More details available on the City of Burnaby site (link below)
https://burnaby.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentDisplay.aspx?Id=14430
Showing posts with label Dawson Ave. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dawson Ave. Show all posts
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Low-rise and restaurant coming to Dawson and Willingdon
A low-rise development is being initiated by Amacon for the portion of Dawson Street from 4460 Dawson eastward to 2273 Willingdon Avenue. It will be a mixed-use development with commercial/restaurant space at street level. The restaurant space is expected to front Willingdon Avenue.
More details available on the City of Burnaby site (link below)
https://burnaby.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentDisplay.aspx?Id=14430
More details available on the City of Burnaby site (link below)
https://burnaby.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentDisplay.aspx?Id=14430
Sunday, June 22, 2014
More activity along Dawson Ave
With Onni Development already looking at developing the site around Gilmore Station including along Dawson Ave, 2 more sites are being considered a bit further east on or near Dawson Ave. 2450 Alpha Ave south of Dawson is up for a proposed tower by Solterra Development and now the 4300 block of Dawson west of Willingdon Ave at Madison is being eyed for a mid to high-rise development by Porte Development Corp which would include a commercial component fronting Dawson Ave.
According to the Burnaby NewsLeader article below, the huge plot of land that makes up the 2 Carter dealerships has been considered by the owners for their sale to make way for more development. Such a development, if and when it happens, would rival, if not exceed the magnitude of the Brentwood Mall Redevelopment.
According to the Burnaby NewsLeader article below, the huge plot of land that makes up the 2 Carter dealerships has been considered by the owners for their sale to make way for more development. Such a development, if and when it happens, would rival, if not exceed the magnitude of the Brentwood Mall Redevelopment.
More condos proposed for Brentwood industrial area
The industrial area in Brentwood town centre south of Lougheed Highway could continue its transformation into a residential neighbourhood if two projects get the okay from Burnaby council.
Solterra Acquisition Corp. has applied for a rezoning of 2450 Alpha Ave., a parcel of almost one acre between Dawson and Alaska streets. It proposes building a high-rise apartment building with apartments or townhouses at a podium level to camouflage the above-ground parking.
City staff are proposing guidelines for the area bordered by Dawson and Alaska streets and Alpha and Beta avenues taking into account factors such as geotechnical and groundwater issues, according to a report on the Solterra application.
The proposed guidelines are that the area result in a mix of six to eight mid- to high-rise apartment buildings ranging in height from 15 to 30 storeys. Podium-level apartments or townhouses, potentially used to screen above-ground parking structures, would be a maximum of four storeys along fronting streets. Retail would be considered at ground level along Dawson.
City staff have encouraged Solterra to acquire the property next door, the site of the Carter automotive body shop at 2460 Alpha Ave., as part of its project. But the owner of that parcel is not willing to sell and has stated any future sale would be together with the rest of the Carter automotive dealership lands, the report said.
It noted that "a substantial portion" of the Carter auto body site is intended to be dedicated as road right-of-way for the extension of Alaska Street. That would make the remainder of the site too small for a future multi-family housing development.
Over on the other side of Willingdon Avenue, Porte Development Corp. has applied to rezone 4305 and 4349 Dawson St. on the northeast corner with Madison Avenue. It proposes constructing a six-storey, mixed-use building—five storeys of wood-frame construction above one level of concrete—with commercial space at street level, apartments above and full underground parking.
The six storey plan is due to the fact an underground rail tunnel is located on the eastern part of the site, a city staff report said.
"As the rail tunnel imposes significant challenges on the site in terms of building siting and underground parking, the site's available density is proposed to be coalesced west of the rail tunnel, at the corner of Madison Avenue and Dawson Street."
Burnaby planning director Lou Pelletier told council Monday that the six-storey height is "really dealing with the conditions of the site rather than setting the standard for Dawson."
