Another mention of Solo District in article

An article mentioning Solo District from simonlim.ca:

Appia Proposing High Density Brentwood Development

Posted on August 29, 2011 by tanya

Proposed mixed-use plan includes 1,350 units in four towers ranging from 39-48 storeys

Appia Developments has submitted a proposal to the City of Burnaby to rezone a 6 acre site at the Southwest corner of Lougheed and Willingdon to allow four residential high-rise apartment buildings ranging in height from 39 storeys to 48 storeys (in a mixed-use tower with a thirteen storey office component). The total density would be 1.9 Million square feet, or 7.1 FAR.

The proposed development also includes approximately 250,000 sq.ft. of office, and about 112,000 sq. ft. of commercial/retail fronting all bounding streets and the internal private road (Sumas Street). The proposed development is centred around a new public realm which includes significant plaza and green open/gathering space.

Not clear if Zellers a Target

According to the following Vancouver Sun story, Target Corp has added 84 Canadian Zellers stores to the list of stores either slated to become a Target store or to be sold to another American retailer such as Walmart.  After not making the list earlier in the year, Zellers Brentwood has made the cut this time. However it is not yet clear in the story if it will become a Target store or its lease sold to a competitor.

With Brentwood Mall actively pursuing a massive redevelopment that will transform the mall itself along with its surrounding parking lots into a mixed-use core in the Brentwood neighbourhood, it wouldn't be a surprise if Shape Properties (mall owner) contacted Target Corp to entice it to add the Brentwood Zellers to its list of stores to expand into.  Brentwood Mall will require a commitment from a retail giant such as Target to anchor an expanded and improved Brentwood Mall.

Vancouver Sun Story:

Target finalizes Canadian expansion with 84 additional Zellers leases

SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

Target Corp. said Friday that it has selected its final leases of Zellers Inc. stores in Canada, laying the groundwork for the opening of 125 to 135 Target stores across the country by 2013.

The Minneapolis-based discount retailer said in January that would buy up to 220 leasehold interests of Zellers, a subsidiary of the Hudson’s Bay Co., for $1.825 billion.

On Friday, the final selection was announced, adding 84 more Zellers leases and bringing the total number of selected sites to 189. Those sites that aren’t converted into Target stores either have been or will be sold to other entities, which could include Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

The final list adds 11 locations to British Columbia, including Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton, Prince Rupert, Salmon Arm, Dawson Creek and Victoria.

On the Lower Mainland, Target has zeroed in on the Brentwood Mall in Burnaby, Lynn Valley Centre in North Vancouver, Central City Mall in Surrey and Lansdowne Centre in Richmond.

Earlier, the company announced that it would take over store leases at 15 Zellers locations in B.C., from Vancouver’s Oakridge Centre, Coquitlam Centre and Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby to the Abbotsford Power Centre and Cottonwood Mall in Chilliwack.

The locations were selected after an analysis of trade areas based on demographics, competition and market potential, Target Canada president Tony Fisher said in an interview with The Sun in January.

In a media release issued Friday, Fisher called Target’s most recent announcement “another meaningful step toward our expansion in Canada.”

The company plans to spend up to $11 million to convert the Zellers stores into Targets. Most of them will open in 2013 after a six- to nine-month rehabilitation period.

Until the remodelling begins, the company said, they will be subleased to Zellers and continue to operate as such.

Each Target store would employ 150 to 200 people. Target has already begun the hiring process.

— Vancouver Sun with files from McClatchy Newspapers and ReutersList of Target’s second and final selection of 11 additional Zellers leases in British Columbia (includes potential Target stores and leases sold to other retailers):

4567 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby, BC — Brentwood Mall

11000 8th St., No. 1, Dawson Creek, BC — Dawson Mall

945 Columbia St. W., Kamloops, BC — Sahali Centre Mall

1876 Cooper Road, Kelowna, BC — Orchard Park Plaza

2210 Main St., Suite 100, Penticton, BC — Penticton Power Centre

500 Second Ave. W., Prince Rupert, BC — Rupert Square

8311 Landsdowne Road, Richmond, BC — Lansdowne Centre

1151 10th Ave. S.W., #400, Salmon Arm, BC — Piccadilly Place Mall

10151 King George Highway, Surrey, BC — Surrey Place/Central City

1175 Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver, BC – Lynn Valley Centre

1610 Hillside Ave., Victoria, BC — Hillside Shopping Centre

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

Readmore:http://www.vancouversun.com/Target+finalizes+Canadian+expansion+with+additional+Zellers+leases/5450181/story.html#ixzz1Ypk4gMLg

Are we dense enough already?

