The northwest corner of Lougheed and Beta will see a high-rise tower making up part of a village district on the eastern edge of the Brentwood Mall site.
Showing posts with label Brentwood Village. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brentwood Village. Show all posts
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Changing Views
Affinity and Perspectives have taken their places at Douglas and Lougheed. In the not too distant future, the following sightline will disappear by the time phase 2 of the Brentwood Mall Redevelopment is concluded.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Brentwood Entertainment Plaza to begin construction by 2013
I had an opportunity to check out the Brentwood Mall Redevelopment Open House last night. There was a lot of information to digest along with a variety of comments on the development. Below is a link to the Shape Properties site with the same visuals that were set up at the Open House available for online viewing.
Representatives of Shape Properties indicated that the Brentwood Mall Redevelopment (BMR) will begin with the Entertainment Plaza (EP) as Phase 1 of the project. The EP will include the "Fashion District High Street" which project representatives likened to Robson Street with space for pedestrians and a road for cars to go through between Willingdon and Lougheed with parking along both sides. Another representative made the comparison to Park Royal in West Vancouver. The EP will be an all-weather gathering place. It was mentioned that there would be a stage for live performances and speaking. Shape Properties hopes to get approval to move ahead with this phase by the end of this year and begin construction in 2013. The EP is expected to take 3 years to build and will include an open plaza surrounded by buildings and overhead walkways connecting to the existing mall.
With the expansion of the mall westward in the northwest part of the site geared towards the arrival of a Target Store (a representative mentioned that the retail giant wants to open a store in Brentwood), the retail space in this section will cater to larger stores. A representative mentioned the possibility of a "Future Shop" type of store along with some other larger retailers to complete the range of shopping options at Bentwood Mall from small to large to big box retail amenities.
Both the Village and Big Box areas would be part of Phase 2a and Phase 2b of the project.
It was mentioned that the bus loop will disappear to make room for the EP and buses will line along Lougheed Hwy between Alpha & Willingdon and along Willingdon Ave between Lougheed & Halifax. In order to change direction, the buses will enter the mall site and move along the high street to turn around.
The plan for Willingdon and Lougheed involves widened sidewalks and separated bike lanes along their lengths adjacent to the mall site. The sidewalk will be double lined with trees and on street parking is envisioned.
Representatives of the City of Burnaby were on hand to answer questions as well. When asked about a library or community centre, it was stated that the amenities at Confederation Park in Burnaby Heights are meant to serve the needs of all of the northwest quadrant of Burnaby which includes Brentwood.
If this is the case, the widened sidewalk and separated cycling lane along the new Brentwood Mall needs to be extended beyond the mall along Willingdon all the way to Hastings in Burnaby Heights. This will create meaningful connectivity between Brentwood and the Heights neighbourhood. Human powered access needs to be given an opportunity as motor access has had exclusive reign for too long.
It was mentioned that the London Drugs building at the north end of the mall will eventually be removed in the "far off future" to make room for a future lower density townhouse development which will respect the tranquility of the Brentwood Park single-family homes immediately to the north the mall.
A graphic (below) showing the current skyline with an outline of the future residential towers shows that the buildings will be the tallest in the Brentwood Neighbourhood and some of the tallest in Metro Vancouver.
Many residents of Brentwood Park brought up the issue of increased traffic in the neighbourhood that will result from the BMR. A representative mentioned that perhaps TransLink take the #134 Brentwood Stn / Lake City Stn bus off Brentlawn Drive to ease traffic. Although the bus along Brentlawn Drive has been the bane of the existence of many residents living along the stretch between Willingdon and Delta Avenues, more than merely removing the bus from there needs to be done to deal with traffic. Many residents are talking about traffic calming measures such as speed bumps to deter rat runners.
- Burnaby Councillor Pietro Calendino was in attendance and was active in asking Shape representatives questions about the project.
- MLA Richard Lee took some time out from his busy photo op schedule to check out the Open House as the BMR will unfold directly across the street from his office on Willingdon Ave.
Brentwood Mall Redevelopment to occur in phases
The project will take place in several phases over several years. The map below shows where the phases will occur.
Entertainment Plaza completed in 3 years
Representatives of Shape Properties indicated that the Brentwood Mall Redevelopment (BMR) will begin with the Entertainment Plaza (EP) as Phase 1 of the project. The EP will include the "Fashion District High Street" which project representatives likened to Robson Street with space for pedestrians and a road for cars to go through between Willingdon and Lougheed with parking along both sides. Another representative made the comparison to Park Royal in West Vancouver. The EP will be an all-weather gathering place. It was mentioned that there would be a stage for live performances and speaking. Shape Properties hopes to get approval to move ahead with this phase by the end of this year and begin construction in 2013. The EP is expected to take 3 years to build and will include an open plaza surrounded by buildings and overhead walkways connecting to the existing mall.
