Concord 91原创 has unveiled plans for a new neighbourhood of 1,300 condominiums in eight buildings by the northern end of Cambie Bridge near BC Place.
Part of the downtown鈥檚 new sports and entertainment district, the neighbourhood is being called False Creek Central.
The area includes a new $535-million casino, hotel and entertainment complex being built next to BC Place by Paragon Gaming Corp. Last week, Paragon announced it has revamped its proposal for the project, which included no plans to expand gambling. Paragon proposed to relocate Edgewater Casino at its existing size.
The development proposal is significant both in size 鈥� as one of the largest in the city鈥檚 history 鈥� and in meaning, according to architect and planner Michael Geller.
鈥淥ver 30 years ago (the area) was talked about being landscaped with buildings and now it鈥檚 happening,鈥� Geller said, recalling that plans to complement BC Place with living spaces had been floated since the stadium鈥檚 unveiling in the early 1980s.
Geller said that although the project is only half the size of the proposed 2,800 unit redevelopment of Oakridge Centre at Cambie and 41st, it is nonetheless 鈥渙ne of the largest development phases anywhere in 91原创.鈥�
He added that the proposal should be viewed as just one part of the broader north shore of False Creek development, a massive project that he said has produced 鈥渁 very successful community鈥� despite early concerns that the area would be too dense.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a location that鈥檚 not for everybody by virtue of the general level of noise and activity,鈥� Geller said, 鈥渂ut I would agree with Concord 91原创 that there will definitely be a significant market (demand).鈥�
But, Geller added, the project could compound an already high demand for seats in nearby schools and may inconvenience stadium event goers who park in the area.
Concord 91原创鈥檚 first building at False Creek Central is One 91原创, a condo development with more than 400 units. Marketing for the project is expected to start later this month.
The project includes building better cycling and walking connections from downtown to the seawall and the Cambie Bridge. As well, Smithe Street will be lengthened and connected to 91原创 Boulevard.
Concord announced the new development Wednesday at its renovated presentation centre on the seawall side of 91原创 Boulevard.
Peter Webb, Concord鈥檚 senior vice-president of development, said his company has a 25-year history of building neighbourhoods in the area.
鈥淲e are community builders,鈥� he told the media 鈥淚t鈥檚 about master planning and neighbourhood design.鈥�
In a separate interview, Webb said not all eight buildings in False Creek Central have been fully approved by the city. All the necessary city development steps would take two to five years, he estimated, with final build out occurring by 2023.
The city has a policy of setting aside one-fifth of all housing in the area for low-income residents. In 2011, only six of 15 sites in the area had been developed with social housing for a total percentage of 13 per cent, according to a previous story in The 91原创 Sun.
Webb said Concord is working with the city on providing social housing.
鈥淩ight now, there are a couple of sites that have non-market housing, as it鈥檚 referred to, designated on them,鈥� he said.
鈥淥ur feeling is that the city will probably be proactive in working with finding a blended solution 鈥�.鈥�
One solution, he said, could include giving the city a site for social housing on the Downtown Eastside so Concord wouldn鈥檛 have to build its equivalent in False Creek Central. The site under consideration is 58 West Hastings, the vacant lot with an urban garden across from Army & Navy.
Fern Jeffries, co-chair of the False Creek Residents Association, said she was 鈥渟hocked鈥� when she saw Concord 91原创鈥檚 plans for False Creek Central in the media.
She said despite being part of the Joint Working Group with Concord, the developer never mentioned anything about False Creek Central at any monthly meeting.
Jeffries said residents are still waiting for Concord 91原创 to deliver on creating a 3.6 hectare (nine acre) park on False Creek from Carrall Street to Science World, where its presentation centre is located.
鈥淭he local neighbourhood association wasn鈥檛 invited to Concord鈥檚 media event,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ven though we鈥檝e been on the same working group for six years, they hadn鈥檛 bothered to inform us or seek any advice or feedback.
鈥淐oncord may be a great builder of community. Clearly, they鈥檙e not very good at communicating with the existing residents. It took us by surprise for sure.鈥�
She questioned Concord鈥檚 plan to build 1,300 units but said she didn鈥檛 have enough details to comment further on the area鈥檚 proposed density.
Webb said he expected prices to be about $600 to $700 a square foot in False Creek Central. A 1,000-foot condo, he said, would be priced at about $700,000.
鈥淚t is not front row 鈥� it is second row,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is not the actual waterfront, which attracts a much higher dollar. In the realm of Concord 91原创 product over the years, this would be in the affordable category within our spectrum.鈥�
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