70 storey tower planned in Surrey

[Yellow Fever]

70-storey tower planned


Published: October 30, 2008 4:00 PM
Updated: October 30, 2008 5:05 PM

Several towers, with one as high as 70 storeys, are being promised for Surrey's City Centre as part of a $1.6-billion development over the next 15 years.

Berezan Management Ltd. announced Thursday its plans to develop the property on King George Highway, near the SkyTrain terminus at 100 Avenue.

"We are very excited about this project," said Ralph Berezan in a release. "Despite the current level of economic uncertainty, we are confident in the long-term potential of Surrey's City Centre...”

The project would be on approximately 10 acres of land and would consist of a 70-storey multi-use building (office and residential), a 55-storey hotel and office complex as well as 3 residential towers of 40 to 50 storeys which would include residential housing, assisted living and affordable housing.

http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr71/yellowfever_2008/26825surreytower.jpg

All of the buildings would sit on a large shopping mall, with movie theatres, entertainment centres, and include open roof top gardens and a huge open gathering area for the general public. This area would include gardens, waterfalls, open restaurants, open markets, shops and cultural exhibition

One of the towers is expected to contain a vertical farm, with several floors of agriculture.

"It is our intention to make this project carbon-neutral while provide job opportunities for people in Surrey," Berezan said.

[WinnipegPatriot]

But...but...I want this tower in Vancouver...:(

How sad that is that the province's tallest skyscraper will not be in Vancouver proper...

[Vanman]

^Not necessarily true:

From the Province:

Quote:
Taller blocks on horizon
Views may be lost in push for more space

Christina Montgomery, The Province
Published: Thursday, October 30, 2008

Vancouver's cherished views of mountains and water are in danger of being blocked by taller buildings.

Officially protected by the city's "view corridor" policy, the open sights of the surrounding landscape are now coming up for debate as Vancouver grapples with its need for more space in downtown buildings.

The city needs more public amenities such as parks in the rapidly growing downtown area -- and the main way it gets them is by making developers pay for them in exchange for "air space" to build into.

Vancouver is also in need of more "job space" -- any building where people work.

This week, council agreed to let buildings in Downtown South, a strip along Granville between Burrard and False Creek North, be built higher than 100 metres, which was the prior restriction.

Council also decided to review view corridors and all downtown height limits -- and to "recommend changes, if appropriate, to achieve additional development."

The review could result in some areas of the city -- the south side of False Creek, for example -- losing their views of the mountains.

NPA Coun. Peter Ladner, who supported the idea of giving up views for amenities, suggested that if the new buildings were attractive enough, they might be a good trade-off for mountain vistas.

This trade-off may be necessary -- and the issue is pressing, according to a staff report.

It notes that the city has had many of its heritage buildings restored through a program known as "heritage density bonusing."

Developers pay the considerable cost of renovating the buildings in exchange for a density bonus -- a precise amount of space they are allowed to add to another building elsewhere, or sell to another developer who wants it.

But with its restrictive zoning and height regulations, the city has now run out of downtown sites where the bonuses can be used -- and taller buildings would be the answer to this problem.

cmontgomery@theprovince.com

© The Vancouver Province 2008

[WinnipegPatriot]

Talk is good....just as long as it does not drag on and on...

[DrT]

This week, council agreed to let buildings in Downtown South, a strip along Granville between Burrard and False Creek North, be built higher than 100 metres, which was the prior restriction.

This is very good.

Implying that, at least this much, is a done deal.

[Yellow Fever]

But...but...I want this tower in Vancouver...:(

How sad that is that the province's tallest skyscraper will not be in Vancouver proper...

I like it because I live in Surrey, the soon to be largest city in BC.

[Trey]

70 story's eh?? thats one heck of a building. hope it pulls through .

[dleung]

Just looking at how the towers have no relationship to the street grid, and all five of them are sitting on a massive podium instead... this is unfortunately still a very suburban-type superblock development. It smacks of Dubai-style masterplanning and won't do anything for the pedestrian realm. That said, it will still be nice to have for the skyline, and hopefully as a catalyst for more (better) development in the future.

[Rhino]

reminds me of the last time we heard of this structure being built. This is the same one isnt it? Or did Surrey have two projects at 70 floors?

[raggedy13]

^That was a different project from a few years back. It was supposed to be more like 80 storeys. I believe it was really just some campaign promise to garner support in then mayor Doug McCallum's favour. When he lost the election to Diane Watts the tower died. I don't think it was ever an official proposal even. This 70 storey development is entirely different and at this point a more solid proposal with a seemingly good degree of support from the City and business community.

[Rhino]

Uh , I see. this one looks a lot nicer too, and it will give the City a solid down town Core.

[Yellow Fever]

Just looking at how the towers have no relationship to the street grid, and all five of them are sitting on a massive podium instead...


Reminds me of Shanghai.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i278/apathyandme/James%20Mau/SWFCA1small.jpg

by Mori

[dleung]

Unlike much of Canada, China is more into the business of constructing edifaces than cities.