Village District
The construction of the Village District will begin roughly 3 years after the construction of the EP, according to representatives. Representatives mentioned the probability of a grocery store in the Village District and envision specialty stores such as a meat shop, cleaners and other service oriented businesses. The commercial building along Beta Ave at the eastern end of the site will feature a rooftop garden. The Village District will also feature a small square.
Big Box area
With the expansion of the mall westward in the northwest part of the site geared towards the arrival of a Target Store (a representative mentioned that the retail giant wants to open a store in Brentwood), the retail space in this section will cater to larger stores. A representative mentioned the possibility of a "Future Shop" type of store along with some other larger retailers to complete the range of shopping options at Bentwood Mall from small to large to big box retail amenities.
Both the Village and Big Box areas would be part of Phase 2a and Phase 2b of the project.
No Bus Loop
It was mentioned that the bus loop will disappear to make room for the EP and buses will line along Lougheed Hwy between Alpha & Willingdon and along Willingdon Ave between Lougheed & Halifax. In order to change direction, the buses will enter the mall site and move along the high street to turn around.
Bike lanes and wider sidewalks
The plan for Willingdon and Lougheed involves widened sidewalks and separated bike lanes along their lengths adjacent to the mall site. The sidewalk will be double lined with trees and on street parking is envisioned.
No Library/Community Centres for Brentwood
Representatives of the City of Burnaby were on hand to answer questions as well. When asked about a library or community centre, it was stated that the amenities at Confederation Park in Burnaby Heights are meant to serve the needs of all of the northwest quadrant of Burnaby which includes Brentwood.
If this is the case, the widened sidewalk and separated cycling lane along the new Brentwood Mall needs to be extended beyond the mall along Willingdon all the way to Hastings in Burnaby Heights. This will create meaningful connectivity between Brentwood and the Heights neighbourhood. Human powered access needs to be given an opportunity as motor access has had exclusive reign for too long.
London Drugs space to be torn down
It was mentioned that the London Drugs building at the north end of the mall will eventually be removed in the "far off future" to make room for a future lower density townhouse development which will respect the tranquility of the Brentwood Park single-family homes immediately to the north the mall.
The peak of the Brentwood Skyline
A graphic (below) showing the current skyline with an outline of the future residential towers shows that the buildings will be the tallest in the Brentwood Neighbourhood and some of the tallest in Metro Vancouver.
Traffic in Brentwood Park a concern
Many residents of Brentwood Park brought up the issue of increased traffic in the neighbourhood that will result from the BMR. A representative mentioned that perhaps TransLink take the #134 Brentwood Stn / Lake City Stn bus off Brentlawn Drive to ease traffic. Although the bus along Brentlawn Drive has been the bane of the existence of many residents living along the stretch between Willingdon and Delta Avenues, more than merely removing the bus from there needs to be done to deal with traffic. Many residents are talking about traffic calming measures such as speed bumps to deter rat runners.
Notables in attendance
- Burnaby Councillor Pietro Calendino was in attendance and was active in asking Shape representatives questions about the project.
- MLA Richard Lee took some time out from his busy photo op schedule to check out the Open House as the BMR will unfold directly across the street from his office on Willingdon Ave.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Brentwood Mall 'High Street' will create nightlife
Each day as the evening approaches, the area around Bentwood Mall becomes a gloomy void as street-level human activity significantly wanes when the stores in the mall begin to wind down their operations. With no amenities other than the disorganized chaos that is Zellers and the London Drugs at the rear of the mall opening outside regular mall hours, the place becomes quite desolate.
The Brentwood Redevelopment, if planned well to create a good balance of retail and entertainment amenities, should jolt the area out of its current pattern of falling into a sleepy lull by 8pm. Along with the introduction of an entertainment plaza that will include restaurants and a movie theatre, the redevelopment will include a "High Street" running from the northwest to the southeast of the mall site between Willingdon and Beta Avenues, north of Lougheed Hwy. This street will have 2 distinct sections with a "Fashion District" towards the northwest end and a "Village District" at the southeast end of the site.
According to the retail brochure from Shape Properties, 10, 000 sf of retail space will face out at street level on Lougheed Hwy and Beta Ave in the SE corner of the development. This retail space will be situated between Beta Ave and a new entrance off of Lougheed Hwy. Immediately above this retail space will be another 10, 000 sf of retail along with 82, 000 sf more of retail space throughout the Village at the first level. The second level will include more than 26, 000 sf of additional retail space in the west end of the Village near the Alpha Ave entrance. The corner of Beta and Lougheed will see a 40-story, 320-unit residential tower above the retail space there. West of this tower will be a 50-story, 400-unit residential tower above the retail space just east of the Alpha Ave entrance.
