Architectural Alliance, Inc.’s Post

On Monday, Burnaby City Council granted final approval to Reign, a two-tower project by Vancouver-based Wesgroup Properties, whose other notable projects include the River District in Vancouver, Brewery District in New Westminster, and Inlet District in Port Moody, reported Storeys. "Reign will sit at 6280 and 6350 Willingdon Avenue in the Metrotown neighbourhood of Burnaby, right about midway between Central Park and the Metropolis at Metrotown shopping centre." "The area, also known as the Maywood sub-neighbourhood, is inarguably the hottest area of Metrotown in terms of high-rise residential development, with some of the biggest developers in the province all having projects in the area, but has also developed a reputation in years past of being the demoviction capital of BC. Both 6280 Willingdon and 6350 Willingdon are currently occupied by three-storey rental buildings with 58 units, which were constructed in 1968 and 1969, respectively, according to BC Assessment, who values each property at $34,886,000." "In their place, Wesgroup Properties will now be constructing two high-rise towers with a total of 617 strata condominiums, 116 rental units (replacing the 116 within the existing buildings), and total density of 7.13 FSR." https://lnkd.in/gqqdgwrR #burnaby #development #residential

On Thursday, Vancouver City Council will consider City of Vancouver staff’s policy recommendations to enable up to six strata ownership units or eight secured purpose-built rental units on a single-family lot through expanded multiplex construction, reported Daily Hive. "This is an increase from the current allowances through the forms of a basement suite, laneway house, duplex, and multiplex. But this proposed “Adding Missing Middle Housing and Simplifying Regulations” policy will also aim to decrease the size of the total floor area of a new single-family detached house on such lots." "Currently, a new house can reach a floor area ratio (FAR) density of a floor area of up to 0.7 times larger than the size of the lot. The proposed policy would decrease the density by 0.1 FAR to a maximum of 0.6 FAR. This is a 17% drop in size." https://lnkd.in/ghVWyPcA #vancouver #housing #policy

Trending in #CHBAHighlights ⬇️ Canadian buildings of 3 of more storeys require two exits, a rule that has long restricted the types of housing that can be built. Support for single-stair buildings is growing, as they can allow for more family-friendly housing. https://lnkd.in/gUcRwj_X   CHBA’s Technical Research Committee is heavily engaged in a national code change request to permit single exits in mid-rise multi-unit buildings up to 6 storeys. Given Canada’s chronic lack of supply and affordability challenges, CHBA supports this change as it has the potential to lower construction costs, allow for greater design flexibility, and increase housing supply by making the construction of “missing middle” housing more feasible.   CHBA members, subscribe to #CHBAHighlights: https://lnkd.in/gj3C6bXN

There was a good webinar by CNU last Wednesday about pre-approved house plans, and the linked article is a concise summary of the webinar. The takeaway is that pre-approved house plans are one potential option towards making denser, missing middle typologies more acceptable to the public because the designs are familiar and aesthetically pleasing, coupled with assurances of higher quality. Moreover, the pre-approval and vetting by municipalities throughout the initial design process instills trust, addressing concerns preemptively and streamlining the review process for greater efficiency. The line from the linked article gives a good summary: “One reason why they are popular is that these programs are politically neutral and quicker to implement than some of the structural problems we face, like increasing the cohort of contractors who build or reforming zoning." When I was at the City of Kitchener, staff were exploring a similar program for detached ADUs (not sure what happened with that), but a line from one of the senior planners has always stuck with me: "let's make good easy". https://lnkd.in/gjarKvzC #missingmiddle

Strategically located HQ building occupies long-vacant site on edge of downtown Decatur Housing Authority

"This is a familiar kind of kludge: burdening new housing with a hundred policy objectives. It has costs. Buildings will end up smaller and more expensive. The city’s own analysis finds that 30-unit buildings might just barely make economic sense, and only if they are sold as condos. Translate this into architecture and built form, and this model will generate a patchwork of small, cheaply constructed buildings with awkward side yards. At best. At worst, it will generate paperwork until the city decides to try again." https://lnkd.in/gBSMim5g Victoria did this, despite advice from builders. Globe editorial said: "city then piled on numerous rules incl building height, parking & added costs. It’s akin to opening a door & immediately bolting it shut." Little accountability for bad policy. https://lnkd.in/gwyR8HiW