The following letter regarding density is from the Burnaby NewsLeader.

Burnaby NewsLeader - Letters

Burnaby should spread density around

Published: September 22, 2011 10:00 AM 
Updated: September 22, 2011 10:10 AM

Two rezoning applications were presented at a public hearing at Burnaby city hall on Sept. 20. One at Brentwood Town Centre proposes four residential highrises of 39, 43, 45 and 48 storeys.

The original proposal had only three towers that were 11 to 14 storeys shorter, and also promised to have two office towers.

Meanwhile, in Metrotown the Beedie Group is proposing adding four residential towers to its Station Square property up to 57 storeys high. The original proposal for this large site included a 25 storey office tower and two much smaller residential towers.

What is concerning about these two proposals is the increased street congestion that will result from the density bonus process, the lack of public consultation respecting the bylaw amendment that allows these densities and building heights and the expectation that current Metrotown and Brentwood residents will continue to bear the brunt of population growth in the city.

According to Metro Vancouver, in 2001 there were approximately 32 persons per acre living in the Metrotown area, a 3.07 sq. km. space. I’m certain that in the last 10 years this density is approaching 40. Metrotown’s density is well above what is considered a “compact neighbourhood” and is approaching a density close to what is called a “pedestrian-oriented neighbourhood,” and this has been achieved without resorting to constructing towers above 30 storeys. It is unfair for City Hall to expect residents in the Metrotown area to absorb greater and greater numbers of people and residents, while other neighbourhoods in Burnaby continue to live at densities far below what is considered “compact.”

Three single lots can certainly accommodate at least 20 dwellings through the construction of low-rise apartments.

Add a floor or two, and we can increase neighbourhood densities substantially and still be “neighbourly.” Between 2001 and 2006 Burnaby saw a 1.36 per cent drop in the inventory of single- and two-family homes. High rise dwellings jumped 14.5 per cent, but family-friendlier low-rise dwellings grew only eight per cent.

Through careful planning and assembly of single lots, allowing for four or five-storey low-rises, protection of industrial, commercial and agricultural land, smart transit planning and proper public consultation, Burnaby could become a model for sustainability.

The municipal Green Party will be running a slate of candidates in November. We favour a multi-pronged approach to accommodating growth that will preserve the integrity of neighbourhoods, strengthen belongingness within the community and promote use of alternate modes of transportation. We will work hard to put sustainable development decisions into the hands of the people in communities rather than solely in the hands of city staffers and developers whose influence has increased under the current administration.

Rick McGowan

Burnaby Green Party

What will become of Zellers?

Since Zellers Brentwood did not make the first cut in Target's plans to convert its newly acquired Zellers sites into a Target Stores, it is possible that another US retailer will purchase the lease for the store space.  Recently, it was announced by Walmart that it is working out an agreement to expand into some of Target's newly acquired space in Canada.  However, it is highly unlikely that Walmart will be coming to Brentwood as it already has a presence nearby on Grandview Hwy between Boundary Rd and Rupert St in Vancouver along with a store in Lougheed Mall.

Dismay expressed over loss of view

The Solo District project drew the ire of residents of a tower located north of Lougheed Hwy.  Although some of them expressed their looking forward to the new commercial amenities that will be a part of the new development, they expressed their displeasure over losing their southern view when the new residential towers are erected between Willingdon and Rosser on the south side of Lougheed Hwy.  They further complained of the loss of their property value once the view is interrupted by the residential towers slated to be as much as 49 stories high.   City of Burnaby Counsellor Volkow pointed out to an affected resident who had purchased their condo 3 years ago that the Solo District Project was on the books prior to her purchasing her home implying that she should have been aware about what will occur in the future in this rapidly changing area.

