Burnaby Updates

[Klazu]

Yep, I remember it well and it was the tallest in area until first Solo tower was build at much greater height. You can still see it from this angle, there in the gap in skyline.

[jollyburger]

Photos/details on the Boot demo

https://www.instagram.com/p/DNT_LFUSWMv/?img_index=1

https://www.instagram.com/p/DNYje7ps8FG/?img_index=1

https://www.instagram.com/p/DNgRnXOpda-/

[officedweller]

Pics by me today:

[jollyburger]

Peterson Revises 3-Building Metrotown Project To 1,065 Units

“The Dow Avenue development in Burnaby’s Metrotown neighbourhood is mixed-use project designed to foster a vibrant, urban livability and an activated public realm,” the application booklet states. “Retail and residential frontages are scaled to the pedestrian experience, with recessed entries, curved building edges, and generous setbacks that encourage movement and accessibility.”

“A key feature of the site is its porosity, achieved through an east-west pedestrian connector and a vehicular link between the towers, supporting drop-off zones, loading areas, and underground parking access,” the applicants added. “Retail spaces are set back to allow visitors to engage directly with the public realm, while ground-level residential units include landscaped patios that foster privacy and community oversight.”

“The towers are designed with elegant simplicity, contributing to the evolving urban identity of the Maywood and Metrotown neighbourhoods. They feature double-height glazed entries, generous balconies, and sky lounge amenities at the top, which not only provide panoramic views but also act as architectural beacons. The overall feel of the development is welcoming, vibrant, and urban, with a strong emphasis on livability, sustainability, and community integration.”

https://storeys.com/peterson-revises-metrotown-3-buildings/

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

https://storeys.com/peterson-revises-metrotown-3-buildings/

A few more images from that article:

The 6645-6707 Dow Avenue site in Burnaby. (Peterson, BOP Architects)


A rendering of the proposal for 6645-6707 Dow Avenue in Burnaby. (Peterson, BOP Architects)

My beef with the planned developments in Maywood is there isn't a cross street anywhere. At least this has one in the form of a driveway between the towers.

[Lexus]

• Video Link

[jollyburger]

OpenForm, Alabaster Planning 32-And 28-Storey Towers In Metrotown

Vancouver-based developers OpenForm Properties and Alabaster Homes are partnering on a two-tower project in the Metrotown neighbourhood of Burnaby, according to a rezoning application set to be considered by Council this week.

The subject site of the proposal is 6470 and 6508 Silver Avenue, which is located directly across the street from Maywood Park and half a block away from Metrotown Station.

Each parcel is currently occupied by an aging low-rise rental building. BC Assessment values 6470 Silver Avenue at $11,566,000 and 6508 Silver Avenue at $12,321,000, for a total assessed value of $23,887,000 dated to July 1, 2025. The properties are currently held under 5088 Investments Ltd.

OpenForm Properties — the real estate arm of OpenRoad Auto Group — acquired 6470 Silver Avenue for $22,606,249 and 6508 Silver Avenue for $22,393,751 in early-2022 in a transaction brokered by Goodman Commercial and had proposed a 33-storey condo tower and a six-storey rental building.

Since then, however, they have formed a joint venture with Alabaster Homes and revised the proposal.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

OpenForm, Alabaster Planning 32-And 28-Storey Towers In Metrotown

I really hope this passes, along with more like it in Maywood. Currently it seems like every tower has a shorter tower or townhouses next to it, so the main towers are very spread out. This would put two similarly sized towers next to each other. A few pairs of towers like this would give the area a denser mass feeling to it.

[Lexus]

• Video Link

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by gaviscon

Looks like the rental housing building 6877 Palm is finally starting

Today

20251214_135728 by globalbusinesscentre105 H, on Flickr

This one's moving along - it looks like excavation has finally bottomed out and there's an 'ahem' erection in place.


Nido up the street at 6692 Royal Oak is another story. That one seems to have been moving forward until 2022 and then there was silence (the existing buildings were knocked down and it's been a fenced off field ever since). There's vague mentions of a rezoning but that's it (and it's not listed on the Major Developments page anymore).

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by Sheba

.....

Nido up the street at 6692 Royal Oak is another story. That one
seems to have been moving forward until 2022 and then there was silence (the existing buildings were knocked down and it's been a fenced off field ever since). There's vague mentions of a rezoning but that's it (and it's not listed on the Major Developments page anymore).

That one was a strata building and not rental like the Palm avenue towers.

No prizes for guessing what happened there.

[jollyburger]

The development company still seems to be around but who knows what is happening with the project.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

The development company still seems to be around but who knows what is happening with the project.

The development company doesn't update their website very often (oh gosh what a surprise ) - "coming soon"

[Lexus]

• Video Link

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by Sheba

This one's moving along - it looks like excavation has finally bottomed out and there's an 'ahem' erection in place.


Nido up the street at 6692 Royal Oak is another story. That one seems to have been moving forward until 2022 and then there was silence (the existing buildings were knocked down and it's been a fenced off field ever since). There's vague mentions of a rezoning but that's it (and it's not listed on the Major Developments page anymore).

The second crane has been erected and is up for this one.

Which answers one of my questions - as to whether they were phasing the construction of the two towers or building them together.


After a several months long stalled period between when they completed site clearance of the previously existing buildings, and when they actually started excavation once the project got started back up, this one has been moving pretty briskly.

[officedweller]

Cameron Community Centre pics:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Db3VBj2jiJp/?img_index=1

[gaviscon]

So I no longer see the rezoning app permit on the red supertall site next to Concord Metrotown. Maybe scrapped?

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by gaviscon

So I no longer see the rezoning app permit on the red supertall site next to Concord Metrotown. Maybe scrapped?

That would be the McCarthy Plaza proposal.

And more likely, it's been intentionally stalled or just parked in the freezer (or shelf) due to market conditions, if I had to make a bet.

Like most big ticket project proposals from the past several years pre- and post-covid.

I doubt it's been scrapped altogether.
Since it's a family-owned and (literally) local developer and family-owened lots - as with most of the lots on that strip of Kingsway, they can afford to park the project and continue to sit on it for decades even, until the market conditions improve.

In other words, they were not looking to submit the proposal to upzone the site and then sell it off for a massive profit as seems to be the business model for project proposals of this size.
The family (the McCarthy's/Jambor's have owned most of those lots and continue to own and operate them going back to the 1950's/60's.

Much the same way I doubt we'll see any progression any time soon on Concord's next few phases going itno site-prep or pre-construction even after the first three towers complete and get occupied.

[officedweller]

BC General Employees' Union (BCGEU) Affordable Housing Project in Burnaby

https://www.instagram.com/p/Db_3Zh9uKGl/