[Architype]

Does anyone know what is happening on this site, just east of Home Depot area?
http://www.pbase.com/joecanada/image/98749902/original.jpg
From my photo thread:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=152802

[officedweller]

I think its the Vancouver Police Department's gun shooting range.

[WarrenC12]

I think its the Vancouver Police Department's gun shooting range.

Any chance it will be open to the public? :D

In all seriousness, local municipalities have closed down almost all gun ranges in Metro Vancouver. If the VPD is going to put one right in the city, at least they could open it up to legal use for regular folks just looking for a place to shoot.

[officedweller]

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20070417/documents/a9.pdf

The VPD will work with the Facilities Design and Management to build and operate a range
facility that will meet the training needs of the VPD. As well, there will be opportunities to
cost-recover some of the capital/operating costs of the facility through rentals and VPD provided
training services that will be marketed to other law enforcement agencies and
private entities such as armoured car staff, customs officers, and translink police.

[WarrenC12]

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20070417/documents/a9.pdf

Ahhhh.. close, thanks. :cool:

[jlousa]

Hopefully we see something happen this time around. Timing is perfect as by the time this comes around the Millennium extension will be under construction.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=c105c0b8-6284-4e43-9053-3c1efb343c5a

Innovative, multi-institution campus unveils development plans today
Marke Andrews, Vancouver Sun
Published: Saturday, June 21, 2008

Great Northern Way Campus is unveiling at an open house today three plans for the future shape of its campus, including one that includes residential development, retail shops and other amenities.

The campus offers a two-year masters of digital media program for students of participating institutions Simon Fraser University, the University of B.C., B.C. Institute of Technology and Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design.

It has not yet decided which plan to go with, or a blending of elements from all three submissions, which GNWC said are not competing with each other.

However, it will not be able to progress with any plan unless it gets rezoning from the City of Vancouver.

Currently, the 7.4 hectares at the old Finning industrial site is zoned CD1 (comprehensive development) with most of the land reserved for I-3 (high-tech industries and industries requiring research and development.)

To get the community environment GNWC wants, with people living near the campus and the high-tech industries where they work, and where shops will cater to this population, it will have to get the zoning changed.

The campus also needs new zoning so it can sell housing and commercial space to pay for the construction of the new community without relying on taxpayer dollars.

"It's not only housing [needed to finance construction], it's commercial space," says GNWC president Dennis Pavlich.

"Commercial space is pretty tight in downtown Vancouver, and this is a natural space for those commercial buildings," Pavlich said. "You need the residences to make this a vibrant community, but the primary task of this place is to allow for the high-tech commercial operation to work."

Assuming zoning allows the campus to progress, the three plans are all focused on community, sustainable operation and easy access to transit. The sustainability element is particularly striking, with plans calling for restricted automobile access, collection and use of rainwater, treatment of "black" water, energy from organic waste and solar thermal, urban gardening and plenty of green space. One artist's rendition calls for a canal to run through the site.

Pavlich said both the municipal and provincial governments have been "unbelievably cooperative" in meetings pertaining to the campus and its future.
Today's open house runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

[quobobo]

Nice! If anyone goes to the open house could they fill us in on building height etc?

[Denscity]

:previous:
I wouldn't expect much height in this area. Something like the Olympic Village
i'm guessin'.

[quobobo]

I would be happy with Olympic Village heights, if only because I wouldn't be surprised if the typical 3-4 story cap is all they're allowed.

[jlousa]

Enjoyable read.

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/artdesign/story/2008/06/23/vancouver-architecture.html

Vancouver's architectural style in spotlight at London exhibit

Architect Bing Thom, left, with Gerry Epp of Fast + Epp. Their work is highlighted in London exhibit titled Vancouverism. London is to get a dose of Vancouverism as an exhibition dedicated to the B.C. city's unique architecture opens at the Festival of Architecture on Tuesday.
Vancouverism — West Coast Architecture and City Building celebrates the work of Arthur Erickson, the Canadian architect known for his modernist structures, and his accolytes.
Vancouverism describes the practice of designing higher, thinner towers to provide so-called "view corridors" while still accommodating as large a population as possible.
Erickson first sketched out the idea more than half a century ago, says architecture critic and curator Trevor Boddy.
"Arthur with his chutzpah, as an ambitious architecture prof at [University of British Columbia], did this amazing design for the Community Arts Council," Boddy told CBC News.
"It was called Project 56. This sketch showed a 50-, 60-, 70-storey soaring downtown and West End Vancouver. It was a sketch literally a half-century ahead of itself. In my view, that sketch by Arthur Erickson invents the idea of Vancouverism."
Project 56 never got built as Erickson designed it, but his 1970s Robson Square development won praise for incorporating gardens, government offices, law courts and an art gallery, a combination of uses that has become common in West Coast architecture.
The trend of high-density neighbourhoods that make the most of a little space is enforced by Vancouver's geography, Boddy said.
The city is jammed between the mountains, the American border, the Georgia Strait and the best farmland in North America.
"By the mid-1960s, Vancouver's West End was the highest-density neighbourhood in all of the West Coast of North America," he said.
American planners, developers and architects took a look at what was happening and coined a term for it — Vancouverism.
"What we're doing here is so unusual in the scale of other cities that they started talking about Vancouverizing," Boddy said.
Younger architects continue the style
Thom's wall of blocks of B.C. cedar outside Canada House in London. Work by two of Erickson's former staff architects — Hong Kong-born Bing Thom and James K.M. Cheng — is now transforming Vancouver's suburbs.
Cheng's design for Spectrum, which includes 40-storey condo towers atop a big box Costco store, is on display at the London show, which is in Canada's high commission at Canada House.
Thom and Erickson frequently work with StructureCraft, which is recognized as a leader in structural uses of sustainably harvested B.C. engineered wood.
A design by Thom that wraps Canada House in a 61-metre-long, eight-metre-high wooden wall will highlight this technology.
In its location next to the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, the cedar block wall could be seen by a million people a month, Boddy said.
"Some people think it's a Coastal Salish basket because it's woven of strings of cedar wrapping around the corner of Canada House. These are blocks of cedar drilled and then beaded like a necklace onto cables," he said.
Also on display will be Fast + Epp's design for the Vancouver-Whistler 2010 Speed Skating Oval, which also features wood construction.
The 2008 London Festival of Architecture is a month-long festival focusing attention on buildings and streetscapes, and featuring work by architects such as Daniel Liebskind, Cesar Pelli and Rem Koolhaus.
The Vancouverism exhibition is scheduled for Paris this fall, and then will be shown in other parts of Europe and Asia. It could return to Vancouver for the Olympics in January and February 2010.

[eduardo88]

is that exhibit still up? i should go and take a look at it

[officedweller]

http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canada-europa/united_kingdom/canadahousegallery-en.asp

Vancouverism: Westcoast Architecture and City-building
June 24 to September 10 10am – 6pm

http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/arts/photos/2008/06/23/bc-cedar-canada-house.jpg
Thom's wall of blocks of B.C. cedar outside Canada House in London.

[jlousa]

Just read over the following document about the city's green building plans, really impressive how far they're going. I'll try and take some time and post some of it in point form. Sorry came out much longer then I expected.

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20080626/documents/pe5.pdf

PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to propose a set of Building By-law amendments directed at reducing the environmental impacts of new dwellings (new one and two family dwellings, including secondary suites). The recommended by-law amendments address the following issues:
A. Building envelope performance in the areas of wall, basement, foundation, and window insulation,
B. Energy performance in the areas of lighting fixtures, energy monitoring systems, hot water heating, and fireplaces,
C. In-building water efficiency in the area of water closets,
D. Indoor air quality and ventilation, and
E. Infrastructure development in the areas of roof-mounted solar energy generation and electric vehicle charging.

54% of all GHG’s generated in the City of Vancouver are produced by the construction and operation of buildings. Within City limits, 75% of the land zoned for residential development is occupied by these types of buildings. These statistics highlight the importance of addressing the construction and operation of one and two family dwellings as the City strives to meet our climate change mitigation objectives.

