I think this will be a great development for that part of town. It could change the whole complexion of the neighborhood and generate future spin off related (medical) investments nearby....

It is the wave of the future. There will be a lot of money invested into these types of projects. The aging baby boomers

By 2009 they will be wondering why it wasn't built with an extra storey.

Interesting that this project could be planned, designed and built in half the time that Mr. Ghiai has squatted on the property downtown.

Sure it's public money, but the project doesn't seem to have been affected by the 'labour shortage' plaguing Necropolis.

BINGO Moses. I just came from the Ghiai site and was going to say the same thing about this project that you said.

I think this is going to be a wonderful building. If only we could get some condos built here to that calibre as well.

That building on 7th Aenue I think suffers from the same BS that the Ghiai project suffers from. More units but smaller with a more interesting design than just a whole bunch of modern cliche materials on the same property with a lower markup would likely have made the project a viable one.

I noticed the condo project at Westwood and Ferry area is starting construction and they just got the land rezones. Its too bad the Metropolis and 7th ave developers didn't have the same "push" on their developments.

By the way, anyone know if they are going to be for sale or rentals? Both are needed in town.

If it is the same one I am thinking about, it is also a slow one.

Isn't that the one which is running into some problem with the Superintendent of Real Estate?

http://www.opinion250.com/blog/view/8615/1/superintendent+of+real+estate+stops+sale+of+asher+strata+homes

Not this one. That project is on south side of Ferry between Westwood and Ospika

The new one is just south of the old social services building in the west side of westwood (opposit of the school)

I heard something funny. I doubt it's true (man, I HOPE it isn't true). This sight was the proposed sight for the new police station but they said that the crime rate in that area was too high. So...lets build a seniors complex. That has GOT TO BE a rumor...

I personally think the police stn should be downtown to suport downtown growth

It is true, that was one of the proposed sites for the police station.

In my opinion, it would have been far better - much closer to the arterial roads, less traffic lights ot interfere.

If this city ever starts growing again and office space would be required, the site they will be going on is a prime commercial site. The city will then have missed a key site with high property tax potential. But hey, what do we care about that, eh?

Main Police stations are not typically on potentially congested inner city sites. Branch stations may be.

One thing bothers me about the seniors complex. It is badly needed. Our population is aging and by something like 2016, 20% of our population will be over 65. But, isn't this the same place that they have closed numerous beds at the hospital, and decreased operating room usage, and have continuous problems with bed shortages at the Regional Hospital? And why is this? Lack of available staff. Yes, we have new medical programs at UNBC. I know about that. But how, please tell me, are they going to "magic up" sufficient medical staff to cover this new, badly-needed facility? Will it mean more bed closures at the hospital and other badly-needed facilities in the area?

The corner of Victoria and 4th is to PG what the corner of Burrard and Georgia is to Vancouver.

The Gateway site would have been quite analagous to the Cambie St admin office and Davie and Pacific main station of the Vancouver Police ... on the periphery of downtown and on main arterial roads wothout taking away from prime commercial property.

For what it's worth, I think this project will certainly make that area look allot nicer. The view you see of the facility as you drive into the Gateway with Toyota and OK Tire on your right, is actually quite impressive already and it's not even done. I think it will be a nice addition to the area.

Oh and funny you should mention the police station owl. A colleague and I were just talking about that today how it seemed to be a waste of a great piece of land. I figured a PAC would've worked quite well there as a catalyst to get people into the "heart" of downtown.

I agree the police station site at 4th and Victoria is a poor location.

I think its still possible to switch it to the old Wood Wheaton building site, which could work as Owl suggested, provide good security to the new seniors complex and move in as the biggest gang in the worst neighborhood in town.