Suburban Updates - All Other Metro Vancouver Municipalities - Page 59

David · #**1161** Posted **Jul 2, 2009, 5:59 PM**

http://www.bclocalnews.com/tri_city_maple_ridge/tricitynews/news/49534272.html

Council split on North Rd. development
By Janis Warren - The Tri-City News

Published: June 30, 2009 2:00 PM
Updated: June 30, 2009 2:08 PM

The city of New Westminster doesn't like it. Neither does Burnaby.

Metro Vancouver planners are against it as are Coquitlam city staff. Even the Coquitlam school district and fire department have concerns.

Still, despite the naysayers, a majority of Coquitlam council members want to try to make a new neighbourhood on North Road work.

At Monday's strategic planning committee — and after a 90-minute debate — council voted 5-4 to press ahead with the Brunette River Village, which, if approved, would create up to 2,000 new homes in six 26-storey towers on a large swath of industrial land bordering New West and Burnaby, and near a rail yard and the Brunette River.

The property at 225 North Rd., commonly known as the Crane site, located south of the Highway 1 overpass, is owned by Seattle businessman Doug Rosen, who told the committee he's hit a brick wall since he submitted his plans two years ago for an official community plan amendment.

"You can't continue to sit on the fence forever," a frustrated Rosen said. "I can't seem to get any decision."

Rosen said none of the neighbouring property owners have been willing to talk with him about the development — and, more specifically, about a secondary access to the site — until he gets a clear signal from Coquitlam.

Getting staff to draft a positive recommendation to move forward to first reading of an OCP change would give Rosen "more clout," said Coun. Brent Asmundson, who has opposed the bid up to this week, primarily due to loss of the city's industrial lands and the single access point.

However, Asmundson said he wants city staff to attach a number of conditions to the proposal to see if Rosen can do what he says. Among these stipulations are to address a secondary access and to build a pedestrian link to the Braid SkyTrain station.

Jim McIntyre, Coquitlam's general manager of planning, who recommended the committee decline or defer the bid until Rosen handed over more technical work, said adding conditions to the proposal would be like another controversial development now before city hall: Riverwalk on the Coquitlam.

For that housing plan off Pipeline Road, which got OCP approval nearly 10 years ago, the developers are required meet several pre-requisites before the shovel hits the ground.

With Rosen's application, Mayor Richard Stewart fears the extra density would clog North Road — a concern also raised by New West — especially since the property is located in the dip of an arterial route.

Proposed near the site are two residential towers of 24 and 28 storeys, with stacked townhouses, at 319 North Rd., the site of the Best Western Coquitlam Inn, which is proposed to be converted into a 29-storey hotel, mixed-use buildings and a 14-storey “live-work” building fronting North Road.

Also planned nearby, along the Fraser River, is the redevelopment of the 83.4-acre historic Fraser Mills site with mixed-use development including residential, commercial, recreational and more. The closest fire hall to the three proposed developments is Austin Avenue at Nelson Street.

"Without a second access, this is a non-starter," Stewart said of Rosen's plans.

Rosen said he also shares concern with the lack of a secondary access for emergency vehicles should North Road be blocked with traffic. One suggestion is to cut into Hume Park, he said; another is to go through the nearby land owned by the Bentall Group.

Despite the challenges, Stewart — along with councillors Asmundson, Lou Sekora, Doug Macdonell and Selina Robinson — said they were willing to look at an OCP amendment and let the public have its say.

The property "is between two SkyTrain stations. There are some issues that need to be addressed and I'd like to see if they can be... If we can't build residential areas around mass transit then we aren't doing a good job," Macdonell said.

"This is one that we want to give it a chance to go," Sekora added, noting if the plans don't work out "then we don't give it fourth and final reading... Let's just move it along."

City council is expected to review the topic this month.

[email protected]

SpongeG · #**1162** Posted **Jul 2, 2009, 6:51 PM**

i don't know what to think about it but it would be a nice use - but they do need more access - i wonder if a pass under hwy #1 would work? link it to that dead end zone on the north side of the hwy... and a pedestrian link to braid would be really needed - even one over Hwy #1 would be great

officedweller · #**1163** Posted **Jul 2, 2009, 7:20 PM**

Residential makes sense for the Crane site - either that or a transit oriented office complex.