Council gave city staff the go-ahead to work with both Solterra and Porte toward development plans that could be presented at future public hearings.
wchow@burnabynewsleader.com
Monday, June 16, 2014
First tower proposed for Alpha south of Dawson
Solterra Development is proposing a 31 story tower at 2450 Alpha Ave. If approved, it would be the first development approved south of Dawson between Beta and Willingdon Avenues. Previous proposals for the same property have been left in limbo due to lack of clarification regarding zoning of the area.
Solterra Development has submitted a rezoning application for a 31-storey residential tower at 2450 Alpha Avenue in the Brentwood area of Burnaby.
Article below
Vancouvermarket.ca
David Taylor
Colliers International
31-Storey Tower Proposed for
Brentwood Area
The site is 41,573 SF and is currently zoned M2 Industrial, but is designated as a “succession area” within the Brentwood Town Centre Plan, which allows a transition from industrial to residential. The proposed rezoning would be based on RM4s and would achieve approx. 3.6 FAR.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
More on new Brentwood area school
The following Burnaby NewsLeader article provides some background on the Dragonwood lands off Beta Ave and the future elementary school to be built south of Lougheed Hwy.
New Brentwood school site on horizon
A new Brentwood-area elementary school and neighbourhood park south of Lougheed Highway are a step closer to reality now that the new owners of Dragonwood Industrial Park have applied for a rezoning of the 26-acre (10.5 hectare) site.
Concord Pacific Holdings Ltd. are proposing to develop a multi-phased, highrise, multi-family development with ground-oriented townhouses and low-rise apartments as well as commercial space to serve the immediate community, according to a Burnaby city staff report.
The property is comprised of 4756 and 4828 Lougheed Highway, 4818, 4828 and 4829 Dawson St., 2235, 2285 and 2311 Delta Ave. and 2316 Beta Ave. and includes several smaller properties currently owned by the city that would be sold to the developer and added to the site.
The property has long been designated in the Brentwood Town Centre Development Plan for multi-family redevelopment and 7.68 acres has been sought for the school and park.
In fact, as reported in the NewsLeader, the owners of Dragonwood claimed in a 2009 lawsuit against the City of Burnaby that city inspectors began strictly enforcing long-unenforced bylaws against its tenants and turning down their business licence applications after it turned down city hall's offer to purchase the park and school site two years earlier.
Jonathan Baker, who served as Dragonwood's lawyer for a time on the case, told the NewsLeader in 2009 he believed residents of a condo development overseeing the site were pressuring the city to get the industrial park off the property.
"It looks as though there was an expectation from [the highrise] tenants they would be overlooking a park and they didn't expect it would be an industrial park," Baker said.
Now it appears an actual neighbourhood park may soon be on the horizon.
The preliminary concept for the site would see the park designed for "both active and passive recreation, children's play and environmental enhancement" with an "improved naturalized riparian corridor for Stickleback Creek," the report said.
The elementary school has been on the Burnaby school district's five-year capital plans in recent years and is needed to serve residents of the growing community of highrises in Brentwood and take pressure off Brentwood Park elementary which is already beyond capacity, district secretary-treasurer Greg Frank told the NewsLeader in May. The district would like the new school to have space initially for 240 students.
Along with completing area streets with sidewalks, boulevards, street lighting, and other usual servicing requirements, the developer will be required to build a new pedestrian and cycling overpass at Beta to connect to the Central Valley Greenway south of the BNSF Rail line as well as an urban trail connection through the site, between Lougheed and Beta, the report said.
As for Dragonwood's ongoing battle with city hall, it won the first round of its court fight, with a 2009 B.C. Supreme Court judgment ordering Burnaby to consider the business licence applications of its tenants "on their merits."
Then earlier this year, the property was sold.
It was perhaps not surprising, considering the value of the land.
According to B.C. Assessment, in 2013 the property at 2316 Beta Ave. was valued at $31.08 million, 4828 Lougheed Hwy. was assessed at $23.22 million, 4756 Lougheed at $5.24 million and 2311 Delta Ave. at $875,000.
wchow@burnabynewsleader.com
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Area plan needed for south of Dawson
The following article in the Burnaby NewsLeader highlights difficulties that developers may face when seeking approval of rezoning applications for property owned in and around Brentwood. In this case, it's not an issue of conflict with an existing community plan but rather an issue with the fact that a community plan currently does not exist. The area in question is the land located south of Dawson Ave between Willingdon and Beta on Alpha Avenue.
