97 replies to this topic

[G-Man]

So I have it in my hands and am reading it now.

The first quote I will tantalize all of you with is:

"Under existing policies, there is not enough development capacity within the current downtown plan boundary to accomodate potential urban development demand between 2006 and 2026."

[Mike K.]

Is this report available anywhere in electronic format? I'd like to link it on the main page of VV, as per Holden's suggestion from earlier.

[G-Man]

Not yet... I ran down to the CotW meeting on a break just to get a copy. Perhaps the city could send you a pdf is you asked? But I doubt it.

We may just have to wait till the downtown plan website is updated.

[Mike K.]

Ok great. Thanks G-man.

[G-Man]

This is where it will be on the site when it goes up:

http://www.victoria.ca/cityhall/plnnew_downtown_support.shtml#coriolis

[Mike K.]

Perfect. I can use that as an interim link on VV's main page.

[G-Man]

Ok so the study area for where to extend the boundaries included Bay street to the North and the West (vicwest), Southgate and Superior to the South, Cook Street to the East. That is not the new boundaries but the area they are looking at.

" The study area defines the geographic area that best matches the current downtown residential and commercial market area plus immediately adjacent areas."

Coriolis report Jan 2007

[G-Man]

Interesting demand figures:

Residential demand in study area 2006 - 2026 - 6,850,000 to 9,070,000sqft

Office demand in study area 2006 - 2026 - 1,180,000 to 1,865,000sqft

Taking into consideration that the Gateway green preject is about 150,000 sqft of office, we need a lot of office buildings built over the next 19 years.

[G-Man]

Average total yearly demand for floorspace (residential and office) is 460,000 sqft or about three Gateway Green Buildings every year for 20 years

[G-Man]

I wish I could have stayed for the discussion of this item. This stuff is explosive. Man I wish I could let all of you see this doc. Anyone have a scanner and are downtown where I could lend this out?

[VicHockeyFan]

I wish I could have stayed for the discussion of this item. This stuff is explosive. Man I wish I could let all of you see this doc. Anyone have a scanner and are downtown where I could lend this out?

I've got a wonky scanner at the bar, let me see if it'll work..

Stay tuned...

[G-Man]

Ok this is the number 1 policy option:

1. Increasing density and heights in the Downtown planning area. This will allow the Downtown planning area to accomodate a larger share of the projected demand and will reduce pressure to rezone land in areas adjacent to Downtown to allow higher density uses.

[G-Man]

here is number 4:

Designating the portion of Rock bay that is south of Bay Street as a mixed use higher density urban area. This area has the potential to accomodate a very large share of our projected demand if it is designated for higher density residential and commercial uses. In addition, its location adjacent to the north end of Downtown makes it a logical extension of the Downtown urban area.

[aastra]

Thank you, number 4. Finally, somebody just comes right out and says it.

Fingers crossed that they didn't also mention a casino.

[VicHockeyFan]

OK, my scanner works....

You wanna run over at lunch?

[G-Man]

Nope no Casino in this plan. I wish I could hear Coun. Madoff's reaction to this.

[Mike K.]

Councillor Madoff's reaction would be similar to what she said about Vancouver's downtown west end at a speech in 2006 (or was it '05?): "the density in the west end was higher at the turn of the century than it is today." :?

Does anyone have the number for this, perhaps? It's hard to believe that two/three and four storey buildings replaced with multi-storey towers resulted in a decrease in density over the years :smt017

[Icebergalley]

What about transportation and circulation?

[G-Man]

What about transportation and circulation?

That is a later part of the plan this only deals with development potential.

[aastra]

I'm thinking the only way Madoff's numbers about Vancouver's downtown/west end could be true is because people were displaced from some "west end" areas that ultimately became part of downtown proper. Don't quote me on this.

Anyway, it's all absolutely moot now because new highrises are still being built in the west end and the population has grown well beyond what it ever was before. Add Yaletown and new residential towers in downtown proper to the mix and the population of the downtown peninsula has (OBVIOUSLY) increased immensely. It has to be close to 100,000 now.