There's a suburban section in SSP, maybe here there could be one thread for each suburb. Great thing about Vancouver is how many thriving and expanding suburban centres there are.

I love how this pano (from the CENTRO website) shows the entire transition from single-family to attached to high-rise housing.
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/9346/richmondpanaromayu3.jpg

Current Projects
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/6623/statuslt3.jpg

http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/81/developmentsai3.jpg
http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/9679/flogs2.jpg FLO development with a view of the ubiquitous parkade-top garden and amenity.

The No3 and Westminster junction:
http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/6351/richmondhx4.jpg
http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/8195/projectsja0.jpg

great photos =)

Not looking good for the Capstan Way development.
From the Vancouver Sun:

Major Richmond project put in jeopardy

By Catherine Rolfsen and Derrick Penner, Vancouver SunJanuary 5, 2009Comments (2)

Richmond’s huge Sun Tech City project and the proposed Capstan Way Canada Line station are in jeopardy as Richmond council prepares to vote today on whether to shelve the 16-tower development.


A city staff report says the developers, Pinnacle International and Concord Pacific, have not lived up to their end of a deal in which they would help finance the additional Canada Line Station.


The developers could not be reached Monday, but Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie said the project may have been sideswiped by tough economic times.


The public-private development approach is similar to one Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon has drawn up for TransLink to help pay for future transit projects.


But the Richmond experience may be an indication that the approach is not foolproof when the economy takes a dive.


Pinnacle and Concord Pacific were to contribute $15 million towards construction of the Capstan Way station, which would be part of their 16-highrise, 2,000-plus-residential-unit development.


City councillors were to vote today on a staff recommendation to shelve bylaws enabling the development, which would also put the Canada Line station on hold.


The Sun Tech City development was to be built on 17 acres at No. 3 Road and Capstan Way.


“It’s disappointing,” Brodie said in an interview Monday. “The project simply hasn’t come together.”


Brodie said his best guess as to why developers haven’t met city requirements is “a change in market conditions, with the economic woes of the last two or three months.”


He said scrapping the project would require the station to be put on hold, since the two are interdependent.


“The Capstan station works if you have density in the immediate surrounding area, and the development works if you have the Capstan station,” Brodie said.


The Capstan Way station is one of four potential future Canada Line stations that are dependent on ridership and development, according to Steve Crombie, spokesman for InTransitBC, the private consortium that is building and will operate the Canada Line. It was not one of the stations due for completion in time for the transit line’s Nov. 30 opening day.


Brodie said he was “fully confident” the Capstan Way station will be built eventually, but developers will have to start from “square one” with a plan for the area.


In addition to the station, Richmond stood to benefit from Sun Tech City with affordable housing, a child-care facility, roads and parks.


The plan’s failure could affect other potential developments in the area since as density planning relies on the presence of a rapid-transit station, Brodie said.


According to the staff report, written by Richmond senior planner Suzanne Carter-Huffman, developers had until Nov. 28 of last year to meet a number of requirements, including a $15-million contribution toward the Capstan Way station and purchase of the city-owned lot.


But by that deadline, the developers said they would pay only $500,000 initially toward the station initially and the remainder when the larger development was half completed, according to Carter-Huffman.


“The developers’ proposal is NOT acceptable to Translink,” her report says.


The developers have also proposed a revised price for the lot that is about $1.6 million less than the council-approved price. Exact numbers were not cited in the report.


Carter-Huffman added that developers have not met the city’s child-care and affordable-housing stipulations either.


Crombie said all the $2-billion Canada Line’s stations slated to be ready for the line’s Nov. 30 opening day are under construction.


“[The proposed station] came along too late to add to the schedule,” Crombie said. “Also, it had been contingent on private development around the station proceeding.”


The three other Canada Line stations under consideration are at Cambie and 57th Avenue in Vancouver, one at Cambie and 33rd Avenue in Vancouver and a fourth station on Vancouver International Airport property.

A glimer of hope for the Capstan Way development:


Sun Tech City gets reprieve
Alan Campbell
Richmond News

Friday, January 09, 2009

Call it a stay of execution; call it a reprieve.

Whatever you call it, the developers behind one of Richmond's biggest potential housing developments have been given one last chance to get their act together.