Considering the size of the retail space envisioned in the Village, we can expect a grocery store to serve the 3000 plus new residents of the site (half of them in the Village itself) and the existing residents immediately east and north of the mall. An IGA marketplace-type of grocery store would be a nice fit here (though nothing has been confirmed) and it may be a bit of a stretch, the recent closure of the IGA in the Montecito area near Burnaby Mountain Golf Course is fuelling my speculation. Other amenities in the Village might include a coffee shop or two, a family restaurant, a neighbourhood pub, medical clinic, specialty bakery, a liquor store, a dry cleaner or other service-related business.
Pedestrian access from the northeast end will be facilitated by stairs into the Village from the single family residences there. The pedestrian access will go to/from Beta across the street from Ridgelawn Drive. The new entrance off Lougheed will provide access to the scores of pedestrians that currently enter off Beta Ave from Brentwood Drive. The entrance on Beta Ave will be closed to make room for retail space.
Although I'm not a "fashionably astute" consumer, it will be nice to see a variety of clothing and footwear choices for the odd day that I need to replenish my "wardrobe". For me, this stretch of "High Street" will merely serve as an access to and from Brentwood Station or the entertainment area next to it...unless a Tim Horton's steeped tea gives me good reason to make a stop along this stretch. Here's hoping.
As one walks westward towards the "Fashion District" (FD), the atmosphere should begin to take on a livelier tone with the presence of commuters going in and out of Brentwood Station/Bus Loop. This part of the street will have shops that will tend to open later than the stores inside the mall and will certainly see a spill-off of people from the station and the entertainment plaza next to it.
The street-level entrance to the FD off of Alpha Avenue will include 6, 700 sf of retail space at the east corner (Village) and 9, 000 sf at the west corner (Entertainment Plaza). The first and second levels of the FD will each include over 85, 000 sf for a total of over 170, 000 sf of retail space. Now that's a lot of clothing and shoes.
The Village
According to the retail brochure from Shape Properties, 10, 000 sf of retail space will face out at street level on Lougheed Hwy and Beta Ave in the SE corner of the development. This retail space will be situated between Beta Ave and a new entrance off of Lougheed Hwy. Immediately above this retail space will be another 10, 000 sf of retail along with 82, 000 sf more of retail space throughout the Village at the first level. The second level will include more than 26, 000 sf of additional retail space in the west end of the Village near the Alpha Ave entrance. The corner of Beta and Lougheed will see a 40-story, 320-unit residential tower above the retail space there. West of this tower will be a 50-story, 400-unit residential tower above the retail space just east of the Alpha Ave entrance.
Considering the size of the retail space envisioned in the Village, we can expect a grocery store to serve the 3000 plus new residents of the site (half of them in the Village itself) and the existing residents immediately east and north of the mall. An IGA marketplace-type of grocery store would be a nice fit here (though nothing has been confirmed) and it may be a bit of a stretch, the recent closure of the IGA in the Montecito area near Burnaby Mountain Golf Course is fuelling my speculation. Other amenities in the Village might include a coffee shop or two, a family restaurant, a neighbourhood pub, medical clinic, specialty bakery, a liquor store, a dry cleaner or other service-related business.
Pedestrian access from the northeast end will be facilitated by stairs into the Village from the single family residences there. The pedestrian access will go to/from Beta across the street from Ridgelawn Drive. The new entrance off Lougheed will provide access to the scores of pedestrians that currently enter off Beta Ave from Brentwood Drive. The entrance on Beta Ave will be closed to make room for retail space.
Fashion District
Although I'm not a "fashionably astute" consumer, it will be nice to see a variety of clothing and footwear choices for the odd day that I need to replenish my "wardrobe". For me, this stretch of "High Street" will merely serve as an access to and from Brentwood Station or the entertainment area next to it...unless a Tim Horton's steeped tea gives me good reason to make a stop along this stretch. Here's hoping.
As one walks westward towards the "Fashion District" (FD), the atmosphere should begin to take on a livelier tone with the presence of commuters going in and out of Brentwood Station/Bus Loop. This part of the street will have shops that will tend to open later than the stores inside the mall and will certainly see a spill-off of people from the station and the entertainment plaza next to it.
The street-level entrance to the FD off of Alpha Avenue will include 6, 700 sf of retail space at the east corner (Village) and 9, 000 sf at the west corner (Entertainment Plaza). The first and second levels of the FD will each include over 85, 000 sf for a total of over 170, 000 sf of retail space. Now that's a lot of clothing and shoes.
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