[Burnaby] The Amazing Brentwood | 15 Towers | 186m | 56 flrs | U/C & Proposed

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Funny that they had to re-release the video.

In the original video, from about two years back, the tall, outer buildings looked different, as I recall. They were convex on one side whereas these are rectangular only.
Or am I wrong?

[officedweller]

Those were just massing models/placeholders, not actual designs.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Those were just massing models/placeholders, not actual designs.

Ah, I see. Thank you. (They sure looked snazzy, though)

[officedweller]

New video just posted by Shape Properties
- aerial video of construction from July 6, 2016:

• Video Link

[nickbeaulieu]

I was about to say "looks like that's from some time in July" and then I looked up and saw you said it's from July 6. So there you go

[excel]

Very cool video.

[red-paladin]

I think Translink is going to have to install more faregates at Brentwood station when this project is complete.

[rofina]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

I think Translink is going to have to install more faregates at Brentwood station when this project is complete.

This.

I actually predict an inevitable platform expansion.

This station is already busy in the morning, and this observation comes from when I used the system prior to SoLo, and obviously prior to completion of the Mall towers.

Assuming even only 10% of new residents use Skytrain, I see it being a problem in the morning.

This doesn't even include the multitude of smaller developments, and the few random buildings that will use the Brentwood station, like Milano.

And now that I'm typing, imagine when Concord Brentwood is up?

This station will be packed inside of 36 months.

And this is where there is a massive failure in any sort of leadership in this province/region.

Any community planner should be looking at the density increase to come in the next 36-48 months.

Extrapolate current ridership rates for the community, and see the use metrics.

There is no way that adding the 3 new communities of SoLo, Concord, and Amazing wont overload this station.

Rant over.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

I think Translink is going to have to install more faregates at Brentwood station when this project is complete.

I missed a train there last week for this reason.

Skytrain staff had blocked off one of the gates (for repairs perhaps). My train was coming in to the station. I had lots of time to catch it, but I reached the remaining two gates literally a second after a flood of disembarked passengers from the other platform. Once they started coming through there was no way I could tap. I just had to stand there like an idiot and listen to my train leave. At that moment I wanted to kill Kevin Falcon. The decision to install only three at Brentwood was simply bizarre.

I should perhaps add that because the train is so reliable, I run a tight schedule when I take it downtown. The 5-6 minute delay from missing a train makes a difference to me. I'm looking forward to more frequent service come October 22.

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by officedweller

New video just posted by Shape Properties
- aerial video of construction from July 6, 2016:

......

Very cool video.
I assume it was done by drone camera.

I'd love to see a similar-type video about 8 or so months from now when the towers have began to go up and the plaza is more complete.

[excel]

Translink doing something right with fare gates? What planet are you on?

[HelloKitty]

Originally Posted by Geof

I missed a train there last week for this reason.

Skytrain staff had blocked off one of the gates (for repairs perhaps). My train was coming in to the station. I had lots of time to catch it, but I reached the remaining two gates literally a second after a flood of disembarked passengers from the other platform. Once they started coming through there was no way I could tap. I just had to stand there like an idiot and listen to my train leave. At that moment I wanted to kill Kevin Falcon. The decision to install only three at Brentwood was simply bizarre.

I should perhaps add that because the train is so reliable, I run a tight schedule when I take it downtown. The 5-6 minute delay from missing a train makes a difference to me. I'm looking forward to more frequent service come October 22.

Speaking of faregates... See this news article from 24 Hrs News Vancouver. I agree too that mornings can be bad... The trains are packed. I sometimes am forced to wait for the next train as there simply isn't room anymore to get in. I was already thinking/worrying about what happens once these towers are up. The lovely mountain views would be gone and the stress level would be higher. Possibly poorer quality of life too as a transit user/pedestrian. So I don't want the SFH homes north of the development demolished. They're still like a bit of fresh air after all those high towers with minimal greenery. I still want these SFHs to stay around. These tall buildings/constructions should just be in the undeveloped portions. hehe!

[Geof]

Originally Posted by HelloKitty

I agree too that mornings can be bad... I don't want the SFH homes north of the development demolished. They're still like a bit of fresh air after all those high towers with minimal greenery. I still want these SFHs to stay around.

It didn't happen during rush hour - it was 11:30 am!

