Friday, September 9, 2011

Views on taller buildings determined by the resulting view

Recently a resident of the Brentwood neighbourhood wrote a letter to the Burnaby Newsleader opposing the Brentwood Crossing project.

Poor planning reaches new heights in Burnaby's Brentwood area

Published: September 08, 2011 9:00 AM
Updated: September 08, 2011 9:20 AM
Re: Proposed development to transform Brentwood (NewsLeader, Sept. 2)

I read the article about the proposed development with towers 39 to 48 storeys for the southwest corner of Willingdon Avenue and Lougheed Highway and find that the proposal is at the best obscene. Perhaps Burnaby needs a change of leadership, for allowing developments like these to go ahead. They allowed highrises on the north side of Lougheed that cost $400,000 to $2 million and now are proposing to lower the value of these properties by cutting off all views from the north.

People on the east and south sides of the buildings on the north side of Lougheed will have nothing to see but cement buildings. This will certainly lower the property values for all the buildings on the north side (but probably not their property tax assessments).

It appears Burnaby does not have anyone in its employ, or even a consultant with any idea of how to keep views for everyone. The new buildings should be lower than the buildings on the north side and any new ones to the south after these new buildings should be shorter than the proposed buildings. The whole area is turning into a mini-Toronto but with no amenities to match.

So now we have the option of selling and moving, or staying and suffering from lowered property value. What is wrong with Burnaby’s city council and planning department?

Patricia Muss

Burnaby

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Carter GM renovating

The Carter GM dealership across the street from Brentwood Mall has been busy constructing a building next to an existing one. The fact that the dealership is investing money in expanding its building there means that it will not be leaving the vicinity of Brentwood Station anytime soon as did the Morrey Nissan dealership recently to Still Creek and Willingdon. The former site of the Nissan dealership (across the street at Willingdon and Lougheed) will be the location of the "Brentwood Crossing" development by Appia.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Brentwood Crossing development

The Brentwood Crossing development appears to be moving ahead with a public hearing scheduled on September 20th at Burnaby City Hall. The development will begin to establish (at its corner) the intersection of Lougheed Hwy and Willingdon Ave as major pedestrian crossing as more residential and commercial/office units are established. With the Vantage project underway just west of this project and the Brentwood Mall project in it's infancy at the opposite corner, we can expect cranes to be prominent features in the skyline around Brentwood for a number of years.

Below are conceptual images from www.dikeakos.com

Burnaby Newsleader article below

Proposed development to transform Brentwood

By Wanda Chow - Burnaby NewsLeader

Published: September 01, 2011 10:00 AM

Updated: September 01, 2011 10:25 AM

A new Brentwood-area development proposal could transform the southwest corner of Willingdon Avenue and Lougheed Highway.

The mixed-use proposal is for a 6.65-acre site kitty corner from Brentwood SkyTrain station that currently includes a car dealership, restaurant, auto-repair shop and other light industrial properties. Bounded by Willingdon, Lougheed, Rosser Avenue and the north lane behind Dawson Street, it requires a rezoning and will go to public hearing Sept. 20.

An earlier proposal for the site which received second reading in 2008 comprised two highrise office buildings, three highrise apartment towers and ground-oriented commercial and retail, according to a city staff report.

Since then, Burnaby council has adopted a change to the city’s zoning bylaw expanding density bonus provisions to certain zones within the four town centres of Brentwood, Metrotown, Lougheed and Edmonds.

As a result, the developer is now proposing a new plan that takes advantage of the potential added density.

The current proposal consists of 1,351 residential units in four highrises, ranging in height from 39 to 48 storeys, the latter within a mixed-use tower that includes 13 storeys of office space. Units will range in size from 413-square-foot studios to 1,750-square-foot three-bedrooms-plus-den units. Five per cent, or 68 units, will be adaptable for persons with disabilities.

It includes about 250,000 square feet of office space and about 112,000 square feet of commercial space. It also now includes significant plaza and open green space.

Within the site, Sumas Street will be a “high street” with retail storefronts, pedestrian walkways and street furniture and the entire project aims to be pedestrian friendly with front doors of commercial spaces opening directly to the street, the report said.

The developer plans to build to a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold standard, and will provide transit passes for two years to 15 per cent of the units, twice the required secured bicycle parking, memberships in a car-sharing program and three cars per residential phase for the car co-op.

If approved, the project would be built in four phases. As part of the density bonusing program, the developer will provide an amenity bonus for the first phase of more than $8.8 million. Of that, $2 million will come in the form of a 4,570-square-foot city-owned community space on-site and $6.8 million cash-in-lieu to be used for future Brentwood area amenities. Of that, $1.36 million will be designated for affordable and special needs housing projects.

The applicant is Chris Dikeakos Architects of Burnaby. The public hearing will be held Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. in city hall council chambers.

wchow@burnabynewsleader.com

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Rezoning proposed for Brentwood Mall

Less than 2 years after its purchase of Brentwood Mall in 2010, Shape Properties has submitted a rezoning application (REZ# 11-23) for the site located at Willingdon Ave and Lougheed Hwy. Although details have not been released, the application is described as a mixed-use residential high-rise and commercial development that will be built on the surrounding parking lots. It will be interesting to see how many high-rises and what types of commercial spaces are proposed for what will undoubtedly be the largest single development in Burnaby's history.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Parking pressures at Steve Nash Fitness World

A few days ago, I was shocked to see cars lined up waiting to get a parking spot in front of Steve Nash Fitness World. Whereas parking was never an issue before Steve Nash moved in, I now must consider whether or not I really need my Timmy's steeped tea anymore. It's at least good to see that the new fitness facility is a success.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Please Mum closes in Brentwood Mall

Burnaby Now Story:

Please Mum closes two Burnaby locations

BY JANAYA FULLER-EVANS AND JENNY LEE, POSTMEDIA NETWORK INC. AUGUST 4, 2011

Children's clothing company Please Mum has closed its doors at the Brentwood and Lougheed town centres.

