In what I see as an introduction to the big one (Jericho), City of Vancouver has this on tap to launch its part of the planning process.
- October 13: A walking tour of the site (5-6.30pm) with staff and the team. Meet at the Fairmont Building (Heather & 33rd).
- October 15: An Open House & Artist Session on October 15 (11am-4pm) at VanDusen Garden Floral Hall. Learn more about the process, the proponent team, and City objectives. Sign up for a visioning workshop (1-4 pm) where an artist will sketch your ideas.
- October 17: An Open House & Illustration Viewing on October 17.(5.30-8.30pm) at VanDusen Garden Floral Hall (Rate the artist illustrations)
Personally, I am looking for transit-oriented development, and significant affordability. That is, moderate density to resemble that density now under construction on nearby Cambie St. But more.
Plus significant impetus, if not actual money, from the proponents to link their final design and its density to transit; to mandate construction of a Canada Line station at 33rd Ave and Cambie.
Hopefully, these proponents (CLC and MST Partnership) will be more visionary than others have been — notably those involved in the Tsawassen Mills mall, and its 1950’s style motordom-dependent development. To use the words of the Heather Lands proponents:
Aspirations: Design a healthy and liveable community… emphasizing the human scale, and positive social interaction, prioritize walking, cycling, and transit.
The City, meanwhile, has existing thoughts around the future of this site:
Riley Park South Cambie Vision (2005): … provides general direction to increase the supply of ‘ground-oriented’ housing units with access to either a front or rear yard, to meet the demand for mature households as an alternative to basement suites or apartments.
Cambie Corridor Plan (2011): . . . establishes an urban pattern along Cambie Street that optimizes investment in the Canada Line, creates complete communities with a mix of housing types and employment space . . .
If they build that additional Canada line station there, I would hope for 50+ story buildings with ground floor retail. Minimal parking spots, and no on street parking passes for new residents.
Wow, N – why don’t you try and paint a scary picture for the ‘hood or something?
Everybody knew these lands were eventually going to be developed. They could have shelled that station in at the time, saving many millions of $$.
I could rephrase it as a mini Yale town with less cars.
“Aspirations: Design a healthy and liveable community… emphasizing the human scale, and positive social interaction, prioritize walking, cycling, and transit.”
This is actually city policy for large new sites. Unfortunately, the reality is that the site usually ends up being very car-centric. As an example, the latest plans for Pearson-Dogwood have pretty much zero in the way of cycling facilities. Why can’t we design new developments to have some sort of priority for walking and cycling instead of the same old car-centric stuff?
I hope there is some retail and commercial in here somewhere. I was optimistic about the Cambie plan to a degree but after the first few buildings have gone up….yikes. Faceless, placeless boring architecture with no street presence at all. That building at 29th and Cambie looks like a gated community. Terrible. No street life, no fun, no nothing. The other ones under construction or with planning are just more of the same. Blah.
The last thing we need is a retail strip stretching all along Cambie from Broadway south to 57th. What a horror!
Good thing that’s not what I said.