[Surrey] Whalley District | 6 + 35 + 37 + 46 fl | U/C

[Shift]

Project: Whalley District
Developer: Tien Sher Group
Architect: Chris Dikeakos Architects
Height: 6 + 35 + 37 + 46 floors
Use: Mixed-Use, Condo, Live-work, Retail, Arts space
Address: 13665 - 107A Avenue, 10740 & 10768 - King George Boulevard
Anticipated Start: Spring 2018
Anticipated Finish: 2020 onward

Heading to Council on Monday June 12.

To be built in phases starting with a 6-storey commercial/residential building + a 35-storey condo tower with retail/arts/plaza space at the base.

Phase 1 expected to begin construction early 2018.

Phase 2-3 will consist of 37 + 46-storey towers and a park/plaza near the corner of 108th & King George.

Planning Report: http://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcounci...15-0305-00.pdf

[osirisboy]

Some discrepancies. Is there or is there not going to be surface parking along kgb and on the plan it says phase one tower is 36 not 30 floors. Is the master plan (first pic) wrong?

[Shift]

^Fixed. Phase 1 consists of a 35-storey tower as per the report.

I would assume that parking lot is going. Maybe they are just showing it on that plan as existing/temporary until phase 2-3 are built?

Bad place for a parking lot if that's not the case.

[osirisboy]

Yeah hopefully the parking lot won't be there. It also shows the lane connecting to kgb but in the renderings it just dead ends into the park

[Shift]

Actually, it looks like they are proposing a "short term" parking lot there, as well as lane access to KGB. That's unfortunate. Not liking how this project meets King George.

[djmk]

Originally Posted by Shift

Project: Whalley District

Address: 9887 Whalley Blvd (Next to King George Station)

This will be a big change to this neighbourhood! (but it's not near King George Station)

[Shift]

Originally Posted by djmk

This will be a big change to this neighbourhood! (but it's not near King George Station)

^Fixed!
13665 - 107A Avenue
10740 & 10768 - King George Boulevard

[osirisboy]

They need to get rid of that parking and provide curb side parking along the lane way instead. Problem solved. I'm ok with the lane meeting kgb, that's normal

*edit. What they should do Is allow parking along kgb.

[Shift]

Would have been nicer to have the edge of the podium follow the curve of King George, and be a bit more prominent for that intersection / interface with the park on the corner.

[Shift]

More details on Phase 1:

• A 6-storey condo tower with retail at ground level fronting Whalley Blvd
• A 35-storey condo tower with retail, arts, and plaza space below.
• 4 live/work townhouse units
• A 426-sq. metre (4,585-sq.ft.) street-level outdoor plaza at the intersection of future 136A Street and 107A Avenue. The plaza is intended to be used as a public gathering space where frequent weekend entertainment, education, and art events can take place. The applicant has proposed to partner with a non-profit arts and culture organization (Flamingo Square Arts Connection) to activate the space.
• 349 dwelling units.
• The commercial component will be 1,960 square metres (21,095 sq.ft.)

[Whalleyboy]

Glad to see i'm not the only one who dislikes how this will not go up against king george. Although seeing as that is phase 2 there is hope it can be changed by then.

[Lev]

Park looks nice, everything look nice. Will the "up-scaled" park and neighborhood going to attract the same group of "buggies" after completion?

[EhJay]

Public Reading June 26

[POCO]

They're seriously gonna call it the Whalley District?

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by POCO

They're seriously gonna call it the Whalley District?

I think the city needs to retire the name whalley lol. It has so many negative connotations attached to it. Why they would market this whalley district is mind boggling

[rickvug]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

I think the city needs to retire the name whalley lol. It has so many negative connotations attached to it. Why they would market this whalley district is mind boggling

Arguably this is actually a really smart move. Give this development any other name. What is the first thing people are going to say? "Ew, that's in the heart of Whalley". There's no getting around it. It is better to get ahead of the issue and embrace the name. There is a certain authenticity to it. Tell a story about the rebirth of a neighbourhood. People love to buy into what they think is a turn around. Makes them think that they're shrewd and savvy investors looking around the corner to some glorious future.

That's my theory anyhow.

[Pinion]

Didn't they already try rebranding Whalley? Central City, changing West Whalley Ring Road to University Drive, etc?

[Whalleyboy]

yes they've tried rebranding Whalley a few times. Its doesn't go down well when they do it actually thus why Whalley blvd is still the name of the one road. Believe it or not people are still proud to use the Whalley name. It has history to it not just a bad rep. With history you have a sense of being and heart. I for one am glad they're using the Whalley name after all that is Whalleys corner for those who know the history of that area. The city centre would not be what it is today if Arthur Whalley didn't have his gas stop there.

[Blease]

I was never a supporter of the name re-brand, so I'm happy to see the name "Whalley" is back and being associated with new developments and positive changes. When I visit friends and family in areas of Greater Vancouver in grew-up in, I always go out of the way to mention I live in Whalley and never Central City, a name that is as fake and hollow as ever existed. From the little I've read about the area, Whalley has a colourful and storied history and new developments would do well to incorporate as much of that as possible.

[osirisboy]

I support a rebrand. But central city wasn't good. It's generic with no history behind it. I'm pretty sure they could find a new name that is associated with the areas history.

Whalley is kind of like Sears, it's damaged haha