Marpole Community Plan

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1 Summary On a very wet Saturday morning (October 13, 2012), 35 participants braved heavy rains to take part in the Marpole Community Plan s. The tours started at Marpole Place Neighbourhood House with a brief outline of the day s events, including an overview of the role of urban design in planning, and the key objectives for the day. Soon after, participants headed out on a 1.5-hr walk with their urban designer, staff representatives, and fellow Marpolians! The walking tours were divided amongst four different and distinct areas of Marpole Oak Street, Granville Street, Cambie Corridor and Lower Hudson. Participants selected their preferred area for exploration, and set out with their groups to observe and reflect on key planning themes such as housing, transportation, parks and public space, community amenities, and land use. The walking tours were followed by a 2-hr group design session, which resulted in a collection of big ideas for the future of Marpole. Click on each area to view the results: Granville Street Oak Street Lower Hudson Cambie Corridor Click here to see photos from the walking tours.

2 GRANVILLE STREET ALONG THE WAY: Considerations around edges, character, role of the street, nodes, lanes, public realm, etc Marpole Place/Family Place offset intersection 70th & Granville intersection high traffic volume, new Safeway development Cornish St housing character Marpole Library Pedestrian experience on Granville Street scale of retail, car crossings Bus loop and end of commercial strip (should commercial be extended north?) Housing character just off of Granville/ Thin Streets opportunity at Adera & 63rd? Connection to Riverview Park Haig Street double fronting lots, street trees David Lloyd George Elementary School child and youth friendly planning 67th east/west desire line for pedestrians & cyclists, new housing opportunity? Street-topark? Hudson St bike route opportunity

3 GRANVILLE STREET Marpole Walking Tour - Saturday October 13, 2012 Granville Street Tour Urban Designer: Lori Brown Recorder: Lil Ronalds Group Comments and Observations Stops and Themes: Walking We observed very few pedestrians/shoppers, even on a Saturday Rain protection (awnings) are critical for our rainy climate need to make sure our sidewalks are barrier-free for seniors, visually impaired and those with mobility challenges Cycling W. 67th could be a good cycling route Traffic, Driving & Parking 70th is typically congested during the week 70th is a difficult intersection (observed honking and poor visibility in the rain for pedestrians crossing) Granville feels like a highway Median at Granville and 70th should be treed to slow traffic Could reroute non-airport bound traffic off Granville Street (i.e., onto Oak Street) Need to make sure there is adequate parking for shopping Public Realm & Beautification Planters and street furniture are great, but placement in the middle of the sidewalk can be an issue for the visually impaired who may not expect these Like the pavers along the sidewalk and demarcating the pedestrian crossing areas Awnings are very important for rain protection Need an entryway or gateway into Marpole somewhere on Granville Street (like in Kitsilano and/or Kerrisdale) Like the lights in the trees at night No evidence of public art need more Wrought iron boxes around newspaper boxes Built Form The newer 4-storey mixed-use developments along Granville are well-suited for the area, and the use of materials makes them attractive (use of stone, shingles and wood) The higher 4-storey form along the arterial also acts as a noise barrier for the residences behind them Car-oriented, strip mall developments not pedestrian friendly, and often full of double

4 GRANVILLE STREET parked cars, making access for pedestrians and cars a challenge Parks/Open Space/Trees/ We need more community gardens More street trees The median along Granville 70th should be fully treed More street benches and place-making for socializing Riverview Park not well used Shannon Park well used and good soccer field The HEART There are multiple hearts, but the main heart is the area surrounding the library, former Character s Coffee and Books store, new Safeway development Retail Need more variety of shops (and funky shops) Need more vibrancy more funky coffee shops and pubs (with some concern about late night hours of pubs) Should be more like Kerrisdale or 4th Avenue (variety of stores, and same sense of pedestrian activity) Community Facilities & Services The library is a very well-used, well-liked facility, but is too old and doesn t have enough computers The community centre is too far away and should be on Granville Street, or near good transit. Many people that go to Granville Street for daily needs don t have a car, and accessing the current community centre is difficult. Housing Housing on either side of Granville, off the arterial, feels different (east side housing stock feels different from west side housing stock). This could be from the different street grid. Stops: 1. Marpole Place/Family Place offset intersection Great facility for seniors One of Marpole s hearts 2. 70th & Granville intersection high traffic volume should put trees in the median to slow traffic there is a spot on the corner with a few benches that is well used, sometimes by local homeless residents seasonal water fountain a nice addition

