3804 replies to this topic

[Nparker]

 

It looks like there is a preliminary plan to build 150 units of social housing and a 50-bed mental health facility at 950 Kings Road...

Sounds like the perfect place for both.

Edited by Nparker, 02 May 2019 - 07:29 AM.

[Kapten Kapsell]

It looks like there is a preliminary plan to build 150 units of social housing and a 50-bed mental health facility at 950 Kings Road.  The neighbourhood association is speaking out against it:  https://www.timescol...lity-1.23809146

Here's some additional detail about the 950 Kings Road proposal.

Initial rendering: 

 

Additional details:

• 116 units of surface parking plus 10 visitor stalls
• Build height:  5 storeys
• Unit mix for the affordable housing component (i.e. excluding mental health facility):  57 studios, 51 1-bedroom units, 28 2-bedroom units, 14 3-bedroom units (150 total).
• The mental health facility ('assisted living') consists of 4 'house concepts' with 12-13 residents each for a grand development total of 200 units.

[Nparker]

Except for the surface parking (yuck) this sounds like a good proposal for this location.

[Mike K.]

Is that the school property?

[Kapten Kapsell]

The proposal meets existing zoning so only a development permit would be required if this goes ahead. 

[Kapten Kapsell]

Is that the school property?

 

Yes.

[Jackerbie]

 

Here's some additional detail about the 950 Kings Road proposal.

Initial rendering: 

 

Additional details:

• 116 units of surface parking plus 10 visitor stalls
• Build height:  5 storeys
• Unit mix for the affordable housing component (i.e. excluding mental health facility):  57 studios, 51 1-bedroom units, 28 2-bedroom units, 14 3-bedroom units (150 total).
• The mental health facility ('assisted living') consists of 4 'house concepts' with 12-13 residents each for a grand development total of 200 units.

 

 

Also 46 underground parking stalls for the Island Health component of the development. The info package is linked in the agenda for yesterday's CRD meeting, item 5.4: https://www.crd.bc.c...vrsn=cbf5ceca_7

 

I see that they're getting cheeky with the zoning bylaw and connecting the two components by a loading dock. The zone only permits a single building on the property.

[grantpalin]

That's quite close to where I live. There's been interest in a new community centre on that site (mentioned briefly in the article) with community amenities such as a library branch.

[aastra]

 

...the hospital district has neither the legal obligation nor the authority to provide any of the amenities proposed by the community centre...

 

Even so, why not do something that somewhat fits the context? For some reason there's been a decades-long mission to subvert and invert that neighbourhood. Drives me batty. Even if you are going to go right ahead and build large institutional facilities, you can still make the effort to make them fit half-decently well. The massing, the architecture, the materials, the relationship to the sidewalk, etc.

[Brantastic]

Big thumbs down from me. 116 surface level parking spots? Is this 1985? Even if it's needed to make the units affordable, at least put them around the back and have the building face Kings Rd.

Terrible use of space. 

[sdwright.vic]

So wait, that many parking spaces for a low income building? And why?!?

I thought poor people couldn't afford a car (per other threads).

Edited by sdwright.vic, 02 May 2019 - 06:42 PM.

[Nparker]

So wait, that many parking spaces for a low income building? And why?!?...

Because buses aren't free yet.

[grantpalin]

Checked out the new Shoppers store on Douglas St (the former Chapters space). Ground floor has perfumes, cosmetics, edibles (including an expanded "grocery aisle"), and the upper floor has the PO where Starbucks used to be, a pharmacy opposite the PO, magazines, cleaning supplies, and general hygiene products.

 

The elevator and escalator are still present. The stairs going down from the main floor are gone, as is the round opening in the first floor ceiling.

 

Overall light and bright. I still "felt" the layout from the Chapters era, and kept expecting to see books somewhere.

 

Now something needs to happen to the former Shoppers space next door.

Edited by grantpalin, 03 May 2019 - 04:46 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

the expanded groceries is good but still not nearly as full as some bigger stores I’ve seen in Vancouver.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 03 May 2019 - 06:58 PM.

[sdwright.vic]

The fact the cosmetics spill into the grocery section. .

[Victoria Watcher]

some cosmetics are crossover. just ask gwumyth Paltrow.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 03 May 2019 - 07:10 PM.

[sdwright.vic]

OUCH

[Kapten Kapsell]

In addition to the planned redevelopment of the elementary school at at 950 Kings Road into affordable housing and the already-announced modular housing facing Hillside Road, the remainder of the Evergreen Terrace housing complex that stretches from Bay Street to Hillside along Blanshard may be a candidate for redevelopment and intensification.

 

Councillor Isitt has already expressed support for intensification of low-income housing at the site:  https://www.cbc.ca/n...-cash-1.4416699

 

The site is owned by BC Housing.

[Nparker]

Is there a difference between "intensification" and densification?

[sdwright.vic]

MMMMM....

in·ten·si·fi·ca·tion
/inˌtensəfiˈkāSH(ə)n/
Learn to pronounce
noun
the action of making or becoming more intense.
"the intensification of the conflict"