The City of Burnaby needs to develop a plan for the area in question and give prospective developers a definitive guideline for their plans and create more interest in the Brentwood area.
The City of Burnaby needs to develop a plan for the area in question and give prospective developers a definitive guideline for their plans and create more interest in the Brentwood area.
Stuck in redevelopment limbo near Brentwood
Published: April 23, 2013 11:00 AM
Wiinton Williams will likely one day get a nice windfall from the sale of a property he owns in the Brentwood area.
Today, though, his industrial property has a breathtaking property tax bill based solely on its development potential.
If only he could develop it. For now, with the taxes so high, he’s having trouble just leasing out the place. Williams says he can’t redevelop his property and sell it for what it could be worth because Burnaby city hall has been slow to come up with an area plan.
Since 1993, his company, Vernon-based Sako Pacific Properties Ltd. has owned the property at 2450 Alpha Ave. in Burnaby where it also owned and operated Universal Concrete Accessories, a business that first opened there in 1970. Starting in 1995, Burnaby city hall started sending Williams’ company notices about redevelopment plans for the Brentwood area, including the industrial lands south of Dawson Street where Sako’s property is located. Williams said since then, his property taxes have soared from about $17,000 in 1995 to an expected $70,000 this year.
Seeing the writing on the wall, he started working with a developer several years back and has spent about $70,000 on site investigations necessary for any redevelopment. But while Burnaby city hall has indicated for years that redevelopment is on the horizon for the area, the planning department has yet to complete a plan for the area south of Dawson to allow any such transformation to begin.
To make matters worse, when Sako sold its Universal Concrete business it continued to lease the property to its new owners. The business’ owners just vacated the site a couple months ago, relocating to an area with lower property tax costs. Williams said he found two possible tenants in the film industry, but they decided to look elsewhere when they found out Sako planned to redevelop in the next few years and that the property taxes they’d be expected to help pay were high.
“We’re stuck in limbo, we can’t sell it, we can’t rent it, all we can do is click off 25 grand a month,” said Williams. About eight years ago when the taxes went up to $32,000, Williams spoke to B.C. Assessment Authority and explained the land is zoned industrial, it’s being used for industrial so it should be paying industrial-level taxes.
“They said, ‘yeah, but it’s going to be high density and then it’s going to be worth a lot more.’” Williams replied, “When it is high density then it will be worth a lot more, just like you actually have to win the lottery before [you can benefit].”
Sako has yet to appeal its assessment and while they’ve missed this year’s deadline, Williams said they may do so in future. He recently wrote to Burnaby’s community development committee describing his company’s predicament.
Coun. Colleen Jordan, chair of the committee, said the city’s master plan for the area bounded by Dawson and the railway tracks and Gilmore and Holdom avenues, “is kind of up in the air.” Even in the late 1990s it was designated for redevelopment but the form and type was never defined by city hall, Jordan explained.
A property on the western section of the area was rezoned several years back for highrises but council decided to put any further applications on hold until a plan could be developed.
One of the issues to be determined is whether some areas are suitable for highrises since some of the land is peat bog. “You have to consider whether or not stuff is going to sink,” she said. As it stands currently, property owners could apply to rezone “but we would say no.” Jordan said she sympathizes with the situation Williams and others in the area find themselves. “We appreciate that so we’re just asking our staff how much work it would take to get this on the table and moving forward,” she said, noting staff already have their plates full doing similar work for other areas of the city.
Jordan hopes the planning work for the area south of Dawson will be completed by the end of the year. Kash Kang, B.C. Assessment Authority’s area assessor for the North Fraser region, said Brentwood town centre is a “really good example” of such situations which are not unusual for urban areas in transition.
Kang stressed that property assessments are based on market value and take into account what similar properties in neighbourhoods have sold for recently. The market will discount properties if there are constraints, such as the fact redevelopment is not yet able to go ahead. But if land is at the stage where it could be rezoned, its value would be “substantially higher,” he noted.
