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Cloverdale
Delta Real Estate
Ladner Property
Mission Property
Tsawwassen
Out of Town Properties
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SPECIAL FEATURE
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Other Resources
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Greater Vancouver Real Estate
Direct Presents Other Property Developments
Here are some other exciting new project developments in the Greater
Vancouver real estate market including Cloverdale, Tsawwassen
and the UDI Annual Awards for building excellence. In addition,
this section features some other resort style developments in
Victoria and the master planned Century Park Edmonton community.
Building on Shaky Ground?
Senior engineers are concerned about a new government promise
to allow construction of five and six storey wood frame buildings
in the Lower Mainland. In an interview with 24 hours, UBC earthquake
engineering research facility director, Carlos Ventura, says he’s
not aware of any international guidelines for making wooden buildings
on that height earthquake resistant. “It’s possible,”
he added. “But we haven’t seen any technical documentation
that will help engineers have some peace of mind or not be so
concerned.” “We’re certainly not saying it can’t
be done,” said Structural Engineers Association of B.C.
interim president David Davey. “I’m certainly now
aware of any place where it is done. So we’re breaking new
ground.” But are B.C. condo buyers going to be comfortable
breaking such ground? “This is our concern too,” Davey
replied. “Because engineers are required to provide assurances
that he building is safe. And so we have to be sure that the construction
problems have been addressed.” Davey and Ventura said there
wasn’t much consultation with engineers prior to the government
announcing its plan to amend the B.C. Building Code. Indeed, according
to Ventura, “it came out of the blue.”
So Davey is recommending the government do a “proper study
on the effects of increasing the height of wood frame buildings.
And we feel there should be some time for education to ensure
all the practitioners and users of the products are confident
to increase building heights.” Coincidentally, the government
quietly announced Tuesday, it was looking for a consultant to,
in part, identify the seismic risks associated with such wood
frame buildings. The housing and social development ministry didn’t
say why it hadn’t commissioned this work earlier. But, in
an email to 24 hours, the ministry stated, “The safety of
wood frame buildings in situations such as an earthquake will
be a fundamental consideration in making changes to wood frame
construction.” “This type of building technology is
already in use elsewhere in the world, including Seattle and Portland.
The province knows it can be done, and the work now involves finding
ways to apply the technology safely here in B.C.” The government
rolled out its plan to allow five and six storey wood frame buildings
March 12. That announcement followed a forest industry presentation
on February 15 in Prince George urging the government to promote
B.C. wood products by making the building code “wood-centric.”
Wood-Frame Buildings Subject to Controversy
Abroad – 24 Hrs
In march the provincial government announced it would be amending
the B.C. Building Code to allow for the construction of five and
six storey wood frame buildings. But buildings of the same type
are the subject of much controversy across the Atlantic. Last
month, the U.K.’s Building magazine noted on May 17th, “a
six storey building in Edinburgh became the seventh largest multi-storey
timber-frame structure in two years to be destroyed by fire.”
One such fire in Colindale promted the country’s Fire Protection
Association to question whether “timber construction should
be used for high-rise buildings.” Some have gone further.
For example, London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority vice-chair
Brian Coleman has called for an end to the construction of such
buildings because of the risks to construction workers and occupiers;
and in Building Design magazine, British Precast chief executive
Martin Clarke – who represents concrete manufacturers –
called for “a halt to multi-storey buildings in timber frame.”
So what does the Campbell administration – which has promised
to allows the construction of five and six storey construction
buildings – think of those concerns? In an email sent to
24 hours, the housing an social development ministry state, “Ultimately
the aim of the British Columbia Building Code is well built buildings
that are safe for their occupants. The province will move forward
in a way that balances the economic and environmental benefits
of wood construction with any safety concerns.” The government
previously announced it would be hiring a consultant to identify
the risks associated with timber frame buildings, including fire
and earthquakes. Last week 24 hours reported senior engineers
in B.C. are concerned about the absence of guidelines for the
construction of five and six storey earthquake safe wood frame
buildings in B.C. By Sean H for 24 hours.
2010 Olympic Housing Resources
As you may well know, the Winter Olympic Games are coming to Vancouver-Whistler
in February 2010. We have recently launched an entire sub-site
geared towards providing accurate information regarding 2010 Vancouver
Rentals and Olympic Accommodation including everything from homes
and condos for rent to landlording and what things to watch out
for when property managing your Vancouver Rent 2010 Accommodation.
Here are the current resources available online:
ARE YOU LOOKING
FOR A VANCOUVER 2010 RENTAL?
ARE YOU RENTING
YOUR HOME DURING THE 2010 OLYMPICS?
OTHER 2010 OLYMPIC INFO
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