Solo District's Stratus set to rise

This time last year it was Vantage that lit up the sky near Lougheed and Willingdon.  This year, the crane to begin construction of the Stratus building at Solo District which will include a Whole Foods below it is ready to go.  With the Brentwood Mall Redevelopment at the opposite corner inching forward, we can expect a flurry of activity over the next few years.

Solo crane today.

Vantage crane last year

Vantage crane

Vantage continues to rise

The Vantage project continues to rise at the corner of Lougheed Hwy and Rosser Ave.  The following photos show a progression of the project up to its current stage beginning in May 2010.

View from the food court

Vantage (below) is nearing its full height as Solo District prepares to rise in front of it.  This view will be much different 2 years from now as Vantage is followed by Solo which will be followed by the Brentwood Mall Entertainment Plaza.

Vantage from Sears rooftop

In keeping with the spirit of this time of year, the crane at the Vantage project on Rosser and Lougheed has become visually prominent in the evening.

Once the Vantage tower is complete, its view from the Sears rooftop will not last very long as the Solo District development will rise in front of it at the SW corner of Lougheed and Willingdon.  That in turn will become blocked by the Brentwood Mall Redevelopment.

Community amenities discussed for Rosser and Lougheed

Although specific details were not discussed, the community spaces slated to accompany the Vantage and Brentwood Crossing developments at Rosser and Lougheed were mentioned at the August 29th Burnaby City Council meeting.

City of Burnaby

    Community Development Committee

              Re:               Community Benefit Derived Through

                            Rezoning #06-47

                            4420, 4444 Lougheed Highway; 2060 Rosser

                            Avenue; 4461, 4408 Sumas Street & 2131

                            Willingdon Avenue                           

The Community Development Committee submitted a report recommending on-site amenity space and a cash-in-lieu contribution as the approved community benefits to be derived through Rezoning Reference #06-47 for a large mixed-use commercial-residential project at the subject address.

The Community Development Committee recommended:

1.              THAT Council approve the on-site amenity space and a cash-in-lieu contribution as the community benefits to be derived through the density bonus granted to Rezoning Reference #06-47.

 Proposal Call Process for Community Amenity Space at

              Rosser Avenue and Lougheed Highway (RZ #08-06)             

The City Manager submitted a report from the Director Planning and Building seeking Council approval to initiate a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to identify a community organization(s) to occupy City-owned non-profit office/program space in a mixed use development at 2085 Rosser Avenue (at Lougheed Highway).

The City Manager recommended:

1.              THAT Council endorse the proposed process to select a non-profit tenant(s) for a community amenity space associated with RZ #08-06, as outlined in Sections 2.0 and 3.0 of this report.

Vantage foundation being set

The Vantage Project by Embassy Development Corporation at 2085 Rosser Ave is advancing as the excavation has been completed.  As the photograph shows (taken from overhead SkyTrain), the foundation for the units slated to front Lougheed Hwy has been laid and part of the structure is beginning to take shape.  The area in the background will see the foundation and underground parking take form over the summer.  Metrotown's skyline can be seen in the far distance.

Vantage site prep progressing

The Vantage project by Embassy Development Corporation is actively advancing as machinery has been seen operating almost daily in the past few weeks.  The project, located at 2085 Rosser Ave across from Milestones Grill and Bar, will include a residential tower, a commercial component and an unannounced community amenity.  The conceptual image (right) does not take the neighbouring towers that were recently built into account.  The commercial component of the project will most likely face Lougheed Hwy along the north end of the site. With excavation well under way, the tower should begin to rise and take shape by the end of summer.  The site is located on the SW corner of Lougheed Hwy and Rosser Ave.

Changing views: Vantage January 2011

As the Vantage project by Embassy Development gets started at the corner of Lougheed Hwy and Rosser Ave, another tower will appear in the Brentwood skyline.  As more towers spring up in the area, views will begin to change.  For example, the view of Madison Centre and Motif at Citi (below) as seen from Madison Ave will become obstructed as the Vantage project rises from the ground.

   

The Vantage sales office is expected to open in the spring of this year.

Old Canadian Tire Building Demolished

2 days ago, the building at Rosser Ave and Lougheed Hwy that once housed the Canadian Tire store 1 block west of Brentwood Station was demolished and site cleared for a major development titled Vantage. According to the City of Burnaby website, the site addressed as 2085 Rosser Ave will be transformed into a 200-unit residential high-rise (30 stories) and townhouse complex along with a commercial and community amenity. The project is being built by Embassy Development on the opposite corner from the Motif at Citi project currently nearing completion. Embassy Development previously built the Legacy project next to the Holdom Skytrain Station on the eastern edge of Brentwood Town Centre. It will be interesting to see what the community amenity will be.