In the 90’s the land next to the Fraser River in Vancouver, between Victoria Drive and Kerr Street, went through a development spurt. The community was loose and under-planned. Many of the high-rise, low-rise and townhome developments suffered costly short and long term quality issues, and the community as a whole lacked several critical features including a commercial component, sufficient public spaces, gathering spaces (ie: a community centre), schools, child care and did not address transportation access effectively.
How do I know? I live there. Despite this, I love the area. Every day last year, while on maternity leave, I had the pleasure of strolling my daughter from our home in Fraserview along the riverfront to the edge of Boundary Road. This area, east of where we live, is entirely undeveloped and has been used for large-scale movie-sets (watch for the Prequel of Planet of the Apes coming to theatres soon) as well as the main bus terminal for hundreds of buses used at the 2010 Olympics and Translink’s HandyDarts. In fact, we had time to stop and chat with anyone who would chat with us. But then, one day, the buses were gone, the movie guys were gone, and the site started to undergo remediation. Something was happening here… All of the new contractors were open and happy to chat with a mom and her baby about a process I’m sure they thought I didn’t understand at all. (For that, I tip my hat to the developer, who continues to be very open about the development process.)
And so I learned that one of the largest waterfront developments in Vancouver history, totaling 129 acres of land has been quietly and rigorously going through many stages of re-zoning, development application and design for almost a decade. And, finally, in September 2008, the former Mayor Sam Sullivan and City of Vancouver councilors gave the green light to develop the first phase of property east of Kerr Street, west of Boundary Road and South of Marine Way to the River, which will eventually become home to over 12,000 new residents! The master-planned community will include new commercial/retail shops and services as well as 25 acres of new parks, sports fields, schools and a community centre.
Formerly the Canadian White Pine Mill, the land now referred to as the “EFL” or East Fraserlands will be getting a new, permanent name shortly as the very first phases are offered for sale this Spring. Parklane Homes who owns the majority of the site, is preparing land for their first offering this summer. Polygon is also developing 77 new townhomes and two, four-storey buildings of 158 condos called “New Water”, which are also expected to go to market this Spring.
Parklane Homes 6,200 sf Presentation Centre is nearing completion. This space will also include a new neighbourhood bistro – Romer’s Burgers, the first restaurant within walking distance from my home since it was built in 1994. I plan on eating a lot of burgers this summer.
I’m so excited. Why? Not just because I get to enjoy a gourmet burger this summer while watching the river float by, but because this time, it’s going to be different, and it’s going to be done right. This Master Plan is based on the principals of sustainability, quality and new urbanism, a concept that promotes walk-ability for residents to live, shop, work and play within the same area. There are plans for three complementary shopping districts, cultural, nightlife and entertainment aspects, and three lit intersections at Marine Way for easy accessibility. EFL will also include a range of recreational, civic and ecological opportunities. So much detail has gone into the plan that the developer, Parklane Homes, is the first developer in North America to architecturally plan for songbird habitat restoration, which is currently on display at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
We’ve all learned a lot since 1990. Twenty years later, the area has a second chance to be a new and even better community. This time, it’s expected to take 20 years to complete. As for me, well, I say anything worth having is worth waiting for. Let’s cheer on this community to be a true legacy for Vancouver.
Good luck Parklane, Polygon and everyone who has been involved in the process so far. We’re all routing you on!
Grace Austin