Interesting thoughts about my neighbourhood. Though it would destroy the community of a lot of people, particularly seniors (I know someone who has lived in the same house since it was built in the mid 1950s, and could recall playing with other children in all the basements on our block), I have long imagined how pretty it could be if the detached houses were replaced with handsome row housing.

I don't see it happening any time soon though. Maybe multiple units would be contemplated along Brentlawn, just as they are along Albert and Pender in the Heights. But I think this neighbourhood would be politically difficult to nibble away at. It is too coherent, with a very definite shape and boundary. (Heck, the caricature of the region in Translink's October 22 routing animation shows Brentwood Park's C-shaped streets as one of the main features of the area.) I suspect any encroachment on part would be seen as an attack on the whole. Besides, as you say, there are so many other places to build.

[rofina]

I definitely hope the Brentwood park area remains as is.

Why not build out all around it, and maintain the inner Brentwood park character?

Maybe 30-40 years downtime line means those houses are converted, but not demolished, to commercial use, with sky scrapers all around.

The visual would be neat, it would serve as a bit of peace and quiet in what will surely become a bustling metro centre by then.

[sburnaby33]

Originally Posted by rofina

I definitely hope the Brentwood park area remains as is.

Why not build out all around it, and maintain the inner Brentwood park character?

Maybe 30-40 years downtime line means those houses are converted, but not demolished, to commercial use, with sky scrapers all around.

The visual would be neat, it would serve as a bit of peace and quiet in what will surely become a bustling metro centre by then.

There is a significant amount of land in the area that can be rezoned from commercial/industrial to residential. See Jebby's post on Pg. 79 for the possible new boundaries for the region. Therefore, that area can remain as is for at least another 50+ years. I like what Burnaby is doing by hemming in development into certain areas.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by rofina

I definitely hope the Brentwood park area remains as is.

Why not build out all around it, and maintain the inner Brentwood park character?

Maybe 30-40 years downtime line means those houses are converted, but not demolished, to commercial use, with sky scrapers all around.

The visual would be neat, it would serve as a bit of peace and quiet in what will surely become a bustling metro centre by then.

Nobody wants their neighbourhood altered, so, either you live in a condo, or pay 1.3 million dollars for a house. To alleviate astronomical house prices, Brentwood park and every other neighbourhood in the core municipalities needs to be up-zoned to accommodate row-houses.

Vancouver has less than 1/4 of the developable land that a city like Calgary has, so if you want to have housing costs in line with the rest of Canada we have to have densities at least 4 times that of the rest of Canada. Detached homes have no place in this city.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by logan5

Nobody wants their neighbourhood altered, so, either you live in a condo, or pay 1.3 million dollars for a house. To alleviate astronomical house prices, Brentwood park and every other neighbourhood in the core municipalities needs to be up-zoned to accommodate row-houses.

Vancouver has less than 1/4 of the developable land that a city like Calgary has, so if you want to have housing costs in line with the rest of Canada we have to have densities at least 4 times that of the rest of Canada. Detached homes have no place in this city.

Why can't we build ornate concrete row houses (terrace houses or flats) like those in London for some higher end neighbourhoods? Some of those are work-live spaces and they are amazing.

http://www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/details/...ent=featured_listing#0wOq3T42OjBsvQcA.97

http://www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/details/...bfdd2ca345071a86b3b4#8yAatPtmkzGgCeZ8.97

[rofina]

Originally Posted by logan5

Nobody wants their neighbourhood altered, so, either you live in a condo, or pay 1.3 million dollars for a house. To alleviate astronomical house prices, Brentwood park and every other neighbourhood in the core municipalities needs to be up-zoned to accommodate row-houses.

Vancouver has less than 1/4 of the developable land that a city like Calgary has, so if you want to have housing costs in line with the rest of Canada we have to have densities at least 4 times that of the rest of Canada. Detached homes have no place in this city.

I more than agree.

I just doubt we will see the political will to ever do it.

SFH has been largely delegated to a form of speculative housing stock. Unless you see a dramatic price correction, the numbers don't make sense unless you build well beyond the density offered by row housing.

[burnaby88]

What's the deal with the mall close to being dead now. Every second store has closed and those remaining are holding on for dear life. You see the same faces sitting there all day in the food court not buying a single thing.

Any word on the anchor stores?? I hear high end but these customers that frequent the mall don't buy anything.

[Geof]

The end of the food court has been boarded up, blocking off the windows and the view of The Pit. If wonder if this means that they will soon be extending that part of the existing structure.