The closures came with little notice in early July, according to Brentwood Town Centre manager Brian Wong.

The company's location at Metropolis at Metrotown is still open, as are two other locations in the Lower Mainland; on West Broadway in Vancouver and at Willowbrook Mall in Langley.

Please Mum closed 68 stores in early July, leaving just 21 open across the country.

The Vancouver-based company filed for creditor protection in mid-July and laid off 750 employees.

"There has been a massive increase in competition from the U.S. and other countries," Please Mum founder and CEO Kathryn Adrian said in an email interview with The Vancouver Sun. "This comes as a result of the recession down south. The recession there, and to a degree here, has changed the market's focus from 'hand-me-down' quality to less quality but a lot cheaper prices."

An administrator for the company's toll-free line said the media relations line had been disconnected, but redirected the NOW to customer service - and another line for the media - which was consistently busy throughout the day on Wednesday, Aug. 3.

The company is only honouring exchanges and returns on purchases made before filing for bankruptcy on July 11, according to the Please Mum website, and all merchandise purchased after that date is a final sale.

Gift cards are not being accepted, the website also stated.

The website is offering deals of 50 to 70 per cent for all merchandise.

The company is protected from creditors' claims - including employees - for 30 days after filing for bankruptcy protection while it comes up with a restructuring plan.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Brentwood Motors adding new rental service

Brentwood Motors Makes a Classy Move by Adding U-Haul Rentals

By U-Haul

Published: Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011 - 11:22 am

BURNABY, British Columbia, Aug. 2, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Andreas Gutsch and Sonny Dhanoya, owners of Brentwood Motors, located at 4766 Lougheed Hwy., recently added U-Haul truck and trailer rentals to the used-car sales business he has been operating since January 2011.

Click here to download the photo accompanying this press release.

Families needing the finest in moving services now will have increased convenience and a shorter distance to travel when moving, which not only will make their move easier but also will have the positive effect of reducing the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere. U-Haul partnering with business owners across North America to increase convenience for customers while helping our environment is just one of the programs that support U-Haul Company's Corporate Sustainability initiatives.

Brentwood Motors can now offer its customers a variety of moving equipment and supplies designed specifically for moving household furnishings, including moving vans, open trailers, closed trailers, furniture pads, appliance dollies, furniture dollies, tow dollies and auto transports. Brentwood Motors also will offer sales items to protect their customers' belongings and make moving easier, such as heavy-duty boxes, which are made of up to 90 percent recycled content and are available in a variety of sizes.

"We already had a strong truck-rental background with a combined 17 years of experience in management of this exciting and growing industry," Gutsch and Dhanoya said. "We welcomed the opportunity to capitalize on this in working together with such a renowned leader such as U-Haul to help us take our business to the next level. "I see it as a unique opportunity for a business to grow faster as one type of business truly complements the other," Andreas said. "U-Haul has helped us increase the traffic onto our lot dramatically, thereby enhancing the most powerful form of advertising – word of mouth! Our 'Classy Move by Adding U-Haul Rentals' was a no-brainer due to our experience and ideal location to service the needs of our customers with outstanding value and exceptional customer service," added co-owner Dhanoya.

"U-Haul is proud to be partnering with a quality independent business such as Brentwood Motors," exclaimed Horace Martin, president, U-Haul Company of British Columbia. "Andreas and Sonny are a great example of the type of successful business relationship UHaul has established in order to build and maintain a strong network of more than 15,000 independent dealers across North America."

For more information, or to rent your moving equipment today, call 778-724-0682. Visit www.brentwoodmotors.ca. Business hours of operation are: Seven days a week 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

About U-Haul

Since 1945, U-Haul has been the choice for the do-it-yourself mover, with a network of more than 16,300 locations in all 50 States and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul customers' patronage has enabled the Company to maintain the largest rental fleet in the do-it-yourself moving industry with approximately 104,000 trucks, 80,000 trailers and 36,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers more than 406,000 rooms and 36 million square feet of storage space at nearly 1,100 owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the consumer's number one choice as the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. The Company supplies alternative-fuel for vehicles and backyard barbecues as one of the nation's largest retailers of propane.

U-Haul was founded by a Navy veteran who grew up during the Great Depression. Tires and gas were still rationed or in short supply during the late 1940s when U-Haul began serving U.S. customers. Today, that background is central to the U-Haul Sustainability Program: "Serving the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Our commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle includes fuel-efficient moving vans, neighborhood proximity, moving box reuse, moving pads made from discarded material and packing peanuts that are 100% biodegradable. Learn more about these facts and others atuhaul.com/sustainability.

Contact:Joanne FriedKelie HaleU-Haul Public Relations(602) 263-6194(602) 263-6772 fax

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090622/LA34860LOGO-b)

SOURCE U-Haul