Showing posts sorted by date for query Burnaby. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query Burnaby. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Monday, August 31, 2026

VMV and BCMV

What is the Vancouver Mind Virus and the BC Mind Virus?

Sometimes, it can be a provincial backwater approach to things. Other times, its a total Half-A$$ED attempt towards getting something done in backwards BC.

Its taken the City of Vancouver a very long time to surpass half a million residents. Its amazing that Vancouver finally surpassed having 3 quarters of a million people. 

https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities/canada/vancouver 751,644 

It remains to be seen if Vancouver will ever have more people than Winnipeg. Indeed, Winnipeg, like Edmonton and Calgary don't have something like a Burnaby next to them, or a Surrey & Coquitlam close by. While Vancouver barely makes it into the top 10 biggest cities in Canada, Greater Vancouver is still the 3rd largest urban region in Canada. However, so much of the urban scale and infrastructure is being heled back.

The biggest cities in Canada don't have anything like a VMV to thwart or impeded their scale. Thus, Toronto, Calgary, Montreal & Edmonton all have taller buildings than stunted Vancouver. Edmonton and Montreal, like Seattle and Perth, WA are allowed to have wider bridges. Most major cities around the world have longer trains than what's in provincial Vancouver.

Is there a Canadian Mind Virus (CMV)? Of course not officially. Fortunately, nothing like a CMV ever made it to Australia. Otherwise something absurd like provincial Trade Barriers could have really thwarted things down under.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/interprovincial-trade-barriers-9.7323970 

https://www.mnp.ca/en/insights/directory/what-are-the-barriers-to-interprovincial-trade-in-canada

https://www.canada.ca/en/intergovernmental-affairs/services/internal-trade/federal-investments-internal-trade.html 

Despite Canada being surrounded by water on 3 sides, there is no blue on the national flag. Fortunately, nothing like a CMV ever got Australia, NZ, the UK, France and even the US to remove blue from their flags. 

Of course the flags of England, Switzerland and Japan have no blue in them, but blue is still a very nice color to behold. 

Nothing on the scale of the 10 lane Narrows_Bridge_(Perth) is allowed in Vancouver, Victoria or Kelowna. Certainly, nothing like the Sir_Leo_Hielscher_Bridges exists in Halifax. Even Boston and Montreal don't have a 12 lane crossing like the Gateway_Bridges

Despite Australia having fewer people than Canada, its been able to exist on a larger scale in some ways. Its like there is still a plan to have a big country down under.


https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=VMV

https://jfdatalinks.blogspot.com/search?q=BCMV

Friday, August 28, 2026

Surrey, BC

 https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=2&status=15 

https://skyscraperpage.com/b132164/surrey/centre-block 47 office stories? 

As originally proposed, Surrey could have had an office tower that would even be noticeable if it were in Calgary or Seattle.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/10275-city-parkway-surrey-centre-block-office-towers

"Originally, the East Tower was to be 47 storeys while the West Tower was to be 19 storeys.  City staff say the two towers are now planned to be 45 storeys and 17 storeys, although architectural plans indicate the East Tower will be 42 storeys." https://storeys.com/surrey-centre-block-office-tower

If this reduction does happen, Surrey still might be the first city in BC to have an office tower over 40 floors and Burnaby over 45 office stories. Never mind the first 50 story office tower in BC, its difficult enough just to get office floors above 39 storis in BC.

At the very least, Surrey still might have an office tower that might rival the tallest in Bellevue,_Washington

Vancouver has heled back the urban scale of BC almost since the beginning. That's because for over a century, practically anything big in BC was in provincial Vancouver. But Vancouver or the VMV, can't stop Surrey, Burnaby and Coquitlam from rivaling some of the things in Vancouver, such as taller buildings.   

