Edgewater Casino relocation/plans | Discussion

[Pinion]

I may be one of the few that care about this side-effect of the VAG relocation, but it sounds like the new building will be a far bigger and more important part of Vancouver's downtown than the small old-style-casino was. Think River Rock-style with more than just straight gambling going on.

Here's the latest info I could find from the Globe and Mail:

"If arrangements are worked out with current casino operators and partial land owners at Canadian Metropolitan Properties, the casino will move to an ultra-high-density complex on the west side of a renovated BC Place stadium."

This is not a thread for discussing the pros and cons of casino legalization and I hope the moderators will help it from being derailed that way. Regardless of your stance, it is a potentially major development that will shape future development in south-east downtown.

[deasine]

The only one i can come up with is concord pacific's The Colours

http://www.concordpacific.com/pnelson/images/area5_webmap.jpg
Source: Concord Pacific

[officedweller]

With the Smithe Street extension cut through that parking lot (draw a line from Smithe as shown above down to the water), the area between Colours and BC Place will be bigger (a consolidation of Concord land plus BC Place land) - that's your Casino site - that's probably why Concord will buy the land (at least on the west side of the stadium).

[vanman]

^I really hope it is not Concord Pacific that buys that land. Westbank or Aspac or Onni or Millenium would be so much better. Realistically the land will probably go to Concord, I can only hope that they find some new architects.

[cornholio]

Any chance of Pacific boulevard being shifted to the south to create larger land parcels on the stadium side and a better layout and street grid in the area?

[Pinion]

Any chance of Pacific boulevard being shifted to the south to create larger land parcels on the stadium side and a better layout and street grid in the area?

It doesn't show on google maps but I'm pretty sure there are brand spanking new condos on the south side of Pacific between the casino and bridge (called Cooper's Quay?).

[vanlaw]

^^^ Correct - Three buildings - almost complete. I dont think they could re-align Pacific now

[deasine]

With the Smithe Street extension cut through that parking lot (draw a line from Smithe as shown above down to the water), the area between Colours and BC Place will be bigger (a consolidation of Concord land plus BC Place land) - that's your Casino site - that's probably why Concord will buy the land (at least on the west side of the stadium).

So that means Smithe extension will be replacing Terry Fox Way?

[vanlaw]

It would be nice if they could somehow incorporate at least part of current casino building into the new VAG building. It would just be kinda sad to see it go, and would leave science world as only Expo building left in that area. It already feels strange down there with plaza of nations roof gone, and the patio where the commemorative plaques (opening of expo etc) are located is now the smoking patio for the poker room.

[WarrenC12]

Can you imagine a casino and an art gallery sharing a close area or a building? Not great publicity for the artsy types. :D

I'd like to see a casino/hotel like River Rock, on a smaller scale.

[vanlaw]

^^^ I didnt mean keep the casino there, was just pondering whether part of the structure coudl be retained.

[officedweller]

Yeah, the "Enterprise Hall" as it is called is a "legacy" building from Expo 86 - and I think it should be retained - but of course, art galleries hate colour fading direct sunlight - so its utility for the art gallery would be restricted to sculpture garden or gallery cafe. So why is another windowless box planned for the waterfront?

I think Smithe will replace Terry Fox Way - don't know what will happen to the name "Terry Fox Way" though - they could maybe keep the name for that part of the street.

[Stingray2004]

the "Enterprise Hall" as it is called is a "legacy" building from Expo 86 - and I think it should be retained -

I agree with ya. Enterprise Hall (or the crystal palace as I refer to it), should be retained as it's the last legacy structure of Expo 86 in that area, with the recent demolition of the remaining former BC pavillion buildings.

It would be unfortunate if Enterprise Hall's days are numbered.

[Pinion]

I strongly disagee that Enterprise Hall should be kept. First it's completely customized for the casino now, and if you ripped out all that you'd have a husk of glass - which wouldn't work for an art gallery.

Also, there are major ventilation issues with that building. I quit my job there in part because the air was so bad.

It's a dump and has no parking. They have to tear it down.

[hollywoodnorth]

I strongly disagee that Enterprise Hall should be kept. First it's completely customized for the casino now, and if you ripped out all that you'd have a husk of glass - which wouldn't work for an art gallery.

Also, there are major ventilation issues with that building. I quit my job there in part because the air was so bad.

It's a dump and has no parking. They have to tear it down.

you are correct. that building like all built for Expo were not "built to last". that building has serious WASTE of space issues and shitty parking issues, drop off issues, ac/air movement issues, etc


I was sad to see the actual "Plaza of Nations" roof go. now that its gone I dont really care about the rest of the buildings in all honesty.

[SpongeG]

if vancouver ever cared about keeping its heritage - downtown would be spectacular with its old stuff

so alas bye bye ugly enterprise hall :banana:

[mr.x]

I would love to see a smaller scale Wynn type of casino/hotel resort west of BC Place, of course with that unique Vancouver style of doing things and without any blank concrete walls.

[officedweller]

that building like all built for Expo were not "built to last".

The BC Pavillion and Expo Centre (now Telus World of Science) WERE built to last beyond the fair. This COV press release on the canopy demolition says just Enterprise Hall was meant to last, but I recall the entire complex (which includes a one level underground parkade) - was built to last. I think it's more a case of rewriting history to suit the present redevelopment initiative.

http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/ctyclerk/NewsReleases2007/NRplazaofnationspermit.htm

[vanlaw]

I strongly disagee that Enterprise Hall should be kept. First it's completely customized for the casino now, and if you ripped out all that you'd have a husk of glass - which wouldn't work for an art gallery.

Also, there are major ventilation issues with that building. I quit my job there in part because the air was so bad.

It's a dump and has no parking. They have to tear it down.

All it was when the casino started renos was a husk of glass as well.

I'm just saying, it would be nice if they could retain some of the current structure within or part of the VAG. It doesn’t need to look as it does now - the glass could be changed, some of the glass could be replaced with other materials, it could form part of an atrium lobby with tropical plants and trees (akin to the original Atocha train station in Madrid, the lobby of the Carlsberg Glypotec in Copenhagen) etc.

Parking? I'm pretty sure that whole aspect will be redone for the new building. We’ve finally gotten around to retaining older facades (Hudson, Jameson) - I don’t see why this couldn’t be done here for a building that isn’t nearly as old, but is arguably now part of Vancouver’s heritage.