“There’s a distinction between what somebody could do with it if it’s already rezoned versus something that has a horizon that’s possibly three to five years out.” Kang said similar situations have occurred in Richmond since the Canada Line has gone through there, and will likely also occur with the Evergreen Line out to the Tri-Cities.
He said property owners could appeal their assessments if they believe they’re higher or lower than those given to similar properties in a similar situation. As for Williams, he said he’s been “pleasantly surprised” by the responsiveness of city hall staff and council. “While we feel a little hard done by it’s not really anybody’s fault.”
Friday, November 23, 2012
Numerous police cars at Dawson and Madison
Last night around 9:15, as many as 15 police cars with flashing lights supported by the Burnaby Fire Department were on scene at Dawson and Madison to deal with an unknown, unreported (by the media) incident. The massive police presence would indicate a level of threat that might endanger the public. Not being a reporter, I refrained from asking any questions. I wish I had my camera, though.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Traffic control coming to Madison and Dawson
It appears that a new traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of Madison and Dawson
Avenues after a letter of concern from residents of the "One Madison Avenue" residence to the City of Burnaby was written. Although a study of traffic and pedestrian volume between 2008 and 2011 did not technically support the need for a traffic signal, it was considered that new developments currently being constructed and future projects currently being planned will be well served with the new signals at that intersection as more vehicle and pedestrian traffic is expected in the area. The cost of the traffic signals is estimated to be $220, 000.
(from the City of Burnaby website)
Avenues after a letter of concern from residents of the "One Madison Avenue" residence to the City of Burnaby was written. Although a study of traffic and pedestrian volume between 2008 and 2011 did not technically support the need for a traffic signal, it was considered that new developments currently being constructed and future projects currently being planned will be well served with the new signals at that intersection as more vehicle and pedestrian traffic is expected in the area. The cost of the traffic signals is estimated to be $220, 000.
(from the City of Burnaby website)
SUBJECT: INTERSECTION OF DAWSON STREET AND MADISON AVENUE RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. THAT Council approve an expenditure of $220,000 (inclusive of 12% HST) in 2012 for the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Dawson Street and Madison Avenue, as outlined in this report; and staff be authorized to bring down a Capital Works Expenditure Bylaw in the amount of $220,000 for the works and;
2. THAT a copy of this report be sent to Mr. Adam Lord, Property Manager, Stratawest Management Ltd., #202 – 224 West Esplanade, North Vancouver, BC, V7M 1A4.
REPORT
The Traffic Safety Committee, at its meeting held on 2011 November 01, received and adopted the attached report to review a request for a traffic signal at the intersection of Dawson Street and Madison Avenue.
A review of the collision history at the intersection did reveal a relatively high number of collisions within the last four years (2007-2010). Despite past efforts to improve safety, there have been at least 10 collisions per year with the highest number of collisions reached in 2010. Because of this trend, it is recommended that a traffic signal be installed at the intersection to enhance safety. The continuing increase in pedestrian and vehicular activity in the area from redevelopments will also be well served by a traffic signal at this intersection.
Respectfully submitted,
Councillor S. Dhaliwal Chair
Councillor C. Jordan Vice Chair
Councillor P. McDonell Member
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT: PURPOSE:
CHAIR AND MEMBERS TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
DIRECTOR ENGINEERING
DATE: FILE:
Ref:
2011 October 26 38000 20
Traffic Safety
INTERSECTION OF DAWSON ST AND MADISON AVE
To review a request for a traffic signal at the intersection of Dawson St and Madison Ave.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. THAT the Committee recommend to Council an expenditure of $220,000 (inclusive of 12% HST) be approved in 2012 for the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Dawson St and Madison Ave, as outlined in this report; and staff be authorized to bring down a Capital Works Expenditure Bylaw in the amount of $220,000 for the works and;
2. THAT the Committee recommend that Council send a copy of this report to Mr. Adam Lord, Property Manager, Stratawest Management Ltd., #202 – 224 West Esplanade, North Vancouver, BC, V7M 1A4.