DKaz · #**1164** Posted **Jul 2, 2009, 8:23 PM**

It's a short bus ride away on the 112 from Lougheed Station but it is not the greatest bus route and the area is pretty secluded otherwise. I'm kinda iffy if this project makes sense. It'd be so noisy living next to the highway, and there'll be a lot of car dependency because of lone bus.

officedweller · #**1165** Posted **Jul 2, 2009, 8:38 PM**

It's walking distance to Braid Skytrain Station. You just need a road or pathway from the site to the station. It would be easier if the big warehouse in the foreground were redeveloped (which it will be). When the whole area gets redeveloped, the Crane site is a natural extension of the big warehouse site (apparently, from the article, owned by Bentall).

Global Air Photo:

Metro-One · #**1166** Posted **Jul 2, 2009, 9:35 PM**

Wow, it sure is going to be great when everyone lives near a train station but no one works beside one...

SpongeG · #**1167** Posted **Jul 3, 2009, 4:10 AM**

lol

mr.x · #**1168** Posted **Jul 4, 2009, 5:33 PM**

Richmond Best Western makes the switch to Sheraton
Owners are betting that an $18-million upgrade will boost convention trade

By Fiona Anderson, Canwest News Service
July 3, 2009

A Richmond hotel is hoping to increase its business with an 18-month, $18-million upgrade and a switch of affiliation from Best Western to Sheraton.

Until Wednesday, the Sheraton Vancouver Airport was known as the Best Western Richmond Hotel & Convention Centre. But even before the renovations, the Richmond hotel wasn't a good fit with Best Western, the hotel's general manager Steve Veinot said in an interview.

Generally, Best Westerns are hotels with about 80 to 100 rooms, limited services and limited meeting space, Veinot said.

With the Richmond hotel having 390 rooms, restaurants and more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space, "it didn't reflect what a typical Best Western is," he said.

"So people would not realize what we have available and it was very difficult and confusing to get that information out there. With Sheraton it's a much easier sell, there's no question."

The Sheraton is located on Westminster Highway in Richmond and runs a 24-hour shuttle to the airport terminal. The Fairmont Vancouver Airport hotels adjoins YVR's terminal and the Delta Vancouver Airport is located on Cessna Drive, near the entrance to Sea Island.

The lobby of the renovated Sheraton combines a restaurant with a bar and meeting area, complete with computers or plug-ins for those who want to bring their own. The idea is to give guests a place to gather and socialize outside their own rooms.

There is also a 1,200-square- foot fitness centre featuring equipment and a fitness program available at most Sheratons.

The rooms, half of which have been renovated to date, boast white 300-thread sheets, a desk with wireless and wired Internet access, and a 37-inch LCD flat- panel TV. Coffee in the room is from Starbucks, and there is a Starbucks outlet in the lobby.

The goal of the renovations and new affiliation is to attract a more business-oriented customer base the hotel didn't attract as a Best Western, said Ryan Soderberg, the hotel's director of sales and marketing. So far it seems to be working.

While hotel occupancy in Richmond -- which has about 4,500 hotel rooms spread across approximately 30 hotels -- has been down so far this year compared to a year ago, the remainder of 2009 is showing improvement, Veinot said. "I'm not sure all hoteliers are feeling the same, but certainly we're seeing some positive growth over the same period last year."

Soderberg said just being a part of the Sheraton brand has given the hotel the opportunity to book business it hasn't had before.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, which franchises Sheraton as well as Westin and other hotel chains, already has one hotel, Four Points, in the area. A third, the Westin Wall Centre Vancouver Airport, is under construction and should be open in January.

"I think Richmond in general is an opportunity for us," said Tim Reardon, Starwood's director of operations for new builds and transitions. "With the opening of the Sheraton and Westin it gives us upper upscale presence at the Vancouver airport for business travellers and smaller meetings."

"And as the excitement is building for the 2010 Olympics it's a great opportunity for us to showcase two brand new properties," he added.