5 GRANVILLE STREET electrical box could be covered with art decals or some other more visually appealing decal newspaper boxes (3) here could have a container around them like the wrought iron boxes in Kerrisdale 7-11 very handy to have, but strip mall not great design, especially for pedestrians and is often a parking scramble. This area/corner could use more trees and better public realm treatment. 3. Cornish St housing character Many people had never heard of/been to Cornish Street Heritage house on corner of Cornish & 68th could host a community garden on large empty lawn 4. Marpole Library Very well used, but too small and needs more computers 5. Pedestrian experience on Granville Street Not many shoppers on a Saturday Wider sidewalks much nicer than where they narrow. Car crossings problematic for pedestrians, and obstruct nice pedestrian experience. Newer 4-storey buildings have nice street frontage. Small storefronts and use of stone at grade level attractive. Many empty/vacant storefronts 6. Bus loop and end of commercial strip The commercial strip ends here, which seems to make sense. Bus loop boring and not attractive should have better public realm treatment (seating, trees, etc.) could be a good Marpole Gateway signage location 7. Character just off of Granville (west along w. 63rd) This area feels very different than the housing on the east side of Granville, but not sure why 63rd feels different as well the street seems wider and less like the other neighbourhood streets. 8. Connection to Riverview Park/Shannon Park Not a clear sense of the proximity of the parks nearby (Riverview and Shannon Park), and we could better connect them to Granville Street 9. Haig Street double fronting lots The garages would not be pleasant to look at for the houses on the other side of the street The garage side of the street should be turned into housing coach housing, laneway housing or some other form of housing fronting the street

6 GRANVILLE STREET th Avenue east-west desire line for pedestrians & cyclists could use more greening to make it a more enjoyable walking experience. Key Ideas: 1. Reinforce the Heart of Marpole (between 70th and 67th) 2. The library and the community centre could be together, and could both be on Granville Street 3. Traffic management is a priority 4. Built form mixed use (housing above shops) is a good form along this strip

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10 OAK STREET ALONG THE WAY: Considerations around edges, character, role of the street, nodes, lanes, public realm, etc Marpole Place/Family Place offset intersection 67th east/west desire line for pedestrians & cyclists, new housing opportunity? Streetsto-park? Commercial node at 67th & Oak - traffic, new housing opportunity? Pedestrian experience on Oak Street Oak Park area new housing around park? Park Drive bike route? Fremlin tree canopy Thin Streets at 67th & Fremlin? Street-to-park opportunity? Eburne Park sad a. park improvements b. reconfigure traffic loop, new housing? 9 70th & Oak intersection traffic, pedestrian experience, street trees a 8b

11 OAK STREET Marpole Walking Tour - Saturday October 13, 2012 Oak Street Tour Urban Designer: Derek Lee Recorder: Rachel Harrison Group Comments and Observations Stops and Themes: Traffic Use small parks (street-to-park) as a way to calm traffic (e.g. On 67th Ave.) For street-to-park conversions think about necessary local traffic use (e.g. vehicle access on 67th Ave. to pick-up/drop-off children at David Lloyd school). When making decisions or evaluating options consider city s transportation priorities: walking, cycling, then cars. Build tunnel from 59th Ave. to 71st Ave. Oak Street would become a narrow, high street with shops, with ample pedestrian crossings and enjoyable public realm. Project would be paid by increasing density along Oak Street and by making extra real estate (from narrowing Oak Street) available. If the Oak Street tunnel were built, Oak could do more of the heavy lifting, in terms of traffic volumes. Is there a way to divert traffic off Granville Street to Oak Street, so there s less of a traffic impact on shopping? Intersection at Park and Oak is problematic for cyclists and pedestrians. Walking More pedestrian crossings on SW Marine between Oak and Heather to access bus loop. Currently it s dangerous to cross the street or walk along SW Marine Drive. The #100 bus stop is on the south side of SW Marine Drive, so something should be done to allow people to get there safely. Make this an action while planning initiative. Include a pedestrian sidewalk on Oak Street bridge between 72ndAve. and south side of SW Marine Drive (spiraling staircase from Oak St bridge deck to south side of SW Marine Drive). Create small neighbourhoods within Marpole (e.g. South Cambie Neighbourhood). Make these small neighbourhoods, and the amenities and services for them, within a walkable distance. Marpole is too big to try to create only one central hub. Increase the frequency of the bus on Oak Street and improve pedestrian access/sidewalks to get to the bus stops. More pedestrian crossings on Oak Street (e.g. at 71st Ave and 72nd Ave). Improve walking environment on Oak Street (wider sidewalks, better buffer between pedestrians and cars). Retail Need grocery stores and shops along Oak Street and within the neighbourhood (e.g. variety and daily-use retail).

