Kenneth Chan
banner
iamkennethchan.bsky.social
Kenneth Chan
@iamkennethchan.bsky.social
Optimistic realist. Daily Hive Editor for Architecture, Real Estate, Transport, Urban Issues, Politics & Business. 🏗🏙🏘🚎🚇⛴✈️ kenneth@dailyhive.com
At the end of January, the decades-old #Safeway on West 4th Avenue in Kitsilano will close to enable the construction of a mixed-use redevelopment.

Nearly 400 market rental homes and 60,000 sf of of retail/restaurant, with a new Safeway. #vancre #vanre

dailyhive.com/vancouver/sa...
Safeway on West 4th in Kitsilano to close this month for redevelopment | Urbanized
The longtime Safeway grocery store on West 4th Avenue in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood will close at the end of January 2026.
dailyhive.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:00 AM
JUST IN... A surprisingly unambitious project for a central site in downtown Vancouver.

The parking lot at the corner of West Georgia & Richards will be redeveloped into a 2-storey building with a 44,000 sf grocery store & pharmacy. #vancre #vanre

dailyhive.com/vancouver/45...
44,000 sq. ft., two-storey grocery store to replace West Georgia parking lot | Urbanized
Instead of an office tower, the parking lot site of 450 West Georgia St. in downtown Vancouver will become a two-storey grocery store.
dailyhive.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Two striking landmark mixed-use towers up to 52 storeys have been approved for #SkyTrain's Gateway Station.

879 condos and 70,000 sf of office & retail/restaurant uses. #vanre #vancre #vanpoli

dailyhive.com/vancouver/13...
Bold landmark towers to create a gateway for Surrey City Centre | Urbanized
Two mixed-use condo and commercial towers are approved for 13532-13576 King George Blvd. and 13483 108th Ave. in Surrey City Centre.
dailyhive.com
December 31, 2025 at 8:02 PM
North America's largest purpose-built film & TV studio is now complete in Metro Vancouver. 🎬

Bridge Studios has opened its 3rd campus: a 1.3 million sf, 21-soundstage hub in Burnaby next to Lake City SkyTrain. #HollywoodNorth #vancre #vanre #vanpoli

dailyhive.com/vancouver/la...
North America's largest purpose-built film studio opens in Metro Vancouver | Urbanized
Bridge Studios' new Lake City Studios in Metro Vancouver is North America's largest purpose-built film and television production campus.
dailyhive.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Hollywood North in Metro Vancouver can make anything.📽️🎬

#Disney's Percy Jackson series proves that Vancouver's film crews are among the world's best.

A studio tour showed me the sheer depth of our talent. #PercyJackson #HollywoodNorth #bcpoli #vanpoli

dailyhive.com/vancouver/ho...
Why Percy Jackson proves Vancouver's film crews are among the world's best | Urbanized
Inside the incredible work of the film production crew behind the second season of Disney's Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
dailyhive.com
December 30, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Freight cargo is driving Vancouver International Airport's growth beyond passenger travel.

Belly cargo in commercial passenger planes help subsidize passenger fares.

60% of #YVR's cargo moves in bellies; 40% on dedicated freight planes. #bcpoli #vanpoli

dailyhive.com/vancouver/va...
How cargo is driving Vancouver airport's growth beyond passenger travel | Urbanized
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is prioritizing the expansion of its already-strong commercial cargo and freight business.
dailyhive.com
December 30, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Two new Metro Vancouver recreation facilities have been recognized by the International Olympic Committee's architectural design awards.

Burnaby's Rosemary Brown ice rinks and New Westminster's aquatic centre were both designed by HCMA. #vanre #vanpoli

dailyhive.com/vancouver/me...
Two new Metro Vancouver recreation facilities win Olympic design award | Urbanized
Sea Otter House (təməsew̓txʷ ) Aquatic & Community Centre and Rosemary Brown Recreation Centre are 2025 IOC IAKS Architecture Prize winners.
dailyhive.com
December 29, 2025 at 7:39 PM
A developer is looking to build 3 separate major hotel projects in Vancouver.

This includes 2 projects on Granville Street in downtown Vancouver, and 1 project near Broadway-City Hall Station.

