In the grand scheme of things, the development of new rapid transit lines (if planned and operated properly) can only benefit a city, as it should help to ease congestion on major roads and overcrowding on buses, not to mention it is more environmentally friendly and more efficient in moving large masses of commuters.
The main thing that developers are focusing on in light of the Canada Line construction is how they can best benefit from it. Alas, preserving current communities is not high on their agendas. Rather, it is the development of bigger, better and newer high-rises and commercial complexes that they believe will thrive as a result of the increased traffic from the Canada Line.
Prime examples of this line of thinking are evident with plans to expand and redevelop Aberdeen Centre in Richmond and Oakridge Centre in Vancouver.
Aberdeen Centre
The expansion of Aberdeen Centre for the Canada Line is being named “Aberdeen Station Lands,” referring to the land between the current mall and the future Canada Line station. This will be the third phase in architect Bing Thom’s project (phase 1 was the rebuilding of Aberdeen Centre, phase 2 is the Aberdeen Residences currently under construction).
Quoted from http://www.bingthomarchitects.com/home.html:
“Following the original Aberdeen Centre concept of creating a retail/entertainment centre to engage street activity, the program for the new development consists of three retail and five hotel levels. This project also introduces a new public art component entitled "Nexus". A transparent glazed wall, Nexus is both the receptor and transmitter of information weaving through the inside and outside spaces. Ephemeral in nature, Nexus mediates between the box-like interior and the fluid urban exterior, bringing life and activity into the city streets.”
The main thing that developers are focusing on in light of the Canada Line construction is how they can best benefit from it. Alas, preserving current communities is not high on their agendas. Rather, it is the development of bigger, better and newer high-rises and commercial complexes that they believe will thrive as a result of the increased traffic from the Canada Line.
Prime examples of this line of thinking are evident with plans to expand and redevelop Aberdeen Centre in Richmond and Oakridge Centre in Vancouver.
Aberdeen Centre
The expansion of Aberdeen Centre for the Canada Line is being named “Aberdeen Station Lands,” referring to the land between the current mall and the future Canada Line station. This will be the third phase in architect Bing Thom’s project (phase 1 was the rebuilding of Aberdeen Centre, phase 2 is the Aberdeen Residences currently under construction).
Quoted from http://www.bingthomarchitects.com/home.html:
“Following the original Aberdeen Centre concept of creating a retail/entertainment centre to engage street activity, the program for the new development consists of three retail and five hotel levels. This project also introduces a new public art component entitled "Nexus". A transparent glazed wall, Nexus is both the receptor and transmitter of information weaving through the inside and outside spaces. Ephemeral in nature, Nexus mediates between the box-like interior and the fluid urban exterior, bringing life and activity into the city streets.”
This development is not unlike what is being done in many high-rises in downtown Vancouver, trying to blend together living, working and entertainment spaces into one complex. What makes this even more intriguing is the fact that it is being developed by Thomas Fung, Chairman and CEO of The Fairchild Group, which owns Aberdeen Centre and the local Chinese television and radio stations in the Lower Mainland.
“Since its inception in 1985, Fairchild Group has embraced the concepts of globalization and diversification. The company has a number of major property developments on the West and East coast, as well as overseas in Asia.”
Aberdeen Centre is an embodiment of the company’s plans, as it was the first multicultural retail experience in North America when it first opened in 1989, setting an example for other shopping centres (evident from the abundance of retail complexes surrounding Aberdeen Centre today). In 2003, with the opening of the completely redesigned mall, it again raised the bar, with aspirations of combining “modern retailing with a comfortable ambiance to emphasize lifestyle shopping.” With the future expansion of the centre, it is evident that the area around it will continue to thrive, and the addition of the Canada Line should only help its development.
“Since its inception in 1985, Fairchild Group has embraced the concepts of globalization and diversification. The company has a number of major property developments on the West and East coast, as well as overseas in Asia.”
Aberdeen Centre is an embodiment of the company’s plans, as it was the first multicultural retail experience in North America when it first opened in 1989, setting an example for other shopping centres (evident from the abundance of retail complexes surrounding Aberdeen Centre today). In 2003, with the opening of the completely redesigned mall, it again raised the bar, with aspirations of combining “modern retailing with a comfortable ambiance to emphasize lifestyle shopping.” With the future expansion of the centre, it is evident that the area around it will continue to thrive, and the addition of the Canada Line should only help its development.
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