City council made the surprising decision Tuesday night to go against a staff recommendation to ditch plans for the 16-tower Sun Tech City in north Richmond.

The staff report stated that the joint developers, Pinnacle International and Concord Pacific, had not fulfilled rezoning bylaw conditions made 20 months ago, such as putting $15 million up front to build a Canada Line station at Capstan Way.

But after hearing a last gasp plea from the developers, council gave them one last chance to get their heads together and meet the city's strict conditions, before a fourth reading can be given to the ambitious plans.

Both parties now have until March 2 to come back to city hall with compliance to the previously agreed conditions -- such as the Capstan station funding, affordable housing and a child care facility.

Mayor Malcolm Brodie, however, gave the developers short shrift and sent them away Tuesday night with no doubt this was their last kick at the can.

"There's no question that people have been acting in good faith and the consequences for this not going ahead run deep," Brodie said.

"For me to support (an extension), I want to make it clear that this matter has to be finalized so it can go to the fourth reading.

"I have to be convinced that substantial progress has been made."

Coun. Harold Steves went further, saying he wanted to see all of the city's conditions met.

"If the Capstan station funding, affordable housing and child care are not met, then I will not be supporting this any longer," he said.

"If we wait (for a future developer) then we can get a better deal.

"I'm not impressed by what has happened, but I will give this one last chance."

Whatever the developers do between now and March, they will surely have to change their stance on paying for the Capstan station if they wish Sun Tech City to remain alive.

Coun. Evelina Halsey-Brandt, chair of the city's planning committee, had said before the meeting that she has seen this project failing from a "long way off" due to the developers dragging their heels.

City staff had advised in the report to shelve the Sun Tech City plans because the developers were now only willing to put $500,000 up front towards construction of a Capstan station, as opposed to $15 million as originally promised. The developers are now offering to pay, without security to the city, the $14.5 million balance when 50 per cent of the project is built.

The developers' proposal on funding the Capstan station is not acceptable to TransLink or the city.

If the project ever goes ahead as planned, the currently vacant 17-acre lot, bound by No. 3 Road, Sea Island Way, Sexsmith Road and Capstan Way, would be transformed into a mixed-use neighbourhood with 16 highrises, a series of mid-rises and a total of 2,136 homes.

The developers last year asked for a further extension past the Nov. 28, 2008 deadline for rezoning conditions to be met.

But city staff told council Tuesday that the level of co-operation between the two applicants had been less than acceptable. Two-thirds of the site is owned by Pinnacle International, while the rest is owned by Concord Pacific in conjunction with Richmond-based Westin Construction.

But at Tuesday's council meeting, representatives of Concord and Westin promised that all parties would get together and hammer out their differences.

Pinnacle, however, was only represented by a marketing executive, who could not make similar assurances of arbitration or negotiation.

"I've been involved in this project for more than 10 years and it's been a long process," Westin's Thomas Leung said before council's decision.

"It's been a complicated application and I can assure there has been no shortage of effort on the part of the developers.

"We are honouring our share of paying for the Capstan station and the child-care facility and I would ask the council to give us more time, perhaps five or six months."

Couns. Bill McNulty, Greg Halsey-Brandt and Evelina Halsey-Brandt all expressed concerns that the two developers wouldn't, after another six months, be any closer to agreeing on their contributions than they were last year.

"There have been disagreements, but we want to go to arbitration," Leung said. Concord's Peter Webb told council that arbitration takes some time and is "actually like a small court case."

Mayor Brodie told all parties concerned that the city has been very clear with what it requires in terms of conditions being met before the project can proceed to fourth reading.

"Our requirements are clear. You're making out your issues are our issues, they are not," he said.

Council agreed that six months was too long to wait, and voted unanimously, instead, to give the developers until March 2.

In addition to the station, Richmond stands to benefit from 100 affordable housing units, a child-care facility for 25 kids, roads and parks.

Aerial update by Tafryn

Camino, Merry Park, Prado and Opus are topped off and glazed. Paloma 2 is about 5 stories up.
http://www.seataf.com/blogs/canadaline/2009-05-06/images/KICX3330.jpg

The fraser river south arm look barely 10 blocks away from this view

http://www.seataf.com/blogs/canadaline/2009-05-06/images/KICX3331.jpg

^ yay, I like your idea. We should split the suburban thread up!