REPORT
BACKGROUND
Requests for additional traffic controls at the intersection of Dawson and Madison have been received periodically since 2007. In response to concerns raised, parking near the intersection was restricted to improve visibility, and a marked pedestrian crosswalk was installed in 2009 December to facilitate pedestrian crossings. Most recently, a letter dated 2011 October 05 was received from Mr. Adam Lord, Property Manager, on behalf of the “One Madison Avenue 1” residents located at 2345/2355 Madison Ave. Mr. Lord requested a traffic signal at the intersection to improve safety and access.
The intersection of Dawson and Madison has been reviewed on several occasions in the past few years in response to requests for a traffic signal. Most requestors cite the difficulty in getting access from Madison (the local street) to Dawson (the collector street) due to the volume and speed of traffic along Dawson. Currently vehicles travelling along Dawson are provided the right-of-way, while vehicles along Madison are controlled by stop signs. An aerial photo of the intersection is shown in Figure 1.
Meeting 2011 November 01
COMMITTEE REPORT
47To: From: Re: 2011 October 26 ............................................................. Page 2
Traffic Safety Committee Director Engineering Dawson St and Madison Ave
right-of-way, while vehicles along Madison are controlled by stop signs. An aerial photo of the intersection is shown in Figure 1.
DISCUSSION
A comparison of traffic counts at the intersection completed in 2008 and 2011 during the morning and afternoon peak periods do not show any appreciable change. Not surprisingly, the latest traffic signal warrant analysis continues to show that a traffic signal is not technically warranted. This analysis considers traffic volumes, pedestrian volumes, roadway conditions and adjacent land uses. Despite this, it is acknowledged that vehicles travelling on Madison Ave may have difficulty accessing Dawson St during peak periods, but this is not necessarily unusual given the roadway classifications and their general purpose.
A review of the collision history at the intersection did reveal a relatively high number of collisions within the last four years (2007-2010). Despite past efforts to improve safety, there have been at least 10 collisions per year with the highest number of collisions reached in 2010. Because of this trend, it is recommended that a traffic signal be installed at the intersection to enhance safety. The continuing increase in pedestrian and vehicular activity in the area from redevelopments will also be well served by a traffic signal at this intersection.
Installation of the traffic signal at Dawson and Madison is proposed in 2012. Total cost is estimated at $220,000 (inclusive of 12% HST) and these expenditures are included in the Traffic Management component of the 2012 – 2016 Provisional Capital Program. It is recommended that staff be authorized to bring down a Capital Works Expenditure Bylaw in the amount of $220,000 to finance the proposed works. Funding allocated from nearby developments and any potential cost sharing from ICBC will also be applied to offset some City cost for this road safety improvement.
Lambert Chu, P. Eng. DIRECTOR ENGINEERING
DL/br
Copied to: City Manager Director of Finance
Attachment
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Pasta Amore: A place to eat Italian food
Pasta Amore, located at on Dawson and Willingdon, was mentioned in the following Burnaby Now article that also ran in The Province. Having eaten there with my wife and kids, I must say that Pasta Amore is one of the better Italian restaurants of North Burnaby.
Read more:http://www.theprovince.com/life/love+pizza/5533096/story.html#ixzz1aUuTKXiL
For the love of pizza
Read more:http://www.theprovince.com/life/love+pizza/5533096/story.html#ixzz1aUuTKXiL
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Affinity at Douglas and Dawson
Dawson and Douglas has been a busy place over the past few months as the Affinity project progresses. Along with the towers, the townhouses fronting Douglas Rd are taking shape.
This development is one of the many steps required to build an east-west connection between the growing neighbourhoods around Gilmore and Holdom Stations. Although residential development is a benefit to the area, Burnaby must ensure that enough commercial space is interspersed throughout to encourage local neighbourhood shopping habits essential to creating "green" communities.
