Potential Downtown Development Plots

Hed Kandi · #1 Posted **Jun 12, 2012, 5:37 AM**

The Vancouver 'Potential Downtown Development Plots' map has been completed in conjunction with data supplied by the Vancouver view cones and higher building policies data. Each plot has an adjacent number which represents the potential height limit in feet for the location.

As seen from the map below, there are numerous parcels which will allow for buildings in excess of > 450'.

easy as pie · #2 Posted **Jun 12, 2012, 7:33 AM**

well, it seems to me that the west end just isn't pulling its weight, and that vancouver would be a lot better served with 3-5 story buildings along robson, davie, granville, and denman instead of the 1-2 stories currently (aside from granville, which is getting better). so you could probably dig up dozens of potential sites in that quadrant.

logan5 · #3 Posted **Jun 12, 2012, 9:19 AM**

The pink area between Homer and Beatty is such a dead zone. Nothing but parking lot and blank wall. I know the performing arts are important to the culture of our city, but that theatre building is atrocious. Maybe we should start from scratch with a new QE Theatre. For that area I would love to see at least three 600 - 800 foot office towers. That would give the DT core some badly needed modulation in the urban landscape as well as some vastly improved aesthetic qualities. Our office towers - and by far our nicest looking towers - are being drowned out by a strong current of sea foam green.

Maybe the map should include the Central Broadway area as well, as our definition of Downtown Vancouver expands to include the Metro Core, and there are plenty of sites ripe for redevelopment.

And I know mid-rise buildings are the new fashion in Vancouver, and especially in the neighborhoods that flank Central Broadway, but enough already. We've got so many mid-rise condos built or being built, that a 19 story "monstrosity" will be a welcome addition. I thought this new form was suppose to bring with it more colour and a better variety of building materials; better architecture. Instead we are creating truncated versions of Yaletown in the neighborhoods south of False Creek. So I propose a balanced influx of point towers to compliment the growing number of mid-rise.

The Kingsgate Mall site is a good candidate for towers, as stated in MP Community Plan, but imo the most important piece of property in Mt. Pleasant, and one of my candidates for redevelopment, is the northern portion of the triangle block. This property bounded by Kingsway/Broadway/Main is a showcase location and would be perfect for a flat iron type building, with its unobstructed view dividing Main St. and Kingsway. If there's one spot for a signature building outside the downtown core, this is it.

I'm only dreaming of course.

trofirhen · #4 Posted **Jun 12, 2012, 11:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by logan5

The pink area between Homer and Beatty is such a dead zone. Nothing but parking lot and blank wall. I know the performing arts are important to the culture of our city, but that theatre building is atrocious. Maybe we should start from scratch with a new QE Theatre. For that area I would love to see at least three 600 - 800 foot office towers. That would give the DT core some badly needed modulation in the urban landscape as well as some vastly improved aesthetic qualities. Our office towers - and by far our nicest looking towers - are being drowned out by a strong current of sea foam green.

Maybe the map should include the Central Broadway area as well, as our definition of Downtown Vancouver expands to include the Metro Core, and there are plenty of sites ripe for redevelopment.

And I know mid-rise buildings are the new fashion in Vancouver, and especially in the neighborhoods that flank Central Broadway, but enough already. We've got so many mid-rise condos built or being built, that a 19 story "monstrosity" will be a welcome addition. I thought this new form was suppose to bring with it more colour and a better variety of building materials; better architecture. Instead we are creating truncated versions of Yaletown in the neighborhoods south of False Creek. So I propose a balanced influx of point towers to compliment the growing number of mid-rise.

The Kingsgate Mall site is a good candidate for towers, as stated in MP Community Plan, but imo the most important piece of property in Mt. Pleasant, and one of my candidates for redevelopment, is the northern portion of the triangle block. This property bounded by Kingsway/Broadway/Main is a showcase location and would be perfect for a flat iron type building, with its unobstructed view dividing Main St. and Kingsway. If there's one spot for a signature building outside the downtown core, this is it.

I'm only dreaming of course.

Everything starts with an idea or a dream. I agree with you totally on this "dead zone" and would like to see it have some real signature towers, too. On the "'designs to inspire Vancouver thread," Hed posted a picture with three stunning buildings on the right of the picture. I could see something like that in the area. Also, regarding targeting a focal point outside the CBD or West End for some signature buildings, Kingsway and Main could use it for sure. Good post (IMO)

Hed Kandi · #5 Posted **Jun 12, 2012, 2:46 PM**

Added a couple more plots along Beatty to the map.

LeftCoaster · #6 Posted **Jun 12, 2012, 2:48 PM**

You're missing the entire waterfront station development area, which although a few years off, is a very real potential site.

There are a few more underbuilt sites in the eastern core you could add too.

Hed Kandi · #7 Posted **Jun 12, 2012, 3:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

You're missing the entire waterfront station development area, which although a few years off, is a very real potential site.

There are a few more underbuilt sites in the eastern core you could add too.

I've just added the parkade along W. Cordova.

If you provide me with a list of addresses I'll try to add them.

jlousa · #8 Posted **Jun 12, 2012, 3:48 PM**

Not a bad start I'd remove the QE site though it will not be redeveloped although I agree it could handle a modest 14storey office building on the SE corner where the media club/dead restaurant currently sit.
There is the parkade at Pender and Richards that is a sizeable plot, there is another also on Richards just south of Pender that could see something modest. The half block on the SE corner of Pender and Richards is owned by Onni and will see something. Theres the block east of the BIG proposal that could see something quite large. Obviously the Plaza of Nations site should be included as well as the still undeveloped BCPlace and NEFC lands. As mentioned above the waterfront transit site, plus the parkade across the street. I wouldn't worry about us running out of plots anytime soon. Plots are constantly found.