Increasing Insulation Requirements:
Currently, the Building By-law addresses heat loss from the interior of dwellings by mandating the installation of specific levels of insulation in wall and ceiling/roof assemblies. To reduce these heat losses in new dwellings, staff are recommending increasing these minimum insulation requirements and adding a new requirement for insulation under basement floors. The proposed amendments would increase both wall and basement insulation requirements, reducing heat losses through both above-ground and below-ground walls. Furthermore, the new requirement for insulation under basement floors would reduce the amount of heat loss to the ground through the foundation, and allow for a more comfortable basement indoor environment.
In addition to foundations, walls, and roof assemblies, windows permit a substantial amount of heat loss. In order to limit heat loss through windows, staff are recommending requiring a minimum performance specification that will apply to all windows in new dwellings. If Council accepts this recommendation, these new requirements would mandate better window performance and, when combined with the proposed insulation requirements mentioned above, would address and improve the thermal performance of the entire building envelope.
B. Energy Efficiency
Reducing Electricity Consumption:
A substantial portion of dwelling energy usage is electricity for lighting. Despite the fact that several alternatives to the standard incandescent light bulb are commonly available, consumer adoption of these energy-saving, long-lasting lighting elements is slow, largely due to the wide availability of standard bulbs. In order to promote consumer adoption and education, staff are recommending requiring that a minimum of 40% of light fixtures in a dwelling be hard-wired to not accept incandescent or halogen light bulbs. In doing so, homeowners will utilize energy-saving lighting technologies, such as compact fluorescent (CFL) or light-emitting diode (LED). This recommendation will provide City-wide electrical savings that will support BC Hydro and senior government efforts to “green” the provincial electricity supply.
Requiring In-home Energy Display Meters:
Research has shown that homeowners are more likely to augment their behaviour when they are provided with a near real-time indication of how their actions impact resource consumption. To that end, staff are recommending requiring in-home electrical energy usage display meters in all new dwellings. In-home energy usage display meters provide residents with up-to-the-minute statistics of energy consumption through easy-to-understand devices inside the house. Through this device, dwelling residents will be able to directly observe the positive effects of energy-conscious behaviour.
Reducing Hot Water Heating Energy Losses:
Another significant energy use in a dwelling is the generation and supply of hot water; heat losses in hot water piping networks, as well as at the hot water tank itself, can greatly increase the amount of energy required to provide residents with hot water. In order to limit these losses, staff are recommending requiring that insulation be provided around all electrically-powered hot water tanks, and around a portion of the hot water piping leading to and from the tank itself on both electrically and gas-powered systems. In the case of constant recirculation hot water systems (i.e. - systems that continuously circulate hot water throughout the hot water piping system, regardless of whether hot water is being consumed), staff are recommending that all hot water piping in the systems be required to be insulated.
Increasing Natural Gas Fireplace Efficiency:
Natural gas fireplaces, while not commonly considered to be a component of a dwelling that would consume a large amount of energy, are in fact very detrimental to home energy efficiency. Heat losses through chimneys and typical gas fireplace vents, combined with an always-on pilot light consume a substantial amount of resources. Statistics from Terasen Gas indicate that pilot lights alone cost the average home owner $120 a year in natural gas. To limit these losses, staff are recommending requiring that all natural gas fireplaces be direct-vented and use electronic ignition. Direct venting, a process that eliminates the need for a chimney, ensures that the fireplace consumes only unheated outdoor air. Electronic ignition removes the need for a pilot light, effectively eliminating the standby energy consumption of the fireplace.
C: In-Building Water Efficiency
Reducing Potable Water Consumption:
Currently, the Building By-law addresses potable water consumption in dwellings by requiring the use of low-flow fixtures throughout the home, as well as mandating the installation of toilets that use a maximum of 6 litres of water for each flushing action. While effective, a substantial amount of potable water is still consumed with each toilet flush. Dual-flush toilets, toilets that allow the user to choose between a large or small flushing volume, can reduce this consumption by using appropriate water volumes. If Council accepts this recommendation, this requirement will allow residents to further reduce potable water consumption.
D: Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation:
Requiring a Heat Recovery Ventilator:
As industry adopts more energy efficient construction techniques, it is projected that air leakage through the dwelling’s envelope (walls, ceiling, windows, etc.) will be notably reduced. While this is considered a positive change from an energy perspective, the continued assurance of a minimum standard of indoor air quality is required. To that effect, staff are recommending that all new dwellings be provided with a heat recovery ventilator (HRV). Capable of ensuring that adequate ventilation is provided to a home, an HRV continuously exchanges stale indoor air with fresh air while transferring the heat contained in the outgoing exhaust to the incoming ventilation. By minimizing heat loss while ensuring the delivery of fresh air, this recommendation will promote new dwellings that are both healthy and energy efficient.
E: Infrastructure and Data Collection for Future Green Homes
Data Collection for Future Green Homes Program Development:
Future development of the Green Homes Program would greatly benefit from an ongoing analysis of the effects of current Building By-law requirements and GreenHomes initiatives. To facilitate this, staff are recommending requiring that an EnerGuide Rating System Audit, as defined by NRCan’s EnerGuide™ Rating Service, be carried out on all new dwellings. The audit involves a plan review, on-site inspection and Blower Door Test; the latter component is specifically designed to test the air-tightness of the dwelling, which directly relates to the dwelling’s long-term energy efficiency. The audit also provides some analysis on general home efficiency related to large appliances, layout, and design of the home. This information will be critical for staff to track the performance of the Green Homes Program, and to help them identify where they can provide targeted development, training and incentives to the industry, and prioritize future directions for the Program.
The adoption of the EnerGuide™ Rating Service metric is advantageous on several fronts. While acting as a tool to help build capacity in energy efficient design and construction within the residential construction industry, EnerGuide™ audits promote public awareness on the topic of dwelling energy efficiency. Research has shown that this type of consumer-friendly rating tool can help to promote market transformation in the building sector.
Infrastructure Installation for Future Roof-Mounted Energy Generation:
As the typical dwelling can be in use for half a century or more, some allowances for the adoption of future technologies is prudent. One such technology that will be undergoing widespread adoption in the coming years is that of on-site solar energy generation, namely roof-mounted photovoltaic or solar thermal systems. In order to facilitate the simple addition of such systems to dwellings at a future date, staff are recommending requiring that a vertical service shaft be provided, extending from the dwelling’s service room to the attic space. When desired, homeowners would be able to use this service shaft to easily install the piping and cabling required by the systems they chose. This recommendation recognizes that infrastructure must be put in place at the time of construction in order to mitigate future cost barriers and ease the adoption of emerging technologies by the homeowner at a later date.
Infrastructure Installation for Plug-in Electric Vehicles:
Over the past 5 years there has been a growing market for electric bicycles and scooters. It is also expected that plug-in electric hybrid vehicles will be available to the public in the near future, followed soon after by the widespread availability of fully electric vehicles. The adoption of this technology represents a significant opportunity to further reduce GHG’s in our community. However, a primary challenge to their adoption is the fact that they require a charging station in the user’s home. To that end, staff are recommending requiring the installation of a cable raceway from the building’s electricity circuit panel to an enclosed outlet box in the home’s garage or carport. In doing so, staff are ensuring that the home can be easily retrofitted at a later date to allow for the installation of electric vehicle charging facilities. This recommendation recognizes that infrastructure must be put in place at the time of construction in order to ease the adoption of emerging technologies by the homeowner at a later date.
According to statistics produced by the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board, the impact of these recommendations on the list price of a new home will be less than 1%.
Recognizing that affordability is a concern to many residents in Vancouver, staff have designed the program to take advantage of incentives already present within the market to further mitigate the cost impact. The recommendations meet the criteria necessary to receive $600 from BC Hydro as part of their PowerSmart™ Homes Program. Furthermore, they will also allow all new dwellings to qualify for the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) Mortgage Loan Insurance Program, which offers a 10% refund on Mortgage Loan Insurance and extended amortization periods.
The proposed Green Homes Program also provides access to several green homebuilding marketing opportunities such as EnerGuide™ for Homes, PowerSmart™ for Homes, and the Energy Star™ rating system. The recommendations pre-qualify all new dwellings built in Vancouver to achieve the highest levels of energy efficiency certification for each of these rating systems.
CONCLUSION
This report recommends amendments to the Building By-law directed at reducing the environmental impacts of new dwellings (new one and two family dwellings, including secondary suites). The proposed amendments include changes to promote energy efficiency and potable water consumption reduction, improve indoor air quality, and provide infrastructure for the adoption of future technologies. Staff estimations extrapolated from NRCan data state that these amendments will reduce the energy of consumption of new dwellings by approximately 33%, and will be 14% more effective in reducing GHG’s than what was recently adopted as part of the BC Green Building Code.
Through public consultation with City staff, the Vancouver building community, industry, and the general public, there was general support for the recommended amendments. The comments received have been reviewed and some of the amendments have been revised based on their concerns. Support was also expressed for further initiatives to reduce environmental impacts of new dwellings; staff will continue to work with this feedback on future Green Homes Program components. In order to provide sufficient time for City staff and industry education, an adoption date of September 5, 2008 is recommended.
Should Council adopt these recommendations, the Green Homes Program will put Vancouver at the forefront of sustainable development home construction practices in North America. It would be, once implemented, the most progressive green buildings standard required for new dwellings in North America.