💡 🚆 Exciting news: The TOD SEPP controls have been gazetted! The new controls will commence on 13 May 2024 through an amendment to the Housing SEPP. They will initially apply to 18 of the 37 station locations. Controls for the remaining locations will commence over the next 3 – 18 months. Here’s what has CHANGED from what we already knew (see my previous posts): - PERMISSIBILITY: RFBs will no longer be permitted in E2 Commercial Centre Zones (only R1, R2, R3, R4 and E1). STH will continue to be permitted in E1 and E2 Zones. - FSR: Maximum FSR of 2.5:1, down from the previously proposed 3:1. - HEIGHT: Instead of a blanket 22m height control, there is now a 22m height control for residential flat buildings (6 storeys) and a 24m control for shop top housing to accommodate commercial ceiling height. - LOT SIZE & WIDTH: Minimum requirement of 21m (previously no minimum). No min. lot size, and consent can be granted notwithstanding non-compliance with lot size controls in other instruments. - STREET FRONTAGES: Active street frontage required for residential flat buildings in the E1 Zone. - HERITAGE: The Department's website states that TOD will not apply to heritage items, and any new development in a heritage conservation area needs to "improve and enhance the heritage values of those areas." However, there are no such clauses in the gazetted SEPP. - AFFORDABLE HOUSING: The 2% mandatory affordable housing contribution, delivered onsite and in perpetuity, will apply to developments with a minimum GFA of 2,000sqm. But, requirements for more affordable housing under other SEPP/LEP controls will prevail. - PARKING: Min. parking requirements for each affordable dwelling will apply, overriding lower requirements in other instruments. These changes are generally reasonable, although there’s a risk that some mixed-use developments may not be able to comply with the reduced FSR control of 2.5:1. It may also discourage new developments from providing a diverse mix of non-residential uses to provide amenity for new residential developments and create vibrant, walkable mixed-use neighbourhoods. I would’ve liked to see 3:1 for shop-top housing and 2.5:1 for purely residential developments. The new parking requirements for affordable dwellings are surprising, particularly given the nature of TOD. And what happened to the heritage clause? Will TOD apply to heritage items? Will councils use heritage as a reason to refuse DAs for 'incompatible' development? It will be interesting to see how rapidly these uplifts are taken up by developers, particularly given the high price of land in some locations, construction costs, and the minimum 2% affordable housing contribution (and finding a CHP who can make that stack up at such a low rate). Watch this space! Please get in touch if you have any questions about how the new SEPP impacts specific sites. #todsepp #ethosurban #transitorienteddevelopment #transportorienteddevelopment #nswplanning

These modular homes could become a model for more affordable properties... Read more: https://ow.ly/9fz850QcEqt #housingreform #housinginnovation #housingsolutions #housingcrisis #affordablehousing #housing #housinghumans

"This is a familiar kind of kludge: burdening new housing with a hundred policy objectives. It has costs. Buildings will end up smaller and more expensive. The city’s own analysis finds that 30-unit buildings might just barely make economic sense, and only if they are sold as condos. Translate this into architecture and built form, and this model will generate a patchwork of small, cheaply constructed buildings with awkward side yards. At best. At worst, it will generate paperwork until the city decides to try again." https://lnkd.in/gUVp_jZF Victoria did this, despite advice from builders. Globe editorial said: "city then piled on numerous rules incl building height, parking & added costs. It’s akin to opening a door & immediately bolting it shut." Little accountability for bad policy. https://lnkd.in/gwfi4KbD

Love this initiative in Victoria. Basically the State Government is selling a series of four fully-resolved designs for gentle density typologies for $150 - saving the punters approximately $15k in consultant fees. But that's not all - people pursuing these designs are also granted access to a streamlined planning process. I love this idea because it puts more power in the hands regular people, small builders and boutique developers to densify the inner suburbs with better housing. Over time, components could be prefabricated as builders get more efficient at building these homes. If it was a success - you could even expand the scheme to include a larger suite of typical block sizes and housing typologies. #housingcrisis https://lnkd.in/gakQKkwk