Monday, March 7, 2011
A place to workout: Gold's Gym
Not paying attention to where I was while riding the Millennium Line home from work one day last week, I inadvertently got off at the wrong stop at Gilmore Station. Looking out from the platform of Gilmore Station while waiting for the next train, I noticed the back of Gold's Gym. At 5:20 in the afternoon the facility appeared busy as many people could be seen going through their workout routines.
One can look right into Gold's Gym when waiting
for the eastbound train at Gilmore Station
Situated conveniently next to Gilmore Station, Gold's Gym is in a prime location and the number of patrons at 5:20pm on a weekday clearly demonstrates this.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
New intersection: Dawson and Douglas
During late summer of 2010, a new intersection began to take shape to accommodate the construction of the new Perspectives development on Douglas road.
The townhouse component of the project (below) has been built behind the high-rise residential tower and fronts onto the new section of Dawson Rd.
Intersection at Douglas Rd and Dawson Ave
The townhouse component of the project (below) has been built behind the high-rise residential tower and fronts onto the new section of Dawson Rd.
This part of Dawson Rd (below) will eventually be paved further west over an unnamed creek (by bridge) to the part of Dawson Ave immediately east of Beta Ave. It will eventually be possible to drive from Douglas Rd all the way to Boundary Rd. The unnamed creek that runs north-south into Still Creek will be rehabilitated (and hopefully named) in the future.
Dawson Ave looking east (left) and Dawson Ave looking west (right)
The construction of the Affinity Project by Bosa Development is under way across the street from the eastern end of the new section of Dawson Rd (below). The towers at Holdom Station can be seen in the near distance.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Brentwood Intersections: Dawson & Alpha
The intersection at Dawson Ave and Alpha Ave lies just south of Brentwood Station in Burnaby.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Brentwood Intersections: Gilmore and Dawson
Dawson Ave is beginning to develop into a "village street" as envisioned by the City of Burnaby Planning Department. The street-level businesses along Dawson Ave within 1 block of Gilmore Station now include:
Extreme Pita
Starbucks
Quiznos
Taco Del Mar
Gold's Gym
Wells Fargo Bank
Gilmore Station (below) is the last station in Burnaby if you are traveling west on the Millennium Line into Vancouver.
Brentwood Intersections: Dawson and Beta
The intersection at Dawson Ave and Beta Ave is relatively new as it came into existence along with the recent building of residences that line the street. Dawson Ave will be extended eastward and connected to Douglas Rd. The extended portion of Dawson will eventually be lined with townhomes and condominiums, creating a residential corridor between the Holdom and Brentwood stations. The new corridor along Dawson Ave, Douglas Rd, and Goring St will allow for easier east-west pedestrian access than currently exists. Just south of this corridor lies the Central Valley Greenway.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Perspectives changing at Douglas and Lougheed
The 29-story Perspectives high-rise development being built by Ledingham Mcallister at Douglas Rd and Lougheed Hwy has begun the transformation of the area between Beta Ave and the Holdom SkyTrain Station from an industrial to a mixed-use residential and retail, pedestrian oriented neighbourhood. Situated south of Lougheed Hwy across the street from the recently built Brentwood Gate complex (Delta and Lougheed), the Perspectives development will include 8 townhomes on Dawson Ave which will be extended eastward and be connected with Douglas Rd. With Perspectives nearing completion and the site of the Affinity high-rise development by Bosa just having been excavated nearby, the area around Douglas Road will look much different a few years from now.
The Affinity development will consist of a 24-story and 29-story tower and 10 townhomes. According to Bosa's website, the phase 1 tower is more than 90 percent sold. Another project that is to be built by Qualex-Landmark and titled The Luxe is currently on hold. The Luxe project will consist of 2 highrise towers along with townhomes and will be built next to the Perspectives site between Douglas Rd and the Dawson Ave extension.
Along with the extension of Dawson Ave from Yukon Court to link up with Douglas Rd, traffic changes will include the closing off of Douglas Rd to and from Lougheed Hwy. Future plans include the building of a pedestrian overpass from Delta Ave to Douglas Rd to provide safe north-south access for residents on either side of Lougheed Hwy. More mixed-use development will lead to the availability of more local retail and community amenities to serve long-time and new residents.
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