[vanman]

Wow! Vancouver is really moving fast towards a sustainable future. I guess we won't lose the "progressive" title anytime soon.

[Bert]

D: Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation:
Requiring a Heat Recovery Ventilator:
... the continued assurance of a minimum standard of indoor air quality is required.Mmm... assurance of a minimum standard... :slob:

Could anyone with some knowledge on this topic shed some light into how important air circulation is vs. trapping all the air to maintain energy efficiency? Also, how effective are heat recovery ventilators at balancing this trade-off?

[jlousa]

Sorry couldn't tell you :previous: Maybe ask Towerguy3 he's the expert in air quality. :haha:

Anyways here's more news. Looks good to me, not as bad as some of the rumours we had heard.
Regulation Area Proposed Food Primary
Closing Time Liquor Primary Closing Time (Extended Hours)

Downtown Commercial
1:30am 7 days/wk Regulation Area Proposed Food Primary

3:00 am 7 days/wk Closing Time Liquor Primary Closing Time(Extended Hours)

Downtown Mixed-Use
1:00am 7 days/wk Regulation Area Proposed Food Primary

3:00 am Fri/Sat Closing Time Liquor Primary Closing Time(Extended Hours)
2:00 am Weekdays (Extended Hours)

Downtown Residential
12:00am Weekday Regulation Area Proposed Food Primary
1:00am Fri/Sat Regulation Area Proposed Food Primary

12:00 am Weekdays (Extended Hours)
2:00 am Fri/Sat Closing Time Liquor Primary Closing Time(Extended Hours)

Non-Downtown Commercial/Industrial
1:00am 7 days/wk Regulation Area Proposed Food Primary

3:00 am 7 days/wk Closing Time Liquor Primary Closing Time(Extended Hours)

Non-Downtown Mixed-Use

12:00am Weekday Regulation Area Proposed Food Primary
1:00am Fri/Sat Regulation Area Proposed Food Primary

1:00 am Weekdays (Extended Hours)
2:00 am Fri/Sat Closing Time Liquor Primary Closing Time(Extended Hours)


Non-Downtown Residential

12:00am Weekday Regulation Area Proposed Food Primary
1:00am Fri/Sat Regulation Area Proposed Food Primary

12:00 am Weekdays (Extended Hours)
2:00 am Fri/Sat Closing Time Liquor Primary Closing Time(Extended Hours)

What if my closing time is later than the proposed policy?
The proposed closing times will not affect restaurants that obtained their liquor license prior to December 2002, AND who have later closing times than those proposed. For instance, if an existing restaurant is licensed to serve liquor until 2:00 am, it would not be required to adopt earlier closing times as a result of this policy. However, if an existing restaurant is licensed to serve liquor only until midnight, for example, it would be able to extend its hours to match those allowed for the sub-area in which it is located.

How did you choose the proposed closing times?
In developing the proposed closing times, we considered the character of each neighborhood, using the Liquor Primary sub-areas as a guide, and with the intent of choosing workable hours that would meet both public and Food Primary needs. In addition, we analyzed closing hours for existing Food Primary establishments, and tried to ensure that the majority of businesses would gain hours of service from the proposed policy. We also considered closing times for Liquor Primary establishments, and generally made Food Primary closing times about one hour earlier (although in some cases, such as in residential neighborhoods, the hours on weekdays are the same).

[hollywoodnorth]

Business in Vancouver June 24-30, 2008; issue 974

Land tug of war stalls port plans

Expropriation of former Canfor property sparks fight over region’s dwindling industrial property base

Andrew Petrozzi

Access to the rapidly shrinking supply of regional industrial lands has ignited a regulatory tug of war between the competing interests of local municipalities and port authorities.

Metro Vancouver and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA) are squaring off over the former Canfor lands in New Westminster as both cite the need to secure industrial property to plan for future development.

The 18.3-hectare site, which is at the south end of Braid Street, straddles the border with Coquitlam and has water, rail and road access. That increasingly rare confluence of attributes attracted the VFPA, which had an agreement to buy the lands, according to Tom Winkler, the VFPA’s chief strategic development officer.

But the deal, which was supposed to have closed by the end of June, was thrown into doubt when Metro Vancouver filed an April 18 expropriation notice for the property.

“Our concern is making sure that 20, 30, 40 years in the future, there will be enough land available to support the port business,” said Winkler. “I can’t tell you what we’re going to use it for next month, or when we acquire it, but it has terrific attributes for port use.”

Metro Vancouver has said it wants to use the land for a waste management facility that could include a waste transfer station, composting, recycling, waste-to-energy technology such as incineration, gasification or pyrolysis.

But Metro Vancouver spokesman Bill Morrell refused to speculate on possible uses for the site.

“First of all, we don’t own the property, so we don’t know. Secondly, we’re going through the process now of developing our new solid waste management plan, which anticipates things such as waste-to-energy facilities.”

Morrell confirmed that vendors were invited last week to pitch their ideas to Metro Vancouver’s waste management committee.

He added there had been some preliminary discussions with the VFPA to explore possible joint opportunities.

“We don’t own the land yet, so we can’t promise we’re going to be sharing it with anybody.”

Winkler confirmed that the VFPA has challenged Metro Vancouver’s expropriation. He said a notice of a request for an inquiry has been granted. Preliminary hearings were slated to start last week. The provincial Ministry of the Attorney General will conduct the inquiry.

“It’s a sign of really what’s happening with industrial properties in the Greater Vancouver district. When you have limited number of properties there are going to be competing uses for them.”

Winkler added that the VFPA and Metro Vancouver had met before the expropriation notice was filed, and the port authority expressed a willingness to co-operate. Instead the VFPA will challenge Metro Vancouver on whether there are other sites it can use and if it needs the entire property.

Winkler said a deal with Canfor had been in place well before Metro Vancouver filed to expropriate the land.

“I’m not sure if it was a decision by their board or by their president,” he said. “They just want to be in a position to control the whole site and use it for what they want.”

Winkler added that there would be no immediate impact if the VFPA can’t secure the property, but it has the “primary attributes” the port needs.

“It’s not like there was some critical initiative we required it for.”

Winkler also confirmed the port authority will hold an open house this September for residents who will be affected by the construction of the proposed Lafarge ready-mix concrete batch plant on port lands in East Vancouver.

The Supreme Court of Canada recently ruled that Lafarge’s plan, originally proposed in 2000, was a permitted use for port land.

Meanwhile, the VFPA and Metro Vancouver signed a preliminary agreement last week that would commit the port and the 16 Lower Mainland port municipalities to work closely on issues of shared interest.

Winkler pointed out that, while the port authority needs social licence from communities to operate, port city communities need to understand that port infrastructure needs industrial lands to support Canadian trade and goods movement.

“We have to put our oar in the water and say there are certain lands that we require to support port industry.” •

[hollywoodnorth]

Business in Vancouver June 24-30, 2008; issue 974

Expansion capped for now, but profits show more casinos may be in the cards

Impact of Grand Villa opening will be closely watched before gaming rolls forward with future projects

Peter Mitham: Western Investor

A bid to revitalize the gaming business in British Columbia will move into a new phase this fall as Gateway Casinos opens the 90,000-square-foot Grand Villa in Burnaby, the final new destination casino currently approved for the province.

While a number of existing projects are planning expansions – such as the major makeover planned for the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond – and improvements that will rejig the current configurations, the market will be left to absorb the current facilities before B.C. Lottery Corp. approves additional locations.

“Once those works are done, that basically completes the process as it was envisioned many, many years ago,” said Scott Calvert, the vice-president of property development for Gateway.

“The general philosophy will be to get those buildings up and fully operating and offered to the public.”