12 OAK STREET Combine new retail with affordable housing (e.g. at 67thAve and Oak). Need other uses like small commercial (café, food stalls, pier) along the Fraser River. Key Ideas: 1. Improved pedestrian crossings at the hearts along Oak Street - 64th, 67th, 70th Avenues and Marine Drive 2. East/West greenway and waterfront activity in connection with Fraser River trail system 3. Affordable & low income housing on Oak Street, near 67th Avenue 4. East/West bus connection along Park Drive 5. Use streets south of SW Marine Drive to alleviate truck traffic along SW Marine Drive between Granville and Oak.

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15 LOWER HUDSON ALONG THE WAY: Considerations around edges, character, role of the street, nodes, lanes, public realm, etc Marpole Place/Family Place offset intersection Hudson St new housing? Bike route opportunity Ebisu Park street-to-park opportunity? row housing MC 1 mixed use character, new townhouses Commercial hub Waterfront access Marpole Park street-to-park opportunity? Gateway into Marpole Lower Granville 71st pedestrian connection Heritage building commercial opportunity Pedestrian experience on 70th

16 LOWER HUDSON Marpole Walking Tour - Saturday October 13, 2012 Lower Hudson Tour Urban Designer: Ann McLean Recorder: Beverly Chew Group Comments and Observations Stops and Themes: 1. Marpole Place Neighbourhood House/ Family Place Better and more visible signage for Marpole Place Hudson Street too busy for round-a-bouts 2. St. Augustine s Anglican Church Community space available social gathering spot, central location Members are concerned about longevity of church because of funding cuts Food Bank location, free meals once a month, Thrift Store (Thurs & Sat), Book sales, church hall for community functions St. Augustine s has a long range plan. Is it in line with the City s Community Plan? Opportunities for outreach through their congregation Housing Like the 3-4 story walk up like the ones across the street from the church Hedges around the property provide greenery and privacy Retain and build apartments with 3 bedrooms large enough to raise a family Keep rents affordable in this area 3. Selkirk/ 72nd Ave Housing Love the townhouse form, keep housing affordable Keep courtyards when building new housing Parks Street to Park expand Ebisu Park! There are lots of children in the area, the park is well used Need more parks in the area Retail Provide more incentives for small businesses to remain in the community Airport Square great view encourage more commercial activity ensure there s a balance between business and people (residential housing) Traffic locals use 72nd Ave to turn left onto Marine Drive it s an easy street to drive and good access to Oak Street because the street does not cut off 4. Selkirk/ 73rd Ave the bridges have affected the decline of businesses in the area

17 LOWER HUDSON 5. Hudson/ 73rd Ave THE EBURNE HEART Housing Reference 12th and Arbutus development as an example (Arbutus Walk) commercial, shops at street level, condo on top This area could be developed as a neighbourhood centre: retail/ restaurant/ café/ grocery shopping for local residents to walk to like it used to be: old town centre feeling Currently the area is un-welcoming, needs more people, needs an anchor store like the old Fish and Chip restaurant to draw people Area can tolerate up to 8-10 floors as long as it s graduated height increase 4, 6, 8 floors reference Airport Square building (16 floors) Traffic Narrow road to slow traffic whizzing by 80% of the children who live in this area attend David Lloyd George Elementary walk to school 6. Hudson/ SW Marine Drive Traffic Pedestrian cross walk is long from one corner to the other. The timing of the walking sign needs to be extended Recognize the connection to Granville Street is very important, but pedestrian experience needs to be enhanced Public Realm Activate the parking lot in front of the Motel Night Club: farmers market, plant trees, green space, gathering space plant vines on pillars, colourful steel vines or landscape murals surrounding bridge columns, i.e. Canada Line Skytrain Station at Landsdown Centre in Richmond Install a sign on the corner of the parking lot to direct people to the Fraser River foot path Public Realm, Greening Allow community gardens along railway lines connect to the Arbutus Rail Corridor community gardens 7. Fraser River Walk/ Bus Barn Ecological concerns about run-off to the river The property on which the bus barn sits on is referred as the Pearl in the area Would like to see the very short Fraser River Walk extended east to SE Fraser and west to UBC Although the Marine Drive Golf Club will not allow a footpath through their site, consider building a boardwalk around the property Parks Build a park under the Arthur Laing Bridge, could be well used because of the natural extension of the footpath Dog park Middens The group stopped at the 1300 block SW Marine Drive and met Lynn Point, who shared