Thanks for the photos!

A place to put the non-downtown developments. I know I made a thread just for Richmond already, but last time I drove by they've got frikin 11 cranes in the skyline, so heck they deserve it. But here's one for the rest of the suburbs:

I'll start off with this one (posted originally by Phesto on SSP)

http://www.interurbanliving.ca
(shots taken from the website)

[New Westminster] InterUrban | 19 Floors | u/c
http://www.interurbanliving.ca/images/rendering.jpg

http://www.interurbanliving.ca/images/model.jpg

http://www.interurbanliving.ca/images/rendering_begbie.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3603/3555171610_0b73bed9d7.jpg
photo credit: DennisSylvesterHurd


So far I dislike the concept in general: faux-historical mid-rise facade hiding a curved condo tower. Haven't we seen that in countless cities? It tries too hard to resolve the scale with the heritage buildings next door, but the stepping effect is painfully obvious. The quality doesn't look too bad on the ground level, so it might not be a total disaster.

Ugly hybrid building.

i like it - it ties into the street its in in a subtle way

Richmond skyline
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/782/dsc09628n.jpg

YVR. Normally I hate photoshopped contrast, but the smoke in the air flattens everything so much... so much so that I didn't notice that if I had waited another 10 seconds, the plane would be in the air and I would have had a more interesting shot, but meh.
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/6290/dsc09626.jpg

I like the first pic.

Yes, I believe the building to the right in the first pic is Westin Wall Centre??

^^ You mean the 'left'?

Centro is complete and ready for move in:
http://www.adventvancouver.com/files/u2/Images/7080no3roadrichmondcentro/centro2.jpg
www.adventvancouver.com

My fav new richmond condo (until the others are complete, but I have little hope for how Prado will turn out, lol)

^I saw it a few weeks ago when I was in Richmond. It definitely stands out from all the rest.

Thread dedicated to Metro Vancouver & Fraser Valley Infill & Lowrise Updates.

Looks like Cedar54 actually got off the ground.

http://www.vancouver-real-estate-direct.com/blog/images/cedar54.jpg
(Vancouver Real Estate Direct, 2009)

http://www.vancouver-real-estate-direct.com/blog/images/cedar54-3.jpg
(Vancouver Real Estate Direct, 2009)

http://www.vancouver-real-estate-direct.com/blog/images/cedar54-2.jpg
(Vancouver Real Estate Direct, 2009)

As much as I really want this development to happen, I really don't know if it will ever begin construction. Oh well... we'll just wait and see what happens.

Here's their website for more photos and floorplans:
http://cedar54.com/home.php

I don't know if this article right for this thread,if not mod please move it.


West Enders call for community plan

Residents worried the city is allowing developers to demolish low-rise buildings and put up profitable highrise residences

By Kelly Sinoski, Vancouver SunDecember 7, 2009 9:02

VANCOUVER - High-rise towers are being pitched for the West End despite concerns from residents that the city has no community plan in place for the neighbourhood.

Although the city has drafted so-called “visions” for other neighbourhoods, including Dunbar, Fraserview and most recently Mount Pleasant, it hasn’t yet designed a plan for the West End or the downtown core, rezoning planner Karen Hoese said. “It is anticipated there will be a plan but it’s not scheduled yet,” she said.

The lack of a plan worries West End residents, who claim the city is allowing developers to change the face of their neighbourhood by demolishing low-rise heritage buildings and churches to put up profitable high-rise residential towers.

The city is considering at least two rezoning requests for “comprehensive developments” in the West End, including a 20-storey project on Bidwell that would see the demolition of Maxine’s Hideaway, a 1930s-style heritage building, and a 22-storey residential tower for the 100-year-old St. John’s United Church site, at 1401 Comox St.

The projects, proposed under the city’s Short Term Incentives for Rental (STIR) program, are being recommended for approval by city staff to secure more rental housing in the city. The city hasn’t built any rental housing in the West End for at least a decade.

“It happens very rarely,” Hoese said of the rezonings. “There’s been so little development in the West End under what’s permitted now. There’s been a perception that would never change.”