Only once the properties are operating will the province and operators such as Gateway make decisions regarding new opportunities.

“There isn’t a market here [in Metro Vancouver] to continue building these large scale projects,” Calvert said.

Still, the opportunities Gateway is tapping through the Grand Villa, as well as New Westminster’s Starlight Casino and the Cascades Casino in Langley are significant.

Revenues for Gateway jumped to more than $211 million last year from $191.7 million in 2006, more than double the revenues in 2003.

Tenants at the Starlight property in New Westminster such as the Schanks sports bar and Kirin Seafood restaurant are reporting good business on the back of traffic through the 80,000-square-foot casino, Calvert said.

Calvert expects similar activity when the 90,000-square-foot Grand Villa property opens. The Burnaby casino development includes the hotel, restaurant, lounge and sports bar. Together, the two properties represent an investment in excess of $200 million.

The prospects for Gateway were strong enough to prompt Australia’s Crown Casinos to acquire Gateway in partnership with Macquarrie Group Ltd. in a $1.4 billion deal last year.

Underlining the strength of the market are plans by Great Canadian Casinos Inc. of Richmond, the province’s largest casino operator, to redevelop its River Rock property in Richmond.

Plans call for redeveloping the existing facilities (watch for the addition of a spiral escalator similar to the one at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas), as well as a new hotel tower, 1,800-car parkade and a retail strip oriented to the adjacent rapid transit line stop.

The casino is currently standing-room only some nights, said Howard Blank, vice-president, media and entertainment for Great Canadian, and he doesn’t expect demand to decrease before the 2010 Winter Olympics.

“Our hotel room nights are at capacity and there is a high demand for more. Our facility itself is reaching capacity when it comes to convention business and the number of people through our doors, so we need to add more options for our guests,” he said, describing the proposal as a redevelopment of the site that goes beyond a mere expansion.

“It is dramatic in the fact that we’re doing a lot of construction, but it is to meet the needs of our customer base and anticipates [an] increased base as we approach the Olympics.”

The reward, for Great Canadian, is higher revenues. Diversification at River Rock and other properties pushed revenues to nearly $400 million last year, up from $113.9 million in 2003. •

Western Investor is a division of Business in Vancouver Media Group. Published monthly, it focuses on commercial real estate in Western Canada.


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[jlousa]

Well The Hills has been redesigned again. They are now going to do it in 2 phases, the Kingsway side will be done first and a section along Naniamo will become a temporary community garden before proceeding. Personally I had high hopes for this project but now can't get excited about it. It's 2 yrs too late. Here's the new rendering. If anyone wants more let me know.
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/jlousa/TheHills.jpg

[SpongeG]

so the low rise is first and the tower will go up in the second phase?

[cornholio]

^^If you got more renders info then by all means post them, this things pretty much in my backyard so im very interested in whats planned. Personally I hope that whole area can be densified to the max, including that crack hoe 2400 motel being torn down. The area could really use a infusion of people to drive out the crack heads and hookers, talking about crack head and hookers...they have officially come out of hibernation in the area :( ...I can barely chill on my patio without some hooker from the back alley asking me if I want a blow job.

[jlousa]

Everything in the picture is phase 1, phase 2 is what was to be a 9 story tower, not sure what they have planed now as they are going to hold off on it. I'll post the rest shortly. Okayhere they are. I left them large for details. If someone wants to move all this to a new thread to clean this one up feel free.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/jlousa/TheHills-2.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/jlousa/TheHills-3.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/jlousa/TheHills-4.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/jlousa/TheHills-5.jpg

[excel]

thanks for the update.

[vanman]

Looks good.

[BigWilly]

any word on what retail might be going into the Hills?

[Yume-sama]

any word on what retail might be going into the Hills?

I would be surprised if anybody has committed to anything with this project. It has been a LONG time since this thing was supposed to get started. I would almost be surprised if it ever fully comes to be.

[MistyMountainHop]

A few quick cellphone shots I took of Southeast False Creek:

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/418/2906082159jd7.jpg
http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/2190/2906082224rl7.jpg
http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/8038/2906082225sp1.jpg
http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/3192/2906082226yp1.jpg
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/9294/2906082230rk3.jpg
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/6711/2906082233tr7.jpg

The new pedestrian bridge is wonderful and the granite blocks going down to the water are great as well. Great lighting features too—the bridge lighting is built into the railings and some granite blocks are lit from the ground with LEDs.

[SFUVancouver]

^ Thanks for the night-time pics.

The mid-rise and townhouse development at Main and 12th is nearly done and I think it has turned out pretty nice.

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/1635/mainstreetinfillat12thjbk5.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, June 29th, 2008.

One Kingsway (community centre, library, shops, and market rental apartments) as seen from 12th and Main.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/239/onekingswayfrom12thjunetr1.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, June 29th, 2008.

[worldwide]

the building on main and 12th is nice but whats the deal with the yellow trim? how did that get past the UDP?

theres some more infill going in in a few different spots near 30th. the one at 26th looks great.

and on a related note, it seems as though they are slowly removing stops on the #3 main to make it more of an express. stops are about 3 or more blocks apart all the way up from broadway now.

[dreambrother808]

^^

i live in mount pleasant and have been wondering the same about the yellow trim. i've been praying that it's some kind of base coat or primer.

[officedweller]

The yellow is a heritage colour - it resembles yellow brick. I wish the 1 Kingsway project was built in the originally proposedyellow brick rather than the red.

[SpongeG]

yeah i was thinking the yellow ties into the area historcially

it is kinda gross but historical probably beats out nice

[fever]

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/1563/crossroadsgreybrickzj8.jpg

i was wondering what you guys think of the spandrels on crossroads. it's a welcome change from paper in glass spandrels. i also like light grey brick in itself.

edit: i guess i'm also supposed to say that i took that photo a couple weeks ago

[dreambrother808]

where is this yellow brick elsewhere in the area??? i can't think of any other buildings that colour.

yeah i was thinking the yellow ties into the area historcially

it is kinda gross but historical probably beats out nice

[officedweller]

I saw the CrossRoads brick pattern and thought it was "modern" - looks good in the gray (a modern colour).
They have used it on the Concord Adex project in TO called "Neo" but in red brick (and the TO forummers have complained about it looking "cheap")

WRT 1 Kingsway brick, this is what Busby originally said for the original design:

A common palette of brick, concrete and glass will be used to unify the building. A masonry or
concrete “giant” brick will be used for the civic and residential blocks. A yellow pigmentation will
be added to the masonry, reminiscent of the yellow brick historically used in Mt. Pleasant. While
the use of yellow pigmented brick is a contextual gesture, the brick will be treated in a modern
manner (stack bond and panelization). Research into using recycled content in this brick is
ongoing. The desire is to create a 1 Kingsway brick, unique to this project. The dialogue with the
Planning Department will be ongoing as this research progresses.

http://vancouver.ca/corpsvcs/facility/1kingsway/design/pdfs/0307-DesignRationale2.pdf

[entheosfog]

^ Thanks for the night-time pics.

The mid-rise and townhouse development at Main and 12th is nearly done and I think it has turned out pretty nice.

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/1635/mainstreetinfillat12thjbk5.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, June 29th, 2008.


Thanks for the updates! Any idea what's going in the prized corner spot? Certainly not another Starbucks, I hope!

[fever]

I saw the CrossRoads brick pattern and thought it was "modern" - looks good in the gray (a modern colour).
They have used it on the Concord Adex project in TO called "Neo" but in red brick (and the TO forummers have complained about it looking "cheap")

I remember a Vancouver forumer saying that the red marble on Harbour Green looked cheap. There isn't much I don't like about how Crossroads is turning out...

[Built Form]

Thanks for the updates! Any idea what's going in the prized corner spot? Certainly not another Starbucks, I hope!

Yes it will be a new Starbucks eventhough there is one a block away on Main and 13th. It is already listed on their website.

[AlexYVR]

Actually, I think you're probably thinking of the one directly across the road from the new development - it's been there for a while now. And yes, there is also one up on Main & 13. Spoiled for choice, I guess. . .

I haven't seen any signage for tenants but I'm sure it's there. I'll try and get a look next time I go for coffee.

[worldwide]

if they wanted heritage they should have used yellow brick, whatever they actually used looks ridiculous.

