New Vancouver condos, townhomes eyed for 18 “unique sites” on Cambie corridor

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      Vancouver city planners have identified large properties on and around Cambie Street for potential redevelopment.

      Condos and townhouses are the housing options being considered for these so-called “unique sites”.

      Future opportunities in these 18 locations will be part of the third and final phase of the Cambie corridor plan being undertaken by city staff.

      Phase three of the Cambie corridor plan covers the area from West 16th Avenue on the north to the Fraser River on the south, and from Oak Street on the west to Ontario Street on the east.

      1. Balfour Block. The more than one-hectare site east of Oak Street and west of Laurel Street has 17 duplexes with 34 rental homes. Early ideas for the site include apartment buildings close to Oak Street and new townhomes.

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      2. King Edward mall. The 1.6-hectare is currently home to a strip mall with a Safeway grocery. Ideas include a range of housing types, including mid- and low-rise apartments.

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      3. St. Vincent’s Heather. The almost three-hectare site hosts an assisted living facility, office space, and housing for retired clergy. Ideas include low and higher mid-rise apartments.

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      4. Youville Residences. Nearly a hectare, the property has facilities for seniors and child care. Ideas include the integration of residential uses, with low and higher mid-rises.

      5. Holy Name of Jesus Church. Almost half a hectare, the property may have future higher mid-rises.

      6 to 8.These are corner properties at Cambie Street and West 41st Avenue that doesn’t include Oakridge Centre. Ideas include future 12-, 16-, and 20-storey developments for 5655 Cambie Street, 5740 Cambie Street, and 495 West 41st Avenue.

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      9. Shawn Oaks. The 1.2-hectare site has 71 apartments. Ideas include more residential uses of low- to mid-rise buildings, and even higher buildings.

      10. Louis Brier. The 1.6-hectare hosts a long-term care facility and hospital. Ideas include more residential uses, including low- and mid-rise buildings, and possibly higher buildings.

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      11. Oakridge apartment area. The location has 487 market rental apartments, 77 social housing units, and 149 co-op units. More residential homes are being eyed in this site adjacent to the Oakridge Centre.

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      12. Southvan Manor. The 0.7-hectare area has 100 units of social housing for seniors. More residential uses may be integrated with the seniors housing.

      13. YMCA. The 0.7-hectare area hosts a YMCA recreational facility. Low- and mid-rise buildings may be developed in the location. There is also a potential for higher buildings.

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      14 and 15. These are the 0.4-hectare Salvation Army homestead site, which is currently vacant, and six parcels of lands at West 57th Avenue and Laurel Street. Ideas include low-, mid- and higher mid-rise buildings, plus townhomes.

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      16 to 18. These include the 8100 block of Cambie Street, Lord Street properties, and a portion of the Marpole neighbourhood north of West 67th Avenue. Ideas include townhomes and mid-rises, and potential higher buildings.

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      The Riley Park South Cambie Community Vision Group is a neighbourhood organization that is paying attention to what’s going on at the Cambie corridor.

      According to the group’s chair, Allan Buium, his organization has concerns over the affordability of new homes, and traffic congestion that will likely result from future developments.

      In a phone interview, Buium noted that it's conceivable that a new three-bedroom townhome in the phase 3 areas of the plan may cost up to $1.5 million after development.

      Buium told the Straight that amounts like this are not affordable for the average person working in the city.

      Buium also said that that the city has not presented any plans to widen streets. “So our question, is what about traffic? Where do they go?” 

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