But residents say the neighbourhood should retain its current zoning until the city comes up with a neighbourhood plan.

“It seems to me it’s kind of piecemeal; when they get an application they let the developer do what they want,” said resident Alan Kostiuk, who has lived in the West End since 2007.

“They’re going to be building properties the average person in the West End can’t even look at.”

A public hearing on the Bidwell development is expected to resume Thursday. The development, by Millennium English Bay Properties, calls for retaining the Maxine’s heritage facade and building a 20-storey tower with 49 rental housing units behind it. The project came forward in 2007 as a heritage revitalization program, but planners argued the proposed heritage effort “did not justify the requested bonus density.”

The Comox proposal calls for seven townhouses at grade and 180 apartments above, plus six free-standing townhouses. All residential units would be rental.

Hoese said any rezoning proposals must qualify under a city policy based on heritage revitalization, seniors’ housing and/or the STIR program. “It’s not like we’re going into the West End and saying we’ll rezone this and rezone that,” Hoese said.

She noted the West End is already quite dense and is suited for more density because of its location and the amenities the neighbourhood has to offer.

But Kostiuk said the city is allowing the developers to profit by giving them carte blanche approval to build higher. He said he bought his condo in the West End because he figured the heritage building would allow his view to be protected.

“It’s a peek-a-boo view between the existing tall buildings. I can see English Bay, Lighthouse Park and the sunset.” But now a huge residential tower could block English Bay from his sight. “It’s the city allowing builders to steal a view from someone who already paid for it and sell it to someone else.”

ksinoski@vancouversun.com
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

I think there are way too many 20-30 storeys highrises in downtown. Even now when you look at d/t from a distance, it seems to be a long concrete wall circling the city center. They should leave some lowrises alone and infill with more 200m or taller towers to make the skyline more dramatic and exciting.

well as a person living in west end myself ,I was torn between the ideal of keeping west end the way it is( meaning less traffic,less noises,community friendly.....and the most important part is for low in come seniors who had been living here forever )and another part I would love to see newer West end ,more vibrant ....).:ohno:

well as a person living in west end myself ,I was torn between the ideal of keeping west end the way it is( meaning less traffic,less noises,community friendly.....and the most important part is for low in come seniors who had been living here forever )and another part I would love to see newer West end ,more vibrant ....).:ohno:

Well new buildings does not necessarily equal to vibrant and bustling. I think Coal Harbour is proof of that: the area itself is dead quiet although everything is new.

Well new buildings does not necessarily equal to vibrant and bustling. I think Coal Harbour is proof of that: the area itself is dead quiet although everything is new.

well but at least its looks ok.I live on the border of either new buildings or old.Right on Georgia street and Denman.:)

PLEASE !!!!!! can someone from Vancouver with the time make a list of Projects under way or begining soon??? We all know about the big ones in Van, but there must be like 50 other highrises being built as well. WHAT ARE THEY and what do they look like !?

PLEASE !!!!!! can someone from Vancouver with the time make a list of Projects under way or begining soon??? We all know about the big ones in Van, but there must be like 50 other highrises being built as well. WHAT ARE THEY and what do they look like !?

do you mean Greater Vancouver or downtown Vancouver?

DownTown Vancouver.

DownTown Vancouver.

I'll try to update everything as my exams are nearing completion.

The city is considering at least two rezoning requests for “comprehensive developments” in the West End, including a 20-storey project on Bidwell that would see the demolition of Maxine’s Hideaway, a 1930s-style heritage building.

this is the place.What do you guys think will it change the neighborhood of West end?

http://i45.tinypic.com/24eyq9h.jpg

I really have no problem with it. I think keeping the facade of the building is enough and this is what happens to all larger developments within Vancouver. The West End still has quite a few NIMBYs. I realize that the show company inside must find a new home, but every new development has its own stories, and I can't see how this is different from the other ones. Vancouver, thankfully, respects heritage buildings, and forces developers to protect the facade of historic buildings within the new development.

Great news.

