Proposed Richmond high-rise would house international students – Richmond Review.

A $150-million development proposed for north Richmond could become an international hub for education, boasting a potential to accommodate 600 foreign students, along with language schools, colleges and universities.

Dubbed Global Education City, the development would occupy a site on the west side of No. 3 Road, between Bridgeport Road and Sea Island Way, near River Rock Casino Resort.

Wensley Architecture Ltd. has submitted plans to city hall for a nine-storey office and campus building fronting Sea Island Way, a 15-storey dormitory building at No. 3 Road, and a six-level parkade and amenity building fronting Bridgeport Road, according to the city.

Planning staff are reviewing the proposal, which has yet to be considered by city council.

Read more: http://www.richmondreview.com/news/220748251.html

Marpole residents rally against proposed zoning changes.

Close to 1,000 residents streamed into Marpole community centre Sunday to sign petitions and pick up lawn signs protesting proposed zoning changes in their neighbourhood.

The City of Vancouver’s draft community plan for Marpole includes rezoning to allow more highrises, apartments up to 12 storeys, stacked townhouses and mixed-use buildings.

Community spokesman Mike Burdick said the draft plan, which goes to council for consideration on October 24, came as a surprise to most Marpole residents.

“We are not opposed to rezoning or densification,” said Burdick, “but we need to slow down.”

Burdick said the city wants to increase the density of Marpole by as much as 50 per cent.

“Do the transit routes first, then take a breath and see if we need to do more.”

After spending the past year tweaking their proposal for a master-planned community that would change the face of the Harbourside Drive waterfront, Concert Properties is close to unveiling their refined plan.

“A lot has transpired in the past year,” Concert Properties’ president and chief operating officer Brian McCauley told City of North Vancouver council on July 22.

• Concert’s Harbourside Waterfront Website

McCauley said Concert’s consulting team has worked with CNV engineers to flesh out the geotechnical work required to build at the waterfront site. The updated redevelopment application now conforms to the city’s minimum 4.5-metre height target for new construction above sea level.

Developers Concert Properties’ and Knightsbridge Properties’ 10-year plan is to create 800 strata and rental housing units, while setting aside 372,000 square feet as commercial space.

Read more: http://www.northshoreoutlook.com/news/219063941.html

The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver has released their July 2013 stats. Generally, the market is showing increased sales activity over the summer months, and while pricing has been generally flat or slightly increasing in most areas. Some other highlights:

• Sales of condos reached 1,210 in July 2013, a 30.5% compared to the 927 sales in July 2012.
• The total number of properties currently listed for sale on in Metro Vancouver is
  16,618, which is an 8.1 per cent decrease compared to July 2012 and a 3.9 per cent decline from June 2013.
• Single family prices continued a downward trend, and are down 3.1% year over year (YoY). Vancouver Westside is down 4.7% during the same period.
• Overall Condo prices in Metro Vancouver are down 1.6% YoY.
• The only area where the overall benchmark price has increased since July 2012? Pitt Meadows, at 1.9% growth.
• Bowen Island (-0.7%) and the Sunshine Coast (-4.3%) are the only areas where single family pricing has declined since January.
• Ladner (-1.4%), Port Coquitlam (-2.9%), Maple Ridge (-3.1%), West Vancouver (-2.9%) and Tsawwassen (-2.6%) are the only condo markets where average pricing has declined since January.

Source: REBGV

Steveston secondary sold to residential developer.

The Steveston secondary site has finally been sold to a residential developer.

Richmond School Board decided earlier this week to accept a conditional offer from Vancouver-based Polygon to develop the 13-acre site on No. 2 Road, just north of Steveston Highway.

The price has yet to be disclosed, but the school district was hoping for up to $50 million previously for the prime site, which has been up for sale since 2007.

Polygon, one of three preferred bidders, is expected to close the deal by Sept. 30, when all the information surrounding the transaction will be made public.

“Like most real estate deals, our purchase agreement with the school district is subject to a due diligence period where we hope to be able to assess and identify any specific issues related to the property,” said Neil Chrystal, speaking on behalf of Polygon.