A unique feature at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport is the name of its restaurant. Harold's Bistro and Bar is named after Harold Cross, an 88-year-old local resident who has eaten lunch at the hotel almost every day for the last 35 years. The walls of the restaurant show pictures of Cross superimposed with pictures of various celebrities -- none of whom he likely met. Since the naming of the bistro, Cross's lunches have been on the house.

The Sheraton Vancouver Airport is owned by Richmond Inn Investments, Ltd. and managed by Larco Hospitality Management Inc.
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service

SpongeG · #**1169** Posted **Jul 4, 2009, 7:26 PM**

these have been popping up all over burnaby - this one is at gaglardi & Lougheed

officedweller · #**1170** Posted **Jul 6, 2009, 1:30 AM**

I suspect it's for the World Police and Fire Games - the symbol is a native eagle logo.

Locked In · #**1171** Posted **Jul 6, 2009, 1:56 AM**

^ Burnaby Parks & Rec has been installing eco-sculptures around Burnaby for a few years now. More info and photos etc. can be found on their website: http://www.burnaby.ca/cityhall/departmen...dens___Eco-sculptures/prksrc_ecsclp.html

Source: City of Burnaby

metroXpress · #**1172** Posted **Jul 6, 2009, 1:27 PM**

^ that's cute. It seems like the City of Burnaby still maintains its "City of Parks" status.

raggedy13 · #**1173** Posted **Jul 6, 2009, 8:32 PM**

^I thought Surrey was the one that billed itself as the "city of parks"... but perhaps they don't use that anymore.

Interesting sculptures in Burnaby at any rate.

metroXpress · #**1174** Posted **Jul 6, 2009, 9:11 PM**

^ that was surrey's original motto I guess....

At least Burnaby still has a tree as a logo

SpongeG · #**1175** Posted **Jul 14, 2009, 5:55 PM**

the 200th and hwy #1 area of Langley is rapidly changing - this pic is by me of a new office building - seems kinda weird where it is - there is a sandman signature hotel going in the area too

LeftCoaster · #**1176** Posted **Jul 15, 2009, 12:27 AM**

Some interesting news.

"The Evelyn", the stalled development at Taylor Way and Keith Rd in West Vancouver has seen some activity in the last few days. Crews are on site and have almost enclosed the sales building and have even added a new RTU to the building. Enclosing the building makes sense but adding an RTU to me signals an attempt at occupancy, which might mean this project is back on track and progressing to a sales phase.

This is sheer speculation but I can't imagine why they would add mechanical infrastructure to a building which they do not plan to complete any time in the near future. Interesting as I was under the assumption that Millennium was still in pretty dire straights financially.

wrenegade · #**1177** Posted **Jul 15, 2009, 4:58 PM**

I pass by Evelyn at least twice a day. It seems like there are crews on site about once a week. Well, crews might be pushing it, there are a couple of guys working on the presentation centre. It isn't moving very fast at all and it doesn't really seem to be a priority for them.

Kodii · #**1178** Posted **Jul 15, 2009, 8:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kodii

This Abbotsford BMO building is now up to the third floor. I drove past it today.

jlousa · #**1179** Posted **Jul 16, 2009, 1:42 AM**

Quattro 3 has been postponed indefinitely and all deposits returned. The developer will provide an update at the completion of Phase 2.

SpongeG · #**1180** Posted **Jul 22, 2009, 4:40 AM**

Construction on Burnaby Central Secondary School to begin shortly

The $50 million Burnaby Central Secondary School will soon take shape in Metro Vancouver. Toronto based Giffels Corporation (an Ingenium Group company) recently secured the project, along with two others through a competitive procurement process.

The other projects include Phase 1 of the $38 million Alouette Correctional Centre for Women in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, a 104 cell facility, and Ecole Secondaire Catholique Jean-Vanier in Welland, Ontario. The two B.C. projects are targeting LEED Gold certification. Giffels is the design build contractor. Rocky Point Engineering Ltd. is the consulting mechanical engineer and a consultant on the Burnaby School.

http://www.journalofcommerce.com/article/id34608