Quote:
Originally Posted by officedweller
Probably true, re: the rendering.
Conversion of floors from office to residential also assumes that Burnaby cares about actual building height versus adding floors.
Also possible that the marketing people didn't get the memo on the numbering prohibition.
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Doubtful.
Enough time has passed since Burnaby changed that regulation that if you're in marketing in 2019 and still don't know that you can't do that, then you probably shouldn't still be in the business and likely aren't being contracted by developers like Thind.
And also since other municipalities and cities also followed suit. So it's more or less well known all over the GVA.
Besides which, the same number is on Thind (the developer)'s own website.
It would be one thing for the marketing people not to be aware (and to send out information like this when they STILL have posters up at skytrain stations all over the place showing the 48 floor number), but it's another thing for the developer themselves who have to know the correct number and are the ones ultimately liable in the event of any misinformation to spread the same confusing message.
But all that being said, anything is possible I suppose.
EDIT:
I should also point out that I pointed out the possibility of the tower still maintaining the same height (and relative form) despite the plan and usage configuration change not because they were trying to adhere to some city height limit restriction requirement (especially not so much in Burnaby) but for the basic logic that chances are they are not spending more on construction costs if all you're doing is moving things around re: re-configuring the plan to have more residential floors (...and units) and fewer office floors, versus what would happen if you were adding the extra residential floors on top of what you already have which obviously means most overhead and higher construction costs than you already have financing for.
Remember that this are developers we're talking about here.
At the end of the day, they are bottom-line, hard numbers kind of people who ultimately or primarily only care about ROI and profit.
More likely they looked at more recent office vacancy rate statistics in Metrotown or the surrounding greater Burnaby area along with the relevant demand or lack thereof for leasing space, and ran the numbers and determined that they'd get a better return with residential units than with more expensive (though ultimately higher lease rate and more money) office space. It might also be speaking more to a greater confidence they have in the Condo/Residential market making a strong enough rebound to justify it.
Most importantly (which is what I really should have led with), since they're already in construction now with excavation, we can safely assume that they not only have a building or construction permit, but also the design permit.
A change in design or configuration that adds 5 floors (and significant height) and possibly alters the form of the building significantly, would almost certainly trigger or necessitate a re-application for another Design permit.
Unless you want to risk being ordered to tear the building down because it does not match the design permit application and design permit granted (which cities have actually done).
A design permit re-application is looking at additional weeks if not months added to your project.
Easier just to reconfigure the project around the design form you already have a permit for - which happens all the time in construction projects - and keep to your original schedule (and budget).
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