Work on developing a “bold vision” for the area around the 22nd Street SkyTrain station will begin in 2022 and will include an ideas competition.
As part of the 2017 update to the official community plan, the city identified the area around the 22nd Street SkyTrain station as a place that could accommodate higher density development. Planning for this part of the Connaught Heights neighbourhood was put on hold because of the pandemic, but it will be getting underway in 2022.
“The proposed project would create a bold vision for an eco-neighbourhood in the 22nd Street station area,” said a staff report. “The vision is intended to be an ambitious forward-looking statement on the bold steps that could be taken in developing the area.”
Higher density uses would be considered around the SkyTrain station, stepping down to middle-density uses in the surrounding neighbourhood.
“The goal of the 22nd Street station area bold vision process and subsequent steps will be to create a roadmap for redevelopment and the transition of the station area into an eco-neighbourhood. Specifically, a neighbourhood that is designed in such a way as to adapt to climate impacts and achieve a net zero or positive impact on climate,” said the report.
To “break the mould of traditional planning processes” and to identify how the city can achieve climate excellence, the city is proposing the use of an “ideas competition” for Phase 1 of the process.
“The ideas competition will invite leading global experts in climate resilience and community planning, and members across the community to provide creative ideas about how to achieve the project goals,” said a report to council. “The intent of the competition is to tap into a wide range of bold ideas, many of which can then inform the vision.”
The ideas competition, which will take place through the summer of 2022, will be followed by Phase 2 – the evaluating and shortlisting of ideas. After that work is done in the fall of 2022, the development of a bold vision (winter 2022 to spring 2023) and implementation of the bold vision (spring/summer 2023 and onwards) will take place.
On Dec. 13, council directed staff to proceed with the workplan for the 22nd Street station bold vision.
The city’s 2022 budget includes $370,000 for this project, which includes consultation and costs for consultants.
“Following adoption of the 2022 budget, staff will put out a call for expressions of interest (EOI) from consulting teams to frame and lead the ideas competition and visioning process,” said the report. “The EOI is being proposed to allow for consultant teams to use their expertise to pitch creating framing of the planning process.”
The city anticipates a consulting team will be selected by early April, and the ideas competition will take place next summer.
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