The Independent (180 Kingsway) | 64.7m | 19fl | Completed

[Locked In]

I was amused to see this thread being cited by opponents of the project:

Developers to unveil revamped Mount Pleasant condo plan
Rize development at Broadway and Kingsway to house 500
CBC News Posted: Jul 17, 2013 6:39 AM PT Last Updated: Jul 17, 2013 6:38 AM PT

The developers behind a controversial condo project planned for Vancouver's Mount Pleasant neighbourhood are expected to unveil a new look for the site today.

...

But Stephen Bohus with Residents Association Mount Pleasant doesn't think the new plan fits.

"This tower is exactly the same height, and they've made it taller by adding trees to the top of the building,” he said.

“It's still a modern glass building, and if you look at their own critics from the development community, it's not getting good marks even on the pro-highrise skyscraper forum.”

Source: CBC

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by wrenegade

Looks like they lost of a lot of commercial space. I wonder if a grocery store is no longer in the cards? Issues with loading perhaps?

Maybe with a Buy-Low across the street, an IGA up Main Street, a No Frills down Broadway, Urban fare at OV, and a major grocery cluster at Broadway & Cambie, they couldn't find another operator willing to come to the neighbourhood. The only ones missing are Choices, Thrifty's (=Sobeys = Safeway) and PriceSmart (= Save-on-Foods).

[NewWester]

Methinks this might be too close to Whole Foods for Choices. Similar niche, similar products, not-so-different price point.

Also, if a building design being unpopular on this website were an impediment to its construction, very few new buildings would be made in Vancouver.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by NewWester

Also, if a building design being unpopular on this website were an impediment to its construction, very few new buildings would be made in Vancouver.

If it depended on dleung's approval then most of the city would have to be town down

[hollywoodnorth]

I like the project overall so ya ... thanks CBC ... ha!

[easy as pie]

i say build the broadway street fronting side another taller by 4-5 stories, and build the north/south alley out completely, ugly and and unnecessary.

[VanK]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Maybe with a Buy-Low across the street, an IGA up Main Street, a No Frills down Broadway, Urban fare at OV, and a major grocery cluster at Broadway & Cambie, they couldn't find another operator willing to come to the neighbourhood. The only ones missing are Choices, Thrifty's (=Sobeys = Safeway) and PriceSmart (= Save-on-Foods).

From my understanding of a lot of the major grocers, if they don't have a presence in the area and the rest of the competition is there, they still want to be there regardless... they just want a piece of the pie.

[jlousa]

There was supposed to be a food co-op going in, that's what was sold to the public, it doesn't look like the co-op was able to get the financing they needed though last I heard.

[logan5]

This project had my support, height, density, I was all in. After listening to Chris Vollan, vice president of Rize Alliance, lie to us on a radio interview regarding the building materials being used for this building - using building materials consistent with the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood - when the building is being clad with cheap metal panels, I have to retract my support for this project. At this point my support goes towards a nice lawn and a few park benches. I hope this project under this company never happens. Pure arrogance.

[officedweller]

FRom BIV:

Rize surprises city hall with Mount Pleasant tower changes;
By Peter Mitham

Tue Aug 20, 2013 12:01am PST

Rize surprise

The elimination of 34,000 square feet of retail space and its replacement with 95 new residential units in Rize Alliance Properties Ltd.’s project at Kingsway and Broadway is stirring concern – and not just in the surrounding Mount Pleasant neighbourhood.

Brian Jackson, general manager, planning and development for Vancouver, has recommended that the Rize proposal for the site – which underwent a controversial and hotly debated rezoning last year – receive extra scrutiny in light of the change of uses.

“The changes caught us by surprise, and therefore there are some good things and there are things that are causing us concern,” Jackson explained last week. “We have to look at the implications of that before I felt it was advisable to send it on.”

Consideration by the city’s urban design panel and development permit board of Rize’s application to redevelop the site with a mixed-use project including a 22-storey tower and 336 units of housing has consequently been deferred indefinitely.

Of particular concern is the elimination of commercial space previously slated for a co-op grocery store.

Word from the developer is that the food co-op was unable to secure financing for the space; Rize opted to eliminate the retail space rather than lease the space to a brand-name grocer that it felt the community didn’t want.

Rize vice-president Chris Vollan downplayed the extra scrutiny the project is receiving.

“Nothing too interesting to report,” he wrote this columnist last week. “City staff have asked for additional time to review the proposal, and I’m hoping we will be back on track pretty quickly.”

Jackson, however, declined to suggest when the project might proceed.

http://www.biv.com/article/20130820/...all-with-mount

[Jimbo604]

Development Permit Board Meeting for this was scheduled for Sept 23, 2013 but it was cancelled. No new date has been set yet.

Source: City of Vancouver Development Permit Webpage for 285 East 10th Avenue - Rize Alliance - DE416894

[Jimbo604]

Looking east towards Kingsgate mall

Photo credit: me

One of the buildings on this site was recently demolished.

[hollywoodnorth]

WOW! great great news thanks!

[Yakpi]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

WOW! great great news thanks!

I am in the white building just south of the recent demolition. (I guess our building will be next) I noticed today they put up fencing around the parking lot to the west of Watson. A surveyors truck has been parked all day.

Is that area part of the development?

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

[IMG]...[/IMG]

[IMG]...[/IMG]

[IMG]...[/IMG]
Looking east towards Kingsgate mall

Photo credit: me

One of the buildings on this site was recently demolished.

wasn't it damaged from a fire several year ago?

[quobobo]

I received an email about this project from Rize a few days ago:

Dear Neighbour,
After years of consultation with the community and the city, we are excited to announce that on or about Monday, March 24, 2014 we will begin construction of our Real Estate Presentation Centre at 2500 Main Street (at Broadway).
It is important to know that the construction of the Presentation Centre does not represent the beginning of sales efforts, although we are optimistic that our development permit will be approved and sales will commence this fall or early next year. To meet our timeline, it’s critical that we begin initial work now.
We thank you for your past and future support of our project and we’re confident that it will be a positive contribution to the vibrant culture and community already alive and well in Mount Pleasant.
Finally, we are happy to announce that we will be holding a city managed Community Open House in April to provide more detailed information on changes that were made to our Development Permit Application following community input last year. Details of this will be posted on the City of Vancouver’s website.

[Jimbo604]

Originally Posted by quobobo

I received an email about this project from Rize a few days ago:

You mean this parking lot?

[quobobo]

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

You mean this parking lot?

Yeah, must be that one - explains why Yakpi noted that it's fenced off now.

[CPE]

Is the parking lot going to eventually be a part of the development or is it just going to be the presentation center? Would be nice if they could throw in a provision for a future station or station house somewhere in those intersections.

[officedweller]

The project lies only to the east of the alley.