The affected residents must realize that their high-rise tower must have blocked someone else's view when it was built and that the impetus that spurred the development of their high-rise is the same as the one spurring the Solo District Project.

They also expressed their concern about increased automobile traffic as more people begin to live in the area.  Some residents say that traffic has already become a problem and that  more tall towers will exacerbate the problem.

The question that should be asked in reaction to these questions is this; "How will traffic issues be resolved if the towers are built elsewhere and cars still have to go through Brentwood to get to downtown or wherever else they are going?  Increased auto traffic will definitely be an issue if people moving into the neighbourhood are going to use their cars instead of transit.  In my opinion, it is automobile users that are causing traffic and they are the ones suffering from increased traffic.  At some point, drivers must begin to realize that they are part of the problem if not THE problem.  That being said, it is very likely that the draw for people to live in Brentwood is the fact that it is a transit hub that will provide most of the amenities for daily living within walking distance.

Along with concerns about car traffic, some citizens mentioned that the area around Brentwood is not very pedestrian-friendly at the moment and that the increasing numbers of pedestrians resulting from densification in Brentwood will increase safety issues.  A resident of Halifax St pointed out that she has observed pedestrians crossing Lougheed Hwy on Rosser Ave where a pedestrian intersection currently does not exist as is the case at Willingdon Ave to the east and Madison Ave to the west.

Another resident of the area mentioned the parking pressures that have come with allowing on average only 1 parking stall or less per new residential unit in new developments.  The speaker pointed out that many renters in the new buildings are students of nearby post secondary institutions that have cars with no onsite parking available.  The result has been increased numbers of cars parked on side streets throughout the area.

Burnaby City Council asked the developer to address traffic and parking issues in its development proposal and adjourned the hearing.

As more high-rise towers are built, I hope that the city will consider the elements that make neighbourhoods more pedestrian friendly while effectively dealing with automobile traffic flow issues.

I believe that that the Solo District project is an important step in the densification of Brentwood.  Densification of a neighbourhood not only brings increased numbers of people; it encourages a diverse and increased number of commercial amenities that otherwise would not exist.   Increased numbers of people means increased numbers of pedestrians which leads to an awareness of the need for pedestrian-friendly initiatives that improve the vibrance of the neighbourhood.  Without large numbers of people, a vibrant street life will not become established in the neighbourhood.

Goodyear Tire Service 'silently being pushed out'

I had an opportunity to attend the public hearing regarding the Solo District project last night.  The hearing, which gave an opportunity for locals to voice their opinions, brought out a business owner that will be required to move out of the site of the project at Willingdon Ave and Lougheed Hwy.

"We are just silently being pushed out," stated the owner of Goodyear Tire Service which has been on the west side of Willingdon Ave just north of Dawson Street since 1988.  Goodyear Tire has not yet been given a date to clear the premises to make way for the project.  According to the City of Burnaby, although the rezoning of the property will not disqualify businesses such as Goodyear Tire to continue operations there, whether or not they are welcome to be a part of the future development will depend on Bosa Development Corp which will build Solo District.  The owner of Goodyear stated that although he has proposed staying within the new development, Bosa has not responded.  As a result he has been searching for a new site within a 2-3 km radius of the current location.

Goodyear Tire Service has been a sponser of local school programs in Burnaby including an apprenticeship program for BCIT students. The owner left City Council with the following question for consideration as the Brentwood area changes due to the pressures of development; "What happens to industry?"

The question of which types of businesses will fit in and be "compatible" with the transformation of the Brentwood neighbourhood will become more prominent as other businesses find themselves on the outside looking in as they are forced to move elsewhere.

Brentwood Crossing project titled Solo District

The Solo District project, previously known as Brentwood Crossing,  will go to a public hearing this Tuesday at Burnaby City Hall (Sept 20).  I am going to try to make it out for the public hearing to get a feel for what issues or concerns are brought forth from the public.  I was able to take a photo of the project site map displayed on the rezoning application board at the site on Willingdon Ave.