[dreambrother808]

Yes it will be a new Starbucks eventhough there is one a block away on Main and 13th. It is already listed on their website.

there is a starbucks across the street at the same intersection and one up at main and 15th. there will not be a starbucks in the corner. the one listed must be the one across the street already.

[jlousa]

Update from the city

The draft Queen Elizabeth Tree Management Plan calls for restoration of three view corridors through the removal of approximately 70 trees, from 6 to 18m (20 to 60 ft) in height, as well as pruning of the lateral branches of 8 more. Most of the trees to be removed are common to British Columbia and none are endangered in the wild. A registered biologist would be hired to assess all trees prior to their removal. None of the trees to be removed commemorate events or persons. About a third of the trees slated for removal are in poor condition due to overcrowding, storm damage, and disease. Many of the conifers were planted in plantation-style blocks
which were not thinned as the trees grew. The crowded conditions resulted in poor tree form with sparse foliage due to lack of light, except at the top of the trees. Some of the pines suffer from needle blight, and others have broken leaders and crooked poor form due to storm damage. These damaged, diseased, and overcrowded trees would normally have been removed as part of regular maintenance but were left in place due to the controversy regarding tree removal in the lookout areas. As was learned from the Stanley
Park experience, it is important that we manage the trees to ensure healthy development and reduce risk to the public.
The plan proposes to remove trees beginning in early summer 2008, except for those with nests, which would be removed when the nesting season was over, after mid-August 2008.
Replanting would occur, on a two-to-one basis, in the fall and winter of 2008-2009.
Replacement trees planted in the view corridors would be of species that attain a maximum mature height of 5-10m (15-30 ft). Replacement trees would be chosen for year-round beauty, adaptability to our Vancouver climate, and wildlife value. About one third of the trees would be planted in the areas where trees were taken down, near the lookouts. The remaining compensatory tree plantings would be made in non view-sensitive areas of the park using native west coast species such as Douglas fir and red cedar to create additional forest habitat in the park.
The cost for approximately 140 replacement trees and 80 shrubs is estimated at $21,350. Costs for labour and supplies to remove and plant replacement trees and shrubs will be covered in the operating budget.

[jlousa]

Also from the city, some history on the Jericho Wharf and their plans for it. Interestly they came up with an option that wasn't even on their original plans, but it does seems like the best option.

Jericho Wharf was built in the 1930s to serve the needs of the Royal Canadian Air Force amphibious aircraft operations. It is approximately 160m long (along the foreshore) and 40m deep. The water's edge of the deck is boarded by old railings from the Lion's Gate Bridge. Due to deterioration of the supporting wood structure the Park Board proceeded with condition inspections and feasibility studies. In 2002, Levelton Engineering reported on the structural integrity of the wharf, concluding that the wharf was at the end of its service life and required demolition or significant repairs to ensure public safety. In 2005 Westmar Engineering Consultants did an assessment of the Wharf which reinforced earlier findings concluding that the Wharf was at the end of its service life. The major concerns presented within the report were that many of their timber piles were not serviceable and seismic upgrading was not feasible. Since 2003 access restrictions have been in place, because the deck's capacity to carry vehicles has been compromised.
During the fireworks festival, crowds are also restricted to access certain parts of the deck. The present use of the deck is mostly concentrated to the south side, where people walk between Jericho Beach and the Sailing Centre beach. Some walk over to the north side of the deck in order to lean over the railing and look down onto the water.
The concepts which were brought forward to a public meeting on March 12, 2008included:
• Concept 1A – Demolish the Wharf and reinstate the foreshore, $1.9 million
• Concept 1B – Demolish the Wharf and reinstate the foreshore including a smallcurbed seawalk, $2.0 million
• Concept 2 - Retain a portion of the Wharf, $1.8 million
• Concept 3 - Retain and repair Wharf, $1.1 million plus maintenance costs of
$0.5 million to $1.0 million every 6 to 10 years.

The recommended option (1-C) is a slight variation on the preferred Concept 1-A. Staffbelieve it is important to acknowledge the history associated with both the deck and the railings. To this end a small (approximately 5000 sq ft) portion of the deck and railings are recommended to be retained on the east side of the deck. If structurally feasible the deck would extend over the water, offering a continued opportunity to view the bay from an attractive vantage point. One or two interpretive signs would outline the wartime origins of the deck and its post war evolution. As is the essential feature of Option 1A, this option also restores a natural beach and contributes positively to fish habitat. These two features are consistent with the many other efforts in Jericho Park to have a natural park that accommodates active recreation.

Here's a pdf of what it will looks like.
http://vancouver.ca/parks/board/2008/080707/jericho_marginal_wharf_app_1.pdf

[officedweller]

Glad to see a common sense solution to the QE Park view issue.

WRT the wharf, the remnant that will remain will have its edge at what is currently the middle of the wharf - they aren't preserving an existing "edge" - which is odd. BTW - shouldn't "Burrard Inlet" on those renderings read "English Bay"?

[fever]

Burrard Inlet begins between Point Grey and Point Atkinson. Under this definition, English Bay is part of Burrard Inlet. For most Vancouverites, Burrard Inlet begins at the Lions Gate Bridge.

[officedweller]

Thanks

[SpongeG]

re the trees - they are just trees - why do people freak out about them so much

plant more in another spot than

[SFUVancouver]

The new VGH pavillion
http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/1766/vghpavilion1july22008smnc1.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 2nd, 2008.

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/1815/newvghpavillion2july220uz3.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 2nd, 2008.

http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/350/newvghpavillion3july220yj6.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 2nd, 2008.


The Olympic Village from City Hall
http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/4634/olympicvillagefromcityhvw3.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 2nd, 2008.


Foundry from City Hall
http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/4554/foundryfromcityhalljulytv4.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 2nd, 2008.


Crossroads from City Hall
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/1637/crossroadsfromcityhalljmp6.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 2nd, 2008.

Crossroads from Broadway
http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/4983/crossroadsfrombroadwayjuu5.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 2nd, 2008.

Crossroads from a couple weeks ago during the stormy weather
http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/9769/crossroadsandcloudsjunefq7.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, June 18th, 2008.


New Canada Line signage
http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/2425/broadwaycityhallcanadalzu9.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 2nd, 2008.

[officedweller]

Tnanks for the pics.

Crossroads office tower should have been taller.

[jlousa]

Wow, blown away by the following document.

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20080708/documents/motiona1.pdf

Would love to see this come to fruitation although I'd hate to see Rona leave.

[WarrenC12]

Wow, blown away by the following document.

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20080708/documents/motiona1.pdf

Would love to see this come to fruitation although I'd hate to see Rona leave.

Speaking as a local resident, Rona is crap. I can walk there but I end up driving/skytraining to Home Depot whenever I need something. They are over priced and never seem to have the right part.

Now that I'm done ranting, any improvement would be great. I can't wait for the Canadian tire complex to be complete, and check out the new bikes at the Ducati dealer. :)

Can you tell me what is happening with the old "real canadian warehouse" or whatever that has been empty across from Renfrew station for years? The land was recently sold and they look like they are doing some work on the building.

[hollywoodnorth]

wow!! :)

[SpongeG]

Speaking as a local resident, Rona is crap. I can walk there but I end up driving/skytraining to Home Depot whenever I need something. They are over priced and never seem to have the right part.

Now that I'm done ranting, any improvement would be great. I can't wait for the Canadian tire complex to be complete, and check out the new bikes at the Ducati dealer. :)

Can you tell me what is happening with the old "real canadian warehouse" or whatever that has been empty across from Renfrew station for years? The land was recently sold and they look like they are doing some work on the building.

i was wondering that too about the whole canadian wholesale club

looked like the parking lot has become a park n ride though probably temporary

[jlousa]

There had been rumours at the time the Microsoft was looking at it, but then they signed the lease in Richmond and I never heard anything expect it sold shortly after that.

[Architype]

Nice pics SFU, the VGH building is not bad, and the Olympic Village area is becoming prominent from many vantage points.

[SFUVancouver]

Musee is complete, save for some finishing work in the suites. Strange that there are no street trees.
http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/7424/museejuly32008p1080428xa2.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 3rd, 2008.

Camera is coming along.
http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/4021/camerajuly32008p1080426oa8.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 3rd, 2008.

The two together, looking south from 7th.
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/7488/cameraandmuseejuly32008bw7.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 3rd, 2008.

