I just wanted to let you know about some of the many concerns about the rezoning application for 1569 West 6th. Ave. I am one of the residents of 1529 west 6th. Ave. and my feelings are mutual with many residents in this building and surrounding buildings. Some of our top concerns are:
-Primarily the increase in traffic in the alley of East side of 1529 building (since the two building garages are going to be connected and additional 50 x 1569 residents will have to exit through the same alley exit , 66% additional traffic). If you were to observe the current traffic from east side of 1529, you would know that it is an incredibly busy alley, not only for commercial traffic from 1529 but also the restaurants and shops on Granville street, not to mention foot traffic from the major bus stop approx 10meter away. I am quite concerned about safety for pedestrian traffic from the major bus top and also commercial and residential automobile traffic.
-Additionally the increased height of the structure will put the 1529 court yard with many plants in darkness (future damaging the growth of all the plants). 1529 west 6th building was originally designed so as to have as useful open court yard with exposure to sun (the residents purchased suites in 1529 at premium value for this reason). Additionally the original socially conscious developer who owned both lots 1529 and 1569 had planned to have a lower height structure for 1569 to allow for sunlight in to the court yards of 1529 west 6th. Not to mention the building north of 1569. Many of the shadow casting simulations performed by the new developer I feel only represent few corner cases and not the year round cases (almost in an attempt to make it look like there are minimal impacts to the residents surrounding the new building @ 1569. The increase in height of the building will definitely depreciate the values of the surrounding building because of this fact.
-Many of the residents surrounding the new development have purchased their suits with the expectation the developers obeying the City of Vancouver bylaws. Additional increase in the height of this building will financially impact the valuation of many properties surrounding the development @ 1569. We (the community surrounding 1569 development) all feel that by bother having City Bylaws if developers can change then at will.
Bottom line is we know new buildings have to go up and city face has to change. But it is important that the developers this day an age need to be socially and environmentally responsible for changing the surface and the structure of the city. The impact of not only increase in density but also the height (from the original owner/developer Steve Hynes designed 50 feet to 147 feet) of the building will have severe social/environmental/financial impact of surrounding the buildings and residence and neighborhood. (I have attached some pictures from the original owner/developer Steve Hynes socially/environmentally conscious design versus the new owner/developer design strictly aimed at higher density for immediate financial gains.
Original Design 1569 West 6th Ave. (Original Owner/Developer)
Proposed NEW Design 1569 West 6th Ave.
I hope that the City of Vancouver weighs in the social/environmental/financial impacts of the significant height and density increase of the new development @ 1569 west 6th and ensure that developers are held to the highest standards social/environmental design and play with in the regulated guide lines of the bylaws put in place by City of Vancouver.
Regards