Supportive-housing tower to shelter homeless by 2011
Linked with aid society, mental health/addiction services
Andy Ivens

Province

Wednesday, December, 16, 2009

http://www.6717000.com/admin/uploads/article/moreimages/5469.jpg

A groundbreaking was held Tuesday for a $28.8-million supportive housing development on East 1st Avenue in Vancouver, which will provide 129 new apartments for people who are homeless. Photograph by: Handout, B.C. government


The City of Vancouver and the province joined forces at a ground-breaking ceremony Tuesday on a new building that will provide 129 units of supportive housing when completed in 2011.

The 11-storey building is projected to cost $28.8 million. The provincial government will put up $22.8 million, with the City of Vancouver adding the remaining $6 million.

The project, on city land at 188 E. First Ave., is the fourth of 14 new supportive-housing developments the two levels of government have pledged to build in Vancouver.

Lookout Emergency Aid Society will manage and operate the building, which will house adults who are now homeless and may face a variety of challenges, including mental illness, physical disabilities, social dysfunctions and substance abuse.

Housing Minister Rich Coleman said his government "is committed to partnering with local governments so British Columbians have better access to affordable and supportive-housing options with integrated support services."

While Lookout will offer residents life-skills training, such as cooking and budgeting, Vancouver Coastal Health will provide support services.

"A part of our mission is to partner with organizations to provide exceptional health and support services in Lower Mainland communities," said Allyson Muir, VCH manager of mental health and addictions housing.

Karen O'Shannacery, Lookout's executive director, said she looks forward to seeing the project completed.

"Finding stable housing has presented an incredible challenge to the people who will live in this development. Here they will find a safe place to slowly rebuild their lives," she said.

Mayor Gregor Robertson, in Copenhagen for the conference on climate change, said the project will move the city closer to its goal of ending street homelessness by 2015.

"These housing units are desperately needed, and we will be continuing to work closely with the province to get the rest of our 14 sites of social housing funded, under construction and completed as soon as possible," said Robertson.

© Copyright (c) The Province

Via Les Twarog News (http://www.6717000.com/newsArticle-6461.html) citing The Province

Highland House at UniverCity

http://www.buzzbuzzhome.com/highland-house-at-univercity

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/629/highlandu.jpg

City of Surrey to vote on development permit for new City Hall


By KELLY SINOSKI, Vancouver Sun January 8, 2012 7:06 PM

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/5964885.bin?size=620x400http://www.vancouversun.com/news/5964885.bin?size=620x400


Surrey is moving ahead with plans to turn its City Centre into the “civic heart” of its community, with a new city hall and a plaza big enough to hold thousands of people for farmers’ markets, concerts and other celebrations.

City council is expected to approve a development permit Monday for the project, which prescribes a six-storey city hall, three-storey parking lot and a community plaza, in the block bounded on the west by University Drive, on the north by 104 Avenue, on the east by City Parkway and on the south by the future 103 Avenue.

The community plaza is expected to “create a real heart for Surrey and a central public gathering space,” according to a land use report from city staff.

It will extend about 100 metres from the southern face of the east half of city hall to the future 103 Avenue, close to the new $38-million City Centre library, and be able to hold up to 5,000 people.

By comparison, the existing plaza along 102 Avenue in front of the Central City SkyTrain station can accommodate about 1,500 people.

A screen on the city hall will allow projected images and movies, while a reflective pool in front of the council chambers will integrate city hall into the plaza.

The new 180,000 square foot city hall, designed by Kasian-Moriyama Architects, will be built on the south side of 104th Avenue, east of University Boulevard, and has a net cost of $50 million.

The city hall and civic plaza project is the second phase in the creation of a new city centre for Surrey. Construction on the project is expected to commence in early 2012 and be completed by the fall of 2013.

The third phase of the civic centre development will consist of a mixed-use building that will be presented to council for consideration later in 2012 under a separate land development application.

ksinoski@vancouversun.com



Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/City+Surrey+vote+development+permit+City+Hall/5964884/story.html#ixzz1iwL7rE87

Coquitlam update....


http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/downtown/IMG_3665.jpg

http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/downtown/IMG_3661.jpg

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http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/downtown/IMG_3680.jpg

Coquitlam continue.....




http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/downtown/IMG_3673.jpg

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http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/downtown/IMG_3693.jpg

more coquitlam town centre photos taken today.



http://i990.photobucket.com/albums/af28/Hongkongese/downtown/IMG_3843.jpg

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