Bizarre PR

Why is an Anonymous Developer Trying to End Run
Area Planning for the Nanaimo SkyTrain Station?

On 20 May 2022, toward end of day on the Friday before the Victoria Day long weekend, Kenneth Chan of Daily Hive posted this peculiar item about the potential for a rapid dumping of three very tall jammed-together towers right next to the Nanaimo SkyTrain station:

Dense, transit-oriented housing finally eyed for Nanaimo SkyTrain station
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/skytrain-nanaimo-station-transit-oriented-development-proposal

Far into the posting, the “news” finally emerges:

        The entities behind the proposal are not known at this time, but the concept
        is in the early stages of being considered by City of Vancouver staff through
        the pre-application enquiry process.

Somehow, this circumstance is supposed to amount to “an idea gaining momentum” – an idea that ought to “trigger” something.

What is going on here?

 

 

One question explodes into a lot more questions …

Is a land speculator pressuring the City of Vancouver for a density bailout?

Who is planting this bizarre story about an informal pre-application inquiry, and why?

Will the City of Vancouver eventually claim that this blockbusting grab has obtained precedence by being “in the pipeline” ahead of any planning for the Nanaimo SkyTrain Station area?

Given the City of Vancouver’s repeated top prioritizing of Nanaimo and 29th Avenue station areas (see Appendix C for timeline), why did the Renfrew/Rupert station area jump ahead?

How will the Draft Vancouver Plan, first released to public view in April 2022 (one short month earlier), relate to this blatant maneuver to prempt “planning”?

Is this strange PR onslaught a panic response to the Draft Vancouver Plan?

How could the City of Vancouver ever reconcile three blockbusting oversized jammed-together towers, utterly dominated by luxury condo units, with its own overarching Big Idea about inequity – especially in this location?

 

 

With no nearby retail context whatsoever, and little height, how could the City of Vancouver justify this immediate mega density dump into a current RS zone (plus off-arterial)?

(History note: City of Vancouver told Norquay Working Group that its plan for a neighbourhood centre could not happen because of need to support existing retail zoning along Kingsway.)

Given the elevations and proximity, how much shadow from those imagined towers would impact Trout Lake and John Hendry Park, especially in the crucial fall-winter season?

Will City of Vancouver’s past emphatic assertions about placing “rental zoning” around the Nanaimo and 29th Avenue stations evaporate because one big speculating developer has already made different profit “plans”?
 

 

Appendix A – Sharks on the Streets – Two Right-Now Photos

 

 
     On East 24th Avenue
 

 

 
     On East 26th Avenue
 

 

Appendix B – Draft Vancouver Plan – April 2022

The Draft Vancouver Plan came into public view in April 2022. One month ago.

The draft plan includes these relevant directions (page 49):

Direction L1.5.1: Protect and renew existing affordable housing and expand opportunities for diverse housing options with an emphasis on purpose-built market and below-market rental and social housing.

Direction L1.5.5: Built form. Aim for a more distributed (versus concentrated) pattern of development that allows for mid- to high-rise buildings (12-18 storeys) close to the station and also off of main streets. On major project sites, taller buildings will be considered where significant public realm and amenity contributions are provided.
 

 

Appendix C – Timeline for Nanaimo SkyTrain Station

 
– 1987 –
Nanaimo/29th Avenue station areas plan
vii, 119 pages : illustrations, maps ; 28 cm.
“Approved as amended, by City Council, May 20th, 1987”
“June 1987”

Nanaimo/29th Avenue station areas plan summary
20 pages : illustrations, map ; 21 cm.
 

 

 

 
– 2009 –
The area east of Nanaimo Street along the SkyTrain route to the 29th Avenue station was originally included in Norquay Village Neighbourhood Centre planning. After three and a half years of community engagement in a formal planning process, the City of Vancouver on 2 November 2009 abruptly severed that area from “Norquay.”
 

– 2010 –
The two station areas are part of Norquay, says this panel from a January 2010 open house.

 

 

 
– 2017 –
Housing Vancouver 3 Year Action Plan 2018-2020,Action 1B, p. 7
https://council.vancouver.ca/20171128/documents/rr1appendixb.pdf

… prioritize secured rental housing and social housing near transit hubs …

 

 

 
– 2019 –
“Advance Work Stream or Test-Out Action”
A City-wide Plan for Vancouver: Report back on General Planning and
Engagement Process, July 9, 2019
https://council.vancouver.ca/20190709/documents/rr1.pdf