The City of Vancouver has unveiled its proposed new concept for the land under the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts based on input from stakeholders and an open ideas competition. The public is invited to view this new concept for the viaducts and provide their feedback at upcoming open houses. Staff is expected to report to council in July 2012.

The viaduct issue has been contentious as it weighs some urban benefits against the idea of using valuable public resources to tear down infrastructure that has not reached the end of its useful life.

Key Points of the Concept:

• Removal of Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts
• Georgia Street connection to Pacific (combined with Expo Blvd.)
• New bike lane connections, including option for bike lane on W. Georgia Street
• Approx. 850,000 sq ft of development potential (likely residential) between Quebec and Gore St.
• 10% increase in park area

Have your say at Public Open Houses:

Tuesday, June 5
4:00 – 7:00pm
Woodward’s Atrium
111 West Hastings

Thursday, June 7
3:30 – 6:30 pm
Creekside Community Centre
1 Athletes’ Way

Saturday, June 9
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Central Library Promenade
350 West Georgia

Source: City of Vancouver

The Bank of Nova Scotia’s iconic tower in Downtown Toronto has sold to a partnership between Dundee Real Estate Investment Trust and H&R REIT for a record $1.27 billion which represents $640 per square foot and a 5.2% cap rate.  The property is 61% leased to the Bank of Nova Scotia for 13.5 years and will be financed by a 7 year mortgage bond at 3.45%.

Courtesy of The Globe & Mail (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/landmark-scotia-plaza-sold-for-record-127-billion/article2440355/)

Intergulf Development Group has applied to the City of Vancouver to rezone seven single family lots at Cambie and West 29th. The site, located at 4533-4591 Cambie Street will be rezoned from RS-1 to CD-1, as provided under the Cambie Corridor Plan. The proposal is for three 6-storey residential buildings containing 177 units and 8 townhouses, with 20 per cent of the total number of units (37 units) being provided as market rental housing. The proposal includes a density of 2.62 FSR and 195 underground parking spaces.

The development is broken down into three seperate blocks that follow the natural curve of Cambie Street. The individual buildings offer variation in scale and length while remaining consistent in character and materiality.

Yenik Realty Ltd. has applied to the City of Vancouver to rezone 4320 Slocan Street from C-1 to CD-1 Comprehensive Development District. The proposal is for a 4-storey mixed-use building, comprised of approximately 42 585 sq. ft. of floor area, with a floor space ratio of 2.11 FSR, and a height of 46.4 ft. Two commercial retail units with 41 residential rental units above are proposed. A total of 19 parking stalls, 61 bicycle spaces, 1 car-share space, and 2 loading spaces would be provided.

More information can be obtained here.

Source: City of Vancouver

Target announces B.C. store locations.

The U.S. Department store chain Target announced today it intends to open dozens of stores in Canada and 18 in B.C. by March or April of next year.

Target intends to announce additional locations over the next several months, the company said in a press release today. They include:

• Abbotsford – Abbotsford Power Centre

• Burnaby – Metropolis at Metrotown

• Chilliwack – Cottonwood Mall

• Coquitlam – Coquitlam Centre

• Delta – Scottsdale Mall

• Langley – Willowbrook Shopping Centre

• Maple Ridge – Haney Place Mall

• Surrey – Surrey Place/Central City

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/commercial-real-estate/Target+announces+store+locations/6679559/story.html#ixzz1vuyAKbR7