Hed Kandi · #9 Posted **Jun 12, 2012, 5:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

Not a bad start I'd remove the QE site though it will not be redeveloped although I agree it could handle a modest 14storey office building on the SE corner where the media club/dead restaurant currently sit.
There is the parkade at Pender and Richards that is a sizeable plot, there is another also on Richards just south of Pender that could see something modest. The half block on the SE corner of Pender and Richards is owned by Onni and will see something. Theres the block east of the BIG proposal that could see something quite large. Obviously the Plaza of Nations site should be included as well as the still undeveloped BCPlace and NEFC lands. As mentioned above the waterfront transit site, plus the parkade across the street. I wouldn't worry about us running out of plots anytime soon. Plots are constantly found.

Added 3 parcels along Pender. Remind me again, what is the Waterfront transit site development?

I'm also wondering if I should add the entire land of the Granville loops area. Is their removal imminent?

LeftCoaster · #10 Posted **Jun 12, 2012, 6:15 PM**

Here I've included the waterfront site where development will likely begin some time in the next office cycle.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Also I have outlined a part of downtown that has too many sites to really box out that are available to develop. Here's a screenshot of the birdseye of the general area. I expect to see much of Vancouver's future office space developed here over the coming decades.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

s211 · #11 Posted **Jun 12, 2012, 6:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Also I have outlined a part of downtown that has too many sites to really box out that are available to develop. Here's a screenshot of the birdseye of the general area. I expect to see much of Vancouver's future office space developed here over the coming decades.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

With the exception of some parkades that are likely not required, that area is littered with SROs and other heritage buildings that will make meaningful assembly difficult.

Hed Kandi · #12 Posted **Jun 12, 2012, 6:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Also I have outlined a part of downtown that has too many sites to really box out that are available to develop. Here's a screenshot of the birdseye of the general area. I expect to see much of Vancouver's future office space developed here over the coming decades.

Thanks, but aren't the majority of those buildings protected under heritage status?

LeftCoaster · #13 Posted **Jun 12, 2012, 6:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by s211

With the exception of some parkades that are likely not required, that area is littered with SROs and other heritage buildings that will make meaningful assembly difficult.

Hmm well as far as i know the majority of the SROs are further east. The only ones I can think of in the highlighted area are the Marble Arch and St Clair Hotel.

And as far as heritage buildings go it is fairly simple to make economic sense of saving the facade or more of a 2-3 storey heritage building when developing a large office project. Especially the way the rent curve is looking and the continuing scarcity of downtown peninsula land.

easy as pie · #14 Posted **Jun 12, 2012, 8:11 PM**

the vcc building at the head of victory square could definitely use a tripling in height, as could the huge parking lot next to it. and what about that large parking structure on richards between pender and dunsmuir?

Hed Kandi · #15 Posted **Jun 13, 2012, 12:25 AM**

Added the Granville loops to the map as well as a couple of above ground parkades in Coal Harbour.

yogiderek · #16 Posted **Jun 13, 2012, 3:57 AM**

So, there is several blank west end properties.

you have

Comox and Broughton
Robson and Nicola
Robson and Guilford
Pendrel just off Denman
parking lot on Burnaby behind Celebreties
Small parking lot, Thurlow Haro laneway
small parking lot, Nelson at Bute.
Georgia street at Cardero.

hopefully if the parking lot infill is done on the Beach towers site, it would be cool to see several other buildings with large parking areas developed. Like Panorama towers or El cid, even though those two buildings are privately owned apartments.

Locked In · #17 Posted **Jun 13, 2012, 4:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hed Kandi

Remind me again, what is the Waterfront transit site development?

Lots more info about it on the Waterfront Station Transportation Hub thread.
--------
You could add the SW corner of Georgia and Burrard as the City is willing to allow a tall building there, thought it sounds like it will be at least a couple of cycles until we see that site developed.

officedweller · #18 Posted **Jun 13, 2012, 7:28 PM**

Here's my vague recollection of the social housing in the Victory Square area (plus BC Hydro is a new building that's part of the complex, but not sure if it can be built on):

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Also I tend to think the site I've marked in red here could be developed:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Hed Kandi · #19 Posted **Jun 13, 2012, 7:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by yogiderek

So, there is several blank west end properties.

you have

Comox and Broughton
Robson and Nicola
Robson and Guilford
Pendrel just off Denman
parking lot on Burnaby behind Celebreties
Small parking lot, Thurlow Haro laneway
small parking lot, Nelson at Bute.
Georgia street at Cardero.

hopefully if the parking lot infill is done on the Beach towers site, it would be cool to see several other buildings with large parking areas developed. Like Panorama towers or El cid, even though those two buildings are privately owned apartments.

I'm going to leave the West End for now. The area is overrun with NIMBY's, so I can't see anything major happening there in the near future.

Anyhow, I've added two more plots to the map. One along Melville and Thurlow and another along Beach and Hornby.

Hed Kandi · #20 Posted **Jun 13, 2012, 7:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Also I tend to think the site I've marked in red here could be developed:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Thanks, I had almost forgot about that parkade. I think the entire site could be redeveloped but for now, I've just edited in the parcel for the parking lot.