A total of nearly 1,000 hotel rooms. #vancre #vanre #vanpoli

dailyhive.com/vancouver/de...
Developer aiming to build three Vancouver hotel towers with 1,000 rooms | Urbanized
Deecorp Properties is looking to build three hotel tower projects in Vancouver, adding nearly 1,000 hotel guest rooms to the city.
dailyhive.com
December 26, 2025 at 11:42 PM
A shutdown of the busiest section of #SkyTrain Tuesday morning lasted 6+ hours: No Expo Line trains between Stadium and Commercial.

When the Broadway extension opens, it'll provide a relief line, an alternate route to reach downtown via the Canada Line.

dailyhive.com/vancouver/br...
Six-hour SkyTrain shutdown caps chaotic pre-Christmas morning in Metro Vancouver | Urbanized
An unusually high number of incidents caused major transportation challenges across Metro Vancouver by road and public transit this morning.
dailyhive.com
December 24, 2025 at 7:02 PM
IT'S OFFICIAL... At 5 a.m. this morning, Christmas Eve, traffic on the new rPattullo Bridge (Riverview Bridge) began flowing on one lane from Surrey to New West.

Much work still ahead of the full traffic switch in February 2026. #bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre

dailyhive.com/vancouver/ri...
It's official: One lane of new Pattullo Bridge now open to traffic | Urbanized
During the early morning hours of Christmas Eve 2025, the new Riverview Bridge, the Pattullo replacement, officially opened with one lane.
dailyhive.com
December 24, 2025 at 6:50 PM
#TransLink is now planning to fully gradually retire the entire fleet of Mark II #SkyTrain cars that went into service in the early 2000s and before the Olympics.

Order options for more new Mark V trains will be exercised in 2026. #vanpoli #vanre

dailyhive.com/vancouver/sk...
SkyTrain's entire fleet of Mark II train cars is set for retirement | Urbanized
TransLink will retire the entire fleet of Mark II SkyTrain cars in the 2030s, with an order for more Mark V trains set to be made in 2026.
dailyhive.com
December 22, 2025 at 10:22 PM
The free Shipyards Christmas Market on the Lonsdale waterfront in North Vancouver has sent #TransLink's #SeaBus ferry ridership soaring over the past month. #vanpoli #vancre #vanre 🎄🎅⛴️

dailyhive.com/vancouver/tr...
Christmas market sends SeaBus ridership cresting well above normal | Urbanized
The free Shipyards Christmas Market in North Vancouver is sending TransLink's SeaBus ferry ridership to new recent heights.
dailyhive.com
December 21, 2025 at 11:50 PM
The public plaza at the intersection of Robson Street & Bute Street has fully opened.

The in-street, car-free plaza on Bute Street south of Robson Street reached completion this week. The entire project cost $10 million. #vanpoli #vanre #vancre

dailyhive.com/vancouver/bu...
$10-million permanent Robson Street plaza finished for West End car-free space | Urbanized
The new permanent Bute-Robson plaza at the intersection of Bute and Robson streets in downtown Vancouver is now fully complete.
dailyhive.com
December 20, 2025 at 9:59 PM
High ridership, fewer car trips, transit-oriented development: #SkyTrain, now 40 years old, has punched well above its weight in North American transit.

That leadership is now at risk with new Bus Rapid Transit on major corridors. #bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre

dailyhive.com/vancouver/sk...
Opinion: SkyTrain's future at an uncertain crossroads after 40 years of success | Urbanized
The future and certainty of SkyTrain expansion is at a crossroads, after 40 years of proven success and high ridership.
dailyhive.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:18 PM
City of Vancouver has completed a small-scale tunnel boring project to build a new sewer main.

Minimizing disruption, without having to build a trench. #vanpoli #vanre

dailyhive.com/vancouver/va...
Small tunnel boring project by City of Vancouver reaches completion | Urbanized
The City of Vancouver has completed a small-scale tunnel boring project to build a new sewer main under a public park.
dailyhive.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Musqueam First Nation chief Wayne Sparrow says his band focuses on win-win relationships.

"Musqueam is not coming for anyone's private property. Our approach is one of partnership and relationship with our neighbours." #bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre

dailyhive.com/vancouver/mu...
'Not coming for anyone's private property': First Nation seeks win-win relationships | Urbanized
Musqueam Indian Band chief Wayne Sparrow is speaking out against divisive court cases, and the need for win-win relationships.
dailyhive.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:33 PM
There will be a Concord Dragon Boat Vancouver festival in Summer 2026 after all.

With provincial & corporate funding, it'll be a downsized event held one month after FIFA World Cup.