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Bellevue,_Washington#Tallest_completed_buildings

Burnaby

 https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=31&status=15 

https://skyscraperpage.com/b139592/burnaby/concord-metrotown-eight 47 stories at 187.2 m

Tower 8, a 47-storey, 375,000 SF office tower at 614 ft. height, https://vancouvermarket.ca/2022/07/22/phase-2-of-concord-metrotown-to-include-5-towers-2100-units/ 

https://www.urbanyvr.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Concord-Metrotown-phases.jpg , https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=230813&page=37 

https://www.skyscrapercity.com/threads/burnaby-developments.2444861/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic 

For the longest time, Vancouver has prevented BC from having a 40 story office tower, let alone a 50 or a 60 story office tower. Since Burnaby isn't directly affected by the VMV, Burnaby is on track to have the first office tower in BC that's over 45 floors. Indeed, a 47 story office tower at 614 feet would slightly rival the tallest in Bellevue,_Washington

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Bellevue,_Washington#Tallest_completed_buildings

Vancouver, BC

 https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=1&status=15 

No 40 story office towers on the horizon within the city limits.

https://skyscraperpage.com/b106925/vancouver/the-stack 

https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/the-stack/35667 162.3 m / 533 ft Floors 38 https://www.skydb.net/building/134386807/the-stack/ 

https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/harbour-centre/4144 , https://www.skydb.net/building/357382467/harbour-centre/ 

https://skyscraperpage.com/b63/vancouver/royal-centre

https://www.skydb.net/building/469710364/

https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/id/4396  138 m / 453 ft Floors 35 

In accordance with an unofficial provincial backwater mentality or VMV agenda, Vancouver was able to hold back the urban scale of BC for most of its history. However, Vancouver wasn't able to prevent Burnaby, Surrey and Coquitlam from constructing taller buildings. 

Never mind Calgary and Seattle, strict Vancouver has only permitted 2 buildings to be taller than the 2 tallest in Bellevue,_Washington

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Bellevue,_Washington#Tallest_completed_buildings 

Friday, July 10, 2026

Tillikum Crossing or Bridge

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilikum_Crossing , https://trimet.org/tilikum Its not just a great bus and bike bridge.

The Oregon version of the Tilikum is so much better than any BC version, but it doesn't have to be. BC should be able to build first rate stuff as well.

https://www.cntraveler.com/activities/portland/tilikum-crossing This fantastic MAX-LRT and streetcar bridge is great for Portland. However, such a wonderful bridge almost seems impossible for Vancouver & Victoria, or anywhere in backwards BC.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tilikum+Crossing+Bridge 


Of course the Victoria, BC (Saanich) version will be watered down. 

https://roninearthworks.ca/construction-news/tillicum-bridge

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation-projects/other-transportation-projects/tillicum-active-transportation-bridge-project 

https://victoriachamber.ca/government-local/new-trail-crossing-at-tillicum-will-ease-commute-time/

https://www.google.com/maps/search/transportation+bridge+across+Tillicum+Road/@48.4463043,-123.4007762,121m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDcwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D 


A Burnaby and Richmond Tillicum Bus and Bike bridge would be a great transportation link.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tillicum+St,+Burnaby,+BC

There isn't even a South+Boundary+Rd bus and bike bridge in the works. Yet, the transportation planners claim that an efficient regional express and BRT network can be established. Its just another watered down BC joke. 


Tuesday, July 7, 2026

A free transit zone?

 https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-mayoral-candidate-stephanie-allen-free-transit 

A downtown Vancouver free transit zone would be a good start. Then, also a Metrotown zone in Burnaby and in downtown Surrey.

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

No Canada Day Fireworks in Vancouver, yet again

"You’ll find Canada Day fireworks in Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, White Rock, Abbotsford, and Port Coquitlam." https://miss604.com/2026/06/canada-day-events-around-vancouver-2026 

Despite not having any Canada Day fireworks for itself, Vancouver can't stop other cities in BC or Canada from having fireworks on C Day.


Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Burnaby 2050 sets the city’s long game

 https://www.straight.com/burnaby/burnaby-2050-sets-citys-long-game 

While Burnaby is smaller in area and population compared to Vancouver, its a lot bigger than tiny NW.

https://www.straight.com/burnaby/how-burnaby-approached-public-engagement-in-creating-its-latest-plan 

Unlike Vancouver, Burnaby can build taller than Vancouver, because it isn't bound by Vancouver's imposed height restrictions.

https://www.straight.com/burnaby/what-burnaby-builds-next-depends-on-urban-design-getting-it-right 

Unlike Vancouver, Burnaby has more than just a few kilometers of freeway going through it. The highway right of way was acquired when Burnaby was still mostly undeveloped. That's the same case for Richmond, Delta, Surrey, Langley & Abbotsford. 

https://www.straight.com/burnaby/in-defense-of-burnaby-middle-child-of-metro-vancouver 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Highway_1#Lower_Mainland_section There should eventually be an elevated, high-capacity interregional commuter train along BC_Highway_1. However, BC takes a very slow approach towards dealing with congestion and mobility.