Mantra (4 storeys, zoned C-2, flats above shops).
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/5571/mantrajuly32008p1080432lr5.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 3rd, 2008.

Lumen (4 storeys, zoned C-2, flats above offices)
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/916/lumenjuly32008p1080434ls7.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 3rd, 2008.

[deasine]

There had been rumours at the time the Microsoft was looking at it, but then they signed the lease in Richmond and I never heard anything expect it sold shortly after that.

Darn.

Well I hope Rona could continue to have a location there... maybe it should be integrated into the development like Home Depot on Cambie.

[SpongeG]

Queen Elizabeth neighbours rally for trees

T-shirts, art in the park all part of campaign to preserve park greenery

Korina Houghton, parks board chair, said the board was satisfied with the turnout at the open house and with the broad poll. She said the trees to be felled aren't particularly healthy and were planted with a lack of foresight. "Put yourself in the place of those folks in the 1950s, they never thought that the views were going to become an issue, they just had them," she said.

Jacobs, another local resident and opponent to the plan, said the parks board has exaggerated the poor condition of the trees. He said dogwoods in another prominent position that doesn't affect views are diseased but are not on the chopping block.

Buium said the Community Vision for the area mentions preserving views, but not at the expense of losing trees. He added removing fewer trees might be acceptable to some of the current plan's opponents. While Houghton said speakers at the upcoming parks board meeting could suggest alternatives, Jacobs noted no changes were made to the plan after the open house.

"A historical treasure--Canada's oldest civic arboretum--should not be put on the chopping block at a time when so many are concerned with climate change and how this invaluable arboretum is actually functioning as a 'carbon sink' for the air pollution being created in our city," states a letter sent by Buium on behalf of the Community Vision steering committee to the mayor and city council.

Houghton said tree lovers should keep things in perspective. "The proposal here is only encompassing less than one per cent of the park's present tree cover," Houghton said. "So it's not a lot of trees at the end of the day."

Dooley argues the tall trees on the north side of the park represent a larger proportion of the big trees in the park.

Art in the Park happens July 6 from 1 to 8 p.m. Visitors are advised to walk in a diagonal direction from Cambie and 29th towards the grove of trees and settle there or anywhere on the left side in the open area. For more information, contact Waclawik at 604-732-5538 or twaclawik@telus.net.

The July 7 meeting happens at Killarney Community Centre, 6260 Killarney St., at 7 p.m. For more information, see www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/parks, and look under "Park Board," "Next Meeting."




http://www.canada.com/vancouvercourier/news/story.html?id=7ba8055e-bb1e-4a57-92df-3a0cb9326560&p=1

[ravman]

does anyone know about the KingEdwardVillage development... i know a save on foods is supposed to open but i wonder when and the reason i ask is that it would be the second one in van which had none last year lol

[SpongeG]

what is the brown building? its kinda neat

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/7488/cameraandmuseejuly32008bw7.jpg

[fever]

I'm pretty sure that's a church

[sacrifice333]

what is the brown building? its kinda neat

It's a church, Grace Vancouver I believe. Great looking building.

[sacrifice333]

The two together, looking south from 7th.
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/7488/cameraandmuseejuly32008bw7.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 3rd, 2008.

Musee has some of the most random marketing I've seen in Vancouver, at least regarding price. Every time I see the project advertised I see a different price... and the prices aren't just escalating, they're bouncing. $485 ---> $389 ---> $439 ----> $489 ------> ????

My wife and I are waiting on a small suite in Camera.

[quobobo]

"A historical treasure--Canada's oldest civic arboretum--should not be put on the chopping block at a time when so many are concerned with climate change and how this invaluable arboretum is actually functioning as a 'carbon sink' for the air pollution being created in our city," states a letter sent by Buium on behalf of the Community Vision steering committee to the mayor and city council

....growing trees absorb noticably more carbon than fully grown ones, if I remember correctly. Also, they're replanting twice as many trees as they cut down.

This is ridiculous, but I guess they're just NIMBYs after all.

[sacrifice333]

....growing trees absorb noticably more carbon than fully grown ones, if I remember correctly. Also, they're replanting twice as many trees as they cut down.

This is ridiculous, but I guess they're just NIMBYs after all.

It's amazing people haven't learned anything from Stanley Park. :shrug:

[SpongeG]

Trees to come down at Queen E Park despite objections
But Hollow Tree gets reprieve

VANCOUVER -- The city's park board has decided to cut down 70 trees to improve the view from Queen Elizabeth Park.

Despite opposition from community members who want the trees preserved, the board voted four-to-two to clean up three overgrown areas in the park that block city and mountain views.

The board will plant about 140 new trees to make up for the loss.

NEW RESTAURANT ON ENGLISH BAY

The Vancouver Park Board has approved permits to develop a new eatery on English Bay.

Plans for the English Bay Bistro have been in the works for months.

The new restaurant is intended to replace an existing concession stand at the foot of Denman Street.

In the past, community members have expressed concerns about the development of the beach.

HOLLOW TREE STILL STANDS

The Stanley Park Hollow Tree will stand a little longer after the Vancouver Park Board decided to put a hold on plans to take it down.

In order to review engineering reports to see if it can be kept standing, the board is waiting another 150 days before taking down the tree.

The board had originally said the damaged old tree would be taken down before the Canada Day long weekend due to safety concerns. That decision was opposed by those who wanted the historical landmark preserved.

WHARF BY WAYSIDE

The Vancouver Park Board also decided to demolish most of the Jericho Marginal Wharf.

Part of the wharf will be preserved for historical value. The board's new plan will also see more beach space created in the area.

Some community members had wanted the wharf repaired and preserved.

http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=0a09c2a1-9649-483b-a88a-6a60b48cb061

[radacal]

why are they building two single family homes half a block from the skytrain station, north on joyce street? what happened to densifying around skytrain stations? :(

[jlousa]

I agree it's a waste, but the city can not impose anything on the owners, if they want to build a sfh they are free to do so.
Besides nothing has been upzoned yet.

[jlousa]

More infill on the west side.

"Kore" 1808 W. 3rd Ave
6 storey with 2 levels u/g parking. 31 condo units with CRU on main level.
Start Nov/08 complete in 09.

[officedweller]

Pics from NEWS1130:

Enjoy the view: Controversial trees cut down at QE Park
Thursday, July 17 - 01:45:00 PM

Renee Bernard/Mike Hanafin
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - You can now once again see downtown Vancouver from the lookout at Queen Elizabeth Park. This morning Parks crews took chainsaws to dozens of trees blocking panoramic views on the north side of the lookout.

The Park Board recently approved the cutting of a total of 70 trees blocking 2 different viewpoints, despite protests from people who wanted the trees saved. The goal is to restore partial views from the summit of the park. (See comparison photos below)

The Park Board stresses that they are not aiming to recreate a 360 degree panoramic vista from the top of the park. The trees will be replaced with newly planted trees on a 2-for-1 basis, starting this fall and winter.

Trees removed from the lookouts will be replaced with species attaining a maximum mature height of 5-10 metres, to ensure that the new trees will not block the views in the future.

The area where the trees have been felled is blocked off by yellow tape. It will take about a week to clean up the debris, but the rest of the park will remain open.

At one point, there were plans to postpone any tree-cutting on trees with nests, but an independent biologist did not find any nests

http://rogersradiointernet.com/BC/CKWX/images/2007/QEpark%20view2.jpg
BEFORE: View from lookout at QE Park
News1130 Photo

http://rogersradiointernet.com/BC/CKWX/images/2007/QE%20Park%20new%20view2.jpg
AFTER: New view from same lookout
News1130 Photo

[djh]

Looks like they need to trim even more trees. Within a year those trees will have grown enough to hide the city view completely.

It's really illogical that people get upset over non-endangered trees being cut down, especially considering the 2 for 1 planting happening. Do those people not write on paper, read newspapers, use paper bags or cardboard boxes, or live in a house made of and with wooden products? Trees are our most useful renewable resource, so if they are just normal trees that are cut down and replaced, what's the big problem!? Sheesh!

[Yume-sama]

Looks like they need to trim even more trees. Within a year those trees will have grown enough to hide the city view completely.

It's really illogical that people get upset over non-endangered trees being cut down, especially considering the 2 for 1 planting happening. Do those people not write on paper, read newspapers, use paper bags or cardboard boxes, or live in a house made of and with wooden products? Trees are our most useful renewable resource, so if they are just normal trees that are cut down and replaced, what's the big problem!? Sheesh!