Organizers previously cancelled the event. #bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre

dailyhive.com/vancouver/co...
Downsized Concord Dragon Boat Vancouver festival to be held in 2026 | Urbanized
A downsized version of the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival will be held in August 2026, a month after the FIFA World Cup.
dailyhive.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:24 PM
This is the design of the brand new "state-of-the-art" animal shelter for the City of Vancouver.

Set for a new location in the False Creek Flats. #vancre #vanre #vanpoli

dailyhive.com/vancouver/va...
The design of the new state-of-the-art animal shelter for Vancouver | Urbanized
This is the City of Vancouver's design for the brand new Vancouver Animal Shelter facility at the new location of 1210 Glen Dr.
dailyhive.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Another major expansion of Langley Events Centre is planned, with $25 million of federal funding supporting the Township of Langley's efforts.

This is an expansion providing the centre with a new 1,600-seat concert and performance hall. #vanpoli #vanre

dailyhive.com/vancouver/la...
$25-million federal funding for 1,600-seat concert hall at Langley Events Centre | Urbanized
Construction could begin in late 2026 on a new, 1,600-seat concert and performance hall as an expansion of Langley Events Centre.
dailyhive.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Metro Vancouver's secured purpose-built rental housing vacancy is at a 30+ year high.

Vacancy rate jumped from 1.6% in 2024 to 3.7% in 2025. Not too long ago, it was under 1%.

Many landlords did not use 2025's 3% rent hike limit. #bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre

dailyhive.com/vancouver/me...
Metro Vancouver rental housing vacancy rate hits 30-year high | Urbanized
A wide range of factors have led to Metro Vancouver's rental housing vacancy rate reaching the highest level in over 30 years.
dailyhive.com
December 17, 2025 at 10:26 PM
The Esso gas station at the corner of Oak Street and West 49th Avenue is eyed for redevelopment into an 18-storey tower.

189 rental homes on top of a 12,000 sf childcare facility for 160 kids and a 12,000 sf grocery store. #vancre #vanre #vanpoli

dailyhive.com/vancouver/65...
Rentals, grocery store, childcare for 160 kids to replace Vancouver gas station | Urbanized
The Esso gas station at 6525-6575 Oak St. in Vancouver could be redeveloped into a tower with rental housing, a grocery store, and childcare.
dailyhive.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:19 PM
After 17 years, BC Hydro has completed the process of removing old wooden H-frame overhead power poles across 80 city blocks in downtown Vancouver.

Replaced by underground lines. Deemed safer, resilient to wind storms & earthquakes. #vanpoli #vanre

dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc...
Old wooden H-frame power poles now fully removed in downtown Vancouver | Urbanized
A 17-year-long project of removal old overhead wooden H-frame power poles across downtown Vancouver has now reached completion.
dailyhive.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:44 PM
JUST IN... Vancouver City Council has approved sweeping new housing policies reshaping the Downtown Eastside.

Policies enabling buildings up to 32 storeys in #DTES to generate new social housing and rental housing. #bcpoli #vanpoli #vanre

dailyhive.com/vancouver/do...
Sweeping new housing policies reshaping Downtown Eastside approved | Urbanized
Vancouver City Council has approved new major policies in the Downtown Eastside to encourage more social and rental housing.
dailyhive.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:35 AM
A major segment of Fraser Highway has reopened, after an 8+ month full closure for Surrey-Langley #SkyTrain construction.

The new Green Timbers Station structure is now directly above the roadway. #vanpoli #vanre

dailyhive.com/vancouver/fr...
Fraser Highway reopens beneath new Green Timbers SkyTrain station | Urbanized
After an eight-month closure, a major segment of Fraser Highway has reopened, with the new Green Timbers SkyTrain station now overhead.
dailyhive.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Vancouver's official 5-week-long 2026 #FIFA World Cup Fan Festival at the #PNE fairgrounds in Hastings Park will be free to attend, with a capacity to welcome at least 25,000 attendees per day. #FIFAWorldCup #vancre

dailyhive.com/vancouver/va...
Vancouver's free FIFA Fan Festival at the PNE to welcome 25,000+ daily | Urbanized
The free 2026 FIFA World Cup Fan Festival at Vancouver's Hastings Park, centred around the new amphitheatre, will host 25,000+ people daily.
dailyhive.com
December 16, 2025 at 7:38 PM