Sunday, May 31, 2026

Vancouver 450 ft and Fahrenheit 451

Was a 450 foot height restriction just by chance, or was it intentionally made to be very close to 451 Fahrenheit? Despite being around the same size as Paris, Boston & SF, Vancouver remains as a very restrictive city. 

Any tall building in SL City is under 450 feet. Honolulu is still stuck around the 450 foot maximum, while San Diego is stuck at 500 feet. Even Rio DeGennaro still has shorter buildings than Vancouver, BC. Washington, DC has strict height limitations like Paris. However, W,DC could eventually set up their own equivalent of La_Defense. Its a fine example of allowing tall buildings just beyond the city limits.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahrenheit_451 (1953) By the 1950s, so many things were already banned, watered down or scaled back in provincial backwater Vancouver. Generations later, there was the No Fun City mind virus that further tried to cancel out things in such a small city with so much red tape and other ridiculous obstacles.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahrenheit_451_(1966_film) By the mid and late1960s, the city made sure that its first office tower to have more than 29 floors wouldn't be until the 1970s. Its highly doubtful that Vancouver will have an office tower at, or over 40 stories by 2030. However, Burnaby and Surrey could, because they aren't under the extreme restrictions of the Vancouver Mind Virus (VMV). 

It wasn't until 1973 when Vancouver allowed its first building to be taller than the Los_Angeles_City_Hallhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_City_Hall 

The Scotia_Tower (stump) is a good reference point to visualize the small scale of backwater Vancouver, as its about the same height as the Los_Angeles_City_Hall at 453'. 

https://www.skyscrapercenter.com/building/scotia-tower/4396 453'

https://skyscraperpage.com/b65/vancouver/the-scotia-tower 452' 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Wall_Centre It opened in 2001 at 157.8 m (518 ft). Its 49 feet shorter than the Philadelphia_City_Hall.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_City_Hall Opened in 1901 at 548 ft (167 m).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahrenheit_451_(2018_film) By 2018 it was quite apparent that Vancouver was in the process of allowing for more buildings over 450 feet. However, nothing has been permitted to reach 700 feet, so far. A tower over 1000 feet would help to water down its provincial mindset. 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Vancouver_panorama_%2849988799796%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/3840px-Vancouver_panorama_%2849988799796%29_%28cropped%29.jpg

SF, Sydney & Auckland are just as scenic as Vancouver & warmer throughout the year. They all have taller building than what Vancouver currently permits. Seattle is just as scenic as Vancouver, but its allowed to function like a proper big city, because it doesn't have the imposed restrictions like Vancouver has. While its cold, damp & depressing like Vancouver during the fall & winter, Seattle usually gets noticeably hotter summers than Vancouver, BC. The tallest building in Seattle is the 76 story B of A office tower. 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/LA_Skyline_Mountains2.jpg/1280px-LA_Skyline_Mountains2.jpg While the L.A. City Hall looks like a stump there, in Vancouver it would still be one of the prominent buildings.

Everything is so small or scaled back in Vancouver. Even the Greater Vancouver mountains aren't allowed to be as tall as the ones in L.A. While the San_Francisco_Bay & Port_Phillip Bay by Melbourne are big next to their cities, English_Bay in_Vancouver is so much smaller. Its even smaller than Elliott_Bay by Seattle. 

Vancouver really needs to have bus and HOV bridges built next to its mostly narrow & congested bridges. Only a 5 car Skytrain is the max on the first 2 lines and ultimately, just a 2.5 car joke of a train on the YVR-Canada Line. 

Selective+Door+Operation can allow a short train to have an extra car at each end, despite a shorter platform. 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/Vancouver_sunset_%28J%29.jpg/3840px-Vancouver_sunset_%28J%29.jpg 
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Los_Angeles_with_Mount_Baldy.jpg/3840px-Los_Angeles_with_Mount_Baldy.jpg

Australia like the USA, has some big & tall cities on the Pacific Rim. However, Vancouver symbolically kept watering down its size, because that's how you demonstrate a reluctance towards proper urban planning & growth. 

Oddly enough, the imposed small scale Vancouver mentality & agenda wasn't adopted by most cities around the world. Officially, there is no Vancouver Mind Virus (VMV), but somehow something like it keeps manifesting, just like the BCMV. 