18 LOWER HUDSON her stories of this site: there are over 700 bodies buried in the area the Bus Barn operates 24 hours and is very loud even at 3:00am, which is not the most ideal situation for condominiums She expressed an interest in transforming the whole block (Musqueam owned land, businesses lease the property) to green space for everyone to enjoy in honour of their ancestors and history. 8. SW Marine Drive/ at Chevron Gas Station Well maintained co-op housing, park and Museum in the area Note the interesting bend of the road 9. Granville St/ 71st 73rd Aves Retail Shopping area dies off, very few people shop south of 70th because of traffic noise and volume Parks Street to Park parklet at the cul-de-sac, plant tall trees Agree to more green space 10. French/ 72nd Ave Love the large trees in this area Marpole Park Well used park by the children who attend the private elementary school Install a fence around the park or future street-to-park because of the high traffic that cuts through this area, especially on 73rd Ave Parents drive their children to the private elementary school on 73rd Ave 11. Cartier/ 70th Ave Historical building, but not on the heritage registrar retain this jewel in Marpole as well as other valuable heritage buildings Potential future uses artist studio, live/ work space, livable housing for artists and/ or writers Key ideas: 1. Area from Selkirk-Hudson, 72nd-73rd (#3,4,5 on walking route map) Better connection between Ebisu Park, Mix use along 73rd Ave, Airport square, shops More density through new housing forms town homes Open up plaza, more inviting from the street level Provide opportunities for more shops, different types of business (drama school, bakery, grocery), restaurants Opportunities for retail and residential growth in the area Restore the Eburne heart Retain light industrial more inviting public realm

19 LOWER HUDSON Live work spaces artist hub, near Scottish Cultural and Taiwanese Centres OK to go higher, 8-10 stories in certain areas (closer to the bridge, SW Marine Drive, next to Airport Square) 2. W. 70th Avenue Enhance the street, add big trees, more greenery to remind drivers that they are driving through a neighbourhood, not on a highway 6 stories ok along 70th Ave 3. Hudson/ SW Marine Drive Collaborate with the Musqueam First Nation to design a Gateway into Marpole with First Nations Interpretive Signs Other ideas: Transportation Poorly placed bus stop at Osler/ SW Marine Drive Traffic Accident zone at Granville and 71st Ave Tame traffic along Granville from 70th 72nd, to retain commercial viability and for safety Housing Retain rental Keep housing affordable Keep garden set backs Commercial live/ work studios at the edges of industrial area south of Marine Drive More fee simple row housing developments Parks Build a park/ green space under the bridge by the Fraser River foot path/ bus barn Retail Establish a year round Farmer s Market at David Lloyd George Elementary School Granville, 70th 72nd Ave: small local retail is important, independent store fronts, street trees, parking, slow traffic down Car Free Day on Granville Street! Urban Walking Route Establish an urban walking trail that connects all the parks in Marpole Railway corridor by the bus barn connect to Kerrisdale Better connection to Fraser River Park Green marker at Hudson and 70th Ave, trail continues on Hudson to 72nd to Ebisu Park

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22 CAMBIE CORRIDOR ALONG THE WAY: Considerations around edges, character, role of the street, nodes, lanes, public realm, etc Transition form behind Marine Gardens Transition form east of 6-storey on Cambie Opportunity for more street trees on Yukon, just south of Winona Park Transition form east of 6 storey on Cambie, and beside Marpole s largest park (Winona Park) Views! And new housing form between Winona Park and Langara Golf Course Amherst Hospital Residential Care (hospital precinct in this area Pearson, Amherst, St. Vincent s) Townhouse development St. Vincent s Hospital Triangle Long lots fronting busy SW Marine Drive pedestrian experience Southwynd Place 89 seniors social housing units