Neo-con fascist.


:haha: :haha: :haha: :tup:

[SFUVancouver]

Downtown from City Hall
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/9562/downtownfromcityhalljulqq4.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 18th, 2008.

Crossroads
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/492/crossroadsjuly162008p10hy5.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 18th, 2008.

Shangri-La
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7564/shangrilafromcityhalljuin1.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) Taken by SFUVancouver, July 18th, 2008.

[nathan6969]

It's amazing how much Shangri-La blends in with the mountains in that first picture...

[Architype]

Looks like they need to trim even more trees. Within a year those trees will have grown enough to hide the city view completely.

It's really illogical that people get upset over non-endangered trees being cut down, especially considering the 2 for 1 planting happening. Do those people not write on paper, read newspapers, use paper bags or cardboard boxes, or live in a house made of and with wooden products? Trees are our most useful renewable resource, so if they are just normal trees that are cut down and replaced, what's the big problem!? Sheesh!
Yes, in the big picture (which is what we want) a few trees don't matter to the environment. When I go up there I want to see the view as well as the park, it's all part of the experience. Anyway, there's an excuse to need taller buildings. :)

[entheosfog]

Commercial and about 12th. Any idea what's going here? Prob just some condo-type infill I'd guess:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF7321.jpg?t=1216618491

I think this building is getting a new basement. Kinda neat how you can see all the action through the existing windows:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF7325.jpg?t=1216619172

[SpongeG]

yeah they are digging out a basement - pretty cool

its apparently going to be the future home of Pottery Barn Kids - which are pretty big stores - there is no way they could have fit a store and all the storage that would be required for it in the old space

i think it was previously a shoe store and than it was a temp store for pottery barn

[mr.x]

Library proposal sparks furore

John Mackie, Vancouver Sun
Published: Wednesday, July 23, 2008

VANCOUVER - Usually, neighbourhoods are happy to get a new library. But a proposal to build a $14.5-million library at Hastings and Heatley has some Strathcona residents outraged because it would involve tearing down historic buildings in the city's oldest neighbourhood.

The main bone of contention is the Heatley Block, a two-storey commercial building that has four commercial spaces on the main floor and a rooming house above. Built in 1930, it is the only "character" building left on a fairly bleak strip of Hastings.

"The City of Vancouver went out real estate shopping for a site for the new public library, and they just happened to buy the best building on that part of Hastings," says John Atkin of the Strathcona Residents Association.

"Here we have a building that has people living in it, and retail on the ground floor, viable stores, and we're going to wipe it out.

"It just seems [dumb] to have purchased the best building on Hastings street architecturally and you're going to blow it up. I don't care what the amenity is that we're getting out of it, it just seems wrong."

The Heatley Block isn't on the city's official heritage register, which was compiled in 1985 and is about to be upgraded. Neither are two old houses on the same site which date to 1889 and 1898. The 1889 structure is probably one of the 10 oldest houses in Vancouver.

Strathcona resident Claudine Michaud says the Heatley Block and the old houses have heritage merit, whether they're on the official list or not. She sees it as a Strathcona version of the Black Swan building in Kitsilano, another handsome old building with no heritage status that was recently demolished.

"[The Heatley Block is] one of the last buildings of its kind in the city," said Michaud. "It's a very handsome building."

Atkin fears that if the Heatley Block is torn down, it would help cement a commercial dead zone on Hastings, where there are several social housing buildings in the adjacent two blocks.

"If our other stated aim is to revitalize Hastings Street, we've done a pretty lousy job of it," he said.

"We've allowed all these social services agencies to go in, and allowed them to escape the requirement for retail.

"There may not be any retail to go on Hastings Street right away, but 10 years from now, as the condo boom keeps moving, we're going to see people wanting to do retail on Hastings and there won't be any space."

The city's real estate department purchased the three lots on the Heatley block site for $1.8 million on June 15. It is also looking to buy an old welfare office next door to make a bigger library. The office is now co-owned and occupied by the Pivot Legal Society, an advocacy group that bought it for $850,000 two years ago. The proposed library could be up to 16,000 square feet, up from 1,500 square feet at the current Strathcona library.

Paul Whitney of the Vancouver Public Library said the city and library had several meetings with neighbourhood residents about the need for a new library.

"Since the early 1990s, a full- service library branch that serves both the Downtown Eastside and Strathcona communities, and Chinatown, has been a top capital priority for the library board, and we've never been able to realize it," Whitney said.

"We did consultations in 2003 and 2004 and the message we got was that the only way we could do a full-service branch for the disparate communities was to have it on the south side of Hastings Street. People were really clear that it had be on the south side. They wanted it to be as close to the school as possible."

The Heatley Block met the criteria, so the city snapped it up.

But Michaud feels there may be other factors involved. She said zoning allows for an eight-storey building on the Heatley Block site, and thinks the city wants to build housing on top of the library, as it is doing at the new Mount Pleasant Community Centre at Kingsway and Main.

"We're concerned they're going to take full advantage of the zoning on this block to build the full height, in exchange for having a developer pay for the cost of purchasing the land and perhaps building the library," Michaud said.

"We're also wondering why they didn't take the opportunity to buy other buildings that are for sale the next block over, between Heatley and Hawks. These buildings were built in the 1960s or '70s, they're single storey, they have no historical value.

"Why didn't the city snap those up? The only difference is that that block is only zoned for four storeys."

Atkin said one solution would be to use a brick building on the Strathcona school site at Pender and Heatley for the library.

But Whitney said the problem with the school building is that it would be "next to impossible to effectively serve the Downtown Eastside community from that facility."

jmackie@png.canwest.com

[SpongeG]

that is a great building

[entheosfog]

Heatley Block, taken by me last November:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc300/whereismymind2007/DSCF5104.jpg?t=1216870593

Definitely one of the standout buildings on that block.

[officedweller]

Project at Broadway & Commercial on the old Funeral home site.
4 storeys - half a block from the Skytrain - what's wrong with this picture?

http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/dpboard/2008/PDF/1669%20East%20Broadway%20-%20DE412066%20-%20POST%20DPSC.pdf

Project at 7th & Fir:

http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/dpboard/2008/PDF/1601%20West%207th%20Avenue%20-%20DE412144.pdf

[fever]

Project at Broadway & Commerial on the old Funeral home site.
4 storeys - half a blcok from the Skytrain - what's wrong with this picture?

http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/dpboard/2008/PDF/1669%20East%20Broadway%20-%20DE412066%20-%20POST%20DPSC.pdf



Ample parking too. How convenient!

[phesto]

Project at Broadway & Commercial on the old Funeral home site.
4 storeys - half a block from the Skytrain - what's wrong with this picture?

http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/dpboard/2008/PDF/1669%20East%20Broadway%20-%20DE412066%20-%20POST%20DPSC.pdf


RE: Broadway and Commercial – the laughable thing about it is how much of a struggle it is just to get a 3.0 FSR (outright approval on that site is for 1.0 FSR!). Wesgroup is having to prove that they’ve earned 4 storeys in height and density. Given that their mandate is to build only ~50,000 sq ft for VCH on a long-term lease basis, they likely just want to get the thing built and not attempt going through the brain damage of pointing out the flaws in the City’s policy for allowable density surrounding the Broadway “Transit Hub”.

Regarding the parking; it was probably a request of Vancouver Coastal Health during lease negotiations since this is a community health centre, but I agree, it’s way too much given that they’ll only have 150 staff there, and that the majority of users won’t be driving to use the facilities, but will be taking the bus and skytrain.

[quobobo]

RE: Broadway and Commercial – the laughable thing about it is how much of a struggle it is just to get a 3.0 FSR (outright approval on that site is for 1.0 FSR!).

Wow. Just wow.

[mr.x]

utter incompetence.....it's almost like they have tunnel vision. we have really narrow minded people incapable of thinking outside of the box running city hall.

[officedweller]

However:



City hall greenlights density hike
Neighbours worried about West Broadway condo tower

Cheryl Rossi, Vancouver Courier
Published: Friday, July 25, 2008

This isn't Yaletown, says a poster along the West Seventh Avenue bike route in Fairview.

But Tuesday afternoon council unanimously approved an increase in density for a proposed 17-storey condo tower north of the Holiday Inn on West Broadway.