Despite its size, Canada has less than 1% of the worlds population. Its been difficult enough just for Canada to even have half of 1% of the worlds population. 

One expects Melbourne and Sydney to be proper big cities. However, Australia has big stuff at both ends of the country. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Leo_Hielscher_Bridges#Design Its a 12 lane crossing in Brisbane. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrows_Bridge_(Perth) 10 lanes with 2 commuter train tracks in the middle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisbane_Skytower It has 90 floors. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q1_(building) Almost has 80 floors.

Perth Central_Park_(skyscraper) at 51 floors and 108_St_Georges_Terrace at 50. Very restrictive Vancouver still won't permit any office tower to have a 40th floor. Calgary and Seattle each have a few over 50 stories.


So far, provincial Halifax hasn't been allowed to be on a similar scale as Boston and Montreal. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angus_L._Macdonald_Bridge 3 lanes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Murray_MacKay_Bridge 4 lanes. 


The scale of Vancouver is kept below that of Calgary & Seattle or even Auckland, in some ways.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lions_Gate_Bridge A classic 3 lane BC bottleneck-chokepoint. No parallel bus and truck tunnels and especially, no LRT tunnel. 

Provincial backwater Victoria isn't allowed to be on a similar scale of Wellington, NZ.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_Street_Bridge Another BC 3 lane wonder.

Friday, May 22, 2026

Telus Boot Tower or just another office stump in BC?

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJqr-6j3yww This would be an impressive building if it was in Victoria, Kelowna, Kamloops or Prince George. Even in Lethbridge and Spokane, but not in Calgary or Seattle. That's because they been allowed to be proper big cities.

Its not even 25 stories, just like the Post office complex, but if it had at least 50 floors it would have been quite an impressive office tower for BC. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/comments/1jav5f9/burnaby_approves_bc_tel_boot_redevelopment_5/ Acording to this rendering, the main part of the Telus boot stump will still be around. Its only a smaller part of its base that will face demolition.

https://www.jarmanrealestate.com/burnaby-telus-boot-redevelopment/

Burnaby or Surrey will likely have the first office tower in BC that's at least 45 stories in the next few years. Vancouver won't permit any office tower to have a 40th floor.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/3696-kingsway-vancouver-telus-rental-housing-tower Across the street, not a 50, only a 25 story residential stump. 

Boundary Road should have already had an express bus service and eventually a rapid bus route connecting Burnaby to North Vancouver and Richmond. Unfortunately, Vancouver still doesn't seem interested in having a B.Rd. bridge to NV and Richmond, even if it would improve on regional transportation.

Friday, May 15, 2026

Metrotown, Burnaby

 https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/comments/1tegbb6/clearest_full_rainbow_ive_ever_seen/ 

https://skyscraperpage.com/b114729/burnaby/grand-tower-at-sky-park 

https://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?cityID=31&status=15

Burnaby Lake Overpass for the pedestrian and cyclist

 https://www.burnaby.ca/our-city/projects/burnaby-lake-overpass 

https://www.fastepp.com/portfolio/burnaby-lake-overpass/

https://www.reddit.com/r/burnaby/comments/1swt6bl/opening_of_the_burnaby_lake_overpass/


https://www.google.com/maps/place/Burnaby+Lk+Overpass,+Burnaby,+BC/@49.241524,-122.9599709,713m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x548677a1477e04d5:0x2ad35872003bf652!8m2!3d49.2408866!4d-122.9569365!16s%2Fg%2F11zbd1rpm1!5m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDYxMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/burnaby-pedestrian-cyclist-overpass-9.7180622

https://www.renewcanada.net/burnaby-lake-overpass-officially-opens-providing-new-crossing-over-highway-1/

https://www.burnaby.ca/our-city/news/2026-04-27/burnaby-lake-overpass-officially-opens-providing-safe-new-crossing-over 

Unfortunately, backwards Vancouver has yet to allow something like this.

Holdom Ave Overpass | Burnaby | BC

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TczWyH7JWLA

Concord | Metrotown in Burnaby

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbFE98Esk9k 

Burnaby isn't under the strict restrictions of Vancouver, so its able to have taller buildings and even a freeway.

Monday, May 4, 2026

Metrotown in Burnaby, BC

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zmz9hH3rI6U 

Burnaby or Surrey will likely be the first places in BC where office towers will be over 45 stories. That's because stubborn Vancouver won't even permit any office tower to have a 40th floor.