638904647

[vanman]

The site is within 400m of Marine Drive Station so who knows maybe it will come back with some residential units stacked on top at a later date much like phase 2 of Marine Gateway.

[s211]

Originally Posted by vanman

The site is within 400m of Marine Drive Station so who knows maybe it will come back with some residential units stacked on top at a later date much like phase 2 of Marine Gateway.

I'm going to speculate there's some sober second thought about the office component.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by s211

I'm going to speculate there's some sober second thought about the office component.

Whereas there will always be a market for skyhovels, ie.400 sq/ft studios.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Whereas there will always be a market for skyhovels, ie.400 sq/ft studios.

Developers aren't allowed to only build studios in Vancouver, there have to be at least 35% with two or more bedrooms.

And what's wrong with a single person renting a new 400 sq ft studio anyway?

[vanman]

Originally Posted by s211

I'm going to speculate there's some sober second thought about the office component.

Most likely. A hotel would make more sense at this point.

[Feathered Friend]

Originally Posted by vanman

The site is within 400m of Marine Drive Station so who knows maybe it will come back with some residential units stacked on top at a later date much like phase 2 of Marine Gateway.

While most of the block is within the 400m zone, this site isn't. Plus the approved 5.01 FSR is just a drop higher than could be could be achieved in the 200m zone.