Downtown Vancouver Updates

[LeftCoaster]

That's 389 above sea level, the actual buildings are only 300' so well below the existing.

[Graham_Yvr]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

That's 389 above sea level, the actual buildings are only 300' so well below the existing.

I see. I'll show myself out...

[Klazu]

I realized that I don't have too many photos of this building, but here are few I had for context.

The tower is definitely in need of renovation, but the overal shape and the height are really nice. It's a really skinny tower and could benefit from having more towers around it, but I don't want it to be replaced by some mediocre shit as the proposal is. Especially when right next door is a completely empty lot!





As seen from 45th floor of One Wall Centre with fog rolling in.

[giallo]

The Landmark is one of the oldest "tall" buildings I remember seeing. As a kid, we'd always go to Robson St. when visiting Vancouver, and the Landmark always stuck out with it's thin silhouette and black halo. When I later lived on Robson St., I grew attached to it for whatever reason. It's a nice little reminder of that era of Vancouver. I really hope it doesn't get torn down

[hollywoodnorth]

what a joke the proposal is. I do think the site is underutilized. the west side was renovated what 10 or so years ago ... but they never ended up doing the east site as originally intended.

I would be for 2 towers flaking the current tower on either side .... but getting rid of the current tower I will fight against.

[mezzanine]

Not a big fan of the original tower. The podium is a a block-long dead zone amplified by the empty lot across the street. I have a nostalgia for it, and IMO that's the only thing going for it. revolving restaurants have a retro, 70s feel to them, no matter how many renos they do to them.

That being said, IMO it would have to be an exceptional design for them to try to tear down a building this prominent, and this design isn't cutting it.

do they still run the revolving resto at the renaissance hotel? it used to have a nice waterfront view...

[BodomReaper]

I actually feel better having seen the plans - this is a very dense proposal by the Robson corridor's pitiful standards, and the towers look like they will be trimmed-out nicely.

Also of note - looks like the design architect is actually PDP London, based in Hong Kong.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

You would be hard pressed to find another forumer or individual who appreciates 70's design as much as i do (among other retro eras) however this building was always bland yet overtly phallic. As far as landfill, it's mostly concrete, steel, aluminum and glass. All of which would be recycled. Plus Trump tower is opening soon, 2 new hotels at Parq that will open before this closes down and the hotel that was just proposed on Robson where the Catholic mens hostel is.

I will side with you on the fact that theres a good chance the new buildings will not be nearly as iconic, a better solution would be to keep the existing tower and add more floors to the podium and convert the whole thing to rentals with more affordable units in the expanded podium.

Trump is a luxury hotel property, with only 147 rooms. JW Marriot (Parq)is also a high end brand. There is a huge amount of middle of the road tour, cruise and convention business that utilizes mid-range hotels, but all Vancouver has been putting up is smallish luxury boutique properties.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by BodomReaper

I actually feel better having seen the plans - this is a very dense proposal by the Robson corridor's pitiful standards, and the towers look like they will be trimmed-out nicely.

Also of note - looks like the design architect is actually PDP London, based in Hong Kong.

I think it would be neat if they could dismantle the rotating restaurant and either reassemble it on one of the new towers or put it on another new building. However I'm now hoping they keep the tower at this point unless the proposal gets a serious revision.

[red-paladin]

I don't mind the replacement, but I was upset enough about the proposed demolition that I wrote to the Mayor's Office. This project would be fine it was built anywhere else.


From: https://changingcitybook.com/2016/09/23/1488-robson-street/

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

I don't mind the replacement, but I was upset enough about the proposed demolition that I wrote to the Mayor's Office. This project would be fine it was built anywhere else.

Thank you for doing that!

Let's not let the proposal fool ourselves, as we all know that there would be loads of "white" spandrel on these towers and the bronze slivers are just a cheap trick. This is as bulky as designs come.

This whole proposal is so banal, as almost anything else around it could and even should be demolished and be replaced with something new. The hotel tower is the only one (with the red tower nearby) that stand out as something different and add to the skyline.



I am pretty sure the only reason why they are proposing to demolish the hotel is because the tower happens to stand in the very middle of the long city block. If it would be at either end of the block, they could just build a tower next to it. Now it is a bit tricky as the two towers would face each other very closely. Still, it is no justification to go on with this stupid proposal!

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Dailyhive Empire Landmark Demolition

well according to that article, they Empire is 42 floors, and they want to replace it with 30 and 28 floor buildings. 12 floors missing? they should leave it to just keep the height. that is a huge huge huge huge difference.

[truenorth44]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Seriously, this is a landmark tower that has been a key feature of the city skyline for decades.

Can people not see that come 20 or 30 years down the road everyone will look back at this as a major loss?

I heartily agree with that - it's a distinctive building which gives variety to the city, and to tear it down would be a real loss.

I understand that the site seems hugely underutilized, but we cannot keep allowing the almighty dollar to erode the fabric of the city.

[Aroundtheworld]

If they are going to replace it, they need to so with something that is at least as tall and iconic. What is proposed for the site is just banal mediocrity.

[officedweller]

From the Vancouver Sun.
It also mentions Bosa's Cardero being sold-out and Anchor Point being redeveloped.

Landmark hotel likely to be demolished for condo development
John Mackie, Vancouver Sun 09.25.2016

...
“It’s tall, but there’s not that much square footage. And seismically (1970s buildings) are not anywhere near what they need to be. So you look at upgrading these buildings and it costs a fortune — it’s easier to tear them down.”
...

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/la...ed+condo+development/12222659/story.html

[Vin]

Interesting to note that when the Empire Landmark Hotel was built in 1973, it was next to some single storey SFH on Haro Street. Imagine if this were to happen today. How regressive our city has come to.

[Vin]

Vancouver's not even in the top-10 list. Why I'm not at all surprised by this.....

http://www.metropolismag.com/September-2...ndex.php?&cparticle=2&siarticle=1#Berlin

[red-paladin]

Originally Posted by Vin

Vancouver's not even in the top-10 list. Why I'm not at all surprised by this.....

http://www.metropolismag.com/September-2...ndex.php?&cparticle=2&siarticle=1#Berlin

The article's kind of a joke.

[Graham_Yvr]

Originally Posted by Vin

Interesting to note that when the Empire Landmark Hotel was built in 1973, it was next to some single storey SFH on Haro Street. Imagine if this were to happen today. How regressive our city has come to.

Nothing has been decided yet. It hasn't even been in front of city council. Stop crying before you're hurt! This city has a real issue with the environmental impact of demolition. Where's all that concrete going to go??? Don't count on this going through.

We see things come across here all the time, and very rarely does one move forward in the same form as presented. In fact only Vancouver House comes to mind.

I may be wrong, but it's far too early to call this a done deal.

[osirisboy]

If a property owner wants to demolish a structure on their property can the city legally stop them?, outside of heritage, issue etc.