The previous zoning permitted a four-storey development with a floor area of nearly 22,000 square metres on the parking lot behind the hotel between Heather and Willow. Now, a narrow 17-storey tower, the same height as the hotel, will be erected behind its blank north facade, with shorter structures that terrace down from it. An additional 9,400 square metres of floor area is permitted. Westbank Projects Corporation, the developer, and Peterson Investment Group, the owner, and Henriquez Partners architects propose 122 residential units with 159 residential parking spaces in three levels of underground parking with access from a lane off West Eighth.

Westbank is transferring 70,000 square feet, or 43 per cent, of the bonus density it received from providing five public gathering spaces in the Woodward's development in the Downtown Eastside to the West Eighth site. It's providing six residential units to the city for the co-op across the street to manage as affordable housing for its aging members--an estimated $1 million in-kind amenity. The developer is also providing $1 million for traffic calming and bikeway improvements on Heather Street between West Seventh Avenue and West Broadway.

Public hearings lasted two nights with 35 opposing presentations over the two evenings. Neighbours were concerned about being overshadowed by the development and experiencing more traffic in their busy community and they worried the city's approval of the height and density would set a precedent for other developers eyeing the area. None of the speakers at the public hearing spoke in support of the zoning amendment.

"But there were some who spoke in favour of having the co-op housing units in there," said Michael Naylor, a planner in the city's rezoning centre. "They tended to say that they were opposed to the development, in particular the height and density of the development, but they said if it has to go ahead, then please include these units."

City Coun. Peter Ladner said the more detailed work on the proposed development addressed most of the neighbour's concerns. "When we saw the shadow projections they were not that significant," Ladner said. "If you look at the shadows from the hedges in the co-op itself, they were casting bigger shadows onto the courtyard than the building would be."

A staff report states the amount of sunlight reaching the facades of the buildings across Eighth Avenue would be reduced during the spring and fall equinox, with no reduction during the summer. The limited winter sunlight would be further blocked.

Ladner said neighbours don't need to worry that the go-ahead sets a new standard for the area because the property extends right to West Broadway so it could be expected to take more density, it was already zoned as a comprehensive development district, and the building had no windows on the north side so no views will be blocked.

A traffic study concluded additional traffic that the development would add to the area's intersections would be minimal, Ladner said. "This is close to amenities, close to the Cambie transit line, close to what are bound to be some kind of improvements on the Broadway line, which is already pretty well served by transit," he added. "So if there's anywhere we could be putting density in our city, it's places like this."

© Vancouver Courier 2008

[SFUVancouver]

^ I'm happy to hear that was approved. When Westbank and Henriquez work together it seems good things flow to the city. As an aside, Henriquez' ultra-green tower on Davie st at the Balthazar site is going to blow people's socks off when more details are made public.

I think the Holiday Inn tower is going to be a really good improvement over what is currently an ugly parking lot and a great blank concrete wall. I especially like the comment about the neighbours' hedges casting more shadow than the tower. Councillor Ladner is also completely correct that neighbours shouldn't be surprised that major buildings will be built along the Broadway Corridor. It is an area, after all, that has the second most dense concentration of jobs west of Calgary, second only to the downtown core itself. Lastly, that is an awfully generous CAC package; $1 million dollars worth of senior's housing for the adjacent co-op, significant bikeway improvements along the Heather Bike Route. For the latter I'm hoping they go so far as to build it to calibre of the Carrall Street Greenway. I hope that as we go forward in this century all of our official bike streets will be built to that standard.

[jlousa]

Henriquez and Partners and Westbank have another project in the works, but it's still very early.

Anyways another project to post about.
1550 Carolina St + 688 Terminal Ave
8 storey building ~50,000sqft.
Office, retail and manufacturing.
2 Story brewery with banquet hall
Over 1.5 levels og u/g parking.
Start early09.

[osirisboy]

^ I'm happy to hear that was approved. When Westbank and Henriquez work together it seems good things flow to the city. As an aside, Henriquez' ultra-green tower on Davie st at the Balthazar site is going to blow people's socks off when more details are made public.

hmm where is this again? and whats the proposal?

[entheosfog]

Henriquez and Partners and Westbank have another project in the works, but it's still very early.

Anyways another project to post about.
1550 Carolina St + 688 Terminal Ave
8 storey building ~50,000sqft.
Office, retail and manufacturing.
2 Story brewery with banquet hall
Over 1.5 levels og u/g parking.
Start early09.

Hopefully that part of Terminal gets built out more, especially seeing as it's so close to the Skytrain and Olympic Village.

[SpongeG]

hmm where is this again? and whats the proposal?

its behind/beside the london drugs on davie...

[jlousa]

Thought there was a Hastings Park thread but I can't find it anywhere. Anyways The COV has issued a RFP regarding the Hastings Park master plan, they are envisioned to have it approved and started around Winter 2010. Not too much new, they will keep the fair, playland as well as the track and the colisiuem into the future. They will reshape the park from being a park inside fairgrounds to being an urban park with a fair inside it. Sounds like a good idea to me and will keep the PNE there indefinately ( I can already hear somepeople groaning). They plan on linking it to New Brighton Park as well as Hastings Park South. I've posted a couple of the proposed renderings as well as the RFP. I'm sure we'll hear some complaints from the usual suspect.

http://vancouver.ca/bid/bidopp/RFP/documents/PS08076.pdf

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/jlousa/option3.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/jlousa/option4.jpg

[LeftCoaster]

Wow, i knew Playland was small but I never really knew it took up that little of Hastings Park. Why would the city not allow Playland expand into that parking area or the empire sports field where I have never once seen anything occuring?

Way more wasted space there than I ever realised. Much potential though I suppose.

[mr.x]

These "improvements" will just make the PNE even smaller and crappier as it is, especially the fourth approach. They created that pond a few years ago which replaced quite a few fairground buildings. And really, how many people actually visit Hastings Park? Besides events at the Coliseum, horse racing, Playland, Agrodome events, and the Fair.

Stop boxing in Playland, move it elsewhere so that it can actually grow and become a real amusement park. As with Hastings Park, turn part of it into a zoo by moving animals from the Greater Vancouver Zoo.....a zoo at the park will actually get some attendance, which will mean decent and well kept exhibit space for the animals. The exhibit space out at Abbottsford is a terrible place for animals.

[jlousa]

I like the new proposal, the park is much better used these days then it used to be when it had the buildings up. I like the idea of having the fair inside a park.
There is no way we will ever have a zoo in Vancouver so you might as well toss that idea aside. The people do not want it.
There is also no use for a year round asumement park in this city, the weather does not cooperate and the demand isn't there. Look at the attendance figures the PNE gets 1Million over 17days, playland gets 350,000 over 7 months (probably 100days).

I would hate to lose the PNE and playland and I feel this is a great solution to keep it here while providing something of use to the city for the rest of the year. Maybe install the old airtrams back into the park and/or a miniature train like stanley parks.

[Smooth]

Maybe install the old airtrams back into the park and/or a miniature train like stanley parks.

A miniature train WITH robotic dinosaurs perhaps?

[vanlaw]

I like the tie in with New Brighton Park. Stroled down there the other day for first time. It's actually a great park - kind of a hidden gem.

[SpongeG]

the overpasses are a great idea - will encourage more pedestrian movement from the area

it would be cool if they added a large ferris wheel like the one in london or niagra falls

something to draw visitors as it would be very visible from a lot of areas get amazing views of the mountaions and downtown etc as its a high vantage point

keep a few of the rides - like the coaster and just charge a per ride fee maybe add in a carousel and a few simple family things like they have those little parks in europe where you can stroll around and ride if you want or not

and than put in a good restaurant somewhere in the park which would draw in people and events like weddings or whatever who can than take advantage of the park

and than move playland somewhere where it can be a real amusement park

[LeftCoaster]

hmmm, the more I think about it the more I like that idea.

They really do need to spruce up hastings race track and get rid of all those wasted parking lots though.

[jlousa]

Wouldn't be a bad idea to get rid of all the surface parking lots and create one multi-level one next to the colisum and another one in hasting park south, it would free up alot of space while also increasing the amount of parking. I'm sure the revenues could justify a parkade being built. It would also be much easier to secure and they could add solar panels or a green roof to the top.
Anyways I'm looking forward to see what the master plan comes out looking like, I imagine there will be quite a few upgrades from the current proposals.