23 CAMBIE CORRIDOR Marpole Walking Tour Saturday October 13, 2012 Cambie Corridor Phase 3 Tour Urban Designer: Paul Cheng Recorder: Cathy Buckham Group Comments/Observations Themes: Walking Need a pedestrian crossing at Ash & SW Marine Drive The pedestrian signals at Yukon & SW Marine Drive and Cambie and SW Marine Drive are too slow favours traffic flow not pedestrians More pedestrian signals at 59th & 64th Avenues along Cambie, and at 69th & Marine Drive Install a pedestrian scramble at Cambie & SW Marine Drive Install an elevated walkway to get pedestrians off the intersection improve current hostile pedestrian crosswalks along Marine Drive Cycling Need bike and pedestrian access from west of Cambie to Ash Park and on to the Canada Line Station Place Making Convert the space beneath the Oak Street Bridge at Oak & SW Marine Drive (currently DPS Parking) to a funky commercial space with coffee, artisans, etc. (like the Urban Space Project beneath the High Line in Manhattan) Parks/Open Space/Trees/Thin Streets There should be a major park at the south end of Cambie on the Fraser River We need more trees at Yukon & 63rd (also need a sidewalk/swale at this location) Yukon & 63rd would be a good candidate for a Thin Street although not redeveloped to housing redeveloped to park space (aka greenway or Street to Park) Finance & Growth Money from DCLs should come back to the community City receiving significant cash amenity contributions from new development want to see this money invested back into the community (eg. through new services and amenities, such as parks) to offset the impacts of growth and development on Marpole Retail ground floor shopping and services at 61st Ave and Cambie

24 CAMBIE CORRIDOR Housing More social housing and protect existing social housing stock in Marpole (i.e. housing complex north of 70th, east of Cambie precious to community) More rental apartments for seniors aging in place Ground oriented housing along 65th Avenue around Ash Park Intensified housing opportunities around Skytrain Station Built Form Row housing mixed with taller housing developments around Winona Park (compared to notion of apartments surrounding Central Park in New York City) Mix use buildings commercial space on ground level with housing above (i.e. along Cambie Street and NE corner of Marine Drive at Cambie) Explore opportunity to reduce the size of the Langara Golf Course to a 9 hole course, the rest of the land for affordable housing Four storey apartment buildings along east side of Winona Park are designed well, friendly, not stucco. Opportunity for higher forms of development closer to Cambie Street Stops: 1. Oak Street and 70th Avenue Add a bus shelter at the north west corner of Oak Street and 70th Avenue Oak Street is a busy arterial and well used. Add more bus stops with shelters, i.e. protection from rain. 2. Cambie & SW Marine Drive Noisy Entrance to Canada Line needs improvement/re-orientation facing north or extend the station to the north side of SW Marine Drive There should be a crosswalk on Cambie south of SW Marine Drive at the lane south of the Buddhist Temple The pedestrian light takes too long (favours auto movement) so people jaywalk across SW Marine Drive 3. Cambie Street & 64th Avenue This transition zone (behind Cambie) should be 4 storey stacked rowhouses with rental units. On the corner lot you could achieve 4 attached rowhouses with suites More seniors housing in this area 4. Yukon Street & 63rd Avenue More street trees Greenway connecting Yukon Street to Marine Drive would have a positive impact for pedestrians and cyclists 5. Winona Park Is predominantly for active sports

25 Needs more passive space for families to picnic, lounge, etc. at the north end of the park to maximize views to Mt.Baker Use the sloped areas in between the playing fields for passive space Need space to launch a model rocket Create more pathways to lead/invite people into the park Add a jogging path around the park 6. Single-Family Facing Winona Park Transition to Langara Golf Course Re-zone to ground oriented housing (e.g. rowhouses) Re-zone all around Winona Park If we intensify around the park where will people go to shop? Allow commercial at grade on Cambie Street (see map) 7. Amherst Care Facility Like the greenery on the public and private property 8. Langara Springs Like the 4 storey form (it looks more like 3.5 storeys) The varied articulation makes it work The quality design also makes it work It s quiet and there appears to be enough parking Surveillance of the park is good (eyes on the street/park) Consider allowing 4-storey forms in other locations around the park, not just rowhouses 9. The Triangle (63rd & 64th) Leave it the way it is Install a bench 10. Long Lots on SW Marine Drive (Columbia & SW Marine Drive) See map Re-zone lots east of and adjacent to the seniors facility (Southwynd Place?) to higher and better use Include 2-3 of the lots immediately north Re-zone long lots to higher and better use consider a courtyard design facing away from SW Marine to minimize noise from traffic 11. Southwynd Place (Seniors Facility) Keep of course Key Ideas: 1. New ground oriented housing around Shannon Park / golf course, 3.5 storeys 2. New and improved pedestrian crossings along Cambie at 59th, 61st, 64th Avenues 3. Pedestrian and Greenway connections from Shannon Park to SW Marine Drive along Yukon Fraser River 4. Shannon Park improvements: new picnic areas, playground upgrades 5. New Riverfront Park

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