After a 4+ hour long marathon session, #Vancouver’s first #supertall proposal has earned the unanimous support of the Urban Design Panel. There were a few minor recommendations, including one to consider increasing the space between these trio of towers. #VanRE #VanCre
The team behind this 18 floor rental building got the message after city council referred these 165 homes back to staff last year. To keep council’s hands clean, they’ve “voluntarily” withdrawn this Broadway Plan application, & listed the property for sale. #Vancouver #VanRe
A proposal for a 5 floor, 82 strata home building between BC Women’s & Children’s Hospital, & the Heather Lands has been pulled 16 months after it was submitted. Whether that’s a sign of optimism about the Villages Plan, or something more bleak, it’s hard to say #Vancouver #VanRe
Rendering of the 2019 application that was cancelled in 2022.
The infamous “Icepick,” easily one of the most controversial redevelopments in #Vancouver’s history, seems set to reappear 11 years after it was first proposed at Waterfront Station. The latest version is a few floors shorter, but retains the same local architects #VanRe #VanCre
While a two story grocery store may sound like a huge improvement to this vacant lot at Georgia & Richards, it’s far smaller than the 2019 plans for a 23 floor office building. That proposal was approved in 2021, & ultimately went nowhere. #Vancouver #VanRe #VanCre
While you can listen to all the panel’s remarks in our recording below, our newest member’s outraged cries drowned out staff’s presentation, & sadly the city doesn’t publish their taping.
drive.google.com/file/d/1U96I...
After, you can leave your thoughts here
www.shapeyourcity.ca/2345-2349-ma...
Their near unanimous motion of non-support also echoed the Director of Planning’s own desire for the applicant to acquire, & incorporate the properties to the north. Which seems an impossible ask, as their owner is planning their own development proposal, & has no desire to sell.
A scathing introduction by city staff allowed the Urban Design Panel to quickly tear apart this student housing building planned a block away from the new Broadway #SkyTrain station. They blasted it as a negative fit for Mount Pleasant, & the immediate area. #Vancouver #VanRe
In total, only 1,668 homes were approved since that policy was enacted in 2012, with several applications later proving to be economically unviable. Yet, many more were rumoured to have been turned away during the city’s initial enquiry submission process
cityduo.wordpress.com/2019/06/04/c...
After 3 years of review, these 25 rental homes, the last proposed under #Vancouver’s failed Affordable Housing Choices Policy have been withdrawn. That interim vision allowed less living space on this site than what’s allowed for a multiplex or even a single family home #VanRe
The failure of a concrete piling wall days before the cancellation of the Ardea strata building was announced can’t have been a coincidence. After all, when your construction site is flooded by the Fraser River, its budget is probably deep underwater too #Vancouver #VanRe
Exactly 450 multiplex applications have been submitted since the R1-1 policy was approved almost 2 years ago, & we’ve kept track of them all. You can find our detailed spreadsheet, & an interactive map at this link
cityduo.wordpress.com/city-duos-mu...
Following in the footsteps of the City of Vancouver, BC Housing has purchased a newly completed six-floor building across from Clark Park at 3077 Maddams St. Yet, unlike the city, their plans are to convert these rental homes into 81 social housing apartments. #Vancouver #VanRe
Having lost in the council of public opinion, the opponents of a 6 floor, 230 home rental building at Ash & W 28th Ave are taking their fight to the courts. While costly, judicial reviews are increasingly being used to slow, & halt growing density #Vancouver #VanRe #VanPoli
With four towers planned over an an entire city block, the first rezoning proposed under the Rupert & Renfrew Station Area Plan isn’t a small one. Included is a new privately owned public space, along with a daycare, strata, rental, & below-market homes. #Vancouver #VanRe #VanCre
A Navigation Hub could soon open here to provide an opportunity for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness to be “intensely supported” until at least 2027, while Vancouver Coastal Health’s long discussed redevelopment plans for this site are finalized.
The demolition of the 75 year-old Salvation Army Temple at 301 E Hastings has been approved, despite its appearance on Heritage Vancouver’s Top 10 Watch List in 2016, & 2024. However, this site won’t sit empty for long. #Vancouver #DTES #VanRe
Next week Wendy's will open its doors at Broadway & Oak, occupying a storefront in the Industrial Alliance building that has sat vacant since Johnny Rockets left Canada in 2022. #Vancouver #VanCre
Break out your accordions boys & girls, another “mega-tower” has been proposed at the southeast corner of E Broadway & Commercial Dr. With 223 rental homes, it also offers to lease 2 floors to the city for community services next to the #SkyTrain station #Vancouver #VanRE #VanCre
That decision wasn’t unanimous though, with councillors Boyle, Carr, and Fry voting against it. Even Councillor Kirby-Yung expressed strong hesitation, but an absence to handle a last minute phone call meant there was no formal split in party ranks.
While there will be lots of fireworks tonight, this proposal to add 300 slot machines to the Parq Casino is sure to trigger a far louder debate. This 50% increase remains lower than the 1,500 rejected in 2011 & is possible as #Vancouver city council relaxed restrictions last year
We’ve also heard rumours that a Wendy’s will be among the new retail stores to open here, in addition to the long confirmed City Market grocery store. Those looking to rent a home here, or to lease commercial space, can find more info at this link thestoriessouthgranville.com
The residences at the Stories, aka the South Granville SkyTrain Station tower have been cleared for occupancy. This mix of 182 market, & 44 below-market homes resulted in 0 displacement, making room for the Broadway Plan’s tenant protections to fully function. #VanRE #Vancouver
We are ecstatic to announce that today marks the end of our role as City Duo. We are now forever a City Trio!
Our new addition joined us today, but they won't be posting until sometime after they learn their first words.
The long promised Olympic Village Elementary School is finally on its way to becoming a reality. With space for 630 students, it’s 5 meters taller than first planned, meaning construction can only start after a lengthy rezoning review, & city council’s approval #Vancouver #OurVSB
These cutbacks were made to reduce the podium’s height in order to create a more “human scale interface.” Other changes have led to new public view points, improved accessibility, & provided more sunlight. Comments on this revised concept can be made here
www.shapeyourcity.ca/1402-1460-bu...
Even #Vancouver’s own real estate division isn’t immune from the demands of its planning department as “negotiations” have led to the elimination of 47 homes / ~20,000 sq.ft. of residential space from the city-owned rental buildings proposed at Burrard & Pacific #VanRe #VanCre
We’re excited to reveal that plans are in the works to split #Vancouver’s old Nordstrom into several new stores, & create a new entrance to Granville Plaza. Like with Mark Twain, the rumours of Downtown’s demise may be a little premature. #VanRe #VanCre
Though it was limited to avoid shadowing Robson Park, this proposal has grown from a 2020 mid-rise concept to include 286 market rental, 41 below-market rental homes, & a 20 space daycare. That’s thanks to the #BroadwayPlan, & adding in a couple adjacent lots. #Vancouver #VanRE
Thanks to recent updates to the #BroadwayPlan a proposed 10 floor office tower at Cambie & W 7th Ave has been scrapped in favour of a new zero-displacement 33 storey building with 170 market, & 42 below-market rental homes, atop 4 floors of office space. #VanRe #VanCre #Vancouver
